university of michigan ann arbor mfa creative writing

5 Uncommon Tips on Your MFA Creative Writing Application

A couple of years ago, I made the decision to apply to MFA programs in creative writing. Compared to medical school or law school, the application process for an MFA can sometimes feel like a crapshoot, with the odds of getting into a fully-funded program hovering somewhere below four or five percent (and some programs like Iowa, Michigan, Michener—gulp—even less!). Still, it seems that every year, a few applicants manage to get admitted to a handful of programs, which brings up the question of whether the process is as random as one might initially think.

As a caveat, I’ve never served as a reader for any programs’ admissions committee (for a genuine insider look, follow Elizabeth McCracken’s twitter and listen to everything she says!), but I happen to have been lucky enough to get accepted to several fully funded schools on my first try. Whenever someone asks me for advice, I get a little queasy, because I barely knew what I was doing back then. However, I’d like to think that I’ve had some time to reflect on the process and have spoken to many people, including students who’ve been accepted and faculty members. I’ve since graduated from my MFA and hold (at the time of writing) a Zell postgraduate fellowship in fiction at the University of Michigan.

I’ll skip the general consensus—polish the writing sample, apply to more than one school, get feedback on your materials, etc. Instead, I’ll offer some less common ones that I thought worked for me. I hope they help with your application, and I’m certainly indebted to many writers who came before me and similarly shed light on their own experiences.

Presenting yourself . Most of us writers tend to dislike being pigeonholed, or to accept the idea that there are certain themes or styles we keep reverting to again and again. I definitely struggled with this (and continue to) but for the application process, presenting ourselves in a way that is unified and meaningful can sometimes spell the difference between sticking out in the pile or not. I write a lot about the Philippines, where I grew up, and this location not only influences the setting of my stories, but also informs my thematic sensibility as well as my identity. My personal statement talked about my background growing up in a predominantly Christian and Chinese-Filipino family, the conflicts at the dinner table as a result of our ethnic and religious upbringing, and how these issues are explored in my work. My fiction samples were chosen with this in mind (of course, they also happened to be my best work at the time), and I imagine my recommendation letters further attested to my experience as an immigrant. As a result, I believe I demonstrated myself as someone who deeply cares about what I write and has something important to say about the world around me. A place or region might not be the element that binds your application materials together. It might be a style, philosophy, or occupation—but whatever it is, it should resonate meaningfully in all aspects of your work (you can even ask your recommenders to talk about it). If readers can come away with the feeling that they know you and what motivates you to write, then you only need to show that you also can write.
Range and length of sample . This might sound like a contradiction to the above, but it really isn’t. Rather, this is the part where you get a chance to display your skill and flexibility as a writer. For my sample, I chose three stories with varying styles: fabulist, comedic, and straight realist. They also differed in their lengths: short, medium, and long. What kept them all together was the setting of the Philippines, which again referred back to my personal statement and kept them from feeling haphazardly chosen. You might wonder if this is a good idea, since schools often just ask for 25 to 30 pages of creative sample, and might even say something to the effect that they’re looking for “a demonstration of sustained, quality work.” I debated with myself on the correct approach, and you might not agree with my conclusions: If programs clearly ask for just a single story, and if they feel more traditional in their aesthetics, then perhaps sending a longer story is better. However, the risk of sending one story is the risk of increasing subjectivity, and has to do more with the practical reality of the selection process than anything else. We all know that readers have different tastes, and if for some reason they don’t connect with the first few pages of your work, they most likely won’t read on. If you present them with a shorter work first, they might be willing to read the beginning of the second story, and if they still don’t like that, then the third. If each story is different stylistically, you’re increasing the chances that one of these would be appealing to the readers, and they might reconsider the stories that they passed on the first read.
Potential . I’ve heard anecdotes of applicants being turned down because the admission committee thought they were “overqualified” to be studying in an MFA program. This probably doesn’t apply to most of us, but the principle remains: administrators are looking for people they believe can get something out of the two-to-three-year experience. In other words, they’re looking for writers’ potential as much as writers’ ability. I can certainly speak to this. When I applied, I’d barely taken any creative writing workshops. I’d just started writing literary fiction and I was unpublished. I took screenwriting as an undergrad (a related field, I know) but I still emphasized the things I anticipated learning from an MFA, including the benefit of being in a community. I did not downplay my background in screenwriting (and as it happened, also journalism), but I was able to articulate how each tradition influenced me as a writer. You might be someone who’s majored in creative writing as an undergrad and knew for a long time that you want to write literary fiction. That’s okay (in fact I think that’s great!). But you still have to find a way to communicate your limitations while playing to your strengths. To a large extent, it seems to me more of an attitude check: nobody wants to be with the writer who feels privileged and entitled to a seat at the MFA table.
Preparedness . Sometimes, perhaps because I got in on my first try, I wonder if my acceptance was a fluke, and if I was really ready for the MFA experience. Of course, I’ve heard many people who felt similarly, some who even have a lot of creative writing background under their belt. The impostor syndrome aside, I do think that it’s good to gain as much exposure to the literary world as possible before applying to an MFA program. This not only gives you a better sense of why you write and what you write (going back to my first point), but moreover it increases the likelihood that once you are accepted, you’ll know how to make the most out of your time and the resources being offered. I had a wonderful experience at the University of Michigan—indeed, I’ve never read or written more in my life than I did at that point, and I could not have asked for a better set of cohort or mentors. I have grown exponentially as a writer. Rightly or wrongly, though, I did consciously set myself apart as someone who was a beginner, who had the most to learn about writing literary fiction. This attitude has enabled me to develop in leaps and bounds. At the same time, I could see how—had I been further along in my progress—I could’ve used the MFA in a different way: writing that novel I’ve always wanted, giving more thought to the direction of my career, the business side of the industry, finding an agent, etc. I think there’s something valiant and admirable about finding yourself as a result of experimenting during the MFA years, but it might also be worth considering and being aware of the different trajectories in entering a program. As a suggestion for preparing yourself pre-MFA-application, I highly suggest going to a conference (the Napa Writers’ Conference, Wesleyan Writers Conference, and the Key West Literary Seminar being some of the more well-known ones I’ve personally attended and recommend).
On success . My final note on the application process is less of a tip and more of a reminder. When the time comes around to February or March, and should you find yourself not getting into the programs of your choice, recuperate from the rejections and take them in stride. View the result both as a sobering reminder of the odds stacked up against anyone applying for an MFA, and also as an opportunity to become better prepared, so that if you do get in later, you will be in an improved position. Similarly, should you be fortunate enough to get into your top programs, view the achievement as the means to an end, and not the end in itself. If a study were to be conducted on MFA admittances, I’m almost sure that the findings would show that acceptances to programs are in no way predictive of future success in publishing. Only diligence and perseverance are positive indicators of writerly success, and in this sense, we all can take comfort in the fact that all of us have a fair shot if we’re in it for the long haul.

Image: The Hopwood Room, where some workshops are held at the Helen Zell Writers’ Program, University of Michigan.

