Narrative News

On bullets and planes that fall from the sky -- and, somewhere in the middle, love

On bullets and planes that fall from the sky — and, somewhere in the middle, love

This could have been a week of love — at least of the commercialized Hallmark variety. But hearts and flowers didn’t prevail for even one day before yet another person…
A tribute to audio storytelling, and to the memory of bedtime stories

A tribute to audio storytelling, and to the memory of bedtime stories

This is a very “audio” week on Storyboard, and I’d like to have more of them. Storytelling has so many forms, and sometimes we hear stories better than we read…
Forget the politics of immigration -- read about the real lives of immigration

Forget the politics of immigration — read about the real lives of immigration

This week on Storyboard we spotlighted some wonderful journalism (and songwriting) about immigration. I know I might be biased, because I spent the bulk of my career at the Los…
A salute to storytelling in the Middle East: Syria, Saudi Arabia and Shadid

A salute to storytelling in the Middle East: Syria, Saudi Arabia and Shadid

This week we spotlighted the storytelling of the Middle East on Storyboard. Too often the coverage is of the bird’s-eye-view variety, either because of dangerous conditions or cultural differences. But…
The sorrows of Ireland, from Dan Barry, Frank McCourt and Dolores O'Riordan

The sorrows of Ireland, from Dan Barry, Frank McCourt and Dolores O’Riordan

The words “lyricism” and “Ireland” seem entwined. One of my favorite poets is W.B. Yeats (oh, his “Stolen Child”). More recently, the playwright and screenwriter Martin McDonagh, born in London…
For the New Year, a little bit of hope and a little bit of help

For the New Year, a little bit of hope and a little bit of help

Friends sometimes tell me to take off my rose-colored spectacles, but I was determined to start out 2018 with a bit of inspiration on Storyboard — from some of our…
Some legends of longform on the stories we need next

Some legends of longform on the stories we need next

As audience development editor at Longreads, it’s my job to encourage readers to find and share unforgettable stories. Stories that help us understand this world. Stories that imagine a better…
Want to read some of the best literary journalism of 2017? We've got you covered

Want to read some of the best literary journalism of 2017? We’ve got you covered

A weekly roundup of some favorite things, for your reading and listening pleasure
"Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn't show." (Haunted by this.)

“Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn’t show.” (Haunted by this.)

The final half of this week’s One Great Sentence has stayed with me: “Something waits beneath it; the whole story doesn’t show.” It’s about the winter landscape, but couldn’t it also apply…
What does poetry have to do with journalism? Quite a bit, actually. Read on.

What does poetry have to do with journalism? Quite a bit, actually. Read on.

It was Poetry Week on Storyboard, which is pushing the envelope a bit for a site that explores the art and craft of narrative nonfiction. But I would argue that…