Search results for “so you want to write a book”

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Tommy Tomlinson: making words work for a living

A few years ago an intern did a study of the writing that showed up in our newspaper. He ran our stories through a computer program that measured the reading…
October 27, 2009
Interview with Mary Gaitskill: lessons from "Lost Cat"

Interview with Mary Gaitskill: lessons from "Lost Cat"

Today we offer the second installment of a two-part look at narrative nonfiction from Granta’s summer issue. I spoke with author Mary Gaitskill about “Lost Cat,” her memoir on the…
October 6, 2009

First Person Singular: It's not just about you

Getting stuck next to a compulsive talker is one of the worst things that can happen at a dinner party or on a long bus ride. Even worse: the self-centered…
June 28, 2006

Jon Franklin interviewed by Ole Soennichsen

What is your advice on structuring a story while reporting? You report for structure the same way you report for anything else. When you’re reporting for dramatic narrative, you’re reporting…
November 18, 2004

A Writer’s Essay: Seeking the Extraordinary in the Ordinary

This essay is based on presentations given in advanced feature writing seminars the author taught at The Washington Post. On Thinking About Intimate Journalism It’s the kiss of death for anyone aspiring…
March 28, 1997
Sex and cats: The 2022 people's choice awards

Sex and cats: The 2022 people’s choice awards

Analytics measure more and more in our lives. I receive a report every week sending me stats that show how Storyboard posts performed on eight different measures. Eight.Everything seems to…
December 28, 2022
Bear essentials and beyond

Bear essentials and beyond

A few shares on bears and books, puppies and propaganda, football and failures of leadership
July 28, 2022
The art of listening

The art of listening

Sasha Bonét on structuring a memoir. Plus: Pamela Colloff on getting unstuck, European Press Prize, and more
November 14, 2025
Sasha Bonét on ‘leaving room for the story to shape itself’ and how a family home can become a character

Sasha Bonét on ‘leaving room for the story to shape itself’ and how a family home can become a character

The writer and cultural critic breaks down her approach on interviewing, research, and story structure for her memoir, “The Waterbearers”
November 13, 2025
Storytelling with humility (and teeth)

Storytelling with humility (and teeth)

The New Yorker's Burkhard Bilger goes to ‘Molar City.’ Plus: Dana Hedgpeth on history’s lessons, and a tribute to a beloved Los Angeles Times mentor
October 31, 2025