low residency mfa programs creative writing

Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing

Master of fine arts in creative writing and poetics (low-residency).

Our low-residency MFA provides the structure, support, and professional development you need to take your writing to the next level .

Program Overview

Naropa’s Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing is designed for writers ready to hone their craft and earn their Master of Fine Arts degree through rigorous, cross-genre study. Students who can’t relocate to our Colorado Campus can acquire a quality asynchronous education with in-person residencies.

Whether you have a novel in progress, are preparing for a PhD program, or looking to strengthen your prose, poetry, and hybrid writing, our low-residency creative writing MFA program provides you with resources, accountability, and inspiration that fit your schedules.

Naropa takes traditional low-residency MFA programs a step further with our history of experimental and innovative writing, critical study, and cross-genre publishing. Our unique cross-genre online writing courses, generative residencies, and one-on-one mentorship provide students with a writing community, no matter where they live.

Cross-Genre Curriculum

Unlike other Creative Writing MFA programs, our low-residency MFA is open-genre. This means that writers can work in fiction, poetry, prose, non-fiction, playwriting, and hybrid forms throughout their degree program. Students experiment with narrative structures and forms that fit their unique voices. Writers develop their unique style, critical ear, and vast knowledge of contemporary trends across literary genres.

One-on-One Mentorship

One-on-one mentorship and small online writing classes help writers develop their style, refine their editing skills, and publish their work. Each writer dedicates their final semester to a thesis manuscript. Working one-on-one with their thesis mentor and workshopping with classmates through written exchange, students finish their MFA with a completed manuscript in the genre of their choice.

Generative Residencies

Every semester, our Low-Residency MFA students gather in Boulder, Colorado, for enriching and energizing residencies. MFA students meet one-on-one with mentors, enjoy master classes with guest writers, attend readings, and bond with writers. Residencies also overlap with our spring and fall symposiums, providing students with a rich 4-days of community and inspiration. Each academic year culminates in a week-long writing intensive at Naropa’s Summer Writing Program. This annual festival brings over 60 artists, writers, and thinkers to Boulder, for workshops, readings, panels, and professional development.

Quick Facts

• Fifteen annual days of residency in Boulder, CO
• Open-genre curriculum
• One-on-one mentorship with accomplished faculty
• Unique Experimental Approach
• Participation in the Summer Writing Problem
• Cohort model developing a strong sense of community among MFA students
• Several Scholarship and Financial Aid Opportunities
• Applications open for August 2024

Program Format

Naropa’s Creative Writing MFA is a rigorous, generative, low-residency two-year program with 4 writing residencies in beautiful Boulder Colorado. The program combines asynchronous craft courses with on-campus residencies. 

Annual fall and spring residencies allow writers to connect with other writers and faculty , deepen their craft, and participate in symposium readings and panels with other MFA students in Boulder, CO. Spring and Fall Residencies run from Saturday through Tuesday during the Spring and Fall JKS Symposiums.

The summer residency immerses writers in a full week of the Jack Kerouac School’s world-renowned Summer Writing Program . Here, students attend workshops, lectures, panels, and readings by numerous visiting writers to hone their craft, make connections, speak on student panels, and prepare for the next step in their writing career.

Course Spotlight

Craft of writing: rooting in the archive.

This course delves into the Naropa University Archive and its rich offerings to explore traditions, movements, and/or schools of writing that inform or extend the aesthetic vision of the Jack Kerouac School toward mindful writing. Possible recent historical examples include New American Poetry, the Beats, San Francisco Renaissance, the New York School, Black Mountain Poetics, the Black Arts Movement, and Language poetry, among others.

Degree Requirements

Unlike many online creative writing MFA programs, our asynchronous classes build community through writer-to-writer feedback and a structured curriculum.

Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing Requirements

26 credits of online asynchronous craft courses.

Students work one-on-one with a mentor, exchanging packets —consisting of letters, bibliographies, contemplative reflections, creative manuscripts, and critical essays—throughout the semester.

• WRI-631E Craft of Writing: Rooting in the Archive(6)WRI-648E Craft of Writing: Contemplative Experiments(6)
• WRI-678E Craft of Writing: Cultures & Communities(4)
• WRI-735E Craft of Writing: Contemporary Trends(6)
• WRI-755E Craft of Writing: Professional Development(4)

6 credits of MFA Thesis

6 credits of MFA Thesis (faculty mentorship on a book-length creative manuscript)

4 credits of the Summer Writing Program

Two eight-day summer residencies are completed at Naropa’s Boulder campus. Choose two of the following:

• WRI-751 Summer Writing Program(2)
• WRI-752 Week Two Summer Writing Program(2)
• WRI-753 Summer Writing Program(2)

4 credits of fall and spring residencies in Boulder, CO.

• WRI-789WE Fall Residency(1)
• WRI-791WE Spring Residency(1)

Why Choose Naropa?

Strong writing tradition.

Founded in 1974 by Allen Ginsberg and Anne Waldman, the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics encourages experimental forms across genres , pushing for innovation inside and outside the classroom.

Career Readiness

Whether a student plans to teach, write, edit, or work in publishing, our low-residency program provides the framework they need to develop their professional skills alongside a vibrant and supportive writing community.

In-house Publishing

The Kerouac School’s student-run Bombay Gin literary journal publishes work from promising students and distributes it nationally through Small Press Distribution. Students interested in fine-craft letterpress printing can learn at Naropa’s Harry Smith Print Shop and Kavyayantra Press.

How this Program Prepares You

Professional dossier.

Graduates from our low-residency Creative Writing MFA emerge from the program with a solid record of written work . The pieces that make up their dossier are workshopped with peers and perfectioned with guidance from their tutor.

Critical Analysis

You’ll emerge from the program with critical analysis skills that go beyond reading between the lines of a written work. The program will teach you to recognize the role of intersectionality in the literary arts, looking at the wider spectrum that surrounds a piece, and identifying bias, assumptions and stereotypes.

Unleashing creativity

Our workshops, classes and Summer Writing Program encourage students to harness their creativity by exploring experimental forms . Low-residency students receive on-on one mentoring to help them develop their creative writing skills to the fullest, as well as feedback from their writing community, be it online or during their residency.

What You'll Learn

Highly developed writing craft.

Hone your voice in every step of the writing process.

Skill in Critical Analysis

Learn to discuss literary works through a variety of critical lenses.

Contemplative Writing Practice:

Use your writing practice as a tool for self-inquiry and discovery.

Social and Cultural Awareness

Recognize the role of race, class, and gender in literary history and works.

Career Preparedness

Graduate with a publishable manuscript and/or professional dossier.

Career Opportunities with a Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing

• Lyricist: write words for songs, matching melody and rhyme.
• Poet: use language to creatively express emotion, ideas and experiences.
• Proofreader: check written work for errors and inconsistencies.
• English Teacher: teach at the postsecondary level.
• Author: craft and publish original material.
• Editor: review and improve written work for publication.

Hear from a Graduate

Jackie henrion, faqs about the low-residency mfa in creative writing, what is a low residency mfa in creative writing, why choose a low residency mfa creative writing program, how long does it take to complete a low residency mfa in creative writing, how is naropa’s low residency mfa in creative writing different from other programs, what types of funding are available.

Funding includes the Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, and Anselm Hollo Graduate Fellowships.

The fellowships are awarded annually to three incoming MFA Creative Writing and Poetics students (residency program). Allen Ginsberg, Anne Waldman, and Anselm Hollo fellowship recipients will receive full funding (tuition and fees), plus an additional $5,000 scholarship as well as a $4,500 stipend. Fellowship recipients may not simultaneously hold a Graduate Assistantship.

Additionally, partial funding is provided for students who have applied for and been offered graduate assistantships with the Naropa Writing Center.

Visit our Graduate Scholarship page to read more about funding, fellowships and scholarships for the Low-Residency Creative Writing & Poetics MFA and other degrees.

Learn More About the Program

Connect with your counselor

Olivia phipps.

Graduate Admissions Counselor

• [email protected]
• Schedule an Appointment
• Attend An Info Session

Ready to Apply?

Admission requirements.

Naropa University values both academic excellence and critical self-reflection . Our application process not only evaluates academic performance but also candidates’ openness and willingness to engage in contemplation.

Learn more about admission requirements and the application process for our Low-Residency Creative Writing MFA.

Graduate Students

Prospective students who have completed an undergraduate degree are welcome to apply to Naropa. When applying, candidates must submit a transcript of their undergraduate coursework, a statement of interest, a resume, two letters of interest and a creative writing sample. They may also apply for financial aid at this stage. Discover all admission requirements.

International Students

If you obtained your undergraduate diploma from a non-US university, we require additional documentation to review your application. Learn how to apply to Naropa as an international student.

Costs and Financial Aid

Naropa University students have access to several financial aid opportunities and scholarships – over 75% of our graduate students receive some sort of financial support to pursue their studies. Use our calculator to estimate your tuition, housing, materials and other costs.

Graduate Scholarship Opportunities

Interested in our Low-Residency Creative Writing MFA?

Read our blog or listen to our podcast, heartfire festival returns to naropa university, episode 92. andrew schelling: writing as a spiritual practice, womxn of naropa celebrates national poetry month, summer writing program from the archives, together in spirit, student support and resources, academic support, online student support, career services, financial aid, accessibility, related programs, mfa in creative writing, ba in creative writing and literature, request information, plan a visit, about naropa, events & community, user information, support naropa.

2130 Arapahoe Avenue Boulder, CO 80302

1-800-772-6951

[email protected]

Worried about a Student?

© 2024 naropa university. all rights reserved., you are ready..

This is where experiential learning meets academic rigor. Where you challenge your intellect and uncover your potential. Where you discover the work you’re moved to do—then use it to transform our world.

“*” indicates required fields

• Request Info
• Visit Campus
• COVID-19 Updates

Search Naropa University

Naropa campuses closed on friday, march 15, 2024.

Due to adverse weather conditions, all Naropa campuses will be closed Friday, March 15, 2024.  All classes that require a physical presence on campus will be canceled. All online and low-residency programs are to meet as scheduled.

Based on the current weather forecast, the Healing with the Ancestors Talk & Breeze of Simplicity program scheduled for Friday evening, Saturday, and Sunday will be held as planned.

Staff that do not work remotely or are scheduled to work on campus, can work remotely. Staff that routinely work remotely are expected to continue to do so.

As a reminder, notifications will be sent by e-mail and the LiveSafe app.  

Regardless of Naropa University’s decision, if you ever believe the weather conditions are unsafe, please contact your supervisor and professors.  Naropa University trusts you to make thoughtful and wise decisions based on the conditions and situation in which you find yourself in.

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2024

May 15, 2024

Whether you studied at a top creative writing university or are a high school dropout who will one day become a bestselling author , you may be considering an MFA in Creative Writing. But is a writing MFA genuinely worth the time and potential costs? How do you know which program will best nurture your writing? If you’re considering an MFA, this article walks you through the best full-time, low residency, and online Creative Writing MFA programs in the United States.

What are the best Creative Writing MFA programs?

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this article, let’s start with the basics. What is an MFA, anyway?

A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree that usually takes from two to three years to complete. Applications typically require a sample portfolio, usually 10-20 pages (and sometimes up to 30-40) of your best writing. Moreover, you can receive an MFA in a particular genre, such as Fiction or Poetry, or more broadly in Creative Writing. However, if you take the latter approach, you often have the opportunity to specialize in a single genre.

Wondering what actually goes on in a creative writing MFA beyond inspiring award-winning books and internet memes ? You enroll in workshops where you get feedback on your creative writing from your peers and a faculty member. You enroll in seminars where you get a foundation of theory and techniques. Then, you finish the degree with a thesis project. Thesis projects are typically a body of polished, publishable-quality creative work in your genre—fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

Why should I get an MFA in Creative Writing?

You don’t need an MFA to be a writer. Just look at Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison or bestselling novelist Emily St. John Mandel.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of reasons you might still want to get a creative writing MFA. The first is, unfortunately, prestige. An MFA from a top program can help you stand out in a notoriously competitive industry to be published.

The second reason: time. Many MFA programs give you protected writing time, deadlines, and maybe even a (dainty) salary.

Third, an MFA in Creative Writing is a terminal degree. This means that this degree allows you to teach writing at the university level, especially after you publish a book.

Fourth: resources. MFA programs are often staffed by brilliant, award-winning writers; offer lecture series, volunteer opportunities, and teaching positions; and run their own (usually prestigious) literary magazines. Such resources provide you with the knowledge and insight you’ll need to navigate the literary and publishing world on your own post-graduation.

But above all, the biggest reason to pursue an MFA is the community it brings you. You get to meet other writers—and share feedback, advice, and moral support—in relationships that can last for decades.

Types of Creative Writing MFA Programs

Here are the different types of programs to consider, depending on your needs:

Fully-Funded Full-Time Programs

These programs offer full-tuition scholarships and sweeten the deal by actually paying you to attend them.

• Pros: You’re paid to write (and teach).
• Cons: Uprooting your entire life to move somewhere possibly very cold.

Full-Time MFA Programs

These programs include attending in-person classes and paying tuition (though many offer need-based and merit scholarships).

• Pros: Lots of top-notch non-funded programs have more assets to attract world-class faculty and guests.
• Cons: It’s an investment that might not pay itself back.

Low-Residency MFA Programs

Low-residency programs usually meet biannually for short sessions. They also offer one-on-one support throughout the year. These MFAs are more independent, preparing you for what the writing life is actually like.

• Pros: No major life changes required. Cons: Less time dedicated to writing and less time to build relationships.

Online MFA Programs

Held 100% online. These programs have high acceptance rates and no residency requirement. That means zero travel or moving expenses.

• Pros: No major life changes required.
• Cons: These MFAs have less name recognition.

The Top 15 Creative Writing MFA Programs Ranked by Category

The following programs are selected for their balance of high funding, impressive return on investment, stellar faculty, major journal publications , and impressive alums.

FULLY FUNDED MFA PROGRAMS

1) johns hopkins university , mfa in fiction/poetry.

This two-year program offers an incredibly generous funding package: $39,000 teaching fellowships each year. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and the option to apply for a lecture position after graduation. Many grads publish their first book within three years (nice). No nonfiction MFA (boo).

• Location: Baltimore, MD
• Incoming class size: 8 students (4 per genre)
• Admissions rate: 4-8%
• Alumni: Chimamanda Adichie, Jeffrey Blitz, Wes Craven, Louise Erdrich, Porochista Khakpour, Phillis Levin, ZZ Packer, Tom Sleigh, Elizabeth Spires, Rosanna Warren

2) University of Texas, James Michener Center

The only MFA that offers full and equal funding for every writer. It’s three years long, offers a generous yearly stipend of $30k, and provides full tuition plus a health insurance stipend. Fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting concentrations are available. The Michener Center is also unique because you study a primary genre and a secondary genre, and also get $4,000 for the summer.

• Location : Austin, TX
• Incoming class size : 12 students
• Acceptance rate: a bone-chilling less-than-1% in fiction; 2-3% in other genres
• Alumni: Fiona McFarlane, Brian McGreevy, Karan Mahajan, Alix Ohlin, Kevin Powers, Lara Prescott, Roger Reeves, Maria Reva, Domenica Ruta, Sam Sax, Joseph Skibell, Dominic Smith

3) University of Iowa

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a 2-year program on a residency model for fiction and poetry. This means there are low requirements, and lots of time to write groundbreaking novels or play pool at the local bar. All students receive full funding, including tuition, a living stipend, and subsidized health insurance. The Translation MFA , co-founded by Gayatri Chakravorti Spivak, is also two years long but with more intensive coursework. The Nonfiction Writing Program is a prestigious three-year MFA program and is also intensive.

• Incoming class size: 25 each for poetry and fiction; 10-12 for nonfiction and translation.
• Acceptance rate: 2.7-3.7%
• Fantastic Alumni: Raymond Carver, Flannery O’Connor, Sandra Cisneros, Joy Harjo, Garth Greenwell, Kiley Reid, Brandon Taylor, Eula Biss, Yiyun Li, Jennifer Croft

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs (Continued) 

4) university of michigan.

Anne Carson famously lives in Ann Arbor, as do the MFA students in UMichigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program. This is a big university town, which is less damaging to your social life. Plus, there’s lots to do when you have a $25,000 stipend, summer funding, and health care.

This is a 2-3-year program in either fiction or poetry, with an impressive reputation. They also have a demonstrated commitment to “ push back against the darkness of intolerance and injustice ” and have outreach programs in the community.

• Location: Ann Arbor, MI
• Incoming class size: 18 (9 in each genre)
• Acceptance rate: 2%
• Alumni: Brit Bennett, Vievee Francis, Airea D. Matthews, Celeste Ng, Chigozie Obioma, Jia Tolentino, Jesmyn Ward

5) Brown University

Brown offers an edgy, well-funded program in a place that only occasionally dips into arctic temperatures. All students are fully funded for 2 years, which includes tuition remission and a $32k yearly stipend. Students also get summer funding and—you guessed it—that sweet, sweet health insurance.

In the Brown Literary Arts MFA, students take only one workshop and one elective per semester. It’s also the only program in the country to feature a Digital/Cross Disciplinary Track.  Fiction and Poetry Tracks are offered as well.

• Location: Providence, RI
• Incoming class size: 12-13
• Acceptance rate: “highly selective”
• Alumni: Edwidge Danticat, Jaimy Gordon, Gayl Jones, Ben Lerner, Joanna Scott, Kevin Young, Ottessa Moshfegh

6) University of Arizona

This 3-year program with fiction, poetry, and nonfiction tracks has many attractive qualities. It’s in “ the lushest desert in the world, ” and was recently ranked #4 in creative writing programs, and #2 in Nonfiction. You can take classes in multiple genres, and in fact, are encouraged to do so. Plus, Arizona’s dry heat is good for arthritis.

This notoriously supportive program is fully funded. Moreover, teaching assistantships that provide a salary, health insurance, and tuition waiver are offered to all students. Tucson is home to a hopping literary scene, so it’s also possible to volunteer at multiple literary organizations and even do supported research at the US-Mexico Border.

• Location: Tucson, AZ
• Incoming class size: usually 6
• Acceptance rate: 1.2% (a refreshingly specific number after Brown’s evasiveness)
• Alumni: Francisco Cantú, Jos Charles, Tony Hoagland, Nancy Mairs, Richard Russo, Richard Siken, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, David Foster Wallace

7) Arizona State University 

With concentrations in fiction and poetry, Arizona State is a three-year funded program in arthritis-friendly dry heat. It offers small class sizes, individual mentorships, and one of the most impressive faculty rosters in the game. Moreover, it encourages cross-genre study.

Funding-wise, everyone has the option to take on a teaching assistantship position, which provides a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a yearly stipend of $25k. Other opportunities for financial support exist as well.

• Location: Tempe, AZ
• Incoming class size: 8-10
• Acceptance rate: 3% (sigh)
• Alumni: Tayari Jones, Venita Blackburn, Dorothy Chan, Adrienne Celt, Dana Diehl, Matthew Gavin Frank, Caitlin Horrocks, Allegra Hyde, Hugh Martin, Bonnie Nadzam

FULL-RESIDENCY MFAS (UNFUNDED)

8) new york university.

This two-year program is in New York City, meaning it comes with close access to literary opportunities and hot dogs. NYU also has one of the most accomplished faculty lists anywhere. Students have large cohorts (more potential friends!) and have a penchant for winning top literary prizes. Concentrations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction are available.

• Location: New York, NY
• Incoming class size: ~60; 20-30 students accepted for each genre
• Acceptance rate: 6-9%
• Alumni: Nick Flynn, Nell Freudenberger, Aracelis Girmay, Mitchell S. Jackson, Tyehimba Jess, John Keene, Raven Leilani, Robin Coste Lewis, Ada Limón, Ocean Vuong

9) Columbia University

Another 2-3 year private MFA program with drool-worthy permanent and visiting faculty. Columbia offers courses in fiction, poetry, translation, and nonfiction. Beyond the Ivy League education, Columbia offers close access to agents, and its students have a high record of bestsellers. Finally, teaching positions and fellowships are available to help offset the high tuition.

• Incoming class size: 110
• Acceptance rate: not publicized (boo)
• Alumni: Alexandra Kleeman, Rachel Kushner, Claudia Rankine, Rick Moody, Sigrid Nunez, Tracy K. Smith, Emma Cline, Adam Wilson, Marie Howe, Mary Jo Bang

10) Sarah Lawrence 

Sarah Lawrence offers a concentration in speculative fiction in addition to the average fiction, poetry, and nonfiction choices. Moreover, they encourage cross-genre exploration. With intimate class sizes, this program is unique because it offers biweekly one-on-one conferences with its stunning faculty. It also has a notoriously supportive atmosphere, and many teaching and funding opportunities are available.

• Location: Bronxville, NY
• Incoming class size: 30-40
• Acceptance rate: not publicized
• Alumni: Cynthia Cruz, Melissa Febos, T Kira Madden, Alex Dimitrov, Moncho Alvarado

LOW RESIDENCY

11) bennington college.

This two-year program boasts truly stellar faculty, and meets twice a year for ten days in January and June. It’s like a biannual vacation in beautiful Vermont, plus mentorship by a famous writer. The rest of the time, you’ll be spending approximately 25 hours per week on reading and writing assignments. Students have the option to concentrate in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Uniquely, they can also opt for a dual-genre focus.

The tuition is $23,468 per year, with scholarships available. Additionally, Bennington offers full-immersion teaching fellowships to MFA students, which are extremely rare in low-residency programs.

• Location: Bennington, VT
• Acceptance rate: 53%
• Incoming class: 25-35
• Alumni: Larissa Pham, Andrew Reiner, Lisa Johnson Mitchell, and others

12)  Institute for American Indian Arts

This two-year program emphasizes Native American and First Nations writing. With truly amazing faculty and visiting writers, they offer a wide range of genres, including screenwriting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In addition, each student is matched with a faculty mentor who works with them one-on-one throughout the semester.

Students attend two eight-day residencies each year, in January and July, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At $12,000 in tuition a year, it boasts being “ one of the most affordable MFA programs in the country .”

• Location: Santa Fe, NM
• Incoming class size : 21
• Alumni: Tommy Orange, Dara Yen Elerath, Kathryn Wilder

13) Vermont College of Fine Arts

VCFA is the only graduate school on this list that focuses exclusively on the fine arts. Their MFA in Writing offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction; they also offer an MFA in Literary Translation and one of the few MFAs in Writing for Children and Young Adults . Students meet twice a year for nine days, in January and July, either in-person or online. Here, they receive one-on-one mentorship that continues for the rest of the semester. You can also do many travel residencies in exciting (and warm) places like Cozumel.

VCFA boasts amazing faculty and visiting writers, with individualized study options and plenty of one-on-one time. Tuition for the full two-year program is approximately $54k.

• Location : Various; 2024/25 residencies are in Colorado and California
• Incoming class size: 18-25
• Acceptance rate: 63%
• Alumnx: Lauren Markham, Mary-Kim Arnold, Cassie Beasley, Kate Beasley, Julie Berry, Bridget Birdsall, Gwenda Bond, Pablo Cartaya

ONLINE MFAS

14) university of texas at el paso.

UTEP is considered the best online MFA program, and features award-winning faculty from across the globe. Accordingly, this program is geared toward serious writers who want to pursue teaching and/or publishing. Intensive workshops allow submissions in Spanish and/or English, and genres include poetry and fiction.

No residencies are required, but an optional opportunity to connect in person is available every year. This three-year program costs about $25-30k total, depending on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident.

• Location: El Paso, TX
• Acceptance rate: “highly competitive”
• Alumni: Watch alumni testimonies here

15) Bay Path University

This 2-year online, no-residency program is dedicated entirely to nonfiction. Featuring a supportive, diverse community, Bay Path offers small class sizes, close mentorship, and an optional yearly field trip to Ireland.

There are many tracks, including publishing, narrative medicine, and teaching creative writing. Moreover, core courses include memoir, narrative journalism, food/travel writing, and the personal essay. Tuition is approximately $31,000 for the entire program, with scholarships available.

