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OCTOBER 2009
Newsletter
News and Reviews
redesign announcement 

A New Look for CNF

If you've visited our website recently you may have noticed that the magazine is undergoing a bit of a metamorphosis.

This redesign is a work in progress, and we will be providing updates as they become available (including cover images). In the meantime, what we can tell you right now is that the "new" CNF will have a different look and size, and more content, too.

Fifteen years ago, CNF became the first literary magazine to publish, exclusively and on a regular basis, high quality nonfiction prose. And we will continue to do so, featuring plenty of the excellent long-form essays that our readers have come to love and expect.

The "new" CNF will also feature columns on craft by Phillip Lopate, Richard Rodriguez, and others; profiles of and conversations with notable writers; insight from publishing industry insiders; blogs; and some boundary-pushing nonfiction. 

Best of all, CNF is becoming a quarterly! Stay tuned for more updates. The CNF redesign arrives March 2010.

It's worth noting that the most valuable form of support you can offer Creative Nonfiction is by becoming a subscriber or extending an existing subscription. But if you'd consider making an additional contribution, we would gratefully count you among the "new" magazine's Founding Friends and include your name in our next issue. To make a tax deductible donation to CNF, click here.

Blog Finalists
Way back in August we asked you all to nominate your favorite posts from thus far in 2009. Well, we've finally waded through all 800 submissions, and have whittled the list down to fifteen... which will be judged by the very funny and insightful Alice Bradley of finslippy.com. The winner, of course, will be published in the premiere issue of the redesigned CNF.

Below are the blogs (not the specific posts) that make up the the final fifteen. Good luck to all...

Lee HeadshotThe Voice of the Genre
Interviews of CNF's editor-in-chief Lee Gutkind have been turning up all over the place lately. To hear what Lee has to say about the current state of the genre, his latest projects, and more, pick up a copy of The Writer's Chronicle and/or read his interview online in the Wag's Review.

Ad Space Available
We are now accepting ad reservations for the premiere issue of the "new" CNF. Whether you are a self-published author, a small press, a big press, a literary magazine, a writing conference or a MFA program, CNF advertising is a great way to reach thousands of creative nonfiction readers, writers, teachers, and enthusiasts. For this inagural issue only we are offering throw back ad prices. Reserve space today and we'll give you ad spce in the "new" CNF for what it cost to advertise in the "old" CNF.

Prices and deadlines are available here. Design assistance is available for a minor up-charge.
Submission Calls

PLEASE NOTE: WE'VE EXTENDED THE SUBMISSION DEADLINE FOR THE ANIMALS ISSUE UNTIL APRIL 2, 2010.


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 award $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.


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 award $1500 in prizes.

Submissions must be postmarked by April 2, 2010, and "Animals" 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

For more information about any of these collections and complete submission guidelines, visit us online or email us at [email protected].
Books of the Month

many sleepless nightsIt's been an exciting month here at CNF. Not only are we reimagining the magazine, but we recently unearthed a box of classic creative nonfiction books by our editor-in-chief Lee Gutkind.

Long out of print, limited copies are again available of Lee's landmark work Many Sleepless Nights: The World of Organ Transplantation and One Children's Place.

We are also offering Lee's one and only novel, God's Helicopter, for sale. That's right, the "Godfather of Creative Nonfiction" briefly dabbled in the world of fiction. Incredibly rare!

Please note: Due to limited quantities, these titles are available on a first come, first served basis.
The Great Twitter Experiment

It's a fact, the CNF Daily Twitter contest has officially become a bona fide online community of micro-essayists. Our followers have taken it upon themselves to provide support and critique for each other... all in short 130-character bursts of language, of course.

For those of you who have yet to join the Twitterverse and are not sure what we're looking for, below are a few of the recent daily winners, to serve as examples and inspiration:

September 22
rgibson103 #cnftweet They cut down the citrons. If I left no one would know what stood there. I can say much the same for the life I've lived.

September 29
FogoVonSlack Chopping wood, I missed and hit my foot with the axe. Blood, but I still had 5 toes. Better not tell mom. She found the sock. #cnftweet

October 5
karriehiggins "Dad believes now," Mom said, calling from the morgue after seizures steered a cousin's car into a ditch. "Your epilepsy is real." #cnftweet

October 13
EdBankson He asked what 'I'm sorry' is in Spanish. "Lo siento," I told him. "Wrong," said our Mexican-wed co-worker, "or I'd have heard it." #cnftweet

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 twenty 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. And who knows? Your tweet may be reprinted in an upcoming issue of CNF.

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.
 
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 [email protected].
 
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