Master of Fine Arts in Writing

Students and faculty enjoying the sunset on the balcony and the fire pit at the Lied Lodge. The following quote from a student is included: "Pairing me with veteran mentors allowed me to study and learn with amazing people. I deeply connected with each of my mentors and developed lasting relationships with each. The community created in this program makes it all worth it." BRIDGIT KUENNING-POLLPETER ‘21 Writer and Director of Disability is Not a Dirty Word

Our low-residency MFA in Writing combines four 16-week at-home semesters with five 10-day conference-style residencies

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A Closer Look at Our Low-Residency Writing MFA

Throughout our program, you'll earn 60 credit hours towards a Master of Fine Arts degree in your chosen emphasis of Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Playwriting, Screenwriting, or Young Adult. During residency, you'll participate in engaging lectures, hands-on workshops, and inspiring readings.

You’ll also be paired with a faculty mentor to help you design a personalized study plan for your home-based semester. During the semester, you’ll spend at least 25 hours a week on your studies, allowing you to balance your literary pursuits with work or family commitments. Our flexible structure combines writing, guided readings, and critical feedback to support your growth as a writer.

5 circles containing information about the program. 1. Genres: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Playwriting, Screenwriting, Young Adult 2: Credits: 60 3. Semesters: 4x 4-months 4. Residencies: 5x 10-days Tuition: 531/Credit

Inspiring 10-day Residencies

Your MFA journey starts with a Residency at the beautiful Lied Lodge in Nebraska City. Surrounded by apple orchards and fellow writers, you’ll have daily workshops where you get to discuss and give valuable feedback on each others' work, attend lectures of any genre of your choosing, and listen to faculty and student readings. After hours, students and faculty enjoy the outside firepit during the summers, or sing their hearts out at karaoke.

On your right is a sneak peak of what a few days at residency may look like.

Schedule Sample Download

4-Months of Individualized Study

During residency, you will meet with your newly assigned mentor to discuss your writing goals. Your study plan maps out your individual goals for writing, reading, and critical development for the coming semester.

You will produce and submit electronically a “packet” of written work every four weeks, including a detailed cover letter discussing progress on the study plan, as well as any questions or issues of craft. Your mentor will respond within one week in a detailed report addressing such areas as technical and aesthetic development of the work, notes for revision, suggestions for further reading, and new issues and directions you might take.

You will maintain regular contact with your mentor through these packet exchanges and, by the end of the program you will have worked with three to four different mentors.

View a breakdown of each semester.

Personalized Mentor-Student Pairings

Each faculty mentor is a practicing writer in their respective genres, bringing a wealth of experience in contemporary writing and publishing. With a student-to-faculty ratio of approximately 3:1, we prioritize close interaction and individualized support.

Our faculty is committed to our emphasis on personalized one-on-one mentorship, and they dedicate their energy to coaching students for success in their writing careers. Before matching students and mentors, students attend mentor introduction sessions where mentors discuss their teaching and feedback styles. Students then fill out Mentor Preference forms, which we use to match them with their ideal mentor for the semester.

Meet Our Faculty

Genres

You may start out in one genre—fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, playwriting, screenwriting or young adult—but we believe in the power of crossing boundaries. We encourage our students to explore beyond their chosen path and dive into multiple genres to see how different forms of writing can inform and enrich one another.

Your reading list can include novels, a collection of poetry, a screenplay, or even music—whatever best supports your creative development. And the best part? Every lecture and seminar during the residency is open to all students, regardless of their primary genre.

Master of Fine Arts in Writing

Master of Fine Arts in Writing

A Closer Look at Our Low-Residency Writing MFA

Admission Information

Residency & Semester Work

Tuition & Fees

Fellowship Opportunities