Amy Colleen, Nonfiction Editor

Creative nonfiction is a tricky genre to describe. For the unfamiliar, it often seems like a conglomeration of poetry and term papers, a distasteful juxtaposition that prompts the question “who would ever want to read that?” But when personal stories take center stage, creative nonfiction breathes new life into the “essay” genre so often dismissed as boring or out of touch. A truly memorable piece of nonfiction will blend the truth of events with the truth of humanity to produce an essay that will linger with the reader for a long time to come.

The pieces chosen for this year’s edition focus on memory as a way to see ourselves afresh and make sense of the world around us. With a well-executed journey told in word pictures, “The Unattainable Luxury of Home” evokes nostalgia and poignant longing through vivid description of loved ones and familiar scents.

Assistant Nonfiction Editor Cayla Garman selected this year’s Best Essay winner, “Imagine a Horse.” Cayla says, “Best Essay winner “Imagine a Horse” hones in on a memory from childhood, a scene which seems to enhance the narrator’s imagination as much in the present day as it did then. With its conversation of the stories we tell about ourselves, or rather, the tales we use as entertaining fun facts at a party, this self-aware narrative speaks to the power of creative nonfiction and the power of letting our inner child loose.”