Best MFA in Creative Writing Programs

Anyone with a bachelors degree from an accredited university can apply to an MFA program for creative writing. However, it is important to remember that the MFA application process requires you to submit a writing sample, so a background in English or Communications can be helpful, as well as previous experience in writing workshops.

Your undergraduate coursework matters! Familiarity with literature is crucial to an MFA program, so taking classes in both contemporary and classic literature as well as poetry classes is useful and will help with becoming a well rounded writer. Many MFA programs will want applicants to have a second language proficiency, so it is advised to focus on a foreign language as well. This is especially true if you want to specialize in literary translation.

The admissions requirements for MFA programs in creative writing might include:

• a bachelor's degree from an accredited university
• a personal statement
• 2-3 letters of recommendation
• a literary response essay
• transcripts
• a manuscript or writing sample (10-25 pages)
• GRE scores (many programs no longer require this and some list it as optional)
• application fees

Of course, every program is different, and their admissions requirements vary, so it is wise and necessary to check the specifics of each program. For instance, some programs emphasize teaching, so a teaching statement may be required, while others have completely eliminated the GRE requirement. The cornerstone of the admissions packet for every school will be your writing sample or manuscript.

There are several issues to consider when selecting an MFA program in creative writing, and many of these considerations are matters of aesthetics, personal preference, values, and financial means. Most importantly, does the program offer seminars and workshops you are most interested in, and does the program support the kind of writing you want to do? Applicants should also consider the faculty teaching in the program. Are they well-regarded writers themselves? Additionally, has the program produced writers who are actively publishing their work? Other factors worth considering include availability of financial aid and funding opportunities, location, and class size.

While every creative writing program is different, they essentially focus on fiction (short story, novel, flash), poetry, and non-fiction. The curriculum should be rigorous and diverse and provide seminars and workshops on craft, theory, and literature, as well as independent study and thesis hours. The workshop is the cornerstone of the MFA and consists of students reading each others work and providing constructive criticism for each other to improve their writing. Seminars can focus upon a single aspect of modern poetry or fiction, perhaps upon a single writer's work or a body of work with a common theme or purpose.

Creative writing programs are constructed as studio or academic models. Often, programs combine aspects of both. Programs require 48-60 semester hours of study over two to three years. They typically offer fiction and poetry tracks, though 'creative nonfiction' is growing in popularity and availability, as are screenwriting and playwriting. Often, students are encouraged to take courses outside of their chosen genre so as to broaden their point of view and challenge themselves.

MFA Creative Writing Foundational Courses

Foundational to all MFA programs is the workshop where you will present your work for critique and will be expected to read and critique your fellow students' work. You will receive feedback and hone your skills as a reviewer. Most MFA programs are built around the short story form, so your workshops in fiction will most likely be short story workshops. You can also expect poetry workshops.

Seminars and lectures that focus on the forms of fiction (short story and novel) and poetry highlight literary analysis and thorough study of narrative arc, pacing, characterization, dialogue, etc. Screenwriting and playwriting seminars examine contemporary and classic plays and emphasize the dialogue and three-act structure.

Many programs are now offering creative non-fiction seminars and courses on the memoir. Like the fiction track students are expected to use the workshop form to present their work for critique and engage with their fellow students' work.

MFA Creative Writing Specialist & Elective Courses

Depending on the program and school, there are a range of elective courses available that will complement your MFA whatever your specialty. Availability of these topics also depends on faculty specializations. Elective work can broaden your skills as a writer and help build your writing voice.

Journalism courses make a great deal of sense for writers of all genres, as you learn to write about current events and long form journalism. Journalism courses are especially useful for students interested in creative nonfiction. Theater courses and screenwriting courses are also beneficial to the creative writing MFA. Elective courses in communications and teaching writing are pragmatic and typically advantageous for students. Of course, translation courses are fundamental if you are interested in literary translation. In fact, programs offering this specialty usually partner with linguistic departments and provide electives that are specialized for MFA students.

Licensure & Certification in MFA Creative Writing

Applicants should seek out programs that are part of nonprofit higher education institutions with national or regional accreditation before they begin the application process. There are several certifications that complement the MFA in creative writing; some programs offer components to their MFA programs that complement the degree. If you are interested in travel writing, for example, Pittsburgh's Chatham University offers an MFA that focuses on nature, the environment, and travel. Columbia University's MFA in creative writing program offers Literary Translation coursework as a part of students' studies. Many programs, like Indiana University's MFA in creative writing program, offers courses in teaching creative writing as well.