You are what you eat., 1 thought on “5 uncommon tips on your mfa creative writing application”.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post. It’s exactly what I dd in my sample. Anyone who wants to see real successful samples of statements of purpose should read this post: 10 Statement Of Purpose Examples: How To Wow The Admission Committees Of Fully-Funded MFA Programs (Guide + Samples +Tips) https://www.creativewritingnews.com/statement-of-purpose-examples-2/

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor MA in Creative Writing

Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. We’ve pulled together some essential information you should know about the master’s degree program in creative writing, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, and more.

If there’s something special you’re looking for, you can use one of the links below to find it:

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Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

MFA in Creative Writing - Online

Embrace your passion for storytelling and learn the professional writing skills you'll need to succeed with our online MFA in Creative Writing. Write your novel or short story collection while earning a certificate in the Online Teaching of Writing or Professional Writing, with no residency requirement.

MA in English & Creative Writing

Refine your writing skills and take a step toward furthering your career with this online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.

Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction

Harness your passion for storytelling with SNHU's Mountainview Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction. In this small, two-year creative writing program, students work one-on-one with our distinguished faculty remotely for most of the semester but convene for weeklong intensive residencies in June and January. At residencies, students critique each other's work face-to-face, meet with major authors, agents and editors and learn how to teach at the college level.

How Much Does a Master’s in Creative Writing from U-M Cost?

U-m graduate tuition and fees.

Out-of-state part-time graduates at U-M paid an average of $2,686 per credit hour in 2019-2020. The average for in-state students was $1,309 per credit hour. The following table shows the average full-time tuition and fees for graduate student.

Does U-M Offer an Online MA in Creative Writing?

Online degrees for the U-M creative writing master’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the U-M Online Learning page.

U-M Master’s Student Diversity for Creative Writing

Male-to-female ratio.

Of the students who received their master’s degree in creative writing in 2019-2020, 60.9% of them were women. This is less than the nationwide number of 66.6%.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Racial-ethnic minority graduates* made up 34.8% of the creative writing master’s degrees at U-M in 2019-2020. This is higher than the nationwide number of 24%.

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

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Stamps MFA : Driven by Research

MFA students join a supportive, curiosity-filled culture of makers and scholars. Fueled by the energy and expertise in our research university community, our concepts take shape and make an impact on the world. Idea and material work together at Stamps, as the curriculum supports students in the creation of culturally relevant work with a clearly articulated context. Graduates of this program will be prepared to thrive in a variety of public and private roles and become cultural leaders in a rapidly changing global culture.

Recent MFA Alumni and Student Updates

Emilia White accepts position at York University
Michelle Inez Hinojosa selected as 2023 Creative Careers Resident
Okyoung Noh: 2023 Chunman Art Award
Simranpreet Anand: 2022 Philip B. Lind Emerging Artist Prize
Cosmo Whyte Joins UCLA Department of Art Faculty
Razi Jafri Receives Kresge Gilda Fellowship Award
Kristina Sheufelt: International Sculpture Center Award
Nicole Marroquin Awarded USA Artist Fellowship
Razi Jafri selected as Sundance Producing Lab Fellow
Rey Jeong Joins Alfred University Faculty
Natalia Rocafuerte Wins Best Michigan Filmmaker Award in 59th AAFF
Sally Clegg Receives International Sculpture Center Award

Program Highlights

The Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design is ranked among the top eight graduate schools in the nation for fine arts according to the 2020 U.S. News and World Report Education Rankings .
Two-year program
Mentorship from a creatively diverse community of highly engaged Stamps faculty members (plus faculty from across the university)
33 , 000 square-foot, state-of-the-art, graduate studio facility
Exhibitions in the new, 8 , 000 square-foot Stamps Gallery in downtown Ann Arbor
Self-directed international project
Career preparation, networking, and post-graduation career planning process
Course electives throughout the university
Financial support
Post-graduate professional opportunities
Curricular support for creative work driven by research and inquiry

#8 in the Nation

The Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design is ranked among the top eight graduate schools in the nation for art and design according to the 2020 U.S. News and World Report .

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University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

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MFA Program

university of michigan ann arbor mfa creative writing

Poetry: Linda Gregerson, Tung-hui Hu, Khaled Mattawa

Fiction: Julie Buntin, Gabe Habash, Peter Ho Davies, Kiley Reid

Creative Nonfiction: Aisha Sabatini Sloan

The program offers full funding for two years, which includes full tuition remission and monthly stipend through fellowships and graduate student instructorships. The program will be able to offer six qualifying graduates of our program one year of post-MFA funding.

Michigan Quarterly Review

The program hosts the Zell Visiting Writers Series, through which invited guests give readings, hold craft talks, lead workshops, and offer individual consultations with students. Other program features include opportunities to teach with 826michigan and InsideOut Detroit, work on the Best American Nonrequired Reading anthology, learn letterpress skills at Wolverine Press, curate the student reading series, and partner with other area literary organizations.

Brittany Bennett, Vievee Francis, Donovan Hohn, Airea D. Matthews, Celeste Ng, Chigozie Obioma, Paisley Rekdal, Jia Tolentino, Jesmyn Ward

The Best 15 Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2023

April 7, 2023

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? This article walks you through the considerations for an MFA program, as well as the best Creative Writing MFA programs in the United States.

First of all, what is an MFA?

A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree that usually takes from two to three years to complete. Applications require a sample portfolio for entry, usually of 10-20 pages of your best writing.

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.

Reasons to 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.

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 programs 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 (baltimore, md).

This is a two-year program, with $33,000 teaching fellowships per year. This MFA offers the most generous funding package. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and a guaranteed lecture position after graduation (nice). No nonfiction MFA (boo).

Incoming class size: 8 students
Admissions rate: 11.1%
Alumni: Chimamanda Adiche, 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 (Austin, TX)

A fully-funded 3-year program with a generous stipend of $29,500. The program offers fiction, poetry, playwriting and screenwriting. The Michener Center is also unique because you study a primary genre and a secondary genre, and also get $3,000 for the summer.

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 (Iowa City, IA)

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. Most students are funded, with fellowships worth up to $21,000. The Translation MFA, co-founded by Gayatri Chakravorti Spivak, is also two years, 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: 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

4) University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

Anne Carson famously lives in Ann Arbor, as do the MFA students U-Michigan’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 $23,000 stipend, summer funding, and health care.

This is a 2-3-year program, 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.

Incoming class size: 18
Acceptance rate: 4% (which maybe seems high after less-than-1%)
Alumni: Brit Bennett, Vievee Francis, Airea D. Matthews, Celeste Ng, Chigozie Obioma, Jia Tolentino, Jesmyn Ward

5) Brown University (Providence, RI)

Brown offers an edgy, well-funded program in a place that doesn’t dip into arctic temperatures. Students are all fully-funded for 2-3 years with $29,926 in 2021-22. 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.

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

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs (Continued)

6) university of arizona (tucson, az).

This 3-year program 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 dry heat is good for arthritis.

This notoriously supportive program pays $20,000 a year, and offers the potential to volunteer at multiple literary organizations. You can also do supported research at the US-Mexico Border.

Incoming class size: 9
Acceptance rate: 4.85% (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 (Tempe, AZ):

Arizona State is also 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. Everyone gets a $19,000 stipend, with other opportunities for financial support.

