Whidbey Writers Workshop
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
A program of the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 639
Physical Address: 5577 Vanbarr Place
Freeland, WA 98249
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.
The Whidbey Writers Workshop Master of Fine Arts program has three major objectives:
- To produce productive, publishing writers who are prepared for a life of writing;
- To prepare graduates to articulate their understanding of the process of writing, whether in essays, informal or formal teaching or otherwise;
- To prepare graduates to participate in the local, regional and national community of writers.
The Workshop recognizes that all students who enroll in a Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing seek to become published writers. We expect our students to also become members of the community of writers and to be able to articulate their understanding of the writing process.
Those last two expectations are not universal among creative writing degree programs. Nor are they goals shared by every writer. Some are not interested in participating in the larger community of writers. Others believe it is neither desirable nor even possible to articulate clearly their understanding of the writing process; rather, they believe the process is and should remain largely unexplored. Those are legitimate perspectives, but they aren't the perspectives of this program.
Students who find our objectives compatible with their own 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 application forms including scholarship application forms use the Admission and Registration Forms link at the top of this page.
Recent Student and Alumni Publications and Acceptances
We're proud of the publications by our students and alumni. Take a look at recent student and alumni publications on our student website, whidbeystudents.com!
Student Website
Want to see what our students are up to? Visit our student site at http://www.whidbeystudents.com - student publications, student blogs, interviews with writers, agents and editors, and lots more besides.
Faculty Honors
As working writers, our faculty continue to publish and to earn honors. Recent faculty books and honors.
Whidbey Writers Workshop Graduate's Novel Launched on Teen Literature Day
Seattle resident Ann Gonzalez, 2007 graduate of the Whidbey Writers Workshop Master of Fine Arts program, celebrated Teen Literature Day, April 16, with the launch of her first book, Running for My Life.
Gonzalez's young adult novel was sold to WestSide Books before her graduation from the Workshop's unique graduate degree program and she has been anxiously awaiting this day.
Although all the hard work of writing the novel was Gonzalez's, she gives credit to the program for her success.
"My book would not have been written well enough to secure an agent, and most definitely would not have been revised well enough to land a book contract, were it not for the willingness of the innovators in the Whidbey Island Writers Association to create the best writers' workshop in the west," says Gonzalez.
"The other day, I was filling out a form, and in the Occupation field, I entered 'Writer.' The Whidbey Writers Workshop has shown me that it is possible to be a writer first, and an employee second."
Whidbey Writers Workshop a distinctive program says Poets & Writers magazine
Whidbey Writers Workshop has been named by the respected magazinePoets & Writers as one of nine distinctive Master of Fine Arts programs in the nation.
The magazine’s annual MFA issue (November/December) publishes articles on master’s programs and lists noteworthy schools. This year the Whidbey Writers Workshop is the only low-residency MFA program included and one of the youngest in the group.
A program of the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts, the WWW masters in creative writing is the first in the United States to be offered by a nonprofit organization rather than through a university. The Whidbey Writers Association is the nonprofit that founded the program in the fall of 2004 and continues to manage it through the Northwest Institute of Literary Arts.
“To be included in this list with well-established university departments is a genuine milestone for our young program,” said MFA Program Director Wayne Ude. “This distinction reflects well on our independent status operating outside the university system. Ude said that courses addressing the profession of writing, which bring editors, agents and successful writers to discuss the business as well as the creative side of the writing life, are part of what set WWW apart from purely academic programs.
“In a country with 300 graduate writing programs and only 100 teaching positions opening each year, we feel it’s essential to prepare writers to make a life outside the university,” said Ude. “In fact, our entire program has its life outside the university and rooted in the craft and practice of writing.”
In addition to core writing, literature and workshop classes taught by instructors who are all professional writers, twice yearly intensive residencies include varied workshops by noted authors and publishing professionals.
Whidbey Writers Workshop is a low-residency Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing that meets twice yearly on Whidbey Island in Washington state. The semester continues in an online classroom, allowing students to work together regardless of geographic location. For more information about WWW, see www.writeonwhidbey.com or contact mfa@writeonwhidbey.com.
CLOCK HOURS
Teachers: Intensive residency Clock Hours are now available in cooperation with Heritage Institute of Clinton, Washington. Details and application procedures
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE NOW AVAILABLE
The Whidbey Writers Workshop has established a financial assistance program. For details, click here.
Scholarship Application Forms
Applications are now being accepted for the MFA degree program beginning with the August, 2009, residency and fall semester. Applications for August and the fall semester will be accepted until April 1, 2009. Further information and a downloadable application form are available through the Admission link on this page.
Applications for the residency-only option will be accepted May 15-June 15, 2009.. Further information is available on the Residency-Only Page. A downloadable residency-only application form is available through the Admission link on this page. August residency dates are Saturday, August 15 - Tuesday, August 25. August 15 is a travel and orientation day; August 25 is a travel day.
Try Us Out at a Residency
Interested in our MFA program but would like to give it a trial run? Why not experience one of our residencies as a residency-only, non-credit participant and see for yourself what we're really like? See the Residency-Only Page for further information.