More formalized licensure programs that complement the MFA include:

• American Writers & Artists Inc. Copywriting Certifications
• American Grant Writers' Association Certified Grant Writer
• American Copy Editors Society Certificate in Editing
• American Translators Association Certifications
• Teach English to Speakers of Other Languages/ Teach English as a Foreign Language Certification

Not to be confused with an MA, or Master of Arts degree, an MFA is a terminal degree similar to professional degrees granted in other fields, such as the MLIS, MSW, Ph.D. or the Ed.D. Those who choose to pursue an MFA usually want to work in artistic careers and pursue jobs as authors, editors, playwrights, and screenwriters. Others plan to teach at the college level. Students may want to pursue further study in doctoral programs in literature, literary translation, theater, linguistics, communications, or anthropology. There are some programs, like at Cornell University's Department of Literatures in English, that offer a joint MFA / PhD option. There is also the possibility of applying for post-MFA fellowships for stipends, healthcare, and dedicated time to write. Depending on the program, they may require teaching classes or workshops or conducting research projects.

You can write! Strong writing skills and effective communication can be translated into a number of different careers that involve writing. The most common careers are novelists, biographers, content writers, journalists, playwrights, screenwriters, speechwriters, editors, copywriters, literary translators, and more recently, bloggers. There is, of course, teaching writing, both on the university level and in secondary education. Teaching can also be done within adult education programs. Many writers are freelancers, selling content to websites, newspapers, advertising agencies, and magazines. Other writers may find themselves working in film and television. With the expansion of the television industry and streaming services, there are many opportunities to write for television. Additionally, there has been a rise in audio and storytelling in the podcasting medium that might be appealing to writers.

Job Outlook for a Master's in MFA Creative Writing

Writing as a career is an extremely competitive endeavor. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, media organizations, even digital ones, are scaling down operations, which means diminished employment opportunities for writers. Conversely, knowledge of digital innovations and familiarity with and fluency in social media may increase a writer's opportunities, as self-publishing is no longer cost-prohibitive. While the successes of writers seem to depend largely on how well they adapt to the new mediascape and innovate how they share their work, the degree can also provide some support for graduates. Earning an MFA in creative writing can help graduates network within the publishing industry and their relationships with faculty can prove to be helpful in creating contacts in an extremely competitive industry.

How to Become a Screenwriter

While it is not mandatory to have an MFA in creative writing, or even any formal education, to become a screenwriter-- all you need is to put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard-- it certainly helps. Specifically, the work ethic and creativity that are developed in an MFA program is necessary for a career as a screenwriter, especially one that offers screenwriting classes, like California College of the Arts. The training that students receive in any MFA program is transferable to screenwriting as it is simply another form of storytelling. Screenwriters are often expected to be collaborative, be able to articulate their ideas clearly and personably, and possess familiarity with the language of their medium. With the explosion of scripted television and streaming platforms, there are rich and ripe employment opportunities for writers as screenwriters, and there are plentiful examples of writers who have made the leap from writer to screenwriter.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts a 2 percent decline between 2019 to 2029 for writers in general, but they cite higher salaries ($70,990) for writers working in the performing arts than writers in general whose median income was cited at $63,200. Predictably, the states with the highest employment for writers in general are California, New York, Texas, Florida, and Illinois. The motion picture industry also offers the highest levels of employment for writers with an annual mean wage of $89,300.

How to Become a Travel Writer

Like screenwriting, travel writing does not necessarily require an MFA in creative writing, but a successful travel writer has a developed and thoughtful voice, which an MFA can develop rapidly in students. The most important abilities, aside from strong writing, that are crucial in travel writing include curiosity, independence, punctuality, organization, and a certain amount of entrepreneurship, as travel writers often are freelancers and have to market themselves. Additional skills that could prove valuable are photography and foreign languages.

Travel writing can take the traditional form of books and articles for magazines and newspapers, but it can also mean tourism writing for travel guides and travel blogging. According to BLS, 63% of writers were self-employed, and with the surge in communication technologies, writers can work from almost anywhere-- ideal for a travel writer. Though highly variable, the median income that BLS cites for writers in general is $63,200. For travel writers who are adapting to alternative publishing paths (electronic and digital tools and social media), the forecast is much more favorable.

Paying out-of-pocket for an MFA in Creative Writing is mostly out of the question for some people, but this does not mean you should not pursue your MFA. Rather, seek out as many forms of financial aid as possible as a way to cut costs. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA) informs students of government loans and grants that they qualify for and helps subsidize some of these costs.

Many MFA programs offer students full or partial funding, meaning program costs will be covered by the institution. You may want to seek out programs that offer this or merit-based tuition scholarships. The following are some schools offering full funding:

• Boston University
• University of Texas at Austin
• Cornell University

There are also fellowships available to students, which provide a range of financial assistance and require various levels of teaching or other commitments.

• Bard Fiction Prize
• International Writers Project Fellow
• Steinbeck Fellows Program
• Emory University Creative Writing Fellowship
• The Kenyon Review Fellowship