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 (new york, ny).

This two-year program is in New York City, meaning it comes with close access to literary opportunities and hot dogs. NYU is private, and 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.

Incoming class size: 40-60
Acceptance rate: 6%
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 (New York, NY)

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.

Incoming class size: 110
Acceptance rate: 21%
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 (Bronxville, NY)

Sarah Lawrence offers speculative fiction beyond the average fiction, poetry, and nonfiction course offerings. 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.

Incoming class size: 30-40
Acceptance rate: N/A
Alumni: Cynthia Cruz, Melissa Febos, T Kira Madden, Alex Dimitrov, Moncho Alvarado

LOW RESIDENCY

11 bennington college (bennington, vt).

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, and then you get a degree. The tuition is $23,468 per year, with scholarships available.

Acceptance rate: 53%
Incoming class: 40
Alumni: Larissa Pham, Andrew Reiner, Lisa Johnson Mitchell, and others

12) Institute for American Indian Arts (Santa Fe, NM)

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 offered, in screenwriting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

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

Incoming class size : 22
Acceptance rate: 100%
Alumni: Tommy Orange, Dara Yen Elerath, Kathryn Wilder

13) Vermont College of Fine Arts

One of few MFAs where you can study the art of the picture book, middle grade and young adult literature, graphic literature, nonfiction, fiction, and poetry for young people. Students meet twice a year for nine days, in January and July, in Vermont. 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 is $48,604.

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 (el paso, tx).

The world’s first bilingual and online MFA program in the world. UTEP is considered the best online MFA program, and features award-winning faculty from across the globe. Intensive workshops allow submitting in Spanish and English, and genres include poetry and fiction. This three-year program costs $14,766 a year, with rolling admissions.

Alumni: Watch alumni testimonies here

15) Bay Path University (Long Meadow, MA)

This 2-year online program is dedicated entirely to nonfiction. A supportive, diverse community, Bay Path offers small class sizes, close mentorship, and a potential field trip in Ireland.

There are many tracks, including publishing, Narrative Medicine, and teaching. Core courses include memoir, narrative journalism, and the personal essay. The price is $785/credit, for 39 credits, with scholarships available.

Incoming class size: 20
Acceptance rate: an encouraging 78%
Alumni: Read alumni testimonies here

Prepare for your MFA in advance:

Best English Programs
Best Creative Writing Schools
Writing Summer Programs

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

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How to Become a Writer in Michigan with a BFA, MFA or Similar Creative Writing Degree

Written by Rebecca Turley

You know the spark. It’s that pesky idea, that nugget of inspiration that’s just begging to be explored. Once you have it, your creative mind doesn’t want to let it go. So, what do you do? You grab your favorite journal (or laptop), of course, and you do what you do best – create. As writers, we know there’s no telling where that creative spark will lead, but once the writing starts, the words have a way of telling you where to go.

If you’re a creative writer in Michigan, you’re lucky enough to be immersed in an environment where that spark of creativity is around every corner, in every small town and big city, in the state’s rich heritage and its intriguing, if not always bright, history.

This stunning Great Lakes state is home to miles and miles of freshwater coastline where charming lighthouses guide the way, quaint towns like Standish and Rose City where locals are known to mark the end of a warm summer day with a glass of local wine (strawberry rhubarb, please), the thriving culinary, music, and arts scenes of Traverse City and Ann Arbor; and the sparkling cityscapes of Lansing and Grand Rapids.

Your love of the written word has nowhere to go but up in Michigan. Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, memoirs, screenplays – they all have a home here. Get involved with a community of creative writers. Find a cocktail bar where open mic nights provide the ideal backdrop to your poetic aspirations. Or join a writer’s workshop group where support and inspiration are always shared and members have a habit of becoming friends.

And when you’re ready to take your craft to the next level, start exploring the many creative writing degree programs in Michigan and beyond and learn more about how a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), a Master of Fine Arts (MFA), or other undergraduate or graduate degree in creative writing can be exactly what you need to catapult your love of writing into a lifelong career.

A Beloved Teacher, a Devoted Student, and the Meaning of Life

So, it was by chance that Albom turned his attention to creative writing.

Albom learned his old college professor and friend, Morrie Schwartz, was dying of ALS. He remembered his first class with Schwartz, who asked him whether he preferred to be called Mitch or Mitchell. Albom said, “My friends call me Mitch,” to which Schwartz replied, “And Mitch? I hope that one day you will think of me as your friend.” Albom went on to take every class that Schwartz taught.

More than fifteen years had passed since Albom had seen his old college professor, who he warmly referred to as “Coach,” when he saw a story about Schwartz and his ALS diagnosis on Nightline . He immediately got in touch with Schwartz and began visiting him. Their Tuesday mornings spent together during the last days of Schwartz’s life (beginning as a labor of love to help Schwartz pay his medical bills) eventually became the beloved bestseller, Tuesdays with Morrie . The story was about the Meaning of Life. Schwartz was the teacher and Albom, once more, was the student. Today it remains one of the best-selling memoirs in the history of publishing.

As Albom so eloquently wrote, “The last class of my old professor’s life took place once a week in his house, by a window in the study where he could watch a small hibiscus plant shed its pink leaves. The class met on Tuesdays. It began after breakfast. The subject was The Meaning of Life. It was taught from experience.”

Albom went on to publish many other inspirational books, including his first novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven , followed by For One More Day , Have a Little Faith , and a string of other New York Times bestsellers.

Though Albom’s novels have become a large part of his life, he also devotes his time to many charities, including nine he started in the metropolitan Detroit area alone. And he still hosts a daily talk show on WJR radio called “The Monday Sports Albom.”

Creative Writing Classes, Courses and Workshops in Michigan Can Prepare You for a Creative Writing Degree

Writing may, at first, seem like a solitary pursuit, but gathering with, learning from, and being inspired by fellow writers is one of the best ways to refine and elevate your craft. Throughout Michigan, writers like you meet for good company and creative inspiration in writer’s workshops, poetry slams, open mic nights, writers conventions, and more. It’s not hard to land upon a group or event where your creative writing passion is welcome – all that’s needed is a love of writing and a desire to grow your skillset.

Michigan Writers, which operates out of Traverse City, is a community of writers, poets, critics, readers, and more who come together for networking, education, and publishing opportunities. Michigan Writers hosts regular events that include workshops, writers critique groups, and even potluck buffet dinners (what better way to get to know one another?), and they publish Dunes Review . You can stay in touch and keep current on their latest events through their website and email newsletter.

YpsiWrites is a nonprofit organization for writers in the Ypsilanti region. They support local writers through in-person workshops, one-on-one writing consultations, partner programming and events, and much more. Their outstanding network of volunteers keeps this organization up and running, and they always offer a nice selection of virtual writing workshops if time or geography makes it hard for you to attend in-person events.

Writing at the Ledges is a Mid-Michigan group of poets, novelists, children’s writers, and historians who come together to help one another improve and refine their writing. They regularly publish anthologies, and they host writers-in-residence who are excited to share their work and their creative process with others.

