Robbie Maakestad grew up in Indianapolis, IN, before attending Taylor University for undergrad, Ball State University for an MA in Writing, and George Mason University for an MFA in Writing (Nonfiction). He is working on two books鈥攁 history of the City of David Archaeological site in Jerusalem (nonfiction) and a collection of short stories about Bill Murray (fiction). Robbie is Senior Editor at The Rumpus.
Education
- M.F.A., Creative Writing (Nonfiction), George Mason University
- M.A., English (Nonfiction), Ball State University
- B.A., English (Creative Writing), Taylor University
Courses Taught
- Literature and Culture - Essays - LIT 2000
- American Writers II - LIT 2057
- Diverse Voices in American Literature - LIT 3052
- College Composition: Writing and Research - WRI 1010
- College Composition: Research - WRI 1016
- Introduction to Creative Writing - WRI 2020
- Advanced Composition - WRI 3015
- Creative Nonfiction - WRI 3023
- Professional Writing - WRI 3065
- Writing for the Community - WRI 4000
- Experimental Nonfiction - WRI 4090
- Writing Across the Genres - WRI 5020 / WRI 6020
- Nonfiction Workshop - WRI 5023 / WRI 6023
- Fiction Workshop - WRI 5022 / WRI 6022
Experience in Field
- Professional Lecturer, George Washington University
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (Instructor of Record), George Mason University
- Instructor, Creative Writing Club, Burris Laboratory School
- Graduate Teaching Assistant (Instructor of Record), Ball State University
Awards and Honors
- Excellence in Teaching Award 2021-2022, 国产剧麻豆剧
- Excellence in Teaching Award 2019-2020, 国产剧麻豆剧
- Notable Essay, The Best American Essays 2019, for "A Most Fragile Organ," Boulevard
- "Coke in Jerusalem,鈥� Short List, Penguin/Travelex Next Great Travel Writer Award, 2017
- Outstanding Graduate Student Award, George Mason University, 2017
- Second Place, Bethesda Magazine Essay Contest, Summer 2017
- Honorable Mention, Dan Rudy Fiction Award, 2017
- Honorable Mention, Bethesda Magazine Essay Contest, Summer 2016
- 鈥淚nsignificant,鈥� Winner, Mary Roberts Rinehart Nonfiction Award, Spring 2016
- Honorable Mention, Marco Polo Arts Magazine鈥檚 100 x 100 Contest, Summer 2012
Dissertations, Presentations, and Publications
Book In Progress
The City of David: A Biography of Place
Magazines
Nonfiction
- Anatomical Sciences Education, 17.1, 鈥淚ntersection of Spirituality and Anatomy" issue, January/February 2024
- Gulf Coast, Winter/Spring 2022
- by Andrew Cartwright, Rajpreet Heir, and Robbie Maakestad, Essay Daily, Spring 2021
- The San Diego Union-Tribune, Spring 2020
- MarchVladness.com, Spring 2019
- Barren Magazine, Spring 2019
- Bestiary Podcast, April 23, 2019
- Slippage Lit, Spring 2019
- 鈥淭he Secrets of the Excavators,鈥� The Normal School, Fall 2018
- 鈥淎 Most Fragile Organ,鈥� Boulevard, Spring 2018
- 鈥淭hree Things I Hate,鈥� Hellscape, Spring 2018
- Wigleaf, Winter 2018
- Wigleaf, Winter 2018
- 鈥淎n Open Letter to a Clich茅,鈥� Bad Pony, Winter 2018
