[NB: See here for more information about what this is].
Participants (11) *
Julianna Baggott
Florida State University
Poetry Faculty/Director
Mary Biddinger
NEOMFA
Poetry Faculty/Director
Diana J. Joseph
Minnesota State University at Mankato
Fiction Faculty
Terry Kennedy
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Associate Director
Marty Lammon
Georgia College & State University
Poetry and Creative Nonfiction Faculty/Director
Fred Leebron
Queens University of Charlotte
Fiction Faculty/Director
Erika Meitner
Virginia Tech University
Poetry Faculty
Dinty W. Moore
Ohio University
Nonfiction Faculty/Director
Porter Shreve
Purdue University
Fiction Faculty/Director
Sue Silverman
Vermont College
Fiction/Creative Nonfiction Faculty
Sandi Wisenberg
Northwestern University
Creative Nonfiction Faculty/Co-Director
* Current MFA faculty who are not listed here are nevertheless invited to join in the conversation. Please make sure you provide your name, university, and genre in your first post.
Guidelines
1. The comment-field below is intended only for faculty. The reason for this is two-fold: first, the questions for the faculty have been pre-selected, and we want to avoid a free-for-all in which applicants overwhelm faculty members with new questions; second, we want the thread to be easy for blog-users to navigate, which it won't be if it's hard to distinguish between faculty-posters and applicant-posters. Faculty should of course feel free to engage one another as well as the questions posed.
2. The faculty have been invited to answer whichever questions they choose. A large pool of questions has been provided, so it's by no means expected that faculty members will answer every question posed. We're grateful for any and all responses faculty are able to give, and invite the faculty to come back to this thread as often as they like to answer questions (as we expect this thread, and all of the Forums, will be archived and read/re-read many times by current and future applicants).
3. Questions have been stream-lined, as sometimes the same question was submitted in several slightly varying forms. While most of the questions in this first Forum are geared specifically toward the application process, it's expected that, as time goes on, more of the questions will be oriented toward the actual "in-program" MFA experience. The questions below are ordered roughly from most-asked to least-asked.
Questions for Discussion
1. What is your program's process for reviewing applications?
2. Is there any common application mistake which, in itself, would preclude an application from being accepted?
3. Is there anything else, besides the writing sample, that can really set an applicant out from the pack and significantly affect his/her chances of admission?
4. On average, what percentage of applicants find themselves seriously in contention for admission?
5. In reading applications, do you try to "balance" your program? Meaning, do you simply choose the best of the best, or do you look at the existing class and weigh how people will interact with one another? Do you want writers of different skill levels and ages? How much of the admissions process involves finding matches for particular professors' aesthetics? How does diversity factor into the decision process?
6. What do most people do the year after they graduate from your program?
7. What are you looking for in a writing sample? For instance, is raw talent preferred over present polish, or vice versa?
8. How are students prepared for their teaching assistantships, and (in your experience) do these assistantships ever become so time-consuming they impact students' ability/time to write?
9. How much time do faculty members commit to students in your program? How would you describe the relationship/dynamic between faculty and students?
10. What makes for a good workshopper, versus a not-so-good one?
11. What are some of the most common writing mistakes or faults in both applicants' and first-year MFA students' work? If you could impart some wisdom to someone who's at one of these two stages, what would it be?
12. What do you think is the best feature of your program? What would you most like to change, or are you hoping to change, about your program?
[NB: On behalf of the blog and its users, I'd just like to thank all the faculty members for participating!].
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Jesse's Nightmare
In a previous mailbag, Jesse wrote:
“I am FREAKING OUT. I didn't receive my SAS postcard from Indiana though I'd sent in the app about a month ago, so I e-mailed the secretary and she said she never received my letters of rec! I'm sure I bundled them with the application but I can't find them anywhere (And I'm wondering now if it was just that bundling them all together was a no-no). I just e-mailed her asking if I could get more letters quickly and send them to her by overnight mail, but Indiana's non-postmark deadline was January 1st. Does anybody have any experience with this?”
Indiana's response was:
“Jesse, I doubled checked and have gone thru all of the mail and have not received any recs for you. I am sorry but we cannot accept any more materials from applicants."
