<![CDATA[Stories by Susan Orlean on Medium]]> https://medium.com/@susanorlean?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://cdn-images-1.medium.com/fit/c/150/150/1*3trmKoIWsT_2kL9U-UU6GQ@2x.jpeg Stories by Susan Orlean on Medium https://medium.com/@susanorlean?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 Medium Thu, 05 Nov 2026 12:45:21 GMT <![CDATA[Hey strangers!]]> https://susanorlean.medium.com/hey-strangers-2d614fd0529c?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/2d614fd0529c Thu, 15 Feb 2024 21:31:14 GMT 2024-02-15T21:31:14.849Z It’s been ages since I’ve posted anything here. The reasons are myriad. For one thing, I started a regular column at The New Yorker and just keeping up with it was enough to nearly break me. Oh, and did I mention I’m writing a book? I’m writing a book — a memoir, and it’s due soon. So I’ve been madly juggling these work obligations with life and parenting and volunteering and the usual, and Medium has fallen off my To-do list.

So quite contrarily, I am here to announce yet another undertaking that I hope you’ll find interesting. I have just launched a Substack called Wordy Bird. Wait — I thought I just said I was overly committed??! Well, yes, I am. But there are aspects of a Substack that I couldn’t resist, and options there that don’t exist here, so I’m giving it a go. I really hope you’ll take a look and subscribe! You’ll find it at SusanOrlean.substack.com. I’m writing my usual, plus an extra look at fashion (which I love) and some thoughts on writing (which I also love). I really hope to see you there!!

]]> <![CDATA[Size Matters (Or Does It?)]]>

How writing short, medium, and long is the best practice

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]]> https://susanorlean.medium.com/size-matters-or-does-it-626d1eaa8755?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/626d1eaa8755 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 23:27:54 GMT 2022-10-05T23:27:54.707Z <![CDATA[How the Principles of Architecture Can Help Your Writing]]>

If you build it, they will read

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]]> https://susanorlean.medium.com/how-the-principles-of-architecture-can-help-your-writing-baf5e0b26fb6?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/baf5e0b26fb6 Tue, 06 Sep 2022 20:59:41 GMT 2022-09-06T20:59:41.241Z <![CDATA[The No-Good, Terrible, Awful Printer and Why You Can’t Do Without It]]>

Seeing things on the page is essential and important

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]]> https://susanorlean.medium.com/the-no-good-terrible-awful-printer-and-why-you-cant-do-without-it-9b0c41d9e425?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/9b0c41d9e425 Wed, 03 Aug 2022 18:35:36 GMT 2022-08-03T18:35:36.224Z <![CDATA[How to Talk to Humans]]>

Approach the species with care! But remember, they’re only human!

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]]> https://susanorlean.medium.com/how-to-talk-to-humans-ac1c2c65d639?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/ac1c2c65d639 Wed, 06 Jul 2022 23:11:50 GMT 2022-07-06T23:11:50.419Z <![CDATA[Eight Habits of Highly Effective Writers]]>

(With apologies to Stephen Covey, of course.) (But lists of habits really do work!)

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]]> https://medium.com/medium-handbook/eight-habits-of-highly-effective-writers-b08bda213bf6?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/b08bda213bf6 Thu, 02 Jun 2022 18:45:00 GMT 2022-06-02T18:45:00.233Z <![CDATA[Why Write?]]>

How asking yourself this question often can help you do it better

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]]> https://medium.com/medium-handbook/why-write-6dd693faeb6d?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/6dd693faeb6d Mon, 09 May 2022 22:27:25 GMT 2022-05-10T17:32:56.830Z <![CDATA[How To Finish That Piece of Writing]]>

No, seriously. This is how to do it. For real.

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]]> https://medium.com/medium-handbook/how-to-finish-that-piece-of-writing-63c54ac28363?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/63c54ac28363 Mon, 04 Apr 2022 23:26:11 GMT 2022-04-05T15:35:30.657Z <![CDATA[The Curse of Imposter Syndrome]]>

And why you need to ignore it to do your best work

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]]> https://medium.com/medium-handbook/the-curse-of-imposter-syndrome-21ff9cc4efa8?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/21ff9cc4efa8 Wed, 02 Mar 2022 23:23:24 GMT 2022-03-02T23:23:24.171Z <![CDATA[How to Know When You’re Ready to Write]]>

It’s half instinct, half necessity, and half strategy

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]]> https://medium.com/medium-handbook/how-to-know-when-youre-ready-to-write-9cf517246ee?source=rss-853c337fff48------2 https://medium.com/p/9cf517246ee Wed, 02 Feb 2022 20:19:51 GMT 2022-02-03T20:53:16.959Z