• Location: Longmeadow, MA
• Incoming class size: 20
• Alumni: Read alumni testimonies here

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs — Final Thoughts

Whether you’re aiming for a fully funded, low residency, or completely online MFA program, there are plenty of incredible options available—all of which will sharpen your craft while immersing you in the vibrant literary arts community.

Hoping to prepare for your MFA in advance? You might consider checking out the following:

• Best English Programs
• Best Colleges for Creative Writing
• Writing Summer Programs
• Best Writing Competitions for High School Students

Inspired to start writing? Get your pencil ready:

• 100 Creative Writing Prompts 
• 1 00 Tone Words to Express Mood in Your Writing
• 60 Senior Project Ideas
• Common App Essay Prompts

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs – References:

• https://www.pw.org/mfa
• The Creative Writing MFA Handbook: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students , by Tom Kealey (A&C Black 2005)
• Graduate School Admissions

Julia Conrad

With a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from Wesleyan University as well as MFAs in both Nonfiction Writing and Literary Translation from the University of Iowa, Julia is an experienced writer, editor, educator, and a former Fulbright Fellow. Julia’s work has been featured in  The Millions ,  Asymptote , and  The Massachusetts Review , among other publications. To read more of her work, visit  www.juliaconrad.net

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• High School Success
• High Schools
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Private High School Spotlight
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

I am a... Student Student Parent Counselor Educator Other First Name Last Name Email Address Zip Code Area of Interest Business Computer Science Engineering Fine/Performing Arts Humanities Mathematics STEM Pre-Med Psychology Social Studies/Sciences Submit

15 Best Low Residency MFA Programs

Author: Natalie Harris-Spencer Updated: February 18, 2023

The best low residency MFA programs offer you a more cost-effective way to complete a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. The difference between a low residency and a fully remote program is that you’ll be expected to stay on campus for short periods throughout the year, giving you greater flexibility than if you’d have either been living on campus, or full-time in front of a computer screen.

What can you expect from the best low residency MFA programs?

These programs will force you to juggle your writing time around your day job , family, and cats, while still plunging you into that writers’ life you so crave. In many ways, they’re harder than the traditional brick-and-mortar school program, in that they give you a truer flavor of what it’s like to pursue a writing career with a million other things going on in your life. They’re also far more immersive than an online-only program.

You’ll be hit with a combination of remote and in-person learning. A typical school year comprises two semesters, of which there is usually a 10-day intensive residency on campus per semester (so, two residencies per year, for two years). The time in between residencies is remote i.e. spent from your writing desk at home, where you will be paired with a mentor or smaller groups of writers. In fact, the 1:1 mentorship is a huge benefit of a low residency MFA program ; you’ll get closer attention than you would if you were in a traditional college class.

The best low residency MFA programs will offer a variety of genres , including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, popular fiction, scriptwriting, literary translation, graphic novels and comics, and writing for young people, while some allow for a dual-genre path.

While MFAs are not cheap, low residency programs are certainly on the more affordable side. Read on for 15 best low residency MFA programs, listed in alphabetical order.

1. Antioch University

Offered by AU Los Angeles, Antioch University’s low-residency MFA in Creative Writing program is dedicated to the education of literary and dramatic artists, community engagement, and the pursuit of social justice. It offers two, 10-day residencies in June and December.

2. Bard College

Bard College offers MFAs for artists in a variety of disciplines, not just writing. Each summer session runs for eight intensive weeks (there is no winter residency), and does not follow the traditional semester schedule. Most students receive some amount of financial aid, making it an attractive option for candidates.

3. Bennington College

Bennington College is widely regarded as one of the best low residency MFA programs in the United States. Residencies take place in picturesque Vermont, and their prestigious faculty includes many multi-published authors and literary prizewinners. You can elect to pursue a dual-genre path. Bennington’s residencies take place in January and June.

4. Cedar Crest College

This pan-European MFA offers a single 15-day residency at the beginning of July that rotates between Dublin, Ireland, Barcelona, Spain, and Vienna, Austria, with new locations coming soon. Unlike other programs, you’ll only attend three residencies in total, and you won’t go to the university campus in Allentown, Pennsylvania. But…you get to travel to Europe.

5. Goucher College

The only program dedicated solely to nonfiction writing, this low residency MFA attracts applicants and faculty interested in pursuing narrative, memoir, personal essay, and literary journalism. Literary agents and editors attend the two 10-day residencies in Baltimore, Maryland, and there are sponsored trips to New York to meet top publishing professionals.

6. Institute of American Indian Arts

Now in its tenth year, the emphasis with this particular Creative Writing MFA is on Native writers, voices, texts, and experience, although applications are open to all. Based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, it offer two 8-day residencies in January and July.

7. Lesley University

While the nine-day residencies take place in the “literary mecca” of Cambridge, Massachusetts, there’s also the opportunity for students to study abroad at a 12-day residency in rural Wales. Lesley has relationships with literary agencies and presses , so that you get a fast-track into publishing on submitting your thesis when you graduate.

8. Lindenwood University

Located in St. Charles, Missouri, Lindenwood University is unique in that there is no formal residency requirement: you can take classes fully on campus, online, or choose the low residency model. The program is more affordable than others due to its flexibility, and offers financial aid to teachers and candidates over the age of sixty.

9. New York University

Based on NYU’s campus in Paris, France, there are five, 10-day residencies held in January and July. This is one of the more expensive programs, with limited funding available. However, its faculty line-up is always incredible, and you’re paying for the prestige of Paris.

10. Pacific University

Based in Portland, Oregon, Pacific University’s MFA program places a strong emphasis on craft . It offers multiple full and partial merit-based scholarships to qualifying candidates. Residencies are in January and June.

11. Sewanee School of Letters

The model at Sewanee School of Letters in Tennessee is slightly different: you complete a single, six-week residency over the summer , which in turn is spread over the course of three to five summers, making it more affordable than other low residency programs.

12. University of New Orleans

Despite positioning itself as online MFA, the University of New Orleans is actually low residency, in that it offers a month-long residency every summer at various international locations, including Ireland and Italy.

13. University of Southern Maine (Stonecoast)

My alma mater . Stonecoast at USM offers two 10-day residencies in January and July, alongside a concurrent writers’ conference, in the picturesque town of Freeport, Maine. Its popular fiction program is especially popular with writers of horror, fantasy, and sci-fi, and its WISE program (writing for inclusivity and social equity) is at the heart of its ethos. In my humble opinion, it will always be one of the best low residency MFA programs.

14. Vermont College of Fine Arts

Another Vermont entry: proof that this beautiful state inspires creativity. Residencies are nine days and take place in December and July, with past residencies going further afield: Slovenia, Puerto Rico, Cozumel, Mexico, Rome, and Asheville, North Carolina. Literary translation and dual-genre paths are available.

15. Warren Wilson College

Established in 1976, Warren Wilson is the original low residency MFA program, introducing the format to North America and the rest of the world. Consequently, it’s on the pricier end, but there are multiple grants and financial aid available. It offers two, 10-day residencies in January and July near the wonderful town of Asheville, North Carolina, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Recommended reading

Here at Aspiring Author , we love recommending bestsellers and fawning over hot new releases. On this real time recommended reading list, you will find a list of top rated books on the publishing industry, craft, and other books to help you elevate your writing career.

Weekly To-Do List: Undated 52 Week To-Do List Planner and Journal for Any Writer’s Toolbox, Managing Work Tasks, Writing Goals, or Planning Daily Routines

Yes, You Can Become an Author: Writing, Self-Publishing, and Marketing Your First Book

A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

GOD IS A WITCH

Big Dream Academy - Composition Notebook Journal: College Ruled | Paperback | 7.5 x 9.25 in | 120 Pages | White Paper: Charming School Educational Notebook for Students and Teachers

About the author.

Natalie Harris-Spencer

Related articles.

Why You Need an MFA in Creative Writing

What Jobs Can You Get With an MFA in Creative Writing?

How Long Does it Take to Get an MFA in Creative Writing?

Leave a comment cancel reply.

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Goddard College

• Home ›
• Academics ›
• Graduate Degrees ›

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

We believe in the power of your imagination. Since 1976, when Goddard College launched the nation’s first low-residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program , we have provided an enduring creative home for writers like you. Our goal is to help you find, refine, and share your words with the world.

Unlike many conventional MFA programs, we welcome writers in a variety of genres, including libretto, television writing, and the graphic novel, as well as creative nonfiction, poetry, dramatic writing, fiction, speculative fiction, and hybrid forms.

We support you in determining your artistic direction and work with you to individualize the course of study that will enable you to fulfill your dreams. We’ll provide the structure, deadlines, and guidance you need from professional mentors who are working writers in your chosen genre.

you’ll be inspired and energized, with a reading list designed specifically for you and a comprehensive plan to produce your creative thesis. During the semester, you’ll stay in close contact with your advisor as you produce monthly packets of work.

By the time you graduate, you not only will have accomplished your goal of finishing your book, play, script, or libretto, but you also will have radically transformed your sense of confidence and purpose as a writer.

About Goddard

Education for real living, through the actual facing of real life problems

• The Goddard Difference

Our philosophy starts with the idea experience and education are intricately linked

The MFA in Creative Writing Program supports students writing in the following genres:

• Creative Nonfiction / Memoir
• Playwriting
• Libretto Writing
• Screenwriting
• Television Writing
• Graphic Novel Scriptwriting
• Cross-Genre / Hybrid

Program Details

Monthly “packet exchanges” allow you to sustain an ongoing dialogue with your faculty advisor about your work throughout the semester. Every packet contains your work — creative pages, critical essays, and/or other degree requirements. Packets also include a process letter in which you raise any artistic concerns or questions about your work and life as a writer.

You’ll submit four written packets to your advisor each semester, on specific due dates, and your advisor will respond with detailed margin notes, a comprehensive response letter, and an engaging dialogue about how your critical explorations can assist you in bringing your creative work closer to your vision. In addition, you’ll engage in a “virtual packet” midway through the semester, consisting of a one-hour virtual meeting or phone call with your advisor.

Core Curriculum

The core focus of your MFA studies is your creative work. The intellectual rigor you gain through reading and critical analysis will help you develop your craft and voice. You’ll have many opportunities to share your work in readings and workshops, and you’ll deepen what you’ve learned by applying it in your Teaching Practicum.

Creative Work

Your thesis project consists of a complete book, play, script, or libretto. To help you progress toward that goal, you’ll be expected to engage actively in creative writing throughout each semester. Our students are encouraged to experiment with different genres and methods at each residency and during their first semester, and by their second semester, select a particular genre for their final thesis and concentration.

By the end of your final semester, you are expected to produce a unified creative thesis of professional quality, conforming to standard industry length. You will share an excerpt from this work at a public reading during your commencement residency.

Critical Writing

Close reading is the foundation of the critical work you’ll do at Goddard. Close reading means avidly exploring the construction of the text and moving beyond general impressions to note specific authorial choices and to consider their implications.

Each semester you will work with your advisor to create a reading list that reflects the themes, technical/craft issues, and literary traditions you choose to explore in depth. Your selections will be informed by your own personal experiences, educational background, and reading habits, with attention to such factors as gender, genre, and multiculturalism.

In response to your reading, over the course of your MFA you’ll complete 45-60 annotations, two five-page critical papers, and one twenty-page critical paper.

Teaching Practicum

As a terminal degree, the MFA in Creative Writing is a credential for faculty positions in higher education. To offer you the skills necessary to confidently enter the classroom as a teacher of creative writing, you are also required to complete a “teaching practicum,” as described in the next section.

Unique among MFA programs, Goddard has created a model that gives you:

• the freedom to shape the creative writing course that best serves your goals
• your choice of location and student populations
• your choice of craft topics
• an opportunity to expand your resume
• a way to give back to your community

With a minimum of just three students, our students have offered creative writing courses at colleges, grade schools, retirement communities, libraries, juvenile detention centers – even coffee shops!

Publishing Opportunities

You can be involved in all aspects of publishing, from editing to layout, with these opportunities:

• The Pitkin Review: the literary journal written and edited by Goddard College MFA in Creative Writing students
• Clockhouse : the national, Pushcart-mentioned literary journal, edited and published by Goddard College MFA in Creative Writing alumni
• The Writer in the World: the Goddard College MFA in Creative Writing blog for students and alumni

Visiting Writers & Professionals

At residencies, you’ll meet a diverse range of visiting writers and professionals from the worlds of book publishing, theater, and film and television production.

• Our  Visiting Writers Series  is one of the most anticipated aspects of each residency. Recent guest writers include Chris Abani, Lynda Barry, Nilo Cruz, Meghan Daum, Mary Gaitskill, Pablo Medina, Dinaw Mengestu, Ruth Ozeki, and Dani Shapiro.
• Our Visiting Professionals Series will introduce you to professionals from the publishing and production industries. Recent guests include editors and agents from Penguin/Tarcher, Hawthorne Books, Janklow & Nesbit, Feminist Press, Simon & Schuster, and Copper Canyon Press.
• Our  Alumni Readers Series  celebrates the professional achievements of our alumni. Recent alumni readers include Mark Doty, Justin Hall, Cara Hoffman, Simone John, Matthew Quick, and Selah Saterstrom.
• Our  Playwrights’ Enrichment Series  is unique among MFA writing programs. Once a year, on our Vermont campus, we welcome a visiting luminary from theatre or film. Recent guests include playwrights, librettists, and dramaturgs, as well as literary managers and directors from theatrical powerhouses, such as The Public Theater, HowlRound, Lark Theater, Dramatists Guild, Eugene O’Neill Theater, and the Sundance Institute.

Social Justice Book Club

We are a community of creative writers who are also serious readers—readers who want to be engaged, entertained, and enlightened. We come from a rich array of backgrounds and experiences.

It is this diversity that makes the residency a special place where we can explore books about race, gender, immigration, sexuality, or other topics related to social justice. The resulting conversations allow us to develop our identities—that is, who we are and what we want to say as writers in the world.

Some of the books the SJBC has chosen recently are:  Between the World and Me  by Ta-Nahisi Coates,  Good Kings, Bad Kings  by Susan Nussbaum,  All the Names  by Dinaw Mengestu,  Fun Home: A Tragicomedy  by Alison Bechdel, and  Night Sky with Exit Wounds  by Ocean Vuong.

Latest Posts

Alumni Mwalim Daphunkee Professor Peters

Faculty Member Louise Glück

Keynote Speaker Dharna Noor Addresses Climate Change

Pandemic Theater? A Goddard Playwright Adjusts

• Undergraduate Degrees
• Graduate Degrees
• Concentrations
• Accreditation and Approvals
• President’s Office
• Contact Admissions
• Academic Affairs
• Access & Disability Support
• Campus Services
• Registrar’s Office
• Student Handbooks
• Student Services
• Get Involved
• Stay Connected
• Clockworks Magazine
• Alumni Update Form
• Alumni Weekend
• Ordering a Transcript

Important Announcement

Demo Description

The Board of Directors for Goddard College have made the difficult decision to close the college at the end of the 2024 Spring term.  

Current Goddard students will have the opportunity to complete their degrees at the same tuition rate through a teach-out with like-minded institution, Prescott College . Updates and scholarship funds will be available in the coming weeks and months. Information will be posted to www.goddard.edu . 

This will close in 0 seconds

• Our Philosophy & Mission
• Programs of Study
• MFA Program for Writers
• Lifelong Learning
• Work Program
• Community Engagement
• Study Abroad
• Career Development
• Academic Support
• Catalogs & Resources
• Online Bookstore
• Accreditation & Licensure
• Academic Calendar

The MFA Program for Writers

The Nation’s Premier Low-Residency MFA Program

Now in its fifth decade, the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College , established in 1976 by master poet and teacher Ellen Bryant Voigt, continues to set the standard for the innovative model it pioneered. This rigorous, nurturing, and highly-selective four – semester graduate program, with study tracks in fiction and poetry, combines ten-day residencies on campus each January and July with five-month nonresident semesters in which students work individually with the country’s finest fiction writers and poets.

Our nationally-recognized MFA faculty encompass a range of aesthetics, and include Pulitzer and National Book Award winners, national and state poets laureate, and NEA, Guggenheim, Fulbright, and MacArthur fellows. Residency lectures and readings are free and open to the public.

Our diverse and close-knit student body come from all over the world, and from a variety of disciplines and occupations. MFA program alumni have won countless major awards and have published well over a thousand books . Application deadlines are March 1 and September 1 via Submittable on the MFA program website .

I am grateful for what the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson offers all its students: the knowledge that allows us to become better and more ambitious readers and writers, and the connection to a community of other writers who will help us continue pursuing our interests throughout our lives. Rose McLarney (Warren Wilson BA, 2003; MFA 2010; Beebe Fellow 2010-11)

An Advantage for Undergraduates

Creative Writing majors at the undergraduate level benefit from the opportunity to attend January residency lectures and readings and to work with graduate-student mentors.

And each academic year, an MFA faculty member is in residence on the Warren Wilson campus for a week to teach undergraduate classes, present a workshop and a reading, and to meet with senior creative majors one-on-one.

More Information

Learn More About the MFA Program Requirements

Rose McLarney (BA ’03; MFA ’10; Beebe Fellow 2010-11), pictured with Matthew Olzmann (MFA ’09; 2012-13 Beebe Fellow) in Pew Library on the Warren Wilson campus

I am honored to serve as Director of the MFA Program for Writers, which has such an illustrious history and has launched the careers of so many talented writers worldwide, and which offers a vibrant, world-class education focused on artistry, rigor, community, and the possibilities of the imagination.

Dr. Gary Hawkins (MFA, 1995)

Gary Hawkins is a 1995 alumnus of the MFA Program for Writers at Warren Wilson College. Dr. Hawkins writes poems, writes on modern and contemporary poetry, and writes and presents on the scholarship of teaching and learning. His debut book of poems, Worker, was published in 2016.

Like this program? You might like these too.

• Skip to main content
• Skip to main navigation

Creative Writing

• News & Events
• The Living Writers Series
• About the Concentration
• Current Students and Alumni
• Student Spotlight
• Creative Writing Concentration
• Apply to Creative Writing
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Publications
• Applying to MFA Programs
• Writing Science Fiction

Home / For Students / Applying to MFA Programs

Want to learn more about applying to MFA programs in Creative Writing? Trying to decide if it's right for you? Check out our FAQ below with advice from faculty members and Creative Writing Ph.D. students to help you decide and learn more. 

You can also watch a Zoom recording of our MFA in Creative Writing Information Session. 

Click on a Question to Get Started: 

What is an MFA?

• Should I get one?
• Where should I go? How can I decide?
• How many programs should I apply to?
• What is a low-residency program?

Do I need to be published?

How much does it cost? What kind of resources will I need?

• What is a fully-funded program?
• What sort of teacher training will be provided?

What do you wish you would’ve known about MFA programs before you applied?

How do I apply? What materials do I need to apply?

• When should I start thinking about whether or not to apply for an MFA?
• Who should I ask for recommendation letters?
• How do I ask for recommendations?

What are other resources I can look into? 

Which MFA programs have graduates from our undergraduate creative writing concentration gone to? 

• "An MFA is a Masters Fine Arts, which you can get in Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction Writing (fewer programs are available in Nonfiction). There are also MFAs in visual art. The program is 2-3 years and involves taking seminars in which you study literature as well as participating in a group workshop where you read and comment on your peers’ writing. An MFA can qualify you to teach creative writing or other college-level writing/English courses. More importantly, it is time to read a ton and write a ton. I wouldn’t do an MFA because you are interested in professionalization; I would do an MFA if you have a writing project you are excited to pursue and/or if you are committed to simply developing and growing and improving as a writer."
• Return to Question Index

Should I get one? What should I consider in determining whether or not to pursue an MFA?

• "You should get an MFA if you have the passion/desire/drive to spend two years focusing on a writing project and workshopping that project with peers and faculty. An MFA alone will not qualify you for teaching at colleges and universities. You would need to have an MFA and at least one published book." 

Where should I go? How can I decide? 

• "Some of the best advice I received when I was applying was to not go anywhere that doesn’t fully fund you. Definitely look at work from the faculty and from students who came out of these programs. I’d also advise that you think about the type of writing environment you want—if you want to be able to work in multiple genres/cross-genre, for example, some programs are more accommodating to that than others."
• Go where you won’t go into debt and where you feel like the curriculum, faculty, campus location, and student body reflects your needs and interests as a writer and as a whole Although a valuable experience, an MFA is an investment that has no guarantee of a return--no matter how prestigious or celebrated the program--which is why going into debt for it is hard to justify. Visit the schools and talk to faculty and current students. Are they welcoming? Are they happy? Do they make you feel valued? Do they value similar things as you (professionally and personally)? Can you see yourself among them? Are there students of color in the program? If not, why not? 
• "Please do not go into debt. This cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often. The best advice is to only go to a program that fully funds you ."

"I think applying only to what pops up when you Google “Top Ten 10 Best Creative Writing MFA programs” is not the kind of research you need to do. Find out the success rate of the graduates at programs you are interested in. Read the books of the teaching faculty. Research deeply before you apply. If you can, go visit and arrange to observe a class. Pay attention to the culture of the place to see if it suits you and ask other students in the program what has worked for them."

• "In addition to finding a school that will support you financially, and after narrowing your search according to where you’d like to live (or where you’d refuse to live), you should consider who you might like to study under. If you have favorite authors, find out if they teach, and where, and then investigate those programs. Be strategic."

How many programs should I apply to? 

• "I applied to 4—I think that was the right number. I got into three of them, and the one I didn't get into wasn't the fanciest one. I worry that applying to too many programs is extremely expensive and time-consuming. Don't apply to any program you wouldn't happily go to, or that will be prohibitively expensive."
• "I applied to only two MFA programs, but I think applying to 5-7 FULLY FUNDED programs that might be a good fit for you is a more responsible and practical approach. There's no "right" number. You have to make a lot of assessments about your needs/desires/personal circumstances and try to match those with programs out there with a curriculum that matches your interests and faculty who could support your work. Many programs have fee offset grants if you inquire with the university to diminish application costs."
• "My answer to the "right" number of schools question: This question reminds me of the question of how many agents one should query. I think it depends on your temperament. I sent to a small handful (I applied to about five schools over a period of two application periods) of schools & I sent to one agent at a time. I am a turtle & this worked great for me, but it would drive some people crazy! It also depends on what your goals are. When applying to MFA programs, what I wanted was a program that would fund me. Of course, an exciting faculty is a plus but I, for one, refused to apply to programs with exciting faculty that weren't capable of funding my work."

—Jennifer Tseng

  What is a low-residency program? 

• Low-residency MFA programs provide a combination of remote and in-person learning. A typical school year consists of one ten-day intensive/residency on campus per semester, supplemented by ongoing remote classes and mentorships throughout the year (including the option of a summer mentorship). This format is ideal for students who have full-time jobs and/or families and for writers who thrive in small groups and prefer working one-on-one with their mentors. The low-res format allows for maximum flexibility and is best suited to self-starters who are comfortable with working independently.
• You can find more information about Low Residency programs here and here.
• "Definitely not! Though it happens occasionally that someone starts an MFA having published a book, most people who start MFAs have never published a single poem/or story even in a journal. They’re looking at your potential. And, in fact, some MFAs might not want to accept a writer who already seems “established” (i.e. widely published in top-tier publications and/or a book or two)." 
• "No, but publishing something demonstrates a certain amount of initiative on your part, while specific venues can signal certain aesthetic and/or political predilections."
• "Again, don’t go into debt for an MFA. Find a program that will support you."
• "Every MFA program costs a different amount. Some programs provide full-funding, partial funding, or no funding. The best way to find out how much financial aid the program you are interested in provides is to visit the program’s website."
• "Keep in mind the cost of living in major metropolitan areas--and certain college towns-- is significantly higher than in other areas. Be active in researching the cost of on-campus housing & go on Craigslist, Zillow, etc., to have a good idea of the current state of the rental market within a 5-10 mile radius of campus."

