Creative Nonfiction Newsletter
for Serious Writers & Readers

Table of Contents

--Baseball, Baseball, Baseball
--The Godfather in Cyberspace
--This Just In: New Book on CD Breaks the Silence
--The Smithsonian Gets ReaL
--What’s Up, Doc?
--Diversify Your Bookshelf with the Back Issue Bargain-of-the-Month
--Announcements

SEASON OPENER

Spring has sprung and baseball has begun. And as our beloved Pirates begin another shaky season, CNF is rolling out an abundance of baseball themed literary delights.

For starters, the latest issue of Creative Nonfiction, #34: Anatomy of Baseball, will be landing in mailboxes and on newsstands within the coming weeks. This issue is so full of insight and true passion for the game that you’ll forget all about asterisked statistics and performance enhanced players; you will remember only that the game of baseball is storied and beautiful and that is why it is the American pastime.

The issue features an introduction by Yogi Berra and essays by Christopher Buckley, Frank Deford, Jeff Greenfield, Katherine A. Powers, John Thorn, Sean Wilentz, and many others.

Also hitting shelves this month is the book edition of Anatomy of Baseball, published by SMU Press. The book edition contains several essays not found in the journal, including new and classic pieces by George Plimpton, Roger Angell, and Stefan Fatsis.

And speaking of Stefan Fatsis, the guy is everywhere lately: his Anatomy of Baseball essay was excerpted in the Wall Street Journal, and he discussed the essay on NPR's All Things Considered. Best of all, he’ll be reading from his essay at the CNF Anatomy of Baseball book launch event here in Pittsburgh on May 8. The event is being held in connection with American Shorts. The event will also feature Pirates broadcast announcer Lanny Frattare and CNF’s own Lee Gutkind. Now, that’s a lineup.

THE GODFATHER GETS A VIRTUAL MAKEOVER

The internet home of CNF founder, editor, and all-around creative nonfiction bigwig Lee Gutkind has undergone some major changes. That’s right: www.leegutkind.com has been revamped, retooled, and redesigned!

The new site provides updated news and information regarding all of Lee’s books, readings, workshops, and events. Plus, Lee has started a blog! Check it out now and check back frequently.

The recent Creative Nonfiction issue and book Silence Kills: Speaking Out and Saving Lives has discovered its voice. In conjunction with SMU Press and Post Modern Studios, Silence Kills has been transformed into an audio book on MP3 CD.

With the generous support of the Jewish Healthcare Foundation, and the voices and acting talents of Sam Turich and Kathryn Spitz Cohan, every dramatic narrative has found new life.

The CD will be available soon for purchase at our online store

SMITHSONIAN HOSTS ALL-DAY KEEP IT REAL SEMINAR APRIL 12th

If you live in or plan on visiting the Washington, D.C., this weekend, be sure not to miss the Keep It Real: Researching and Writing Creative Nonfiction Seminar hosted by CNF’s Lee Gutkind.

The program runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 12, 2008, and covers everything you need to know about writing creative nonfiction, including the anchoring elements of the genre, the three Rs of creative nonfiction, narrative structure, and more.

To sign up for the seminar or for more information, click here

And, if you can't make it to the seminar, buy the book instead. Keep It Real: Everything You Need to Know About Researching and Writing Creative Nonfiction is available in our online store.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: BECOMING A DOCTOR

Creative Nonfiction is seeking new essays written by physicians and therapists for a book to be published by W. W. Norton & Co. The essays should depict experiences of "becoming a doctor" and could explore periods of growth and enlightenment, moments of transition, or realizations that one's maturation as a doctor had been achieved. Essays might also explore periods of doubt and struggle for clarity, or incidents of deep disappointment and disillusionment.

The objective is to capture the frustrations and triumphs of the healing art by encouraging doctors to recall and recreate the most salient and significant moments of their professional lives.

Essays must be vivid and dramatic; they should combine a strong and compelling narrative with a significant element of research or information. We're looking for well-written prose, rich with detail and a distinctive voice.

Submissions should be approximately 3,000 to 4,000 words long. Please send manuscript, accompanied by a cover letter with complete contact information, to:

Creative Nonfiction
Attn: Becoming a Doctor
5501 Walnut Street, Suite 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15232

Postmark deadline May 31, 2008.

Please share this announcement with anyone who might be interested in submitting work. Please email any questions to information[at]creativenonfiction.org.

THE BACK-ISSUE-BARGAIN-OF-THE-MONTH

Creative Nonfiction #19: Diversity Dialogues is chock full of essays about the kinds of diversity that defy easy labels. The issue features celebrated authors like John Edgar Wideman, Francine Prose, Andrei Codrescu, Terry Tempest Williams, Richard Rodriguez, Floyd Skloot (whose essay earned him the $10,000 Walter V. Shipey Award) and others. All of this tucked inside a beautiful cover that showcases the art of Romare Bearden.

And this month it can be yours for the low, low price of $3 plus shipping.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

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