In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

  • Editor’s Note
  • Marcia Aldrich (bio)

This is my last issue of Fourth Genre as senior editor, after four years as its grateful guardian. Laura Julier has stepped in to assume the editorship, and when this issue reaches the hands of readers, she will already be guiding the journal into its next phase.

Before I became the editor of Fourth Genre, I fancied myself a critic of editors, whom I roughly divided into two sorts, the discerning and the benighted. I was right insofar as I believed an editor ought to be capable of confident discernment, but there’s more to editorial decision making than an eye for good literary work. While writing is largely a solitary enterprise, editing is collaborative. Essays submitted for publication to Fourth Genre always have multiple readers, who often give conflicting assessments and recommendations. As senior editor, I have encouraged such differences of opinion, for it seems healthy not to read monochromatically, to avoid, for example, a house style. It might surprise, perhaps inspire, the eavesdropper on an editorial meeting to see how passionate are the devotions of a creative nonfiction editorial staff doing the work of publishing.

I want to acknowledge, then, the many hands that have built issues of Fourth Genre during the last four years. I start with David Cooper because this is his last issue, too. David was formerly coeditor, and has more recently secured our covers and photo essays. David’s last cover photo is “Morro Bay by Threes,” accompanied by his own essay. It is in large part due to David’s efforts that Fourth Genre has explored the relationship between photographs and words. I’d like also to thank Robert Root, who oversees our interviews and roundtables. Bob is the collaborator every editor wants—one who takes [End Page ix] responsibility, plans ahead, has deep knowledge of his field, and performs every duty with expertise and care. For book review editor, I have been fortunate in the presence of Ned Stuckey-French. Ned brings more valuable qualities than I can name to his complicated task. In conversations with me, he decides on the range of books we should review, and then matches books to reviewers, working with them one-on-one to produce timely, high-quality evaluations. His broad knowledge of the field and engagement with all the manifestations of nonfiction has given our book review section an engaging diversity.

The most recent judge of the annual essay competition is Ryan Van Meter, and this issue features the first-place winner, Jennifer De Leon, and the runner-up, Damian Van Denburgh. Ryan submitted his own essay “The Goldfish History” during my first round as editor, and it appeared in issue 12.1. He then joined our editorial staff. In his first book, If You Knew Then What I Know Now, “The Goldfish History” makes a return appearance. I realized quickly that Ryan—a relatively young but accomplished writer—would be a perfect choice to judge our annual contest. So I did know then what I know now. Of the winning essay, “The White Space,” Ryan wrote: “‘The White Space’ reminded me that even very ordinary stories can make surprising, beautiful essays. What could be simpler than a daughter helping her father write his résumé? But as the essay demonstrates through its clever use of form, the complexity and specialness of life experience doesn’t always fit neatly in our most agreed-upon documents, and I kept thinking afterwards of all that’s contained in our white spaces that we’re not invited (or allowed) to share. I also admired the writer’s honesty, and the way she stepped aside to let her father grab the bulk of the reader’s sympathy. I loved him very much.”

Ryan and E. J. Levy were our primary go-to readers of submitted manuscripts. I’d like to say a word about our reading process during my tenure. Interns (who range from advanced undergraduates to doctoral candidates), the graduate assistant (first Brian Olszewski and then Nada Shawish), and I read everything that came in the door. At our Friday meetings, we identified certain submissions to send to Ryan and E. J...

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