What is a fully-funded program? (What are some fully-funded programs?)

• "'Fully funded' means you will receive both tuition remission (or its equivalent) and a stipend . In other words, you (as a single person) should not have to take on debt to complete the program; the university covers both the cost of attendance (tuition) and pays you an income (stipend), through a combination of fellowships, teaching assistantships, or other work-related opportunities, such as serving on the editorial board of an affiliated literary journal. At more prestigious programs, multi-year fellowships may be awarded in the financial aid offer associated with your acceptance letter (this is an ideal scenario in which you receive an income just to write, with no additional work-related responsibilities), while other fully-funded schools with less money of an endowment ($$) will fund your degree provided you also agree to teach or perform other related-labor; at such schools, short-term, competitive fellowships may also be available upon arrival. Apply for these, which look good on your CV and will give you a break from teaching in order to focus on your creative work. It can happen, however, that some fellowships ultimately provide less money than teaching does, especially after taxes. Again, make sure you have a sense of your budget based on the current cost of living (expect it to rise, especially in urban areas) so that you can confirm the university’s stipend will be enough to support your needs." 

What sort of teacher training will be provided at a program in which teaching assistantships make up a large portion of the funding?

• "It REALLY varies, and this is a great question to ask current grads in these programs, either before or after you’re accepted, while you’re trying to decide where to go. In my MFA program (Iowa), training and oversight varied greatly depending on what department you were TA-ing/GSI-ing for. For the Literature department proper, we had a week-long orientation/training, and for Creative Writing we had minimal training, but were paired with a TA Coordinator (a second-year grad) who worked one-on-one with us to observe classes and provide feedback."
• "When I was an undergrad I ignored the best piece of MFA advice I was ever offered. When I told my writing mentor that I wanted to go to New York to get an MFA, she said I’d be better off moving there for a summer and waiting tables till I shook the desire out of my system and then could apply elsewhere. When I reflect on my NYC MFA experience for too long, I always come back to her wisdom and wonder what would have happened if I had listened to her. Which is to say, NYC is great but is incredibly expensive and isn’t."
• "Different programs have significant aesthetic differences. If you write very experimental, politically-charged, multilingual poetry, for example, you are going to feel out of place in any program that does not have a significant proportion of faculty whose work demonstrates similar concerns. DO A LOT OF RESEARCH. Also, know that you can apply to MFAs more than once; it is okay to approach your first round of applications as a practice round. And, if in that round, or a subsequent round, you only get into one program, make sure it’s a program you really want to attend. If you arrive at a program and it truly turns out to be a bad match, know that you can also apply to transfer to other programs. It’s not common, but people do it."
• " There is a range of amazing programs that will fully fund you, you can find a good fit that will not put you into massive debt. I also wish I’d known more about the pedagogical & cultural differences between programs, because there is a range, and prestige isn’t always the best indicator of what will be the best fit for you."
• "Do not go to a program you have to pay for in full unless this is really not a concern for you/your family. Just remember: you aren’t becoming a lawyer. There’s no promise of income at the end of the MFA tunnel. So that debt is going to be a huge burden for a long time."
•  "Two-year programs go by in a flash."
• "Personal statement and a writing sample of about 25 pages. Some programs require the GRE. Three recommendations." 
• "You can apply to most programs online. You need a BA or BS degree. The most important component of your application is your manuscript. Most programs ask for 10 pages of poetry; 25 pages of fiction. Personal statement, three letters of recommendation, current CV or resume."
• "You will need some kind of personal statement talking about your desire to get an MFA--why in general, why now, what it would mean for you in the future--as well as a writing sample (for poetry, this is usually anywhere from 10-15 pages). Some programs may also ask for a teaching statement and/or a diversity statement. You will also need 2-3 letters of recommendation."
• "You will also need money to pay application fees, sometimes between $70-120 per school. Sometimes, fee waivers are available. Make sure to ask." 

When should I start thinking about whether or not to apply for an MFA? What is the typical timeline for applying, hearing back from programs, etc?

• "I strongly suggest you do not apply while still an undergraduate at UCSC. Creative Writing students at UCSC spend the spring of their senior year focusing on revising a manuscript. That will be the strongest work you do while at UCSC. If you apply in the fall of your senior year, it will not be with your strongest work. It’s hard to get into an MFA program. MFA programs prefer to take people who have been out of school for a while, have proved they will continue to write outside of school on their own, and perhaps even have a publication or two or have done some work in the writing/literary community."
• "In terms of applying and hearing back, it’s just like college. Applications are due in the Fall, you hear in the spring. Recently, the past few years, we’ve had more and more students applying in the Fall of their Senior year and I think that timing doesn’t allow for maximum realized potential on your final year at UCSC. Our program is designed to have you focus hard in your last year producing a manuscript you have revised, are proud of and may even send out for publication. I recommend taking a break and giving yourself a few years to do life after college. And graduate programs like applications from well-rounded people who have done something other than school. Another benefit of waiting is when you’re not in school and are out in the world, you’ll have more to write about. Consider internships at Literary publications, or even applying to artist colonies to have focused writing time which will also look good on your resume if you do ultimately apply . . . You can also join organizations for writers, like AWP, attend conferences and talk to people, which will help you know if an MFA is really the path for you." 
• "I agree completely. Taking some time off between your undergraduate career and graduate school is usually a good idea. But if you think you want to go into an MFA program sooner than later after graduation, you should consider your senior thesis a springboard to the manuscript that will get you into a graduate program. If you graduate in June, your grad school applications will be due in a little more than five months. You can use that time to polish your manuscript, your CV, and your statement of purpose."
• Return to Question Index  

Who should I ask for recommendation letters? 

• "Ask previous, recent creative writing, English, and literature instructors who are very familiar with your writing, creative and critical. Ask the instructors of multiple courses for which you received high marks. Do not ask your piano instructor, even if you’re a Music major and no matter how close you are, if they have never read your writing."

How do I ask for recommendations? How far in advance should I ask?

• "I always ask for a copy of a student’s manuscript, statement of purpose, CV, and a list of the classes they’ve taken from me. Offering this material when you ask for a recommendation is always appreciated. You want to make your recommenders’ jobs as easy as you can."

"You should ask AT LEAST two months in advance. Make sure to remind the faculty member what classes you took with them, why you’re applying, what you’ve been up to since graduation, and ask them what you can do to make it easier for them. You should sign up for Interfolio so that the faculty member has to do fewer letters. It’s good to politely remind faculty as the deadlines get near." 

• Poets and Writers MFA Program Finder  
• University of Arizona Guide to Applying to MFA Programs
• Hebah Uddin’s article “Prepping for MFA Programs as a Person of Color”
• Gionni Ponce’s article “Seeking POC: How to Choose MFA Programs”
• Sonya Larson’s article “Degrees of Diversity: Talking Race and the MFA”
• Snigdha Roy’s article "How to Find a Writing MFA Program for POCs"

Here’s a list of universities with MFA programs in poetry, fiction, and/or creative nonfiction that graduates from our creative writing concentration have gone to:

• Columbia University 
• Otis Art Institute
• University of Alaska
• New York University 
• San Francisco State University 
• Long Island University Brooklyn 
• Saint Mary’s College 
• The New School
• University of Virginia
• Mills College 
• Sarah Lawrence University 
• University of Glasgow
• Oregon State University 
• California College of the Arts   
• University of Massachusetts, Amherst
• University of North Carolina, Willmington
• California Institute of the Arts
• Colorado State University, Boulder
• University of New Hampshire
• San Jose State University  
• West Virginia University
• Fresno State University
• Sierra Nevada College
• California State University Northridge
• Chapman University
• University of San Francisco
• University of Nevada, Reno
• University of New Mexico
• Portland State University
• Apply to the Creative Writing Concentration
• Report an accessibility barrier
• Land Acknowledgment
• Accreditation

Last modified: February 17, 2021 128.114.113.82

What is a Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing?

There’s some debate (surprise, surprise) about the origins of the first low-residency MFA program. Warren Wilson College claims to be the first low-res MFA (1976), but Goddard College also claims that they were the first, also in 1976, which also happens to be the year I was born. 

The confusion is because Ellen Bryant Voigt (a brilliant and intimidating poet, who is often simply referred to as EBV by fellow poets) first created the low-residency program at Goddard College. Then, in 1981, the program relocated to Warren Wilson College. They were one, and now are two. 

These day about 60 low-residency MFA programs focus on creative writing in the U.S. So if you’re in the market for one, and are feeling a little overwhelmed, that’s understandable. 

I teach at the University of Nevada Reno Tahoe’s (UNRT) Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program. I also attended the “residential” MFA at the University of Washington. After comparing the two, I see that a low-residency program offers unique advantages and may have even been a better fit for me 20 years ago. 

What is a Low-Residency MFA?

A low-residency Creative Writing MFA combines one-on-one remote mentorships and brief residencies on campus. MFA in creative writing is considered a “terminal degree” in creative writing, which means that you’re allowed to teach at accredited MFA programs once you have a degree. 

Students complete most coursework online under the guidance of a series of mentors—typically a faculty member. During the twice annual “residency,” an intensive 6-10 day gathering, students take a number of classes and attend various readings and panels. 

Low-residency MFA programs allow students to continue working or fulfilling other obligations while pursuing a degree. Completing a low-residency MFA degree usually takes about 2-3 years. 

Generally, you’ll need to complete a set number of credits and residencies, which vary. 

Here I am at a UNRT residency with my student Vincent — we were unable to pretend that our picture was not being taken.

Why Would I Get a Low-Residency MFA Degree?

A low-residency MFA allows you to take time to focus on your writing, as you make a commitment to craft. These programs typically have students of all ages—from their twenties to their seventies and beyond—unlike residential programs, which often mostly cater to people who’ve recently finished their undergraduate degrees. 

Many MFA participants walk out of the graduation ceremony with a completed novel, screenplay, chapbook or short story collection. As a bonus, many low-residency programs are in some of the most beautiful places in the U.S.—or worldwide. 

People attend low-res MFAs to become better writers, become qualified to teach creative writing in a university setting, and make connections that can open doors. Your faculty member might introduce you to your future literary agent, after all. 

You benefit from diverse perspectives—low-residency programs in particular often attract students of different ages, backgrounds, and job histories. In my experience at UNRT, I’ve had many veterans and family members of veterans in my classes, as well as people with varied life experiences-—millionaires and people who’ve spent large parts of their adult lives unhoused. 

A strong sense of camaraderie develops over years with your fellow cohort, which is often made up of very small class sizes—5 students to 1 teacher is fairly standard. 

Low-residency MFA programs treat you like the professional you are—you’ll have a great deal of independence as you complete work at your own pace, in your own environment. Many schools admit twice or several times per year, to accommodate professional schedules. 

Students get individualized attention from their mentor, or faculty member. The low-residency format enables schools to recruit established writers and literary professionals who live nationwide. No tenure is offered to faculty, so it’s less difficult to hire and fire faculty—which means you could end up with some amazing mentors. 

Also, many writers (even me) benefit from deadlines, structure, and accountability. A low-residency MFA program provides all three, plus great social and professional connections. 

What is an MFA Creative Writing Residency?

Most MFA programs begin with a residency. Residencies provide students with a concentrated, immersive learning experience in creative writing, alongside opportunities for community building, mentorship, and individualized attention. 

Residency location, length and residencies required can vary greatly between programs. The residency portion for a Creative Writing MFA program can take place on the university’s campus, at another hotel or building, or even at a location abroad. 

For example, the UC Riverside Palm Desert Low-Residency MFA ’s 10-day residency takes place at the Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa. And you’ll need to take five of those residencies. Not shabby. Eastern Kentucky University Bluegrass Writers Studio offers a 2 to 4-week residency in Lisbon Portugal and Richmond, Kentucky. Obviously, UNRT is at Lake Tahoe. 

What Happens at an MFA residency?

At a residency, students engage in a whirlwind of experiences designed to fire up your writing engine, bond you with your peers, and grow you as a writer. 

Daytime MFA Residency Activities

Workshops: Workshops in various genres give students a chance to receive and give writing critiques alongside instructors and peers. When looking at programs, investigate how long you will spend in workshop during the residency. This varies at lot—as little as 10 hours at some programs, whereas UNRT has students in their workshop classroom for 21 hours (and 18 hours of their elective class) each residency. 

One-on-one meetings : Students meet with their mentors, who offer guidance on writing craft and the publishing process, and provide support and feedback on individual writing projects.

Writing time: Students work on individual projects, with opportunities for structured and unstructured time for writing, reading, and reflection.

Afternoon/Evening MFA Residency Activities

Lectures, seminars, talks: Established writers and literary professionals provide guest lectures and readings on craft. There may also be one-hour craft or process talks. 

Community building: Students build relationships with their peers and instructors through social and professional engagements, including group dining, activities, and experiences such as student readings with hors d'oeuvres and wine, or a presentation by a guest author. 

It seems counterintuitive, but low-res programs create a closer-knit community or cohort of students who are intensely bonded. The most well-known downside of a low-res program is that you pay the full fare, and little financial aid is available. 

Graduation ceremony: More food and drink and celebration of new MFA grads. 

What an MFA Residency Schedule Looks Like 

Here’s an example of a day at UNRT residency: 

Sample MFA in creative writing residency schedule

What happens during the non-residency portion?

In general, most programs expect you to dedicate 10-25 hours per week to your studies, which includes time for reading, writing, and responding, along with any classes.

Each student works with one faculty mentor the entire semester, and work together to develop reading lists.These are often called “packets” sent between you and your mentor or professor. Your faculty member develops a customized course just for you, and works with you as you analyze readings, and complete and revise writing. 

The mentor provides feedback on your work, and general guidance on the writing and publishing process. Typically, you change mentors each semester. You’ll undertake individual projects and portfolio assignments, and typically a final project or thesis. 

Some low-res MFA programs offer real-time online courses and meetings. 

Which genres can I study in a low-res MFA program?

It isn’t unusual for MFA programs will offer the following options:

Fiction: The craft of writing fiction, including plot, dialogue, and the development of characters, as well as techniques for revising and editing fiction.

Poetry: Using meter, rhyme, and form, as well as techniques for revising and editing poems.

Creative Nonfiction: Types might include memoir, essay, and other forms of literary nonfiction, as well as techniques for revising and editing creative nonfiction.

Most programs have a decidedly literary bent, but exceptions exist. For example, the online Emerson MFA focuses on popular fiction and publishing only, and explores 7 genres: horror, fantasy, science fiction, romance, mystery, thrillers and young adult.

A good number of programs offer these opportunities: 

Children’s/YA/middle-grade fiction: Writing for kids, tweens and teens.

Screenwriting: Writing for film and television, including story, dialogue, and character.

Playwriting: Writing for the stage, including the development of character, dialogue, and structure.

But more unusual genres exist too—you’ll just have to hunt a bit more. For example: 

Nature Writing: Writing about nature and the environment

Comics and graphic novels: Creating texts for illustrated formats

Speculative, sci/fi and fantasy: Genre fiction, often with a literary bent 

Spiritual Writing: Writing from a spiritual or religious perspective

Translation: The art of translating poetry or prose from one language to another

Popular fiction: Writing for the general audience

Some programs offer certificates or sub-specializations (like a minor) in travel writing, medicine writing, publishing, and other specializations. Others may have a specific focus. For example, the Institute of American Indian Arts MFA in Creative Writing MFA Program focuses on Native American and First Nations literature and experiences.

Alternatives to Low-Residency MFAs

If you don’t have time to attend a full-residency program but the residency idea doesn’t appeal either, you can also attend a part-time or hybrid MFA in creative writing. For example, Hamline University MFA in Creative Writing holds courses one night a week on campus in St. Paul, Minnesota. Lindenwood University MFA Program offers online-only and hybrid methods where you take some classes on campus, if you wish. 

Some programs allow non-students to attend residencies, if you’re on the fence or just don’t need or want a master’s degree. For example, Pacific University’s Residency Writers Conference is open to non-degree-seeking writers, even those without an undgrad degree. You can attend workshops, panels, classes, readings and craft talks. It’s not cheap, though—$1,800 plus $900 for room and meals, without credit. You may still need to apply for the conference, and wait for acceptance.  

Programs may also offer noncredit creative writing workshops.Wilkes University offers a few very affordable, online creative writing workshops . 

How to Decide Between Low-Residency MFAs

If you're trying to decide between low-residency Creative Writing MFA programs, here are a few key factors to consider:

Location : You’ll be visiting the residency destination for 1-4 weeks for the next few years—and likely using all your vacation time, too. Do you like the location? Does the low-residency program offer alternate locations or study-abroad portions?

Program focus: Consider the program’s genres, focus, and angle. For example, some programs may have a more intensive focus on craft, while others may place more emphasis on the publishing process or social justice. If your heart is set on writing middle-grade fiction, you’ll need a program that accomodates that. 

Faculty : Research the faculty of the program and consider their experience, reputation, and areas of expertise. Make sure the instructors have a track record of publishing and teaching, and consider whether you would like to work with them as mentors.

Career preparation: Think about whether the program provides you with career guidance and experience. Does the program prepare you to teach? Does it provide you with the professional skills you’ll need to publish or edit? 

Residency structure: How many times do you need to attend a residency, and does it fit with your life plans? How long is each residency? How much time do you spend in workshop during residency?

Unique offerings: Some programs have an occasional residency in a second location, sometimes abroad. At UNRT, your final mentorship is with a professional editor, someone who works at a publishing house, or is an agent, or a magazine editor. Many programs have their own thing.

Cost and funding: Consider the cost of the program and whether there are any scholarships, grants, or other funding opportunities available. Stipends, assistantships, and other funding sources are very common in low-residency MFAs. 

Credit transfer : Some programs allow you to transfer in credits you’ve already earned elsewhere. If you started an MFA program years ago, quit, and are ready to go back, it’s worth ensuring your work didn’t go to waste. 

If you have other questions, see my FAQ About Low Residency MFA Programs HERE .

Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.

We respect your privacy.

Literary Personal Essay, Op-Ed, and General Personal Essay: What’s the Difference?

Low-residency creative writing mfa programs: the basics.

Solstice MFA in Creative Writing

The Solstice MFA in Creative Writing Program offers a unique, affordable opportunity for students to act upon their artistic aspirations and embark on lives as serious writers and readers. This hybrid program is designed to be a transformative experience where accomplished faculty instruct students in craft and creative writing techniques that will bring their work to the next level. 

• 5 brief residencies followed by independent study working 1:1 with a mentor allow for more flexibility for the student's schedule
• 5 Concentrations: fiction—including popular fiction and genre fiction—creative nonfiction, poetry, comics & graphic narratives, and writing for children and young adults
• Award-winning writers who are dedicated to helping students find and develop their own, unique voices
• Students make lasting connections with a diverse, nurturing community of aspiring and accomplished writers

REQUEST INFO

Overview & career outcomes.

Lasell University's Solstice Low-residency MFA in Creative Writing is a selective full-time, two-year program that helps you further your writing practice with a high level of professional proficiency while developing your unique voice in a supportive community. This skills-based program combines five short, ten-day residencies—periods that feature literature & craft courses, writing workshops, seminars, readings, and panel discussions with a diverse cadre of writers, editors, and agents—with a 21-week long period of independent study in which each student works 1:1 with a mentor. This terminal degree offers a flexible format to help you fit the coursework into your schedule while providing an encouraging, immersive experience.

The program's mission is to nurture all the voices of America and beyond; to help students reach their full potential as writers through a demanding curriculum that balances the workshop experience with the study of literary craft, criticism, and theory; and to prepare students for the rigors of being a professional writer after graduation. The Solstice Program provides a supportive, welcoming environment in which writers of all backgrounds feel safe and are encouraged to take creative risks. Working with some of the best writers in the country, our students emerge with a deep, well-rounded knowledge of their art, a strategy for continuing the development of their creative vision, and a supportive circle of peers and mentors. We seek to instill in our students an appreciation for the value of community-building and community service, and the belief that engagement with the literary arts is not only a means to personal fulfillment but also an instrument for social justice and real cultural change.

Thanks to the support of founding faculty member and best-selling fiction writer Dennis Lehane as well as the Solstice Institute for Creative Writing, the Solstice MFA in Creative Writing Program launched at its first home institution—Pine Manor College—in 2006. The program landed at its current home at Lasell University in 2022, beginning its next chapter at an institution that aligns with its mission via the University’s commitment to fostering the next generation of creative thinkers, makers, leaders, and doers.

Hear what makes Lasell's Solstice MFA program different!

Solstice MFA Concentrations & Tracks

Concentrations.

The Solstice Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing Program allows students to focus on their passion by offering 5 concentrations:

• Fiction (including genre & popular fiction)
• Creative nonfiction
• Comics & graphic narratives
• Writing for children & young adults

• Pedagogy Track

Students who not only want to write but also have a desire to teach at the college level will want to consider the Pedagogy Track.  During their internship semester, Pedagogy track students teach their own creative writing workshops in their home communities.

Along with selecting a concentration focus, students in the Pedagogy track learn how to plan and design courses, assess and grade students' work, and manage a classroom.   Find out more.  

Solstice Creative Writing Workshops

Lasell's MFA Program students complete five residencies over a period of two years. Each 10-day residency, held in summer and winter, begins the new semester with a demanding program of craft classes and workshops in which students’ creative work-in-progress is analyzed and discussed. Each of the eight three-hour workshops held during the residencies allows students to experience a variety of pedagogical approaches; to develop constructive critiquing skills; and to enhance their own writing (and artwork, in the case of graphic narrative students) via close study of other students' works-in-progress under the guidance of a faculty mentor. During each residency, students in workshop have the opportunity to work with at least two different faculty mentors, providing the chance for a wider range of perspectives and feedback. Our approach to the writing workshop emphasizes an atmosphere of mutual respect and consideration between students and faculty members. Each residency takes place on Lasell University's beautiful campus (located just 10 miles from downtown Boston).  Take a virtual tour of the Lasell campus!

What is a Low-Residency Format?

Click on the video below to hear Meg Kearney, Founding Director of the MFA in Creative Writing Program.

Benefits of the Low-Residency Format

• Sense of community - These intensive, inspiring residencies help students form a supportive, engaged community and lifelong connections with fellow writers, including faculty members.
• One-on-one communication with faculty mentors during the semester: Because our student-faculty mentor ratio is never more than one to five, students receive highly focused attention from some of our nation’s best authors.
• Flexible learning  - Independent learning, a flexible schedule, and autonomy. Solstice students are able to pursue their writing goals while balancing the demands of work and family.

The Lasell Solstice MFA Difference

• Our faculty are award-winning writers who come from a variety of different backgrounds; are committed to achieving diversity of race, class, and creed in the classroom; and are dedicated to helping students find and develop their own, unique voices.
• Our goal  is to create opportunities for ALL writers to pursue their creative goals.
• Diversity - Our students, faculty, and alum represent a wide variety of ethnic, social, and geographic backgrounds (from 30 different states, Canada, and Dakar, Senegal), creating a truly vibrant cross-section of America.

Maria Luisa Arroyo Cruzado'15,  MFA in Creative Writing, Poetry

 “At Solstice, I found faculty members and peers who understand how to foster each other's growth with compassionate clarity."

Our curriculum is designed to be flexible. Between the residencies, students work on semester-long projects directly (1:1) with a faculty mentor. During this time of independent work and study, students collaborate with their faculty mentors to explore their genres in depth through reading, discussion, craft analysis, and the creation of new work.

This full-time program requires 60 credits—including work done during the residency and the remaining semester—for completion.

Craft Classes & Electives

At each residency, students attend a minimum of five courses in *Craft, Criticism, and Theory, as well as three Elective Seminars & Studies sessions (one- to two-hour classes). These classes are designed to provide students with a deeper understanding of the structural, philosophical, and historical underpinnings of the art of writing and include Foundational Craft Courses. Foundational Craft Courses are designed to ensure that students graduate with a shared vocabulary within their genre concentrations and a firm grasp of creative writing essentials. Residencies provide students with an opportunity for immersion in a community of writers as they sharpen their craft and expand their visions of their art.