Any thoughts? Anyone experiencing similar problems with other universities?
“I am FREAKING OUT. I didn't receive my SAS postcard from Indiana though I'd sent in the app about a month ago, so I e-mailed the secretary and she said she never received my letters of rec! I'm sure I bundled them with the application but I can't find them anywhere (And I'm wondering now if it was just that bundling them all together was a no-no). I just e-mailed her asking if I could get more letters quickly and send them to her by overnight mail, but Indiana's non-postmark deadline was January 1st. Does anybody have any experience with this?”
Indiana's response was:
“Jesse, I doubled checked and have gone thru all of the mail and have not received any recs for you. I am sorry but we cannot accept any more materials from applicants."
Any thoughts? Anyone experiencing similar problems with other universities?
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Books in 2009
I'm guessing most blog readers are knee-deep in the wait and worry stage of MFA applications. I thought maybe we could take a break to look at what made us want to be writers in the first place: books! I know we've heard a lot of bad news about book sales and publishing layoffs recently, but despite all that 2009 is shaping up to be a great year for literature.
The Millions blog has a nice list of upcoming books.
The 2009 lineup includes Thomas Pynchon, Zadie Smith, William T. Vollmann, Philip Roth, Mary Gaitskill, Kazuo Ishiguro, Lorrie Moore and Jonathan Lethem. That is just to name a few.
What books are you looking forward to in 2009? This list is pretty fiction heavy, so maybe some rising poetry students can chime in.
The Millions blog has a nice list of upcoming books.
The 2009 lineup includes Thomas Pynchon, Zadie Smith, William T. Vollmann, Philip Roth, Mary Gaitskill, Kazuo Ishiguro, Lorrie Moore and Jonathan Lethem. That is just to name a few.
What books are you looking forward to in 2009? This list is pretty fiction heavy, so maybe some rising poetry students can chime in.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
If you were in the driver's seat...
Just for discussion's sake - err, stress relief? - here is something I've been thinking about for a while: how could this whole MFA application process be a lot easier, in a perfect world?
After reading over this week's MFA Blog mailbag and P&W Speakeasy MFA forum, I think fellow bloggers are feeling some of the same frustrations I have/had about the MFA application process. Some of it's a matter of tone - the way schools present themselves on the web, or the way they reply to you when you communicate with them. Or perhaps HOW they reply to you (just you wait, those who have not yet received a rejection envelope/postcard/email!) Other times, it's a matter of information: what can you figure out from the website? what is a given? what can't you know until it's too late? when is too late?
I wonder if we can lay out some suggestions for improvement and perhaps even some praises from our application experience that would give schools some groundwork for going forward, as they're bound to get even more applicants next year and the year after that...I mean, we might as well say what works and doesn't work, right? And who knows, you may be applying again next year, too!
(side note: Sorry, my sentence structure is waining at this point. Applications have made my brain feel like a deep fried Twinkie.)
More for thought:
What has been the most frustrating thing/biggest monkey wrench about applying to MFA programs?
If you could eliminate one MFA application requirement, what would it be?
What is something a school presented in their application process that was the most helpful?
After reading over this week's MFA Blog mailbag and P&W Speakeasy MFA forum, I think fellow bloggers are feeling some of the same frustrations I have/had about the MFA application process. Some of it's a matter of tone - the way schools present themselves on the web, or the way they reply to you when you communicate with them. Or perhaps HOW they reply to you (just you wait, those who have not yet received a rejection envelope/postcard/email!) Other times, it's a matter of information: what can you figure out from the website? what is a given? what can't you know until it's too late? when is too late?
I wonder if we can lay out some suggestions for improvement and perhaps even some praises from our application experience that would give schools some groundwork for going forward, as they're bound to get even more applicants next year and the year after that...I mean, we might as well say what works and doesn't work, right? And who knows, you may be applying again next year, too!
(side note: Sorry, my sentence structure is waining at this point. Applications have made my brain feel like a deep fried Twinkie.)
More for thought:
What has been the most frustrating thing/biggest monkey wrench about applying to MFA programs?
