Nieman Storyboard

Finding the narrative in small-town libraries and bars: How Keith O’Brien told the origin story of Larry Bird

Story Craft

Finding the narrative in small-town libraries and bars: How Keith O’Brien told the origin story of Larry Bird

For his book “Heartland,” O’Brien visited the basketball legend’s hometown in French Lick, Indiana, to uncover a story never told

Emilia Wisniewski

Look beyond the headlines — and five other lessons for journalists from Power of Narrative 2026

Story Craft

Look beyond the headlines — and five other lessons for journalists from Power of Narrative 2026

Storytelling advice from Ken Burns, the Boston Globe, The New Yorker’s Sarah Stillman, The Atavist, Jabari Asim, and Keith O’Brien

Emilia Wisniewski

How Jad Abumrad transports listeners to a legendary club in Lagos for the acclaimed podcast, ‘Fela Kuti: Fear No Man’

Story Annotations

How Jad Abumrad transports listeners to a legendary club in Lagos for the acclaimed podcast, ‘Fela Kuti: Fear No Man’

Abumrad and his editor, Ben Adair, created a groundbreaking montage of music and voices for their episode “Enter the Shrine”

Julia Barton

Four lessons for journalists from Patrick Radden Keefe’s latest book, ‘London Falling’

Story Craft

Four lessons for journalists from Patrick Radden Keefe’s latest book, ‘London Falling’

The New Yorker staff writer and bestselling author speaks at the Power of Narrative conference about investigating a 19-year-old’s mysterious death

Emilia Wisniewski

Nieman Storyboard’s guides on storytelling

The art of pitching: How to sell your book or story idea

Story Craft

The art of pitching: How to sell your book or story idea

Editors from The Atavist, Wired, and more share what they’re looking for in a story or book proposal.
How to craft a narrative: Everything you need to know

Story Craft

How to craft a narrative: Everything you need to know

A four-part series on the key elements of nonfiction storytelling, including scene, character and endings.

Lauren Kessler

The Nieman Storyboard guide to books on storytelling

Story Craft

The Nieman Storyboard guide to books on storytelling

Journalists, authors, producers, filmmakers, and Nieman Storyboard readers share more than 40 books that inspire their work.

Mallary Tenore Tarpley

How to interview for narrative vs. news

Story Craft

How to interview for narrative vs. news

From broad and open-ended to narrow and specific: Journalist Kim Cross’s five-part series on interviewing for narrative nonfiction.

Kim Cross

Strictly Q&A

Journalist Tricia Romano on the pros and cons of writing an oral history

Podcast Strictly Q&A

Journalist Tricia Romano on the pros and cons of writing an oral history

The author of ‘The Freaks Came Out to Write,’ knew that her book about The Village Voice needed to be an oral history. She soon learned the storytelling challenges that came with it

Mark Armstrong

Soledad O’Brien on character-driven storytelling in documentaries, and the power of being a witness

Podcast Strictly Q&A

Soledad O’Brien on character-driven storytelling in documentaries, and the power of being a witness

The veteran journalist and documentarian shares how her late mother’s act of defiance is a practice we should all embody

Christina M. Tapper

Leah Sottile and Ryan Haas on deconstructing ‘true crime’ in podcasting and journalism

Podcast Strictly Q&A

Leah Sottile and Ryan Haas on deconstructing ‘true crime’ in podcasting and journalism

The team behind ‘Hush’ discuss the ethics of narrative journalism and creating a serialized podcast that's sensitive to victims and families

Marina Leigh

Story Annotations

How Jad Abumrad transports listeners to a legendary club in Lagos for the acclaimed podcast, ‘Fela Kuti: Fear No Man’

Story Annotations

How Jad Abumrad transports listeners to a legendary club in Lagos for the acclaimed podcast, ‘Fela Kuti: Fear No Man’

Abumrad and his editor, Ben Adair, created a groundbreaking montage of music and voices for their episode “Enter the Shrine”

Julia Barton

Annotation: How Sophie Elmhirst wrote a bestselling nonfiction book that reads like fiction

Story Annotations

Annotation: How Sophie Elmhirst wrote a bestselling nonfiction book that reads like fiction

The author of ‘A Marriage at Sea’ found her voice — and a deep archive of diaries, films, and interviews — to tell the true story of Maurice and Maralyn Bailey

Mallary Tenore Tarpley

Annotation: Irin Carmon follows the experiences of five pregnant women in the post-Dobbs era

Story Annotations

Annotation: Irin Carmon follows the experiences of five pregnant women in the post-Dobbs era

‘I felt a sense of connection, rage, and sadness about what was going to happen to anyone who was pregnant in this country, whether they wanted to be or not’

Carly Stern

Annotation: How Brendan O’Meara Reconstructs Steve Prefontaine's Legendary Races in ‘The Front Runner’

Story Annotations

Annotation: How Brendan O’Meara Reconstructs Steve Prefontaine's Legendary Races in ‘The Front Runner’

The journalist, podcaster, and biographer shares tips on writing scenes you can’t witness firsthand, and getting in the head of characters no longer around to interview

Kim Cross

Story Craft

Finding the narrative in small-town libraries and bars: How Keith O’Brien told the origin story of Larry Bird

Finding the narrative in small-town libraries and bars: How Keith O’Brien told the origin story of Larry Bird

Emilia Wisniewski

Look beyond the headlines — and five other lessons for journalists from Power of Narrative 2026

Look beyond the headlines — and five other lessons for journalists from Power of Narrative 2026

Emilia Wisniewski

Four lessons for journalists from Patrick Radden Keefe’s latest book, ‘London Falling’

Four lessons for journalists from Patrick Radden Keefe’s latest book, ‘London Falling’

Emilia Wisniewski

How Stephen Rodrick prepared for his story about ICE occupying a small town

How Stephen Rodrick prepared for his story about ICE occupying a small town

Mark Armstrong

Nieman Storyboard Newsletter

Your next story is outside

From the Editor

Your next story is outside

Plus: Tell us your favorite graduation speech, ProPublica's new podcast, and a rejoinder to AI slop

Mark Armstrong

Behind the scenes as a Pulitzer juror

From the Editor

Behind the scenes as a Pulitzer juror

And Aaron Parsley dedicates the Feature Writing honor to his nephew. Plus: 2027 Nieman Fellows, and IRE Award winners

Mark Armstrong

Tell us your best advice for journalists in the current moment

From the Editor

Tell us your best advice for journalists in the current moment

Plus: Poynter and Headliner awards, a guide to reported and braided essays, and a history of The New Yorker's short stories

Mark Armstrong

Making ‘a documentary that you could dance to’

From the Editor

Making ‘a documentary that you could dance to’

The story behind Peabody winner ‘Fela Kuti: Fear No Man.’ Plus: Is nonfiction book publishing broken?

Mark Armstrong