An Introduction to Creative Nonfiction Magazine

Creative Nonfiction magazine covers photographed by Alex Young

True stories are everywhere. People can hear real tales from many walks-of-life in different mediums. The story subjects range in an almost infinite amount of topics, and they often comment on certain time periods, geographic locations or societal characteristics.

In Pittsburgh, a publication called Creative Nonfiction operates to share written works that use "the crafts of storytelling" to explore factual narratives and interviews. What began as an academic journal 22 years ago is now fascinating prose that delivers significance through truth.

Issues of Creative Nonfiction magazine publish quarterly, and educated, suburban Baby Boomers enjoy the text-heavy compositions. Although there is a young Generation X and Millenial influence felt around the magazine and inside the CNF office that Lauren Boehm, the building and events manager, showed me.

CNF issues at HQ

Part of Boehm's objective with holding events at CNF's headquarter is exposing the magazine to a more youthful audience and to those who are engaged with the contemporary, creative culture in Pittsburgh and other cities nationwide. The building's location one street over from Penn Avenue's art district, which many Pittsburghers frequent for gallery crawls, like First Friday, plays a pivotal role in the magazine's growth within the community. Establishments like Boom Concepts diversifies the artsy East Liberty neighborhood that Creative Nonfiction situates itself in. 

Creative Nonfiction also interacts with local academia. Find some Chatham University students from Shadyside as contributors to the magazine. Additionally, various advertisements for postsecondary institutions' writing-centered Master of Fine Arts degree sprinkle throughout magazine editions. Chatham, City University London, Northwestern University, and Sarah Lawrence College feature in CNF issue 45. The college listings allude to Creative Nonfiction's reach across the United States and abroad.

While Creative Nonfiction has roots in Pittsburgh, their focus as a literary magazine draws mass appeal due to the numerous and talented authors who the magazine publishes. Having a title that represents a college program and genre keeps the quarterly relevant too. 

One thing that Creative Nonfiction's young audience has to understand is that the work is "true stories, well told," reads their slogan. Those who enjoy reading good long-form or short-form stories by good writers should pick up CNF. Though the organization does well by offering programs that quick-reading people could get into. Tiny Truth Contests dares Twitter users to tell an interesting true story in 140-characters or less. "'I don't have any cash on me,' he said. The Moscow traffic cop, waiting for his bribe, pointed. 'There's an ATM right over there,'" @amalchik wrote in her online micro-essay.

The content the magazine values is cleverly written true narratives. Each piece displays literate skill on an interesting topic from special perspectives thanks to artistic authors. Ears are top of mind in Steven Church's piece, "Speaking of Ears and Savagery." Regarding the body part, he references Tyson vs. Holyfield II, other worlds, and a wild chimpanzee named Travis. "Grave Robber: A Love Story" titles Joyce Marcel's story following Church's in issue 45 about brutality, crime and violence. The honest tales in Creative Nonfiction are interesting, insightful reads.

Editors of CNF also publish a monthly pocket-size issue called "True Story" that features "one exceptional essay by one exceptional writer." In the first edition learn about two teenage brothers who self-recorded an album in the 1970s, in a log-cabin, and on their family farm. Upon the music's initial release the album flopped, but it was re-discovered and reached critical acclaim in 2008.

Quality storytelling keeps people reading Creative Nonfiction magazine. As the publication continues, it will offer opportunities for skillful writers to share true stories that reflect life from various concepts and backgrounds. Pushing CNF's presence as a media outlet in Pittsburgh that is beneficial to creative writers and storytellers could open up opportunities for CNF to collaborate with the youthful parties who find success in the city's urban environment.

Discover more about Creative Nonfiction and purchase the latest magazine issue, "Learning From Nature," here, as well as "True Story" here.

Creative Nonfiction Foundation

5119 Coral Street

Pittsburgh, PA 15224

Bend Don't Break

Sunday's defeat to the 8-1 Dallas Cowboys was an ample opportunity for the reeling Pittsburgh Steelers to re-ignite their 2016 Super Bowl campaign and turn around a three-game losing streak.  Embarrassing losses to the Miami Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens could be well within the rear-view mirror if the Stillers could handle business at home in football's biggest game of the year thus far.  Despite the hype leading up to this classic match-up--the deserved buzz around rookie phenoms Dak Prescott and Ezekiel Elliott who have managed to change the hopeless rhetoric of 'America's Team' through a seven game winning streak--the Stillers were expected to protect Heinz Field and have an answer for the hot-handed Cowboys.  All last week, the tone in the Pittsburgh locker room was a calm urgency.  Two-time Super Bowl champion quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, told the younger cast members of the Black and Yellow to "follow my lead."

