university of california san diego creative writing

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MFA Application Instructions

Updated November 2019

Please submit your application and supporting documents online at  https://connect.grad.ucsd.edu/apply/ .  We do not review application materials submitted by mail or email.

You may work on your application throughout the application period (see sidebar). The drawers below provide supplemental instructions for select sections of the online application. If you have questions please email the MFA graduate coordinator at [email protected] .  

Some applicants may be contacted for an interview at the discretion of the MFA Admissions Committee.

Residency and Applicant Data

The questions in this section help establish whether you will owe nonresident tuition. If you are not sure if you are a California resident for tuition purposes, refer to  Criteria to Establish Residence for Tuition Purposes and  Exemptions and Waivers from Nonresident Tuition .

If you are a nonresident who graduated from a California high school, be sure to fill out the High School section to be considered for resident status under AB540 .

Tribal Membership

If you think you are eligible for the  Tribal Membership fellowship  be sure to indicate your tribal affiliation on the application.  Mail your verification documents to—

UC San Diego Literature Dept / MFA 9500 Gilman Drive #0410 La Jolla, CA 92093-0410

Test Scores

The MFA in Writing does not require the Graduate Record Examination. Do not submit GRE scores.

English Language Certification for Teaching Assistants

If you are an international applicant and nonnative English speaker you must have your English language proficiency  certified by UC San Diego  in order to work as a teaching assistant.

No exceptions can be made. Certification is a prerequisite for TA employment even if you are exempt from providing language proficiency scores for admission purposes (refer to  Admission Prequisites ). We strongly advise that you provide a Speaking subscore on an English proficiency exam on your application. The alternatives are to provide the subscore after admission (ideally before interviewing for TA positions in May) or else take a certification exam at the start of your first quarter in the program.

Literature Application Questions

This section of the application asks you to articulate why you think our cross-genre program is a good fit for you.

• How is your work cross-genre, mixed form, and/or interdisciplinary?
• What literary and social questions or problems does your writing/arts practice address? (Search "artist's statement guidelines" for examples.)
• What goals and research interests would you like to pursue during your MFA program?
• How might might this research university and this program particularly support this goal? 

Be sure to offer a few particulars when answering the last question above. For example, do you envision yourself working with a particular faculty member in the MFA program or Literature Department ? Conducting research in one of the Special Collections such as the Archive for New Poetry? Working on an interdisciplinary project with faculty and/or students in another academic department , a cultural center , or perhaps an organized research unit ?  Researching topics that inform your creative thesis project (e.g., cross-border and migration issues, climate change, social justice issues, bioethics, AI)? Studying how to teach writing at the college level?

Please be concise and specific in this questions section. You can expand on your answers in the statement of purpose section if needed.

To learn more about the campus, browse the A-Z Department Index   and UCSD News .

Recommendations

Please provide 3 letters of recommendation from individuals who are in a position to analyze your academic ability and potential for success in a rigorous graduate program (you can submit more than three letters).   Letters must be submitted online by your recommenders or a  recognized professional dossier service such as Inferfolio . We do not accept paper letters.

You will be asked to provide the following information for each recommender:

• First and last name
• Position / title
• Name of organization
• Email address ( use the email address provided by Interfolio if applicable) (required)
• Telephone (optional)

Once you enter a recommender's information they will receive an email with instructions for submitting their letter.

Email addresses cannot be edited after entry. To change a recommender's email address, open the original entry, select "Exclude", and then re-add them as a new recommender. 

Statement of Purpose (Upload)

Your statement of purpose is very important and is given careful consideration in the selection process. It should provide information that will aid the selection committee in evaluating your potential for completing the MFA program. Think of the statement as an opportunity to discuss your work and goals in both a personal and critical context. Your statement must be a PDF file and should be less than 2500 words. There is no minimum length.

Suggested topics:

• Aesthetics.
• Past experiences, including a brief discussion of barriers overcome on the path to grad school (important if you want to be considered for a San Diego/SEED fellowship).
• Reason for low GPA (below B or 3.0) if applicable.
• Reason for fewer than 3 letters of reference if applicable.
• Background in writing.
• What you have read that has been useful or influential to you as a writer.
• Experience or interest in theoretical, interdisciplinary, and/or cultural studies
• What you are currently working on.
• Recent participation in readings, workshops, or critique groups.
• What you hope to get from the MFA Program in Writing.

