CONTRIBUTOR GUIDELINES

Sport Literate is perhaps the nation’s lone literary journal that explores pastimes through creative nonfiction (primarily; the poets probably make stuff up). We’ve been awarded 14 consecutive grants from the Illinois Arts Council and have garnered several awards. We’ve produced 19 issues since 1995, including special baseball and all-Chicago collections. The Best American Essays anthology recognized three issues as “notable.” The departments below make up our standard issues.

Who’s On First: A first-person account of how a leisure activity affected your life. Mark Wukas’ “Running With Ghosts,” from our “Spring Eats 1997” collection was cited as a notable essay in Best American Sports Writing of 1998. Michael McColly’s essay, “Christmas City, U.S.A.” won a creative nonfiction award from the Illinois Arts Council.

How-To: The Sport Literate How-To is tongue-in-cheek. Most explore relationships above giving advice. John Conway’s “How To Serve” in our “Pacing 1998” issue earned him a creative nonfiction award from the Illinois Arts Council.

Travel: What did you learn as a stranger? What does the leisurely life elsewhere have to offer to literature? Robert Parker’s travel piece, “The Running of the Bull,” was cited in Best American Essays, 2006.

Personal Essay: We’re hip to all the nonfiction forms—nature writing, first-person journalism—whatever floats your prose. Best American Sports Writing cited Frank Soos’ SL work twice (1997 & 1999). Michael Steinberg’s “Elegy for Ebbets,” from our baseball issue was our first “notable essay” in Best American Essays, 2002. William Huhn’s essay, “The Triple Crown,” was mentioned in Best American Essays, 2004. Benedict Giamo's "Played Out" was mentioned in the 2009 Best American Essays.

Sport Definition: Sport has many meanings. In the past we’ve listed them inside the front cover. Patricia Ann McNair utilized sport as a particular form of pastimein her essay, “And These Are the Good Times,” from the “Pacing 1998” issue, earning her an award from the Illinois Arts Council.

Poetry: One of the hardest things to do well. We are always looking for strong poetry that somehow touches sport or leisure. Send your best verse and we’ll have poetry editor Frank Van Zant give it a read.

Photo Essays: Shutterbugs, lend us your lenses. Tell a modern sports story with black and white photographs, or recycle your grandfather’s Kodak moments. Query with ideas.

Interview: These are really just good conversations. Past interviewees include former Chicago Bear and Cardinal, Chris Zorich and Marshall Goldberg, and sportswriters Bill Gleason and Robert Lipsyte, a collective interview from the Special Olympics, and more. Query with ideas.

 

 

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