Rochester Writers is another lively group that hosts events, conferences, and contests for the area’s creative writers. Some of their events include an Author Fair, which welcomes published authors for readings and talks, and a Freelance Writers’ Group, which meets virtually each month to discuss the business of writing.

For 25 years, Poets’ Night Out has been supporting Northwest Michigan’s poetry community. They’re always interested in original poetry submissions for their annual Poets’ Night Out contest and for a chance to be published in the Poets’ Night Out chapbook. If you’re a winner, you’ll have the opportunity to read your work at their annual Poets’ Night Out event.

Looking for publishing opportunities? There are plenty of literary magazines in Michigan that are always in search of compelling submissions from aspiring writers like you.

Third Coast Magazine , a literary journal edited by students in the creative writing program of Western Michigan University, accepts fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama submissions.

Blueprint Literary Magazine is a student-produced literary magazine at the University of Michigan that welcomes unpublished poetry and fiction from writers in the Ann Arbor region.

Writing Colleges in Michigan Offering Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing Provide a Path to Becoming a Writer

Writing, like any other art form, takes time, patience, and an unwavering commitment to improving your craft. And while the simple act of picking up that pen (or opening the laptop) and getting the words out is the first step to success, there’s nothing that can replace the value of an education in creative writing.

A formal degree in creative writing through a BFA or MFA (or similar undergraduate or graduate degree) provides an outstanding foundation on which to build a career in creative writing. You’ll have the opportunity to become a reader and critic of literature and, in the process, elevate your creative skillset in one or more creative writing genres. You’ll also enjoy unmatched opportunities to study under and learn from published authors and scholars and participate in real-world, hands-on learning experiences.

You’re sure to be impressed by the sheer number of Michigan colleges and universities that offer creative writing programs, and the growing number of programs that are offered in either an online or low-residency format. Check out these programs to learn more about how a degree in creative writing can give you the tools that will help you take your writing from amateur status to bonafide pro.

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and Other Bachelor’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Michigan

Albion college.

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Accreditation: HLC

Degree: Bachelor – BA

Private School

English-Creative Writing emphasis

Aquinas College

English Writing

Central Michigan University

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Degree: Bachelor – BA, BS

Public School

English Literatures Language and Writing-Creative Writing concentration

Cornerstone University

Creative Writing

Lake Superior State University

SCHOOL OF ARTS AND LETTERS

Oakland University

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

Creative Writing (Fiction, Memoir and Essay, Poetry, Screenwriting)

Saginaw Valley State University

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

English-Creative Writing concentration

Siena Heights University

English-Creative Writing

University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE

Creative Writing and Literature (Fiction-Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Digital Storytelling, Honors)

Western Michigan University

English-Creative Writing option

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Other Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing in Michigan

Degree: Master – MA

Creative Writing, English Language and Literature-Creative Writing concentration

Eastern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University

Degree: Master – MFA

COLLEGE OF LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND THE ARTS

Creative Writing (Fiction, Poetry)

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor , MI

http://www.lsa.umich.edu/writers

Degrees Offered

Fiction, Poetry

Residency type

Program length, financial aid.

In the first year, all MFA students accepted into the program are offered a full tuition waiver and a stipend of $16,000, either through a fellowship or a combination of a gradership and a fellowship, as well as $6,000 in summer funding. The total first year package equals $22,000. Applicants will also be considered, where appropriate, for Rackham Merit Fellowships, which offer, together with the Department of English funding, a stipend and summer-funding package equalling $22,000, as well as health insurance. Second year support includes a complete tuition waiver, stipend (currently for 2013–2014, $18,600), and health care benefits through a Graduate Student Instructorship teaching an undergraduate creative writing or introductory composition course. Additionally, several fellowships and prizes are awarded each year to MFA students. Specific opportunities are described below.

Teaching opportunities

Robyn Anspach MFA 2005
Derrick Austin MFA (Poetry)
Laura Jean Baker MFA (Fiction) 2003
Natalie Bakopoulos MFA 2005
Samiya Bashir MFA (Poetry) 2011
Scott Beal MFA (Poetry) 1996
Jaswinder Bolina MFA (Poetry) 2003
Michael Byers MFA (Fiction) 1996
Jeremiah Chamberlin MFA 2004
Roohi Choudhry MFA (Fiction) 2011
Andrew D. Cohen MFA
Ariel Djanikian MFA (Fiction) 2006
Melodie Edwards MFA 2003
Yalitza Ferreras MFA
Lydia Fitzpatrick MFA (Fiction) 2010
Ryan Flaherty MFA (Poetry)
Vievee Francis MFA (Poetry) 2009
John Fulton MFA 1997
Meron Hadero MFA
Alyson Hagy MFA (Fiction) 1985
Miles Harvey MFA 1991
Timothy Hedges MFA (Fiction) 2010
Marcelo Hernandez Castillo MFA
Ingrid Hill MFA
Michael Hinken MFA 2004
David Hornibrook MFA
Sarah Houghteling MFA 2003
Samuel Jensen MFA (Fiction) 2017
Bradford Kammin MFA
Laura Kasischke MFA 1987
Akil Kumarasamy MFA (Fiction) 2012
Rattawut Lapcharoensap MFA (Fiction) 2003
Henry W. Leung MFA
Kate Levin MFA (Fiction) 2010
Taemi Lim MFA 2006
William Lychack MFA (Fiction) 1991
Airea D. Matthews MFA (Poetry) 2013
Karyna McGlynn MFA (Poetry) 2007
David L. Morse MFA (Fiction) 2003
Celeste Ng MFA
Beth Nguyen MFA
Marissa Perry MFA 2006
Paisley Rekdal MFA (Poetry) 1996
Rachel Richardson MFA (Poetry) 2004
Kristen Roupenian MFA (Fiction) 2017
Jess Row MFA (Fiction) 2001
Preeta Samarasan MFA (Fiction) 2006
Rebecca Scherm MFA
Greg Schutz MFA 2007
Ann Tashi Slater MFA (Fiction)
Danez Smith MFA (Poetry) 2017
Mairead Small Staid MFA
Therese Stanton MFA
Ben Stroud MFA (Fiction) 2008
Jia Tolentino MFA (Fiction) 2014
Esmé Weijun Wang MFA (Fiction) 2010
francine j. harris MFA (Poetry) 2011

Send questions, comments and corrections to [email protected] .

Disclaimer: No endorsement of these ratings should be implied by the writers and writing programs listed on this site, or by the editors and publishers of Best American Short Stories , Best American Essays , Best American Poetry , The O. Henry Prize Stories and The Pushcart Prize Anthology .

The Michigan Daily

One hundred and thirty-three years of editorial freedom

A creative approach: Why MFA programs are thriving at places like the University of Michigan

The 10 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in the US

The talent is there.

But the next generation of great American writers needs a collegial place to hone their craft.

They need a place to explore the writer’s role in a wider community.

They really need guidance about how and when to publish.

All these things can be found in a solid Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing degree program. This degree offers access to mentors, to colleagues, and to a future in the writing world.

A good MFA program gives new writers a precious few years to focus completely on their work, an ideal space away from the noise and pressure of the fast-paced modern world.