Please be sure to demonstrate familiarity with our program and faculty. Why did you apply to this university and this program? Why do you want to work with a particular faculty member? How do you feel about working as a teaching apprentice?

CV/Resume (Upload)

Additional information (fellowship application).

Complete this section of the online application if you want to be considered for a  UCSD fellowship .

Respond to at least three of the seven short answer questions. We recommend you  write about your experiences and accomplishments in 3-4 areas on this list:

• Overcoming adversity
• Community involvement
• Social justice experience

Read the fellowship information carefully. Pay close attention to the examples of how applicants can demonstrate that they have faced significant disadvantages and adversity and how their admission to UCSD would enhance departmental or campus diversity.

Portfolio (Upload)

Writing sample (required).

A PDF writing sample is required and is weighed heavily in the selection process. You may submit poetry, fiction (composed of one or several stories, a portion of a novel, or a combination), or hybrid texts, which could include forms such as the graphic novel or visual poetry. Put together a sample that emphasizes quality rather than length.

Submit ONE of the following: 

• Cross-Genre/Hybrid/Mixed Forms – 30 to 40 pages.
• Fiction – 30 to 40 pages (if submitting a novel excerpt, attach a brief plot synopsis).
• Poetry – 15 to 20 pages.
• Include a cover sheet with your name and either the title of the piece or a table of contents if the sample consists of several stories or unrelated pieces.
• Include your name and the page number in the header on every page.
• Double-space unless the formatting of your material requires otherwise.

Upload the writing sample PDF to the application.

Supplemental Samples (Optional)

You may supplement your writing sample by uploading (or linking to) an image, video, or sound file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i tell if my application was successfully submitted and was forwarded to the reviewers.

Your application will be automatically forwarded to us for review provided you pay the application fee and click 'Submit' by the application deadline. If you submit at the close of the application period, or if you encounter a technical issue during submission, please return to your application and check that its status has changed from "In progress" to "Submitted".

If you apply for a fee waiver your application will be forwarded to us immediately; however, the evaluators won't review it until the Graduate Division approves the waiver. It's advisable to apply early and submit your waiver documentation to Graduate Division as soon as possible. We do not hold up the review process to accommodate pending waiver applications.

Can I edit parts of my application after I submit it?

After you submit you may return to your application to do the following:

• Check that recommendation letters have been received.
• Re-send requests for recommendations.
• Add more recommenders.
• Upload transcripts and update educational background.
• Add test scores.
• Update your contact information.

Will my application be considered if a recommendation or transcript doesn't arrive by the application deadline?

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MFA Admission 2025

Application Period 9/4/2024 - 12/4/2024

Decision Notifications February - April 2025

Program Begins Fall 2025

[ Admission Overview  ]

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• Warren Writing

Warren College Writing Program

"instead of writing because we have to say something, we should write as if we have something to say.".

The Warren College Writing Program is one of eight writing programs at UC San Diego. Our course topics are inspired by the college’s theme, “A life in balance,” and the college’s namesake, former Supreme Court Chief Justice Earl Warren. Taken together, they challenge all of us at Warren College to place issues of justice, fairness, and ethics squarely in the balance of our teaching, learning and communication with one another. 

In their Warren Writing courses, students will balance learning about social issues with active development of their writing and communication skills. They will take responsibility and ownership for their opinions, their writing, and their learning as a whole, not only preparing them for academic success at a university level but also challenging them to acquire versatile communication skills applicable beyond their time at UC San Diego.

Our program goals include:

• Asking thoughtful questions about writing and about social issues
• Advancing critical thinking, close-reading, and analytical writing skills
• Leveraging research to drive reading and writing projects
• Practicing audience-based communication (clarity, compassion, and versatility)
• Applying skills to multimodal communication (ie. op-eds, poster presentations, etc.)
• Developing solutions for restoring balance and equity in our communities

Collaborative Grading

Warren Writing uses a collaborative grading system. At the beginning of each course, students contract for the labor (effort) and grade they commit to in relation to the course projects and activities. By increasing transparency and placing ownership for the grading process in students’ hands, Warren Writing aims to foster an environment where students can step out of their comfort zone, reflect and grow authentically, and take risks as writers.

