Polar Bear Plunging for a Cause

My fellow Editor in Chief, Rob Pockat, is not afraid to do dumb stuff. That often means that I have to take on the role of baby-sitter. I say "no" a lot and spoil the fun. But every once in a while, I loosen up a little and encourage the idiocy. Now would be one of those times.

A Plot is Not Enough

I'm re-reading Vivian Gornick's The Situation and the Story for my writing group. I've only made it to page 26 so far, but already I'm reminded of why this book is so highly regarded in creative nonfiction circles. It's because Gornick is able to explain what essayists do in a way that is both accessible and profound. For example: "the way the narrator -- or the persona -- sees things is, to the largest degree, the thing being seen."