The Stonecoast Difference: Highlights and Distinguishing Features of the Stonecoast MFA Program

WHAT IS THE STONECOAST DIFFERENCE?  

Highlights for Prospective Students

Like other great low-residency MFA programs, the Stonecoast MFA program in Creative Writing of the University of Southern Maine claims an illustrious history (ours extends to the founding of the Stonecoast Writers Workshop over 30 years ago); a highly distinguished faculty; a tradition of academic excellence; a sublime location (our coastal Stone House mansion, as well as the Stonecoast in Ireland residency option); and nationally known award-winning alumni in all genres.

But Stonecoast also offers something else. The “Stonecoast Difference” lies in the integrity, originality, and passion of our vision:  commitment to the whole writer, through a flexible, rigorous, student-centered curriculum sustained within a diverse and supportive creative community. You will find this unique vision evident in every aspect of the Stonecoast MFA. 

FLEXIBLE, STUDENT-CENTERED COURSE OF STUDY

Third-Semester Project Flexibility:  As a Stonecoast student, you have the option to develop an original research project focused in community service, teaching, publishing, creative collaboration, or a combination, as well as writing a critical paper in craft or theory.

Workshop Flexibility:  Each residency, Stonecoast students participate in two small, intensive four-day writing workshops, allowing you more curricular flexibility, more faculty feedback, and closer links with more students.

Elective Workshop Options:  With electives, students have the option to design special focused writing workshops in addition to the regular genre workshops. Past workshop topics have included Translation, Memoir, Sonnet, Historical Fiction, Research Journalism, Graphic Novel, Writing About Race, Persona Poetry, Prose Poem, Historical Fiction, Young Adult Writing, Lyric Essay, Persona Poetry, Nature Poetry. This pioneering Stonecoast invention embodies our ideal of academic rigor in a flexible, student-centered curriculum.

STRONG, DIVERSE COMMUNITY

Cultural Diversity: You will have access to perhaps the most excitingly diverse faculty of any MFA program in the world; a wide-ranging, diverse curriculum; and the option to enroll in classes such as our popular cross-genre workshop “Writing About Race.”

Activities that Build Community:  Optional events build a deep community of writers, including the famous faculty-student “Stonecoast Follies” and circle discussions on topics from “Balancing Writing and Family” to “ Diversity and Literary Marginalization” and “Writing and Spirituality.”

Respect and Mutual Learning:  In addition to being nationally-known, award-winning writers, Stonecoast faculty are known for being outstanding, generous, patient, energetic teachers who genuinely respect their students and often mentor them long after graduation.

POWERFUL AND INNOVATIVE CURRICULUM

Aesthetic Range Within Genres:  Stonecoast has no “house style.” Our faculty are consciously selected to represent a wide range of styles in every genre including narrative free verse, experimental poetics, formalism, and slam in poetry; memoir, lyric essay, meditative nonfiction and immersion journalism in creative nonfiction. We have programs in both fiction and popular fiction and value the dynamic conversations born of aesthetic variety. 

Roots and Branches:  Stonecoast’s commitment to aesthetic diversity and creative exploration is rooted firmly in the basics. Entering poets take a dedicated workshop in meter and form, the foundation for what has been called the most comprehensive curriculum in poetry of any graduate creative writing program in the country. Reading lists in all genres ensure that students are familiar with classic as well as contemporary works, and our faculty are current in new approaches from structuralism to slipstream fiction to postcolonialism.

Cross-Genre Options and More:  Stonecoast’s flexible curriculum allows you to cross genres during the semester, in workshops, and even in your thesis.  Our exciting Stonecoast cross-genre concentrations in Writing Nature and Translation offer classes each residency, regular or elective workshops, and ongoing opportunities for semester and thesis work to students of all genres or cross-genre.  We even offer a Scriptwriting focus.

ACTIVE STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Mentor Selection:  Stonecoast respects students’ understanding of their own creative needs.  Unlike in many programs, you will interview with potential mentors, share your preferences and reasons, and have extensive input into the mentor selection process.

Seminars, not Lectures:  Most Stonecoast classes are not presented in lecture format, but as vibrant conversations that engage students actively in learning.

Active Student Involvement in Residencies:  Graduating students planning a career in teaching may apply for our prestigious Teaching Apprenticeship workshop positions.  During one of your semesters at Stonecoast, you may also see a third or fourth semester Stonecoast student introducing an eminent visiting writer, moderating a panel discussion, teaching a special class at the Stone House, or presenting the community with a collaborative performance— or perhaps you might be that student!