Prospective Lecturers

Interested in teaching with Warren Writing? For information on how to submit an application, please visit the   UCSD Academic Recruitment   portal. 

UCSD Academic Recruitment Portal

Warren College

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Living Writers' Series

Why Choose Our Program?

At SDSU, we believe our Creative Writing program is uniquely situated to provide writers with an exciting, informative, personalized—and affordable—path to attaining their MFA.

Inspired by Experiences

Inspired by our place in the world, the program provides a rich and diverse experience that goes beyond the classroom.

A Beautiful Location

Our campus is situated in the heart of San Diego, the site of early Californian history, and only minutes from the U.S./Mexico border.

A Global Approach to Writing

Our international approach is reflected in our course work and faculty expertise.

A History of Excellence

Established in 1989 by Poet Sandra Alcosser, SDSU became the second MFA Creative Writing program in California.

In the Spotlight

Kimball Taylor

Kimball Taylor is the author of The Coyote's Bicycle: The Untold Story of Seven Thousand Bicycles and the Rise of a Borderland Empire ( Tin House Books) and Return by Water: Surf Stories and Adventures (Dimdim Publishing). He’s a long-time contributor to Surfer Magazine. 

The Hugh C. Hyde Living Writers' Series at SDSU is one of the longest continuously running series in the nation. The series has featured an impressive slate of award-winning authors, many of them who are alumni of our program. All of the events are free and open to the public.

Tana Jean Welch

Tana Jean Welch is the author of the poetry collections In Parachutes Descending (University of Pittsburgh Press) and Latest Volcano (Marsh Hawk Press). She is Associate Professor of Medical Humanities at the Florida State University College of Medicine.

Read More News>>

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2024 Best Creative Writing Schools in California

Choosing a great creative writing school, pick your creative writing degree level, best schools for creative writing in california, 10 top california schools in creative writing.

There were approximately 37 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at USC in the most recent data year.

There were about 17 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at SDSU in the most recent data year.

Embrace your passion for storytelling and learn the professional writing skills you'll need to succeed with our online MFA in Creative Writing. Write your novel or short story collection while earning a certificate in the Online Teaching of Writing or Professional Writing, with no residency requirement.

Related Programs

There were about 8 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at San Jose State in the most recent data year.

There were about 31 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at National University in the most recent data year.

There were approximately 26 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at USFCA in the most recent year we have data available.

There were about 94 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at UCR in the most recent data year.

There were roughly 12 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at UC Davis in the most recent year we have data available.

There were roughly 26 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at SFSU in the most recent year we have data available.

There were about 46 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at Chapman in the most recent year we have data available.

There were roughly 10 creative writing students who graduated with this degree at CSULB in the most recent data year.

Best Creative Writing Colleges in the Far Western US Region

Other Rankings

Associate degrees in creative writing, master's degrees in creative writing, bachelor's degrees in creative writing, creative writing related rankings by major, most popular majors related to creative writing.

Notes and References

Popular reports, compare your school options.

Best Creative Writing colleges in California 2024

Best creative writing colleges in california for 2024.

University of Southern California offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 37 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 37 Bachelor's degrees.

University of California-Davis offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2022, 12 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 12 Master's degrees.

University of California-Riverside offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 94 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 49 Bachelor's degrees, and 45 Master's degrees.

University of California-Irvine offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 16 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 16 Master's degrees.

California State University-Long Beach offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 10 Master's degrees.

Saint Mary's College of California offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 23 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 23 Master's degrees.

San Diego State University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 17 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 17 Master's degrees.

University of San Francisco offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 26 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 26 Master's degrees.

San Francisco State University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 26 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 25 Master's degrees, and 1 Certificate.

Chapman University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 46 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 34 Bachelor's degrees, and 12 Master's degrees.

