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Nieman Storyboard
@niemanstoryboard.org
880 followers 45 following 120 posts
A publication of the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard, Nieman Storyboard explores the art and craft of narrative nonfiction—across all genres and platforms.

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Nieman Storyboard @niemanstoryboard.org · Feb 13
Every Friday, the Nieman Storyboard newsletter (written by @markarms.bsky.social) features the best in narrative nonfiction, with insights on the craft of journalism and storytelling.

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#longreads #podcasts #documentaries #booksky
Nieman Storyboard
Reposted by Nieman Storyboard
markarms.bsky.social
My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org:

Featuring @sasha-bonet.bsky.social and @cmtapper.bsky.social, @pamelacolloff.bsky.social, @evrat.bsky.social + Charlotte mag tributes from @michaelngraff.bsky.social @tommytomlinson.bsky.social @ncrabbithole.com

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/11/14/t...
The art of listening - Nieman Storyboard
Sasha Bonét on structuring a memoir. Plus: Pamela Colloff on getting unstuck, European Press Prize, and more
niemanstoryboard.org
November 14, 2025 at 2:28 PM
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markarms.bsky.social
New @niemanstoryboard.org podcast episode! Loved this @cmtapper.bsky.social conversation with @sasha-bonet.bsky.social about her new book, “The Waterbearers: A Memoir of Mothers and Daughters.”

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/11/13/s...

#booksky #longreads #podcasts
Sasha Bonét on ‘leaving room for the story to shape itself’ and how a family home can become a character - Nieman Storyboard
The writer and cultural critic breaks down her approach on interviewing, research, and story structure for her memoir, “The Waterbearers”
niemanstoryboard.org
November 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"I wanted to say, ‘Look, this is going to be a piece about lots of stuff, but it's also going to be about this desperately wrong problem in our life.’”
Behind the Scenes: Burkhard Bilger weaves humor and history into a story about teeth for The New Yorker - Nieman Storyboard
The New Yorker staff writer shares his own dental history to tell a story about America's ailing health care system
niemanstoryboard.org
November 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
“Look at the art gods working on my behalf!”
Danyel Smith on developing taste as a writer and building confidence to tell your own story - Nieman Storyboard
The award-winning journalist, author, and producer shares lessons from across many forms and genres — from running Vibe magazine to writing her memoir, “Shine Bright”
niemanstoryboard.org
November 7, 2025 at 6:33 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"When Bill Fong approaches the lane, 15-pound bowling ball in hand, he tries not to breathe. He tries not to think about not breathing."
Meet the main characters: How six writers introduce their subjects to the reader - Nieman Storyboard
From the Nieman Storyboard archives: the descriptions, the scenes, and the internal thoughts that bring characters to life in narrative nonfiction
niemanstoryboard.org
November 7, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Reposted by Nieman Storyboard
markarms.bsky.social
My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org: Featuring election week, @joeposnanski.com, @sho-walter.bsky.social, Michael J. Mooney, Vincent Beiser, Julian Brave NoiseCat, and @hrishikesh.co

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/11/07/h...

#longreads #booksky
How we reveal our character - Nieman Storyboard
Scenes from an election week. Plus: Selling a book proposal and the value of a ‘flop’
niemanstoryboard.org
November 7, 2025 at 2:26 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"I’ve turned to these craft books time and time again, and I never seem to outgrow them."
The Nieman Storyboard guide to books on storytelling - Nieman Storyboard
Journalists, authors, producers, filmmakers, and Nieman Storyboard readers share more than 40 books that inspire their work.
niemanstoryboard.org
November 6, 2025 at 6:23 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"What appear to be constraints actually open up the piece to immense creativity."
Technology still demands a story - Nieman Storyboard
Sam Wolson on finding the right medium for the right story. Plus: Terry Gross on 50 years of ‘Fresh Air’ and using narrative structure in interviews
niemanstoryboard.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:16 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"You think that you know what your story is, and you want them to speak to this, but they go over here to some other place entirely. Let it happen."
‘Surprise is magic in journalism’ - Nieman Storyboard
Author Claudia Rowe on writing about the foster care system. Plus: Keeping your day job while publishing books with Erin Somers
niemanstoryboard.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:23 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"I’m used to convincing my subjects that their quiet lives are shimmering and gorgeous and worth talking about, but it’s been harder to convince myself of that about my own."
Susan Orlean tells her own story - Nieman Storyboard
The New Yorker writer's new memoir, “Joyride.” Plus: Kate Sosin on covering trans issues and avoiding burnout.
niemanstoryboard.org
November 5, 2025 at 1:16 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
“I still very much believe it’s possible to open people’s hearts and minds through personal writing. And I find the identification that takes place between writer and reader to be incredibly valuable.”
Storytelling with humility (and teeth) - Nieman Storyboard
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
niemanstoryboard.org
November 4, 2025 at 6:23 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"For larger pieces I abide by the index-card method. After I’m done reporting I start jotting down every scene I’ve got, every description I have, every person I’ve interviewed, every point I want to make, onto a series of cards and lay them out on the floor."
From index cards to interviews: Eight journalists on reporting and writing scenes - Nieman Storyboard
Nieman Storyboard's archive of lessons and advice from some of the most memorable narrative nonfiction
niemanstoryboard.org
November 4, 2025 at 1:16 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"He pushed us to find the universal meaning in our stories. … Over the years, I’ve come to think about universal meaning in existential terms. It’s the feeling that underlies everything about why we tell, read, think, and live by stories. Who are we and why?"

