Story Craft

A nut graf by any other name might taste sweeter ~ and be more digestible

A nut graf by any other name might taste sweeter ~ and be more digestible

A defense of the summary nut as it is used in variations by Ken Burns, the Beatles and Shakespeare
Nut grafs: Overused, misused — or merely misunderstood?

Nut grafs: Overused, misused — or merely misunderstood?

When a summary nut beeps like the back-up horn on a truck or blinds like a searchlight, it can ruin the magic of a narrative
Finding the brightest stars in a constellation of writing tips

Finding the brightest stars in a constellation of writing tips

Conference panels can be frustrating things. Several subject experts droning on, absorbed with the minutiae of their own work, sometimes failing to make bigger points, often repeating what other panelists…
The Sixth Cactus: When green becomes so much more than green

The Sixth Cactus: When green becomes so much more than green

Editor’s note: This is another in our Shop Class series. The goal is to break down the work that goes into creating stories, and offer prompts, suggestions or exercises to help you…
Five life hacks for beating writer's block

Five life hacks for beating writer’s block

Every writer procrastinates. Even John McPhee, one of the most prolific writers of our time. “I’ll go hours before I’m able to write a word,” he has said. “I’ll make tea. I…
Roy Peter Clark: A red-nosed reindeer lights the way to better writing

Roy Peter Clark: A red-nosed reindeer lights the way to better writing

Roy Peter ClarkEDITOR’S NOTE: In the spirit of the giving season, the Poynter Institute gave us permission to use this piece (first published by Poynter Dec. 10) in which Roy Peter Clark teaches…
Want to make your headlines sing? Try writing to the beats of "Hamilton"

Want to make your headlines sing? Try writing to the beats of “Hamilton”

As a newish multiplatform editor at The Washington Post, I’m always looking for help writing great headlines. My mind isn’t naturally filled with puns, I haven’t read reams of poetry…
Thoughts on voice: What it is (and isn't). And how to find yours

Thoughts on voice: What it is (and isn’t). And how to find yours

Growing up in a family of Chinese immigrant mathematicians and scientists, then ditching my PhD in biology for a career in journalism makes me somewhat of a maverick. But that…
Telling the video story: Scatter visual breadcrumbs, keep the camera steady and shoot from the heart

Telling the video story: Scatter visual breadcrumbs, keep the camera steady and shoot from the heart

Eric Seals on the secret to successful video: It's about the story, not the gear
Mic drop? A veteran longform writer trades notebook for headphones, text for sound

Mic drop? A veteran longform writer trades notebook for headphones, text for sound

Cynthia Gorney fumbled with gear and interviews to report her first podcast