Issue 68 / Fall 2018
68 / Risk
Embracing uncertainty
Creative Nonfiction #68: “Risk” explores how we balance the threat of loss against the promise of gain. Writers recall the thrill and terror of going off the high-dive and skiing alone in avalanche country (which one really shouldn’t do). They impulsively invite famous chefs over for dinner, set off on poorly planned road trips, and weigh the advantages of medicating their children.
Plus, the role of litmags in the Trump era; how to “get naked” on the page; lessons from John McPhee; tiny truths; and more.
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What’s the Story #68
"All of us who write know that every hour we devote to our notepad or keyboard involves monumental risk"Politics in Prose
A litmag editor reconsiders the role of personal essays in the Trump eraWading through the Whitestream
A roundtable discussion about writing and publishing when you're not white. With Tanushree Baidya, Jennifer De Leon, and Jonathan Escoffery, moderated by Jenn Scheck-KahnRisk: An Accounting
There's a cost to every decision, but how can we measure it?Mother Apothecary
A mother makes tough choices following her son's ADHD diagnosisFaith Healing
They told her she'd be able to throw away her glasses on the way out of the serviceThe Diving Well
The ten-meter platform is not for everyoneCooking for James
Our heroes make lasting impacts ... even when they disappoint usYou Don’t Have to Be Here
An earthquake Nepal shakes up a former Peace Corps volunteer's memoryBottomless
A backcountry skier weighs uncertainly against elation after every snowfallThe Getaway Car
Rear, escape, and magic on the open roadPyrotechnics: Blowing Up Your Life on the Page
After 20 years of getting naked on the page, you learn a few things.Sing It Loud
Looking to music for lessons on embracing vulnerability on the pageMaster Class
A first-time memoirist finds a roadmap for structure and more in John McPhee's Draft No. 4The Guggenheim Fellowship Career (Non-)Narrative Essay
What if being a writer isn't a choice at all, but a state of mind?On Letting Go of Perfection
Author of the prize-winning essay "You Don't Have to Be Here" for the Risk issue