If you could eliminate one MFA application requirement, what would it be?
What is something a school presented in their application process that was the most helpful?
Monday, January 05, 2009
University of Arizona's Look Book
Thought you might be interested in this... We're the only writing program in the country putting out a book of this kind. First edition was just released a couple weeks ago and we've already seen some contact between agents and writers as a result of the project. A bit of good news in these troubled times!
All best,
Jennifer Rice Epstein
Press Release: For Immediate Release
UA Creative Writing MFA Program Introduces Look Book
Best work of graduating class collected in showcase aimed at literary agents.
TUCSON, Ariz. – December 8, 2008 – Ask any writer: it’s tough to find an agent, sell a project to an editor, and get published. And it’s only getting tougher. Random House just announced restructuring plans. Booksellers Border’s and Barnes and Noble both reported rough sales quarters. There isn’t a shortage of great work being written, but in a changing industry and a tough economy, it’s increasingly difficult for emerging writers to get their work noticed.
This month, The University of Arizona (UA) Creative Writing MFA program launched a project aimed at giving its new graduates an edge as they start out: a Look Book featuring works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
“It’s like a literary journal featuring the best of the best of our program,” says Jennifer Rice Epstein (MFA ’09), who conceived the project earlier this year and coordinated production of the piece. Rice Epstein compiled a list of agents and contacted them to gauge their interest in receiving the book. “We didn’t want to send the books unsolicited,” she explains. “There was a lot of interest in the Look Book; we mailed them to 80 agents last week.”
“I’m thrilled that we were able to turn this idea into a reality for our students,” says Aurelie Sheehan, director of the UA Creative Writing MFA. “The Look Book is something agents can flip through to get a sense of what’s happening in fiction. This is where trends begin – so it’s a preview of where literary work is headed in the years to come.”
Sheehan says the Look Book is also a way for UA MFA graduates to connect to the publishing industry and gain visibility. “Perhaps an agent will read a story that resonates with them, and ask the writer to submit a longer work down the road,” she says. “It’s not the type of thing we think will result in instant publishing contracts; the benefits will come out over the long term.”
The Look Book was funded by UA alumna Peggy Schumaker (MFA ‘79). "Most of these writers are just beginning to find their readers, so we get a chance to read their work early and then to follow their writing,” she says. “Collectors and scholars will look back to this book to chart beginnings. Readers will simply savor it."
The Look Book features work by 26 graduates of the program, including Andrew Mortazavi, whose story “A Lesson in Violence” was a runner-up in the 2008 Playboy College Fiction Contest.
The University of Arizona Creative Writing MFA program (http://english.arizona.edu) was founded in 1974 and is ranked among the top ten in the nation. The two-year residency program offers workshops, craft seminars, and interdisciplinary opportunities in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Among the program’s alumni are David Foster Wallace (’87), Antonya Nelson (’86), Richard Russo (’80), Padma Viswanathan (’06), and Alberto Álvaro Rios (’79). Graduate students in creative writing also produce The Sonora Review, a nationally-distributed biannual literary journal publishing prose and poetry from established and emerging writers.
Press Contact
Aurelie Sheehan, MFA Program Director
The University of Arizona Creative Writing Program
College of Humanities, Department of English
520.621.3880; asheehan@email.arizona.edu
All best,
Jennifer Rice Epstein
Press Release: For Immediate Release
UA Creative Writing MFA Program Introduces Look Book
Best work of graduating class collected in showcase aimed at literary agents.
TUCSON, Ariz. – December 8, 2008 – Ask any writer: it’s tough to find an agent, sell a project to an editor, and get published. And it’s only getting tougher. Random House just announced restructuring plans. Booksellers Border’s and Barnes and Noble both reported rough sales quarters. There isn’t a shortage of great work being written, but in a changing industry and a tough economy, it’s increasingly difficult for emerging writers to get their work noticed.
