“I believe that the best magazine articles have at least two—and better if three—elements to them: access, narrative, and disclosure. That is: on-the-ground reporting; a story arc with a beginning, middle, and end; and revelations that move the scholarship forward. A great magazine article must also always have at its core a measure of conflict. We... See more
We chase what's sexy and miss what matters
- Excitement starts something. Execution completes it.
- Speed makes a good story. Velocity makes a difference.
- Complexity makes you sound smart. Focusing on the basics shows you are.
- New commands attention. Old offers insight.
...what attracts human attention is change. ...if the temperature around you changes, if the phone rings — that gets your attention. The way in which a story begins is a starting event that creates a moment of change.