iowa creative writing mfa application

Graduate Admissions

Creative Writing (MFA in English)

The MFA in English with a focus in Creative Writing is awarded by the Graduate College. The Creative Writing Program, also known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, also offers  Nondegree Course Work . For the MFA in English with a focus in nonfiction writing, apply to the  Nonfiction Writing Program .

Applicants must meet the  Admission Requirements of the Graduate College  and the department offering the degree program (review the department's web site or the General Catalog for departmental requirements).

Tuition and fees vary by degree program and the type of student you are.

• Fall semester—Dec. 15
• Spring semester—not offered

The graduate application process has two steps

• You must first submit the online application to the Graduate College and pay the $60 application fee by credit card ($100 for international applicants).
• Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email instructing you on how to upload your supporting documents and submit letters of recommendation. A few programs require materials be sent directly to them. However, almost all supplemental material can and should be uploaded from your Admissions Profile in MyUI , our online service center for applicants and students. You can only access this AFTER you have submitted your application.

Degree Program Supplemental Materials

• Mail manuscript of your best work, with a  Manuscript Cover Sheet (PDF) - address listed below Receipt of your manuscript will be noted on your Admissions Profile.
• A Statement of Purpose
• Application for Graduate Awards
• Your General GRE test scores (optional but recommended)
• Supplemental Financial Aid

Recommendations

The application requirement section of your Profile includes an electronic letter of recommendation feature. If your program of study requires letters of recommendation, you will be asked to give the contact information of your recommenders including their email on your Admissions Profile. The recommender will then get an email giving them instructions on how to upload the recommendation letter and/or form.

• Three letters of recommendation

Materials to send to Admissions

• A set of your unofficial academic records/transcripts uploaded on your Admissions Profile. If you are admitted, official transcripts will be required before your enrollment. For international records, all records should bear the original stamp or seal of the institution and the signature of a school official.  Documents not in English must be accompanied by a complete, literal, English translation, certified by the issuing institution.
• Your official GRE scores are not required for admission to this program. However, applications that include GRE scores may be more competitive for a greater range of financial assistance (the University's institutional code is 6681).
• International students may also be required to submit TOEFL, IELTS, or DuoLingo scores to comply with the university's English Language Proficiency Requirements .
• Once recommended for admission, international students must send a  Financial Statement .

Apply Online , the $60 application fee ($100 for international students) is payable by Discover, MasterCard, or Visa.

Creative Writing Program The University of Iowa 102 Dey House Iowa City, IA 52242-1000 [email protected] 1-319-335-0416

Enrollment Management The University of Iowa 2900 University Capitol Centre 201 S. Clinton St. Iowa City, IA 52242 [email protected] 1-319-335-1523

Applying to the Nonfiction Writing Program

We are pleased that you are considering joining the Nonfiction MFA program at The University of Iowa. Our next admissions cycle is for Fall 2024. Applications are accepted between September 1, 2023 through December 14, 2023. Online application and all pdf documents (transcripts, letters of recommendation, writing sample, and statement of purpose) must be submitted by Thursday, December 14, 2023, by 4:00 PM CST. All admitted applicants will be contacted by phone or email around the middle of March. We do not accept applications for spring semester admissions.

All applicants must meet the Admission Requirements of the Graduate College.   See the  Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College  on the Graduate College website for additional information. The Nonfiction Writing Program is committed to fully funding all students who are admitted to the program, and to maintaining that funding for three years as long as students remain in good standing. For information about our Financial Aid Packages, please visit this page for details about our fellowships, tuition stipends, and generous health benefits. 

Application Procedures

• To apply to the Nonfiction Writing Program, you will need to upload your pdf documents directly to the University of Iowa’s Office of Admissions. Please click here . The $60.00 application fee must be paid via credit card ($100.00 for international applicants). Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for the online application to be processed and you to receive your HawkID.
• After you submit your application, you will receive email instructions (within 24 hours) on how to establish your HawkID and password in order to access your Admissions Profile on MyUI, our online portal for students. You will then upload the required supplemental documents through a secure portal. 

All pdf documents listed below are due no later than December 14th, 2023, by 4:00 PM CST.

• Your unofficial academic records/transcripts from all post-secondary institutions. If you are formally admitted, you will need to submit official transcripts prior to entering the program.
• Three letters of recommendation. You will be asked to provide the contact information of your recommenders on your Profile. The recommender will then receive an email from the Office of Admissions instructing them on how to upload a recommendation letter.  Letters should be written by persons familiar enough with your intellectual attainments to evaluate your potential as a graduate student in English (preferably instructors of your college English courses or professionals familiar with your writing abilities and work habits). Letters of Recommendation may be submitted through a dossier service (such as Interfolio), please inform the service to submit the letters via email to [email protected].
• A brief statement of purpose (no more than 500 words) explaining your reasons for choosing this degree program.
• We do NOT require GRE scores.
• Paper-based (PBT) 637
• Internet based (iBT) 110
• DuoLingo (DET) 135
• IELTS Overall scores of 8 with no subscore less than 7 
• A 20 to 30-page writing sample that represents the best of your work in literary nonfiction.  These can be in any forms of nonfiction and may be a single sustained work or a series of shorter pieces.  Please be sure you double-space your pages and use a 12-point font with 1-inch margins all around.

*Non-native speakers of English should note that most students are funded through teaching, and the Iowa Board of Regents mandates that all non-native speakers of English pass an oral English test in order to teach; the equivalent of an iBT speaking section score of 26 is required. If you are a non-native English speaker, we consider your official TOEFL scores and, additionally, we will conduct a telephone interview with you at an appropriate time in order to discern mastery of spoken English. For electronic submission of TOEFL test scores, the University of Iowa Institutional Code is 6681.

Please send direct questions about applications to [email protected].  

The University of Iowa prohibits discrimination in employment, educational programs, and activities on the basis of race, national origin, color, creed, religion, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or associational preference. The University also affirms its commitment to providing equal opportunities and equal access to University facilities. For additional information contact the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity, 319-335-0705. If you are a person with a disability who requires an accommodation in order to participate in these programs, please contact the English Department at 319-335-0440. 

NOTICE: The University of Iowa Center for Advancement is an operational name for the State University of Iowa Foundation, an independent, Iowa nonprofit corporation organized as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, publicly supported charitable entity working to advance the University of Iowa. Please review its full disclosure statement.

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Iowa Writers’ Workshop – Acceptance Rate, Alumni, Overview, and More

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop stands as the defining presence among American writing programs. Founded in 1936, some of the biggest names in American literature have been faculty, students, or both.

Located at the University of Iowa in a grandmotherly Victorian home, the Workshop introduced the model that would launch a boom of creative writing MFA programs across the country. By 1967, enough writing programs existed in the United States to merit the forming of the Associated Writing Programs, the professional organization that unites the numerous writing programs today.

