creative writing boston college

2024 Best Colleges with Creative Writing Degrees in the Boston Area

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1-9 of 9 results

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Cambridge, MA •

• • Rating 4.16 out of 5   662 reviews

Sophomore: Great place to be challenged, learn, and grow. A safe environment to fall and fail. Lots of support and resources available but you need to take the initiative to reach out about them ... Read 662 reviews

• grade  A+ Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 4%

Net price $30,958

SAT range 1510-1580

#1 Best Colleges in Boston Area .

CAMBRIDGE, MA ,

662 Niche users give it an average review of 4.2 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says Great place to be challenged, learn, and grow. A safe environment to fall and fail. Lots of support and resources available but you need to take the initiative to reach out about them .

Read 662 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A+ ,

Acceptance Rate : 4% ,

Net Price : $30,958 ,

SAT Range : 1510-1580 ,

Wellesley College

Wellesley, MA •

• • Rating 3.77 out of 5   634 reviews

Sophomore: I really love it here and am glad that I decided on Wellesley! I'm class of 2026, so I've been on campus for about two years now and each year, I've been able to meet some of the best professors and even better people. Conversations with peers are just as nuanced as the people and although the campus could still do with some diversity, I think we're definitely on the better end (I say this as a half Black and half-Asian student from a very predominantly white town). I've found that it's really easy to make friends because the campus and class sizes are so small (that being said, I'm also more extroverted). However, even my more introverted friends have said that they were eventually able to find close friends as their first or second year progressed -- the key is to be involved in campus or go to events and intentionally talk to people and reach out. ... Read 634 reviews

Acceptance rate 16%

Net price $21,862

SAT range 1400-1540

#4 Best Colleges in Boston Area .

Blue checkmark.

WELLESLEY, MA ,

634 Niche users give it an average review of 3.8 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says I really love it here and am glad that I decided on Wellesley! I'm class of 2026, so I've been on campus for about two years now and each year, I've been able to meet some of the best professors and... .

Read 634 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 16% ,

Net Price : $21,862 ,

SAT Range : 1400-1540 ,

Brandeis University

Waltham, MA •

• • Rating 3.51 out of 5   1,101 reviews

Alum: The academics really are great, world class in some cases. If you find the right niche you really can get ahead in your career, especially if you align with one of the universities academic strengths. The students are great too, but it can be a bit hard to meet them because the student life is so poor. Housing and food really do suck, but sometimes sacrifices need to be made. Be proactive, and you can have a great time at Brandeis. ... Read 1,101 reviews

• grade  A Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 39%

Net price $35,147

SAT range 1370-1530

#9 Best Colleges in Boston Area .

WALTHAM, MA ,

1101 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says The academics really are great, world class in some cases. If you find the right niche you really can get ahead in your career, especially if you align with one of the universities academic... .

Read 1101 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : A ,

Acceptance Rate : 39% ,

Net Price : $35,147 ,

SAT Range : 1370-1530 ,

Hamilton College

CLINTON, NY

• • Rating 3.72 out of 5   488

Principia College

• • Rating 4.04 out of 5   68

University of Findlay

FINDLAY, OH

• • Rating 3.64 out of 5   881

Simmons University

Boston, MA •

• • Rating 3.6 out of 5   834 reviews

Alum: The best things about Simmons are the location, professors, environment, and work opportunities. For the most part classes and enjoyable with great professors that genuinely care about students. Also lovely to go to a women's centered college, creating a welcoming, comfortable environment. In terms of what Simmons could change, the dining hall options are very limited, especially on res campus. The PLAN is also whack and should be altered significantly. ... Read 834 reviews

• grade  B Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 84%

Net price $19,026

SAT range 1140-1360

#12 Best Colleges in Boston Area .

BOSTON, MA ,

834 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says The best things about Simmons are the location, professors, environment, and work opportunities. For the most part classes and enjoyable with great professors that genuinely care about students. Also... .

Read 834 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B ,

Acceptance Rate : 84% ,

Net Price : $19,026 ,

SAT Range : 1140-1360 ,

Emerson College

• • Rating 3.51 out of 5   1,157 reviews

Alum: Emerson College is an ambition-focused environment that prepares you for the reality of your career choice. I am indebted to their career services, mentorship opportunities, and professors who were - for the most part - working in the field. It's best for extroverted, liberal, and hard-working minds who love participating in extracurricular activities. ... Read 1,157 reviews

Acceptance rate 45%

Net price $48,842

SAT range 1200-1400

#15 Best Colleges in Boston Area .