*Students opting for the Applied Pedagogy Track will be required to take four course units dedicated to pedagogy basics, course design, assessment and grading, and classroom management.

Course and Work Roadmap

Students are expected to devote at least 25 hours per week to independent study each semester. It should be noted that reading, as well as writing, (and, in the case of graphic narrative students, making comics), is a vital component of the Solstice MFA Program at Lasell University. By the time a student graduates, they will have read between 50 and 80 books.

At the close of each residency, faculty mentors work closely with students to draft a semester plan—including a reading list, and a schedule for five packet exchanges in which students receive feedback to their creative and critical work. 

First & Second Semester

In the first and second semesters, students are encouraged to draft new material and expand their knowledge, submitting five packets of creative and critical work for feedback from their mentors.

Second-semester students can explore working in another genre—enhancing their craft by exploring the possibilities and constraints of another form—before selecting a focus for the third- and fourth-semester projects.

Third Semester

Third-semester students complete a 30- to 35-page critical essay, an essential part of developing into mature writers. This work builds on the critical writing and thinking skills students have developed in their first and second semesters, during which they applied close reading, analytical, and interpretive skills to the drafting of short literary essays on single texts. The critical thesis challenges writers to create and build a sustained argument surrounding a single aspect (or a few aspects/elements) of literature and/or literature’s role(s) in the world. Students are expected to choose subjects with some personal appeal; ideally, the thesis topic should have an application to the student’s own creative work.

Third-semester students also have the opportunity to pursue an applied-track internship in arts administration, community programming, or publishing as part of their research for the major critical essay. These optional internships will enrich their experience, broaden their knowledge, and provide necessary research for the essay due at the end of the semester. *The Applied Pedagogy Track also requires students to complete an internship during their second or third semester in the MFA program, during which they will gain valuable teaching experience.

Fourth Semester

During the fourth, creative-thesis semester, students work closely with faculty mentors to revise work created during the MFA program with the goal of producing a book-length manuscript. The fifth and final graduating residency requires the presentation of a 60-minute lecture or course in the students’ specialized area or track, developed in their critical essays. In addition, graduating students deliver a 15-minute public reading from their creative theses.

Students and faculty are required to submit thorough evaluations of the residency and the semester project each semester. These evaluations become part of the student’s permanent record and determine whether credit is granted toward the 60-credit degree.

Alejandro Ramirez '15,  MFA in Creative Writing, Creative Nonfiction

 “At Solstice, I found a community that supported my vision and my voice, full of talented writers -- like you -- who encourage each other to grow."

Requirements & Deadlines

Requirements.

In order to graduate, students must have received a passing grade for 60 credits of course work and must have attended five, 10-day residencies. In addition to receiving passing grades for all course work, students must complete a creative thesis (a novel, graphic narrative, collection of poems, short stories, or creative nonfiction) that is approved by a faculty mentor, give a reading from their creative theses, and teach one-hour-long lecture at the culminating residency.

Please review the MFA application requirements for admission: 

For emailed transcripts, have them sent to [email protected] . For snail mail, have them sent to:

Lasell University Attn: Graduate Admission 1844 Commonwealth Ave Newton, MA 02466

• Two recommendation forms (completed by either former professors or anyone who can attest to the applicant’s dedication to the art of writing and ability to get along well in a community of fellow writers). Note that recommendation forms, located on our application portal, make the process efficient and simple; recommendation letters may be uploaded to supplement the forms, but are not mandatory.
• Your literary influences, including books you’ve recently read, and what you have learned about the craft of writing from these influences
• The strengths and weaknesses of your writing
• Your ability to listen to and use direct criticism of your work
• What you hope to gain from earning your MFA in Creative Writing
• Obstacles that might prevent you from devoting 25 hours per week to your study and corresponding regularly with your faculty advisor
• Your goals and aspirations as a writer and/or artist
• Other things you'd like us to know about you, relevant to this application
• Poetry: 10 typed pages (single spaced, one poem per page) total
• Fiction: 20–25 typed pages (double spaced) total
• Creative Nonfiction: 20–25 typed pages (double spaced) total
• Confident artists : 8–12 pages of sequential fiction or nonfiction
• Confident writers : 20+ pages of graphic narrative script (in standard script form or via “the Marvel Method,” i.e. the general outline of a story, major plot points, + some dialogue); pages of sequential art are not mandatory for confident writers.

*Note: Students in the Comics & Graphic Narratives Concentration are placed in the program as “confident artists” or “confident writers” based on their applications. Typically, confident artists aspire to improve their craft as writers to match their drawing talents, with the ultimate goal of becoming cartoonists who both write and draw their own stories. Confident writers are typically more interested in creating comics/graphic narratives in collaboration with an artist/illustrator. That said, even confident writers who do not consider themselves to be confident artists will be expected to learn and practice the fundamentals of comics art in order to more deeply understand the collaboration process.

A Note on Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology:  Any use of AI is considered plagiarism and prohibited by the Solstice MFA Program in application manuscripts. All critical and creative work should strictly be the work of the applicant. Writing is hard work; it has always been hard work, which has been one of its graces. We believe our students and those seeking to be our students are self-selected lovers of words who, as apprentices to this craft, share the goal of becoming the best, most original writers they can be on their own merit. This is not to say that AI-generated work is not being used in creative ways in certain circles, but we expect our applicants to generate the “inputs” that result in their original “outputs.” In the end, we trust that Solstice MFA Program applicants, along with faculty, staff, and students, believe that academic and artistic honesty are paramount and will live up to those ideals.

Note for prospective international students : At this time, the Solstice MFA Program is not in a position to consider F-1 international students for enrollment. We are able to accept applications from international students who are dual U.S. citizens or permanent residents, as well as those who have other visa types that permit study in the country, such as L2, H1B, and H4 visas. Contact Lasell University’s Office of International Student Admissions for more information.

MFA Deadlines

The Solstice MFA Program accepts applications on a rolling basis. The deadlines below determine your starting residency and eligibility for fellowships. Review our application guidelines as you decide when you want to apply to the program . Students who hope to receive a need-based scholarship  should submit their application and the FAFSA as early as possible, as these awards are granted until funds are depleted.

The Winter/Spring 2025 Semester

The winter 2025 residency, which begins our spring semester, is set for January 10 – 19, 2025. Writers who submit general applications by Monday, November 11, 2024, may be offered a space in the winter 2025 residency/spring semester. Following that date, all acceptances will be for the summer 2025 residency/fall semester. 

Fellowship Deadlines for Winter 2025

Applicants who wish to be considered for the  Francis L. Toner Fellowship for Veterans ,  Dubus Fellowship for Native & Indigenous Writers ,  Michael Steinberg Fellowship for Creative Nonfiction ,  Jacqueline Woodson Fellowship for a Young People’s Writer of African or Caribbean Descent ,  Doug & Betsy Sholl Fellowship for Poetry , or the  Dennis Lehane Fellowship for Fiction  should submit the general application form by Monday, October 28, 2024. Please note that Dubus Fellowship applications require a short essay.

The Summer/Fall 2025 Semester

The summer 2025 residency, which begins our fall semester, is set for July 12 – 20, 2025. Writers who submit general applications by Monday, May 12, 2025 may be offered a space in the summer 2025 residency/fall semester. Following that date, all acceptances will be for the winter 2026 residency/spring semester.

Fellowship Deadlines for Summer 2025

Applicants who wish to be considered for the  Monica Hand Fellowship for Nontraditional Students ,  Kurt Brown Fellowship for Diverse Voices,  or  Billy Still Fellowship for Social Action & Writing  should submit the general application form (check the appropriate box on the form) by April 28, 2025. Please note that Kurt Brown and Still Fellowship applications require a short essay.

10% Lasell Alumni Discount

Alumni can take 10% off all master's and certificate programs. Does not apply if you receive a scholarship.

Form more details about scholarships and fellowships see our financial aid information  and our scholarship page .

Explore Solstice MFA in Creative Writing

Program Overview

• Social Action Writing Track
• Comics & Graphic Narratives Concentration

Faculty & Staff

• Upcoming Guest Faculty

Scholarships & Fellowships

Testimonials

Classes for Audit

Spotlight Poet Program

Graduate Publications

• Solstice Anthology

Professional Development

Post Graduate Opportunities

• Post Graduate Semester
• Post Graduate Certificate

Sign-up to receive The Lasell MFA Newsletter!

Live Q&A Session

Register for our next virtual event . .

• MS in Athletic Training Virtual Info Session Wednesday, May 29th @ 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM ET
• International Virtual Information Session Tuesday, May 21st @ 02:00 PM ET

Career Outcomes

60% have published in a literary magazine or journal, 30% have published at least 1 book, 15% have landed teaching or writing-related jobs, request more information.

Stay updated about our program options and start dates.  

Online Students

For All Online Programs

International Students

On Campus, need or have Visa

Campus Students

For All Campus Programs

Online MFA in Creative Writing Master of Fine Arts

Earn an MFA in Creative Writing Online

• $637/credit (48 credits total)
• Transfer up to 12 graduate credits
• 100% online – no residency required
• Four fiction genres to choose from
• Career-focused certificate included
• No application fee or GRE/GMAT scores required

Online MFA in Creative Writing Program Overview

Share your story with the world and let the power of storytelling take your career to new heights with an online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing . As one of the only programs available that encourages a focus on genre fiction, our online MFA lets you hone your craft in an area specific to your strengths and interests. You'll also learn about the business side of creative writing, preparing you to market your work in the real world.

While most MFA programs require a residency, Southern New Hampshire University's online MFA in Creative Writing can be completed entirely online, with no travel necessary.

“Traditional MFA programs, whether full-time or low residency, are out of reach for many writers,” said Paul Witcover , associate dean of creative writing. “The SNHU online MFA was designed to make the MFA experience accessible to all fiction writers, opening the door to diverse voices excluded for too long from the literary conversation. Our program is dedicated to giving writers the tools to succeed on the page and beyond it.”

Graduates leave the program with a completed and revised novel in one of our four offered genres: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance and Speculative. With the included certificates in either online teaching of writing or professional writing , you'll have the skills to support your writing career, no matter where it takes you.

.st0{fill:#21386D;} What You'll Learn

• The business and technical sides of professional writing
• How to navigate the publishing ecosystem, identify agents and editors, and market your work to appeal to decision-makers
• Using social media to gain a following and build your brand
• How to teach writing in a classroom setting

.cls-1 { fill: #21386d; } How You'll Learn

At SNHU, you'll get support from day 1 to graduation and beyond. And with no set class times, 24/7 access to the online classroom and helpful learning resources along the way, you'll have everything you need to reach your goals.

The Value of an Online MFA

Emily Jones ’20 embraced a transformational experience through the online MFA in Creative Writing program, which supported her in taking her writing career to the next level. “I can now say, without even a hint of imposter syndrome, that I am a writer,” said Jones. “And that is because of Southern New Hampshire University.”

Career Outlook

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers and authors made a median annual salary of $69,510 in 2021, while editors made $63,350. 1

“Our mission is to give students a degree and associated practical skills they can use to forge successful pathways in academia, business, or by blazing their own career trail,” said Paul Witcover , associate dean of creative writing.

Earning one of the included certificates in online teaching of writing or professional writing will also be an invaluable addition to your resume for part-time, full-time and freelance jobs in a variety of fields, including:

• Higher education. Instruct writing courses in higher education settings. In 2021, postsecondary teachers made a median annual wage of $79,640, and you can expect to see a 12% growth in available positions through 2031, according to the BLS. 1
• Advertising. Use your storytelling skills in a way that influences consumer action. As a copywriter, you could find yourself doing any number of writing projects from crafting emails and ads to writing entire commercials.
• Marketing. If you're more comfortable with long-form prose, many businesses have invested in content writers who create quality content such as blog posts, ebooks and podcasts to attract and retain customers.
• Entertainment. Good at building suspense or setting up punchlines? From movies and plays to comedy and podcasts, being a good storyteller and writer is important to finding success in the entertainment industry.
• History. Every person's life has a plot, but it takes writers like you to tell their stories in a compelling way. Help readers relive the experiences of historic figures and pop culture icons as a biographer.

Higher Education

Instruct writing courses in higher education at a college or university, either in-person or online.

Advertising

Influence consumer action through copywriting, from print ads to digital advertising and broadcast commercials.

Create written content such as blog posts, ebooks and podcasts to attract and retain customers.

Entertainment

From movies and plays to comedy and podcasts, writers often find success in the entertainment industry.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts favorable job growth in postsecondary education. And while statistics are not available for all job settings mentioned above, the BLS reports the following:

.cls-1 { fill: #21386d; } Job Growth

The BLS predicts an 8% growth in available postsecondary teaching positions through 2032. 1

.cls-1 { fill: #21386d; } Potential Salary

Writers and authors made a median annual salary of $73,150 in 2022, while editors made $73,080 and postsecondary teachers made $80,840. 1

Understanding the Numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Start Your Journey Toward an Online MFA in Creative Writing

If you're looking to earn your Master of Fine Arts online, you've found the right program. Even though there are no residency requirements, you'll still interact frequently with other students and faculty members in asynchronous discussions, critique workshops and within our online writer’s community, where students come together to share industry news, extend writing tips and develop critique partnerships.

"I liked MFA-514 (Advanced Studies in Genre Literature) best," said student Jamilla Geter . "It was a great look into the different genres. It really helped me narrow down what genre I wanted to write in."

"Though it was not writing exactly, its connection to it – especially in our digital world – was made clear almost immediately," she said. "Writing is not just providing content of value to your readers, but also creating avenues of access so those readers can find your content. This course helped me to understand that and to learn how I can create those avenues."

Besides allowing you to focus on your own creative interests, part of our 48-credit online MFA curriculum requires you to choose from 2 certificate offerings designed to round out your education and better prepare you for a multitude of writing-related careers.

The first choice is a Graduate Certificate in Online Teaching of Writing , which is tailored to those who see themselves teaching in an online classroom setting as a supplement to their writing careers. Students practice approaches to editing and coaching, learning how to establish a virtual instructor presence and cultivate methods for supporting and engaging students within online writing communities.

Learn more about the online teaching of writing graduate certificate .

Students can also choose the Graduate Certificate in Professional Writing , which highlights the technical and business opportunities available to writers. Students will develop a range of skills, such as copywriting, social media, marketing principles and/or content generation, learning many of the freelancing skills integral to today’s project-driven economy.

Learn more about the professional writing graduate certificate .

All of our courses are taught by accomplished authors and industry professionals who know both the craft and business of creative writing. They will work closely with you to develop both your creative and professional skill set.

"All instructors within my program were extremely knowledgeable and helpful," Warden said. "I learned a lot about the different career paths my instructors chose. ... The course instruction, along with their anecdotal experiences, helped in offering knowledge in different areas of our field.

MFA Program Thesis

The thesis for the Online MFA in Creative Writing is required to be a novel of at least 50,000 words in one of the four genres the program offers: Contemporary, Young Adult, Romance, and Speculative.

Every Southern New Hampshire University online MFA student who graduates from the program will do so with a revised novel manuscript in their chosen genre, which is completed in a three-course thesis series. Throughout your tenure in the program, you can either work on a singular idea that you will develop during the three thesis courses, or you can begin a new project for your thesis. You can also combine elements of the four genres offered in the program for your thesis. For example, your thesis might be a YA Speculative Fiction novel.

"My three thesis classes for the MFA degree were the most helpful," said Kathleen Harris '21 . "I was actually writing a book as my thesis, so it was both enjoyable and advantageous for the degree. And it was the end of a very long milestone of accomplishments."

Minimum Hardware Requirements Component Type   PC (Windows OS)   Apple (Mac OS)   Operating System  Currently supported operating system from Microsoft.   Currently supported operating system from Apple.  Memory (RAM)  8GB or higher  8GB or higher  Hard Drive  100GB or higher  100GB or higher  Antivirus Software  Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students.  Required for campus students. Strongly recommended for online students.  SNHU Purchase Programs  Visit Dell   Visit Apple   Internet/ Bandwidth  5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency  5 Mbps Download, 1 Mbps Upload and less than 100 ms Latency  Notes:   Laptop or desktop?   Whichever you choose depends on your personal preference and work style, though laptops tend to offer more flexibility.  Note:   Chromebooks (Chrome OS) and iPads (iOS) do not meet the minimum requirements for coursework at SNHU. These offer limited functionality and do not work with some course technologies. They are not acceptable as the only device you use for coursework. While these devices are convenient and may be used for some course functions, they cannot be your primary device. SNHU does, however, have an affordable laptop option that it recommends: Dell Latitude 3301 with Windows 10.  Office 365 Pro Plus  is available free of charge to all SNHU students and faculty. The Office suite will remain free while you are a student at SNHU. Upon graduation you may convert to a paid subscription if you wish. Terms subject to change at Microsoft's discretion. Review system requirements for  Microsoft 365 plans  for business, education and government.  Antivirus software:  Check with your ISP as they may offer antivirus software free of charge to subscribers.  if (typeof accordionGroup === "undefined") { window.accordionGroup = new accordion(); } accordionGroup.init(document.getElementById('f756dce5bd874c61855f6f6e92d88470')); University Accreditation

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates for SNHU's online degree programs are among the lowest in the nation. We offer a 25% tuition discount for U.S. service members, both full and part time, and the spouses of those on active duty.

Tuition rates are subject to change and are reviewed annually. *Note: students receiving this rate are not eligible for additional discounts.

Additional Costs: Course Materials ($ varies by course). Foundational courses may be required based on your undergraduate course history, which may result in additional cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Poetry Important? Celebrating National Poetry Month

Actor Stephanie Gould Surprised Onstage With Diploma Delivery

Associate Dean of Liberal Arts Dr. Robert Denning: A Faculty Q&A

Related programs.

A Guide to Low-Residency MFAs

With the next MFA application season just around the corner, it’s time to start seriously thinking about programs. Writers—are you considering the low-residency option? For those of us anchored into a job, with family, or simply unable to relocate, low-res programs are proving to be a great opportunity to earn your degree.

It’s fair to say that a low-res program may prepare you more quickly for the true world of writing—one in which your writing time must be structured around your job, family, and other commitments. There is no bubble here. Although you’ll meet for residencies (usually held twice a year), for the most part, you’re working on your own.

That being said, one of the biggest benefits to a low-res program is close mentorship. The faculty to student ratio is 5:1 or less for most programs. Mentors create customized reading lists for each student and critique larger volumes of work monthly. So despite the lack of time in physical classrooms, you still receive an extensive amount of support.

Several low-res programs are also now offering a dual-genre degree option for students who want to explore more than one interest. And for those of you who love to travel—many programs provide residencies abroad. You can gather stamps on your passport while participating in intensive workshops in countries such as Spain, Italy, or Slovenia.

So you’re interested. How do you choose which program to go for? I’ve listed some programs below that caught my eye for at least one reason, if not more—whether it be affordability, faculty, or the opportunity for travel or dual-genre studies. Enjoy!

by Julia Mucha

Bard College

Location : Annandale-on-Hudson, New York

Faculty : Renee Gladman, David Levi Strauss, and others.

Annual Tuition : $16,470

Bard’s tuition isn’t the lowest, but it’s worth mentioning this program because over 90% of their students receive at least one type of grant aid (fellowship, scholarship, or both). Their residency is eight weeks and held every summer.

Bennington College

Location : Bennington, Vermont

Faculty : Amy Hempel, Benjamin Anastas, April Bernard, Susan Cheever, David Gates, Major Jackson, Alice Mattison, and others.

Annual Tuition : $19,900

Bennington is consistently ranked as one of the top low-residency programs and has an incredible faculty. They also offer dual-genre degrees. Grants are awarded to exceptional applicants.

Cedar Crest College

Location : Allentown, Pennsylvania

Faculty : Keija Parssinen, Alison Wellford, Robert Antoni Dinaw Mengestu, and others.

Annual Tuition : 12,150 plus $2,750 for each residency (which includes accommodations and activity expenses).

This program offers dual-genre studies. The three required residencies, which are fifteen days each, are held each summer in Europe. Location rotates between Barcelona, Dublin, and Vienna, so you actually won’t be spending much if any time at their home campus.

Institute of American Indian Arts

Location : Sante Fe, New Mexico

Faculty : Jon Davis, Sherman Alexie, Melissa Febos, Pam Houston, Lidia Yuknavitch, Santee Frazier, and others.

Annual Tuition : $12,000

While this program is open to everyone, it does maintain a Native American and First Nations emphasis. They boast an incredible faculty and astoundingly low tuition.

Lesley University

Location : Cambridge, Massachusetts

Faculty : Tony Eprile, Laurie Foos, Rachel Kadish, Hester Kaplan, Michael Lowenthal, and others.

Annual Tuition : $24,000

Lesley offers several merit scholarships that cover up to $15,000 of the total cost. They also highlight interdisciplinary studies, and students gain experience in teaching, publishing, literary non-profits, and community writing groups. Another plus? Each summer they offer a ten-day residency in Wales.

Lindenwood University

Location : St. Charles, Missouri

Faculty : Tony D’Souza, Wm. Anthony Connolly, Zachary Tyler Vickers, Nicole McInnes, Kali VanBaale, and others.

Annual Tuition : $10,872

This school offers a half-tuition waiver to students who are at least sixty years old. Primary and secondary education teachers also receive a discounted tuition. You can meet for the residency either at their campus or choose to complete the program fully online.

University of New Orleans

Location : New Orleans, Louisiana

Faculty : Fredrick Barton, Barb Johnson, Joanna Leake, and others.

Annual Tuition: $12,500

This program offers a residency in Europe each summer for one month. In the past, residencies have taken place in Ireland, Scotland, and Italy. The University of New Orleans has consistently been ranked as one of the most affordable schools in the country.

Sewanee School of Letters

Location : Sewanee, Tennessee

Faculty : Jamie Quatro, Michael Griffith, John Ernest, Nickole Brown, and others.

Annual Tuition : $5,707

This program has an interesting model—you take a combination of writing workshops and classes in literary criticism and history. The residencies are held each summer, and the degree takes four to five summer sessions to complete. Since the program is spread out over four to five years, the tuition is remarkably affordable.

Pacific University

Location : Portland, Oregon

Faculty : Chris Abani, Steve Amick, Bonnie Jo Campbell, Claire Davis, Dorianne Laux, and others.

Annual Tuition : $17,646

This prestigious school offers two Pearl Scholarships worth $7,500 to students entering their MFA program. Partial, merit-based scholarships are available as well.

Vermont College of Fine Arts

Location : Montpelier, Vermont

Faculty : Trinie Dalton, Matthew Dickman, Abby Frucht, Connie May Fowler, and others.

For those of you who love to travel, VCFA offers residencies abroad in Slovenia and Puerto Rico. Dual-genre and translation studies are also available. There are multiple scholarship options available to help offset the tuition.

Warren Wilson College

Location : Asheville, North Carolina

Faculty : Andrea Barrett, Robert Boswell, Karen Brennan, Liam Callanan, Christopher Castellani, and others.

Annual Tuition : $17,350

As one of the older and more prestigious programs on this list, tuition is higher. However, multiple scholarships and grants available that can cover up to fifty percent of tuition. All financial aid is based on need.

Spring Flash Fiction Contest Honorable Mention: “Road Trip” by Rachel Attias

August deadlines: 13 contests and prizes with deadlines this month.

• Back to Hood.edu

Introducing the New Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing

Hood College is excited to launch the low-residency MFA in creative writing beginning June 2024, a 48-credit program in fiction or poetry that includes four remote mentorship semesters and three 10-day summer residencies.

Inaugural Residency Launches June 2024

• English & Communication Arts
• Graduate School
• Graduate Student

Elizabeth Knapp, Ph.D., program director, discusses the new Creative Writing MFA below.

How did you get the idea for the low-residency MFA at Hood College?

The day of my interview in May 2008 (which was also the last day of classes), as I was walking across campus with my future colleagues, I said to one of them, “You know, this would be a lovely place for a low-residency MFA in creative writing,” and with that, the idea for the program was born. It’s been 15 years in the making now.

