It’s both a big world and a small world, journalism, Washington. “Even if you only meet with that person once for lunch. Having someone to talk through ideas with is invaluable, Fishman said. ➄ If you’re offered a mentor, just say yes. But, if you get the chance to write a book, don’t write a boring book, write a good book.” The tension comes from, are they going to pull it off or not? Right. Now, I appreciate that when you’re writing spot news out of the White House, you’re not worried about the beginning, middle end, stories, tension. Just like on your best days, what you get to do with your journalism. “The only way to write compelling chapters is for each section of the chapters to be a story, beginning, middle, end. Fishman advised journalists to think of each chapter of a potential book that way. Good journalists dig up enough detail and context to make even their daily stories resonate with audiences. ➃ Writing a book can be just like your work as a daily reporter, if you bring the same intensity to the process. The fact that they’re overlooking it doesn’t mean it’s not important.” You should always be looking for something that other people are overlooking. A lot of you cover the Hill and the White House. Fishman believes you can still find a way to turn a well-worn angle into your very own idea. ➂ There’s almost always a new take on an “old” story. There was no social media at that time, but when that Walmart story hit in Fast Company, I was on CNBC, I was on three NPR shows, I was on 10 regional NPR local shows.” “ I then managed to figure out how to turn it into a really good story, which was a huge hit….

“I could not, in terms of my own career standing, simply ignore (the Walmart story),” Fishman said. Resourceful reporters unearth lots of great story angles on their own, which makes them chafe at ideas from anybody else. ➁ Fishman learned that seemingly boring topics may merit a second look. By the end of the next day, he had written a book proposal for what became “The Walmart Effect.” After the story was published, he never wanted to think about Walmart again until a former Post colleague called to insist he write a book.

“There’s got to be something at Walmart worth writing about in Fast Company.” Fishman struggled. “ You shouldn’t be able to read the magazine and never read about Walmart,” the editor said. By 2004, he was reporting for Fast Company magazine when a new editor issued what Fishman called a “stupid” assignment. Author Charles Fishman started his career at the Washington Post. ➀ Stories that are worth turning into books happen six times in your career, if you’re alert.

The walmart effect by charles fishman