Find local colleges with Creative Writing majors in California

List of all creative writing colleges in california.

Stanford Creative Writing Program

The Stanford Creative Writing Program, founded in 1946 by Wallace Stegner, has become one of the nation’s most distinguished creative writing institutions. After almost 80 years, the program continues to evolve while also respecting its original vision of recruiting and supporting talented writers, offering exceptional creative writing instruction and mentorship, and inspiring undergraduates to develop their own unique creative written expression.

In the 1940s, E. H. Jones generously created the Wallace Stegner Fellowship, now considered the most prestigious creative writing fellowship in the U.S. for emerging writers. Dr. Jones also made possible the Jones Lectureships, which are limited, fixed-year teaching appointments, allowing exceptional Stegner Fellows some time and support to prepare a manuscript for publication, hone their teaching skills, and transition to a longer-term teaching career elsewhere.

The original framework of term-limited appointments allowed for a consistent flow of selected Stegner Fellows into the Jones Lectureship. However, over time this framework of term-limited appointments was not followed.

In the past two years, the School of Humanities and Sciences leadership and the Creative Writing Academic Council faculty have been working to formulate necessary changes in the program and to identify additional resources to meet its growing needs. A Working Group of Creative Writing Academic Council faculty held listening sessions and discussions.

Now, after thoughtful deliberation, the Working Group has recommended restoring the original intent of the Jones Lectureships: one-year appointments with the possibility of renewal for a limited term, up to a total of five years. This change will again allow Stegner Fellows the opportunity to apply to be Jones Lecturers once they have completed their fellowships. In other words, the Jones Lectureships are not being eliminated; they are only being term limited, as was the original intent of the program, so that the Stegner Fellows have an opportunity to teach Creative Writing courses at Stanford. We plan for there to be as many lecturers in the Program in five years’ time as there are today, and we expect to offer more classes then than now.

The university, school, and numerous generous donors are committed to not only the excellence of the program but also its growth. This means increasing the number of Creative Writing classes to better meet high student demand as well as ensuring competitive compensation for both the lecturers and fellows. We will provide more updates in early fall quarter about the Creative Writing Program and how it will continue to be one of the preeminent programs in the nation.

We understand that these changes to the Jones Lectureships will be met with mixed reactions. However, we firmly believe that the changes advance the program’s pedagogical mission and provide promising writers with the resources to complete their books and obtain appointments at other colleges and universities.

Throughout the history of the program, the Jones Lecturers—both those who are here now and those who have been lecturers in the past—have helped make Stanford Creative Writing what it is today, and we are truly grateful to them for their significant contributions to the program’s mission.

41 Best colleges for Creative Writing in California, US

Updated: February 29, 2024

• Art & Design
• Computer Science
• Engineering
• Environmental Science
• Liberal Arts & Social Sciences
• Mathematics

Below is a list of best universities in California ranked based on their research performance in Creative Writing. A graph of 196K citations received by 12.4K academic papers made by 41 universities in California was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

Please note that our approach to subject rankings is based on scientific outputs and heavily biased on art-related topics towards institutions with computer science research profiles.

1. Stanford University

For Creative Writing

2. University of California - Berkeley

3. University of Southern California

4. University of California - Los Angeles

5. University of California - Santa Barbara

6. University of California - Irvine

7. University of California - Santa Cruz

8. University of California-San Diego

9. University of California - Davis

10. University of California - San Francisco

11. San Jose State University

12. San Diego State University

13. California State University - Fullerton

14. University of California - Riverside

15. California State University - Long Beach

16. San Francisco State University

17. Loyola Marymount University

18. Santa Clara University

19. University of San Francisco

20. Fielding Graduate University

21. California State University - Northridge

22. California State University - Los Angeles

23. California State University - Sacramento

24. Chapman University

25. California State University - San Bernardino

26. Claremont Graduate University

27. California Institute of Technology

28. Sonoma State University

29. Fuller Theological Seminary

30. university of san diego.

