Vignette Writing

Introduction

The highly acclaimed Latina writer Sandra Cisneros was born in Chicago on December 20, 1954.

A graduate of Loyola University with a degree in English, she has worked as a teacher to high

school dropouts at Chicago’s Latino Youth Alternative High School, a college recruiter, and a counselor. She has also taught writing as a writer-in-residence at several universities. Cisneros

has won numerous awards for her writing, and her books have been translated into as many as

10 languages.

Cisneros attended the University of Iowa’s Writer’s Workshop, and while she was there, she

finished the manuscript for My Wicked Wicked Ways, a book of poetry. During her time at the

Workshop, she found her true literary voice, that of a Mexican woman. She found that her

writing could reflect her distinct and special ethnic and cultural background, and she has

written several books that express what others couldn’t; these books are The House on Mango

Street, Loose Woman, and Woman Hollering Creek and Other Stories.

The House on Mango Street, which won the Before Columbus American Book Award, is probably

her most widely read book and has sold more than 500,000 copies. This novel is a series of 44

related vignettes narrated by Esperanza Cordero, a Latina girl growing up in a poor Chicago

neighborhood. Together these vignettes draw a memorable portrait of the barrio, its neighbors, its

young children, and Esperanza’s friends and family. This highly acclaimed novel is studied by

students of all ages, from grade schools to universities, throughout the nation and the world.

In her poetry and stories, Cisneros’ writing reflects her personal experiences and perspectives

as a Chicana. In these writings, she represents her community in an honorable way and shows

the diversity of her characters, who are searching for self-identity, independence, and cultural

acceptance. Much of her poetry deals with the places she has traveled, and blends Spanish and

English to enrich the text.

Cisneros has lectured throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe, and is still writing.

She lives in San Antonio, Texas.

What is a vignette?
Author Ann Mackie Miller describes a vignette as “writing that is prompted by a particular focus. It might be a character, an event in your life, a setting or an observation. Each vignette stands on its own, a little slice of life that is usually particularly vivid and is written from your point of view.” (I really like her definition!)

Vignette- a short, descriptive sketch that may stand alone or be part of a larger work.

Resources 

• You can access the reading here: http://esl-bits.net/Books/Mango_Street/Part01/default.html