Creative Writing
To MFA or not to MFA
Two of the most common career career paths of aspiring American writers are enrolling in an MFA program or navigating the New York City publishing world. Some books and articles debating the merits of each:
MFA vs. NYC by Call Number: Main Stacks PN155 .M45 2014ISBN: 9780865478138Publication Date: 2014-02-25Essays discussing the career paths of MFA programs vs the New York City publishing world and the ways writers make (or fail to make) a living within them.
- MFA vs NYC: The Free StuffHalf of the essays in MFA vs NYC available online for free.
- MFA vs POCby Junot Díaz.
Directories of MFA programs:
- Poets & Writers MFA DatabaseSearchable directory of low and full-residency MFA programs.
Tips on applying to MFA programs:
- "Anatomy of the MFA Application: The Personal Statement”by Kat Asharya
Literary Organizations
Literary organizations support writers by offering a variety resources such as grants, awards, workshops, readings, professional advice, and news. A sampling:
- The Academy of American PoetryDescribes itself as "the nation’s largest membership-based organization dedicated to fostering an appreciation of contemporary poetry and supporting poets at all stages of their careers."
- The Asian American Writers’ WorkshopA "national not-for-profit arts organization devoted to the creating, publishing, developing and disseminating of creative writing by Asian Americans."
- The Authors GuildA membership organization that provides contract reviews, professional advice, webinars and other events about the writing business.
- CantoMundoA "national organization that cultivates a community of Latinx poets through workshops, symposia, and public readings."
- Cave CanemA "home for the many voices of African American poetry and is committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of African American poets."
- The Center for FictionDescribes itself as "the only nonprofit literary organization in the U.S. solely dedicated to celebrating fiction."
- KundimanA "national nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing generations of writers and readers of Asian American literature."
- Lambda Literary"Lambda Literary nurtures and advocates for LGBTQ writers, elevating the impact of their words to create community, preserve our legacies, and affirm the value of our stories and our lives."
- PEN America"[C]hampion[s] the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible."
- Pen Parentis"[P]rovides critical resources to working writers to help them stay on creative track after starting a family."
- The Poetry FoundationIs "an independent literary organization committed to a vigorous presence for poetry in our culture."
- Poetry Society of AmericaDescribes itself as "the nation's oldest poetry organization . . . Its mission is to build a larger and more diverse audience for poetry, to encourage a deeper appreciation of the vitality and breadth of poetry in the cultural conversation, to support poets through an array of programs and awards, and to place poetry at the crossroads of American life."
- VIDA: Women in Literary ArtsIs a “non-profit feminist organization committed to creating transparency around the lack of gender parity in the literary landscape and to amplifying historically-marginalized voices, including people of color; writers with disabilities; and queer, trans and gender nonconforming individuals."
- VONA/Voices of Our NationsA "multi-genre workshop for writers of color."
Workshops
Workshops and writing classes offer opportunities to continue honing your craft and meet other members of the writing community. Some relatively local workshops and classes as well as a few online:
- Apogee Journal workshopsNew York City, multi-genre.
- Catapult writing classesNew York City and online, multi-genre.
- Cave Canem workshopsNew York City, for poets of color.
- Center for Fiction workshopsNew York City and online, fiction.
- Grub StreetBoston and online, multi-genre.
- Juniper Summer InstituteAmherst, MA, multi-genre.
- LitReactorOnline, multi-genre.
- The Poetry ProjectNew York City, poetry.
- Provincetown Fine Arts Work CenterProvincetown, MA and online, multi-genre.
- Sackett Street WorkshopsNew York City and online, multi-genre.
You can find additional additional workshops in Literary Marketplace, Poets & Writers Magazine (most recent issues in the Main Library's Stimson Room), and on the web.
Residencies and fellowships
Writing residencies are retreats, usually for emerging writers, offering them a place to work on their projects. They can also be an opportunity to network with other members of the writing community. Fellowships are monetary awards that can help pay for a residency or fund other activities related to your writing project and career.
- Asian American Writers’ WorkshopFor Asian American writers, multi-genre. The
Open City Fellowship “gives writers the opportunity to write and publish narrative nonfiction over the span of six months on the vibrant immigrant communities of New York City.” The Margins Fellowship is an “opportunity for three emerging creative writers, aged thirty and under, to establish a home for their writing” - CantoMundo RetreatFor Latinx poets.
- CaveCanem RetreatFor black poets of African descent, ages 21 and over.
- Kundiman RetreatFor Asian American writers, multi-genre.
- Lambda Literary Emerging Writers' RetreatFor LGBTQIA+ writers, multi-genre.
- Provincetown Fine Arts Work CenterResidencies, multi-genre.
- VoNA - Voices of Our NationFor POC writers, multi-genre.
Search for additional residencies and retreats in Poets & Writers' Conferences and Residencies Database.
Journals for professional writers
Offering tips, news, reviews, information about opportunities, etc.
- Poets & WritersAvailable online 2004-present. Current print issues are located in the library's Stimson Room, back issues on level 2 1/2. Published by Poets & Writers, a nonprofit literary organization serving writes of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Aside from literary news articles, reviews, and author interviews, the magazine includes information on grants and awards and the business of writing: literary magazines, presses, jobs, events, and author directories.
- Publishers WeeklyJournal of the book publishing industry, New York-centric. This link is to Mount Holyoke's subscription access to the journal. Current print issues can also be found in the library Reading Room on level 4, back issues in the Periodical Stacks on level 2 1/2.
- Publishers WeeklyLink to the PW web site. Some content is not freely available online.
Writer's DigestProfessional magazine for writers. Provides practical technique articles, and tips and exercises on fiction, nonfiction, poetry and the business-side of writing and publishing.