Bookmarking this fantastic advice from Jacqui Banaszynski on Literary Forensics for my next story (and those that follow): niemanstoryboard.org/stories/litera… Writers: What are your bad habits? I rely on too-long quotes and have a tendency to over-explain and toward passive voice, among others...

Bronwen Dickey Pamela Colloff Corey Johnson Audra Burch Don't mean to brag about my technical prowess here, but my two fave tools are 1) timeline in a Word doc, and 2) index cards, with one scene or subject per card, that I can shuffle around on the floor. (h/t to Jacqui Banaszynski for showing me the second one)

Bronwen Dickey Pamela Colloff Corey Johnson Audra Burch Jacqui Banaszynski When I feel overwhelmed (which happens a lot), I try my best to unbundle: identify the best scenes, then find the order that gives each the most power. Sometimes I write the ending first — then write toward it. (And sometimes I just flounder in self-doubt, awaiting epiphany.)

"The give-and-ask culture has its own language and etiquette. What has stood out to me: Giving is unconditional; descriptions are honest; asks are respected; and nothing ever veers into politics," writes Jacqui Banaszynski x.com/niemanstory/st…

My latest annotation for Nieman Storyboard, diving into a terrific narrative by the WaPo's Peter Jamison about a family divided by vaccine politics. Nieman Storyboard Jacqui Banaszynski niemanstoryboard.org/stories/a-prof…

I was thrilled to work with jason begay on this piece for Nieman Storyboard about Dana Hedgpeth and her excellent expoloration of the true history of the day we call Thanksgiving. niemanstoryboard.org/stories/two-na…

I know what these guys will be doing for a few hours on Christmas Day.

It’s impossible to state how much I gained as a writer this week, Jacqui Banaszynski. Many thanks for sharing your copious insights! My verbs and hot spots are most appreciative:)

We mostly learned and wrote outdoors last week, under the sun and stars of the Sonoran Desert. Nothing like it. A few seats left for next week's redux. Give yourself a last-minute gift and join us. madelineartschool.com/product/crafti…

Thanks. I had so much rich fun.

Sometimes it's better to just go for it. Consider doing that and joining us at a writing workshop Tanque Verde Ranch, at the edge of Saguaro National Park, next week. A couple of slots left in a small but energetic gathering. madelineartschool.com/product/crafti…

Would love to see you on magical Madeline. I owe you a response to your messages. Miss you, and thrilled by the work you're doing.

Now Susan Meyers and "Everywhere Babies" is under attack in Florida. Apparently because one illustration shows two men gazing in love at a baby. washingtonpost.com/parenting/2022…

Push from NLA and other news orgs to restrict Pulitzer eligibility to transparency RE newroom diversity. niemanlab.org/2022/04/journa…

If the 2,300-plus texts that Mark Meadows "selectively" provided and they say what they appear to say, you have to wonder what he isn't sharing. cnn.com/2022/04/25/pol…

Wow. Thanks. j

Maybe they'll invite Herschel Walker to be the next ethics lecturer.