Includes index.

Part 1. A HUMAN FACE.

Every story, even the driest, has a human face. Draw it well and put it on display, for to readers it is a mirror and a magnet

Part 2. THE THEME.

The writer must be loyal to his major theme. He must study all its facets, and he must tamp down other topics that threaten to displace or diminish it

pt. 3. MOTION.

Good stories are a brisk journey, and the reader can always feel the breeze in his hair
Stroke and glide: all stories are divided into two parts: the action, and the commentary

Part 4. ARTFULNESS.

The artful writer sees what others see. He just sees it in a drawn-fresh way
The smell of pleather: the five senses are a writer's most formidable tools

pt. 5. TRUTH AND FAIRNESS.

Writing is an art, and art bestows a license. But the license is a limited one, and it never sanctions material omission or unfair play

pt. 6. LEADS AND OTHER ARTICLE PARTS.

Leads and settings, transitions and kickers: each part of an article demands its own peculiar art

pt. 7. THE BIG TYPE.

Titles and subtitles are turbocharged text. They are your work distilled.

Summary: A writer's reference by a "New York Times" editor shares fifty strategies for writing successful nonfiction narratives, in a lighthearted guide that draws on real-world examples and incorporates tales from his work in the newsroom