Jesse Sposato

New York

Freelance Journalist at Freelance

Deputy Editor, Client Projects at Narratively

Executive Editor @Narratively; Volunteer @solitarywatch. I also write about social issues, feminism, health, friendship, and culture for a variety of outlets.

Articles

48 Minutes With Essayist Elizabeth Laura Nelson: Join our LIVE VIDEO CHAT Tomorrow

1 month ago | narratively.com | Jesse Sposato

I wrote about this a bit when we first published Elizabeth Laura Nelson’s piece, “What’s the Opposite of Taking Someone’s Virginity?” a few weeks ago, but this essay first came about after I read Elizabeth’s recent Modern Love essay and adored it. I reached out to her hoping she might have more to say about Jeff, the best-friend-turned-lover she wrote about who (spoiler alert!) died shortly after they finally got together, and she did! I was in luck.
Meet the Grand Prize Winner of Narratively’s 2024 Memoir Prize!

1 month ago | narratively.com | Jesse Sposato

My 4-year-old daughter recently learned the word bittersweet and now she’s using it to describe everything she talks about: leaving grandma’s to go back home and see her dad, the end of a lovely playdate with friends, Sunday nights. It’s the same word I would use to describe wrapping up a Memoir Prize, this being our third go-round.
The January Edit: Imperfect Moms, Meditation and More

2 months ago | narratively.com | Jesse Sposato

Dear readers, I’m probably not alone in that I’ve been listening to a lot of old interviews with filmmaker David Lynch lately after his recent passing, and one in particular has stood out. Last year, on the podcast Wild Card, host Rachel Martin asked Lynch what he’d learned to take less seriously and he answered, “Everything. I’ve learned that life is such a gift and can be enjoyed, and that it’s all OK. … Everything is beautiful.
Editors’ Picks: The Best Narratively Stories of 2024

Dec 23, 2024 | narratively.com | Jesse Sposato

End-of-year lists can sometimes feel overwhelming. You mean I’m supposed to look back at the best things I’ve written, the books I’ve loved the most, my top accomplishments, and then prescribe some kind of meaning to it all? This past January seems so far away! And if I’m lucky, there’s a lot to reflect on… All this to say, this year I’m feeling a bit differently — at least when it comes to the stories our team at Narratively has worked on.
How to Motivate Yourself to Write When No One Else Will: A Q&A With Bestselling Author Jami Attenberg

Dec 5, 2024 | narratively.com | Jesse Sposato

Collage by Yunuen BonaparteHas there ever been a better time to believe in the power of the pep talk? Currently on my nightstand (in addition to the novel I’m reading, a few next-reads, plus this mango-shaped lotion I’m obsessed with) are two hardcovers that serve as motivational pick-me-ups.
It’s Time to Dust Off Your Memoir and Submit to Our 2024 Prize

Nov 26, 2024 | narratively.com | Jesse Sposato

As writers, we’re often shelving stories we’ve written with the hope that we’ll come back to them another time.
The October Edit: UFO Hoaxes, How to Avoid Interruptions & Revisiting Hiroshima

Oct 31, 2024 | narratively.com | Jesse Sposato

Happy Halloween, to all who celebrate! We’re big fans of spooky season in my house, with our 4-year-old leading the charge, always pointing out “scary” decorations and asking to hear spooky stories. Which means I’m attempting to dress up this year… as a witch! I like to keep it classic.
The World Series Is Upon Us! Here Are 3 of Our Best Baseball Stories to Get You Excited

Oct 26, 2024 | narratively.com | Jesse Sposato

I’m not going to lie — I’m not a huge sports person. The last time the World Series was majorly on my radar was in 1986 when the Mets won because I lived with a huge fan: my dad. I was just a kid then, but it was a pretty big deal in our household and it stuck with me. The thing I liked about it then, that I’ve appreciated ever since is the excitement events like this create for people, the hope it gives fans and of course the players.
It’s Actually Pretty Great

Jul 3, 2024 | narratively.com | Jesse Sposato

Fifteen years ago tomorrow on what they now call their meetaversary, writers Nina Sharma and Quincy Scott Jones met on their way to a Fourth of July party. More specifically, Nina was visiting their mutual friend in Philly and Quincy was their ride. Their bond was pretty immediate, the stuff of writerly dreams. Nina, a writer, teacher and comedian, was struck by a book she saw in the backseat of poet and professor Quincy’s car. What soon followed was their courtship and eventually their marriage.
The Daughter Lode

May 13, 2024 | adventuresinjournalism.substack.com | Sari Botton |Jesse Sposato

I’m beginning this note at 5am from my mother’s bed on Long Island, which I’ve been sharing since she fell ill last Wednesday. I won’t go into the specifics of what’s wrong—a combo platter of infection, chronic ailments, and geriatric conditions (plus, randomly, a spider bite!), which in concert are complicating efforts to precisely diagnose and treat her.