Recommend universities that offer MA/MFA in Creative Writing

[maroon_spinoza]

gahd.

okay, okay. they came from this school and that, they teach here but came from there, it's better here and they're second rates.

whatever.

he/she was just asking which university has the best ma/mfa cw program suited for him/her.

some people always want to get noticed.
sheesh.

[paenggoy]

It's hard to say which university offers the best program because professors may move from one school to another or may take a leave while you are enrolled. Several are not full-time profs and are invited to teach for a semester or two in some programs, while some full-time profs can teach in more than one school. Sometimes, what is taught isn't what the person wants and what he wants to take might be taught by someone else. Also, some seminars are offered outside any program.

My suggestion is to enter a program that is most convenient for you, i.e., closest to your work place and/or home, that offers tuition that you can afford, that has class schedules that fit yours, that has provisions for part-time studies, transfer of credits, that offers classes that you want or need or that has teachers whom you prefer and who might stay during the duration of your enrollment, etc.

[galileo_]

Rio Alma is also from UST. Though he is now teaching in UP, he is still as good as a Thomasian so to speak. In fact, I met him just this December 15 during the USTETIKA awards night since it was his brainchild afterall. Just sharing

I think Rio Alma is a product of UP.

Ustetika is the brainchild of Vim Nadera.

[n3X]

It's hard to say which university offers the best program because professors may move from one school to another or may take a leave while you are enrolled. Several are not full-time profs and are invited to teach for a semester or two in some programs, while some full-time profs can teach in more than one school. Sometimes, what is taught isn't what the person wants and what he wants to take might be taught by someone else. Also, some seminars are offered outside any program.

My suggestion is to enter a program that is most convenient for you, i.e., closest to your work place and/or home, that offers tuition that you can afford, that has class schedules that fit yours, that has provisions for part-time studies, transfer of credits, that offers classes that you want or need or that has teachers whom you prefer and who might stay during the duration of your enrollment, etc.

Hmmmm. I totally disagree. And I'm totally against studying in some place for CONVENIENCE. If one wants the best education, go for it. The mere fact na nag-ask yung tao dito sa isang democratic online forum means that s/he wants to get the best advice.

Its not that hard to say which school has the best program just because professors MAY move from one to the other or baka mag-leave. I think the best question to ask is where do they stay. Lahat naman ng kahit sinong asa sa isang school puedeng umalis anytime e. Plus, di rin naman ganun kabilis ng turnover ng mga profs sa mga established schools. Secondly, puede namang i-"summarize" or i-"total" yung buong educational experience ng isang school e. One could compare for example, yung isang school na merong isang superstar na faculty dun sa isa na so-so yung faculty. Obviously, mas okay sa total yung so-so kesa sa isang superstar lang, aside na lang kung gusto mo lang mag-follow sa tradition nung nag iisa na yun.

[hunter_alchemst]

I think Rio Alma is a product of UP.

Ustetika is the brainchild of Vim Nadera.

oo nga tama ka. sorry, my fault, my mistake.

[paenggoy]

You can't "go for it" if, for example, there's no scholarship and you have to continue working full-time to pay for tuition. In fact, many grad students have to choose particular schools for this and similar reasons. That is what I meant by "convenience."

It's not wrong to ask about these things in this forum, but bear in mind that's it's difficult to verify advice because we don't know a member's background. There are some forums such as mailing lists where members have to use their real names, non-free e-mail addresses, and signatures at the bottom of each mail (containing their name, unit affiliation, etc.), but it is not the case here, which is why the best I can give is generic advice.

The better option is to just visit the school and talk to faculty, staff, and students of the program. One can even visit the program website and send e-mail to the staff. It's not a waste of time because prospective students usually have to check the school website and visit the campus before and during application.

Next, a professor may be tenured, part-time, a visiting professor, a writer who does not work in the academe full-time (which means he is not tenured in any particular school), or about to retire. It's not hard to tell: just check the faculty roster and visit the school itself and talk to the staff.

In order to find out about the quality of instruction, prospective students usually talk to currently enrolled students and staff and check faculty credentials through the rosters and the prospectus. Again, this is not difficult to do as it can be done both online and during the campus visit. Of course, one can read about it here, but how will one know if what is posted is true unless one sees it in the school website and/or for himself by visiting the school and talking to students? If a member states that he is a student of such a program in this forum, how do we verify that?

Hmmmm. I totally disagree. And I'm totally against studying in some place for CONVENIENCE. If one wants the best education, go for it. The mere fact na nag-ask yung tao dito sa isang democratic online forum means that s/he wants to get the best advice.

