Diversion: A New Low-Residency MFA Program for Writers

Poet Brian Turner, author of Here, Bullet and Phantom Noise, dropped us a note last week -- he's now heading a new low-residency MFA program on the shore of Lake Tahoe in Nevada. Here's his invitation, just in time for planning a commitment to creativity:

Sierra Nevada College is pleased to announce its new low-residency MFA program in Creative Writing. Classes begin in January 2012.

Low-Residency MFA:
The Inspiration You Want. The Flexibility You Need.
Pursue your artistic and professional development on your own terms. Over the course of the 2 year program at Sierra Nevada College, you will attend 4 eight-day residencies in Lake Tahoe and one abroad, followed by 4 semesters of instructor-supported learning at home. This low-residency design provides opportunities for both engagement and retreat. Become part of a nurturing community of writers without disrupting your current lifestyle.

Residencies develop your individual voice through intense, creative dialogue with internationally known writers. You will focus on your chosen genre while pushing the boundaries of your art through exploration of other forms. Full of inspiration, you will transition from these high-engagement residencies to working one-on-one with your mentor during the semester. The semester is a period for contemplation, productivity and individual application of new knowledge. At the end of the program, you will emerge with publication-quality manuscript created through solitary discipline but shaped by interaction with some of the best writers in the world.

Sierra Nevada College is located in Incline Village, Nevada, on the beautiful shores of north Lake Tahoe. From moonlit snow shoe walks to kayaking the deep, clear blue waters of the lake to simply sitting under a canopy of pines to enjoy a good book, Lake Tahoe offers many opportunities for artistic inspiration. In this beautiful setting, we will gather together to create a community of writers and nurture a lifetime engagement with the art of writing.

Meeting Artists, Making Art
Each residency is an eight-day intensive series of workshops, seminars, readings, and more that will expand a writer’s sense of possibility within the written and spoken arts. From down to earth tricks-of-the-trade to the elevated heights of conceptual nuances, residencies will explore the wide landscape of the writing life. For eight days each January and July, you will find yourself building valuable lifelong connections with star writers within the literary world. Spend time in one of the most inspiring locations on earth, with artists who can help you channel that inspiration into your own work.

Faculty mentors will meet with you during each residency to identify your goals for the upcoming semester. You will receive personalized attention that is focused on your individual creative and critical work. Our faculty members are gifted, worldclass writers and artists in their field. They are also incredible teachers of their art. Faculty work one-on-one with you extensively during the semester, providing written critiques and feedback of your work.

Creating A Community, Building A Career
While spending time on the shores of Lake Tahoe, you will develop close, professional relationships with some of the best writers in the world.  These writers will inspire you to greater heights in your own work and will form the professional network that will allow you to take the next step in your career. You will leave our program prepared for a lifelong engagement with literature.  Become the newest voice in a larger literary conversation.

World Class Writers and Professors

Brian Turner  
Patricia Smith 
Kelle Groom 
Nathalie Handal

Contact
If you are interested in adding your voice to the discussion, and if you are intrigued by the possibility of working with teachers and peers who are passionate about the art they love, then please contact us—we look forward to meeting you.

MFAinfo@sierranevada.edu
866-412-4636
www.sierranevada.edu/mfa