Vultures, Check Your Email: Fast-Pitching Reactive Essays

By Allison K Williams

Recently, there was a terrible tragedy. Or a momentous political event. Someone famous got a bad diagnosis or got divorced or got canceled. A war started. Someone famous got arrested. A government toppled.

So I screenshot a relevant detail of the dreadful news and emailed a writer I know.

RE: Your Tragedy Is Timely

Gruesome, but this might be the time to take part of your existing essay about [your past tragedy], and make it more of an immediate reaction to...