Creative Nonfiction (Course Guide / Lisa Heise)

"I chose the genre (essay) because I’m a failed poet and a failed fiction writer. Seriously, there are several reasons why this genre appeals to me. I taught the personal essay for twenty years in all my composition courses, and made it a point to write along with my students. Originally, I did that because I wanted to be better able to teach the form from the inside out, but after a while I got hooked on writing essays. Michael Steinberg is the founding editor of the literary journal, The Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction.

PDF Link. The article presents an interview with Michael Steinberg, essayist and author of the memoir "Trading Off" and the book "Still Pitching." Steinberg answers questions about the origin and purpose of this journal, his role as editor for this journal, and why the journal made changes over a ten year period. Topics include the journal's submission process and the effect of teaching writing on his roles as author and editor. | Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction. Fall2010, Vol. 12 Issue 2, p147-159. 13p. | Literary Reference Center Plus (EBSCO) (Library Database)

PDF Link. An excerpt from chapter one in the book "Staying in the Game: A Memoir." | Fourth Genre: Explorations in Nonfiction. Fall2010, Vol. 12 Issue 2, p161-162 | Literary Reference Center Plus (Library Database)

PDF Link. Presents an article on using multiple voices in connecting the past and present in writing a memoir. Problem encountered in getting readers in and out of a memory recollection; Significance of humiliating a student for a smart-aleck comment in class to writing memoirs; Factors considered in writing the memoir. | Databse: Literary Reference Center Plus (EBSCO) (Library Database)

The comment I find myself making most frequently to my students and to many of the writers who submit personal narratives to Fourth Genre is, “The main thing that’s missing in this piece is your story.” … A lot of nonfiction writers are narrating only the literal story of their experience, and leaving out their “inner story”; that is, the story of their thinking. (Michael Steinberg, Personal Website)