What’s unique about Hood College’s low-residency MFA in creative writing?

There are several key features of our program that we think make it stand out:

First, we are the only low-residency MFA in the state of Maryland that offers concentrations in both fiction and poetry; second, our program includes summer residencies on Hood College’s beautiful campus, which is within walking distance of Downtown Frederick (and one hour from Baltimore and Washington, D.C.), with its lively historic district featuring great restaurants, shops and a wonderful independent bookstore ; third, for the second of the three summer residencies, students have the option of attending the Prague Summer Program for Writers ; fourth, in addition to scholarships and other funding opportunities, we offer students the chance to help launch and serve on the staff of our new online literary magazine, Pergola ; fifth, our program focuses on literary publishing, and by the end of the program, students will be submitting their work to literary journals and magazines and may even be starting to publish it; finally, our program features dynamic permanent and guest faculty, including award-winning poets and fiction writers.

Students in the program will play an essential role in its development, and we look forward to welcoming writers from a variety of backgrounds and professions.

Why did you choose to partner with the Prague Summer Program?

The nation’s oldest study-abroad program for creative writers in the English language, the Prague Summer Program has been on our radar since the inception of our program. Now operating as an LLC, the Prague Summer Program had been affiliated for many years with the University of New Orleans and then Western Michigan University. As a Ph.D. student at the latter, I attended the PSP in summer 2005 and served as a teaching assistant for the poet Anne Marie Macari , so I have first-hand knowledge of the program’s outstanding faculty , including two MacArthur Fellows and a National Book Award Winner in fiction. In addition to the option of a three-week second summer residency through the PSP, we’ll also be offering teaching assistantships in the program.

What is the program’s philosophy?

Central to our program’s philosophy is the idea of balance—between writing and the demands of everyday life, between periods of solitude and social interaction—as well as the presence of a diverse and cohesive literary community. The latter in particular is essential to our identity as a program, as we believe that while we may write in solitude, we work together as a community to bring our art into the world.

The idea of balance is also central to the way we’ve structured our program. Our 10-day summer residencies are designed to immerse students in activities and subjects central to the writing life and to foster a sense of community and fellowship with other writers. At the end of the residency period, students return to their individual writing lives reenergized and recommitted to the practice of writing. They then commence a period of concentrated reading and writing in the semester between residencies under the close guidance of a faculty mentor.

Along with the residency experience, literary mentorship is a hallmark of our program. The mentorship semester is designed to help students develop close working relationships with experienced teachers and published authors who can direct them in all matters of literary craft, criticism and publishing. As immersive experiences, the mentorship semesters also provide students with a solid foundation in literary history, theory and practice, and students are expected to read broadly and deeply both within their genre and across genres.

Learn more about the new low-residency MFA in creative writing.

Are you ready to say Hello?

Choose a pathway.

Information will vary based on program level. Select a path to find the information you're looking for!

MFA in Writing

Read. Write. Be Read.

One of the top low-residency programs in the country, the Bennington Writing Seminars is a  two-year, rigorous exploration of craft. You commit as much to reading as to writing and critical literary analysis. You create bold new works of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, and may work in a dual-genre . You finish with a polished thesis and a critical paper. All this with the expert 1:1 guidance of acclaimed authors who develop a stake in your work. Our alumni, faculty, students, and staff publish work at the highest levels. Applications accepted March 1 and September 1.

What our Alumni Say

“There’s such an unparalleled and unwavering sense of support.”

Models & Mentors

Our faculty-student ratio of 1:1 provides true mentorship. You work closely with a faculty member who is an accomplished writer and a distinguished teacher.

Develop Your Skills

You may focus on one or more genres at Bennington. While most choose to specialize in fiction , nonfiction , or poetry , others work across two genres through our Dual-Genre Degree .

You may apply to begin during either of the 10-day residency sessions in 2025: Winter term (residency: January 9-19, 2025) or Summer term  (residency dates to come). Application deadlines are September 1  to begin in January and March 1 to begin in June.

Inclusive Community

We are committed to increasing access to our program for students from diverse backgrounds and to building community through sustained dialogue and practice. We offer  scholarships, and fund the emerging voices we want to support and read .

Bennington offer a self-directed pace that allows you to develop a sustainable, lifelong writing practice. We know how important it is for MFA students to gain teaching experience so we've developed the Residential Teaching Fellows program—a first-of-its-kind teaching opportunity among low residency MFA programs , among others.

Scholarships, Fellowships, Loans

We offer a range of scholarships  and  federal financial aid loans . All applicants are considered for merit scholarships.  Please contact us with any questions .

What Our Faculty Members Say

Nonfiction faculty member and MFA alum Hugh Ryan explains how the low-residency format worked for him.

@BennMFA_Writing

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Low Residency)

The MFA in Creative Writing is a two-year co-educational low residency program designed for serious, independent writers seeking advanced instruction in poetry, fiction, young adult fiction, and creative nonfiction through a non-traditional course of graduate study.

Converse University is home to the only low-residency MFA in SC.

The program emphasizes the mastery and understanding of writing skills and contemporary literature and craft through the master-writer and apprentice mentoring relationship, ultimately offering students a stimulating and individually tailored curriculum of courses and projects.

The degree requires 48 hours of graduate credit completed during four 9-day residencies at Converse, offered twice annually (summer and in January), four mentoring semesters, a fifth graduating residency, the completion of a substantive analytical project on literature or craft, and a book-length creative thesis and oral defense.

Application Deadlines

February 15 (Priority scholarship consideration for Summer/Fall Admission) March 15 (Summer/Fall Admission) October 1 (Priority scholarship consideration for January/Spring Admission) October 15 (January/Spring Admission)

Application Details

An Award-Winning Tradition

Selected by Publishers Weekly as one of their “MFA Programs to Watch”, Converse’s MFA in Creative Writing program boasts a long history of inspiring and developing award-winning writers. Our alumni include Julia Peterkin, the only South Carolinian to win the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction. Recent students and graduates have published or had accepted for publication multiple books with major NY publishers and acclaimed independent presses, plus they have been honored as Georgia Author of the Year, nominated for a Pushcart Prize, and received a number of individual writing awards.

 Our Converse graduates have distinguished themselves with accomplishments and awards including:

• Graduates signed book deals with HarperCollins, Little A, Random House, Press 53 and others
• MFA graduate selected as the Georgia Author of the Year
• The South Carolina Poetry Initiative Book Prize winner
• Southeast Review Narrative Nonfiction Prize winner
• Bryant-Lisembee Poetry Prize winner
• The Association of Writers & Writing Program’s Intro Award winner
• Co-founder/Director of the Disquiet International Literary Program in Portugal
• Hub City Writing Award winner (poetry and fiction)
• Faculty at East Carolina University, Clemson University, and College of Charleston

MFA Program Overview

The residency.

The residency is an integral part of each semester, and each nine-day residency, held on campus in early summer and again in January, begins the new semester with a demanding program of creative writing workshops in which student work is discussed and evaluated. Students also attend craft lectures on the history, theory and critical approaches to the genres, faculty/student presentations and one-on-one consultations, in addition to presentations by visiting writers, editors and agents. With a low student-faculty ratio that never exceeds 4:1 and typically is 3:1, students have important access to instruction from mentors. In addition, workshops are kept small, never more than 6-10 student writers. This allows students to receive direct contact with experienced writers and their peers, providing a stimulating and supportive community of writers.

Housing and meals are provided to students at no additional charge. Summer residency housing is provided on the Converse campus and Winter residency housing is provided at a local hotel.

We strongly encourage students to participate in the residential living option arranged for the program’s residency sessions, as it helps to involve the students more directly in the Converse University community; however, students may certainly elect to commute or to make their own housing and board arrangements.

To read about the residency and overall program experience, check out several of the blogs on our program’s blog .

The Mentoring Semester

During the months between these residencies, students work individually with faculty mentors—award-winning writers, with whom students construct reading lists and to whom they send their creative and critical work for written feedback on a schedule determined at the time of their residency. Each student exchanges five packets of creative writing and craft topic response papers with a mentor per term. The faculty/mentor responds within one to two weeks via mail or e-mail and offers instructive critiques for revision, additional reading suggestions and relevant observations on craft and theory.

Students must complete four mentoring semesters to graduate. The Summer/Fall mentoring semester begins with the Summer residency, and the Winter/Spring mentoring semester begins with the January residency.

The Fifth, Graduating Residency

At the end of the two years, students finish the program by returning to campus for a fifth, graduating residency. In this final residency, graduating students complete the following:

• give a presentation and oral defense of their creative thesis project
• give a public reading from their creative work
• lead their fellow students in a craft seminar developed under the guidance of a faculty mentor.

Second Genre Option

Optional second genre emphasis for one semester.

The Second Genre Option provides current Converse MFA students the opportunity to study a second genre in addition to the major genre of study. Students applying for approval to study in a second genre will enroll in an additional semester in the MFA program and complete an additional 12 semester hours.

Second genre students admitted into the optional emphasis will complete a full residency and mentoring semester in one of the three genre options: fiction, poetry, or nonfiction.

During the second-genre residency/semester which will take place in the student’s 3rd semester, students participate in the residency workshop in their second genre of interest. During the mentoring semester immediately following that residency, students complete creative and critical craft work in that second genre under the guidance of a mentor with a specialty in that genre.

This one-semester option adds one residency and one semester (a total of 12 credit hours) to a student’s total program of study and earns the student a second genre concentration in poetry, fiction, or nonfiction which is documented on the final transcript. The second genre emphasis will lengthen the program for those second genre option students from four full semesters to five full semesters (including residency sessions at the beginning of each semester). The Fifth, Graduating Residency requirements will not change, but will continue as usual and will follow the student’s final creative thesis semester.

Since it is highly important for students to first establish themselves and make positive progress in the MFA program and in the study of their primary genre before broadening out, enrolled MFA students are eligible for the second genre study option only during their third residency/mentoring semester (in other words, before the Critical Essay semester; both the Critical Essay and the Creative Thesis must be completed in the student’s primary genre in the final two semesters of the program).

For students enrolling in the second genre option, the total number of graduate hours would increase from 48 hours to 60 credit hours. This new option gives our students who are interested and equipped for graduate level work in a genre outside of their primary genre of study an opportunity to develop as a more well-rounded author and will help our graduates excel in an ever more competitive publishing marketplace and in the academic job market.

Applying for the Second Genre Option

Second Semester Converse MFA students intending to enroll in a second genre may apply for admission in a secondary genre residency/semester by one of the following dates: February 15 for students enrolling in their third semester during the summer residency/fall mentoring semester, or October 1 for students enrolling in their third semester during the January residency/spring mentoring semester.

To apply for the second genre concentration, students must submit the following to the MFA director:

• A writing sample in the genre of interest (10 pages of poetry or 15 pages of nonfiction or fiction)
• A brief cover letter indicating the student’s desire to study a specific second genre.

Upon review of these materials, the MFA director will consult with relevant faculty. Director and faculty approval is required for this option.

Students are expected to write at an appropriate level for graduate study in that second genre.

Required Activities for Graduation

In addition to the requirements of the Graduate School, the following must be met:

• Completion of 4 on-campus residencies (16 credit hours)
• Completion of 4 courses in chosen genre (16 credit hours)
• Completion of 4 courses in craft topics (16 credit hours)
• Completion of original, book-length manuscript of high quality in the selected genre (Creative Thesis)
• Completion of substantive research paper, 25-30 pages, written during third semester of enrollment
• Evidence of broad reading and an annotated bibliography of required reading list. By the time of graduation, participants will be expected to have read a substantial number of books concerning such topics as aesthetics, craft, genre, and the works of individual writers of achievement in the participant’s chosen genre.
• Completion of fifth, graduating residency.
• Students are expected to devote a minimum of 16 hours per week to their graduate work.

Candidates have five calendar years from the time of enrollment to complete the MFA degree.

MFA Tuition and Financial Aid

Converse’s comprehensive tuition rates for the MFA program are well below the national average for low-residency MFA programs.

See comprehensive tuition and fees as well as MFA assistantship and scholarship opportunities here .

Clemson-Converse Literature Series

In partnership with Converse’s MFA program, the Clemson-Converse Literature Series publishes poetry collections, short-story collections, and creative nonfiction. Read more about the series here .

Publishing Opportunities Through the Clemson-Converse Literature Series

Converse and Clemson University Press are pleased to announce a publishing collaboration in conjunction with the low-residency Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing program at Converse. The partnership, known as the Clemson-Converse Literature Series, publishes poetry collections, short-story collections, and nonfiction essay collections selected by two competitions, each of which will run biennially.

The first in the Clemson-Converse Literature Series is the Converse MFA Alumni Book Prize Series, which offers current students and alumni the opportunity to enter a book-length poetry manuscript, short fiction manuscript, or essay manuscript into the contest.

The submissions will be judged by a writer of national distinction, edited, published and distributed by the Clemson University Press. The winning author will receive a standard royalty book contract and a reading during the Converse MFA program residency session.

Visiting Writers

During residencies and throughout the academic year, writers, editors, and agents visit Converse to give public readings and to lead discussions on writing craft, publishing, and literary editing. Recent visiting writers to the Converse campus include:

• C. Michael Curtis
• Gary Jackson
• Ashley M. Jones
• Randall Kenan
• Margaret McMullan
• Julie Marie Wade
• Jillian Weise

Non-Degree Options

• Immersion Residency
• Lecture Pass

Department News

Ellen bryant voigt ’64 publishes ‘collected poems’.

Ellen Bryant Voigt ’64, MacArthur Fellow, Pulitzer Prize finalist, and former Poet Laureate of Vermont recently published a definitive collection of more than five decades of work. David Baker from …

MFA Creative Writing Program Celebrates Multiple Achievements

From selection to a prestigious jury panel to receiving a Pushcart Prize, summer was a time of significant achievement for the alumni, students, and faculty of Converse’s Master of Fine …

MFA Grad Selected as 2023 Pulitzer Prize Judge

MFA alumna Cinelle Barnes ’15 (Creative Nonfiction) was selected as a judge for the 2023 Pulitzer Prize Awards memoir category.  Barnes earned an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from Converse. She …

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing

Advanced instruction in poetry, fiction, young adult fiction, and creative nonfiction.

Rick Mulkey, Director 864.596.9685 [email protected]

Paperwork or application materials should be sent to:

Converse University MFA Office 580 East Main Street Spartanburg, South Carolina 29302-1931

• Like us on Facebook
• Follow us on Instagram
• Follow us on Twitter

Admissions Requirements

Requirements for advancement to graduate candidacy.

• Master’s Requirements (44 units)
• Program Learning Outcomes    

The Master of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing, offered by the  Department of English and Comparative Literature   , is the recognized terminal degree that offers the minimum professional training deemed necessary by the major schools in the United States for university and college teaching and for positions in the publishing industry. It is also the degree most frequently held by professional writers.

For additional information, please see the program website at www.sjsu.edu/english/graduate/mfa .

Requirements for Admission to Classified Standing

Applicants must meet university requirements for admission    to the Graduate Division and classified standing as outlined in this catalog. In addition, they must meet the following department requirements:

• Earned a 3.0 grade point average in major courses.
• Demonstrate ability in Creative Writing by submitting a creative writing portfolio in Fiction (20-30 pages), Creative Nonfiction (20-30 pages), Poetry (10 pages), or Scriptwriting (20-30 pages).
• Be approved by the departmental MFA in Creative Writing Committee. For each annual cycle, applications are due by March 1, when the review will begin.

Achieved one of the following:

• Possess a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in English, Creative Writing, or a related field from an accredited institution.
• Passed a minimum of 12 semester hours in English, Creative Writing, or a related field beyond freshman composition.
• Demonstrated equivalent literary training or experience as determined by the Director of the MFA in Creative Writing Program.

Additional preparation may be required before a student can be considered for classified status in the degree program, at the discretion of the MFA Director (see Requirements for Admission to Conditionally Classified Standing ).

Applicants from countries in which the native language is not English must achieve a minimum English-language proficiency test score as indicated on the Graduate Program Test Requirements webpage of GAPE.

Requirements for Admission to Conditionally Classified Standing

Students who do not qualify for classified standing but who meet university requirements for graduate admission and whose past performance and creative writing ability give promise of satisfactory completion of requirements for admission to classified graduate standing may, with the approval of the departmental MFA in Creative Writing Committee, be admitted as conditionally classified in the MFA program.

Candidacy denotes that the classified graduate student is fully qualified to complete the final stages of the MFA in Creative Writing program and is thus eligible to enroll in ENGL 291    and ENGL 299   . In order to advance to candidacy, the student must meet the university requirements for advancement to candidacy    as outlined in this catalog. The university requires that all graduate students complete the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)    as a condition for advancement to candidacy. Most graduate-level literary seminars meet the GWAR. In addition, the student must:

• complete 24 units of an approved 44-unit program with a GPA of 3.0 or better. At least one-half of these units must be graduate-level (i.e., 200-numbered) courses. Any upper-division courses to be applied to the MFA must be approved in advance by the MFA Director.
• formalize his or her MFA thesis committee by obtaining the signatures of three university faculty members (two must be members of the Creative Writing or English faculty) to serve as members of the student’s committee. A tenure-line Creative Writing faculty member who teaches in the student’s major area of emphasis must serve as chair.
• propose to write a substantial full-length work, with critical introduction or preface (see below), in one of the four program emphases: Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, or Script Writing.
• sign up to take the MFA Comprehensive Examination, which a student must pass before an MFA degree is awarded.

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement

At SJSU, students must pass the Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)   . 

Culminating Experience

All candidates for the MFA degree in Creative Writing must complete a book-length thesis in their primary genre. The thesis must be approved by a three-member committee, of which at least two members must be full-time SJSU faculty. Thesis committees and projects are declared in the Departmental Thesis Proposal , which is submitted to the Graduate Committee of the Department of English & Comparative Literature the semester before the candidate registers for four units of ENGL 299D    or ENGL 299   .

At the time of filing for candidacy, MFA candidates must select from two options for filing the final documents. Plan A (Thesis), which we refer to as a University Thesis, will require enrollment in ENGL 299   , and the resulting thesis will be reviewed by the College of Graduate Studies and published online, as described below. Plan B (Project), which the Department of English and Comparative Literature refers to as a Departmental Thesis, will require enrollment in ENGL 299D    and is considered by the university as a “project” and thus not subject to review by the College of Graduate Studies nor to the policy requiring university theses to be published. Please note that the departmental requirements for the thesis itself as well as the composition of the thesis committee are the same under both options.

Candidates select their Thesis Plan on the Petition for Advancement to Graduate Candidacy  form, typically submitted the semester prior to graduation (e.g., in October for May graduation, or in April for December graduation). Although the Candidacy Form lists three plans – A, B, and C – MFA candidates may select only Plan A or Plan B.

Plan A (Thesis): University Thesis

After approval by the three-member thesis committee, MFA candidates submit the final manuscript as a PDF to the University’s College of Graduate Studies, where it is checked for format . Once certified by Graduate Studies, the PDF is published in two places : on ProQuest (a commercial academic publisher) and on ScholarWorks (the University’s open-access repository). Distribution through these two channels assures that research generated by SJSU students is available to as many readers as possible. Candidates who wish to shield their work from public view temporarily, for example, to allow time for commercial publication, can request an embargo of up to five years. After the embargo expires, candidates can ask for an extension or allow the document to be released online. It is possible for access to be restricted to users of the SJSU campus network. Embargo and access options are chosen by candidates when they submit their theses to Graduate Studies.

Only theses submitted via Plan A are eligible for the University’s Outstanding Thesis Award , a distinction given annually to the one or two exceptional theses in the entire university. The award is presented at graduation and includes a monetary stipend. Candidates should ask their thesis directors or department chairs for more information about this award.

Plan B (Project): Departmental Thesis

Under this option, the thesis manuscript is prepared according to University guidelines and approved by a three-member thesis committee, and then signed off by the Chair of the Graduate Committee and the Department Chair. The manuscript is not submitted to the College of Graduate Studies. Instead, candidates must deposit a printed, bound copy of their thesis in the collection of the Department of English & Comparative Literature and, optionally, on the thesis shelf of the University Library (binding paid for by the candidate). Because the Departmental Thesis is never published online, this option makes sense for MFA candidates who wish to give their work the maximum possible protection. It is recommended for those students who wish to protect the copyright of their creative work for future publication.

Departmental Theses are neither eligible for the University’s Outstanding Thesis Award nor for nomination to the Proquest Thesis Award.

Master’s Requirements (44 units)

Core courses (4 units).

• ENGL 291 - Lit Practicum 4 unit(s)

Workshops (20 units)

Complete 12 units in primary genre and 8 units in secondary genre from the following.

The workshop courses are all repeatable for credit as long as the topic has changed:

• ENGL 240 - Poetry Writing Workshop 4 unit(s)
• ENGL 241 - Fiction Writing Workshop 4 unit(s)
• ENGL 242 - Nonfiction Writing Workshop 4 unit(s)

Literary Research (8 units)

• ENGL 202 - Poetic Craft and Theory 4 unit(s)
• ENGL 203 - Narrative Craft and Theory 4 unit(s)
• ENGL 204 - Seminar in Modern Approaches to Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 208 - Seminar in Comparative Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 211 - Seminar in Twentieth Century Poetry 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 215 - Seminar in Myth and Symbolism 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 216 - Seminar in Medieval English Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 224 - Studies in English Early Modern Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 225 - Seminar in Shakespeare 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 228 - Seminar in Genre Studies 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 230 - Seminar in Thematic Studies in British Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 232 - Seminar in Form and Genre Studies in British Literature 4 unit(s)
• ENGL 233 - Seminar in Period Studies of British Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 253 - Seminar in Period Studies of American Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 254 - Seminar in Genre Studies of American Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 255 - Seminar in Thematic Studies of American Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)
• ENGL 256 - Seminar in Twentieth Century British Literature 4 unit(s) (GWAR)

Professional Development (8 units)

• ENGL 133 - Reed Magazine 4 unit(s)
• ENGL 257 - Seminar in the History of Rhetoric 4 unit(s)
• ENGL 259 - Seminar in Composition Studies 4 unit(s)
• ENGL 298 - Special Study 1-6 unit(s)
• Other literary research classes with consent of advisor

Culminating Experience (4 units)

Plan a (thesis).

• ENGL 299 - University Thesis 1-6 unit(s) (4 units required)
• Comprehensive Exam
• Foreign Language Requirement

Plan B (Project)

• ENGL 299D - Departmental Thesis 1-6 unit(s) (4 units required)

Total Units Required (44 units)

*Note that College of Graduate Studies requires all creative works that serve as theses (novels, poetry collections, screen plays, and so forth) to be accompanied by a preface. At a minimum of 10 pages, the preface should put the creative work in historical, cultural, literary, or other contexts. It should also expound on the literary influences on the student. The text must be written according to a style guide, APA being the guide of choice in the English and Comparative Literature Department, and include formal literature citations and a References Cited section, both written in accordance with the style guide rules.

Elective courses must be planned in consultation with the English MA Advisor.

Upon completion of the degree requirements, the student must have achieved minimum candidacy and SJSU cumulative grade point averages of 3.0 in order to graduate.

Jump to navigation Skip to content

Search form

• P&W on Facebook
• P&W on Twitter
• P&W on Instagram

Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more.

Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

• Register for Classes

Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing them with a network for professional advancement.

Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.

Bring the literary world to your door—at half the newsstand price. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft.

View the contents and read select essays, articles, interviews, and profiles from the current issue of the award-winning Poets & Writers Magazine .

Read essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine as well as Online Exclusives.

View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine , from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987.

Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know.

In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing.

The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox.

Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process.

Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings.

Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance.

Start, renew, or give a subscription to Poets & Writers Magazine ; change your address; check your account; pay your bill; report a missed issue; contact us.

Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more.

Poets & Writers is pleased to provide free subscriptions to Poets & Writers Magazine to award-winning young writers and to high school creative writing teachers for use in their classrooms.

Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print.

• Subscribe Now

Tags: low residency programs

2018 mfa index: a guide to more than 200 programs.