The Iowa Workshop brings together writers of talent for support rather than for education. The two-year program, or “residency,” consists primarily of writing time for a thesis to be delivered at graduation. MFA students enroll in workshops in either poetry or fiction, where they meet in groups of 10 to 15 students for weekly critiques.

A few seminars in craft are available each semester, mostly as Form of Fiction or Form of Poetry. Some students take courses in other University of Iowa departments, particularly theater arts and world languages.

Workshop students often take courses at the university’s Center for the Book, a book arts program with its own graduate programs , but with some ties to the Workshop.

Summer programs at the Workshop offer graduate-level coursework for writers, whether or not they are in a degree program. Manuscript review still governs admission for these classes.

Graduates of the program note the advantages of access to giants of the literary and publishing worlds, not so much for artistic guidance but for help navigating the publishing and critical terrain of American letters.

The Workshop maintains that writing can be cultivated, more than taught, and attributes the success of its alumni to their initial talent , seen by the Workshop during the admissions process itself. The role of the Workshop, as they see it, continues to provide a crucible for the development of American literature among the Workshop’s students and faculty.

Iowa Writers’ Workshop Acceptance Rate

In 2017, LitHub, a website devoted to writing culture, published numbers ascribed to a “University of Iowa representative” that would indicate about a 3.7% rate of acceptance. 

That number seems generous, given data from the years 2013-2017 , which places the acceptance rate even lower. It’s safe to assume that Iowa usually gets many applications, over a thousand each year, for 25 slots in Fiction and 25 slots in Poetry.

Harvard Law School has an acceptance rate of 12.9% , and Juilliard accepts around 7% of its applicants . Despite the proliferation of MFA programs, the best-known remains extraordinarily selective, most under 5%, as this data from 2013 shows .

Iowa Writers’ Workshop Alumni

As for accepted students who took courses and graduated from the MFA program, short story master Flannery O’Connor may be the most lauded graduate; she earned her MFA in 1947 and won the National Book Award in 1972. She may be the only Iowa alumna featured on a United States postage stamp.

John Irving is an award-winning writer producing novels, nonfiction, and screenplays; he attended from 1965 to 1967. 

Michael Chabon’s Master’s thesis for the program became his first novel, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh .

United States Poet Laureates Rita Dove and Joy Harjo graduated in 1977 and 1978, respectively. Award-winning poets James Tate, Robert Bly, and Charles Wright, authors Andre Dubus and Raymond Carver earned MFAs.

Denis Johnson and Gish Jen, groundbreaking novelists, and experimental poets Antler and Barrett Watten, and the unclassifiable Joy Williams attended. Williams graduated in 1965; in 2021, she won the Library of Congress Prize for American Fiction.

Recent alumni like Alexander Chee continue to redefine genre and adopt new ways of delivering literature through media and technology. Chee was one of five program graduates to win Guggenheim fellowships in 2021.

How to Get Accepted to Iowa Writers’ Workshop

The short answer for how to get accepted to the Iowa Writers’ Conference: be insanely, irresistibly good at writing. Applicants should find the best parts of the best things they’ve ever written, and submit those.

The more nuanced answer: for Fiction applicants, the Workshop asks for two stories, not to exceed 80 pages. 

More work does not help an application. Submitting the most successful passages, whether it’s a chapter from a novel and a work of micro-fiction, two short stories, or two separate chapters from a novel in progress, presents the best picture of a writer ready to develop their craft.

Writers should include parts of stories, if parts of stories demonstrate their best work. Every page submitted should convey urgency and commitment to the narrative. 

Admissions readers look for a singular, undefinable experience when reading applicant submissions; applicants should make every effort to place themselves in the room with readers through their manuscripts.

The poetry submission process parallels the fiction process. Readers look for energy, focus, and commitment to art.

A manuscript of 10-12 poems should include only the work that best features the candidate. It’s far better to have a manuscript that comes in a little short on quantity than to fill in gaps with mediocre work.

No style or genre holds precedence in fiction or poetry; admissions readers seek to bring diverse perspectives to the community.

The Workshop readers emphasize that successful candidates’ work shows spark, originality, and promise, rather than polish or perfection. A successful portfolio submission to the program demonstrates the candidate’s irresistible desire to write.

The application’s statement of purpose can echo the sense of urgency demonstrated in the manuscript, underscoring the applicant’s temperament and dedication to developing their artistic voice. This part of the application won’t help a lackluster manuscript.

No creative writing prerequisites are necessary, and GRE scores are not required. Three letters of recommendation, transcripts, and a CV round out the application materials.

Who Are the Faculty at Iowa Writers’ Workshop?

Given the Workshop’s reputation and profile, the department draws writers from the highest levels of the fiction and poetry worlds , prize-winners and best-sellers. Alumni make up some of the faculty, though nearly any writer might be part of the Workshop for a time.

The current resident faculty include fiction authors like Ethan Canin, Jamel Brinkley, Charles D’Ambrosio, and Margot Livesey, award-winning writers whose work appears in prestigious publications like The New Yorker and The Atlantic .

Poets include Mark Levine, Elizabeth Willis, Tracie Morris, and James Galvin, winners of Guggenheim and NEA fellowships. 

Visiting faculty include Kevin Brockmeier, Jenny Zhang, Charles Baxter, Allan Gurganus, Karen Russell, D.A. Powell, Z.Z. Packer, and many other writers representing the vanguard of American literature. Many visiting faculty members spend a semester on campus; some stay a full school year, and many return to campus for additional terms.

Visiting and resident faculty members teach in the summer and online workshops offered by the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. The Eleventh Hour podcast archives recordings of craft talks from writers who have lectured in the Iowa Writers’ Workshop Summer Festival lecture series.

Similar Schools

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop may be the Harvard, Juilliard, and Mayo Clinic of writing, all rolled into one, but the program doesn’t provide the right fit for every writer. Some students find the blank slate of the Iowa prairie as an oasis, a perfect place to create, while others just don’t want to live in Iowa for two years and find the environment at odds with their writing.

Many students do well with Iowa’s workshop, read-around-the-table model. This model dominates writing programs. But many other MFA writing programs offer a host of other options.

Poets & Writers updates its comprehensive guide regularly , and writers’ resource Read the Workshop organizes lists based on the availability of funding , a crucial element for making an MFA program a sensible choice. For the widest vista , Associated Writing Programs’ searchable guide can take you to any of the over 300 writing programs in the United States.

For writers who want a broader program than a summer workshop or conference, but whose lives don’t allow relocation to another part of the country, Low-Residency MFAs can be the best of all worlds. These programs have expanded since the days of snail-mailing manuscripts to faculty mentors; online tools have made them much more immediate and vibrant.

Low-Residency programs often feature excellent faculty, for the same reason they attract serious students: less time on campus means many people in the program have other life commitments. Warren Wilson College and Vermont College of Fine Arts have Low-Residency MFA programs dating back to the days of shipping paper manuscripts to your classmates.

