lesley university mfa creative writing

2023-2024 Graduate Academic Catalog

2023-2024 Graduate Academic Catalog > Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences > Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

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Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing

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Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing is a low-residency program that allows students, with the oversight of a faculty mentor, to design their own concentrations in fiction, graphic novels and comics, poetry, nonfiction, writing for stage and screen, or writing for young people. The Lesley program embodies an axiom: life experience is the raw material for literature, but the writers we read and re-read have shaped their experiences — whether personal, intellectual, or cultural — into fresh aesthetic forms. Therefore, the best creative writers are passionately creative readers, thinkers, observers, and listeners, constantly re-examining their habits and premises.

Lesley's MFA in Creative Writing program focuses on preparing students to become such writers, adventurous artists and active professionals. At least two attributes distinguish Lesley's MFA in Creative Writing from other low-residency programs. First, the interdisciplinary component encourages students to expand their abilities as writers by widening the angles, and deepening the fields, of their vision. While the multi-genre expertise of our faculty mentors and visiting faculty will be the student's key resource, those with an interest in the visual arts will have the opportunity to work with faculty from Lesley University College of Art and Design; and those seeking to integrate their writing with such disciplines as art therapy, psychology, and education will have the resources of Lesley's Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences. Moreover, students develop a wide range of independent projects, including publishing internships, teaching assistantships, and other literary activities. Second, with its residencies taking place in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Lesley's program draws energy from one of the literary capitals of the United States. Many of our faculty members have for years thrived in this epicenter of writing and publishing. Their experiences make them uniquely astute advisors for student writers, who will need to understand the complexities and opportunities of contemporary literary culture.

Given these advantages, graduates of Lesley's program will be equipped to give themselves new challenges as they continue to write, explore new genres and art forms, and participate in a serious community of writers and artists.

The Residency

Over two years, students will attend a nine-day residency at the beginning of each of the four six-month semesters. The residency will include workshops, seminars, lectures, and readings, providing a forum for intensive study, collaboration, and constructive critique of student work. In addition, students will be matched with faculty mentors to create individualized study plans that incorporate rigorous reading lists. After each residency, students work on their own, under the guidance of faculty mentors. Following the fourth semester, graduating students return for the final portion of a fifth residency to conclude the program, offering a craft seminar and giving a public reading from their creative thesis.

Application Requirements

A writing sample is required as part of the application:

• In fiction or nonfiction, approximately 20 double-spaced pages with a 12-point conventional font (e.g. Times New Roman)

• In poetry, approximately 10 single-spaced pages with a 12-point conventional font (e.g. Times New Roman)

• In writing for stage and screen, approximately 15-20 script pages with a 12-point conventional font (e.g. Times New Roman)

• In writing for young people, approximately 10-15 double-spaced pages of middle grade or young adult prose, or 2-3 picture book stories with a 12-point conventional font (e.g. Times New Roman). You may apply in one or more of these 3 areas of children’s literature.

• In graphic novels and comics, 4-10 comic book/comic script pages; approximately 10 script pages; or 10 pages of any word and image hybrid, including illustrated work, photo-and-word and/or drawing-and-word combinations, artist's books, etc. If you're submitting 10 pages of comics scripts, please also include a visual portfolio composed of 4–5 still images. Although these visual images may represent work in the comics medium, you may submit other types of work such as illustration, painting, photography, and graphic design.

How to Submit Your Writing Sample

You'll submit your written personal statement, writing sample, and visual portfolio (Graphic Novels & Comics only) via SlideRoom.
Create a SlideRoom account.
Submit your written personal statement, writing sample (all genres), and portfolio (Graphic Novels & Comics only) to "Master of Fine Arts: Creative Writing."
For film/video/new media, your submission should not be more than 5 minutes long.
Pay the submission fee ($5-$10).

Your statement should consist of 750-1250 words, on double-spaced pages, answering the following questions:

1. Discuss the work of a writer, in any genre, who has profoundly influenced your writing. Additionally, discuss several of the most memorable books you've read in the last year.

2. What have you done creatively and critically to prepare for a master's program?

3. What do you consider to be the strengths and weaknesses of your work?

4. What are your goals for your writing, and what do you hope to accomplish in the program?

In addition to the writing sample and personal statement, you should include:

Lesley application form and fee
All official transcripts, including one from the institution that conferred your bachelor's degree
Two letters of recommendation from individuals who have worked closely with you on your writing, or in a professional or academic capacity
No standardized test scores are required.