We’ve found ten of the best ones, all of which provide the support, the creative stimulation, and the tranquility necessary to foster a mature writer.

We looked at graduate departments from all regions, public and private, all sizes, searching for the ten most inspiring Creative Writing MFA programs.

Each of these ten institutions has assembled stellar faculties, developed student-focused paths of study, and provide robust support for writers accepted into their degree programs.

To be considered for inclusion in this list, these MFA programs all must be fully-funded degrees, as recognized by Read The Workshop .

Creative Writing education has broadened and expanded over recent years, and no single method or plan fits for all students.

Today, MFA programs across the country give budding short story writers and poets a variety of options for study. For future novelists, screenwriters – even viral bloggers – the search for the perfect setting for their next phase of development starts with these outstanding institutions, all of which have developed thoughtful and particular approaches to study.

So where will the next Salinger scribble his stories on the steps of the student center, or the next Angelou reading her poems in the local bookstore’s student-run poetry night? At one of these ten programs.

Here are 10 of the best creative writing MFA programs in the US.

University of Oregon (Eugene, OR)

Starting off the list is one of the oldest and most venerated Creative Writing programs in the country, the MFA at the University of Oregon.

Longtime mentor, teacher, and award-winning poet Garrett Hongo directs the program, modeling its studio-based approach to one-on-one instruction in the English college system.

Oregon’s MFA embraces its reputation for rigor. Besides attending workshops and tutorials, students take classes in more formal poetics and literature.

A classic college town, Eugene provides an ideal backdrop for the writers’ community within Oregon’s MFA students and faculty.

Tsunami Books , a local bookseller with national caché, hosts student-run readings featuring writers from the program.

Graduates garner an impressive range of critical acclaim; Yale Younger Poet winner Brigit Pegeen Kelly, Cave Canem Prize winner and Guggenheim fellow Major Jackson, and PEN-Hemingway Award winner Chang-Rae Lee are noteworthy alumni.

With its appealing setting and impressive reputation, Oregon’s MFA program attracts top writers as visiting faculty, including recent guests Elizabeth McCracken, David Mura, and Li-young Lee.

The individual approach defines the Oregon MFA experience; a key feature of the program’s first year is the customized reading list each MFA student creates with their faculty guide.

Weekly meetings focus not only on the student’s writing, but also on the extended discovery of voice through directed reading.

Accepting only ten new students a year—five in poetry and five in fiction— the University of Oregon’s MFA ensures a close-knit community with plenty of individual coaching and guidance.

Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)

Cornell University’s MFA program takes the long view on life as a writer, incorporating practical editorial training and teaching experience into its two-year program.

Incoming MFA students choose their own faculty committee of at least two faculty members, providing consistent advice as they move through a mixture of workshop and literature classes.

Students in the program’s first year benefit from editorial training as readers and editors for Epoch , the program’s prestigious literary journal.

Teaching experience grounds the Cornell program. MFA students design and teach writing-centered undergraduate seminars on a variety of topics, and they remain in Ithaca during the summer to teach in programs for undergraduates.

Cornell even allows MFA graduates to stay on as lecturers at Cornell for a period of time while they are on the job search. Cornell also offers a joint MFA/Ph.D. program through the Creative Writing and English departments.

Endowments fund several acclaimed reading series, drawing internationally known authors to campus for workshops and work sessions with MFA students.

Recent visiting readers include Salman Rushdie, Sandra Cisneros, Billy Collins, Margaret Atwood, Ada Limón, and others.

Arizona State University (Tempe, AZ)

Arizona State’s MFA in Creative Writing spans three years, giving students ample time to practice their craft, develop a voice, and begin to find a place in the post-graduation literary world.

Coursework balances writing and literature classes equally, with courses in craft and one-on-one mentoring alongside courses in literature, theory, or even electives in topics like fine press printing, bookmaking, or publishing.

While students follow a path in either poetry or fiction, they are encouraged to take courses across the genres.

Teaching is also a focus in Arizona State’s MFA program, with funding coming from teaching assistantships in the school’s English department. Other exciting teaching opportunities include teaching abroad in locations around the world, funded through grants and internships.

The Virginia C. Piper Center for Creative Writing, affiliated with the program, offers Arizona State MFA students professional development in formal and informal ways.

The Distinguished Writers Series and Desert Nights, Rising Stars Conference bring world-class writers to campus, allowing students to interact with some of the greatest in the profession. Acclaimed writer and poet Alberto Ríos directs the Piper Center.

Arizona State transitions students to the world after graduation through internships with publishers like Four Way Books.

Its commitment to the student experience and its history of producing acclaimed writers—recent examples include Tayari Jones (Oprah’s Book Club, 2018; Women’s Prize for Fiction, 2019), Venita Blackburn ( Prairie Schooner Book Prize, 2018), and Hugh Martin ( Iowa Review Jeff Sharlet Award for Veterans)—make Arizona State University’s MFA a consistent leader among degree programs.

University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX)

The University of Texas at Austin’s MFA program, the Michener Center for Writers, maintains one of the most vibrant, exciting, active literary faculties of any MFA program.

Denis Johnson D.A. Powell, Geoff Dyer, Natasha Trethewey, Margot Livesey, Ben Fountain: the list of recent guest faculty boasts some of the biggest names in current literature.

This three-year program fully funds candidates without teaching fellowships or assistantships; the goal is for students to focus entirely on their writing.

More genre tracks at the Michener Center mean students can choose two focus areas, a primary and secondary, from Fiction, Poetry, Screenwriting, and Playwriting.

The Michener Center for Writers plays a prominent role in contemporary writing of all kinds.

The hip, student-edited Bat City Review accepts work of all genres, visual art, cross genres, collaborative, and experimental pieces.

Recent events for illustrious alumni include New Yorker publications, an Oprah Book Club selection, a screenwriting prize, and a 2021 Pulitzer (for visiting faculty member Mitchell Jackson).

In this program, students are right in the middle of all the action of contemporary American literature.

Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO)

The MFA in Creative Writing at Washington University in St. Louis is a program on the move: applicants have almost doubled here in the last five years.

Maybe this sudden growth of interest comes from recent rising star alumni on the literary scene, like Paul Tran, Miranda Popkey, and National Book Award winner Justin Phillip Reed.

Or maybe it’s the high profile Washington University’s MFA program commands, with its rotating faculty post through the Hurst Visiting Professor program and its active distinguished reader series.

Superstar figures like Alison Bechdel and George Saunders have recently held visiting professorships, maintaining an energetic atmosphere program-wide.

Washington University’s MFA program sustains a reputation for the quality of the mentorship experience.

With only five new students in each genre annually, MFA candidates form close cohorts among their peers and enjoy attentive support and mentorship from an engaged and vigorous faculty.

Three genre tracks are available to students: fiction, poetry, and the increasingly relevant and popular creative nonfiction.

Another attractive feature of this program: first-year students are fully funded, but not expected to take on a teaching role until their second year.

A generous stipend, coupled with St. Louis’s low cost of living, gives MFA candidates at Washington University the space to develop in a low-stress but stimulating creative environment.

