Low-Residency Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

MENTORSHIPS I (first year mentorships)

Over the course of the typical four-month mentorship a student will do the following:

  • read at least five books (or their equivalent)
  • produce craft-based analytical writing in every packet
  • draft and revise at least 3 to 5 stories, or a novella, or equivalent sections of a novel; or 10-15 poems; or 3 to 4 pieces of nonfiction, or equivalent sections of a book

A typical packet from the student will include:

  • new and/or revised creative work
  • a bibliography of the reading the student has completed
  • critical analysis of the reading
  • responses to directions and questions posed by the mentor in the previous exchange of packets

MENTORSHIPS II (second year mentorships including thesis)

In the third or fourth semester, the assignments change in order to facilitate the student’s preparations of a creative thesis. This work necessarily displaces some of the reading and writing assignments quantified above.

A typical packet from the mentor will include:

  • a holistic critique of the student’s creative work and suggestions for new and substantially revised work
  • a return of the student’s manuscripts with marginalia and line-specific suggestions
  • comments on the student’s critical analysis of reading assignments
  • suggestions for related reading, especially books that provide models of craft pertinent to the student’s particular ambitions and style of writing
  • individualized instruction about specific aspects of craft
 

Frequent Exchange of Packets

Packets should be exchanged between student and mentor approximately every four weeks. For a mentorship period roughly equivalent to four months, students should receive feedback from their mentors a minimum of three times.

Attentiveness to Revision

In addition to frequent reading and writing, the mentor requires frequent revision of student work, and the teacher provides suggestions for improving the work as well as references to literary models that may be helpful.

A Variety of Tutorials and Workshops

A student should study with a different accomplished writer in tutorial each semester, and with a different workshop leader each residency, as study with writers of varied artistic sensibilities serves a student best.

Adapted from AWP Hallmarks of and Effective Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing