Help for narrative writers

Roy Peter Clark has another outstanding series on writing under way. Check out his series, "Creating the Breakfast Serial: A Starter Kit." I've plugged Roy's advice frequently in these tips and he's right on target again. If you would like to write a serial narrative, he's breaking down what it takes in helpful and simple detail. I started with the second installation, a 12-step program.

At the end of this column are links to the first piece and an "about the author" explainer. I link you to the 12-step piece because I thought it was the most helpful. If you only read one, read that one (and once you've read it, I suspect you'll want to read more).

Thanks to Eddie Wooten, who called my attention to the Rocky Mountain News narrative and multi-media series "The Crossing" by reporter Kevin Vaughan, photographer Chris Schneider and videographers Tim Skillern and Laressa Bachelor. It's the centerpiece story now at the Nieman Narrative digest, which is always a good place to look for excellent examples of storytelling.

If you haven't made a recent visit to WeissWrite, the site of writing coach Dick Weiss, check it out. He has great advice for writers as well as links to some good writing.

This piece I've read on by Dave Denison is the best I've read on the passing of the great Molly Ivins: