Funding Update from Sewanee School of Letters

This blog’s site statistics show that more than a few people arrive here having searched for information on the Sewanee School of Letters, which I first mentioned in November 2005. While not a typical low-residency program–its summer study sessions last several weeks–this program, with options to pursue an M.A. in English or an M.F.A. in creative writing, seems especially well-suited to those who have chunks of summertime available. Schoolteachers, for example.

And that’s where the update comes in. I’ve just received an e-mail from the program’s director. Among other things, I learned this: “We now have three tuition scholarships, donated by the Altemeier and Sommers families of Sewanee, earmarked for public school teachers (two of these are new this year and are intended for members of the 2009 entering class).” Plus: “Our schedule now overlaps with that of the Sewanee Writers’ Conference for a few days, and its readings and lectures have significantly enhanced our students’ experience of Sewanee.”

I’ve added this information to our page on funding for low-res programs. And if you want to learn more about the Sewanee School of Letters, do check out its Web site.

Upcoming Events in NYC

Something wonderful makes its debut next Monday evening at the CUNY Graduate Center. Turnstyle, a new cross-genre MFA reading series that features the faculty and students of four CUNY graduate creative writing programs, will launch on February 9 at 6:30 p.m. The location: the CUNY Graduate Center (365 Fifth Avenue). The price: Free!

This first Turnstyle event will feature faculty readers Louis Asekoff and Kimiko Hahn. MFA readers will include Evan Ross Burton, LaForrest Cope, Eric Harte, Gabriel Packard, Jeffrey Price, Micah Towery, Peter Vandenberg, and Visola Wurser.

I think it’s going to be great. And there will be more Turnstyle events throughout the semester.

And then, for those of you in the NYC area who are writing fiction on Jewish themes, don’t forget about the Jewish Fiction Writers’ Conference planned for Sunday, March 15. Early-bird discounted registration is still available (until February 16), and yours truly is among the presenters. Find out more (and download the full conference brochure) by visiting the 92nd Street Y site.

The Wednesday Web Browser: Pre-Publication Process, MFA Faculty on Their Programs, and Gary Shteyngart’s Advice for Novelists

Over on Lisa’s blog, Vicki Forman guest-blogs on the pre-publication process for her forthcoming, Bakeless prize-winning memoir.
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The first MFA Faculty Forum is now under way over at Tom’s place. Great opportunity to hear some nuts-and-bolts about a variety of programs.
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On the lighter side: Gary Shteyngart offers a “Guide to Being a Novelist.” (via Nextbook)

MFA-related Legal Battle

Tayari points us to this article about a legal battle brewing between two low-residency MFA programs: the one based at New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire, and the one just starting at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. Prospective students, especially, will want to stay informed.

It seems the main legal issue is the extent to which an individual, while employed by the NEC program, was actively working to build the one at Drew. On NEC’s time. I’m no lawyer, but that seems to be what the litigation is focusing on. Because while NEC apparently feels that Drew may have “copied” its program (and taken its faculty), I’m not sure you can copyright a program (or consider faculty your “property”).

Tom Kealey’s Creative Writing MFA Handbook (2008 edition)

This is pretty exciting. A revised and updated edition of Tom Kealey’s Creative Writing MFA Handbook is now available. And get this: It includes a contribution from me.

That’s right. The new version incorporates an essay penned by yours truly on “Choosing a Low-Residency MFA Program in Creative Writing” (see pp. 37-45) as part of a chapter on “What to Look for in a Creative Writing Program.”

And this edition features a lot of other new content. Check it out!

(And a public thank-you to Tom for asking me to pitch in.)