Indiana University (Bloomington, IN)

It’s one of the first and biggest choices students face when choosing an MFA program: two-year or three-year?

Indiana University makes a compelling case for its three-year program, in which the third year of support allows students an extended period of time to focus on the thesis, usually a novel or book-length collection.

One of the older programs on the list, Indiana’s MFA dates back to 1948.

Its past instructors and alumni read like the index to an American Literature textbook.

How many places can you take classes in the same place Robert Frost once taught, not to mention the program that granted its first creative writing Master’s degree to David Wagoner? Even today, the program’s integrity and reputation draw faculty like Ross Gay and Kevin Young.

Indiana’s Creative Writing program houses two more literary institutions, the Indiana Review, and the Indiana University Writers’ Conference.

Students make up the editorial staff of this lauded literary magazine, in some cases for course credit or a stipend. An MFA candidate serves each year as assistant director of the much-celebrated and highly attended conference .

These two facets of Indiana’s program give graduate students access to visiting writers, professional experience, and a taste of the writing life beyond academia.

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, MI)

University of Michigan College of Literature, Science, and the Arts

The University of Michigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program cultivates its students with a combination of workshop-driven course work and vigorous programming on and off-campus. Inventive new voices in fiction and poetry consistently emerge from this two-year program.

The campus hosts multiple readings, events, and contests, anchored by the Zell Visiting Writers Series. The Hopgood Awards offer annual prize money to Michigan creative writing students .

The department cultivates relationships with organizations and events around Detroit, so whether it’s introducing writers at Literati bookstore or organizing writing retreats in conjunction with local arts organizations, MFA candidates find opportunities to cultivate a community role and public persona as a writer.

What happens after graduation tells the big story of this program. Michigan produces heavy hitters in the literary world, like Celeste Ng, Jesmyn Ward, Elizabeth Kostova, Nate Marshall, Paisley Rekdal, and Laura Kasischke.

Their alumni place their works with venerable houses like Penguin and Harper Collins, longtime literary favorites Graywolf and Copper Canyon, and the new vanguard like McSweeney’s, Fence, and Ugly Duckling Presse.

University of Minnesota (Minneapolis, MN)

Structure combined with personal attention and mentorship characterizes the University of Minnesota’s Creative Writing MFA, starting with its unique program requirements.

In addition to course work and a final thesis, Minnesota’s MFA candidates assemble a book list of personally significant works on literary craft, compose a long-form essay on their writing process, and defend their thesis works with reading in front of an audience.

Literary journal Great River Review and events like the First Book reading series and Mill City Reading series do their part to expand the student experience beyond the focus on the internal.

The Edelstein-Keller Visiting Writer Series draws exceptional, culturally relevant writers like Chuck Klosterman and Claudia Rankine for readings and student conversations.

Writer and retired University of Minnesota instructor Charles Baxter established the program’s Hunger Relief benefit , aiding Minnesota’s Second Harvest Heartland organization.

Emblematic of the program’s vision of the writer in service to humanity, this annual contest and reading bring together distinguished writers, students, faculty, and community members in favor of a greater goal.

Brown University (Providence, RI)

One of the top institutions on any list, Brown University features an elegantly-constructed Literary Arts Program, with students choosing one workshop and one elective per semester.

The electives can be taken from any department at Brown; especially popular choices include Studio Art and other coursework through the affiliated Rhode Island School of Design. The final semester consists of thesis construction under the supervision of the candidate’s faculty advisor.

Brown is the only MFA program to feature, in addition to poetry and fiction tracks, the Digital/Cross Disciplinary track .

This track attracts multidisciplinary writers who need the support offered by Brown’s collaboration among music, visual art, computer science, theater and performance studies, and other departments.

The interaction with the Rhode Island School of Design also allows those artists interested in new forms of media to explore and develop their practice, inventing new forms of art and communication.

Brown’s Literary Arts Program focuses on creating an atmosphere where students can refine their artistic visions, supported by like-minded faculty who provide the time and materials necessary to innovate.

Not only has the program produced trailblazing writers like Percival Everett and Otessa Moshfegh, but works composed by alumni incorporating dance, music, media, and theater have been performed around the world, from the stage at Kennedy Center to National Public Radio.

University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)

When most people hear “MFA in Creative Writing,” it’s the Iowa Writers’ Workshop they imagine.

The informal name of the University of Iowa’s Program in Creative Writing, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop was the first to offer an MFA, back in 1936.

One of the first diplomas went to renowned writer Wallace Stegner, who later founded the MFA program at Stanford.

It’s hard to argue with seventeen Pulitzer Prize winners and six U.S. Poets Laureate. The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is the root system of the MFA tree.

The two-year program balances writing courses with coursework in other graduate departments at the university. In addition to the book-length thesis, a written exam is part of the student’s last semester.

Because the program represents the quintessential idea of a writing program, it attracts its faculty positions, reading series, events, and workshops the brightest lights of the literary world.

The program’s flagship literary magazine, the Iowa Review , is a lofty goal for writers at all stages of their career.

At the Writers’ Workshop, tracks include not only fiction, poetry, playwriting, and nonfiction, but also Spanish creative writing and literary translation. Their reading series in association with Prairie Lights bookstore streams online and is heard around the world.

Iowa’s program came into being in answer to the central question posed to each one of these schools: can writing be taught?

The answer for a group of intrepid, creative souls in 1936 was, actually, “maybe not.”

But they believed it could be cultivated; each one of these institutions proves it can be, in many ways, for those willing to commit the time and imagination.

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MFA In Creative Writing Hosting Free Online Events

