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September 2010
Newsletter
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NEWS and EVENTS
Roll out the red carpet--CNF is purple this time. We're very pleased to announce #39 is finished, printing, and will be on its way to subscribers starting next week!
And while it may be bad form to pick favorites, we can't help but be particularly excited about this issue. #39 features a special 30th anniversary tribute to Norman Mailer's The Executioner's Song with an excerpt and reflections from Doris Kearns Goodwin and others; an inside look at Gay Talese's sports writing process; and new prose from Ayse Papatya Bucak, Rachael Button, Toi Derricotte, John Gilmore, Jim Kennedy, John Nosco, Greta Schuler and Jerald Walker.
Plus, Heidi Julavits is miserablish; Phillip Lopate defends curmudgeonry; Robin Hemley wonders what's so awful about navel-gazing; and Peter Ginna marvels at nonfiction subtitles. And more!
Subscribe now and get it all, hot off the press. Plus, MFA students should be on the watch. We've sent hundreds of student coupons for subsidized subscriptions to MFA programs across
the country--get 4 issues for $12
instead of $32!
Now that the issue is out, we're ready to read ahead. Blog nominations are officially open! For #39 we received hundreds of suggestions; we read them all, printed our favorites, and now we're hungry for more. For #40 we want the best narrative posts from vibrant new voices with interesting, true stories to tell. Nominate your favorite(s) now. But, please note, this is not American Idol--no repeat nominating necessary!
Last but not least, special thanks to everyone who braved rain and wind to stop by our table at the Brooklyn Book Festival. Soggy pages aside, it was encouraging to see that a good read can
override bad weather. As one particular optimist put it, "Books in the
rain--isn't it romantic?"
If you missed us in Brooklyn, don't fret. We'll be tabling at Pittsburgh's Small Press Festival, September 25 and 26 from 12 to 5 p.m. Stop by, say hello, and meet our brand new issue.
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DISTRACTIONS: WHAT WE READ WHEN WE SHOULD BE WORKING.
PRINT: Dinty Moore releases his new book, "Crafting The Personal Essay," and speaks with the Writer's Digest about his book, publishing, and perseverance.
PIXELS: Longform.org posts top longform articles they feel are too long to read on a standard web browser and too interesting to pass up. Scribner takes a cue from iTunes, offering downloads of individual essays for 99 cents, reports The New York Times.
OPINION: The Review Review gives the CNF redesign five stars and Brevity's summer issue receives praise from Essay Daily. And, in 33 numbered notes, The Rumpus offers insight into recent events at the VQR and discusses empathy, ego, and ambition.
PLUS: The food contest may be over, but if you haven't yet had your fill, Smithsonian explains the origins of food idioms.
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SUBMISSIONS CALLS
Get published and win bragging rights for your program!
We're looking for new work by MFA students for
publication in an upcoming issue. The winner and four finalists will be
invited to read during the 2011 AWP Conference in Washington, DC
(February 2-5, 2011).
Essays must be unpublished, 3,000 words or fewer, and written by a student who is currently enrolled in an MFA program (in any genre).
Submissions must be postmarked by November 5, 2010 and "MFA Program-Off" must be clearly marked on the envelope and cover letter.
GENERAL We are
always on the lookout for true stories, well-told, about any subject.
For complete guidelines and to view guidelines for other upcoming CNF issues
and contests please visit us online. |
cnftweets
 FYI--the CNF Daily Twitter Contest is one more
way to get your work into CNF. Check out our favorite twelve tweets in #39, and participate daily for your chance to be published in an upcoming issue.
Still not sure what
we're looking for? Here are a few recent winners, to serve as examples and
inspiration:
September 14
Schmaffy She ate the last raspberry; removing the unspoken line of demarcation between the His and Hers halves of their creme brulee. #cnftweet
August 30
amalchik As he turns 3, "Anuki" migrates to "Esmuzee" and your heart turns over and you hope he never learns to say "Excuse me." #cnftweet
August 26
sciencebook The
physicists outside in theater seating, watching a fiery eyeball eclipse
mountains. God? One named it Trinity, for his mistress. #cnftweet
August 20
gruntleme Outside the bar, baseball-cap guy blows bubbles between swigs. The silent come-on--I am still a boy; collect me--nothing but air. #cnftweet
All of the past winners are available on our profile page under the "Favorites" tab.
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CNF's 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.
Work with the experts, and make an investment in your writing career now!
For more information, click here or email the mentoring director, Stephen Knezovich at knezovich@creativenonfiction.org.
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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.
For more information or for recommended issues, visit our Educational Programs page.
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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