Roy has taught writing at every level--to school children and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors--for more than 30 years, and has spoken about the writer's craft on The Oprah Winfrey Show, NPR and Today; at conferences from Singapore to Brazil; and at news organizations from The New York Times to the Sowetan in South Africa. He is the author of "Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer," the book and the blog.
I have been reading more poetry lately, and not just because April was National Poetry Month. For reasons I can’t explain, I have not found poetry; rather it has re-discovered me. Perhaps the re-connection was a natural result of my… Read more
In January 1967, I began my first serious study of poetry under the tutelage of a brilliant young professor named Rene Fortin.
The poetry was 20th century, described as Modern, and took us from William Carlos Williams to Sylvia Plath.… Read more
My friend Jay Rosen has posted another useful essay on his blog Pressthink and asks provocative questions with important implications for every writer.
Rosen begins with a graphic that shows the steady decline in news media credibility… Read more
I assume that the Sept. 11 attacks will have an effect on people for decades to come. I often associate this effect with the assassination of JFK, another story that keeps evolving.
And now, once again, on the 100th anniversary… Read more
Does it feel as if we’ve had more than our share of disasters in the last five years? Make a list: earthquakes, tsunamis, tornadoes galore. Tractor trailers flipped into the air like Styrofoam.
Don’t forget the man-made varieties: oil spill… Read more
More than 300 writers shared their ideas about writing at last weekend’s “Narrative Arc” conference, which Poynter co-sponsored. I delivered a keynote address and then shared a spot on four panel discussions.
My favorite was titled “Revising Before Your… Read more
If it is the mission of journalism to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted, then Ira Glass found a perfect public radio story in the theatrical testimony of Mike Daisey.
Here’s what Glass, host of “This American Life,” said… Read more
For most of four decades now, I have been talking about writing with Don and Jason Fry. Don, who directed my graduate work at Stony Brook University, has become one of the world’s most respected and well-traveled writing coaches.… Read more
I get this question a lot these days: What makes a story a story? Every time I think I know the answer, someone changes the question.
Can you really tell stories in newspapers? Is there a place for storytelling in… Read more
Our dog Rex, a Jack Russell terrier, turned 18 years old this week. He was mentioned in The New York Times a few years ago; I was quoted as saying that my wife Karen and I loved that dog more… Read more
