Questions about MFA in Creative Writing

[teacup56]

Hello all.  I'm planning to apply to MFA programs in creative writing this fall (for fall 2013 start, hopefully).  I'm already working on getting things together (some of it just mental planning at this point.  For right now, I'm just researching schools online and working prolifically on a novella). I have some general questions, though

Comments

[candychic125]

I've seen the SOP done both ways. I looked up examples from successful applicants, and a lot of them are single spaced. I believe for the 500-1000 word variety, single is fine. But if a school specifies a 4-page count without the mention of spacing, I would email or call that school's secretary just to be sure. They most likely mean double. And if you're up against the wall without an answer, I would go for two pages single spaced, because more often than not, it would extend to four double spaced pages.

I think if your fiction comes mainly from your experiences, it's okay to state that. Your SOP should give an honest overview of you, and if that's how you write, that's just how you write. Inspiration can come from anywhere. Any really interesting things can happen to anyone! There's nothing wrong with that. You might even be interested in some programs that offer a creative non-fiction track, as you may want to take a few classes with them.

Once again, if a specific school is unclear, call/write the secretary. But from what I saw on applications is for fiction, two to three complete short stories are okay, or a section of a novel with a synopsis. Don't worry as much about showing range or trying to figure out what each school would like to read. Submit your best work. That is, what you feel is your best work, and what your readers feel is your best work.

There isn't much of advantage or disadvantage to sending under the page limit. Do not go over it, of course. You'll be read for the content, technical merit, and the ability of your characters and plot to emotionally engage the reader. If your best story in these regards happens to be 15 pages, so be it. But if you find that you have a 12 page story, submitting a 6 page to follow it won't hurt you. In fact, if your first story doesn't go over well with a reader, the second story may save you.

Almost everywhere I saw said the writing sample should be double spaced. All of the schools I had questions for responded in 2-7 days. And make sure you have all of your questions ready for one email, to avoid annoying them.

When it comes time to apply, this blog is extremely helpful http://creative-writing-mfa-handbook.blogspot.com/ Along with the MFA Creative Writing Handbook