Story Craft

So you want to write a book? Part 1: Have a strong story and resilient ego

So you want to write a book? Part 1: Have a strong story and resilient ego

Newspaper reporter Bryan Denson outlines how he went from rejection to multiple book contracts
February 22, 2022
Bryan Denson
Sticking a story together — and nailing the structure

Sticking a story together — and nailing the structure

A top Danish journalist uses a one-word theme and color-coded Post-its to find the path through her stories
February 2, 2022
Line Vaaben
An editor's sensitive guide to interviewing victims of trauma

An editor’s sensitive guide to interviewing victims of trauma

Narrative editor Jan Winburn created a class at the University of Montana focused on "The Worst Day Ever: Writing about Trauma"
January 20, 2022
Jan Winburn
Reconstructing 72 hours of life and death under the "heat dome"

Reconstructing 72 hours of life and death under the “heat dome”

EDITOR’S NOTE: Temperatures in the Pacific Northwest were sitting in the single digits, with rare snow in the cities along the I-5 corridor, as this piece came in for editing.…
January 11, 2022
Stuart Tomlinson
#7 rule of pitching: Prove your skills and your passion

#7 rule of pitching: Prove your skills and your passion

Pitching a story you want to pursue is not the time to hide your light under that proverbial bushel — or to sell what you can't deliver
November 10, 2021
Jacqui Banaszynski
Nut grafs: Triptych III ~ Sex, Springsteen and late-night rambles

Nut grafs: Triptych III ~ Sex, Springsteen and late-night rambles

EDITOR’S NOTE: Last week and this, we’re offering support to editors and educators for how to guide writers through an effective nut graf — however you spell it and whatever…
October 29, 2021
Jacqui Banaszynski
Nut grafs: Triptych II ~ Pointed questions, including WHOGAS?

Nut grafs: Triptych II ~ Pointed questions, including WHOGAS?

EDITOR’S NOTE: Last week and this, we’re offering support to editors and educators for how to guide writers through an effective nut graf — however you spell it and whatever…
October 28, 2021
Jacqui Banaszynski
Nut grafs: A triptych of teaching approaches

Nut grafs: A triptych of teaching approaches

EDITOR’S NOTE: Last week and this, we’re offering support to editors and educators for how to guide writers through an effective nut graf — however you spell it and whatever…
October 27, 2021
Jacqui Banaszynski
Nut grafs: Seven steps to score a winning story structure

Nut grafs: Seven steps to score a winning story structure

A sports journalist now teaches college students how to build a story from the basics up and find the hard-to-hit nut
October 26, 2021
Lori Shontz
Nut grafs: Learning from literature, music, movie trailers and "the bones" of stories

Nut grafs: Learning from literature, music, movie trailers and “the bones” of stories

How Pulitzer-winning writer Tom French coaxes summary nut grafs (or sentences) from students and pros: They talk, he listens
October 21, 2021
Thomas French