Credits, Grades, and Graduation Requirements

Students earn 49 credits over two years: 24 credits in Creative Writing, 9 credits in Craft and Reflection, 9 credits in Interdisciplinary Studies, 3 credits in Craft Seminar Preparation, and 3 credits in Creative Thesis Preparation. Grades for each semester will be pass/fail, accompanied by a narrative evaluation by the faculty mentor. As a final, one-credit requirement for graduation, students return for the final portion of a fifth residency to present a craft seminar and give an (optional) reading of their work.

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Writing is a Necessity to Humankind: An Inside Look at Lesley University’s MFA program in Creative Writing

Interdisciplinary. Social justice and community minded. Personalized and strong student-mentor model. These are just some of the ways Lesley University’s MFA program in Creative Writing continues to be regarded, and remains one of the top 10 low-residency writing programs in the nation by Poets & Writers magazine. Established in 2003, the program is praised by students and alums for its strong student-mentor model and the support they receive from the award-winning and dedicated faculty.

In addition to the expected creative writing and critical work that takes place in most MFA programs, the Lesley MFA program holds a space for cross-genre and cross-literary imagining with its interdisciplinary courses. This component of the Lesley curriculum allows students to look at writing and themselves, and explore the literary world through a variety of lenses—ultimately in the interest of deepening their writing and in support of their development as critical thinkers and literary citizens.

“This distinctive Interdisciplinary element,” says program director Danielle Legros Georges, “has the practical function of offering students theory and real-world experience in the teaching of writing, work in publishing, and the space of exploration of projects with social justice imperatives.” She adds, “Toni Morrison has remarked that ‘A writer’s life and work are not a gift to mankind; they are its necessity.’ We believe this to be true.”

A Lesley alum and the program’s associate director, Janet Pocorobba, notes “the support of the Lesley MFA community has allowed me to stay connected with my peers and get involved more deeply in literary culture both here and abroad. I keep writing and publishing as a result. The Lesley MFA has made my literary life richer, quite a bit more fun, and more open.”

Lesley University was founded in 1909 by Edith Lesley as a school for teachers of immigrant children arriving to the United States from Europe at the turn of the twentieth century. Questions of social justice have always figured prominently at Lesley and continue to do so across the curriculum and in Lesley’s programs.

Now in 2020, the Lesley MFA Program continues to change and grow in response to national and global events and social and political developments. Its next residency, taking place in January 2021, will be held virtually and will contain several public events including Creative Writing: Traditions, Practices, and Myths , a panel and space for the discussion and re-examination of the current MFA landscape. Be sure to check its events page closer to January for information on this free event—as well as for current events open to the public.

For more information on the Lesley University MFA program in Creative Writing, contact:

Danielle Legros Georges, Program Director, [email protected]

Alyssa Baker, Associate Director, Graduate Admissions, [email protected]

Why We Write Podcast

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× sherrill library will be closed from may 18 - september 2 due to construction. services by appointment: research consultations, library instruction, pick up appointments moriarty library will be open through august 31, monday - friday from 10am-6pm. closed weekends and holidays. as always, our web resources are available 24/7. questions our chat and ask us services are available monday-friday, 10am-6pm., × the libraries will be closed for memorial day weekend from friday-monday, may 24-27. enjoy the holiday, × spring break: monday, 03/13/2023 - sunday, 03/19/2023: library pickups are by appointment. need an appointment email us at sherrill library: [email protected] or moriarty library: [email protected], × alert mm/dd/yyyy: something is broken please contact us with questions., × alert 12/14/2023: ebsco allsearch is unavailable. we are working to fix this as quickly as we can. in the meanwhile, please try searching for articles from our proquest central database and for ebooks and books from our flo catalog . we're very sorry for the inconveniance. --> × welcome back our remote services guide has everything you need to know about library services we're offering this semester, including research help, study spaces, and more for other campus plans, see the lesley university covid-19 response. any other questions ask us, × welcome back our remote services guide has everything you need to know about library services we're offering this semester, including research help, study spaces, and more any other questions ask us, mfa creative writing, library & research help, faculty & alumni books.

MLA Format / Writing style
Graphic Novels & Comics
Non-Fiction & Memoir
Writing for Stage & Screen
Writing for Young People
Professional Resources

Library & Research Help

Research Help Email: [email protected]

Get Help: If you have questions about finding resources or the research process, click the Chat button below! If we aren't online you can e-mail [email protected] for general questions about accessing materials, or e-mail me (Micki) at mharri27@lesley directly if you want to chat more in depth about your work and possible research paths.

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Sherrill Library: 617-349-8850
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Text: 617-340-8008
Art & Design Research Email: [email protected]