When I first visited Chapman University at the ripe age of sixteen, I have to admit that the number one thing that attracted me to the school was its proximity to Disneyland. As a kid from Oregon who frequently made PowerPoints (complete with airfare options, hotel prices, rental car coupons, and MapQuest directions) to convince
Don’t be Afraid to Talk As an MFA in Creative Writing student, the thing I grapple with the most when it comes to my writing is sharing my ideas with other people, whether it’s friends, family, or strangers on the internet. I never know whether I’ve talked too much or scared them off, if I’m
Balance for self-preservation Life can sometimes feel like a series of adverse events occurring in rapid succession. The MFA in Creative Writing itself is not the hard part. After all, I am at Chapman University because I want to be here and because I am capable of doing the work and want to do it
Question Your Motives I’m in the habit of constantly questioning my motives for almost every task these days, probably because I have teenagers who are always questioning me. I have to prepare a good answer for everything. Since beginning the MFA in Creative Writing program, I find myself checking in every few days, asking why
Fear and Loathing in an MFA Before I started the MFA in Creative Writing program at Chapman University, my understanding of an MFA student wasn’t accurate. I imagined stereotypical nerds dropping words like preposterous, obfuscation, pellucidity, and sesquipedalian into day-to-day conversations to prove a point about their fancy craft, whatever that meant. Honestly, I knew
How to MFA and Work Full-Time by Geneva Trelease Working full-time and being an MFA in Creative Writing student is challenging, but it can be done! I’m the proof. I’m a full-time high school teacher and a part-time MFA student at Chapman University. Here, I’ve assembled some tips on how to keep your sanity
The MFA & Time Management by Larissa Lacy During my first semester as a graduate student at Chapman University, I had trouble with time management. More specifically, one of the biggest problems I faced was putting my school work on the back burner to spend time with friends or my significant other. At the beginning
No Inspiration is too small by Morgan Wilson If you were to go through the Notes app on my phone, you’d see a section called “Quotes and Scribblings.” I’ve had it since 2014. It has poems, character names, and even things I’ve written about people that I’ve seen on public transportation. This all started because
Fueling the MFA by Sarah Valadez For many MFA in Creative Writing students, caffeine is our best friend. Coffee, tea, energy drinks, etc. Sometimes, I need a boost, and caffeinated beverages come to my temporary rescue. Maybe you don’t like caffeine, of course. We all need energy, and the MFA student needs to sustain attention
How To Take Part in National Poetry Month by Meg Boyles April is more than a time for showers; it’s National Poetry Month. Since 1996, the Academy of American Poets has spearheaded this month-long celebration of the art form, in order to remind us to appreciate and be inspired by the power of poetry. If you’re