CW-Creative Writing

The cornerstone of the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing is the intensive residency experience. During the 10-day June residencies on the Hood College campus, students participate in rigorous daily writing workshops and attend lectures, panels, and readings by faculty and graduating students. For the second residency, students have the option of attending the Prague Summer Program for Writers for two weeks in July. Fully funded teaching assistantships in the Prague Summer Program are available by application. Participation in the residencies is required for enrollment in the mentorship semesters.

The cornerstone of the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing is the intensive residency experience. During the 10-day June residencies on the Hood College campus, students participate in rigorous daily writing workshops and attend lectures, panels, and readings by faculty and graduating students. For the second residency, students have the option of attending the Prague Summer Program for Writers for two weeks in July. Fully funded teaching assistantships in the Prague Summer Program are available by application. Participation in the residencies is required for enrollment in the mentorship semesters.

The cornerstone of the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing is the intensive residency experience. During the 10-day June residencies on the Hood College campus, students participate in rigorous daily writing workshops and attend lectures, panels, and readings by faculty and graduating students. For the second residency, students have the option of attending the Prague Summer Program for Writers for two weeks in July. Fully funded teaching assistantships in the Prague Summer Program are available by application. Participation in the residencies is required for enrollment in the mentorship semesters.

Prerequisite: CW 500A
Along with the residency experience, close literary mentorship is a hallmark of the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing. Under the guidance of a mentor, students will develop a reading list and write original poetry and critical essays, with page counts and schedule to be mutually determined by the mentor and student. The mentor will provide substantial feedback, including suggestions for reading and revision. This course is taken during the first semester.

Prerequisite: CW 500A or permission of instructor
Along with the residency experience, close literary mentorship is a hallmark of the Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing. Under the guidance of a mentor, students will develop a reading list and write original prose (fiction and/or creative nonfiction) and critical essays. The mentor will provide substantial feedback, including suggestions for reading and revision. This course is taken during the first semester.

Prerequisites: CW 500A and CW 501P
This course is designed to help students further develop the creative and critical work produced during the previous semester while generating new work. Under the guidance of a mentor, students will develop a reading list and write original poetry and critical essays, with page counts and schedule to be mutually determined by the mentor and student. The mentor will provide substantial feedback, including suggestions for reading and revision. Students have the option of working in another genre for the second mentorship semester. This course is taken during the second semester. 

Prerequisites: CW 500A and CW 501PR or permission of instructor
This course is designed to help students further develop the creative and critical work produced during the previous semester while generating new work. Under the guidance of a mentor, students will develop a reading list and write original prose (fiction and/or creative nonfiction) and critical essays, with page counts and schedule to be mutually determined by the mentor and student. The mentor will provide substantial feedback, including suggestions for reading and revision. Students have the option of working in another genre for the second mentorship semester. This course is taken during the second semester.

Prerequisites: CW 500B and CW 502P
This course is designed to help students further develop the creative and critical work produced during the previous semester while generating new work. Under the guidance of a mentor, students will develop a reading list and write original poetry and critical essays, with page counts and schedule to be mutually determined by the mentor and student. The mentor will provide substantial feedback, including suggestions for reading and revision. This course is taken during the third semester. 

Prerequisites: CW 500B and CW 502PR, or permission of instructor
This course is designed to help students further develop the creative and critical work produced during the previous semester while generating new work. Under the guidance of a mentor, students will develop a reading list and write original prose (fiction and/or creative nonfiction) and critical essays, with page counts and schedule to be mutually determined by the mentor and student. The mentor will provide substantial feedback, including suggestions for reading and revision. This course is taken during the third semester.

Prerequisites: CW 500B and CW 503P
This course is designed to help students further develop the creative and critical work produced during the previous semester while generating new work. Under the guidance of a mentor, students will develop a reading list and write original poetry and critical essays, with page counts and schedule to be mutually determined by the mentor and student. The mentor will provide substantial feedback, including suggestions for reading and revision. This course is taken during the fourth semester.

Prerequisites: CW 500B and CW 503PR; or permission of instructor
This course is designed to help students further develop the creative and critical work produced during the previous semester while generating new work. Under the guidance of a mentor, students will develop a reading list and write original fiction and critical essays, with page counts and schedule to be mutually determined by the mentor and student. The mentor will provide substantial feedback, including suggestions for reading and revision. This course is taken during the fourth semester.

Prerequisites: CW 500A and CW 501PR or CW 501P (allow concurrent enrollment)
In consultation with a mentor, students will learn about the business of literary publishing, including the process of submitting, editing, designing, marketing, and distributing fiction and poetry. They will also begin submitting their work to literary journals and magazines. This course is taken during the second semester.

Prerequisites: CW 500B and CW 502F or CW 502P
In consultation with a mentor, students will conduct substantive research in literary history, theory, and practice and write a critical paper of at least 25 pages, including bibliography, on their chosen topic. This course is taken during the third semester.

Prerequisites: CW 500B, CW 503F or CW 503P and CW 506
As the culmination of the creative work produced during the program, this course is designed to allow students to focus on the completion of an original, book-length manuscript. A mentor will provide substantial feedback, including suggestions for revision. Students will read from their work at the final residency. This course is taken during the fourth semester.

Prerequisites: CW 500B, CW 506 and CW 504F or CW 504P
In consultation with a mentor, students will prepare and deliver at the graduating residency an oral presentation of approximately one hour on a literary craft topic. Topics may include or overlap with those for the research project. This course is taken during the final residency.