Dominican University of California’s low residency MFA in Creative Writing program invites the public to attend its spring 2022 series of virtual retreats and workshops that will highlight the program’s supportive, creative environment across the genres of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and narrative medicine. The first one in a series of seven free events is February 2, featuring an online creative writing workshop entitled “On Future Worlds” with educator/writer/coach Raina León, professor of English Education at St. Mary’s College. Starting in January 2022, Raina will be a writing mentor in the MFA program and will join the adjunct faculty at Dominican. The MFA is designed to support poets and writers who wish to complete and publish a book manuscript. The focus is on honing students’ writing skills while they learn about the publishing industry. However, since the MFA is recognized as a terminal degree in academe, graduates are eligible to apply for college-level teaching positions. Graduates also are prepared for jobs that require strong writing skills, such as publishing, editing, marketing, public relations, social media and web content strategy. The MFA starts with a residency and runs for two years, for a total of five residencies and four mentorship semesters. All MFA students attend the winter (January) and summer (June) residencies together. During the Fall and Spring mentorship semesters, students are broken out into smaller groups of three to five students per mentor, in accordance with the AWP guidelines and best teaching practices. Here are the free spring 2022 events: February 2 , 6-8 p.m. PST. On Future Worlds . This free workshop presented by Raina León, professor of English Education at St. Mary’s College, has a new date and will include reading news articles that explore potential crises and imagine what inner and outer worlds might emerge, ones that are about flourishing and collective organizing and possibility. The workshop, originally scheduled on January 25, will study science fiction (in fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual arts) alongside the news to inspire generative writing from a place of artivism for preservation and action. January 26 , 6-7 p.m. PST. MFA in Creative Writing Program Overview . Led by Dominican MFA Director Judy Halebsky, whether one is a poet looking to hone his/her craft, an aspiring novelist who wants to get that book written, or a memoirist with an urgent story to tell, Dominican’s MFA program will help one achieve his or her writing goals. An admissions counselor will also be available to answer application questions. February 12 , 10-11 a.m. PST. The Nuts and Bolts of Applying to the MFA in Creative Writing Program . A hands-on workshop about putting together an MFA application with guidance and writing prompts to help participants craft their Letter of Intent or Artist Statement. This info session is led by MFA Director Judy Halebsky. An admissions counselor will also be available to answer questions about the program and the application process. February 26 , 10 a.m. to noon PST. Writing To Restore The Self . This free workshop, presented by psychotherapist, teacher, and poet Eliot Schain, will feature writing and discussion about imagery that can help process both positive and negative experience and unite disparate parts of the self. March 12 , 10 a.m. to noon PST. Do the Math: How to Keep Pressing Forward When We Feel Stuck . Join author Kim Culbertson in a free workshop using five specific craft exercises. The workshop will focus on character, POV, conflict, and setting tricks to help when one feels stuck on his/her manuscript. Kim calls it “doing the math” because sometimes one just has to add, subtract, multiply, or divide to get to the root of that writer's block. March 14 , 6-7 p.m. PDT. Putting together a Writing Sample for Applying to MFAs, Grants, and Fellowships. The writing sample is often the most important part of an application to MFA programs, grants or fellowships. This session shares insights into how selection committees read the writing submitted and offers strategies on how to show your best work. Led by MFA Director Judy Halebsky. An admissions counselor will also be available to answer application questions. April 13 , 6-7 p.m. PDT Writing an Artist Statement / Letter of Intent for Applying to MFAs, Grants, and Fellowships. Programs, as well as artist residencies and grants, ask applicants to submit a Letter of Introduction or an Artist Statement. This session will provide approaches to writing this letter and will include writing prompts to help one make a letter that shines. Led by MFA Director Judy Halebsky. An admissions counselor will also be available to answer application questions. For more information about these free events, or to learn more about the MFA in Creative Writing program, please contact Natalie Babler, Administrative Manager in the School of Liberal Arts and Education , at [email protected] .

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5 Uncommon Tips on Your MFA Creative Writing Application

Presenting yourself . Most of us writers tend to dislike being pigeonholed, or to accept the idea that there are certain themes or styles we keep reverting to again and again. I definitely struggled with this (and continue to) but for the application process, presenting ourselves in a way that is unified and meaningful can sometimes spell the difference between sticking out in the pile or not. I write a lot about the Philippines, where I grew up, and this location not only influences the setting of my stories, but also informs my thematic sensibility as well as my identity. My personal statement talked about my background growing up in a predominantly Christian and Chinese-Filipino family, the conflicts at the dinner table as a result of our ethnic and religious upbringing, and how these issues are explored in my work. My fiction samples were chosen with this in mind (of course, they also happened to be my best work at the time), and I imagine my recommendation letters further attested to my experience as an immigrant. As a result, I believe I demonstrated myself as someone who deeply cares about what I write and has something important to say about the world around me. A place or region might not be the element that binds your application materials together. It might be a style, philosophy, or occupation—but whatever it is, it should resonate meaningfully in all aspects of your work (you can even ask your recommenders to talk about it). If readers can come away with the feeling that they know you and what motivates you to write, then you only need to show that you also can write.
Range and length of sample . This might sound like a contradiction to the above, but it really isn’t. Rather, this is the part where you get a chance to display your skill and flexibility as a writer. For my sample, I chose three stories with varying styles: fabulist, comedic, and straight realist. They also differed in their lengths: short, medium, and long. What kept them all together was the setting of the Philippines, which again referred back to my personal statement and kept them from feeling haphazardly chosen. You might wonder if this is a good idea, since schools often just ask for 25 to 30 pages of creative sample, and might even say something to the effect that they’re looking for “a demonstration of sustained, quality work.” I debated with myself on the correct approach, and you might not agree with my conclusions: If programs clearly ask for just a single story, and if they feel more traditional in their aesthetics, then perhaps sending a longer story is better. However, the risk of sending one story is the risk of increasing subjectivity, and has to do more with the practical reality of the selection process than anything else. We all know that readers have different tastes, and if for some reason they don’t connect with the first few pages of your work, they most likely won’t read on. If you present them with a shorter work first, they might be willing to read the beginning of the second story, and if they still don’t like that, then the third. If each story is different stylistically, you’re increasing the chances that one of these would be appealing to the readers, and they might reconsider the stories that they passed on the first read.
Potential . I’ve heard anecdotes of applicants being turned down because the admission committee thought they were “overqualified” to be studying in an MFA program. This probably doesn’t apply to most of us, but the principle remains: administrators are looking for people they believe can get something out of the two-to-three-year experience. In other words, they’re looking for writers’ potential as much as writers’ ability. I can certainly speak to this. When I applied, I’d barely taken any creative writing workshops. I’d just started writing literary fiction and I was unpublished. I took screenwriting as an undergrad (a related field, I know) but I still emphasized the things I anticipated learning from an MFA, including the benefit of being in a community. I did not downplay my background in screenwriting (and as it happened, also journalism), but I was able to articulate how each tradition influenced me as a writer. You might be someone who’s majored in creative writing as an undergrad and knew for a long time that you want to write literary fiction. That’s okay (in fact I think that’s great!). But you still have to find a way to communicate your limitations while playing to your strengths. To a large extent, it seems to me more of an attitude check: nobody wants to be with the writer who feels privileged and entitled to a seat at the MFA table.
Preparedness . Sometimes, perhaps because I got in on my first try, I wonder if my acceptance was a fluke, and if I was really ready for the MFA experience. Of course, I’ve heard many people who felt similarly, some who even have a lot of creative writing background under their belt. The impostor syndrome aside, I do think that it’s good to gain as much exposure to the literary world as possible before applying to an MFA program. This not only gives you a better sense of why you write and what you write (going back to my first point), but moreover it increases the likelihood that once you are accepted, you’ll know how to make the most out of your time and the resources being offered. I had a wonderful experience at the University of Michigan—indeed, I’ve never read or written more in my life than I did at that point, and I could not have asked for a better set of cohort or mentors. I have grown exponentially as a writer. Rightly or wrongly, though, I did consciously set myself apart as someone who was a beginner, who had the most to learn about writing literary fiction. This attitude has enabled me to develop in leaps and bounds. At the same time, I could see how—had I been further along in my progress—I could’ve used the MFA in a different way: writing that novel I’ve always wanted, giving more thought to the direction of my career, the business side of the industry, finding an agent, etc. I think there’s something valiant and admirable about finding yourself as a result of experimenting during the MFA years, but it might also be worth considering and being aware of the different trajectories in entering a program. As a suggestion for preparing yourself pre-MFA-application, I highly suggest going to a conference (the Napa Writers’ Conference, Wesleyan Writers Conference, and the Key West Literary Seminar being some of the more well-known ones I’ve personally attended and recommend).
On success . My final note on the application process is less of a tip and more of a reminder. When the time comes around to February or March, and should you find yourself not getting into the programs of your choice, recuperate from the rejections and take them in stride. View the result both as a sobering reminder of the odds stacked up against anyone applying for an MFA, and also as an opportunity to become better prepared, so that if you do get in later, you will be in an improved position. Similarly, should you be fortunate enough to get into your top programs, view the achievement as the means to an end, and not the end in itself. If a study were to be conducted on MFA admittances, I’m almost sure that the findings would show that acceptances to programs are in no way predictive of future success in publishing. Only diligence and perseverance are positive indicators of writerly success, and in this sense, we all can take comfort in the fact that all of us have a fair shot if we’re in it for the long haul.