From traditional, high-ranking programs like Columbia and Florida State, to Saint Mary’s College in California with its Writer in the World courses and craft components , every MFA in writing offers different teaching approaches. Climbing in the rankings are schools like North Carolina State and the small, selective program at the University of New Hampshire.

Many schools now offer technical writing, screenwriting, or nonfiction concentrations. Some MFA programs allow students to work in multiple genres, or in new media and performance contexts.

Is Iowa Writers’ Workshop Worth It?

Two chief benefits to attending the Iowa Writers’ Workshop emerge among alumni stories. First, a residency at Iowa sets aside two full years dedicated to actual writing. Students write every day, and they can access critiques and editing formally and informally among the faculty and their cohorts.

And maybe more importantly, the Iowa Writers’ Workshop provides a kind of exclusive guild or club: members have access to a world of critical reception and publisher attention. Selection for the Iowa Writers’ Workshop conveys credibility. That feature can’t easily be quantified, but it’s very real.

Affording the Workshop might be as big an obstacle as the admissions process. In addition to tuition and fees, students will need to live in Iowa those two years. Tuition remission, teaching fellowships, and other aid can help make the program financially accessible.

Not every student will leave with a book contract and a major advance, though the stories of these successes inspire new candidates. Determining whether or not the program delivers value in a practical way depends on access to funding and on the student’s ability to convert those two years into a career post-graduation.

There’s one more benefit, but this one dodges definition even more than claims of credibility and craft. As an art form, writing belongs to the group of solitary activities. Writers almost universally work in private, and audiences read books alone (with some exceptions).

Yet the compulsion to write derives from a longing for human connection, and almost all writers benefit from a community, no matter how small or specialized. Writing programs can provide that community, cracking the isolation for a couple of years, or even a lifetime, as the bonds created in a writing program sustain long after the degree.

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15 Best Creative Writing MFA Programs in 2024

May 15, 2024

Whether you studied at a top creative writing university or are a high school dropout who will one day become a bestselling author , you may be considering an MFA in Creative Writing. But is a writing MFA genuinely worth the time and potential costs? How do you know which program will best nurture your writing? If you’re considering an MFA, this article walks you through the best full-time, low residency, and online Creative Writing MFA programs in the United States.

What are the best Creative Writing MFA programs?

Before we get into the meat and potatoes of this article, let’s start with the basics. What is an MFA, anyway?

A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate degree that usually takes from two to three years to complete. Applications typically require a sample portfolio, usually 10-20 pages (and sometimes up to 30-40) of your best writing. Moreover, you can receive an MFA in a particular genre, such as Fiction or Poetry, or more broadly in Creative Writing. However, if you take the latter approach, you often have the opportunity to specialize in a single genre.

Wondering what actually goes on in a creative writing MFA beyond inspiring award-winning books and internet memes ? You enroll in workshops where you get feedback on your creative writing from your peers and a faculty member. You enroll in seminars where you get a foundation of theory and techniques. Then, you finish the degree with a thesis project. Thesis projects are typically a body of polished, publishable-quality creative work in your genre—fiction, nonfiction, or poetry.

Why should I get an MFA in Creative Writing?

You don’t need an MFA to be a writer. Just look at Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison or bestselling novelist Emily St. John Mandel.

Nonetheless, there are plenty of reasons you might still want to get a creative writing MFA. The first is, unfortunately, prestige. An MFA from a top program can help you stand out in a notoriously competitive industry to be published.

The second reason: time. Many MFA programs give you protected writing time, deadlines, and maybe even a (dainty) salary.

Third, an MFA in Creative Writing is a terminal degree. This means that this degree allows you to teach writing at the university level, especially after you publish a book.

Fourth: resources. MFA programs are often staffed by brilliant, award-winning writers; offer lecture series, volunteer opportunities, and teaching positions; and run their own (usually prestigious) literary magazines. Such resources provide you with the knowledge and insight you’ll need to navigate the literary and publishing world on your own post-graduation.

But above all, the biggest reason to pursue an MFA is the community it brings you. You get to meet other writers—and share feedback, advice, and moral support—in relationships that can last for decades.

Types of Creative Writing MFA Programs

Here are the different types of programs to consider, depending on your needs:

Fully-Funded Full-Time Programs

These programs offer full-tuition scholarships and sweeten the deal by actually paying you to attend them.

• Pros: You’re paid to write (and teach).
• Cons: Uprooting your entire life to move somewhere possibly very cold.

Full-Time MFA Programs

These programs include attending in-person classes and paying tuition (though many offer need-based and merit scholarships).

• Pros: Lots of top-notch non-funded programs have more assets to attract world-class faculty and guests.
• Cons: It’s an investment that might not pay itself back.

Low-Residency MFA Programs

Low-residency programs usually meet biannually for short sessions. They also offer one-on-one support throughout the year. These MFAs are more independent, preparing you for what the writing life is actually like.

• Pros: No major life changes required. Cons: Less time dedicated to writing and less time to build relationships.

Online MFA Programs

Held 100% online. These programs have high acceptance rates and no residency requirement. That means zero travel or moving expenses.

• Pros: No major life changes required.
• Cons: These MFAs have less name recognition.

The Top 15 Creative Writing MFA Programs Ranked by Category

The following programs are selected for their balance of high funding, impressive return on investment, stellar faculty, major journal publications , and impressive alums.

FULLY FUNDED MFA PROGRAMS

1) johns hopkins university , mfa in fiction/poetry.

This two-year program offers an incredibly generous funding package: $39,000 teaching fellowships each year. Not to mention, it offers that sweet, sweet health insurance, mind-boggling faculty, and the option to apply for a lecture position after graduation. Many grads publish their first book within three years (nice). No nonfiction MFA (boo).

• Location: Baltimore, MD
• Incoming class size: 8 students (4 per genre)
• Admissions rate: 4-8%
• Alumni: Chimamanda Adichie, Jeffrey Blitz, Wes Craven, Louise Erdrich, Porochista Khakpour, Phillis Levin, ZZ Packer, Tom Sleigh, Elizabeth Spires, Rosanna Warren

2) University of Texas, James Michener Center

The only MFA that offers full and equal funding for every writer. It’s three years long, offers a generous yearly stipend of $30k, and provides full tuition plus a health insurance stipend. Fiction, poetry, playwriting, and screenwriting concentrations are available. The Michener Center is also unique because you study a primary genre and a secondary genre, and also get $4,000 for the summer.

• Location : Austin, TX
• Incoming class size : 12 students
• Acceptance rate: a bone-chilling less-than-1% in fiction; 2-3% in other genres
• Alumni: Fiona McFarlane, Brian McGreevy, Karan Mahajan, Alix Ohlin, Kevin Powers, Lara Prescott, Roger Reeves, Maria Reva, Domenica Ruta, Sam Sax, Joseph Skibell, Dominic Smith

3) University of Iowa

The Iowa Writers’ Workshop is a 2-year program on a residency model for fiction and poetry. This means there are low requirements, and lots of time to write groundbreaking novels or play pool at the local bar. All students receive full funding, including tuition, a living stipend, and subsidized health insurance. The Translation MFA , co-founded by Gayatri Chakravorti Spivak, is also two years long but with more intensive coursework. The Nonfiction Writing Program is a prestigious three-year MFA program and is also intensive.

