Short Takes

Who says political writing has to be boring?

February 9, 2023

Description, detail and sensory imagery tease out the drama and significance of a typically staid political event

Short Takes

Punning the way to a point

August 5, 2022

Political satirist Dana Milbank of the Washington Post digs deep into Donald Trump's latest tax-deductible venture

Short Takes

When writing sparks writing

January 28, 2022

Lines from a Muriel Rukeyser poem echoed forward into the heart of a Christmas movie starring Dame Maggie Smith

Narrative News

An imperfectly perfect photo that honored content over style

January 26, 2021

The photographer who took the soon-to-be-memed image of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders at the presidential inauguration tells Rolling Stone why he chose it

Short Takes

Reading (Stephen King) to learn to write

June 3, 2020

A "starter's guide" to the king of terror, from the New York Times, is a reminder that learning happens in many forms

Short Takes

Gratitude Notes (#22): Carved ducks and coffee

December 24, 2019

How the New Yorker's Paige Williams makes it work