A look at 153 full-residency programs and 59 low-residency programs, sorted alphabetically by region.

A Lifetime to Write: Warren Wilson and the Origins of the Low-Residency MFA

This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the country's oldest low-residency MFA program in creative writing, established by poet Ellen Bryant Voigt in 1976  at Goddard College before relocating to  Warren Wilson College in 1981. Contributing editor Jeremiah Chamberlin explores the program’s history and legendary faculty, and how it has served as a model for other low-residency programs across the country.

MFA Nation 2016: A Compendium of Graduate Programs in Creative Writing

Start your MFA research with this comprehensive guide to more than 170 full- and low-residency programs in creative writing, expanded and updated for 2016. Each listing includes detailed information such as core faculty, special features, funding, tuition, application fees, and deadlines. The free PDF also includes a regional index, a cost-of-living comparision, and a handy Application Tracker to keep track of your applications.

The Aha! Moment: Rene Steinke of Fairleigh Dickinson University

Rene Steinke, the director of the low-residency MFA program at Fairleigh Dickinson University, discusses the potential she saw in fiction applicant Jessie Vail Aufiery’s writing sample, including a short story called “The Pleasure of Giving.”  

MFA Programs

Detailed information on 135 full- and low-residency graduate programs in creative writing.

2014 MFA Index: Further Reading

A comprehensive article about how we compiled the 2014 MFA Index of full- and low-residency programs, featured in the September/October 2013 issue of Poets & Writers Magazine .

Advice From the Programs

Directors, coordinators, and professors of full- and low-residency MFA programs offer some advice for prospective students trying to decide which programs are right for them.

The 2012 Rankings of Graduate Programs in Creative Writing: Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the most commonly asked questions about our rankings of full-residency, low-residency, and doctoral programs in creative writing.

We’ve compiled this annual guide to graduate creative writing programs—which includes our rankings of the top full- and low-residency MFA programs (with honorable mentions ) and, new to this year, doctoral programs —to provide a spark for the deep thinking and serious consideration that the process of choosing a program requires.

2012 MFA Rankings: The Methodology

Attorney, poet, editor, and freelance journalist Seth Abramson explains the methodology used to compile the Poets & Writers Magazine 2012 rankings of postgraduate creative writing programs.

• Parents and Families
• Student, Faculty, and Staff Resources
• Academic Catalog
• Undergraduate On-Campus
• Undergraduate Online
• International
• Financial Aid
• Undergraduate On-Campus Early Acceptance Program
• Accepted and Enrolled Students
• New Students
• Transfer Students
• Returning Students
• Military Students
• International Students
• Latin-American Students
• Find a Program
• Art and Design
• Business and Management
• Government and Criminal Justice
• Information Technology
• Nursing and Healthcare
• Psychology and Human Services
• Pre-College
• Bachelor's
• Master's
• Academic Partnerships
• Low-Residency
• Student Life and Activities
• On-Campus Experience
• Student and Intern Housing
• Online Experience
• Academic Resources
• Putnam Theatre
• Additional Services
• Institute of Art and Design
• Mission and Vision
• Accreditation
• NEC at a Glance
• Venue Rental
• Virtual Tour

Creative Writing, Low Residency MFA

New England College’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is a transformative learning experience for writers. The program delivers a rigorous, individualized curriculum in five dynamic genres: poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Writing for Stage and Screen, and Dual Genre.

On This Page

Recent visiting artists, recognition and rankings.

• Jennifer Militello Named New Hampshire's Next Poet Laureate

Application Requirements

Assistantships, scholarships, and program details, notable alumni, degree requirements, contact the creative writing department, graduate admission.

[email protected]

Program Director

Jennifer Militello 603.428.2309 [email protected]

Social Media Pages

Instagram Facebook Twitter

Request More Information

Clicking the button above constitutes your express written consent to be called, texted, and/or emailed by New England College at the number/email address you provided, regarding furthering your education. You understand that these calls may be generated using automated technology.

Program Overview

The MFA in Creative Writing at New England College, founded in 2002, is one of the country’s oldest and most highly esteemed low residency programs. We boast a small and selective program that allows us to sustain a close-knit, supportive community. Students are individually mentored by accomplished, award‐winning faculty members who are among the most compelling writers in their genres and who are also known for their excellence in teaching.

Students are offered the opportunity to work on the literary project of their choice during their time in the program, with cross‐genre writing, hybrid forms, and fluidity in genre encouraged.

• Four-semester, 64-credit MFA program
• Low residency model
• MFA residencies in Henniker, New Hampshire, twice a year

2024 Residencies

Summer: July 11–21 Winter: January 7–12

Available Genres

• Writing for Stage and Screen

Additional Opportunities

• Teaching assistantships
• One-on-one mentorship

Hear about NEC’s MFA in Creative Writing

Allison Titus

Allison Titus has written three books of poems, a novel, and several chapbooks. Her newest book is called HIGH LONESOME . Her honors include poetry fellowships from the NEA, Yaddo, and the Donaldson Writer-in-Residence program at William & Mary, and her work has appeared in A Public Space , Tin House , The Believer Magazine,  and Ninth Letter , among other places. She is co-editor of the forthcoming anthology THE NEW SENT(I)ENCE: Revisioning the Animal in 21st Century Poetry , a collection of writing/manifesto that centers the nonhuman animal’s agency, consciousness, and creaturehood.

Anaïs Duplan

Anaïs Duplan is a trans* poet, curator, and artist. He is the author of a book of essays,  Blackspace: On the Poetics of an Afrofuture (Black Ocean, 2020); a full-length poetry collection, Take This Stallion (Brooklyn Arts Press, 2016); and a chapbook, Mount Carmel and the Blood of Parnassus  (Monster House Press, 2017). He has taught poetry at the University of Iowa, Columbia University, Sarah Lawrence College, and St. Joseph’s College.

His video works have been exhibited by Flux Factory, Daata Editions, the 13th Baltic Triennial in Lithuania, Mathew Gallery, NeueHouse, the Paseo Project, and will be exhibited at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles in 2021. As an independent curator, he has facilitated curatorial projects in Chicago; Boston; Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Reykjavík, Iceland. He was a 2017–2019 joint Public Programs fellow at the Museum of Modern Art and the Studio Museum in Harlem. In 2016, he founded the Center for Afrofuturist Studies, an artist residency program for artists of color, based at Iowa City’s artist-run organization Public Space One. He works as Program Manager at Recess.

Andrew Morgan

Andrew Morgan is a professor, poet, editor, and volunteer whose work can be found in magazines such as Conduit ,  Verse ,  Slope ,  Stride ,  Fairy Tale Review , New World Writing ,  Post Road, Pleiades  (as part of a “Younger American Poets” feature)   and is the recipient of a  Slovenian Writer’s Association Fellowship, which sponsored a month-long writing residency in the country’s capital city of Ljubljana. Currently an Associate Professor of Creative Writing at New England College, his first book, Month of Big Hands , was published by Natural History Press in 2013.

Anna Qu is a Chinese-American writer. Her debut memoir, Made in China: A Memoir of Love and Labor was published in 2021 by Catapult . Publisher’s Weekly hailed the memoir as “the arrival of a new voice,” and Time has called it a must-read for the summer. Her work has appeared in the  Threepenny Review, Lumina, Kartika, Kweli, and Vol.1 Brooklyn , among others. She holds an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College and teaches workshops at Catapult and Sackett Street Writers’ Workshop.

Chen Chen is the author of When I Grow Up I Want to Be a List of Further Possibilities  (BOA Editions, 2017) , which was longlisted for the National Book Award and won the Thom Gunn Award, among other honors. Bloodaxe Books has just released the UK edition. He is also the author of four chapbooks, most recently You MUST Use the Word Smoothie (Sundress Publications, 2019) and GESUNDHEIT!  (with Sam Herschel Wein and out now from Glass Poetry Press). His work appears in many publications, including  Poetry , Poem-a-Day, The Best American Poetry (2015 and 2019), and The Best American Nonrequired Reading (2017). He has received a Pushcart Prize and fellowships from Kundiman and the National Endowment for the Arts. He holds an MFA from Syracuse University and a PhD from Texas Tech University. He teaches at Brandeis University as the Jacob Ziskind Poet-in-Residence and co-runs the journal, Underblong. He lives in Waltham, Massachusetts, with his partner, Jeff Gilbert, and their pug, Mr. Rupert Giles.

Chika Unigwe

Chika Unigwe was born in Enugu, Nigeria. She was educated at UNN and KUL (Belgium) and earned her PhD from Leiden University, Holland. Widely translated, she has won many awards for her writing. Her books include  The Middle Sister ,  On Black Sisters’ Street,  and  Better Never than Late . She is Creative Director of the Awele Creative Trust, and she was a judge for the Man Booker International Prize in 2016. In 2016–2017, she was Bonderman Professor of Creative Writing at Brown University.

David Ryan is the author of  Animals in Motion: Stories  (Roundabout Press) and  Malcolm Lowry’s  Under the Volcano:  Bookmarked . His fiction appears in the 2022 and 2023 O. Henry Prize anthologies, The 2023 Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize (Spain/UK), Threepenny Review, Fiction, The Georgia Review, Harvard Review, New England Review, Conjunctions, Bellevue Literary Journal, Fence, Kenyon Review, New Letters, Esquire, Tin House, BOMB , and elsewhere. His work has been anthologized in  Flash Fiction Forward  (W. W. Norton),  Boston Noir 2: The Classics  (Akashic), and  The Mississippi Review: 30 Years . His nonfiction appears in  The Paris Review, Tin House, BOMB, Bookforum, The Oxford Encyclopedia of American Fiction  ( Oxford University Press ), and others. A recipient of a MacDowell fellowship and Connecticut State Arts grants, he’s a co-founding editor of  Post Road Magazine , where he currently edits the Fiction and Theatre sections.

Jennifer Militello

Jennifer Militello is the author of the poetry collection The Pact (Tupelo Press/Shearsman Books, 2021) and the memoir Knock Wood (Dzanc Books, 2019), winner of the Dzanc Nonfiction Prize. She is also the author of four previous collections of poetry, including A Camouflage of Specimens and Garments (Tupelo Press, 2016), called “positively bewitching” by Publishers Weekly  and Body Thesaurus (Tupelo Press, 2013), named one of the best books of 2013 by Best American Poetry . Her poems and nonfiction have appeared in Best American Poetry, Best New Poets, The Nation, The New Republic, The Paris Review, POETRY , and Tin House .

Leah Johnson

Leah Johnson is the author of the young adult novels You Should See Me in a Crown (Scholastic, 2020), recently named a Junior Library Guild selection, and Rise to the Sun (Scholastic, 2021). She received her MFA in fiction at Sarah Lawrence College, where she currently teaches in their undergraduate writing program. Leah is a staff contributing editor at Catapult Magazine and a Kimbilio Fiction Fellow. She resides in Brooklyn, New York, but will always be a Midwesterner at heart.

Paige Ackerson-Kiely

Paige Ackerson-Kiely is the author of three collections of poetry— In No One’s Land (Ahsahta, 2007); My Love is a Dead Arctic Explorer (Ahsahta, 2012); Dolefully, A Rampart Stands (Penguin, 2019); and other works of poetry and prose. Her poems have appeared in numerous national and international journals, and she’s received grants and fellowships from Poets & Writers , Boomerang, Vermont Arts Council, and others. Paige is especially interested in the prose poem and is currently at work on a collection concerned with middle age and the history of transportation. She lives in New York City and directs the MFA in Writing Program at Sarah Lawrence College.

Tara Ison is the author of three novels: A Child out of Alcatraz , The List , and Rockaway ; the essay collection Reeling Through Life: How I Learned to Live, Love, and Die at the Movies ; and the short story collection Ball . Her work has appeared in Tin House, BOMB, The Kenyon Review, Salon, Black Clock, O, the Oprah Magazine, Electric Lit, and several anthologies. She is the recipient of multiple Yaddo fellowships, the PEN Southwest Award for Creative Nonfiction, and two NEA fellowships. She is also the co-writer of the cult classic movie Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead . Ison is a Professor of Creative Writing at Arizona State University.

Andre Dubus III

Andre Dubus III is the author of The Cage Keeper and Other Stories;   Bluesman;  and the New York Times bestsellers, House of Sand and Fog , The Garden of Last Days (soon to be a major motion picture) and his memoir, Townie , a #4 New York Times bestseller and a New York Times “Editors Choice.” His work has been included in The Best American Essays and The Best Spiritual Writing anthologies, and his novel House of Sand and Fog was a finalist for the National Book Award, a #1 New York Times Bestseller, and was made into an Academy Award-nominated film starring Ben Kingsley and Jennifer Connelly. His novella collection, Dirty Love , was published in the fall of 2013 and has been listed as a New York Times “Notable Book,” a New York Times Editors’ Choice, a 2013 “Notable Fiction” choice from The Washington Post , and a Kirkus  “Starred Best Book of 2013.” His new novel, Gone So Long , was published in 2018 (W.W. Norton). Mr. Dubus has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, The National Magazine Award for Fiction, two Pushcart Prizes, and an American Academy of Arts and Letters Award in Literature. His books are published in over 25 languages, and he teaches full-time at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife, Fontaine, a modern dancer, and their three children.

Carmen Maria Machado

Carmen Maria Machado grew up in a household where storytelling was always present and has been writing her whole life. She learned about stories through reading, as well as oral tradition in her family. She holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and has been awarded fellowships and residencies from the Guggenheim Foundation, Yaddo, Hedgebrook, and the Millay Colony for the Arts.

Carmen is the author of the bestselling memoir In the Dream House;  the graphic novel The Low, Low Woods;  and the award-winning short story collection Her Body and Other Parties . She has been a finalist for the National Book Award and the winner of the Bard Fiction Prize, the Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction, the Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Nonfiction, the Brooklyn Public Library Literature Prize, the Shirley Jackson Award, and the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize. In 2018, the New York Times listed Her Body and Other Parties as a member of “The New Vanguard,” one of “15 remarkable books by women that are shaping the way we read and write fiction in the 21st century.”

Her essays, fiction, and criticism have appeared in the New Yorker , the New York Times , Granta, Vogue, This American Life, Harper’s Bazaar, Tin House, McSweeney’s Quarterly Concern, The Believer, Guernica, Best American Science Fiction & Fantasy, Best American Nonrequired Reading , and elsewhere. She lives in Philadelphia and is the former Abrams Artist-in-Residence at the University of Pennsylvania.

Jericho Brown

Jericho Brown is the recipient of a Whiting Writers’ Award and fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Brown’s first book, Please (2008), won the American Book Award. His second book, The New Testament (2014), won the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award and was named one of the best of the year by Library Journal , Coldfront , and the Academy of American Poets. He is also the author of the collection The Tradition (2019), which was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award and the winner of the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. His poems have appeared in BuzzFeed , The Nation, The New York Times, The New Yorker, The New Republic, Time, The Pushcart Prize Anthology , and several volumes of The Best American Poetry anthologies. He is the Charles Howard Candler Professor of Creative Writing and the Director of the Creative Writing Program at Emory University in Atlanta.

Ocean Vuong

Ocean Vuong is the author of The New York Times bestselling novel, On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous , out from Penguin Press (2019) and forthcoming in 30 languages worldwide. A recipient of a 2019 MacArthur “Genius” Grant, he is also the author of the critically acclaimed poetry collection, Night Sky with Exit Wounds , a New York Times Top 10 Book of 2016, winner of the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Whiting Award, the Thom Gunn Award, and the Forward Prize for Best First Collection. A Ruth Lilly fellow from the Poetry Foundation, his honors include fellowships from the Lannan Foundation, the Civitella Ranieri Foundation, The Elizabeth George Foundation, The Academy of American Poets, and the Pushcart Prize.

Vuong’s writings have been featured in The Atlantic , Granta , Harpers , The Nation , New Republic , The New Yorker , The New York Times , The Village Voice , and American Poetry Review , which awarded him the Stanley Kunitz Prize for Younger Poets. Selected by Foreign Policy magazine as a 2016 100 Leading Global Thinker—alongside Hillary Clinton, Ban Ki-Moon, and Angela Merkel—Ocean was also named by BuzzFeed Books as one of “32 Essential Asian American Writers” and has been profiled on NPR’s “All Things Considered,” PBS NewsHour, Teen Vogue , Interview , Poets & Writers , and The New Yorker .

Born in Saigon, Vietnam, he lives in Northampton, Massachusetts, where he serves as an Assistant Professor in the MFA Program for Poets and Writers at UMass-Amherst.

Vievee Francis

Vievee Francis is the author of The Shared World , which is forthcoming from Northwestern University Press; Forest Primeval (TriQuarterly Books, 2015), winner of the 2017 Kingsley Tufts Award; Horse in the Dark (Northwestern University Press, 2012), winner of the Cave Canem Northwestern University Press Poetry Prize; and Blue-Tail Fly (Wayne State University Press, 2006). Her work has appeared in numerous print and online journals, textbooks, and anthologies, including Poetry , Best American Poetry 2010 , 2014 , 2017 , 2019 , and Angles of Ascent: A Norton Anthology of Contemporary African American Poetry . She has been a participant in the Cave Canem Workshops, a Poet-in-Residence for the Alice Lloyd Scholars Program at the University of Michigan, and teaches poetry writing in the Callaloo Creative Writing Workshop (USA, UK, and Barbados). In 2009 she received a Rona Jaffe Writer’s Award, and in 2010, a Kresge Fellowship. She is the recipient of the 2021 Aiken Taylor Award for Modern American Poetry.

NEC Ranked Top College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in the state, as acknowledged by Intelligent.com , a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

NEC Ranked Leading College in New Hampshire

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as a leading college in NH, as acknowledged by EduRank , a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

New England College in New Hampshire has earned recognition as one of the best colleges in New Hampshire, as acknowledged by Academic Influence , a credible source for evaluating higher education programs.

Jennifer Militello Named New Hampshire’s Next Poet Laureate

Militello’s five-year term as Poet Laureate begins in April 2024. She will serve as an ambassador for poets in the Granite State and elevate the visibility and value of poetry in New Hampshire.

“I am absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to serve poetry and poets here in New Hampshire,” stated Militello. “I can’t wait to connect with writers and readers, students and teachers, as I move into this incredible role. And I feel fortunate to have the continued support of New England College as an institution that values the creative arts.”

The NEC MFA program looks forward to your application. Though we have year-round rolling admissions, please note the preferred deadlines below which allow us to give an application our fullest consideration.

Preferred Deadlines

• Summer: Extended to May 1
• Winter: December 1

Personal Essay: 1–4 pages Applicants should address their preparation for graduate work as writers and scholars, the vision and goals they have for themselves and their work as writers looking to undertake a graduate degree program, and any other information pertinent to their application process.

Writing Sample: 10–15 pages in poetry; 20–25 pages in prose and Writing for Stage and Screen Applicants should submit a sample of creative work in the genre for which they are applying. Dual genre applicants should submit a sample that contains both genres of interest, with a shorter sampling of their secondary genre focus included. Prose should be double-spaced; poetry may be single-spaced.

Two Letters of Recommendation Letters of recommendation should address an applicant’s potential for rigorous creative and critical work at the graduate level.

Official Transcripts Applicants must submit proof that they have earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Rare exceptions may be made for individuals who can show a high level of professional achievement.

For additional Admissions questions, please contact our Graduate Admissions Office at [email protected] or 603.428.2252 .

Teaching Assistantships and Scholarships

The NEC MFA offers several merit-and need-based financial assistance packages.

Full Teaching Assistantships Full Teaching Assistantships cover the full cost of tuition. The teaching load for full teaching assistants is four courses per year.

Partial Teaching Assistantships Partial Teaching Assistantships provide partial tuition for students. The teaching load for part-time teaching assistants is one to three classes per year.

The Joel Oppenheimer Scholarship The Joel Oppenheimer scholarship is awarded to an MFA student whose writing sample demonstrates outstanding literary achievement and exceptional promise.

The Joel Oppenheimer Scholarship is awarded in memory of the distinguished Black Mountain poet, Joel Oppenheimer, who taught at New England College from 1982 to 1988. He lived among the poets and artists of Greenwich Village, and was a columnist for The Village Voice from 1969 to 1978 before settling in Henniker, New Hampshire, where he was a popular presence in the local community. His most important publications include Collected Later Poems of Joel Oppenheimer (1997); Names and Local Arbitrations (1988); Drawing from Life: A Selection of Joel Oppenheimer’s “Village Voice” Columns (1997); Don’t Touch the Poet: The Life and Times of Joel Oppenheimer (1998); Just Friends: Friends and Lovers Poems , 1959–1962 (1980); New Spaces Poems 1975–1983 (1985); and Poetry: The Ecology of the Soul (1983).

Pilgrim Plus Scholarship New England College provides NEC alumni with a 25% tuition discount applied to graduate level classes across a wide range of graduate programs.

For additional information and assistance with program tuition and financial aid, you may contact Student Financial Services by phone at 603.428.2226 or by email at [email protected] .

Complete this application if you would like to be considered for a teaching assistantship.

Program Details

Upon graduation from the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, students will be able to:

• Produce and revise original works of literature through an exploratory process culminating in the completion of a substantial body of high‐quality literary work.
• Engage in rigorous critical discourse surrounding their own writing and the writing of others while developing an in-depth understanding of the writer’s craft and its use in the writing process.
• Locate their writing in historical, theoretical, and cultural contexts through an understanding of the movements that influence the writing, reading, and critical reception of literary works.
• Actively engage in academic, geographic, and cultural literary communities as they contribute to the advancement of the literary arts.
• Demonstrate the skills, knowledge, and discipline necessary for a successful postgraduate professional life in creative writing.

Tara Betts | Dr. Tara Betts is the author of Break the Habit (Trio House Press, 2016), Arc & Hue (Willow Books, 2009),  7 x 7: Kwansabas (Backbone Press, 2015) and The GREATEST!: An Homage to Muhammad Ali (Argus House, 2013).

Catherine Kyle | Catherine Kyle is a writer, teacher, and scholar based in Seattle. She is the author of the poetry book Shelter in Place (Spuyten Duyvil, 2019), along with six shorter collections. She teaches literature and creative writing at DigiPen Institute of Technology.

Melissa Cahnmann-Taylor  | Professor of TESOL and World Language Education in the Department of Language and Literacy Education at the University of Georgia, Dr. Cahnmann-Taylor’s honors include a 2017 Richard Ruiz Scholar-Artist Residency Award (Guanajuato, MX), 2015 Beckman Award for Professors Who Inspire, a 2013–2014 Fulbright Award (Oaxaca, Mexico), three NEA Big Read Grants (Jeffers 2015, Poe 2016, Hua 2018), top Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Prizes, a Jewish Currents Prize, first place in Anthropology and Humanism poetry prize, a Leeway Poetry Grant, and several Pushcart Prize nominations.

Cole Phillips | Writer and educator living in coastal Maine and teaching in New Hampshire at Manchester Community College. His work has been featured in New World Writing , Juked , Post Road , Green Mountains Review , and elsewhere and has been longlisted for the Wigleaf Top 50 Very Short Fictions. He was a semi-finalist for the 2021 River Styx Microfiction Contest. He is the author of Standish Blue (Ghost City Press) and is the prose editor for Malasaña .

Kimberly Priest | Kimberly Ann Priest is the author of Slaughter the One Bird (Sundress Publications, 2021), finalist in the American Book Awards, and the chapbooks The Optimist Shelters in Place (Small Harbor Press, 2022),  Parrot Flower (Glass Poetry Press, 2021), Still Life   (PANK, 2020) , and  White Goat Black Sheep (FLP, 2018).

Reverie Konieki | A voice can be singular, yet also belong to all the bodies and experiences it connotes. Language is where we construct the common dream of the human experience yet fail at ultimately allowing one to fully experience the body of another. My artistic aim is to explore these seemingly contradictory aspects of the physical and metaphysical with wonder.

Creative Writing: Single-Genre, MFA

Creative writing single-genre core.