Courtesy of Steelers.com

It hadn't just been the three poor performances the Steelers had put on tape after beginning the season 4-1 that emanated concern, but rather the lack-luster and undisciplined play that has been so uncharacteristic of Steelers football.  The Pittsburgh offense has been praised for its potential as soon as they (and by "they" I mean an Antonio Brown and Le'veon Bell-less Steelers) were ousted from last year's playoffs by the Denver Broncos.  The machine of Big Ben, Bell, and Brown as well as the emergence of somersault-specialist, Martavis Bryant, had many analysts questioning who could stop an offense with a goal of scoring 30 points per game. Mental health has sidelined Bryant for the entire season, but the answer seems to be the Stillers stopping themselves.

Prior to Sunday's loss, the Steelers offense averaged 15 points against the Miami Dolphins (double-yoi), Patriots and Ravens.  Holding calls, mis-communication with the games best wide receiver, AB84, and an injury sidelining Big Ben for the inevitable loss against the Patriots left the offensive outbursts untapped.  What's more baffling than a sputtering offensive unit is how uncharacteristic the Pittsburgh Steelers defense has played.  Understand that the complexion of the Steelers' defensive team has changed since our Super Bowl appearances in 2005, 2008 and 2010.  Players like Casey Hampton, Brett Kiesel, Ryan Clark, Ike Taylor and Troy Polamalu who anchored the 2000s Steel Curtain are now a part of Stillers lore, retired.  Those game-changers Pittsburgh still has on defense, namely James Harrison and Lawrence TImmons, are sadly nearing the end of their careers, bodies unable to consistently make the strip-sacks and timely interceptions that would close-out ball games--think back to "Silverback", James Harrison's 100 yard interception return for a touchdown to end the first half of Super Bowl XLIII.  

Courtesy of Steelers.com

Over the past several years, the Steel Curtain has been reconstructed to feature new linemen, linebackers and defensive backs.  Young players who were selected as high value draft picks such as Jarvis Jones, Ryan Shazier, Stephon Tuitt; and rookies Artie Burns, Sean Davis and Javon Hargrave have been called upon to fill the shoes of older impact players.  Before the game against Dallas, the Steelers coaching staff was quoted by Fox reporter Erin Andrews saying, "The young players have to grow up. Today.  The honey moon phase is over."  Becoming a feared cohesive unit takes time and experience to put together.  This losing streak has really highlighted these growing pains, though.  Between Jay Ajayi and LeGarrette Blount, the respective running backs for the Dolphins and Patriots, the Stillers were mauled for over 300 rushing yards and four ground scores.  Pittsburgh's pass coverage was non-existent, too.  The mantra in the secondary has always been 'bend don't break' where pass yards may be given up, but yards-after-the-catch and touchdowns are relinquished seldom.  The issue over the past two and a half seasons; however, is that the Steelers are just giving up too many passing yards. From 2014 to this year, the defense has ranked 27th or lower in the NFL in pass yards per game. Signing defensive backs Artie Burn, Sean Davis, Ross Cockrell and Mike Mitchell was meant to rejuvenate an aged unit, but those aspirations have yet to come to fruition.  To be fair, injury has delayed some of the live-action opportunities for players, in particular for someone like 2015 second round draft pick Senquez Golson whom has yet to play a single snap.  For those players on the field, though, it's like watching the bully quarterback choose which kid to pick on next, as Rob Gronkowski, Jarvis Landry and Mike Wallace repeatedly burned defenders.  And when there looked to finally be some battles won, competitive plays were called for pass interference and face-mask penalties.  A Steel Curtain defense meets ball carriers at the point-of-attack, plugging any open holes and controlling the line of scrimmage.  A Steel Curtain defense takes pride in tackling, looking to abuse average quarterbacks, creating sacks and forcing turnovers, while limiting the home run ball.  A Steel Curtain defense plays disciplined, communicative football.

Sunday certainly felt like the pivotal moment the Steelers would point to as the catalyst of the remainder of their season.  In order to win, the Steelers were going to have to score points, like the analysts have been projecting, to cushion themselves against the matchup with Dez Bryant, the Cowboys' star number 88 receiver, and the game's best security blanket in Jason Witten.  Though Prescott and Elliott were taking the NFL by storm, it was my belief their play wasn't worth a drop until they faced a hard-nosed championship caliber team, like the six-time Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers.  Traditionally, the Stillers punished rookie quarterbacks; Pat White, the highly touted prospect from West Virginia, was knocked unconscious by Ike Taylor in 2010 and never returned to take another NFL snap.  This was going to be Dak Prescott's 'welcome to the NFL' moment, and Ezekiel Elliott was going to be punched in the mouth by a stout Steel front.