• Incoming class size: 25 each for poetry and fiction; 10-12 for nonfiction and translation.
• Acceptance rate: 2.7-3.7%
• Fantastic Alumni: Raymond Carver, Flannery O’Connor, Sandra Cisneros, Joy Harjo, Garth Greenwell, Kiley Reid, Brandon Taylor, Eula Biss, Yiyun Li, Jennifer Croft

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs (Continued) 

4) university of michigan.

Anne Carson famously lives in Ann Arbor, as do the MFA students in UMichigan’s Helen Zell Writers’ Program. This is a big university town, which is less damaging to your social life. Plus, there’s lots to do when you have a $25,000 stipend, summer funding, and health care.

This is a 2-3-year program in either fiction or poetry, with an impressive reputation. They also have a demonstrated commitment to “ push back against the darkness of intolerance and injustice ” and have outreach programs in the community.

• Location: Ann Arbor, MI
• Incoming class size: 18 (9 in each genre)
• Acceptance rate: 2%
• Alumni: Brit Bennett, Vievee Francis, Airea D. Matthews, Celeste Ng, Chigozie Obioma, Jia Tolentino, Jesmyn Ward

5) Brown University

Brown offers an edgy, well-funded program in a place that only occasionally dips into arctic temperatures. All students are fully funded for 2 years, which includes tuition remission and a $32k yearly stipend. Students also get summer funding and—you guessed it—that sweet, sweet health insurance.

In the Brown Literary Arts MFA, students take only one workshop and one elective per semester. It’s also the only program in the country to feature a Digital/Cross Disciplinary Track.  Fiction and Poetry Tracks are offered as well.

• Location: Providence, RI
• Incoming class size: 12-13
• Acceptance rate: “highly selective”
• Alumni: Edwidge Danticat, Jaimy Gordon, Gayl Jones, Ben Lerner, Joanna Scott, Kevin Young, Ottessa Moshfegh

6) University of Arizona

This 3-year program with fiction, poetry, and nonfiction tracks has many attractive qualities. It’s in “ the lushest desert in the world, ” and was recently ranked #4 in creative writing programs, and #2 in Nonfiction. You can take classes in multiple genres, and in fact, are encouraged to do so. Plus, Arizona’s dry heat is good for arthritis.

This notoriously supportive program is fully funded. Moreover, teaching assistantships that provide a salary, health insurance, and tuition waiver are offered to all students. Tucson is home to a hopping literary scene, so it’s also possible to volunteer at multiple literary organizations and even do supported research at the US-Mexico Border.

• Location: Tucson, AZ
• Incoming class size: usually 6
• Acceptance rate: 1.2% (a refreshingly specific number after Brown’s evasiveness)
• Alumni: Francisco Cantú, Jos Charles, Tony Hoagland, Nancy Mairs, Richard Russo, Richard Siken, Aisha Sabatini Sloan, David Foster Wallace

7) Arizona State University 

With concentrations in fiction and poetry, Arizona State is a three-year funded program in arthritis-friendly dry heat. It offers small class sizes, individual mentorships, and one of the most impressive faculty rosters in the game. Moreover, it encourages cross-genre study.

Funding-wise, everyone has the option to take on a teaching assistantship position, which provides a tuition waiver, health insurance, and a yearly stipend of $25k. Other opportunities for financial support exist as well.

• Location: Tempe, AZ
• Incoming class size: 8-10
• Acceptance rate: 3% (sigh)
• Alumni: Tayari Jones, Venita Blackburn, Dorothy Chan, Adrienne Celt, Dana Diehl, Matthew Gavin Frank, Caitlin Horrocks, Allegra Hyde, Hugh Martin, Bonnie Nadzam

FULL-RESIDENCY MFAS (UNFUNDED)

8) new york university.

This two-year program is in New York City, meaning it comes with close access to literary opportunities and hot dogs. NYU also has one of the most accomplished faculty lists anywhere. Students have large cohorts (more potential friends!) and have a penchant for winning top literary prizes. Concentrations in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction are available.

• Location: New York, NY
• Incoming class size: ~60; 20-30 students accepted for each genre
• Acceptance rate: 6-9%
• Alumni: Nick Flynn, Nell Freudenberger, Aracelis Girmay, Mitchell S. Jackson, Tyehimba Jess, John Keene, Raven Leilani, Robin Coste Lewis, Ada Limón, Ocean Vuong

9) Columbia University

Another 2-3 year private MFA program with drool-worthy permanent and visiting faculty. Columbia offers courses in fiction, poetry, translation, and nonfiction. Beyond the Ivy League education, Columbia offers close access to agents, and its students have a high record of bestsellers. Finally, teaching positions and fellowships are available to help offset the high tuition.

• Incoming class size: 110
• Acceptance rate: not publicized (boo)
• Alumni: Alexandra Kleeman, Rachel Kushner, Claudia Rankine, Rick Moody, Sigrid Nunez, Tracy K. Smith, Emma Cline, Adam Wilson, Marie Howe, Mary Jo Bang

10) Sarah Lawrence 

Sarah Lawrence offers a concentration in speculative fiction in addition to the average fiction, poetry, and nonfiction choices. Moreover, they encourage cross-genre exploration. With intimate class sizes, this program is unique because it offers biweekly one-on-one conferences with its stunning faculty. It also has a notoriously supportive atmosphere, and many teaching and funding opportunities are available.

• Location: Bronxville, NY
• Incoming class size: 30-40
• Acceptance rate: not publicized
• Alumni: Cynthia Cruz, Melissa Febos, T Kira Madden, Alex Dimitrov, Moncho Alvarado

LOW RESIDENCY

11) bennington college.

This two-year program boasts truly stellar faculty, and meets twice a year for ten days in January and June. It’s like a biannual vacation in beautiful Vermont, plus mentorship by a famous writer. The rest of the time, you’ll be spending approximately 25 hours per week on reading and writing assignments. Students have the option to concentrate in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Uniquely, they can also opt for a dual-genre focus.

The tuition is $23,468 per year, with scholarships available. Additionally, Bennington offers full-immersion teaching fellowships to MFA students, which are extremely rare in low-residency programs.

• Location: Bennington, VT
• Acceptance rate: 53%
• Incoming class: 25-35
• Alumni: Larissa Pham, Andrew Reiner, Lisa Johnson Mitchell, and others

12)  Institute for American Indian Arts

This two-year program emphasizes Native American and First Nations writing. With truly amazing faculty and visiting writers, they offer a wide range of genres, including screenwriting, poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. In addition, each student is matched with a faculty mentor who works with them one-on-one throughout the semester.

