Personal Essays

The power of the pun, from Shakespeare to Walter Cronkite to Roy Peter Clark

How a bit of word play launched Clark's career as the renowned writing teacher at the Poynter Institute and author of 20 books on writing

By Roy Peter Clark • April 23, 2024

William Shakespeare and Walter Cronkite

Read More

From the Editor

A time capsule of journalism’s romantic age

The editor visits the Hong Kong Foreign Correspondents' Club, where the company is fascinating, the drinks are cheap and the memories are deep

By Jacqui Banaszynski • April 22, 2024

Story Craft

The why, who and how of interviews

A reporter/editor/teacher recommends stepping back to take a crucial first step of thought and planning to ensure effective interviews

By Jacqui Banaszynski • April 19, 2024

Recent Stories

Featured topics

Writing tips Freelancing The Pitch The Pivot Field Testing The Power of Narrative conference
Show section navigation Hide section navigation ⨂

Narrative News

RIP Jon Franklin: Inspirational writer, teacher and advocate of true stories

By Anne Saker
January 26, 2024

The two-time Pulitzer winner and author of the nonfiction narrative how-to, "Writing for Story," influenced two generations of journalistic masters

Story Craft

Writing in bursts of freedom

By Sophia Chen
January 25, 2024

A science journalist who typically writes to a structure experimented with free-form bursts she learned from playing with paint and music

Story Annotations

How an arts reporter unraveled a controversial and opaque family art dynasty

By Chip Scanlan
January 24, 2024

Rachel Corbett hunted back through generations of art deals, international laws and tax havens to explore suspicions about a family's hidden fortune

From the Editor

Journalism as a practice of wonder

By Jacqui Banaszynski
January 23, 2024

The editor reflects on how a career covering the news valued curiosity and encouraged a life of intellectual exploration

Story Craft

A hockey lover writes a perfect “deke”

By Jacqui Banaszynski
January 19, 2024

In a quick personal post, a veteran journalist executes a disciplined fake that keeps readers engaged — and rewards them with a surprise

Story Annotations

How a business reporter approached a story about sex-content influencers

By Trevor Pyle
January 17, 2024

Drew Harwell peeked behind the screen of OnlyFans, a social media sex site, for The Washington Post's "creator economy" series

Strictly Q&A

David Grann Part 2: Craft wisdom and breaking into narrative nonfiction

By Katia Savchuk
January 11, 2024

The renowned author shares insights on vetting story ideas, meticulous research and revision, the value of editors and pitching The New Yorker

Strictly Q&A

David Grann Part 1: A deep-dive into “The Wager”

By Katia Savchuk
January 10, 2024

The New Yorker writer and bestselling author — who says he's not a “natural writer” —  shares the research and writing process behind his latest book

From the Editor

When journalism is a defense against despair

By Jacqui Banaszynski
January 9, 2024

The editor ponders the role journalism plays in delivering hard news while also representing the best hopes of democracy

Strictly Q&A

When a Pulitzer-winning book is banned

By Carly Stern
January 4, 2024

Robert Samuels' co-authored book about the life and death of George Floyd was labeled inappropriate for students at a Tennessee high school

From the Editor

The power of flexible focus

By Jacqui Banaszynski
January 2, 2024

As a new year begins, the editor reflects on three words that can power our stories — and our aspirations: What happens next?

Narrative News

An editor’s sampler: ICYMI recommendations from 2023

By Jacqui Banaszynski
December 29, 2023

The editor offers a range of 10 posts that teach, surprise, delight — and demonstrate Storyboard's commitment to the community

More stories