In my twenties, I read Ed Sanders’ book, The Family, about the Manson murders. Sanders had founded The Fugs (a pre-Talking Heads, raunchy, literate folk-rock band) and is a poet. He’d won deep access, and wrote, not in news-voice, but as a friend who’d gone and figured things out, who was present and human, out to comprehend that ghastly contortion of people and culture, who understood how to make that mayhem coherent and help readers come to know those involved. The book brought Sanders’ wry, factual, candid, ethical and non-official sensibility to a weird news story, and taught me the strength and authority possible with an independent, stylish, reflective voice. That understanding has infused my work as a writer and teacher, consultant, nonfiction conference founder, and program director.
RECENTLY PUBLISHED ARTICLES
A Cutting–Edge brain surgery for tremore, without surgery
Surgeons are using focused ultrasound waves to treat essential tremor.
It might help people with Parkinson's, brain cancer, and even ALS.
Boston Globe Sunday Magazine, 11/27/2019 cover
OR: Read Here.
NOTES FROM THE DUGOUT
THE TIMELESS BOYHOOD OF AN AMERICAN HERO
NYT Sunday Magazine, 9/11/83 cover
Excerpts from books
CAN GORBACHEV FEED RUSSIA?
NYT Sunday Magazine, 4/9/89
BENIGN VIOLENCE
"sometimes surgeons are just lucky" according to one doctor.
But a surgeon's luck is a matter of skill and character."
The Atlantic. 251 (May 1983): 46(22).
CRAFT ARTICLES
NARRATIVE JOURNALISM COMES OF AGE
Nieman Reports
The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University
Vol. 54 No. 3, 10/1/2000
BREAKABLE RULES FOR LITERARY JOURNALISTS
Ballantine Books: Preface to Literary Journalism
Coedited by Mark Kramer and Norman Sims, 1/1/1995
WHAT IS NARRATIVE
9/29/2003
FOREIGN LANGUAGE ARTICLES
Regras rompíveis do Jornalismo Literário
