Q&A: Personal essay writing tips from Roy Peter Clark, ‘America’s writing coach’ In his 21st book, out this month, Clark explains how everyday objects, clear focus and authentic voice can transform an essay May 20, 2025 Mallary Tenore Tarpley
Get ready to write your book: 5 tips on becoming an author A page a day equals a book a year April 23, 2025 Roy Peter Clark
How can you make time for book writing? A new Poynter program will examine this and other writing conundrums April 14, 2025 Kristen Hare
What I learned from the writing teacher who changed my work forever A reflection on Donald Murray’s timeless lessons — on the writing process and problems all writers must solve — as Poynter turns 50 March 13, 2025 Roy Peter Clark
How the shortest story can pack the biggest punch A 20-year-old article about a toll collector inspired a short story about the fentanyl crisis that won an inaugural Poynter Journalism Prize December 16, 2024 Roy Peter Clark
Breaking down Donald Trump’s use of the word ‘hate’ ‘I HATE TAYLOR SWIFT!’ Trump posted after the entertainer endorsed his opponent. There’s a lot of meaning in one of those four uppercase words. September 25, 2024 Roy Peter Clark
What I learned about writing from watching the Olympic games Whether you’re writing or completing moves that defy the limitations of the human body, you must stick the landing — without making a splash August 12, 2024 Roy Peter Clark
The Journalism of Why: How we struggle to answer the hardest question In the wake of a shooting, there are frantic efforts to answer the question: Why? The public wants a definitive cause. We may never get one. July 19, 2024 Roy Peter Clark
The best Pulitzer leads (or ledes) in 2024 Longtime writing coach Roy Peter Clark gives this year’s award to a gripping narrative about two octogenarians who died in a hurricane May 20, 2024 Roy Peter Clark
Shakespeare and the power of wordplay … featuring the pun that launched my career Four words from Hamlet collide with multiple meanings and offer a stimulant for the brain as strong as the most sophisticated puzzle April 23, 2024 Roy Peter Clark
How politicians abuse language to magnify fear and reflect grievances Orwell, Trump, and the zombie apocalypse: An essay about diss, dys, and dat March 27, 2024 Roy Peter Clark
What those covering the Key Bridge collapse can learn from reports about the 1980 Skyway disaster The journalism about Florida's Skyway disaster is full of lessons for those who are now called upon to make sense of the unthinkable March 26, 2024 Roy Peter Clark
The original Swifties: What writers can learn from Tom Swift’s adverbs ‘Let’s speed up the tempo,’ said Taylor swiftly. February 9, 2024 Roy Peter Clark
Yes, Virginia, it is OK for writers to play with story form As an example, Here's a lighthearted take on how PolitiFact might examine the existence of a certain Mr. Kringle. December 22, 2023 Roy Peter Clark
What I learned about writing from watching Hallmark Christmas movies Each one is similar, employing a number of archetypes, bending toward stereotypes. But they might be the antidote to what ails you. December 20, 2023 Roy Peter Clark