This month, The University of Arizona (UA) Creative Writing MFA program launched a project aimed at giving its new graduates an edge as they start out: a Look Book featuring works of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
“It’s like a literary journal featuring the best of the best of our program,” says Jennifer Rice Epstein (MFA ’09), who conceived the project earlier this year and coordinated production of the piece. Rice Epstein compiled a list of agents and contacted them to gauge their interest in receiving the book. “We didn’t want to send the books unsolicited,” she explains. “There was a lot of interest in the Look Book; we mailed them to 80 agents last week.”
“I’m thrilled that we were able to turn this idea into a reality for our students,” says Aurelie Sheehan, director of the UA Creative Writing MFA. “The Look Book is something agents can flip through to get a sense of what’s happening in fiction. This is where trends begin – so it’s a preview of where literary work is headed in the years to come.”
Sheehan says the Look Book is also a way for UA MFA graduates to connect to the publishing industry and gain visibility. “Perhaps an agent will read a story that resonates with them, and ask the writer to submit a longer work down the road,” she says. “It’s not the type of thing we think will result in instant publishing contracts; the benefits will come out over the long term.”
The Look Book was funded by UA alumna Peggy Schumaker (MFA ‘79). "Most of these writers are just beginning to find their readers, so we get a chance to read their work early and then to follow their writing,” she says. “Collectors and scholars will look back to this book to chart beginnings. Readers will simply savor it."
The Look Book features work by 26 graduates of the program, including Andrew Mortazavi, whose story “A Lesson in Violence” was a runner-up in the 2008 Playboy College Fiction Contest.
The University of Arizona Creative Writing MFA program (http://english.arizona.edu) was founded in 1974 and is ranked among the top ten in the nation. The two-year residency program offers workshops, craft seminars, and interdisciplinary opportunities in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Among the program’s alumni are David Foster Wallace (’87), Antonya Nelson (’86), Richard Russo (’80), Padma Viswanathan (’06), and Alberto Álvaro Rios (’79). Graduate students in creative writing also produce The Sonora Review, a nationally-distributed biannual literary journal publishing prose and poetry from established and emerging writers.
Press Contact
Aurelie Sheehan, MFA Program Director
The University of Arizona Creative Writing Program
College of Humanities, Department of English
520.621.3880; asheehan@email.arizona.edu
Question about UCLA Extention
From "E"...
I'm looking for any insights/opinions on the UCLA Extension Writer's Program Certificate in Creative Writing.
http://www2.uclaextension.edu/writers/detail.php?sID=certprog
It's not an MFA, but I'm considering enrolling in the program to take a few classes and get my bearings. I graduated with a degree in Journalism in 2007 and have always wanted to pursue an advanced degree in creative writing (narrative non-fiction ideally). I'm just a bit lost at the moment as to what I'm doing with my life, and I'd like to relocate to the LA area because I have some entertainment-industry connections I'd like to pursue.
Do you (or any readers) think that taking classes towards a certificate would be a good idea, or a waste of time? The benefits in my mind would be that I could be living in Los Angeles, have loans to(hopefully) live off of, be meeting people in the biz, and taking writing classes all the time. As I wouldn't have to do the whole GRE and application process I could begin right away, which is also an advantage as I get laid off of my "real world" job in a few months. Any word on the UCLA certificate program and if it has a good reputation?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
I'm looking for any insights/opinions on the UCLA Extension Writer's Program Certificate in Creative Writing.
http://www2.uclaextension.edu/writers/detail.php?sID=certprog
It's not an MFA, but I'm considering enrolling in the program to take a few classes and get my bearings. I graduated with a degree in Journalism in 2007 and have always wanted to pursue an advanced degree in creative writing (narrative non-fiction ideally). I'm just a bit lost at the moment as to what I'm doing with my life, and I'd like to relocate to the LA area because I have some entertainment-industry connections I'd like to pursue.
Do you (or any readers) think that taking classes towards a certificate would be a good idea, or a waste of time? The benefits in my mind would be that I could be living in Los Angeles, have loans to(hopefully) live off of, be meeting people in the biz, and taking writing classes all the time. As I wouldn't have to do the whole GRE and application process I could begin right away, which is also an advantage as I get laid off of my "real world" job in a few months. Any word on the UCLA certificate program and if it has a good reputation?
Any insight would be greatly appreciated! Thanks so much!
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