Call for Submissions: End of Life Stories
July 4, 2009 § 5 Comments
Creative Nonfiction is seeking new essays that explore death, dying, and end of life care, for a collection to be published by Southern Methodist University Press. We’re looking for stories that transcend the “I” and find universal meaning in personal experiences. We hope to include stories representing a wide variety of perspectives—from physicians, nurses,hospice workers, social workers, counselors, clergy, funeral directors,family members, and others. We want narratives that capture, illustrate and/or explain the best way to approach the end of life, as well as stories that highlight current features, flaws, and advances in the healthcare system and their impact on professionals, patients, and families.
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.
Creative Nonfiction editors will award one $1500 prize for Best Essay, and two $500 prizes for runners-up.
Guidelines: Essays must be: unpublished, 5,000 words or less, postmarked by December 31, 2009, and clearly marked “End of Life” on both the essay and the outside of the envelope. There is a $20 reading fee (or send a reading fee of $25 to include a 4-issue CNF subscription); multiple entries are welcome ($20/essay) as are entries from outside the U.S. (though subscription shipping costs do apply).
Please send manuscript, accompanied by a cover letter with complete contact information, SASE and payment to:
Creative Nonfiction
Attn: End of Life Stories
5501 Walnut Street, Suite 202
Pittsburgh, PA 15232
More info at:
http://creativenonfiction.org/
information@creativenonfiction.org
The Brevity Blog 
[…] Do you have an end of life story? […]
Hello, I am interested in what you are asking…
Cassandra
Why has Creative Nonfiction had such an interest in medical themes over the past few years?
May I address “death” in particular as I attempt to address your question? The collective “we” have interest in the subject of death as it is major in our lives, both the loss of another and our own death. To know how death pulls at our psyche, please note how much poetry is written about love and death. I answer your question from my perspective as a Registered Nurse who has worked extensively with the dying and as a daughter who was not at my mother’s side (at her request)when she died. We need good, creative writer’s (thinkers/observers) to continue the exploration of the topic and to make it better in our society. Perhaps there are other cultures who do not seem to have the difficulties we have that may come from our “clean”, efficient approach to end of life. I like our goal to be with another so death does not come in isolation and fear. And friends, caretakers and loved ones know how to make the last hours of life a time of love, reassurance and nobility. Cassandra
Hello Cassandra,
I’ve been looking for you for years and would love to speak with you. If you get this message PLEASE reach out to me. I would love to write something about current experiences with death and how my thoughts have changed as I have grown older, and I’m engaged to a funeral director.
Sarah