Chris Offutt was born in Lexington, Kentucky, the son of Andrew J. Offutt, an author, and his wife Jodie. His brother Jeff Offutt is a professor of software engineering. He has two sisters, Scotty Hyde, who lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Melissa Offutt, in San Diego. They grew up in Haldeman, a small former mining community located in Rowan County in the Appalachian Mountain foothills of eastern Kentucky. They all attended public schools. Offut quit high school intending to join the army, but failed the physical. Offut subsequently attended Morehead State University and graduated with a degree in theater and a minor in English. After college, he hitchhiked around the country, taking more than 50 jobs, all part-time, and began writing.
Offutt later attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop.
Best American Short Stories 2011*
Best American Short Stories 2014*
* indicates notable/special mention
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