The MFA program had a terrific time at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conference, with 18 current students and alum and Graduate Programs Coordinator David Krausman in Seattle representing Chapman University and Tab Journal.

Now, we’re heading quickly into thesis defense season. Once that wraps up around April 20, we immediately gear up for Pub(lishing) Crawl on Wednesday, April 26, at 3-9pm in BK 404. This year’s program will feature Erin Berthon on career trends in creative writing, editors Andrew Tonkovich and Jamie Campbell of Citric Acid, short story writers Yoon Choi and Lisa Cupolo, YA author Elise Bryant, and poet Diana Khoi Nguyen. Join us!

Also, mark your calendar for the English Grad Programs End-of-Year Celebration on Tuesday, May 16, at 6pm. The festivities will include an MFA Poetry Reading and refreshments. Alums, friends, and family are welcome to join current students and faculty.

If you are an alum of the MFA or MA/MFA program and have gone on to a PhD program, we are interested in hearing from you. See more below. Of course, we’re always happy to hear about your other writerly or career achievements too.

Fans of faculty Richard Bausch will appreciate the recent warm interview at the Los Angeles Times about the writing process and his new novel, Playhouse. And Tom Zoellner is talking about his new book, Rim to River, in several venues, including an online event with the Purple Sage Book Club on March 30, on the radio, and at the Tucson Festival of Books.

—Dr. Anna Leahy, Director of MFA in Creative Writing

Attending a PhD Program?

The Department of English is compiling an ongoing list of our alums in PhD programs. Knowing where our alums have gone to continue their studies helps us make connections for support current students. If you're currently working on, or have completed your PhD, we'd appreciate your reaching out to let us confirm we have you on our list. You can contact David Krausman at krausman@chapman.edu to do so.

Chapman U MFA & Dorland Mountain Arts Writing Residency

The MFA in Creative Writing program is continuing its collaboration with Dorland Mountain Arts Colony, located in Temecula, CA.

The MFA program is offering one residency June 2-10, 2023, in the accessible Zachai Cottage. This opportunity may be especially appealing for current students working on a thesis to defend next year, but any current student or recent alum is welcome to apply.

Dorland Mountain Arts is a beautiful retreat where artists, writers, musicians, and composers can create in a secluded, natural setting. The property is located roughly 60 miles from Orange, near Temecula Valley Wine Country.

To apply, send a 1-page, single-spaced statement of how the residency will support work on your thesis or book project and 6-10 pages of creative work that is part of that project to David Krausman at krausman@chapman.edu by Friday, April 14.

Alum Achievements

Student Achievements

Job & Internship Opportunities

Fellowship: The Creative Writing Program in the Department of English at the University of Minnesota (Twin Cities campus) invites applications for the Edelstein-Keller Writer in Residence Fellowship in Nonfiction. This fellowship is a two-year position for 2023-2025. The application deadline is Monday, April 3.

Internship: SUPERCOLIDER offers an internship program for current and recent graduate students. This includes opportunities for volunteer or work-study/internship credits in exchange for mentorship and collaboration. SUPERCOLIDER offers partnerships with local and (inter)national universities for quarterly, bi-annual, or yearly internships both remote and in-person. Roles and responsibilities vary depending on expertise, which include: art + sci + tech research and compilation, marketing and promotion, and exhibition and programming support.

Events

A Public Space invites applications for its Writing Fellowships, which include a stipend, online master classes, and  the opportunity to prepare a piece for publication and a public reading. Only writers who have not yet published a book are eligible. The deadline is March 31.

The next Write to Read event will take place Wednesday, April 5, at Chapman Crafted starting at 7pm and will be featuring Gustavo Hernandez, author of Flower Grand First. 

HerStry Literary Magazine and The Babes Who Write are hosting the third annual virtual writers’ conference Reaching for the Heart of It on April 22. The conference will be held on Zoom and consist of a full day of craft workshops, agent panels, publishing advice, and more.

Pub(lishing) Crawl returns on Wednesday, April 26. Among the featured guests are editor Andrew Tonkovich, debut story collection authors Yoon Choi and Lisa Cupolo, YA author Elise Bryant, and poet Diana Khoi Nguyen. In addition, Career Advisor Erin Berthon will kick off the program with a special session on trends in jobs for creative writers. If you’re in the area, please save the date.

The Historical Novel Society North America conference will take place from June 8-10, 2023, at the Marriott Rivercenter in San Antonio, TX. #HNS2023 is the place for authors and lovers of historical fiction to meet and mingle, to learn new writing techniques, to pitch their writing project to an agent, and to share their writerly passions. The conference includes options to attend in-person or virtually, with registration deadlines of May 15 and June 4, respectively.

Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference offers morning workshops in a wide range of genres and afternoons of craft seminars, panels, one-on-one consultations, and open mics. The 2023 Conference will be held from August 3-5, 2023. Registration for the next conference will be open from March 15-June 30, 2023.

Inlandia is offering free writing workshops in poetry, prose, nonfiction, and memoir. The focus varies from writing about Black art to food writing to writing for children and young adults, and workshops for seniors will be available. To become part of the Inlandia community of writers, register today! All workshops are free and open to the public. Registration is required.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Friends of the Orange Public Library are looking for volunteers to work in book donation services, internet services, the resale bookstore, or other roles. Visit foplca.com or orangepubliclibrary.org to submit a Volunteer Application.

American Book Review (ABR) is seeking volunteer book reviewers and contacted our program precisely because of our reputation as book reviewers. ABR is published in hard copy and a digital edition available through university libraries and subscriptions. Books are assigned for review rather than an open call for completed reviews. Assigned reviews are almost certain to be published in ABR. The wait-time for publication is long, but these are also substantive reviews and make a good portfolio for gaining paid work as a reviewer. Dr. Leahy is happy to meet with any student assigned a book review to discuss a draft. If interested, contact Cris Mazza at cmazza@uic.edu. 

Poets interested in reading submissions for Narrative should contact Dr. Anna Leahy for possible volunteer opportunities.

Publication Opportunities

Texas Review Press seeks submissions for the 2023 Clay Reynolds Novella Prize. The prize comes with $500, a standard royalty contract, and 20 copies of the published book. The deadline to submit is March 31. 

Texas Review Press seeks submissions for the 2023 Robert Phillips Chapbook Prize. The prize comes with $500, a standard royalty contract, and 20 copies of the published book. The deadline to submit is March 31. 

In collaboration with Fowler School of Law, the Creative and Cultural Industries program seeks short written and multimodal dialogue pieces to be shared as part of the Contemporary Conversations in Climate Change on April 21-22, 2023. More information is available at the submission portal and by emailing climatecompetition@chapman.edu. The deadline for submissions is April 9.

Broadsided Press seeks ekphrastic submissions for the 2023 Switcheroo. This year writers will respond to a sculpture by artist Douglas Culhane. The deadline to submit is April 10.

The New Croton Review seeks unpublished poetry, fiction, nonfiction, photographs, and visual art. The deadline to submit is April 15.

Action, Spectacle seeks art, comics, commentary, fiction, interviews, memoir, music, poetry, and reportage.

Kaleidoscope (a publication of United Disability Services) seeks fiction, nonfiction, poetry, artwork, and book reviews that challenge and overcome stereotypical, patronizing, and sentimental attitudes about disability. No fee, and it's a paying outlet.

Fresh Words is looking for poetry, short stories, essays, and plays for their regular monthly issues. Pieces are to be sent to freshwordsmagazine@gmail.com.

Poets & Writers has an extensive list of literary journals with website links and reading periods included, and you can filter by genre. There is also a good list of contests that rolls according to impending deadlines and a list of book review outlets.