Lutz taught creative writing at the California Institute of the Arts, University of Iowa,[4] Stanford University, and the University of Copenhagen.[2] He is currently Professor in the Department of Creative Writing at University of California, Riverside.
His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The New Republic, Chicago Tribune, Die Zeit, ZYZZYVA, Exquisite Corpse, Salon.com, and Black Clock.[7]
His books include Doing Nothing: A History of Loafers, Loungers, Slackers, and Bums in America (2007, American Book Award), Cosmopolitan Vistas: American Regionalism and Literary Value (2004; Choice Outstanding Academic Title), Crying: The NaturalCultural History of Tears (1999; New York Times Notable Book), and American Nervousness, 1903: An Anecdotal History (1991, New York Times Notable Book), and have been translated into 12 languages.[8]
He lives in Los Angeles.