Its not that hard to say which school has the best program just because professors MAY move from one to the other or baka mag-leave. I think the best question to ask is where do they stay. Lahat naman ng kahit sinong asa sa isang school puedeng umalis anytime e. Plus, di rin naman ganun kabilis ng turnover ng mga profs sa mga established schools. Secondly, puede namang i-"summarize" or i-"total" yung buong educational experience ng isang school e. One could compare for example, yung isang school na merong isang superstar na faculty dun sa isa na so-so yung faculty. Obviously, mas okay sa total yung so-so kesa sa isang superstar lang, aside na lang kung gusto mo lang mag-follow sa tradition nung nag iisa na yun.

[ooooooooooooooo]

Hi, meron na ba sa inyo na nakakuha ng 2 year certificate program ng malikhaing pagsulat sa UP? Feedback naman po regarding this program. Mahirap bang makapasok? Nabasa ko kasi sa UP website na kailangan mong makapasa ng workshop/audition bago ka matanggap. Ok kaya siya for working people? Thanks!

[paenggoy]

Perhaps you can contact the UP Creative Writing Center:

http://www.upd.edu.ph/research.htm

http://www.members.tripod.com/likhaan_online/

Also, perhaps you're looking for something like the class described here:

http://www.msuiit.edu.ph/ipag/workshops.html

I found these by entering "short-term creative writing philippines" and "creative writing center UP Diliman" in search engines. One might find even more sources by entering various key words and looking at subsequent page results.

[rap_sd6]

hmmm ask ko lang: why MA in CW?

I took Edel Garcellano's class prior to taking CW elective courses and i sympathize with Edel. parang literary barkada ang situation dito sa atin.

i hope things have changed na

[kritiko_ako]

After the Great Dame's demise, does UST still offer MA CW?
I cannot find the MA CW curriculum in their website. Thanks!

[vicmesar]

I want to attend CW workshop but preferring not to participate in its exercises, e.g., submitting a report. Is this possible?

My sole purpose is to get some pointers to further improve my writing skills. I am in legal consultancy requiring drafting of pleadings and other documents.

My writing style is usually the pleader-type, shall we say, old fashioned-one; cold-blooded.

[ЅUX2BÜ]

That's not possible. CW is not about "learning how to write" or "getting some pointers" per se, but more about honing your craft/style as a creative writer. You are expected to write, write, and write. In the literary journalism course, for example, you will be required to write reviews of films, books, plays, music, et cetera. And even before you get accepted to the program, you are already expected to have established yourself as a poet, fictionist, dramatist, etc.

Inclusion to national writers workshops (UST, UP, DLSU, etc.) is even more competitive since you have to compete with other aspiring creative writers for a spot. UPNWW, for example, only selects about 20-30 fellows out of hundreds of aspirants a year. During my time, only nearly 30 were selected out of about 500 applicants nationwide. At USTCWC (again during my time), only 12 passed the screening.

For these workshops, you need to submit an extremely good poetry collection, a play, a compendium of short stories, essays, etc. (depending on what you want to focus on as a creative writer).

[vicmesar]

thanks sux2.

Pardon my ignorance. I thought it is just another conference wherein i can attend informally.

I'd been a pleader for almost two (2) decades and my clients include some interesting people and companies in our society.

I am just wondering if i can still upgrade my writing style.

Legal writing is a different discipline; but I still believe it can be less cold blooded. Thus, this idea of attending CW workshop.

Eh di naman pala ako qualified hehehe.

Thanks anyway

[ЅUX2BÜ]

Nope, MA/MFA in CW is a full-term program, while creative writing workshops (USTCWC, UPNWW, et cetera) are for those who want to sharpen their already existing craft (fellowships, however, are really competitive and, like what I've mentioned, you are already expected to write great poems, short stories, et cetera).

However, if you want to go to a "regular" writing workshop, there are writing groups in the Philippines that offer writing seminars/workshops (for a fee, of course). Try checking Writer's Block Philippines. They teach various writing rituals (from fashion to politics).

[ЅUX2BÜ]

Hi, vicmesar! Writer's Block is conducting a feature writing workshop this month.

Check this out.

[lockex]

I find it really sad that Silliman has been mentioned little in this topic. When it has arguably the second best creative writing workshop in the country.

[ЅUX2BÜ]

Don't be sad, lockex. Everybody in the literary circle knows that SUNWW is the mother of all creative writing workshops in the Philippines.