31. Mills College

32. California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo

33. California State University - Fresno

34. Pepperdine University

35. Pomona College

36. Occidental College

37. Dominican University of California

38. California State University - Chico

39. California State University - San Marcos

40. California State Polytechnic University - Pomona

41. Azusa Pacific University

Closest to California states to learn Creative Writing

Art & Design subfields in California

Stanford criticized for laying off 23 creative writing lecturers

By nbc bay area staff • published august 30, 2024 • updated on august 30, 2024 at 11:04 am.

Stanford University is facing backlash after announcing it will lay off and then replace 23 creative writing lecturers.

The dean said the decision was made not for financial reasons but to restore the original intent of the program.

Watch NBC Bay Area News 📺 Streaming free 24/7

The school said it was designed to include lecture positions that lasted just one year at a time with the possibility of renewal.

Students and lecturers said they're angry and frustrated over the layoffs. Many have responded by signing petitions and writing letters to the university.

Some of the creative writing lecturers have been at Stanford for 20 years.

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Master of Fine Arts Program

The Department of English and Comparative Literature offers graduate study leading to the Master of Fine Arts in creative writing. The M.F.A. in creative writing is a professional program intended for full-time students who wish to receive a terminal degree in creative writing.

The M.F.A. is a 54-unit program which offers study in poetry or fiction with a balance between contrasting approaches: studio and academic, traditional and experimental, and commercial and aesthetic. The program has two stages – graduate seminars followed by intensive work with one or more professors in tutorials and manuscript preparation.

For more information, please visit the   M.F.A. Program's website.

The MFA Program Directors are Professors Sandra Alcosser (Fall) and Stephen-Paul Martin (Spring). 

Important Links

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Admission Steps

English and literary arts - creative writing - phd, admission requirements.

Terms and Deadlines

Degree and GPA Requirements

Additional Standards for Non-Native English Speakers

Additional standards for international applicants.

For the 2025-2026 academic year

See 2024-2025 requirements instead

Fall 2025 quarter (beginning in September)

Final submission deadline: December 16, 2024

Final submission deadline: Applicants cannot submit applications after the final submission deadline.

Degrees and GPA Requirements

Bachelors degree: All graduate applicants must hold an earned baccalaureate from a regionally accredited college or university or the recognized equivalent from an international institution.

Masters degree: This program requires a masters degree as well as the baccalaureate.

University GPA requirement: The minimum grade point average for admission consideration for graduate study at the University of Denver must meet one of the following criteria:

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the baccalaureate degree.

A cumulative 2.5 on a 4.0 scale for the last 60 semester credits or 90 quarter credits (approximately two years of work) for the baccalaureate degree.

An earned master’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited institution or the recognized equivalent from an international institution supersedes the minimum GPA requirement for the baccalaureate.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all graduate coursework completed for applicants who have not earned a master’s degree or higher.

Official scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS), C1 Advanced or Duolingo English Test are required of all graduate applicants, regardless of citizenship status, whose native language is not English or who have been educated in countries where English is not the native language. Your TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test scores are valid for two years from the test date.

The minimum TOEFL/IELTS/C1 Advanced/Duolingo English Test score requirements for this degree program are:

Minimum TOEFL Score (Internet-based test): 80

Minimum IELTS Score: 6.5

Minimum C1 Advanced Score: 176

Minimum Duolingo English Test Score: 115

Additional Information:

Read the English Language Proficiency policy for more details.

Read the Required Tests for GTA Eligibility policy for more details.

Per Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) regulation, international applicants must meet all standards for admission before an I-20 or DS-2019 is issued, [per U.S. Federal Register: 8 CFR § 214.3(k)] or is academically eligible for admission and is admitted [per 22 C.F.R. §62]. Read the Additional Standards For International Applicants policy for more details.

Application Materials

Transcripts, letters of recommendation.

Required Essays and Statements

Writing Sample

We require a scanned copy of your transcripts from every college or university you have attended. Scanned copies must be clearly legible and sized to print on standard 8½-by-11-inch paper. Transcripts that do not show degrees awarded must also be accompanied by a scanned copy of the diploma or degree certificate. If your academic transcripts were issued in a language other than English, both the original documents and certified English translations are required.