36 credits in

EN 5311 - Mentorship Study: Creative Writing

16 credits in

EN 6411 - Residency Study: Creative Writing

12 credits in

EN 7051 - Mentorship Study: Thesis Development

En 7130 - final residency: lecture, public reading, and thesis defense, creative writing course map.

• Creative Writing: Single-Genre, MFA Course Map  

Your Future Starts at NEC

• Website: Traci Chee's website

Traci Chee is a best-selling and award-winning author of books for young people, including the instant New York Times best seller The Reader and Printz Honor Book, Walter Award Honoree, and National Book Award Finalist We Are Not Free. Her latest title is A Thousand Steps into Night, a Japanese-influenced young adult fantasy, which was longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award for Young People's Literature. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, egg painting, gardening, and hosting game nights for family and friends. She lives in California with her fast dog.

• MA English – Creative Writing, San Francisco State University

• College of Arts & Sciences
• Department of English

Creative Writing M.F.A.

A Good MFA Program is Hard to Find

A good MFA program is hard to find, but we believe the MFA Program at Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Georgia offers unique opportunities for MFA students dedicated to the craft and purpose of creative writing. GCSU’s famous alumna, Flannery O’Connor, lived in Milledgeville on her farm, Andalusia, and of our beautiful, Southern town, she wrote "When in Rome, do as you done in Milledgeville." Our MFA students certainly get a lot done in their three years in Milledgeville.

What makes us unique? We take pride in the fact that the MFA Program at Georgia College is a fully-funded, full-residency 3-year MFA program. All students admitted to our MFA program receive a Graduate Assistantship for all 3 years that includes a stipend and tuition remission. Self-funded students are accepted in special circumstances. We offer everything you could find at flagship state universities, but because we are part of a small, public Liberal Arts university, our students are immediately welcomed into a close-knit, creative community. We sponsor a Visiting Writers series, bringing nationally-renowned writers to campus each semester, as well as a graduate student reading series. Our award-winning faculty work closely with students not only as workshop teachers, but as professional mentors.

The MFA Program offers workshops in fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry, and because we believe in expanding creative possibility and passions for our students, we require students to take cross-genre workshops. Students may write their thesis in fiction, poetry or creative nonfiction. In addition to workshops, students take creative writing seminars in Poetry & Poetics or Prose Forms, pedagogy classes on the teaching of writing, and courses on literature and special topics.

Additionally, we offer courses in journal design and editing, so students get hand-on publishing and graphic design experience. Students are able to put their practical skills to creative and purposeful good use while serving as members of the editorial staff of  Arts & Letters , our national literary journal, and one of the premier journals of the Southeast.

We are fully-funded: all students receive full tuition remission as well as a Graduate Assistantship. As part of this assistantship, students gain real-world teaching experience, and work at our Writing Center as tutors, teach undergraduate Composition, and teach in our Early College Program which is modeled on the Writers in the Schools Program. This real world teaching experience is essential for those students who hope to continue with teaching careers and/or community service careers.  We also participate in the Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program which offers assistantships to Peace Corps volunteers.

Finally, the Arts & Letters Journal Editing Fellowship is open to applicants with at least one year of experience in journal publishing and/or editing, desktop publishing and design (preferably with InDesign), and/or marketing and promotion (including social media). The Fellowship offers recipients the opportunity to further develop both editorial and managerial skills over their three years in the MFA program, working closely with Arts & Letters’ Editor and Art Director (for more information about this specific fellowship, refer information under Assistantships ). 

Faculty and graduate students alike all practice what we preach and teach at GCSU!

Our 42-hour program is designed to be a three-year program (although other options may be possible for those students that already have an MA Degree) and most students follow a plan that emphasizes course work in the first year and thesis work in the second and third years.

We welcome you to learn more about our admission application process and opportunities for graduate assistantships and other financial aid.

Check out the new design of the  Arts & Letters   website !

We now have a dynamic platform that is more efficient and responsive, and we’ve packaged it in a prettier and more user-friendly design. We are also now connected across a number of social networks, including  Facebook ,  Twitter ,  Tumblr , and  Google+ , so that our readers can keep up on  Arts & Letters  news, reading periods, information on upcoming issues, and prizes.

Visiting Writer Series          

African writers festival.

DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Prospective students for our Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program usually apply late fall/early winter for the following fall semester. Applications must be complete by Feb.1 for students who wish to be considered for an MFA assistantship (learn more about assistantships and other financial aid available to graduate students). 

Application Process, Part One:

Domestic Applicants: Submit the completed  on-line graduate application  ($35 fee) and required materials to  Graduate Admissions . Application and required materials must be submitted by February 1 :

• The completed on-line graduate application plus $35 fee to Graduate Admissions. 
• Georgia College & State University The Graduate School Graduate Admissions Office Campus Box 107 Milledgeville, GA 31061       
• OFFICIAL undergraduate or graduate transcripts (even if still in progress). If you are in your final year of undergraduate studies, you can still be admitted to the program, though final admission will be contingent upon receiving final transcripts upon your graduation from your undergraduate institution.

Questions? Contact  Graduate Admissions .

International Applicants: If you are an International Student please submit the completed  International Graduate Application For Admission  and required materials to the International Education Center . To ensure timely delivery of materials and for application to receive full consideration, application and required materials should be submitted by January 1 :

• The completed   International Graduate Application For Admission .
• Georgia College & State University International Education Center Campus Box 49 Milledgeville, GA 31061     

Questions? Contact the International Education Center .

Application Process, Part Two:

Domestic and International applicants, attach the following materials to the application or email to the Graduate School, [email protected] .

• A writing sample in your thesis genre (please label as fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction). Submission should indicate the genre to which you are applying: poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction. Submit up to 10 pages of poems (typed, single-spaced, no more than 1 poem per page); or submit up to 20 pages of prose, one or two short stories or creative nonfiction essays/memoir excerpt (typed and double- spaced). 
• A statement of purpose  (about 500 words, typed, double-spaced). Please address your goals as a writer. Tell us why you wish to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing with us, rather than follow another path. Surprise us.  Address as well how the program's offering of tutoring opportunities in the Writing Center and teaching duties in the classroom will help you reach your goals.
• Résumé or CV . 
• Last Name_Genre_Portfolio
• Last Name_Genre_SOP
• Last Name_Genre_Resume CV

 Questions? Contact the MFA program . NOTE:  You will also need to provide verification of lawful presence (PDF ) to Graduate Admissions . Graduate admissions needs this information before we can accept students into the program. Additionally, before you can register for classes, the required  immunization certificate (PDF)  must be submitted to the Registrar's office . We do NOT require GRE scores.

The MFA program web pages provide program-specific information; however, you will find other important information at  graduate admissions , the university registrar , financial aid  and other GC web sites/offices. International students should contact the  International Student Center  for admission guidance.

Evaluation of Your Application 

Your writing portfolio is the primary credential we review in evaluating your application for admission (writing samples are reviewed by a faculty committee who teach in the student’s thesis genre). Your letters of recommendation and statement of purpose are also important, since they will address your skill and accomplishment as a writer. Because our students also take required classes in Poetry & Poetics or Prose Forms, Teaching Creative Writing and non-creative writing courses in literature, criticism, linguistics or other subjects, your transcripts will also help us make our final, holistic evaluation of your application.  We begin to review applications after Feb.1. In order to maintain small classes and individual, intensive mentorship of thesis work, our admission process is competitive. Our first step is to inform students (usually early to mid-March) whether or not they’ve been admitted to our program. Our second step is to determine MFA assistantship offers and wait lists (see  The Graduate School  for details about graduate assistantships).

Any Questions?

Call us at 478-445-3509, or send an email . For Graduate Admissions questions, call 478-445-6289.

All application materials must be completed and received by Feb.1 if you wish to be considered for an MFA program-sponsored graduate assistantship (or “G.A.”). Please include a résumé with the application materials you send to the MFA program. Provide any information that best describes your skills and experience, including (but not limited to, and not necessarily in this order):

• Education (any specific or special studies, experiences, or projects?)
• Tutoring, teaching, or mentoring skills, experience
• Editing/publishing experience (print journal, newspaper, web, etc.)
• Communication skills (including social media/networking)
• Tech skills (InDesign, web editing programs, Photoshop, other Adobe software; experience with Microsoft office or Apple iBooks Author?
• Any other skills/experiences you’d like to emphasize
• List 3 references (those submitting your letters of recommendation)

Applications received by Feb.1, and selected for acceptance to the MFA program, will then be reviewed to determine applicants that will be offered MFA-sponsored assistantships. Faculty committees (in each genre) review these applications holistically, based on the quality of the writing sample, potential for graduate study in an academic setting, and depth of experience (as reflected by the applicant’s statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, transcripts and résumé). The committee then ranks the accepted applications. When rankings are complete, the MFA Coordinator contacts applicants to make assistantship offers or to discuss and clarify a candidate’s placement on an assistantship waiting list. Once offered an MFA G.A., the applicant is encouraged to make a decision as soon as possible, but a final decision will be due no later than April 15.

Assistantships

Kinds of assistantships available to our graduate students:

Most MFA-sponsored first year graduate assistants  (or “G.A.s”) are assigned hours as “writing consultants” in the university  Writing Center. Other MFA G.A.s divide their hours between the Writing Center and the MFA/ Arts & Letters  office, the Flannery O’Connor Review  office, or our teaching writing in the schools  Early College  project. MFA-sponsored graduate assistantships include a stipend (current stipend is $8,600 per year) and full-tuition remission (but does not include mandatory student fees and, unless eligible to be waived, mandatory student insurance). The  GCSU Budget Office  posts current tuition and fees; information about student insurance is available at  United Healthcare .

Teaching Fellowships  require a secondary application process, due to additional credentials required for teaching college-level classes. Students who have been awarded MFA-sponsored G.A.s are eligible to apply for a Teaching Fellowship if a) they already hold an M.A. in English, or b) they have completed 18 hours of graduate credit in English, in addition to meeting other criteria. MFA students who are eligible will apply to the Department of English and Rhetoric (submitting materials through Georgia College & State University careers or some other means, as determined by the Chair). Note: Students are expected to teach during their second and third years of the program; failure to earn enough course credit to teach classes or failure to meet other expected criteria for teaching may result in the forfeiture of the student’s assistantship.

The  Arts & Letters Journal Editing Fellowship at Georgia College encourages graduate studies for students with at least one year of experience in journal publishing and/or editing, desktop publishing and design (preferably with InDesign), and/or marketing and promotion (including social media). Students interested in applying for this Fellowship should also have excellent organizational and proofreading skills.  The Fellowship offers recipients the opportunity to further develop both editorial and managerial skills over their three years in the MFA program, working closely with Arts & Letters ’ Editor and Art Director. In the first year, the A&L Fellow works in the capacity of Assistant Managing Editor, helping the current Managing Editor in the completion of office duties—everything from social media postings to honing InDesign skills to updating the Web Site. In the second and third year, the Fellow takes over as Managing Editor. Managing Editor duties include distributing and monitoring reading (submission) loads, InDesgning the journal and readying it to send to the printer, managing Sendinblue campaigns, and running proofreading sessions. The Managing Editor also is encouraged to represent the journal at the annual AWP Conference, as funding allows. Qualified applicants who wish to pursue the Journal Editing Fellowship should initially contact Dr. Kerry Neville, who coordinates the MFA Program.

The Journal Editing Fellowship is awarded to an incoming student every other year, and includes a stipend for summer work, much of which can be done remotely. The Fellowship is typically awarded in the spring semester prior to the student’s first (fall) semester. The fellowship will be awarded to a qualified recipient in 2023.

Arts & Letters , a nationally known literary journal in continuous biannual print publication since 1999, publishes innovative fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction by emerging and established writers, and offers annual prizes in four genres, as well a prize for ‘unclassifiable’ work. Recent representative authors include Wes Civilz, Marianne Boruch, Keith Wilson, Rodney Jones, James Allen Hall, Lina Ferreira Cabeza-Vanegas, and George Singleton.

In addition, other university assistantships outside the MFA program may be an option for students accepted to our program (typically, these G.A.s offer a lower stipend but still include a full in-state or out-of-state tuition waiver). The MFA coordinator will discuss this option with applicants accepted to the program but who do not receive an MFA-sponsored G.A.

Scholarships and other Financial Aid

Some MFA scholarships (subject to funding availability) are awarded, in addition to the stipend and tuition waiver, to students on MFA-sponsored assistantships. The program coordinator will discuss these awards (if available) with students offered MFA G.A.s. ALL enrolled and returning university students (in good academic standing) can apply for other scholarships (some related to the MFA in Creative Writing program, some not), such as the Flannery O’Connor Alumni Scholarship and the Dorrie Neligan Creative Writing Scholarships.

Student loans are also available to MFA students through the university Financial Aid Office. Whether or not you’re interested in applying for a student loan, accepted applicants may wish to complete the student loan  FAFSA application . Discuss your options with GCSU’s Financial Aid Office .

Quick Info For Assistantships:

• In 2019-2020, 22 of 28 MFA students had assistantships, and 6 had other university assistantships/appointments.
• MFA GAs include a stipend and full tuition waiver (in-state OR out-of-state tuition).
• Applicants offered MFA GAs are encouraged to make a decision early but final decisions are due by April 15.
• MFA GAs are assigned hours in the  Writing Center  (some GAs split hours with another assignment in our program).
• Students awarded MFA GAs apply to be Teaching Fellows their second year (if eligible) through a separate process via the Department of English.  
• MFA GAs usually earn 18 hours in ENGL graduate credit their first year (required for Teaching Fellow eligibility).
• Teaching Fellows are typically assigned CORE classes (ENGL 1101, 1102) and ENGL 2208: Intro to Creative Writing.
• Stipends for assistantships are paid in five equal installments each semester (fall/spring).
• Assistantships do not cover required student fees or student insurance (may be eligible to waive).

MFA students are eligible for a variety of scholarships, some related, some not related, to Creative Writing, as well as student loans.   

Graduate Assistantships in the Writing Cente r   

Graduate Consultant

Interdisciplinary Writing Coordinator

Resources Coordinator    

The Peace Corps Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program at Georgia College encourages graduate studies for Returned Peace Corps volunteers (RCPV’s). Fellows who are accepted to participating graduate programs in their field are awarded assistantships that relate to their experience and training in the Peace Corps.

Upon successful completion of their Peace Corps Volunteer assignment, RCPV’s can apply to the Georgia College MFA Program (the application process is the same as for all applicants, but see the Peace Corps website for more information about RCPV eligibility requirements).

Peace Corps Volunteers who wish to pursue these Coverdell Fellowships should initially contact Kerry Neville , who coordinates the Coverdell Fellows Program on behalf of the university. 

Assistantships are typically awarded in the spring for positions beginning fall semester. For that reason, potential Coverdell Fellows should make formal application by Feb.1 prior to the fall semester they plan to matriculate. The formal application must include the Peace Corps Description of Service (DOS) Certification of Service document:  https://www.peacecorps.gov/returned-volunteers/support-services/certifi…  " 

Early College

Typically,  Peace Corps Coverdell Fellows in the MFA program at Georgia College help to organize and mentor our Early College writing-in-the-schools project. Early College is a public school housed at the Georgia College campus, serving students from Baldwin and Putnam counties. Georgia College undergraduate majors, under the supervision of MFA students and faculty, mentor seventh graders in the Early College program and help them to publish a literary journal called  The Peacock’s Feather .

Georgia College Early College was initially supported by funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, for which the program remains grateful.

Most students complete the MFA program in three years. To meet MFA requirements, students take a minimum of 18 credit hours in the first year and 12 credit hours in the second and third years. Note: for students on MFA assistantships who are eligible to teach, there are additional teaching/pedagogy courses and other requirements designed to support and prepare Teaching Fellows.

A Typical Sample Plan for MFA Coursework : 

All students take 34 hours of coursework: ENGL-MFA 4-semester credit hour courses (28 hours); ENGL 3-semester credit hour courses (6 hours):

12 hours: 5000-level and 6000-level courses in the student's major writing genre (3 courses): ENGL 5021, ENGL 6021 and ENGL 6025 (poetry genre); ENGL 5012, ENGL 6012 and ENGL 6026 (creative nonfiction genre); ENGL 5022, ENGL 6022 and ENGL 6026 (fiction genre).

4 hours: Course in non-thesis genre workshop (1 course); ENGL 5011, 5012, 5021, or 5022. Note that 5000-level workshops in a genre are the prerequisite for 6000-level seminars in a genre (see electives section below).

12 hours: Electives chosen from ENGL 5011, 5012, 5021, 5022, 6012, 6021, 6022, 6024, 6025, 6026 (these courses are repeatable; some have prerequisites; approved ENGL 5950 MFA Special Topics may also be chosen (no more than 8 hours of MFA Special Topics courses may count towards elective requirements).

6 hours: Non-MFA ENGL 5000-6000 level courses (at least one course at the 6000 level).

All students also complete the MFA Thesis (8 hours). All students must complete a thesis, with the accompanying critical essay, as well as complete a successful thesis defense in order to graduate. The thesis is intended to be a book-length project. A prose thesis must be a minimum of 100 pages, and a poetry thesis must be a minimum of 35 pages. Students have to complete a thesis in the genre of their specialization; we do permit hybrid thesis projects that are written to be a singular combination, but we do not permit hybrid thesis projects that are a compilation of stories, essays, and poems thrown together to create page length. The thesis defense is an oral defense of your thesis, attended by the thesis director, the thesis committee members, and the student, and is scheduled at least 2 weeks before the end of your final term.

English Course Descriptions from graduate Course cAtalog

Total Credits required: 42

If I write in multiple genres, do I have to choose just one to submit in my application?

Yes, choose one for your application. Still our program does encourage study in a second genre -- in fact, we require each student to take at least one workshop out-of-genre. 

How do you choose which genre to apply in? Submit your best work. We accept candidates primarily on the merits of the writing sample. You will be expected to write your thesis in the genre you submitted.

For my writing sample, can I submit a chapter of a novel-in-progress? What if I don’t have a full 15 pages I’m proud of for my sample?

A chapter is fine, or a completed short story/essay. However, the more complete, the better. Quality over quantity.

Do I need a BA in Writing or English to apply?

No. We've had students in the past with various undergraduate degrees. If you have a strong sample, apply. However, we do review transcripts to see if students have completed some humanities courses (in English or other fields); and although there is no minimum G.P.A., almost all of our applicants have been successful students, earning 3.0 or higher in their academic studies.

How many courses do Teaching Fellows teach each semester?

Here’s the standard procedure (per semester) for G.A. Teaching Fellows:

1st year: Graduate Assistants work in the Writing Center as Consultants OR Writing Center + Journal office or Early College; and serve as readers for Arts & Letters Journal. 2nd year: Graduate Assistant Teaching Fellows teach 2 classes; OR Journal or Early College  + Teach 1 class; and serve as readers for Arts & Letters Journal. 3rd year: Teach 2 classes; and serve as readers for Arts & Letters Journal.

The exception is for candidates who already have an MA. They are eligible to begin teaching two classes the first year and continue that for all three years. However, all students on MFA assistantship must undergo a further application/review process before they will be assigned teaching duties.

What is the stipend and tuition remission that your students receive if offered an MFA graduate assistantship?

The current stipend given to those with an MFA assistantship is $8,600 per year. In addition, many MFA assistantships include scholarship funds (amounts vary). MFA assistantships also include full tuition remission for in-state or out-of-state tuition (student fees, however, are not covered).

There are also other university assistantships available to which MFA students may apply. These assistantships offer smaller stipends, but usually include full tuition remission (again, student fees are not covered).

There is a student health insurance plan that meets the requirements of the new Affordable Health Care Act that students purchase or they may waived the student insurance if they have another qualified insurance plan.

What is the difference between an MFA assistantship and Peace Corp Coverdell Fellows?

How many applications do you typically receive and how many do you accept.

We typically review over 100 applications each year for the program.  We enroll about 7 new students each year, with a balanced number in each of the three thesis genres (fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction). Typically, seven MFA assistantships are assigned to new students accepted in the program; other students might be offered other university assistantships or seek out other funding support. The three-year program enrolls about 25 students total.

What constitutes a good recommender?

It's important to have professional recommenders (i.e., employer supervisors, established writers, college professors). Ideally, these people can speak to your ability to work and handle graduate classes and speak to the quality of your writing. You may choose different sorts of people to speak to your different qualities. These should not be friends or family members.

If I’m reapplying, what do I need to do?

You will not need to re-submit everything, and there is no fee for second-time applicants. You will need to contact Graduate Admissions and the MFA program to announce that you are re-applying. We suggest submitting to the MFA program an updated manuscript and your statement of purpose and resume. You do NOT need to re-submit transcripts, unless you've taken a class at another college since you last applied.

* NOTE You will need to submit again a new application to the Graduate Admissions office.  You may use your old letters of recommendation, or submit new letters. . 

Our Current Students

Collin Bishoff, Caleb Bouchard, Timothy Connors, Marybeth Cooper, Keely Hopkins, Dalton Monk, Kelly Piggott, Courtney Schmidt, and William Warren.

 Mary Alsobrooks, Auden Eagerton, Avery James, Natalie Mau, and Lori Tennant. 

CREATIVE NONFICTON

Paul Bryant, Mary-Kate Burns, Megan Duffy, William Gerdes-McClain, Nicholas Green, Charlotte Lauer, Amelia Longo, and Denechia Powell

Writers Who Publish

Although we don’t expect incoming students to have published their work, since our program began in 2001, our students have been publishing their poems, stories, and essays in many national journals. GC students have published in such journals as  Backwards City Review, Big Muddy, Bloom, Cimarron Review, Colorado Review, Crazyhorse, Cream City Review, Descant, Dos Passos Review, Eclipse, International Poetry Review, McSweeney’s, Meridian, Nimrod, Pebble Lake, Poet Lore, Quick Fiction, Rattle, Redivider, River Teeth, Salt Hill, Santa Clara Review, Spinning Jenny, Thema, Touchstone  and many others.

Alumni Donors Thank You

• Danny Bauer
• Ashlee Crews
• Steve Lavender
• Shawn Parkinson
• Daniel Plunkett
• William Torgerson
• Gwendolyn Turnbull
• Christopher Varn

Our alumni have been up to many great things, and we are excited to share just a few with you here.  In addition to being published in many journals, our alumni have been winning awards and publishing collections, including: 

• Ashlee Adams Crews's  (fiction, 2006) story “Bird Feed” (in "McSweeney’s) won a Pushcart Prize in 2010. Her story “Church Time” won NC State’s 2011 James Hurst Prize. In 2012, her collection, Called Out , was a finalist for the Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction, and in 2013 she received the "Rona Jaffe Foundation Writers’ Award." Read her story “Restoration”  online at "Shenandoah. "
• Kristie Robin Johnson’s (creative nonfiction, 2018) essay collection, High Cotton, will be published in summer of 2020 by. One of her essays will appear in the forthcoming anthology, We Got This: Solo Mom Stories of Grit, Heart, and Humor, from She Writes press. She is the recipient of an artist grant from the Greater Augusta Arts Council, and her writing has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and received honorable mention in the AWP Intro to Journals Project. She teaches English at Oconee Fall Line Technical College and Georgia Military College.
• Mike McClelland’s  (fiction, 2017) collection of short fiction, Gay Zoo Day : Tales of Seeking and Discovery" (2017) published by Beautiful Dreamer Press, won the Independent Book Publishers Association's Silver Benjamin Franklin Award for LGBT Literature. His creative work has appeared in publications such as the Boston Review, Entropy, Queen Mob's Tea House , and others, and has been widely anthologized, most recently in Gents: Steamy Stories from the Age of Steam , which was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award. His work has been recognized as a semifinalist for the Conium Prize and the Saints and Sinners Short Story Contest. In 2018, he was invited to read his work and present at the annual TEDMED conference in Palm Springs alongside speakers like NBA star Dikembe Mutombo, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, and writer Nayomi Munaweera.
• Miller Oberman’s  (poetry, 2006) poetry collection, The Unstill Ones , a collection of poems and Old English translations, was published in the fall, 2017 by the Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets. Oberman is a past recipient of the Poetry Foundation's Ruth Lilly Fellowship. His collection Useful was a finalist for the 2012 National Poetry Series. Read “Old English Rune Poem,” a new translation  published in "Poetry" (July/August 2013).
• T.J. Sandella  (poetry, 2013) has been chosen as one of the Best New Poets 2014. He has also won awards including the William Matthews Poetry Prize (2014, Asheville Poetry Review), the Academy of American Poets Prizes and the Elinor Benedict Poetry Prize. 
• Will Torrey  (fiction, 2010) won "Zone 3's" 2011 Editors' Prize for his story "Trajabar." Read his August 2013 "Working Writers Series"interview online at "The Missouri Review."
• Bill Torgerson ’s (fiction, 2007) most recent novel is  Horseshoe (Cherokee McGhee, 2012). He teaches at St. John’s University. Check out his blog “The Torg”.