Courtesy of Steelers.com

Heinz Field had a playoff atmosphere as any game against the Dallas Cowboys evokes a sense of nostalgia, thinking back to the three times the franchises met to decide Super Bowls X, XIII and XXX, in which the Stillers have a two games to one lead.  Though a  record crowd of 67,737 fans featured a mass of Terrible Towel yellow, Cowboys faithful were heard loud and clear during some of the contest's most important moments.  For the first half, the Stillers were controlling the game.  Despite an 83 yard check-down pass to Ezekiel Elliott, Pittsburgh had forced a fumble on Prescott, thanks to Anthony Chickillo, and had bottled up many of Elliott's running lanes.  However, football is a game of four quarters and this game came down to a matter of will.

You could see how badly the respective players on the two teams wanted to win.  In back-to-back plays in the fourth quarter, two former college teammates at Ohio State re-acquainted themselves on the gridiron, as Elliott flipped over a blitzing Ryan Shazier before reaching Prescott to showcase his skills as a pass-blocker.  As if to mimic Stephen Curry in last year's NBA playoffs saying, "I'm here. I'm back," Shazier came back pounding through the hole to blow up his Buckeye brethren for a six yard loss.  It seemed like the Steelers had a counter-punch to every Cowboys jab.  After their offensive line created time for Prescott to throw a dime to Dez Bryant, over a hypnotized Artie Burns, the Steelers marched down-field for Le'veon Bell's second touchdown of the day.  And when Dallas' offensive front again paved the way for number 21 to walk into the end zone for a second time to take the lead 29-24 with 1:55 left on the clock, no one at Heinz Field believed Big Ben would be stopped on a game-sealing drive.  Reporters in the press box said resoundingly, "These are the games the Steelers always find a way to win."  The fake spike to paralyze the defense as we watched Roethlisberger toss a 15 yard dart to Antonio Brown on what looked like a routine practice rep, symbolized check-mate.  Unfortunately, Dallas' rookie duo is very real and here to stay for quite some time.  Forty-two seconds and a face-mask penalty on Sean Davis was all the Cowboys needed for Elliott to scamper, untouched, for a 32 yard game-winning touchdown. 

To all the Dallas Cowboys fans pumping their chests: please remember yinz ain't shit until you win another ring to match the Black n' Yellow's tally of SIX.  But in all seriousness, yinz should really enjoy the kind of season yinz are having.  It appears that Sunday's victory was the validation Jerry Jones needed to finally determine whether Tony Romo would take over the reins from Prescott because Romo's address to the media today, as a backup, was given with the utmost respect.  The sky is the limit for yinz team.  That vaunted Seattle Seahawks defense is going to test you come January, but yinz should be thinking Super Bowl.

As for the Pittsburgh Stillers, we aren't in any kind of shape to contend for a Super Bowl championship.  We have shown flashes of how good we can be, and Lord knows come the post-season, every team looking at the Stillers should be fearful, but we must first become a more consistent and disciplined ball-club.  Our offense can score fifty points per game, but we will not be able to finish football games until our defense plays to the Steel Curtain caliber.  Luckily, we have put ourselves in this kind of predicament before.  In the 2005 playoffs, the Steelers became the first six-seed to win a football championship, and last year following  a loss to the Seahawks, we had to win out the regular season to make it to the post-season--shout out the Buffalo Bills for helping make that happen.  The loss to the Cowboys didn't squash our playoff chances altogether, as games against NFC opponents do not tabulate into the AFC conference standings.  But sitting in ninth place at 4-5, it looks like the only route to the big dance is to win our division, which is currently controlled by the Ravens.  So long as we win every remaining divisional game against the Browns (two games) and the Bengals (one game), Christmas day at Heinz Field against Baltimore looks to be the AFC North championship game.

Illustration by Maxwell Young

THE Football Rivalry

Hines Ward & Ray Lewis jawing.

I wonder if there's a Baltimore Ravens fan, residing in Pittsburgh, who was born in Pittsburgh. Pittsburghers have this really keen obsession with wearing black n' yellow and their Pittsburgh pride whether it be on a Stillers Sunday or during a quick trip to the local Giant Eagle.  Wearing the 'Uh huh, you know what it is. Black n' yellow. Black n' yellow.' is something so ingrained into the Pittsburgh culture that I adamantly believe there isn't a single yinzer dawning those intense purple and black colors.  On the other hand, Steelers Nation runs so vast that there are certainly Terrible Towel wavers tucked into the Baltimore Harbor ready to stand proudly for this Sunday's rivalry game.

