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
From Mid-Career to MFA (Part 3) By Candice Yacono Whether you’re a returning student or moved into graduate school straight from undergrad, it’s important to be clear about your goals for the MFA in Creative Writing, whether they are to publish a novel, to teach creative writing, or to make professional contacts. Check in with
AWP 2019: A Guide By Matthew Goldman For many of us in the MFA in Creative Writing program at Chapman University, this is our first year attending North America’s largest literary conference. This year, we’re in Portland, OR, on March 27-30. My peers may feel as I did at this time a year ago, perhaps
From Mid-Career to MFA (Part 2) By Candice Yacono As I wrote in the first installment of my “From Mid-Career to MFA” mini-series blog, I’ve returned to school in the middle of my career to pursue the dual degree MA in English and MFA in Creative Writing at Chapman University. Older students can bring a
From Mid-Career to MFA (Part 1) By Candice Yacono For anyone mid-career who is planning to embark on an MFA in Creative Writing, questions of fitting in might be raised. Will I belong at Chapman University? Will fellow students be able to relate to my life experiences? Will the next two to three years involve
The MFA, Writing Habits, & Community by Alex Quintanilla Choosing to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing is an honorable and ambitious endeavor. It means that you are making a commitment to becoming a better storyteller. However, the path to bettering oneself is not without resistance. Rigorous writing workshops and literature courses will push your mental
A Foot in the MFA Door: On Inspiration by Ashley Teller In my first semester in the MFA in Creative Writing program, I learned a great deal about the art and business of being a writer, especially in the Aspects of a Writer class that all the incoming students take together. It is not all that it
To Every New Writer: There will probably be a voice in your head that tells you that you do not belong here. Do not listen to it. You belong here just as much as everyone else who’s here. Being in an MFA program sometimes seems like an impossible task to me, and being in an