Image: The Hopwood Room, where some workshops are held at the Helen Zell Writers’ Program, University of Michigan.

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MFA in Writing
MFA in Writing. Click here for the Helen Zell Writers' Program Homepage. English Language and Literature. Hours: M-F 8 am - 4:30 pm. 435 S. State Street. 3187 Angell Hall. Ann Arbor, MI 48109. [email protected].
Program Requirements
Program Overview Program Requirements Program Requirements The Helen Zell Writers' Program is a two-year, fully-funded graduate program in creative writing leading to the Master of Fine Arts degree. A third-year post-MFA Zell Fellowship will be available to six qualifying graduates of our program.
Program Overview
Our Master in Fine Arts faculty is comprised of a dedicated group of poets and fiction writers who have won awards ranging from Guggenheim to MacArthur Fellowships, and who have—collectively—written, translated, and edited more than fifty books. Each year, we draw nine poets and nine fiction writers from an applicant pool of roughly 1,000.
How to Apply
The Helen Zell Writers' Program is a full-time full-residency program. The GRE is not required for MFA applicants. Admission decisions for Fall 2024 will be made and applicants will be notified in early March 2024. Admission decisions for Fall 2023 have been made and applicants have been notified. Submitting your application
Funding
The Helen Zell Writers' Program is a fully-funded MFA Program. In the first year, all MFA students accepted into the program are offered a full tuition waiver, a stipend of $30,054 (currently for '22-'23), as well as $6,000 in summer funding, and health care benefits.
5 Uncommon Tips on Your MFA Creative Writing Application
Compared to medical school or law school, the application process for an MFA can sometimes feel like a crapshoot, with the odds of getting into a fully-funded program hovering somewhere below four or five percent (and some programs like Iowa, Michigan, Michener—gulp—even less!).
Creative Writing and Literature (Major)
Creative Writing faculty Laura Kasischke Poetry; Fiction Christopher Matthews Fiction; Poetry Sarah Messer Poetry; Creative Nonfiction; Prison Creative Arts Program Susan Rosegrant Creative Nonfiction; Journalism; Fiction Laura Thomas Fiction; Creative Nonfiction A. Van Jordan Poetry, Film Studies
University of Michigan Fully Funded MFA in Creative Writing
The University of Michigan based in Ann Arbor, MI offers a two-year fully funded MFA in creative writing through The Helen Zell Writers' Program. HZWP students concentrate on either fiction or poetry. Teaching opportunities for all MFA students constitute an integral part of the program.
English and Literature
Our Master in Fine Arts faculty is comprised of a dedicated group of poets and fiction writers who have ... translated, and edited more than fifty books. English and Literature - Creative Writing is offered at University of Michigan. University of Michigan Multiple locations . Ann Arbor ... Living costs for Ann Arbor. 1025 -1870 USD /month ...
University of Michigan
Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor. We've pulled together some essential information you should know about the master's degree program in creative writing, including how many students graduate each year, the ethnic diversity of these students, and more.
MFA Program in Creative Writing
NMU's Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing program is a three-year, 48-credit degree. Students will take workshops in more than one genre (we offer fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and occasionally screenwriting), two literature courses plus one critical theory course. All new teaching assistants also take a Teaching Practicum to ready you for ...
MFA in Art
The Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design is ranked among the top eight graduate schools in the nation for art and design according to the 2020 U.S. News and World Report. Viewbook Click here to download this viewbook in PDF format.
Creative Writing at University of Michigan
Creative Writing at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor 24 Bachelor's Degrees 22 Master's Degrees #34 Overall Quality Here, you'll find out more about the major, including such details as the number of graduates, what degree levels are offered, ethnicity of students, and more.
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
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. More
The Best 15 Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2023
4) University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI) Anne Carson famously lives in Ann Arbor, as do the MFA students U-Michigan'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 $23,000 stipend, summer funding, and health care.
MFA, BFA and Other Creative Writing Degrees in Michigan
Written by Rebecca Turley Featured Program: Master's Degrees and Graduate Certificates in Writing Bachelors in English/Writing AA: Creative Writing (Non-Licensure) B.A. in Professional Writing for New Media Master of Arts in Composition and Rhetoric Comprehensive English: Reading and Writing Skills Certificate You know the spark.
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Degrees Offered MFA Genres Fiction, Poetry Residency type Full Program length 2 years Financial Aid In the first year, all MFA students accepted into the program are offered a full tuition waiver and a stipend of $16,000, either through a fellowship or a combination of a gradership and a fellowship, as well as $6,000 in summer funding.
A creative approach: Why MFA programs are thriving ...
Short for Master of Fine Arts, an MFA program is an often overlooked and misunderstood two-year graduate program in which students prepare for careers writing poetry, fiction or both. The MFA program was first introduced at the University of Iowa 70 years ago. Now MFA degrees are offered at more than 150 universities across the nation.
The 10 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in the US
University of Oregon (Eugene, OR) Visitor7, Knight Library, CC BY-SA 3.0. Starting off the list is one of the oldest and most venerated Creative Writing programs in the country, the MFA at the University of Oregon. Longtime mentor, teacher, and award-winning poet Garrett Hongo directs the program, modeling its studio-based approach to one-on ...
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Find accredited michigan, and the university of michigan mfa. As the university of our mission to learn more. Art design oversight of michigan writing mfa program in 1985, ann arbor, poetry, students accepted into the university is the country, poetry in english language. Grad elizabeth kostova is a diverse public relations and '17. University ...
MFA In Creative Writing Hosting Free Online Events
Dominican University of California's low residency MFA in Creative Writing program invites the public to attend its spring 2022 series of virtual retreats and workshops that will highlight the program's supportive, creative environment across the genres of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and narrative medicine. The first one in a series of seven free events is February 2, featuring ...
University Of Michigan Ann Arbor Mfa Creative Writing
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5 Uncommon Tips on Your MFA Creative Writing Application
5 Uncommon Tips on Your MFA Creative Writing Application. A couple of years ago, I made the decision to apply to MFA programs in creative writing. Compared to medical school or law school, the application process for an MFA can sometimes feel like a crapshoot, with the odds of getting into a fully-funded program hovering somewhere below four or ...

5 Uncommon Tips on Your MFA Creative Writing Application

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2) University of Texas, James Michener Center (Austin, TX)

3) University of Iowa (Iowa City, IA)

4) University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)

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9) Columbia University (New York, NY)

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