Transcripts and proof of degree documents for postsecondary degrees earned from institutions outside of the United States will be released to a third-party international credential evaluator to assess U.S. education system equivalencies. Beginning July 2023, a non-refundable fee for this service will be required before the application is processed.

Upon admission to the University of Denver, official transcripts will be required from each institution attended.

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required.  Academic recommendations preferred.  Letters should be submitted by recommenders through the online application.

Essays and Statements

Essay instructions.

Applicants should submit a sample of critical prose (e.g., a seminar paper, scholarly publication, or excerpt from thesis or other longer work demonstrating familiarity with the conventions of academic research and writing) not to exceed 20 pages.

Personal Statement Instructions

Personal statements should be 2 pages maximum and should address the applicant's past academic experience, future scholarly goals, and their suitability for graduate study and research in our program.

Résumé Instructions

The résumé (or C.V.) should minimally include the applicant's educational history, work experience, academic experience (including research opportunities or presentations), selected publications, and/or volunteer work.

Writing Sample Instructions

Applicants must submit representative samples of creative work (for Prose, no more than 30 pages; for Poetry, 5 - 10 poems).

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Start your application.

Your submitted materials will be reviewed once all materials and application fees have been received.

Our program can only consider your application for admission if our Office of Graduate Education has received all your online materials and supplemental materials by our application deadline.

Application Fee: $65.00 Application Fee

International Degree Evaluation Fee: $50.00 Evaluation Fee for degrees (bachelor's or higher) earned from institutions outside the United States.

Applicants should complete their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by February 15. Visit the Office of Financial Aid for additional information.

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Stanford Sparks Literary Backlash by Phasing Out Creative Writing Lecturers’ Jobs

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Sarah Frisch starts each of her creative writing courses at Stanford University by letting her students know the classroom is a working community.

Stanford can be a difficult, high-pressure space, and Frisch said creative writing courses can be a respite.

“Students read this incredible literature, and they meet people they ordinarily just read about,” Frisch said. “But I think the part that’s really powerful is to see that writers are ordinary people. Writers write within friendships, and they get plugged into that community.”

Now, Frisch and other lecturers worry that the job security and lecturer longevity that make those relationships possible will disappear. During a video meeting last week, Frisch and her colleagues learned the Stanford Creative Writing Program’s nearly two dozen lecturers would lose their current positions over the next two years.

Instead, a faculty working group recommended the program’s lectureships consist of one-year appointments with the possibility of renewal for a limited period of up to five years.

Many of the current lecturers have taught at the university for more than a decade.

“I feel like our students were betrayed,” said Frisch, who has been a Stanford lecturer since 2009. “The whole program is going to be based on temporary labor, and that is a sea change from the program that we have. And that means that the program we have no longer exists.”

Transitioning to short-term futures

In a statement posted on the university’s website on Wednesday, the School of Humanities and Sciences and Creative Writing Program leadership defended the changes, arguing that the lectureship program, known as Jones lectureships, was originally intended for limited-term appointments.

“We plan for there to be as many lecturers in the Program in five years as there are today, and we expect to offer more classes then than now,” the statement reads. “The university, school, and numerous generous donors are committed to not only the excellence of the program but also its growth.”

Colleagues credit the Creative Writing Program’s success and popularity to support for lecturers from the late Eavan Boland, a distinguished poet and former director of the program. Boland, who died in 2020, encouraged lecturers to develop their own ambitious classes and foster deep mentoring relationships with undergraduates.

“She empowered lecturers not only to have job longevity but to use that time to innovate in the classroom,” said Nina Schloesser Tárano, who has been teaching in the Creative Writing Program since 2012.

“This is being treated as a luxury — my ability to be there for the entirety of somebody’s career as an undergraduate. But it’s my job, and it should be,” Schloesser Tárano said.

Students, alums and writers sound off

The changes to Stanford’s Creative Writing Program quickly generated widespread outrage online. In a Medium post , lecturer Tom Kealey noted that the changes come a year after lecturers, who made around $52,000, asked for a pay increase.

Writer Joyce Carol Oates wrote on X , “I am puzzled most by the lack of simple collegiality & generosity at one of the most wealthy universities in the world. Stanford’s endowment could support an entire nation.”

