Arkansas Writers MFA Workshop
The Arkansas Writers MFA Workshop is an intentionally small, deeply engaged program that nurtures a vibrant community of literary artists. Emphasizing mentorship, publication, and pedagogy, it provides a supportive home for your writing journey—now and for years to come. The program provides graduate students the opportunity to concentrate on the study, practice, and teaching of Creative Writing in a highly focused writing environment facilitated by writers for writers. At 45 hours, this program will ensure that graduates build multi-genre backgrounds in the popular discipline of Creative Writing through workshops, forms courses, topics courses, a wide variety of electives, and specialized teaching and editing practicums. To ensure individualized attention, the program admits 5 to 8 students annually, with a total population of under 25 students. We offer two publishing assistantships, one with the award-winning national magazine the Oxford American, and one with our new online magazine, Arkana. We also offer the Porter Fund Scholarship, a $5000 yearly scholarship, to one student. After being trained in both composition and creative writing pedagogy, some students will be offered graduate assistantships for teaching undergraduate writing classes; others work as graduate assistants in the Center for Writing & Communication, in Sponsored Programs or the Graduate School, among others. All students complete a thesis project. Our students will earn practical, hands-on experience by serving on the editorial staff of our new online national literary magazine Arkana. They also have the opportunity to pursue internships with local arts organizations and non-profits as well as with the nationally recognized literary magazine the Oxford American. In addition, a unique course in “The MFA Experience” will help students to maximize their time in the program as they develop as writers and artists.
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Notable Alumni
Carrie Lee South
Rachel Paul
Cassandra HayesTestimonials
“Through this program, I have learned more than I expected, gained more confidence than I hoped, and accomplished more than I thought I could. It gave me something that I am not sure I could have given myself, and that is the eyes to see myself as an author.”
Teighlor Chaney, '25
“The professors in the creative writing program at UCA are some of the most caring, educated, encouraging, helpful, and knowledgeable individuals I have ever had the privilege to learn from.”
Janet Uchendu, '24
“The Arkansas Writers MFA Program at UCA is special because of the community that comes bundled with your admission. The cohorts and class sizes are small, so you get dedicated time and attention from peers and faculty alike. This helps with forging relationships and finding inspiration in the work of those you admire and interface with often. Our faculty cultivate a supportive and constructive workshop environment, perfect for folks who may be apprehensive regarding the presentation and discussion of their own work. Aside from being smack dab in the Natural State, Central Arkansas has a bright arts scene filled with fun opportunities and beautiful atmosphere. Come be a Bear with the best!”
Dylan Richardson
“Beyond the warm welcome and unstinting friendliness of the faculty and staff, who are never too busy to lend an ear or a hand, UCA stands out for the ease of access to all the resources you need - literally, everything is right at a student's fingertips! And its situation in the city of Conway couldn't be more convenient.”
Jeremy Quinn
“It's a campus that feels large but is actually very close knit, especially in the creative writing program. I know the names of all the teachers in my program, and all the students as well. This is something that may not be unique to UCA, but being here in Conway and being with this cohort makes you feel like you live in a small town of writers who genuinely enjoy getting together and working on their art together. I love signing up for a class and knowing the professor and everyone else who will be in the class with me. It becomes less like a class, and more like a little club that gets together every week just out of a love for the craft.”
Zane G.
“I wanted a small MFA program where I could benefit from true mentorship; I found that and more at the Arkansas Writers Workshop at UCA. The freedom to experiment in multiple genres opened up so much for me creatively, and I finished the program with a full draft of my debut novel.”
Carrie South
MFA '22
FAQ
Life at Arkansas Writers MFA Workshop