- Essay Daily, Summer 2017
- Bethesda Magazine, Summer 2017
- 鈥淎&苍产蝉辫;笔辞迟蝉丑别谤诲,鈥� The MacGuffin, Spring 2017
- SFWP Quarterly, Spring 2017
- 鈥淐oke in Jerusalem,鈥� Penguin/Travelex Contest, Spring 2017
- 鈥淎 Baker鈥檚 Dozen,鈥� The Free State Review, Spring 2017
- The Rumpus, Winter 2016
- Bethesda Magazine, Summer 2016
- 鈥淭he View From Moresheth-Gath,鈥� Altarwork, Fall 2015
- 鈥淭he Sea of Galilee: My Assurance,鈥� Windhover Journal, Spring 2015
- 鈥淔irst Night In Jerusalem,鈥� Mojave River Review, Winter 2014
- 鈥淭he Mountain Finds All Climbers: On John Leax鈥檚 'Recluse Freedom,鈥欌�� with Daniel Bowman, Jr. and Hannah Hanover, Antler, Fall 2012
- Marco Polo Arts Magazine, Summer 2012
Fiction
- Whale Road Review, 34, Spring 2024
- Beaver Magazine, Fall 2023
- Rejection Letters, Fall 2023
- 鈥�,鈥� carte blanche, Fall 2023
- 鈥�&苍产蝉辫;HaveHasHad, Summer 2021
- Okay Donkey, Spring 2021
- Linden Avenue Literary Journal, Summer 2017
Poetry
- 鈥溩斪炞溩曌� (Millo),鈥�&苍产蝉辫;Windhover Journal, Spring 2017
- 鈥淓arly Morning Overlooking the Temple Mount,鈥� The Wayfarer, Fall 2013
- 鈥淎kko, Israel 鈥� Market,鈥� The Wayfarer, Fall 2013
- 鈥淚 Know What It Is To Be Icarus,鈥� The Broken Plate, Spring 2013
Interviews
- The Rumpus, Fall 2022
Presentations & Readings
Writer鈥檚 Symposium by the Sea, 2024, 国产剧麻豆剧, San Diego, CA鈥擶orkshop with Nick Hornby
AWP Conference, 2024, Kansas City, KA鈥�鈥淲e Can鈥檛 All Marry Rich: Teaching Creative Writing Students Professional Skills,鈥� February, 2024
AWP Conference, 2023, Seattle, WA鈥�鈥淢entoring Across Race: Practices to Support BIPOC Students and Writers,鈥� March, 2023
- Writer鈥檚 Symposium by the Sea, 2023, 国产剧麻豆剧, San Diego, CA鈥擶orkshop with Anthony Doerr, 国产剧麻豆剧
- AWP Conference, 2022, Philadelphia, PA鈥斺�淣avigating Layered Identities in Creative Nonfiction,鈥� March, 2022
- The Butterfly Reading Series, Feb. 11, 2020, San Diego, CA
- Crossing the Lines Conference 2019, Moderator/Panelist, "Researched Nonfiction: Writing the Other/Self," October, 2019
- Stars to Steer By, Interview, 2018
- AWP Conference, 2017, Moderator/Panelist, 鈥淓ditors Engage the Digital Age: Transforming the Modern Lit Journal鈥�&苍产蝉辫;
- LoudFire Reading Series, Fairfax, VA, December 13, 2016
- Bethesda Literary Festival, "Refuge in Ruins,鈥� Bethesda, MD, April 15, 2016
- Kindling Reading Series, 鈥渕ovie night: a postmodern romance,鈥� Fairfax, VA, September 21, 2015
- This Is the End Reading Series, 鈥淐amping at Karnei Hittin,鈥� Muncie, IN, April 21, 2014
- Practical Criticism Midwest Panel, 鈥淎rraba,鈥� Muncie, IN, February 7, 2014
- Practical Criticism Midwest Breakout Session, 鈥淭he Cow,鈥� Muncie, IN, February 7, 2014
- Practical Criticism Midwest, 鈥淢y Grandparents Smell Awesome,鈥� Muncie, IN, February 8, 2013
Editorial Experience
- Senior Editor, The Rumpus, 2019-Present
- Features Editor, The Rumpus, 2018-2019
- Assistant Features Editor, The Rumpus, 2017-2018
- Editor-in-Chief, Phoebe Journal, 2016-2017
- Assistant Editor, Phoebe Journal, 2015-2016