There are a lot of historic match-ups in the NFL--cowboys and indians personified with the Washington Redskins versus the Dallas Cowboys, the New England Patriots and their Super Bowl kryptonite New York Giants, and even the Chicago Bears versus the Green Bay Packers--but the best rivalry in the National Football League is between the Pittsburgh Steelers and their mid-Atlantic neighbor, the Baltimore Ravens.  You will not see a harder fought game, a harder hitting game, or a more passionate game than this AFC North battle.  Allow two of the games fiercest competitors in Hines Ward and Ed Reed to narrate their time playing in these battered games.

Think about some of the League's best players and coaches who have shaped this match.  I'm talking about Bill Cowher, Ray Lewis, Jamal Lewis, Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward, Ed Reed and HEEAATH Miller.  Current general commanding Baltimore's vaunted defense, Terrell Suggs, put it simply on Thursday saying, "These games will define you."  We haven't forgotten Psycho Ward's vintage knockout hit against Ed Reed or Troy Polamalu's Super Bowl clinching interception in the 2008 AFC championship.  Coaches keep their jobs and players make their legend in these dog fights.  No matter the records of these two teams or who's on the field, both franchises come to hunt and kill. 

That violent smash-mouth style of football this very rivalry has been predicated on is the by-product of the Steelers blue-print.  The style of play that captivated the original Steelers Nation and came to epitomize the  identity of the rust-belt region it was played in--a gritty Steel Curtain defense with a big-play, ground-and-pound offense--has been mimicked and schemed against since the 1970s dynasty.  The Ravens have been the most effective imitators of the Steelers' football ethos.  In 1996, the franchise went out and drafted its own Hall of Fame tone-setting linebacker in Ray Lewis.  Then, in '98 the franchise plucked a former Steeler and Hall-of-Famer in Rod Woodson to upgrade their defense.  After Ben Roethlisberger proved impervious to the harsh mid-Atlantic weather and tormented opposing defenses with his cannon of an arm and escapability, Baltimore invested in their own strong-armed quarterback, Joe Flacco.  

The 45th meeting of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens is set to be a redeeming one for the six-time Super Bowl champions, as the last time the Steelers were victorious came five meetings ago on November 2nd, 2014.  Tomorrow's Week 9 game is also an opportunity for the Stillers to get their season back on track after losing two straight games.  Injuries to core defensive players, like Cameron Heyward and Ryan Shazier as well as Big Ben's awkward torn meniscus in his left knee, have stymied the progression of this talented Steelers squad.  Ranking 21st in defensive efficiency, the Steelers are playing uncharacteristically on the defensive-side of the ball.  Running backs are flipping two hundred yard games and we are barely touching opposing quarterbacks.  The return of Heyward will add much needed pressure on Joe Flacco, while Shazier will be able to nullify some of the Ravens' playmakers.  Twenty days after undergoing knee surgery, Big Ben is anticipated to play, surprising no one on the Ravens defense.  His presence for the rest of the season controlling the 9th most efficient offense in the League will hopefully ignite Antonio Brown and maximize the usage of Le'veon Bell.  Nothing in this game will come easy though, as a first place lead in the division is on the line.

I don't hate the Ravens.  It's hard to have hatred for a team that brings out the best in their opponent.  Twelve of these cage-match games in the last decade have been decided by three points or less.  And despite the recent regular season success of the Cincinnati Bengals, the Steelers and Ravens have long been considered the class of the AFC North, combining for eleven fist place finishes.  I would call it more of a respected disdain.  After all, imitation is the purest form of flattery. 

"TWO HUNDRED" Collection by farESH Brand Praises Pixburgh History

Pittsburgh celebrates its rich history achieved by all of the people who have called the city home. Regarding the arts, government or sports, anything in Pittsburgh has prideful supporters. For 200 years, the city's natives and transplants remain a part of a community simply by residing in The 'Burgh.

Proving to be a valued member of the community, local lifestyle label farESH Brand champions the city with a new clothing collection. Titled "TWO HUNDRED," farESH's fall range for 2016 commemorates the bicentennial of Pittsburgh.

Specifically, "TWO HUNDRED" combs the figurative archives and keys in on past and present cultural influences. In particular, farESH Brand recognizes Revolutionary War soldier Ebenezer Denny as a Pittsburgh hero for being the city's first mayor. Black and gray baseball jerseys feature in the new collection with Denny's last name stitched on the back with bicentennial patches on the front left chest.

