“It’s rare to have such a gathering of major magazine editors outside New York, and we’re tremendously excited they’re coming to Pittsburgh to meet and mingle with our local writing community—especially the students—and to talk about the future of magazines in America” – Lee Gutkind, Creative Nonfiction Founder & Editor
PITTSBURGH, PA – Editors from magazines such as Esquire, Harper’s, and the New Yorker, among others, will take part in the 2017 Creative Nonfiction Writers’ Conference on May 26 and 27 at Point Park University in downtown Pittsburgh.
The annual conference, a collaboration this year with Point Park’s Department of Literary Arts and Center for Media Innovation, is led by the Creative Nonfiction Foundation (CNF), a 24-year-old nonprofit literary organization founded in Pittsburgh by writer and editor Lee Gutkind. Gutkind has been recognized by Vanity Fair as “the godfather behind creative nonfiction” — a genre CNF defines as “true stories, well told.”
The conference schedule centers on a special keynote conversation—“The State of the American Magazine” at 5 p.m. on Friday, May 26 — with editors from some of the nation’s most influential periodicals, including Robert P. Baird, articles editor at Esquire; Cressida Leyshon, deputy fiction editor at the New Yorker; James Marcus, editor in chief at Harper’s; Dan Piepenbring, web editor at the Paris Review; and Ilena Silverman, features editor at the New York Times Magazine. The discussion will be moderated by Lee Gutkind.
“It’s rare to have such a gathering of major magazine editors outside New York, and we’re tremendously excited they’re coming to Pittsburgh to meet and mingle with our local writing community—especially the students—and to talk about the future of magazines in America,” Gutkind said. “Bringing the conference to Point Park University puts it in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh, helping the conference showcase the city.”
Through a combination of panels, presentations, and craft intensives — focusing on topics such as book proposals, pitching, writing for the web, self-promotion, finding a publisher, and the writer as activist—this conference provides opportunities for nonfiction writers of all levels to meet individually with literary agents, get advice from publishing professionals, hear what editors are looking for, and learn to hone their skills in inspiring small group sessions. Conference attendees also can network with writers from across the country who are passionate about the writing process.
“We are fortunate to have this conference on our campus. Creative nonfiction is a vast subject, and this conference helps bring all these fields together,” said Chris Girman, PhD/JD assistant professor in Point Park’s Department of Literary Arts. “Previous conferences have led to book deals, article publications, and new editor and writer relationships. It’s a really cool place to be.”
Other conference presenters include New York Times best-selling authors; magazine and book editors from Slate, Tin House, and Bloomsbury; literary agents; and more.
Discounts on conference registration are available for Point Park University students, alumni, and faculty; students at other schools; and groups. Pricing details are online, and all inquiries can be directed to information@creativenonfiction.org.
Early registration, which closes on Monday, April 24, also offers a special, discounted rate. Admission to the keynote is included in the price of the full conference registration, but those interested in attending just the keynote conversation can purchase individual tickets.
For more information and to register, visit the 2017 Creative Nonfiction Writers’ Conference web page: www.creativenonfiction.org/conference.
The Creative Nonfiction Foundation inspires and supports writers of true stories by providing publishing venues for a diverse range of creative nonfiction writing and writers; serving as a strong advocate for the genre; helping define the ethics and parameters of the field; and aiming to broaden the genre’s impact not only in the publishing world but also in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Visitcreativenonfiction.org to learn more.
Founded in 1960, Point Park University, recently named a College of Distinction, is a dynamic, urban university with a strong liberal arts tradition. Located in downtown Pittsburgh, Point Park enrolls nearly 4,000 full- and part-time students in more than 100 undergraduate and graduate programs offered through the School of Arts and Sciences, School of Business, School of Communication, and Conservatory of Performing Arts. Visit pointpark.edu to learn more.
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