1157 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Emerson College is an ambition-focused environment that prepares you for the reality of your career choice. I am indebted to their career services, mentorship opportunities, and professors who were -... .

Read 1157 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 45% ,

Net Price : $48,842 ,

SAT Range : 1200-1400 ,

Wheaton College - Massachusetts

Norton, MA •

• • Rating 3.6 out of 5   689 reviews

Sophomore: I haven't been with Wheaton for very long but it's been my best academic experience so far! The school is perfect if you're someone who is looking for that classic college environment but on a much smaller scale. The campus is beautiful, clean, and well kept. There are plenty of places to go to enjoy the outdoors and many of the vintage buildings are great places to explore. Student culture is diverse, active, and playful, everyone here is always looking for more people to join their various clubs. Classes are just as diverse, there is something for everyone here academically. All academic buildings are littered with everything you need to succeed in whatever you pursue. As a Visual Arts Major there are so many tools for me to play with, it's very exciting. The neighboring woods is a great place to explore and experience a good amount of nature, fairly safe and fun to find all the student landmarks. Housing and dorms are a hassle, most buildings are definitely NOT made the same. ... Read 689 reviews

Acceptance rate 82%

Net price $28,867

SAT range 1160-1360

#18 Best Colleges in Boston Area .

NORTON, MA ,

689 Niche users give it an average review of 3.6 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says I haven't been with Wheaton for very long but it's been my best academic experience so far! The school is perfect if you're someone who is looking for that classic college environment but on a much... .

Read 689 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 82% ,

Net Price : $28,867 ,

SAT Range : 1160-1360 ,

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Suffolk University

• • Rating 3.48 out of 5   1,080 reviews

Freshman: As a first-year, Student- Athlete at Suffolk University, my experience of college has had its ups and downs. I moved from Michigan to Boston for the city life, great educational opportunity, and for the commitment to play volleyball. While transitioning into college, I found studying more demanding and class work more rigors. At first it was a challenge and an intimidation. Finding a balance between athletics, class-work and my social life was overwhelming. However, the community of Suffolk offered many resolutions and opportunities for help. The ability to have access to Tutoring was a great advantage in my eyes and thoroughly helped me excel academically. Suffolk's ability to be inclusive and resourceful shined bright this year. I also enjoyed being a part of the Honors Program. The program held multiple events that brought together Honors students through fun crafts to educational opportunities. These events allowed me to navigate my through college effectively and progressively. ... Read 1,080 reviews

• grade  B minus Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 88%

Net price $32,393

SAT range 1080-1280

1080 Niche users give it an average review of 3.5 stars.

Featured Review: Freshman says As a first-year, Student- Athlete at Suffolk University, my experience of college has had its ups and downs. I moved from Michigan to Boston for the city life, great educational opportunity, and for... .

Read 1080 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : B minus ,

Acceptance Rate : 88% ,

Net Price : $32,393 ,

SAT Range : 1080-1280 ,

Salem State University

Salem, MA •

• • Rating 3.39 out of 5   1,224 reviews

Sophomore: Salem State University is a balance of academic success, personal growth, and social experiences. You learn to develop new skills, explore your interests, and learn to be independent and self-motivated. You also learn to balance between academic responsibilities, part-time jobs or internships, and social activities to maintain your physical and mental well-being. Salem state University is a college life, about finding a balance that works for you and making the most of your time on campus! I would like to see change is Affordability: Reduce the financial burden of tuition, fees, and student loans to make higher education more accessible. Other changes would be sustainability and environmental awareness. Promote eco-friendly practices, sustainability, and environmental education. These are just a few areas where change could potentially improve the college experience. Ultimately, the specific changes will depend on the needs and priorities of each institution and its community. ... Read 1,224 reviews

• grade  C Overall Niche Grade

Acceptance rate 90%

Net price $18,125

SAT range 1010-1160

SALEM, MA ,

1224 Niche users give it an average review of 3.4 stars.

Featured Review: Sophomore says Salem State University is a balance of academic success, personal growth, and social experiences. You learn to develop new skills, explore your interests, and learn to be independent and... .

Read 1224 reviews.

