MFA in - The New School

THE CURRICULUM
Writing Workshops
The New School Writing Program follows the workshop
method of teaching: An experienced writer-teacher gives
guidance to students by focusing on their manuscripts and
on the creative acts of revision and self-editing through
workshops and individual conferences. This program
provides a framework and sustained blocks of time for
students to focus intensively on developing their craft and
creating a substantial body of work. Graduate writing
workshops meet once a week in two-hour evening
sessions, Monday through Thursday. Graduate writing
workshops may include a short assigned reading list and
occasional visits by guest writers who read and discuss
their work. Structure and content of writing workshops
are adapted to the individual area of concentration:
Fiction
Class sessions are principally devoted to reading and
discussing students’ fiction, usually short stories or
excerpts from novels-in-progress. Students learn how to
balance inspiration with revision; explore methods for
strengthening characterization, storytelling, and style
while developing their voices to the utmost; and explore
those narrative forms and techniques best suited to their
individual styles.
Poetry
Class sessions are principally devoted to reading and
discussing students’ poems. There is constant attention to
the craft of poetry; the skills and strategies involved in
making the modern poem; aspects of prosody and new
directions in writing; and, particularly, the discovery (and
invention) of techniques most appropriate for the poet's
subjects, issues, and materials. There is special emphasis
on possibilities for revision.
Nonfiction
Class sessions are principally devoted to reading and
discussing students’ nonfiction, usually in the form of
personal reminiscence, reflective essay, reportage, and
biography. Students learn how to choose a subject;
develop a sense of structure, tone, style, and personal
voice; and attend to such techniques as characterization,
dialogue, imagery, metaphor, and dramatic development,
as well as to the skills of interviewing and documentary
research.
Writing for Children
Class sessions are principally devoted to reading and
discussing students’ writings for children in the form of
stories, picture book texts, 8-12 fiction or nonfiction, and
teenage fiction or nonfiction. Students explore the
techniques and strategies of writing and producing books
for children, and learn to find voices and forms for their
writing and to express their ideas in styles appropriate for
children’s interests at different ages. Students initiate and
develop projects of their own choosing.
Literature Seminars
The graduate Writing Program includes intensive
seminars on traditional and contemporary literary topics,
which are investigated from the specialized perspective of
the active writer. Topics and readings vary each semester,
but all literature seminars are conducted by writers and
concentrate on crucial aspects of craft and technique as
well as on issues of literary history and theory. Literature
seminars meet once a week in two-hour sessions. Like the
writing workshops, seminars are conveniently scheduled
in two-hour evening sessions, Monday through Thursday.
The Writer’s Life Colloquium
Graduate writing students at The New School participate
in an ongoing colloquium of visiting writers, editors,
writing teachers, publishers, and literary agents. This
Writer’s Life Colloquium reflects the wide range of
cultural activity at The New School and the belief that
students benefit from exposure to many voices and
genres. The Writer’s Life Colloquium carries 1 point of
credit each term, and involves special readings, craft
seminars, teaching lectures, publication discussions, and
visiting writer residencies arranged exclusively for the
MFA candidates. Active participation in the colloquium
consists of attendance at a minimum of eight events.
The Writing Thesis
Upon successful completion of three writing workshops,
students advance to the thesis stage. Each student works
closely with a writing instructor through structured
conferences over an entire semester to produce a
substantial manuscript in the student’s area of
concentration, whether fiction, poetry, nonfiction, or
writing for children.
Thesis requirements for each concentration are as follows:
• Poetry: a manuscript of 40 to 60 pages of
individual poems, poetic sequences, or a long
poem
• Fiction: a manuscript of 70 to 100 pages of short
stories, a novella, or a novel-in-progress
• Nonfiction: a manuscript of 70 to 100 pages of
reflective essays, reportage, memoir, biography,
or a book-in-progress
• Writing for Children: a manuscript of 50 to 70
pages of stories or other fiction or nonfiction, or
a completed children’s book in a state
appropriate for publication
Each thesis graded by the student’s advisor and then
submitted to the director of the Writing Program for final
approval.
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