Students attend two eight-day residencies each year, in January and July, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. At $12,000 in tuition a year, it boasts being “ one of the most affordable MFA programs in the country .”

• Location: Santa Fe, NM
• Incoming class size : 21
• Alumni: Tommy Orange, Dara Yen Elerath, Kathryn Wilder

13) Vermont College of Fine Arts

VCFA is the only graduate school on this list that focuses exclusively on the fine arts. Their MFA in Writing offers concentrations in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction; they also offer an MFA in Literary Translation and one of the few MFAs in Writing for Children and Young Adults . Students meet twice a year for nine days, in January and July, either in-person or online. Here, they receive one-on-one mentorship that continues for the rest of the semester. You can also do many travel residencies in exciting (and warm) places like Cozumel.

VCFA boasts amazing faculty and visiting writers, with individualized study options and plenty of one-on-one time. Tuition for the full two-year program is approximately $54k.

• Location : Various; 2024/25 residencies are in Colorado and California
• Incoming class size: 18-25
• Acceptance rate: 63%
• Alumnx: Lauren Markham, Mary-Kim Arnold, Cassie Beasley, Kate Beasley, Julie Berry, Bridget Birdsall, Gwenda Bond, Pablo Cartaya

ONLINE MFAS

14) university of texas at el paso.

UTEP is considered the best online MFA program, and features award-winning faculty from across the globe. Accordingly, this program is geared toward serious writers who want to pursue teaching and/or publishing. Intensive workshops allow submissions in Spanish and/or English, and genres include poetry and fiction.

No residencies are required, but an optional opportunity to connect in person is available every year. This three-year program costs about $25-30k total, depending on whether you are an in-state or out-of-state resident.

• Location: El Paso, TX
• Acceptance rate: “highly competitive”
• Alumni: Watch alumni testimonies here

15) Bay Path University

This 2-year online, no-residency program is dedicated entirely to nonfiction. Featuring a supportive, diverse community, Bay Path offers small class sizes, close mentorship, and an optional yearly field trip to Ireland.

There are many tracks, including publishing, narrative medicine, and teaching creative writing. Moreover, core courses include memoir, narrative journalism, food/travel writing, and the personal essay. Tuition is approximately $31,000 for the entire program, with scholarships available.

• Location: Longmeadow, MA
• Incoming class size: 20
• Alumni: Read alumni testimonies here

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs — Final Thoughts

Whether you’re aiming for a fully funded, low residency, or completely online MFA program, there are plenty of incredible options available—all of which will sharpen your craft while immersing you in the vibrant literary arts community.

Hoping to prepare for your MFA in advance? You might consider checking out the following:

• Best English Programs
• Best Colleges for Creative Writing
• Writing Summer Programs
• Best Writing Competitions for High School Students

Inspired to start writing? Get your pencil ready:

• 100 Creative Writing Prompts 
• 1 00 Tone Words to Express Mood in Your Writing
• 60 Senior Project Ideas
• Common App Essay Prompts

Best MFA Creative Writing Programs – References:

• https://www.pw.org/mfa
• The Creative Writing MFA Handbook: A Guide for Prospective Graduate Students , by Tom Kealey (A&C Black 2005)
• Graduate School Admissions

Julia Conrad

With a Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian from Wesleyan University as well as MFAs in both Nonfiction Writing and Literary Translation from the University of Iowa, Julia is an experienced writer, editor, educator, and a former Fulbright Fellow. Julia’s work has been featured in  The Millions ,  Asymptote , and  The Massachusetts Review , among other publications. To read more of her work, visit  www.juliaconrad.net

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Creative Writing and Environment

Program information:.

• No Doctoral Degrees Offered
• Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
• No Online Degrees Offered
• Demonstrate understanding of craft and professional practice through coursework, workshops, and completion of refined imaginative literary manuscripts in multiple genres
• Identify, research, and examine—through coursework, fieldwork, and literary practice—the natural world and the environmental imagination
• Broaden and deepen understanding of literary and theoretical traditions of the major genres and the methodologies of craft analysis and practice
• Broaden and deepen understanding of the cultural and natural environment through significant coursework in environmental courses available at Iowa State University both within and beyond the MFA program and English Department
• Design, write, workshop, refine, and defend a significant body of publishable- or production-quality imaginative writing, including a full-length thesis manuscript, which demonstrates professional understanding and application of craft and technique, literary tradition, and the environmental imagination
• Gain practical training and experience in creating and fostering a healthy literary community and sustaining a professional life in letters through teaching and research assistantships and internships, literary journal editorial internships and positions, as well as land stewardship, reading series, and other outreach opportunities
• Student Involvement: Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, idque adipisci patrioque vix et, assum nostrum vituperata per in.
• Teaching Assistantships
• Scholarships
• Application Acceptance Rate: 90%
• Med. Time-to-degree (years): 1.5
• No Doctoral
• Median time to earn the master’s: 2.8 years (Methods)
• Career Placement

Program Contact:

Mailing address:, admission requirements:.

• 4 year Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
• Academic Records/Transcripts
• Minimum 3.0 GPA (Program may alter requirement.)
• Proof of English Proficiency.
• 1. Pearl Hogrefe Fellowship in Creative Writing application information
• 2. Three letters of recommendation (LOR)
• 3. Application for Teaching Assistantship statement
• 4. Portfolio
• 5. All nonnative speaking applicants must provide an audio/video of spontaneous spoken English emailed to [email protected].
• NOTE: Nonnative speakers of English may NOT be required to submit English proficiency test scores (see below). Review downloadable Graduate Application Instructions document.
• Program Requires GRE: No
• Program Requires GMAT: No
• Program Will Review Without TOEFL or IELTS: No
• Financial Statement: Application

Application Information:

• Computer Science

Writers' Workshop

Graduate program faq, frequently asked questions, can i take workshop classes remotely.

No, we are a full-residency program and do not offer remote--learning classes.

Can I study in both genres?

You will be able to take seminars in both poetry in fiction, but workshops are limited to the genre in which you are admitted.

Is it true that you will not consider genre fiction?

It isn't. Our students write in a wide spectrum of genres, though most fiction writers focus on fiction for adults. The best thing you can do is to submit your best work.

Do you require GRE scores?

We do not require GRE scores. Admission to the Workshop is based, above all else, on the creative work you send us.

I'm worried about the mail. What if my manuscript doesn't arrive in time?

If we receive your upload by December 15th, we will consider your application submitted on time and will ensure that it will be reviewed. Please send an email to [email protected] if you know for a fact that your manuscript will not arrive by mail (if it was returned or if mail service is unavailable due to extenuating circumstances).

How will I be notified of your decision?

We are still old-fashioned and send all formal decision letters by mail through the U.S. post office. If you have not received a letter by March 15th , you may email [email protected] to request a digital version. We do sometimes reach out to applicants by phone before their letter arrives, but everyone receives a decision in the mail.

