The Narratively Team’s All-Time Favorite Profile Pieces

From the terrifying tale of a lost fisherman to the real-life escapades of a children’s performer, our staff chose the most memorable (non-Narratively) profiles we’ve read over the years.

Header by Yunuen Bonaparte

With submissions for our first-ever Narratively Profile Prize writing contest open and in full swing, we’ve been thinking about what makes an incredible profile story stick in our minds — sometimes even years after we’ve first encountered it. If you’re thinking about writing your own profile piece (or if you just love great reported stories) here are seven incredible stories you definitely shouldn’t miss.