Personal Essays

How an old story taught new lessons about reporting trauma

A quarter-century after a catastrophic fire, a reporter returned to interview survivors and faced the grief she had carried with her

By Line Vaaben • April 4, 2024

A memorial to one of the 63 young people killed in a 1998 disco fire in Sweden

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Story Craft

2024 Power of Narrative: Double the power of your story with a braided structure

In a long feature story, two related or resonant threads can be woven to make a piece that is both complex and clear

By Madeline Bodin • April 3, 2024

From the Editor

Reverse engineering and story construction

Blueprints, patterns, schematics and other building plans provide a model for building a more effective story with less struggle

By Jacqui Banaszynski • April 2, 2024

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Narrative News

Kim Cross wins Truman Capote nonfiction award

By Jacqui Banaszynski
January 31, 2024

By Jacqui Banaszynski We received a lot of thumbs-up in response to the two-part post (November 2023) featuring nonfiction author Kim Cross. Our pieces featured an interview with Cross about how she landed a contract for her book, “In Light of All Darkness,”… Read More

Narrative News

RIP Jon Franklin: Inspirational writer, teacher and advocate of true stories

By Anne Saker
January 26, 2024

The two-time Pulitzer winner and author of the nonfiction narrative how-to, "Writing for Story," influenced two generations of journalistic masters

Narrative News

An editor’s sampler: ICYMI recommendations from 2023

By Jacqui Banaszynski
December 29, 2023

The editor offers a range of 10 posts that teach, surprise, delight — and demonstrate Storyboard's commitment to the community

Narrative News

Readers have spoken: Top posts of 2023

By Jacqui Banaszynski
December 28, 2023

The 10 most-viewed Storyboard posts show a strong interest in practical tools and the emerging art of investigative narratives

Narrative News

Writing award named for Roy Peter Clark

By Jacqui Banaszynski
December 14, 2023

The Poynter Journalism Prizes introduce a new category for short writing in honor of "America's writing coach"

Narrative News

A newspaper re-embraces print

By Jacqui Banaszynski
November 15, 2023

The Guardian again bets on elegant design, elegant writing and a print publication to showcase the best of in-depth nonfiction journalism

Narrative News

Honor due reporter, editor and Nieman curator Robert H. Giles, 1933-2023

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 17, 2023

The journalist's career shepherded coverage through the Vietnam War, civil rights, gay and women's rights, and a changing newspaper industry

Narrative News

The future of journalism in very good hands

By Lauren Kessler
June 22, 2023

Journalism students at Ida B. Wells High School in Portland, Oregon, have passion, purpose and skills inspired by a long-time teacher

Narrative News

A new best-of collection of audio storytelling honors narrative podcasting

By Julia Barton
April 19, 2023

Julia Barton turned her public radio career to the development of story podcasts and now revives the Storyboard series "Audio Danger"

Narrative News

A guide to clear writing in tangled times

By Katharine Gammon
March 31, 2023

Writing scholar and guru coach Roy Peter Clark captures his best writing advice for "public writers" who have to report messy civic news

Narrative News

Ukraine coverage: The press rises to cover a grinding war

By Jacqui Banaszynski
February 23, 2023

One year into Russian President Putin's invasion of Ukraine, journalists deliver a range of stories that reach past compassion fatigue with the best of craft

Narrative News

Courage and empathy: Winners of the 2023 American Mosaic Journalism Prize

By Monique Brouillette
February 17, 2023

Cerise Castle faced threats to expose gangs inside the LA County Sheriff Department; Carvell Wallace seeks stories of justice, liberation and humanity

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