Story Annotations

A profile of a newspaper press becomes a requiem for an era

Los Angeles Times veteran Thomas Curwen found professionalism and pride in the last Friday night run of the newspaper's storied presses

By Trevor Pyle • October 31, 2024

Newspaper discards pulled in quality control checks in an early press run of the Los Angeles Times.

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Strictly Q&A

Effective editing: Get on the phone to talk through ideas and problems

After a decade of editing, The Atlantic's Family Editor Julie Beck is going to apply her experience to full-time writing of her own stories

By Carly Stern • October 24, 2024

Story Annotations

Finding a quiet voice in the center of America’s screaming immigration debate

The Washington Post's Ruby Cramer profiled a small-city selectman caught in the crossfire of fear, anger and blame over asylum seekers

By Trevor Pyle • October 17, 2024

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From the Editor

Are you really listening?

By Jacqui Banaszynski
September 17, 2024

The editor ponders the complexity and importance of deep and broad listening skills which tell a fuller story than the usual Q&A

Personal Essays

100 ways to paint (or write) the same thing

By Jill U. Adams
September 12, 2024

A freelance writer learns there is no one "right" way to tell a story, any more than there's one "right" way to make a painting

From the Editor

The power of a note, especially one that says ‘thank you’

By Jacqui Banszynski
September 10, 2024

The editor offers appreciation for the notes of appreciation that have come her way, and the reminder to pay them forward

Short Takes

From majesty to mystery in one graf

By Liz Seegert
September 6, 2024

A Bloomberg Businessweek lede weaves techniques of travel writing and suspense novels to set up a tale of corporate mismanagement

Story Craft

How investigative master Seymour Hersh broke the story of the My Lai massacre

By Richard Read
September 4, 2024

A round-about tip, a dogged pursuit and some creative tactics made the career of a young reporter and helped end a war

Narrative News

Setting up the next chapter of life’s story

By Jacqui Banaszynski
September 2, 2024

After six-plus years, the Storyboard editor is handing the keyboard forward

Personal Essays

Bang that keyboard and jazz up your writing

By Esther Wei-Yun Landhuis
August 30, 2024

A freelance science journalist took up drumming, dared to jam some jazz — and found a way to do fast-jazz story drafts

Story Craft

When you can’t paint over problems and need to tear your story down to the studs

By Joanne Sasvari
August 28, 2024

A kitchen renovation reminds a writer that not every story can be saved without a complete rewrite and a thoughtful blueprint

From the Editor

The allusions and confusions of regional references

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 27, 2024

The editor muses on how cultural references have the power to make writing more intimate and authentic, but can also leave readers out

Story Craft

Think your book is done? Think again

By Mallary Tenore Tarpley
August 22, 2024

After four years reporting, writing and rewriting, a first-time book author sends in her manuscript — then braces for another year-plus of work

From the Editor

Country music lessons

By Jacqui Banaszynski
August 20, 2024

The editor muses on long road trips, limited radio reception and the things she's learned from listening to clear-channel country

Why's This So Good?

Storytelling moves from Taylor Swift

By Cristian Lupșa
August 15, 2024

A forward-thinking journalist danced through 45,000 Fitbit steps, cried three times and came away with nine lessons that could make us better storytellers

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