Nicknames are important here, too. They reference the culture of the city which is affected by its geographic location, production, or slang. "The Paris of Appalachia" adorns the front of a white fleece jacket and Pittsburgh's seal hits on the back. The phrase "comes from the fact that Pittsburgh is the largest metropolitan city that is part of the Appalachian Mountains," Ryan Brown, creative director of farESH, says. Also, in current and previous work from farESH, the brand successfully applies "Pixburgh" to their movement to represent a united and unique bunch. The term is "a play on the city's accent... Growing up, that's how we stylized the name," Jimmy Schaffer, a local photographer enlisted to shoot the collection's lookbook, says.

Back of The Paris of Appalachia fleece Jacket

"farESH Brand has always embraced the variety of culture, music, and art that the city has to offer," Schaffer continues.

To that end, the "TWO HUNDRED" lookbook features those who participate in Pixburgh's creative community along with Schaffer. For instance, hip-hop artist Tucker Pillsbury, a.k.a. Dillis, models the streetwear, like hats and T-shirts that praise the city's "152XX" zipcode. Creative phenom, artist Mathias Rushin models the clothing with Dillis, and locals Brendyn Irvin, Greg Scelp, and Gabe Searles assist in the visuals and styling of the lookbook.

While farESH utilizes a cast who advocate for creativity in Pixburgh, the city is "very collaborative. It seems like people are working to build the city as a mass, not individuals," Dillis says.

Fundamentally, farESH Brand's "TWO HUNDRED" collection has the respect for the 200 years the city has thrived. "Pittsburgh has grown to be a more diverse and forward thinking city... It would be amazing to look back even in 10 years and see where the city heads and to see the work that my peers and myself put in to make the city better," RB says.

"TWO HUNDRED" is a reflection of Pixburgh's progress, which farESH Brand makes tangible in the form of wearables. For those interested, shop the collection here and use the code "ITR" upon your purchase for 10% off your bill.

View the full lookbook below.

Two Men Who Feed Pittsburgh Culture Join Drinking Partners Podcast

Day Bracey and Ed Bailey of Drinking Partners with Thomas Agnew and D.S. Kinsel of Boom Concepts

On the latest episode of Drinking Partners podcast with Ed Bailey and Day Bracey, Thomas Agnew and D.S. Kinsel join the conversation.

Both D.S. and Thomas operate Boom Concepts, which the Drinking Partners combo claims has heavy influence in Pittsburgh's popular culture.

"Fuck the culture," Thomas says. "I feel like everybody just rides the waves... We don't follow any standards."

Instead of latching on to the trends or playing it safe, D.S. and Thomas are a part of the formula which makes Pittsburgh culture pop. D.S. is a self-trained artist and creative businessman. Thomas has been the brain behind the city's "word up magazine" since 2007, Jenesis.

Together, D.S. and Thomas combined to create Boom three years ago, which promotes and provides resources to a creative community in The 'Burgh.

"We feeding the culture [and Boom is] a place to cook," D.S. says.

Fundamentally, Boom Concepts is a workspace foremost, then a gallery (voted the third best gallery for local artists by the Pittsburgh City Paper) and incubation hub for art and entrepreneurship.

Through all the gentrification happening in the city's East Liberty neighborhood where Boom locates, the venue is a constant beacon for African American business and fun.

Whether it is from D.S.'s roots in The Hill District or Thomas' transfer from Toledo, Ohio to the city for schooling at the Art Institute in the early 2000s, both men are tapped into Pittsburgh.

The young men have created a safe space where people are "comfortable not being judged," Thomas says. Events like breastfeeding class, yoga class, and Wine and Trap have featured at Boom. Rap video has filmed in their basement and on their stage. 

Additionally, "we show artists how to be professionals... we support you conceptually," D.S. continues.

One of the ways the partners get support and show support is through grants. "Talk to Heinz Endowments, talk to Pittsburgh Foundation, the money is there for you to get," Thomas urges. There is free money available to artists in The Steel City. They just have to apply themselves to receive it. "We tell all the young niggas, you're not an artist, you're a creative entrepreneur," D.S. says. People need to think of themselves as a small business and find the money opportunities that will allow them to live off their craft.

Along with talk about D.S. and Thomas' joint and personal pursuits, episode 92 of Drinking Partners podcast comments on African Americans doing better at supporting one another. We have to "team up," Thomas says. "Throw the rope back over" once you make it to a place of stability and achievement, D.S. adds.

Listen to D.S. and Thomas' advice and their stories about hood awareness here in the newest episode of Drinking Partners, the best local podcast according to the City Paper.

More than anything, the effort from all the parties involved continues to contribute to the progression of the city of Pittsburgh.

Boom Concepts

5139 Penn Avenue

Pittsburgh, PA 15224