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/10/31/s...
Storytelling with humility (and teeth) - Nieman Storyboard
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
niemanstoryboard.org
November 3, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Reposted by Nieman Storyboard
markarms.bsky.social
My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org: @tromano.bsky.social in conversation with Burkhard Bilger, plus: Dana Hedgpeth & Sari Horwitz, @saribotton.bsky.social, @gretarainbow.com, and Erika Hayasaki pays tribute to Richard Kipling.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/10/31/s...
Storytelling with humility (and teeth) - Nieman Storyboard
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
niemanstoryboard.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:56 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
“I'm a throwback. I think I'm kind of more in the mold of Joseph Mitchell, or one of the older music writers who would find odd corners of American culture and write about them.” @tromano.bsky.social in conversation with Burkhard Bilger.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/10/31/b...
Behind the Scenes: Burkhard Bilger weaves humor and history into a story about teeth for The New Yorker - Nieman Storyboard
The New Yorker staff writer shares his own dental history to tell a story about America's ailing health care system
niemanstoryboard.org
October 31, 2025 at 1:44 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
Journalists, authors, producers, filmmakers, and Nieman Storyboard readers share more than 40 books that inspire their work.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/04/17/n...

#longreads #podcasts #booksky
The Nieman Storyboard guide to books on storytelling - Nieman Storyboard
Journalists, authors, producers, filmmakers, and Nieman Storyboard readers share more than 40 books that inspire their work.
niemanstoryboard.org
October 25, 2025 at 5:23 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"I'm a parent and I think there's something universal to the story about just asking … what would you do for your kids?"
The New Yorker's Sam Wolson on interactive storytelling about a mother and her trans teenager leaving the U.S. - Nieman Storyboard
The Interactives Visual Features Editor discusses the intersection of VR, interactive design, documentary work, and reporting
niemanstoryboard.org
October 25, 2025 at 8:16 AM
niemanstoryboard.org
From the Nieman Storyboard archives: Lessons from the writing of Susan Orlean

niemanstoryboard.org/tag/susan-or...
October 24, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Nieman Storyboard
markarms.bsky.social
My Friday newsletter for @niemanstoryboard.org:

Featuring @claudiarowe.bsky.social, @somers.bsky.social, @sarafredman.bsky.social, @bartona104.bsky.social, @jatomic.bsky.social, @audioflux.bsky.social, @ryanbeckwith.bsky.social, Tat Bellamy-Walker...

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/10/24/s...
‘Surprise is magic in journalism’ - Nieman Storyboard
Author Claudia Rowe on writing about the foster care system. Plus: Keeping your day job while publishing books with Erin Somers
niemanstoryboard.org
October 24, 2025 at 1:21 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"One task of the first paragraph is to signal to readers what kind of piece they’re getting into—its style, mood, reportorial approach, and so on — not just what kind of subject matter will be addressed."
Embedded war reporting with courage and common sense - Nieman Storyboard
"Your eyes and ears and nose should be wide open the whole time." ~ Luke Mogelson of The New Yorker on reporting from the front lines
niemanstoryboard.org
October 24, 2025 at 8:16 AM
niemanstoryboard.org
"It's rare for an editor and reporter to have such a long-lasting collaboration across multiple publications. And for many journalists and freelancers working in the creator economy, it feels like a luxury to have an editor at all."
Everybody needs an editor - Nieman Storyboard
Michael Kruse and Bill Duryea reflect on a 16-year partnership. Plus: Telling a family's story, without everyone's participation.
niemanstoryboard.org
October 23, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by Nieman Storyboard
claudiarowe.bsky.social
What a pleasure to be interviewed about WARDS OF THE STATE by a master of the craft. Thank you @markarms.bsky.social and @niemanstoryboard.org!
October 23, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Nieman Storyboard
markarms.bsky.social
On this week's @niemanstoryboard.org podcast, I spoke with @claudiarowe.bsky.social, author of “Wards of the State: The Long Shadow of American Foster Care,” which has been named a finalist for the 2025 National Book Awards.

niemanstoryboard.org/2025/10/23/n...

@nationalbook.bsky.social #booksky
National Book Award finalist Claudia Rowe on writing about teens and the foster care system - Nieman Storyboard
The author of ‘Wards of the State’ on preparing sources to be part of a book and covering the foster care system-to-incarceration pipeline
niemanstoryboard.org
October 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM
niemanstoryboard.org
"I’m used to convincing my subjects that their quiet lives are shimmering and gorgeous and worth talking about, but it’s been harder to convince myself of that about my own. Yet here I am. This is my story; please listen." — @susanorlean.bsky.social
Susan Orlean tells her own story - Nieman Storyboard
The New Yorker writer's new memoir, “Joyride.” Plus: Kate Sosin on covering trans issues and avoiding burnout.
niemanstoryboard.org
October 23, 2025 at 8:16 AM
niemanstoryboard.org
"The trick — and of course, it is not a trick — is to choose and use just what is needed to paint a picture and pull readers into the moment. Too little and the picture is fuzzy or incomplete or, worse, confusing. Too much and the reader is overwhelmed."
From index cards to interviews: Eight journalists on reporting and writing scenes - Nieman Storyboard
Nieman Storyboard's archive of lessons and advice from some of the most memorable narrative nonfiction
niemanstoryboard.org
October 22, 2025 at 5:23 PM