Overall Niche Grade : C ,

Acceptance Rate : 90% ,

Net Price : $18,125 ,

SAT Range : 1010-1160 ,

Lesley University

• • Rating 3.42 out of 5   582 reviews

Alum: Lesley University is renowned for its commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and social responsibility. Nestled in the vibrant city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the university stands out for its dynamic and inclusive learning environment. With a rich history rooted in arts and education, Lesley University continues to excel in preparing students for impactful careers. The faculty, comprised of accomplished professionals and scholars, provides personalized attention, ensuring students receive a top-notch education. The university's emphasis on experiential learning, community engagement, and global perspectives equips graduates with the skills needed to navigate a rapidly evolving world. Lesley University truly stands as a beacon of academic excellence ... Read 582 reviews

Acceptance rate 87%

Net price $31,928

SAT range 1000-1210

582 Niche users give it an average review of 3.4 stars.

Featured Review: Alum says Lesley University is renowned for its commitment to fostering creativity, innovation, and social responsibility. Nestled in the vibrant city of Cambridge, Massachusetts, the university stands out for... .

Read 582 reviews.

Acceptance Rate : 87% ,

Net Price : $31,928 ,

SAT Range : 1000-1210 ,

SUNY Oswego

• • Rating 3.57 out of 5   1,528

Western Wyoming Community College

ROCK SPRINGS, WY

• • Rating 4.05 out of 5   304

Saint Mary's College of California

• • Rating 3.59 out of 5   1,110

Showing results 1 through 9 of 9

Best Creative Writing colleges in Boston 2024

Best creative writing colleges in boston for 2024.

Brandeis University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a small city. In 2022, 11 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 11 Bachelor's degrees.

Harvard University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 40 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 40 Master's degrees.

Boston University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a very large, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 17 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 17 Master's degrees.

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a small suburb. In 2022, 9 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 9 Master's degrees.

Wellesley College offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 19 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 19 Bachelor's degrees.

Emerson College offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 185 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 124 Bachelor's degrees, and 61 Master's degrees.

Lesley University offers 2 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a small, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a midsize city. In 2022, 37 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 23 Master's degrees, and 14 Bachelor's degrees.

Simmons University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, private not-for-profit, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 6 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 6 Bachelor's degrees.

University of Massachusetts-Boston offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a large, public, four-year university in a large city. In 2022, 10 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 10 Master's degrees.

Salem State University offers 1 Creative Writing degree programs. It's a medium sized, public, four-year university in a large suburb. In 2022, 7 Creative Writing students graduated with students earning 7 Bachelor's degrees.

List of all Creative Writing colleges in Boston

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Boston University MA in Creative Writing

Creative Writing is a concentration offered under the writing studies major at Boston University. We’ve gathered data and other essential information about the master’s degree program in creative writing, such as diversity of students, how many students graduated in recent times, and more.

You can jump to any section of this page using the links below:

• Graduate Cost
• Online Learning
• Student Diversity

Featured Programs

Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

MFA in Creative Writing - Online

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.

MA in English & Creative Writing

Refine your writing skills and take a step toward furthering your career with this online master's from Southern New Hampshire University.

Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction

Harness your passion for storytelling with SNHU's Mountainview Low-Residency MFA in Fiction and Nonfiction. In this small, two-year creative writing program, students work one-on-one with our distinguished faculty remotely for most of the semester but convene for weeklong intensive residencies in June and January. At residencies, students critique each other's work face-to-face, meet with major authors, agents and editors and learn how to teach at the college level.

How Much Does a Master’s in Creative Writing from Boston U Cost?

Boston u graduate tuition and fees.

In 2019-2020, the average part-time graduate tuition at Boston U was $1,777 per credit hour for both in-state and out-of-state students. The average full-time tuition and fees for graduate students are shown in the table below.

Does Boston U Offer an Online MA in Creative Writing?

Online degrees for the Boston U creative writing master’s degree program are not available at this time. To see if the school offers distance learning options in other areas, visit the Boston U Online Learning page.

Boston U Master’s Student Diversity for Creative Writing

Male-to-female ratio.

Of the students who received their master’s degree in creative writing in 2019-2020, 50.0% of them were women. This is less than the nationwide number of 66.6%.

Racial-Ethnic Diversity

Around 25.0% of creative writing master’s degree recipients at Boston U in 2019-2020 were awarded to racial-ethnic minorities*. This is about the same as the nationwide number of 24%.

