The Longform Feature: Reporting Big Stories That Demand Attention

Brendan Spiegel
Jan 09, 2024
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Cost: $470

This class is sold out! Email us—academy@narratively.com—to be notified when a new session of this class is offered.

This intensive 10-week hybrid class / mentorship program is led by Narratively co-founder and longtime New York Times journalist Brendan Spiegel. You’ll learn all about how to write captivating feature articles — from hard-hitting journalistic pieces to expansive profiles and memoir infused with original reporting — that will entice magazine editors, enthrall readers and win awards. Through in-depth mentoring, peer review and extensive feedback on your story ideas and drafts, you’ll learn everything you need to know about finding an undeniable story, connecting with sources, interviewing, outlining and writing your article. By the end of this class, you’ll have a story you can submit to a top outlet — and all the tools to keep finding and writing more great reported stories.

This class will feature biweekly assignments; regular peer and instructor feedback; and three virtual video sessions. You can choose to attend the sessions in real time or watch a recording later. Attendance at all three sessions is not mandatory, so you can sign up for this class even if the times don’t work for you. Over the course of the 10 weeks, you’ll develop a dynamite story idea, research that story and submit a draft. At each step, you’ll receive personalized feedback, answers to all your questions and hands-on guidance as we explore the ins and outs of researching, reporting and writing a longform story.

Class Schedule:

  • Friday, February 9: Students receive readings and introductory assignment.

  • Friday, February 16, 12pm - 1pm ET Video Session #1: Researching story ideas and developing pitches.

  • Monday, February 26: Students submit story pitches and receive personalized feedback.

  • Friday, March 1, 12pm - 1pm ET Video Session #2: The reporting process.

  • Monday, March 11: Students submit story outlines and receive personalized feedback.

  • Friday, March 15, 12pm - 1pm ET Video Session #3: Structuring your story.

  • Monday, April 8: Students submit drafts of stories.

  • Wednesday, April 10 - Friday, April 19: Students receive detailed personalized feedback on story drafts, discussion on final questions and a plan for finalizing your story.

This class is right for you if…

  • You’ve written short reported articles and want to dig into a meatier reported story that you’d like to publish on Narratively or with other top publications.

  • You’ve written longform reported pieces but haven’t had one published yet.

  • You’ve had your written work published before, but mostly in another field such as memoir, fiction or academic writing and want to learn more about reported stories.

Instructor Bio: As co-founder and editorial director at Narratively for the past 11 years, Brendan Spiegel has personally assigned and edited over 2,000 longform stories, working closely with everyone from first-time writers to Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters. Brendan takes a hands-on, immersive approach to editing — he’s especially proud that one writer recently dubbed him “the kindest and toughest editor I’ve ever worked with.” The stories he’s edited have won awards from the American Society of Journalists and Authors, The Association of LGBTQ+ Journalists, the New York Press Club, The Best American Sports Writing and many more, while leading Narratively to be cited as a Webby Awards Honoree for Best Writing. More than 50 of the longform stories Brendan has edited have been optioned for TV and film development. Brendan’s own reported stories have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Wired, New York magazine, Travel and Leisure and many other publications. But the only thing that really impresses most people he meets is that he appeared on an episode of the PBS show, Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? when he was 12 and caught Carmen in Africa.

“Brendan is one of my favorite editors in the field. His care and patience around ensuring my voice, words and intentions are considered and seen have allowed both my individual articles and also my writing at large to thrive. Brendan is an honest, transparent and thoughtful collaborator. I wouldn’t be the writer or journalist — or editor! — I am today without his guidance and expertise.” —Caroline Rothstein, writer whose work has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, The Guardian, BuzzFeed, Nylon, Narratively, The Forward and elsewhere.

Registration Details: Seats in this class are limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. All purchases are final and nonrefundable. After signing up, you’ll receive an email receipt confirming your purchase. Prior to the start of your class you’ll receive an invitation to access the virtual classroom and view all class materials.

Questions? Email us at academy@narratively.com.