All the cliched images of writers have something in common—the tough guy with a manual typewriter and a glass of whiskey, the willowy girl perched at a window with a notebook, the misunderstood genius in a garret—they’re always alone. But writing a book is a team effort. Every writer needs an editor, and other help. …
I saved Werner Herzog’s memoir for a year, until I would have time on vacation to thoroughly enjoy the madness, humor, weird asides, extraordinary feats, the complete, willful lack of self-examination, and, ultimately, the graceful intensity of the writing. Herzog broke one of my cardinal rules of memoir writing. Lying on the beach, I had …
Now we find out if the gamble paid off. When I began working with Senator Lisa Murkowski on her new book, Far From Home, I told her I would be her writer and literary advisor—not her political advisor. I knew the authentic story of her fears and struggles would make a great book, but I …
My collaboration with Senator Lisa Murkowski began in her office in the Hart Senate Office Building on October 31, 2019. In the coming week, the book we wrote will be released to the world. I’m proud of the book and how it captures her voice and her perspective. But the greater accomplishment, for both of …
I looked at my wife across the table and suddenly saw how beautiful she is, as if seeing her for the first time. And then, halfway through that spark of joy, I realized with dismay that after ten years together, I’d often failed to really see her. Seeing is an essential component of creativity, in …
Newsrooms had changed when I went back, in some ways for the worse. But for all I disliked about internet journalism, I learned rapidly. The internet gives instant feedback. That’s good for every writer. It can deflate and shame you, and it can teach you to reach people more effectively. It’s a harsh and effective …
At 55 years of age, I dove off a career cliff. I left Alaska, where I had worked in journalism, broadcasting, and politics my entire life—and where I had a reputation and knew everyone—and I went to New York, where the reverse was true. My success here six years later began with a single piece …
An online inflation calculator declares that a dollar in George Washington’s pocket was equivalent to $34 today. That’s nonsense. The value of money can’t be converted between different historical eras. The same is true of moral standards. They’re meaningful only within the cultural context of their period. I’ll discuss the money comparison first, because it’s …
It’s a uniquely satisfying feeling, opening a box that delivers a new book you have written. I had that pleasure last week, and in the days since I’ve kept Our Story in Many Voices on the dining room sideboard, where I’ve been peeking at random pages as I walk by. I’m particularly proud of this …
I never had a better boss than Tom Gibboney, the publisher at a weekly in an Alaskan fishing village where I covered little league baseball, the boat harbor, and eccentric personalities. He taught me a deep lesson: Write honestly, but be a good person. In 1986, I had just graduated from Princeton with a degree …
