Editors’ Picks: The Best Narratively Stories of 2020
From a pirate king to a possible spy, these colorful characters star in our team's favorite stories from the past year.
The Renegade DIYers Demanding Dolls as Diverse As They Are
Story by Amelia Merrill
American Girl has long epitomized a particular vision of childhood perfection. Armed with pots of dye and webcams, today’s teens are pushing the brand to embrace their underrepresented fans. "This story showcases all the things that Narratively does best. It uses a human-centered lens to offer a peek into an obscure subculture that showcases something about the human condition. On the surface, this is a story about dolls, but underneath it's a narrative about wanting to be seen." – Genelle Levy, Contributing Editor
The King Who Became a Pirate
Story by Anja Klemp Vilgaard
"I admired how the writer brought this obscure piece of royal Danish history to life using imagination and ancient documents, and the illustrations added so much! Big old drama from a little country we don't hear about too often on the worldstage, too." – Shawna Kenney, Contributing Editor
The Obsessive Life and Mysterious Death of the Fisherman Who Discovered The Loch Ness Monster
Story by Paul Brown
A humble Scotsman saw something strange in the water—and daringly set out to catch it—only to have lecherous out-of-towners steal his fame and upend his quest. "I'm biased because I edited it, but the story of the fisherman who basically created the Loch Ness myth was never told. It was beautifully rendered with a lot of detail despite having happened almost 100 years ago." – Justin Miller, Contributing Editor
Daughters of the Bomb: A Story of Hiroshima, Racism and Human Rights
Story by Erika Hayasaki
On the 75th anniversary of the A-bomb, a Japanese-American writer speaks to one of the last living survivors—and traces connections from Malcolm X to the fight to end nuclear war. "75 years after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, this powerful piece looks at the A-bomb's legacy on human rights, the fight to end nuclear war, and racial justice." – Julia Métraux, Editorial Assistant
The Secret Sisterhood of Offshore Oil Workers
Story by Mia Armstrong
Living on a remote oil platform 60 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico is no easy assignment. Now imagine being one of the first women to ever step on board.
"This is an inspirational story about a group of women that have managed to survive and provide for their families despite the odds offshore in the Mexican Gulf. The lives of these women are an example of what you do when life gives you lemons; you gotta make lemonade. I'm always here for Mexican chingonas stories!" – Yunuen Bonaparte, Photo Editor
Snowed in with a Ghost
By Krista Diamond
I moved into a haunted building in a ritzy resort town and sank into a terrifying depression. I never dreamed the thing that saved me would be the woman who died in my apartment. "This winter ghost story is haunting in more than one way, from its descriptions of a fairytale town to what it feels like to be in the icy grip of depression, Krista Diamond did a beautiful job illustrating how we survive our darkest seasons." – Farah Mohammed, Contributing Editor "A moody, evocative piece of memoir, this beautifully written essay conjures a complex and powerful mix of emotions—depression, loneliness, the feeling of always being an outsider looking in. But it is also tinged with subtle humor, wonder, and, ultimately, a poignant sense of hopefulness." – Rob Williams, Copy Editor
The (Literally) Unbelievable Story of the Original Fake News Network
Story by Sylvia Brindis Snow & Shane Snow
Once upon a time in Guatemala, the CIA hired a cocky American actor and two radio DJs to launch a revolution and oust a president. Their playbook is being used against the U.S. right now. "This epic undertaking takes a little-known slice of American history and turns it into an absolute thriller. Sylvia Brindis Snow and Shane Snow spent years researching this project, diving deep into dusty archives and unearthing secret CIA tapes in order to tell the full tale of this unbelievable episode for the first time ever." – Brendan Spiegel, Co-Founder & Editorial Director
My Secret Life as a Coronavirus Nomad
By JB Nicholas
As a freelance journalist, I’ve struggled financially for years. Then the pandemic hit and I got thrown on the street. But I will go on — I always do. "It’s really something to look at this story now, and think back to when it first published in March, at the very beginning of the pandemic. The story resonated so much back then, when the whole situation was so new and uncharted — and it still does today. We were able to tell a very real story about a real person navigating the difficult opening acts of what would become a complex and challenging year for us all. I look forward to looking back on this story again, especially as we continue working to move in the right direction, and hopefully, as we begin to heal." – Joe Lugo, Director of TV, Film & Video Development
Conscripted Into The Emperor’s Private Orchestra
By Inna Lazareva
What does a crew of talented musicians do when forced to serve at the pleasure of a notoriously cruel dictator? They play like their lives depend on it. "Inna Lazareva took multiple reporting trips to the Central African Republic over several years to report this vivid story of the personal orchestra of one of 20th century's most infamous dictators, Jean Bédel Bokassa. Her central character is the fascinating songwriter Charlie Perrière, whose chance encounter with his country's despotic leader led him on a path to stardom fraught with peril. A historically rich tale, the author deftly brings the story into the present, painting a picture of the CAR today, where Perrière's music is healing social rifts in the country." – Naomi Zeveloff, Contributing Editor
I Professed My Love at Mile 15…But Not to My Husband
Story by Christine Ochs-Naderer
I married my childhood best friend when we were still young...then fell in love with my running partner. Welcome to a love triangle more intense than any marathon. "Many people have stories of infidelity, but not everybody can write about the experience with the grace, honesty, and restraint of Christine Ochs-Naderer. This heartwrenching, but ultimately hopeful story, has stuck with me ever since it first landed in Narratively's pitch pile. Memoir at its devastating best." – Naomi Zeveloff, Contributing Editor
I Quit My Job at 50 to Reinvent Myself. Pro Tip: Don’t Do This.
Story by Ivy Eisenberg
My fantasy was to escape from the corporate grind. After a taste of freedom and months of hare-brained schemes, I begged to be captured again. "I love this story for its laugh out loud humor and its cringeworthy anecdotes. There are so many good ones: the fortune cookies the author thinks will take 48 minutes to make but instead keep her up most of the night; when she excitedly waits for her son to get off the school bus, mortifying him and crushing her spirits; the "sad transition" she makes from reading Glamour magazine to More. The writer is refreshingly honest even when it's not in her favor. And the subject matter — from her grandiose daydreaming to her fall back down to reality — was very relatable and just so fun and funny." – Jesse Sposato, Senior Branded Content Writer & Editor
My Dad, the Globetrotting Businessman, Paleographer…and Spy?
Story by Julia Métraux
Growing up, I thought everyone’s parents told them bedtime stories about being chased by the secret police and dodging bullets. As an adult, I started to wonder just who Dad really was. As a father, I’m keenly aware of how sacred a ritual the nightly bedtime story is, and it’s hard to say who enjoys it more in our household. Julia captures that sentiment perfectly as she squares a childhood wonderment at her dad’s eccentric tales with a journalist’s need for context and truth. The result is a heart-warming piece that leaves you with the distinct impression that Julia’s journey — to continue exploring the question posed in her story’s title, and to collect the experiences that will inspire her own future bedtime tales — has only just begun. – Noah Rosenberg, Founder, CEO, and Editor-in-Chief
The Unsung Black Musician Who Changed Country Music
Story by Deana Bianco
From the moment DeFord Bailey stepped onto a stage in Nashville, country music would never be the same. It was decades after his death before he finally got his due. "This is my favorite story because it highlights a talented Black musician who was never given proper credit for his contributions to the industry. I think it's more important than ever to spotlight Black talent and highlight Black voices. Thinking back over the Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and BLM protests this year, I think this piece is especially poignant." – Lauren Jones, Newsletter Writer