Why does my manuscript not yet appear as "acknowledged" in the online portal?

We will start to acknowledge applications in late October. If you know your manuscript has arrived in our office but it does not yet appear as "acknowledged" in our system, it is simply because we receive a lot of manuscripts and it takes us time to get to all of them. If you sent us a manuscript but it still is not marked as "acknowledged" by January 7th, please email [email protected] and let us know.

My letters of recommendation have not come in yet, and it's after the deadline. Should I worry?

The deadline for letters of recommendation is January 20.  Your recommenders will still be able to upload a letter after that, so if you are missing one, please ask them to submit a letter ASAP. If we notice that we are missing a necessary part of your application, we will reach out to you.

Do I have to apply for financial aid?

There are forms we ask you to fill out as part of your overall application to the Workshop that have questions that relate to funding, but there is not a financial aid application as such.

Are international students eligible for the same funding as students from the U.S.?

All Writers' Workshop students receive the same amount of funding, either through fellowships or assistantships or a combination of the two. We are deeply indebted to our donors for enabling us to make funding stipends equal for all students and, with their help, we do our best to make sure that all students are able to attend the program if accepted. In recent years, international students have made up nearly a quarter of our class.

When will I hear about my admissions status?

If you haven't heard from us by March 15th, you may email [email protected] and request an email decision letter.

If I am not admitted, can I apply again?

Of course! In fact, it is not uncommon for students to be admitted on their second or third time applying.

Advice on Applying

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Discussions about the writing craft.

Applying for 13 MFA programs in Creative Writing: Poetry. Any advice, tips, etc?

Currently, I’m a senior for my undergrad/BA in English lit., and I graduate in the fall/winter semester of 2021 later this year. I’m only applying to 13 grad schools and all are fully funded programs, as I see it’s not worth it if they’re not fully funded. I’ve been preparing to start my cover letter, resume, publications, etc. for grad school, however I am worried.

First off, I only have one publication so far, so I’ve been applying to many places like crazy, only to get rejected by a majority of them.

I’m also debating on whether or not to take the GRE since every school I’m applying to doesn’t require it and I’ve read many posts saying that the GRE won’t really make a difference in acceptance.

I’ve been volunteering, doing crisis counselling, eventually working with Make-A-Wish, club activities, etc. to build my resume, but not a crazy amount in all honesty.

I know an excellent writing sample is the number one/key factor that many people talk about, though my writing has been noted by many as avant garde but they mean to say too weird and not their cup of tea.

I guess I’m just worried is all and I could really use some advice on what to do, focus on, and strengthen as I would love to be doing my MFA next year :( I’m not crazy impressive in my university years and only now am trying to make up for it.

Here are the schools I’m applying to:

University of Oregon

Oregon State University

The University of Texas at Austin

University of Florida

University of Alabama

Boise State University

Iowa State University

University of Idaho

Washington University in St. Louis

University of Washington

Portland State University

Arizona State University

University of Arizona

Thank you all! I really appreciate it :D

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Resources for professionals exploring their education options.

WHAT 2 Hour Online Sessions

Is an MFA in Writing Right for You? Assessing Your Goals and Expectations

Deciding whether to pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing is a significant step for any writer. This advanced degree can propel your writing career, but weighing your goals and expectations before committing to a graduate program is essential.

What is an MFA in Writing?

A Master of Fine Arts (MFA) is a graduate-level degree focused on nurturing the skills of aspiring writers. An MFA program centers around cultivating a writer’s creative and technical ability to produce creative work at a professional level. This degree is not only about honing one’s writing; it’s an immersive experience combining mentorship, workshops, literature courses and often teaching opportunities. The end goal of these programs is for graduates to emerge as well-rounded, skilled writers. 

Typical MFA programs offer specializations in genres like fiction, nonfiction, poetry, playwriting or screenwriting. Throughout the program, students develop their voice and style through intense writing practice and critical feedback. In addition to workshops, MFA candidates engage in literary and theory classes that enhance their understanding of the craft and tradition of writing.

Is an MFA a Terminal Degree?

An MFA is considered a “terminal degree,” as it’s the highest degree in its field of study. In the arts, an MFA is similar to a Ph.D. in academia. As such, holding this degree qualifies an individual to teach at the college level, and many MFA programs offer teaching assistantships that provide pedagogical training and experience.

MFA vs. MA: Understanding the Differences

While both a Master of Fine Arts and a Master of Arts prepare graduates for creative careers in their respective fields, critical differences exist in their approaches and the career outcomes from each degree.

Practice vs. Study: The Practical Nature of the MFA vs. the Theoretical Focus of the MA

Mfa: a practice-oriented approach.

The MFA in writing centers around the practice of writing itself. The curriculum immerses students in the act of writing through workshops, peer critiques, and mentorship programs. It prioritizes the development of a student’s creative work, aiming to refine both the art and craft of writing. An MFA culminates in a creative thesis, which is typically a publishable body of creative work, signifying a readiness to enter the professional literary field.

MA: A Theoretical Exploration

An MA in English or Creative Writing places a stronger emphasis on the study of literature and theory. This program encourages a broader academic exploration of literary history criticism and pedagogy. Classes include literary analysis, theory, and the study of various genres and periods in literature. The MA is more research-oriented, often requiring a critical thesis that contributes to scholarly discussions in the field of literary studies.

Career Trajectories: How MFA and MA Degrees Differ in Post-graduation Paths

Mfa career paths.

Graduates of MFA programs qualify for careers as published authors, poets, screenwriters, or playwrights. However, the terminal nature of the MFA also equips graduates to pursue academic careers, such as teaching creative writing at the university level. Opportunities in editing, publishing and other literary endeavors also align well with the skill set developed in an MFA program.

MA Career Paths

Master of Arts graduates frequently move into teaching, especially at the secondary or community college level, although additional certification may be required depending on the institution or state. Their deep understanding of literature, criticism, and writing makes them well-suited for careers in publishing, editorial roles, content development and more analytical or research-intensive positions in various industries. An MA also serves as a stepping stone for those considering a Ph.D. in Literature or related fields, leading to careers in academia, research or scholarly publishing.

Who Should Consider an MFA in Writing?

Understanding who thrives in MFA programs can help prospective candidates evaluate whether this path aligns with their aspirations and career objectives.

Profiling Prospective MFA Candidates: Aspiring Writers and Artists

Aspiring writers and artists thrive in MFA programs since the programs are built around intentional time to hone their craft and receive feedback from professors and peers. Their time in the program increases their technical and soft skills, preparing them for successful careers whether they go into publishing or teaching.

What Can You Do With an MFA in Creative Writing?

Creative writing mfa for academic careers.

Thanks to the degree's terminal status, graduates with an MFA in Writing are qualified to teach creative writing at the college or university level. Beyond teaching, MFA holders often engage in the broader academic community through conferences, literary journals and scholarly publications—an appealing path for those passionate about education and mentorship in the craft of writing.

