By Mariam Said MFA Graduate Student Making time for pleasure reading is hard when you’re in a creative writing, literature, or rhetoric graduate program. It’s hard enough in other academic fields and careers, but the writing and reading assignments required by English classes takes a certain amount of joy out of what once may have
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
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
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