The Fine Art of Literary Fist-Fighting

Lee Gutkind is the founder of the literary magazine, Creative Nonfiction. He’s edited or authored over 30 books during his time on the faculty of, first, the University of Pittsburgh and, more recently, Arizona State University. His latest book is The Fine Art of Literary Fist-Fighting: How a Bunch of Rabble-Rousers, Outsiders, and Ne’er-do-wells Concocted Creative Nonfiction (Yale UP, 2024).

This episode encapsulates the journey that Lee Gutkind has made, as a self-confessed former hippie motorcyclist who not only “fought” his way into academia but helped revitalize the essay genre along the way. When Gutkind began his Creative Nonfiction magazine in 1994, maybe two dozen creative writing programs existed. Today, there are over 200 such programs around the world, and essays have become well-accepted. As Gutkind recounts, back in the day the non-beige nature of New Journalism was the driving force in style and get-out-into-the-world subject matter. Today, a previous all but all-male preserve is driven more by the talents of female nonfiction writers, often exploring more personal, heartful subject matter. True stories told with narrative drive remain central to Gutkind’s literary passions. Should want an episode about the value of exploring the world, this is your ticket.

Dan Hill, PhD, is the author of ten books and leads Sensory Logic, Inc. To check out his related “Dan Hill’s EQ Spotlight” blog, visit this site.

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