Over our time with Tortoise – three years for Natalia, two for Jordan – we have come to see this journal as an extension of the work we do each week at the Writing Center. Conversations that begin in hour-long conferences continue here on the page. Tortoise offers a space to linger in those moments: to return to them, to reflect on them, and to make visible the process that so often remains behind the scenes of finished writing.
This year’s theme, Deep Dive, grows out of that impulse. A deep dive is not simply about going further; it is about going more deliberately. It asks what happens when writers stay with a question a little longer, follow a line of thought a little more closely, or return to a conversation with renewed attention. Depth, in this sense, is not only a matter of complexity, but of care: a willingness to explore, to revise, and to remain open to where the writing might lead.
The pieces in this issue approach that depth in different ways, reflected in the structure of our sections. In Construction traces the careful building of an argument, showing how writers lay the scholarly groundwork that allows their own ideas to take shape. In Transit follows writing as it moves – across disciplines, frameworks, and ways of thinking – demonstrating how connection itself can generate new insight. In Detail turns to the power of close attention, revealing how sustained focus on even the smallest elements can open onto larger claims. Our feature piece brings these approaches together, offering a sustained engagement that models what it means to fully inhabit a line of inquiry.
Tortoise remains grounded in the belief that writing is as much a process as it is a product. Each piece in this issue is presented not as a finished whole, but as an excerpt carefully chosen to highlight a particular strength. These excerpts are accompanied by reflections from both the writer and the editor, offering insight into the decisions, challenges, and discoveries that shaped the work. Together, they invite readers into the ongoing, iterative nature of writing, one that unfolds through revision, conversation, and sustained engagement over time.
We hope this issue inspires you to take your own deep dive!
Editors
Jordan Fraser Angel ‘27 is a junior from Florence, Italy. She is majoring in Comparative Literature, with a minor in Creative Writing. Working at the Writing Center as a Head Fellow is one of her favorite activities at Princeton. She also enjoys reading, listening to classical and pop music, Pilates, cooking vegan meals at 2 Dickinson Co-op, and spending time with friends and family.
Natalia Espinosa Dice ‘26 is a senior from Verona, New Jersey. She is majoring in Computer Science and minoring in Latin American Studies and Cognitive Science. In addition to working as a Head Fellow at the Writing Center, she rides for the Princeton Equestrian Team and is an Outdoor Action Leader. In her free time, she loves running, hiking and spending time with friends.