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News and Reviews
Best Creative Nonfiction, Volume 3 will be on its way to subscribers and bookstores in just a few weeks, and we have to admit, we can't wait.
Pulling together the Best Creative Nonfiction collections is a laborious process, but all the hard work of sorting and compiling is always worth the effort--especially when people say nice things about the final product.
Well, the early reviews are in, and we must admit, we're feeling pretty good these days. Publisher's Weekly praised the book for its "panche and gusto"; The New Yorker's book blog loved the collection's featured blogs (go figure); and Library Journal said the writing "is powerful--the essays and blogs entertain, inform, and inspire. Followers of contemporary issues presented in compelling prose will devour."
Here's the good news: The book is available for pre-order ($16.95) on our website, where you can find the complete table of contents and author statements about the stories behind the stories. Or, better yet, become a subscriber and we'll send Best Creative Nonfiction 3 directly to you as part of the subscription.
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Submission Calls
BLOGS With our newfound success publishing blogs in our Best CNF collections (see New Yorker review), we've decided to expand our horizons and will now be accepting blog nominations for upcoming journal issues. Please note, blog nominations will be accepted only through our online submission manager and only during specific reading periods. We are currently accepting blog nominations until August 31, 2009. We're looking for: Vibrant new voices with interesting, true stories to
tell. Narrative, narrative, narrative. Posts that can stand alone, 2000
words max, from 2009. For more information, or to nominate a blog, click here.
ANIMALS
For an upcoming issue, Creative Nonfiction is seeking new essays about the bonds--emotional, ethical, biological, physical, or otherwise--between humans and animals. We're looking for stories that illustrate ways animals (wild and/or domestic) affect, enrich, or otherwise have an impact on our daily lives.
There is a $20 reading fee--$25
covers the reading fee AND gets you a 4-issue subscription to CNF. Creative Nonfiction editors will be awarding $1500 in prizes.
Submissions must be postmarked by November 13, 2009, and "Animals" must be clearly marked on the envelope and cover letter.
END OF LIFE
Creative Nonfiction is again working with the good folks at SMU
Press, this time on a collection tentatively titled "End of Life
Stories."
For this collection, we are seeking essays that explore death, dying, and end of life care. We're looking for stories from physicians, nurses, hospice workers, counselors, clergy, family members, and others.
Narratives should highlight current features, flaws, and advances in
the health care system. Essays must be vivid and dramatic; they should
combine a strong and compelling narrative with a significant element of
research or information.
There is a $20 reading fee--$25
covers the reading fee AND gets you a 4-issue subscription to CNF.
Creative Nonfiction editors will be awarding $2500 in prizes.
Submissions must be postmarked by December 31, 2009, and "End of Life Stories" must be clearly marked on the envelope and cover letter.
GENERAL
Finally, we are always on the lookout for true stories, well-told, about any subject. We're looking for strong reportage; well-written prose, rich with detail and a distinctive voice; an informational quality or instructive element that offers the reader something to learn (an idea, concept or collection of facts, strengthened with insight, reflection and interpretation); and a compelling, focused, sustained narrative that is well-structured, makes sense and conveys meaning. Submissions are accepted year round and there is no reading fee.
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Please send all manuscripts, accompanied by a cover letter with complete contact information, SASE, and payment (when necessary) to:
Creative Nonfiction
5501 Walnut Street, Suite 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
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Book Bargain of the Month
 It seems like all anyone wants to talk about these days is the current state (and the future state) of the American health care system.
True medical stories have always been of interest to us here at CNF. In fact, in recent years, we've published a couple collections that focus on the stories behind health care policy. Our first venture, Rage and Reconciliation: Inspiring a Health Care Revolution, was praised by JAMA (The Journal of the American Medical Association) for providing "citizens across the country [with] a platform to rebuke the US health care system, one passionate essay at a time." The follow up collection, Silence Kills: Speaking Out and Saving Lives, was no different, illustrating damaging breakdowns in communication within the health industry.  |
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The Great Twitter Experiment
The CNF Daily Twitter contest continues to gain in popularity. In fact, it's blossomed into quite an interesting online community of micro-essayists.
Regardless of your feelings about Twitter--love it or hate it--we encourage you all to partake in this uber-short writing exercise. And who knows? If this experiment goes well, you may even find your tweet in an upcoming issue of Creative Nonfiction.
Not sure what we're looking for? Below are a few of the recent daily winners, to serve as examples and inspiration:
July 19
karriehiggins #cnftweet: When I was 14, my grandmother's diary was planted like a ticking bomb in my hands; when I was 30, it went off.
July 21
JDeurbrouck #cnftweet: She likes high heels and sitting in men's laps. She is eight. It's what she knows. That and the thin borscht of the orphanage.
July 30
Greg_Freed #cnftweet: "What about the Peace Corps?" she asked. "Only married couples can go together." Fear didn't hit as hard as I might have expected.
August 7
Lucysky #cnftweet: My dad told me about the garden, about the pot they used to grow. I remember the strawberries. We ate them straight off the vine.
All of the winners are available on our profile page under the "Favorites" tab, and the finer details of the contest are below:
Forget 6-word memoirs. Can you tell a true story in 130 characters or less? Think you could write one hundred CNF-worthy tweets a day? Go for it. We dare you. There's no limit and submitting is easy. Simply tag your 130-character creative nonfiction tweet with the trending topic #cnftweet, and then hit "Update." That's it.
Our editors pick a daily winner and re-tweet the best of the day.
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CNF No-Residency Mentoring Program
Flexible schedule. One-on-one interaction. Customized courses.
Here at Creative Nonfiction, we understand that not everyone wants or needs a degree to become a better writer. We also understand that in economic times such as these, there aren't a lot of people with the funds to invest in a two to three year MFA program or even a summer conference.
CNF's mentoring programs offer writers of all levels one-on-one access to accomplished mentors (who, by the way, aren't just great writers, but experienced teachers and editors, too).
So this year, save the money you'd be spending on travel, lodging, and tuition and get the personalized attention you want and deserve.
All of our courses are tailored to meet your specific needs, whether you're looking for help kick-starting a writing project or putting the final touches on a manuscript. Our mentors can help you set realistic goals, illuminate your skills, address your weaknesses, and help build your confidence as a writer. We can help with book proposals, as well.
Work with the experts, and make an investment in your writing career now!
For more information, click here.
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Educator's Discount
Not only is Creative Nonfiction a great classroom resource for teachers, but it's affordable, too. CNF offers a 20% discount on all classroom orders of 10 or more copies of the journal.
To take advantage of this offer and order CNF for your students, please contact us (or have your bookstore contact us) by phone at 412.688.0304 or email at information@creativenonfiction.org.
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