Kyle Wang, who graduated from Stanford in 2023 with a master’s in the modern thought and literature program, started a petition calling on the university to change course and reinstate the lecturers whose contracts will be phased out.

Wang said the lecturers in the Creative Writing Program changed his life.

When Wang first came to Stanford, he was unsure what to study. He had grown up in Silicon Valley, “where everyone and their mother” worked in tech or tech-adjacent fields. He took computer science class after computer science class. Then, in January 2019, he took his first creative writing class.

“A couple of weeks later, I think I knew deep down that I was going to be studying English,” Wang said. “Every single class that I’ve taken with a Jones lecturer has, in some new way, shape, or form, not only pushed me as a writer and thinker — it showed me a different way of imagining that a life in writing and a life in the arts could be possible.”

He worries for future generations of students who may not be able to build those same life-changing relationships with lecturers and about the institutional knowledge that could be lost.

Sarah Frisch is not sure what’s next when her lectureship ends. Classes start again next month, and she said in the meantime, she will focus on her students.

“I just want them to know those of us who are in this crappy position see and hear them,” Frisch said. “We’re willing to fight for their experience and their futures.”

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Times of San Diego

Local News and Opinion for San Diego

‘Creative City’: San Diego Asks Residents for Feedback on Plan to Center Arts, Culture

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San Diego is seeking public input on its draft cultural plan , a strategic framework for advancing arts, culture and creativity in the city over the next 10 years.

The plan, titled Creative City , has gone through nearly two years of public engagement to help city leaders understand San Diego’s cultural and artistic needs and interests.

“Creative City is designed to ensure that arts and culture are not just accessible but woven into the fabric of every neighborhood in San Diego,” Mayor Todd Gloria said. “This is more than just a plan — it’s a vision for how arts and culture can uplift and connect all of our communities.”

“I encourage every San Diegan to share their feedback and help us shape a vibrant and inclusive creative future for our city,” he said.

We've gathered insights from nearly 1,800 San Diegans, and now it's time to hear from you. Check out the draft plan, which outlines key goals like Centering Arts, Creative Entrepreneurship, and more. 🎭 Share your thoughts by Oct. 12, 2024. — City of San Diego (@CityofSanDiego) August 28, 2024

The draft plan details strategies to boost San Diego’s “creative ecosystems,” and aligns arts and culture with the city’s priorities as identified in the overall Strategic Plan.

“Aspirations and insights provided by creatives and artists from visual and performing arts, film and media, cross-sector businesses and organizations, and San Diego residents from every council district helped shape the draft plan,” said Jonathon Glus, the city’s executive director of arts and culture. “We want to ensure we have included the essential needs, so we’re inviting the public to review the draft and provide additional comment on the findings and recommendations proposed to support and strengthen a future with culture and creativity at the center of San Diego’s collective well-being and livelihood.”

San Diegans are encouraged to review the draft plan at sandiego.gov/creative-city/get-involved , and provide feedback by Oct. 12, 2024. Residents can also attend the Creative City Open House at the Comic-Con Museum on Saturday, Sept. 7, from 9 a.m. to noon to learn about the cultural planning process and discuss the draft recommendations.

According to Gloria’s office, public feedback on the plan will inform the final draft, which will be presented to the full City Council for deliberation and adoption in early 2025.

City News Service contributed to this article.

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Home > Lindsay J. Cropper Creative Writing Contest

Lindsay J. Cropper Creative Writing Contest

To submit your work to the Lindsay J. Cropper Creative Writing Contest, please see the submission guidelines .

To submit your work to The Alcalá Review , visit its website .

Note: All Cropper Contest-winning submissions and those of Honorable Mention recipients are published in The Alcalá Review . Works previously submitted to or published in The Alcalá Review remain eligible for contest submission.

Previous Winners (2023)

Winner: 'Three Poems' Jessica Mills

Honorable mention: 'Three Poems' Olivia Case

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Winner: 'House of Angels' Maria Simpson

Honorable mention: 'Dootł'izh' Ava Kline

Winner: 'The Living Room' Elisabeth Harris

Honorable mention: 'A Night of Bodies' Miriam Castanon

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