Articles

“Poetry lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.”

Why is it great? This gorgeous definition of poetry could easily apply to literary journalism. Some of the best stories aren’t about something we’ve never heard of, but illuminates something…
December 6, 2017
Kari Howard
Finding lessons for literary journalism in the poetry of Rust Belt chronicler Phil Levine

Finding lessons for literary journalism in the poetry of Rust Belt chronicler Phil Levine

His poems about his hometown, Detroit, were almost cinematic in a precision of detail that would embarrass the most economic writer
December 5, 2017
Thomas Curwen
The power of historical nonfiction: "Let me tell you what happened right on this spot a long time ago"

The power of historical nonfiction: “Let me tell you what happened right on this spot a long time ago”

A weekly roundup of some favorite things, for your reading and listening pleasure
December 1, 2017
Kari Howard
5(ish) Questions: Bridget Huber and “The Living Disappeared” of Argentina

5(ish) Questions: Bridget Huber and “The Living Disappeared” of Argentina

The California Sunday piece unpacks loss and resilience in the aftermath of the country's military dictatorship through the story of one family
November 30, 2017
Alexa Mencia

“NOVEMBER, noun. The eleventh twelfth of a weariness.”

Why is it great? I’ve never read Bierce’s satirical dictionary, but after coming across this sentence, it’s on the list.  With just a few words, he conjures up the dreariness…
November 29, 2017
Kari Howard
Matthew Pearl and "Into the Shadows" (Filed under: You can't make this stuff up)

Matthew Pearl and “Into the Shadows” (Filed under: You can’t make this stuff up)

Matthew Pearl is a sucker for underdog stories, origin stories and untold stories. Those all came together when the author of best-selling historical fiction thrillers such as “The Dante Club” and…
November 28, 2017
Julia Shipley
We look under the storytelling hood, with great tips on pitching *and* writing

We look under the storytelling hood, with great tips on pitching *and* writing

We really looked under the hood of literary journalism this week, with wonderful tips on how to pitch and write your stories. In the second installment of our series “The…
November 17, 2017
Kari Howard
Reporter Tom French and "the three most beautiful words in the English language: What happens next?”

Reporter Tom French and “the three most beautiful words in the English language: What happens next?”

Note from Storyboard editor Kari Howard: Reporter Tom French recently spoke at the annual Power of Storytelling conference in Bucharest, Romania. His speech, a remarkable feat of storytelling about storytelling,…
November 16, 2017
Thomas French

“Before the aurora borealis appears, the sensitive needles of compasses all over the world are restless for hours, agitating on their pins in airplanes and ships, trembling in desk drawers, in attics, in boxes on shelves.”

Why is it great? I admire the way Dillard turns a piece of natural science into a narrative of anticipation during which no human being makes an entrance.  The aurora…
November 15, 2017
Roy Peter Clark
How to get the attention of a senior editor at Smithsonian Magazine

How to get the attention of a senior editor at Smithsonian Magazine

Jennie Rothenberg Gritz says of story pitches she accepts: "There has to be something surprising and narratively interesting there."
November 14, 2017
Katia Savchuk