MFA as a Career Catalyst for Working Professionals

For working professionals in unrelated fields, an MFA can be a pivot or enhancement to their careers. Whether transitioning to roles requiring strong writing skills, like publishing, content creation and communications, or embarking on an entirely new career as a professional writer or editor, the MFA equips them with the expertise and credentials to broaden their career prospects.

MFA as a Guide to Launching Creative Projects

An MFA in writing provides the skills, time and mentorship needed to start significant creative projects like a novel, play, screenplay or poetry collection. This program aids in creating these works and helps in navigating the publishing industry, connecting with agents and understanding the business side of being a professional writer.

The Benefits of Pursuing a Creative Writing MFA

Choosing to earn an MFA in Creative Writing comes with many benefits, not the least of which is enhancing your skills in your creative field. Another advantage of earning an MFA comes from the networking opportunities you’ll have in your program and the professional development you’ll gain from the teaching opportunities.

Is a Creative Writing MFA Worth It?

Deciding whether a Creative Writing MFA is worth depends on your career goals, cost vs. benefit and specific situational factors.

Professional Development and Access to Opportunities

For many aspiring writers, an MFA provides unparalleled access to mentorship, rigorous critique and immersive writing opportunities that can significantly improve their craft. The professional network and community connections formed during an MFA program often prove invaluable, opening doors to publishing, academic positions, and collaborations that might not be accessible otherwise.

Alignment with Career Trajectories

The value of an MFA also depends on one’s career trajectory. If your goal is to teach creative writing at the collegiate level, an MFA is practically indispensable, given it's typically a required qualification. An MFA is not a strict necessity for those aiming to be published authors or playwrights, but the skills and exposure gained can dramatically improve the journey.

Cost Consideration

MFA programs can be a significant financial undertaking with varying costs depending on the institution. Prospective students should consider tuition, living expenses and the potential loss of income if they choose to study full-time. Scholarships, assistantships and fellowships can alleviate these costs for some, making an MFA more viable.

Situational Considerations: When an MFA Makes Sense (and When It Doesn't)

When an mfa in creative writing makes sense:.

• You’re seeking to improve your craft in a structured, intensive environment.
• Academic careers or teaching creative writing is your goal, requiring the qualifications an MFA provides.
• You value the mentorship, community, and networking opportunities exclusive to MFA settings.

When an MFA in Creative Writing Might Not Make Sense:

• If the financial burden outweighs the potential career benefits or aligns poorly with your personal financial situation.
• Your primary objective is publication, and you have access to a strong writers' community or other mentorship forms outside the traditional MFA framework.
• You thrive in more self-directed learning environments and might benefit more from non-traditional paths like workshops, retreats, and self-study.

Exploring the Different Types of MFA Writing Programs

On-campus mfa programs: benefits.

• An immersive learning environment: On-campus MFA programs more closely mirror the classic college experience with in-person classes, workshops, and readings, allowing you to engage with faculty and fellow students deeply. 
• Facilities and resources: When you enroll in an on-campus MFA program, you have access to university resources like libraries, writing centers, and guest lecturers. You’ll also benefit from hands-on guidance from faculty members and join extracurricular writing groups like literary journals. 
• Schedule and commitment: Generally, on-campus MFA programs require a full-time commitment, with structured schedules that may be less accommodating to students with extensive professional or personal obligations. These programs best suit individuals who can dedicate substantial time to their studies.

Hybrid MFA Programs: Balancing On-Campus and Online Work

Hybrid MFA programs can help students balance their on-campus and online work by combining remote learning with in-person workshops. This way, students can sometimes meet with their peers and faculty in person but also experience the flexibility of completing coursework online on their own schedule.

Fully Online MFA Programs: Maximizing Flexibility and Convenience

The benefits of a fully online MFA come from its accessibility, cost-effectiveness, and flexibility for non-traditional students. An online program allows you to access and complete coursework when it works best for you, and it gives you the chance to get the most out of balancing your work and school. Non-traditional students benefit significantly from fully online programs since they can pursue a graduate degree without pausing their careers or current life commitments.

Choosing the Right MFA in Creative Writing

There are a few criteria students should consider as they evaluate the top MFA programs:

• Faculty: Ensuring the program you join has respected and accomplished faculty will help ensure your quality of education. Plus, they can help you make connections in the industry since they’ll most likely know others in the field.
• Alumni: See where the alums from the program end up working. If there are places where you can see yourself working, too, then it’s a good sign that this MFA program can get you where you want to go. 
• Funding: Research what types of scholarships your program provides so you have a good idea of how much you’ll need to invest in your education. 
• Curriculum: Explore the courses offered in your program of interest and see if any jump out at you or align closely with your writing goals.
• Location: Choosing an MFA in a location that works for you is crucial, as you'll interact with the area a lot throughout your program and the industry connections you make will most likely be local.

Write in the Heart of Los Angeles: Mount Saint Mary's University's MFA Program

Through the MFA in Creative Writing from Mount Saint Mary’s University , you’ll develop your writing skills across genres in a dynamic, multifaceted program. This MFA is located in the heart of Los Angeles and has a flexible and tailored schedule for working adults, so you don’t have to quit your job to invest in your writing goals. 

In the program, you’ll gain insights into the business of writing and publishing as a diverse group of distinguished faculty members mentors you. You’ll join a community of students, faculty and alumni celebrating inclusivity and literary citizenship. 

To learn more about the MFA at MSMU, download our guide . Or, you can request more information. Want to start your MFA journey today? Apply now!

What is a Liberal Arts Degree Good For?

Recommended for you, why you should invest in creative writing summer courses at the mount, 7 creative writing careers you can get with an mfa degree.

• Graduate Studies
• MFA in Creative Writing and Environment

Creative Writing & Environment Graduate Faculty Members

K. L. Cook (MFA, Warren Wilson College) is the award-winning author of six books of fiction, poetry, and essays. His first book,  Last Call , a collection of linked stories chronicling three decades in the life of a Texas Panhandle family, won the inaugural Prairie Schooner Book Prize in Fiction.  The Girl from Charnelle , a novel focusing on the same fictional family, won the Willa Award for Best Contemporary Fiction and was an Editor’s Choice selection of the Historical Novel Society, a Southwest Book of the Year, and a finalist for the James Jones First Novel Award , among other honors.  Love Songs for the Quarantined , a thematically linked story cycle, won the Spokane Prize for Short Fiction and was a Longlist Finalist for the Frank O’Connor International Story Prize. His most recent books are Marrying Kind , a new collection of short stories; a collection of poetry, Lost Soliloquies ; and The Art of Disobedience: Essays on Form, Fiction, and Influence .

