Whidbey Writers Workshop

April 30, 2:09 PMSeattle Literary ExaminerDave Clapper

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Yesterday, in introducing Stefanie Freele, I mentioned that she's getting her MFA in Creative Writing from the Whidbey Writers Workshop. For those who are curious about this program, here's a little more information:

The Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Program is the first in the country - and perhaps in the world - to be offered not by a college or university but by an organization of writers. In this, it resembles many free-standing arts institutions offering degrees in music, art, dance and theater. Authorized by the Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board, WWW MFA classes began in August of 2005. In August of 2007 the Workshop celebrated its first graduation.

Students may focus on any of four areas: fiction, poetry, nonfiction or writing for children/young adults. The program requires three workshops, one of which may be in a second genre. Students also take at least two craft courses, one of which must be in a second (or third) genre. Two directed reading courses in the core genre are required. A third directed reading or a third craft course may be taken in another genre. The program is capped by a book-length creative work of publishable quality. For details, use the Program Catalog link at the top of this page.

 As a low-residency (also known as brief residency) program, the WWW MFA requires students to attend intensive ten-day residencies on Whidbey Island each August and January. Residencies are followed by sixteen-week online semesters. For current and recent residency schedules, use the Residency link at the top of this page. Residencies are available on a continuing education basis to those who don't wish to study for an MFA. See the Residency-only link on the Residency page.

The Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Program is one of the most flexible low-residency MFAs around. Many other brief residency programs require fifteen-credit blocks each term and must be completed in two years. Ours will offer five-credit individual courses so that students may work at their own pace, taking from two to six years to complete the program.

The WWW MFA has a limited number of scholarships available.

For more information, please check out their website.

Also note that the students at WWW love the short-short form and hold a monthly contest with no entry fee and a prize of $50.00. Check out the details of that here.