Keep in touch with all our outstanding alumni as well as current MFA students and happenings at the program’s  Facebook page !

Milledgeville: A Literary Community

Georgia College offers a unique setting for students interested in pursuing their MFA in Creative Writing. Our university is small (about 6,500 students), located in historic downtown Milledgeville, former capital of Georgia from 1803-1868 and location of Andalusia, historic home of writer Flannery O’Connor.

Milledgeville  is in the heart of Georgia, only 90 miles from Atlanta and an easy drive to the beaches of Savannah and Tybee Island or to the foothills of North Georgia. Milledgeville was the state capital from 1803 to 1868 and is the site of the newly restored Old State Capitol and Old Governor’s Mansion.

The historic downtown features shops, restaurants and taverns just two blocks from campus. The climate is warm, with mild winters and "zero" annual average snowfall. Our community offers places where writers can have a cup of coffee, meet friends and relax. Downtown restaurants, coffee shops, and stores blend small town and college town living into an ideal setting for serious writers.

You might recognize a place or character from the short stories of Flannery O’Connor or Alice Walker (who grew up in nearby Eatonton). Andalusia is the farm where author Flannery O’Connor lived from 1951 to 1964. O’Connor was living at her farm when she completed all of her published books of fiction. Andalusia is open to the public (see their website for more information). 

Learn More About Milledgeville

Dr. Kerry James Evans

• PhD Florida State University; MFA Southern Illinois University-Carbondale
• At GCSU since 2020

Dr. Kerry James Evans is the author of the poetry collection, Bangalore , a Lannan Literary Selection. He is the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and a Walter E. Dakin Fellowship from Sewanee Writers' Conference, and he has taught poetry workshops, poetic forms and theory, and other courses at Florida State University and at Tuskegee University where he was an Assistant Professor. His poems have appeared in Agni, Narrative, Ploughshares , and other journals.

Dr. Martin Lammon (Professor Emeritus) 

• Poetry, Creative Nonfiction
• Ph.D., M.A. Ohio University
• At GCSU 1997-2020

Martin Lammon has won awards for both his poetry and creative nonfiction. His collection of poems,  News from Where I Live , won the Arkansas Poetry Award, and his poems and essays have appeared in such journals as  The Gettysburg Review, Hotel America, The Iowa Review, Ploughshares, Poet Lore, Poets and Writers and The Southern Review . Poems published in  Nimrod  were awarded a Pablo Neruda Prize. His essays about living in Costa Rica have been published in  The Iowa Review , Zone 3 , and  The Chattahoochee Review  (winner of the Lamar York Prize for Creative Nonfiction).From 1997-2018, he was the Fuller E. Callaway endowed Flannery O'Connor Chair in Creative Writing. In 2007, he was selected for GC’s Distinguished Professor Award.

Dr. Kerry Neville

• Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
• Ph.D., University of Houston
• At GCSU since 2016
• Coordinator of the MFA and Undergraduate Creative Writing Program

Kerry Neville received her PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Houston, her BA from Colgate University, and was most recently an Assistant Professor of English at Allegheny College.  She is the author of the short fiction collection,  Remember To Forget Me , and of the award-winning short fiction collection,  Necessary Lies .  She is also a contributor to The Huffington Post, The Washington Post, and The Fix.  Her essays and stories have been named Notables in Best American Short Stories and Best American Essays. She has twice received the Dallas Museum of Art Prize for Fiction, and has also been awarded The John Guyon Prize in Literary Nonfiction,The Texas Institute of Letters/Kay Cattarulla Prize for the Short Story, and the Short Story Book of the Year Prize from Independent Publisher Magazine. She is faculty for the FrankMcCourt/University of Limerick Summer Writing School. She was a 2018 Fulbright Scholar and taught in the M.A. Creative Writing Program at University of Limerick in Ireland

Laura Newbern

• MFA Warren Wilson College; M.A. English-Creative Writing, New York University
•  At GCSU since 2005

Laura Newbern's collection of poems,  Love and the Eye , won the 2010 First Book Award from Kore Press. She’s also received the prestigious Writer's Award from the Rona Jaffe Foundation, which recognizes outstanding emerging women writers. She teaches poetry workshops, poetics, and other courses. Laura is currently the Editor of  Arts & Letters . Her poems have been published in such journals as  The Atlantic, Poetry, TriQuarterly  and other journals. Newbern also expresses her creative interests through black and white photography.

Peter Selgin

• Creative Nonfiction, Fiction
• MFA, The New School
• At GCSU since 2012

Peter Selgin’s latest essay collection, The Kuhreihen Melody (Serving House Books) was named a finalist for the 2019 BIG OTHER Book Award for Nonfiction and an excerpt from his novel Duplicity was a finalist for the 2019 Craft First Chapter Contest. His memoir,  The Inventors , (Hawthorn Press) was named a Best Memoir of 2016 by Library Journal. His essay, “My New York: A Romance in Eight Parts,” was chosen by Paul Theroux for inclusion in Best American Travel Writing, 2014. His memoir,  Confessions of a Left-Handed Man : An Artist’s Memoir (University of Iowa Press, 2011), was short-listed for the 2012 William Saroyan International Prize; the title essay was selected for Best American Essays 2006. He is the author of  Drowning Lessons  (University of Georgia Press, 2008), winner of the 2007 Flannery O’Connor Award for Fiction;  Life Goes to the Movies, a novel, two books on the craft of fiction writing, and several children’s books. He has had a dozen notable essay citations in BAE anthologies. His stories and essays have appeared in the  Missouri Review, Colorado Review, Boulevard, Glimmer Train, Fourth Genre, Creative Nonfiction, Salon.com, Alaska Quarterly Review, The Sun , and other publications. Other honors include the Missouri Review Editors’ Prize, a Dana Award for the Essay, and a Eugene O’Neill National Playwrights’ Conference Award for his play,  A God in the House , based on Dr. Kevorkian and his suicide machine. He teaches fiction, creative nonfiction, journal design, editing, and production, and other courses. He is also creative nonfiction editor of  Arts & Letters .

Dr. Chika Unigwe

• PhD University of Leiden, Holland; degrees from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka and the KU Leuven Belgium

Dr. Chika Unigwe is the author of Better Never than Late, De Zwarte Messias, Night Dancer, On Black Sisters Street, De Feniks, Meulenhoff-Manteau, and two children's Readers, Ije at School and A Rainbow for Dinner . Her short stories have appeared in different anthologies including in Watchlist, New Daughters of Africa, and Lagos Noir . Her fellowships include but are not limited to a  Rockefeller Foundation Fellow at the Bellagio Centre, Italy , a UNESCO-Aschberg Fellow at the Civitella Ranieri Centre in Umbertide, Italy, a SYLT Fellow in Germany and a writing fellow at Cove Park, Scotland. She was a special guest  lecturer at Tubingen University, Germany, and a Bonderman Assistant Professor of Practice at Brown University.  She has won a BBC short story competition, a commonwealth short story prize, has been shortlisted for the Caine Prize for African Writing and awarded a 2016 Pushcart Prize Special Mention. In 2012, she won the $100,000 Nigeria Prize for Literature, Africa's most important literary prize. She has judged literary prizes including the 2017 Man Booker International Prize.

Graduate Assistantships in the Writing Center

Resources Coordinator

Emerson Advantage

Writing for Film and Television (MFA)

Residency Overview

Each semester begins with a week-long residency on Emerson’s Boston or Los Angeles campus where you will meet faculty, collaborate with peers, and participate in a Master Class taught by our Semel Chair - an award-winning film or television screenwriter. 

During the residency week, you will engage in Master Classes, seminars, intensive workshops, and peer group workshops. Evening sessions include screenings, guest lectures, and staged readings from student work. Seminars, lectures, and workshops will reflect residency themes. 

You will meet with your professors to form the work plan for the semester. Before each residency ends, you will have clear deadlines for the semester’s creative work, reading and viewing lists, and a schedule for all online meetings.

Semel Chair Master Classes

Emerson’s MFA in Writing Film and Television brings award-winning film and television writers to its Boston and Los Angeles campuses during your week-long in-person residency at the beginning of each semester. 

The Semel Chair in Screenwriting is a working screenwriter who will conduct Master Classes during the residency, meet with students, and lead an evening screening and discussion of the speaker's work. Semel Chairs rotate each semester and are announced several weeks before the semester begins. Other guest lecturers include managers, agents, and more.

Previous Semel Chairs

• Susanna Fogel , 2023 Semel Chair   Susanna is a director, screenwriter, and novelist. Her film credits include Booksmart , for which she was nominated for a BAFTA and a WGA award, Cat Person , which was based on the New Yorker short story and premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival, The Spy Who Dumped Me , and Life Partners . She is currently in post-production on Winner , a biopic of the whistleblower Reality Winner, written by journalist Kerry Howley. On the TV side, she directed the pilot episode of HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant , for which she won a DGA award and was nominated for an Emmy, the pilot of Amazon’s The Wilds , and the WWII-set limited series A Small Light for Disney+. She is currently in pre-production on Hatching Twitter , a Netflix limited series about the founding of Twitter, and Ponies , an action comedy series for Peacock about two widows who become spies in the CIA Moscow Station in 1977. Susanna is also an avid writer of satire whose pieces have been featured in The New Yorker . Her first novel, Nuclear Family , was published by Macmillan in 2017. She is an alumna of Columbia University, Concord Academy, and the Sundance Screenwriters Lab.
• Adele Lim , 2022 Semel Chair Adele Lim is a screenwriter whose credits include Crazy Rich Asians (Warner Bros) and Oscar-nominated Raya and the Last Dragon (Disney Animation Studios). A Malaysian native of Chinese descent, she came to the States at 19 and graduated from Emerson College, Boston. She has written and produced primetime TV dramas, including One Tree Hill (The CW), Private Practice (ABC), and Lethal Weapon (FOX), and was the co-showrunner and Executive Producer of Starcrossed (The CW). She mentors emerging writers through the WGA (Writers Guild of America) and CAPE (Coalition of Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders in Entertainment) to promote equity and representation in entertainment. In the fall of 2021, she made her directorial debut with an untitled feature film for Lionsgate Films and Point Grey productions.
• Mara Brock Akil , 2021 Semel Chair Mara Brock Akil is an award-winning television Writer and Producer. Her works include The CW’s Black Lightning , BET’s first drama series Being Mary Jane , and more. After creating and producing the television series, Girlfriends , for eight seasons, she went on to create its spin-off series The Game , which produced 25 award nominations and 5 wins over its 9-year history.
• David Magee , 2020 Semel Chair David Magee is an award-winning screenwriter known for his movie scripts for films such as Finding Neverland , Life of Pi , Mary Poppins Returns , and his upcoming film The Little Mermaid . He’s an Academy Award nominee for his Finding Neverland and Life of Pi scripts and a Satellite Award winner for Life of Pi . 
• Cheo Hodari Coker , 2020 Semel Chair   Cheo Hodari Coker is a Writer and Producer. He was the Creator and Showrunner of the Emmy-Award-winning show Luke Cage . Other television works include NCIS: Los Angeles , Almost Human , Ray Donovan , and more. He was the screenwriter for the 2009 biographical film, Notorious based on the life of The Notorious B.I.G. 
• Krista Vernoff , 2019 Semel Chair Krista Vernoff is a Writer and Executive Producer for hit shows such as ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy and Showtime’s Shameless . She’s been nominated for and won numerous awards including a Golden Globe for Best New Television Series, a Writer’s Guild of America Award, and two Emmys for her work on Grey’s Anatomy . 
• Dustin Lance Black , 2019 Semel Chair Dustin Lance Black is an Academy Award-winning screenwriter and social activist. Black won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for Milk and two Writers Guild of America (WGA) awards. His other works include writing the screenplays for Virginia and J. Edgar, and he was the creator of When We Rise , an award-winning ABC miniseries.
• Alex Cox , 2018 Semel Chair Alex Cox is the Writer/Director of the 1980’s indie cult classics Repo Man , Sid and Nancy , and Straight to Hell . He also co-wrote 1998’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas , an adaptation of the Hunter S. Thompson novel, with director Terry Gilliam, and directed Three Businessmen , Revengers Tragedy , and Tombstone Rashomon , among many others.
• Courtney Kemp , 2018 Semel Chair Courtney Kemp is the Creator and Showrunner of Starz series hit Power , which generated the network’s highest-ever audience numbers for its second season premiere and finale. She served as Writer and Producer on The Good Wife, and in 2011 she received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series alongside fellow producers. Other work includes Staff Writer on The Bernie Mac Show , and producer and occasional writer on Hawaii 5-0 .
• Joey Soloway , 2017 Semel Chair Joey Soloway is the Creator, Director, and Writer of the award-winning show Transparent . The show has won countless awards, including two Golden Globe Awards and eight Emmys, including two for Soloway’s direction. Their other works include Executive Producer for I Love Dick , Writer on Six Feet Under , and more.
• Graham Moore , 2017 Semel Chair Graham Moore is the Writer of the Academy Award-winning screenplay for The Imitation Game . He’s worked as a writer, producer, director, and composer for numerous films including the upcoming film, The Outfit . Moore is also a bestselling author and has adapted his second novel, The Last Days of Night , into a film.

Career Outlook

Students interested in a career writing for film and television will enjoy networking opportunities offered exclusively by Emerson College. Our students have graduated and gone on to successful careers as:

• Executive Producers
• Showrunners
• Podcast Hosts/Producers

Our Alumni have gone on to successful careers in the film and television industry. Recent notable alumni include:

• Nicole Savini , Co-Executive Producer of Tooning Out the News on Paramount+
• Kelly Edwards , Author of “Secrets From the Executive Chair”
• Jessica Hill , Director of Advertising at Warner Media
• CJ Ehrlich , Writer & second-place winner at the Ivy Film Festival, for the been script of Loser Island
• Kylie Rolincik , finalist for National Lampoon and Stage 32's Search for Comedy Writing Gold
• Willie Block, Co-Author of Prowl

Get the Emerson Edge with our Graduate Student Benefits 

Once you commit to graduate school at Emerson, you’re automatically enrolled in our Emerson Edge program. Emerson Edge is designed to help you network with peers, alumni, faculty, and staff to ensure you’re getting what you need out of your graduate program including career exploration, resume building, financial planning, and access to exclusive events for students and alumni. 

Emerson Edge benefits:

• Career exploration and preparedness: Work with Career Development to discuss your interests and skills to investigate different career paths. Our Career Development team reviews industry trends and updates you on emerging career paths and industries. Start with the Graduate Career Action Pla n to learn about your skills, the Emerson community, industry, and network. Work with our team to craft your resume, cover letter, and portfolio and receive access to exclusive job listings.
• Attend Graduate Student Events: Meet new friends and network with your colleagues in the graduate community at in-person and online events hosted by the Graduate Student Association.
• Work with your Graduate Program Director: Your Graduate Program Director serves as a mentor to you and your classmates. They’ll help you connect with alumni, identify internship and career opportunities, and build a class schedule that excites you.
• Network with Emerson Alumni: Our alumni network consists of 51,000+ proud lions. Meet alumni from around the globe through Emerson’s exclusive Emerge platform, and in-person and virtual events hosted by our Alumni Relations team. Our alumni are known for helping each other out, from mentoring opportunities to career guidance, and you’ll join one of the best alumni networks in the country.
• Consult with our resource center to create a work-life balance plan and receive feedback on writing projects and coursework for native and non-native English speakers.
• Find graduate housing: Work with our Off-Campus Student Services to find off-campus graduate housing, roommates, neighborhood and budgeting advice, and even learn how to sign a lease.
• Explore our accessible resources: Coordinate with our Student Accessibility Services to receive access and support to our graduate programs and courses, activities, and services to ensure your needs are met while studying at Emerson.
• For Current Students
• For Parents
• For Faculty
• For the Media

School of Writing, Literature, and Film

• BA in English
• BA in Creative Writing
• About Film Studies
• Film Faculty
• Minor in Film Studies
• Film Studies at Work
• Minor in English
• Minor in Writing
• Minor in Applied Journalism
• Scientific, Technical, and Professional Communication Certificate
• Academic Advising
• Student Resources
• Scholarships
• MA in English
• MFA in Creative Writing
• Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS)
• Low Residency MFA in Creative Writing
• Undergraduate Course Descriptions
• Graduate Course Descriptions
• Faculty & Staff Directory
• Faculty by Fields of Focus
• Faculty Notes Submission Form
• Promoting Your Research
• 2024 Spring Newsletter
• Commitment to DEI
• Twitter News Feed
• 2022 Spring Newsletter
• OSU - University of Warsaw Faculty Exchange Program
• SWLF Media Channel
• Student Work
• View All Events
• The Stone Award
• Conference for Antiracist Teaching, Language and Assessment
• Continuing Education
• Alumni Notes
• Featured Alumni
• Donor Information
• Support SWLF

¿Qué es una viñeta? Una guía para los estudiantes y maestros de literatura

Ver la serie entera: Una guía para los estudiantes y maestros de literatura

• La Guía de Términos Literarios de OSU
• BA en Literatura Inglesa
• BA en Escritura Creativa
• Hacer una solicitud

¿Qué es una viñeta? (Subtítulos en español e inglés. Para ver los subtítulos en español, haz clic en "Settings")

Por Kristin Griffin , Instructora de Inglés en la Universidad Estatal de Oregón

Traducido por Raisa Cañete Blazquez

28 August 2023

Si alguna vez has ido a un museo de historia natural, sabrás que gran parte de la experiencia son los dioramas.  De una galería a la siguiente te puedes encontrar con un grupo de cebras paseando por un bebedero en un bosque africano, o una manada de lobos congelados en plena caza en los bosques nevados de Siberia.  Esos dioramas—esos momentos compuestos cuidadosamente y con detalle—son viñetas.

wolf_diarama.jpg

  ¿Otro lugar donde podrías encontrar una viñeta o dos? Las películas de Wes Anderson. Un buen ejemplo es ‘The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou,’ donde se enseñan varias secciones del barco de investigación Belafonte en el que sucede gran parte de la película. La cámara capta de manera panorámica los diferentes niveles del barco y vemos a varios personajes seguir con su vida en tiempo real: el chef decorando un pastel en la cocina, la protagonista femenina tomando apuntes en la biblioteca, el protagonista masculino pescando desde el puente. La secuencia no avanza la trama—no es activa de esa forma—pero es hermoso verla y aumenta la experiencia sensorial de la película.

life_aquatic_vignette.jpg

Esos dos ejemplos—el diorama del museo de historia natural, la secuencia del Belafonte—nos enseñan mucho sobre lo que es una viñeta y su propósito en las historias relatadas. En términos literarios, una viñeta es un pasaje descriptivo que captura un momento en el tiempo. Puede realzar un estado de ánimo , desarrollar un personaje, o describir una escena , pero algo que la viñeta no hace es avanzar la trama.  No es casualidad que el término viñeta venga de la palabra francesa que significa “pequeña enredadera”, haciendo referencia a las ilustraciones con formas decorativas parecidas a enredaderas en los márgenes de libros antiguos.

Las viñetas pueden diferir de, digamos, un flashback (el cual exploramos en otro vídeo de recursos literarios grabado por alguien que te podría sonar) porque los flashbacks solo llevan al lector al pasado, mientras que las viñetas pueden ocurrir en cualquier momento.

Las viñetas también difieren de las anécdotas en que las anécdotas, aunque también cortas, son historias completas con un principio, mitad, y final, mientras que lo máximo que sacarás de una viñeta es un vistazo.

vignette_definition.jpg

Verás que las viñetas están en todas partes una vez que sepas cómo identificarlas. Uno de mis ejemplos favoritos es el libro de Sandra Cisneros La casa en Mango Street. Es una obra de la dimensión de una novela, compuesta por una serie de viñetas no lineales con temas en común, personajes familiares, y escenas reconocibles. Aquí va una viñeta que me encanta del principio del libro. Página seis. Se llama ‘Pelos:

“Cada uno en la familia tiene pelo diferente. El de mi papá se para en el aire, como escoba. Y yo, el mío es flojo. Nunca hace caso de broches o diademas. El pelo de Carlos es grueso y derechito, no necesita peinárselo. El de Nenny es resbaloso, se escurre de tu mano, y Kiki, que es el menor, tiene pelo de peluche.

Pero el pelo de mi madre, el pelo de mi madre, es de rositas en botón, como rueditas de caramelo todo rizado y bonito porque se hizo anchoas todo el día, fragante para meter en él la nariz cuando ella está abrazándote y te sientes segura, es el olor cálido del pan antes de hornearlo, es el olor de cuando ella te hace un campito en su cama aún tibia de su piel, y una duerme a su lado, cae la lluvia afuera y Papá ronca. El ronquido, la lluvia, y el pelo de Mamá oloroso a pan.”

cisneros_vignette.jpg

Esta viñeta hace un gran trabajo para caracterizar a la familia como unidad y como individuos. A Carlos le vienen las cosas dadas. Nenny es exasperante. El pequeño Kiki es suave y joven. El pelo de la narradora tiene mente propia. Un poco perezoso, quizás, un poco desobediente. La narradora no parece estar segura. Y tiene sentido, porque el significado general del libro va sobre llegar a entenderse a sí misma. Y entonces vemos ese pasaje precioso y exuberante, casi un flujo de conciencia , sobre su madre, donde las frases cortas del primer párrafo se desatan y cogen soltura. El pelo de su madre es “de rositas en botón”, dice la narradora. “Como rueditas de caramelo”. Dulzura y placer. El centro de la familia con un párrafo para ella sola.

¿Recuerdas, un poco antes en este vídeo, cuando dije que las viñetas pueden realzar un estado de ánimo, desarrollar un personaje, o describir una escena? Queda claro en la viñeta que acabo de describir que desarrolla personajes, pero ¿revela también aspectos del estado de ánimo o de la escena? ¿Tú qué crees? Dímelo en los comentarios.

¿Quieres citar este artículo?

MLA Citation: Griffin, Kristin. "¿Qué es una viñeta?" Translated by Raisa Cañete Blazquez, Oregon State Guide to English Literary Terms, 28 Aug 2023, Oregon State University, https://liberalarts.oregonstate.edu/wlf/que-es-una-vineta-una-guia-para-los-estudiantes-y-maestros-de-literatura. Accessed [insert date].

Ver la serie entera: Una guía a los términos literarios

Contact info.

Email: [email protected]

College of Liberal Arts Student Services 214 Bexell Hall 541-737-0561

Deans Office 200 Bexell Hall 541-737-4582

Corvallis, OR 97331-8600

liberalartsosu liberalartsosu liberalartsosu liberalartsosu CLA LinkedIn

• Dean's Office
• Faculty & Staff Resources
• Research Support
• Featured Stories
• Undergraduate Students
• Transfer Students
• Graduate Students
• Career Services
• Internships
• Financial Aid
• Honors Student Profiles
• Degrees and Programs
• Centers and Initiatives
• School of Communication
• School of History, Philosophy and Religion
• School of Language, Culture and Society
• School of Psychological Science
• School of Public Policy
• School of Visual, Performing and Design Arts
• School of Writing, Literature and Film
• Give to CLA