Cook’s stories, essays, articles, and poems have appeared widely in such journals and magazines as  Glimmer Train, One Story, Harvard Review, The Writer’s Chronicle, Poets & Writers, Threepenny Review, Brevity , Louisville Review, Hotel Amerika, Shenandoah,   Bloom , and  American Short Fiction.  His work has also been anthologized in  Best American Mystery Stories, Best of the West, The Prairie Schooner Book Prize: Tenth Anniversary Reader, Teachable Moments: Essays on Experiential Education, The Short Story Project , Now Write: Fiction Exercises from Today’s Best Writers and Teachers,  and a Poets & Writers anthology on literary marketing.   Other honors include a Western Writers of America Award for Best Short Story about the American West, the Grand Prize from the Santa Fe Writers Project, an Arizona Commission on the Arts fellowship and grant, and residency fellowships to the MacDowell Colony, Yaddo, Ucross, and Blue Mountain Center.

• [email protected]
• Directory Profile

Christiana Langenberg

Christiana Louisa Langenberg  (MA, University of Minnesota) is the author of the bilingual collection of stories  Half of What I Know . “ Half of What I Know  shows that even the small episodes of life leave their mark. Christiana Langenberg’s talent and imagination are so powerful in  Half of What I Know,  it is impossible to overlook the vision and meticulous craft she inscribes in each of these stories,” said Deborah Marie Poe, fiction editor of  Drunken Boat Online Journal of Art and Literature.  “Langenberg keeps us teetering at the edge of some crash, ultimately demonstrating that life’s treasures eclipse the wrecks.”

Christiana’s second collection of stories,  Here is What You’ll Do,  was a finalist in the 2010 Flannery O’Connor Award for Short Fiction. She is the recipient of the  Drunken Boat  Panliterary Award for Fiction, the  Chelsea  Award for Short Fiction, the Great River Writers’ Retreat, the Louisville Literary Arts Prose Prize and a multiple Pushcart Prize nominee. Her stories have been published in  The Huffington Post , Passages North, Glimmer Train, Dogwood, New South, Lumina, Storyglossia, Drunken Boat, So To Speak, Literary Salt, Carve, Chelsea, Green Mountains Review, American Literary Review,  and a variety of literary formats.

Christiana is the Advising Coordinator for undergraduate English majors and the Advising Coordinator for the Women’s and Gender Studies program. She teaches primarily undergraduate Creative Writing classes, such as the Write Like a Woman course she created in 1998 and has been teaching writing for nearly 30 years. She has taught in residential treatment centers for emotionally disturbed adolescents, a maximum security prison and at universities in Minnesota and Colorado, as well as the Midwest Writing Center’s annual writing conference. In June 2013, as the David R. Collins invited speaker, she delivered a keynote address, “Between Word Greed and Abandonment: Learning to Love the Process,” at the Midwest Writing Center conference. At ISU she has graduate faculty status and has taught the Graduate Fiction Workshop.

Christiana is currently working on two separate book projects: one a collection of essays about the differences between Italian and American women’s perceptions of body image, confidence, swagger and self-esteem; the other a series of nonfiction pieces (in experimental narrative forms) about the issues of “otherness” that children with multiple disabilities must navigate as they invariably fight the K-12 education system. The Winter 2014 issue of  Passages North included her award-winning lyric essay “Foiled,” a braided narrative about the tragic death of a Vietnamese immigrant and the complexities of raising a child with multiple disabilities.

• [email protected]

Debra Marquart

Debra Marquart is a Distinguished Professor of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa State University and Iowa’s Poet Laureate. She is the Senior Editor of Flyway: Journal of Writing & Environment.   In 2021, Marquart was awarded a Poets Laureate Fellowship from the Academy of American Poets.

Marquart’s work has been featured on NPR and the BBC and has received over 50 grants and awards including an NEA Fellowship, a PEN USA Award, a New York Times Editors’ Choice commendation, and Elle Magazine’s Elle Lettres Award.

A memoirist, poet, and performing musician, Marquart is the author of seven books including an environmental memoir of place, The Horizontal World: Growing Up Wild in the Middle of Nowhere and a collection of poems, Small Buried Things: Poems.  Marquart’s short story collection, The Hunger Bone: Rock & Roll Stories drew on her experiences as a former road musician. A singer/songwriter, she continues to perform solo and with her jazz-poetry performance project, The Bone People, with whom she has recorded two CDs.

Marquart’s most recent book, The Night We Landed on the Moon: Essays Between Exile & Belonging , was published in 2021, and her poetry collection, “Gratitude with Dogs Under Stars: New & Collected Poems” is forthcoming from New Rivers Press in 2022.

For More Information

Website: debramarquart.com

Digital Repository of Creative Work:   https://works.bepress.com/debra-marquart/

• [email protected]

Charissa Menefee

Charissa Menefee  (PhD, Southern IL U-Carbondale) is a playwright, poet, director, and performer. Her chapbook, When I Stopped Counting , is available from Finishing Line Press, and her poetry can also be found or is forthcoming in Adanna , Poetry South , Terrene , Poets Reading the News , The Paddock Review , Twyckenham Notes , Amygdala , The Indian River Review , Footnotes , Dragon Poet Review , Telepoem Booths , and collections such as The Hippocrates Prize for Poetry & Medicine Anthology , Surprised By Joy , and The Poeming Pigeon: In the News . She is a 2018 Writer-in-Residence at the Fairhope Center for the Writing Arts.

Dr. Menefee has been a Tennessee Williams Scholar in Playwriting at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference and a finalist for the Julie Harris Playwright Award. Her plays have been honored by the Utah Shakespeare Festival's New American Playwrights Project, Pandora Festival of New Plays, American College Theatre Festival, Arizona Theatre Conference, Christian H. Moe Awards, and City of Charleston Literary Arts Awards. Pretty Lucky is included in 105 Five-Minute Plays for Study and Performance (Smith & Kraus). Recent productions include Our Antigone , adapted from Sophocles, premiered at Story Theatre Company (Iowa); Your Soup, Sir , part of Paula Vogel's UBU ROI Bake-Off at the Playwrights Center (Minnesota); Sarah's Poem , premiered in Rover Dramawerks' 365 Women a Year Festival (Texas); Check Your Ticket , included in the What She Said Festival at The Underground Theatre (Minnesota); and Lydia's Plan , named Best Play in the Theatre Lawrence Short Play Festival (Kansas). How Long is Fifteen Minutes? was supported by a research grant from Iowa State University's Center for Excellence in the Arts & Humanities and recently featured in Tennessee Women's Theatre Project's Women's Work Festival; the anchoring monologue is in production as a short film, directed by the author. Dr. Menefee has been involved with about two hundred plays, as writer, director, producer, dramaturg, actor, designer, and technician. She was co-founder and co-producer, with playwright Micki Shelton, of Tomorrow’s Theatre Tonight, a new play reading and development series that ran for nearly a decade in Arizona.

Current projects include two new collections of poetry, Last of the Shepherds  and The Poet Donates His Minutes ; a new full-length historical drama; and a novel.

• [email protected]