The Fireside aims to produce essays in conversation. Though a writer may work alone at their computer, writing is an inherently social activity. There is something which came first — an event in the news, a discussion with friends, an article in a news magazine; and the author writes with some effect to follow in mind — more conversations, more writing. Whether critiquing what has come before or building on an idea and carrying it forward, essays are part of a larger conversation. It is through this lens that we view the writing at The Fireside, never as a finished product, but part of an ongoing social process.
Here you will find three sorts of essays, each playing a different role in the conversation:
Features are our main essays that anchor our work here and are intended to advance conversations online and in the real world.
Our features are (whenever practicable) paired up with one or more Companion essays. These are from a different author offering another take. These aren’t “both sides” pieces, they’re aren’t inherently disagreements. They are additional takes.
Reactions are short essays written in response to works from outside The Fireside. These are essentially companion essays written in response to features from elsewhere.