*The racial-ethnic minorities count is calculated by taking the total number of students and subtracting white students, international students, and students whose race/ethnicity was unknown. This number is then divided by the total number of students at the school to obtain the racial-ethnic minorities percentage.

• National Center for Education Statistics
• O*NET Online

More about our data sources and methodologies .

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UMass Boston

• Creative Writing MFA

Further your commitment to writing as the center of your professional life.

Intensive study and practice of fiction and poetry writing with award-winning and nationally renowned faculty at the most diverse university in new england..

UMass Boston's Creative Writing MFA offers you an intense, 3-year program and focused opportunity to further your commitment to writing as the center of your professional life. Through a combination of mentoring by accomplished faculty in a series of creative writing workshops, courses focused on the study of literature offered through the English MA Program, and electives that include the practice of literary editing, the teaching of creative writing, documentary poetics, the art of memoir, and more—you will have the guidance to develop and shape your work to the full extent of your talent.

All accepted students receive funding. Graduate assistantships offer the opportunity to work with students as teaching assistants and fellows, or in editorial positions with one of our sponsors, including 826 Boston, Hanging Loose Press, Write on the Dot, Consequence Magazine, Breakwater Review, and Arrowsmith Press.

Career Possibilities

Pursue a career as a professional writer, publishing your work in literary journals, magazines. Work as an editor and collaborate with writers to refine their work and shape the final product for publication. These are just a few of the possibilities.

Become a(n):

• Writer/Author
• Literary Agent
• Writing Instructor/Professor

Start Your Application

Plan Your Education

How to apply.

Applicants must meet general graduate admission requirements in addition to the following program-specific requirements:

• A 3.0 GPA overall and in the student’s major
• Three substantive and detailed letters of recommendation, from former teachers familiar with the applicant’s most recent academic and creative work
• A 3-5 page personal statement focusing on the role of the candidate’s reading life in his or her development as a writer. (Note: The general Graduate Admissions application refers to this as a statement of interests and intent. They are one and the same.)
• Applicants must indicate whether they are applying in FICTION or POETRY in their Statement of Purpose. If you want to apply in both genres, include one writing sample in FICTION and one in POETRY and indicate in the Statement of Purpose that the application is for both.
• A writing sample of 10 manuscript pages of poetry or 20 manuscript pages of fiction

Deadlines & Cost

Deadlines: January 15 (priority) for fall. While rare, if space is available, we’ll happily consider applications until June 1 (final deadline).

Application Fee: The nonrefundable application fee is $75. UMass Boston alumni and current students that plan to complete degree requirements prior to graduate enrollment can submit the application without paying the application fee.

Program Cost Information: Bursar's website

Writing Workshops (24 Credits)

Complete one from below four times.

• CW 601 - MFA Poetry Workshop 6 Credit(s) or
• CW 602 - MFA Fiction Workshop 6 Credit(s)

Literature Courses (9 Credits)

Complete three graduate literature courses.

Electives (9 Credits)

Complete three from below.

• CW 605 - Memoir Workshop 3 Credit(s)
• CW 606 - Literary Editing and Publishing 3 Credit(s)
• CW 614 - The Teaching of Creative Writing 3 Credit(s)
• CW 675 - Creative Writing Internship 3 Credit(s)
• CW 697 - Special Topics in Creative Writing 1-6 Credit(s)

Students may elect courses offered by other graduate programs with approval from the graduate program director.

• ENGL 459 Seminar for Tutors may be taken for graduate credit (see Undergraduate Catalog)
• ENGL 675 - Reading and Writing Poetry 3 Credit(s)
• ENGL 676 - Reading and Writing Fiction 3 Credit(s)
• ENGL 681 - Advanced Workshop in Poetry 3 Credit(s)
• ENGL 682 - Advanced Workshop in Fiction 3 Credit(s)

Thesis Courses (6 Credits)

Complete the course below both semesters of the third year.

• CW 699 - MFA Thesis 3 Credit(s)

Graduation Criteria

Complete 48 credits from twelve courses including four writing workshops, three literature courses, three electives, and two semesters of thesis workshops.

The MFA degree requires six semesters of full-time study, with 9 credits required in each of the first four semesters, and 6 credits in the final two semesters, during which students will concentrate on completing a thesis in fiction or poetry under the direction of a faculty member. MFA workshops are limited to 12 students, and seminars are limited to 15. Students have the opportunity to interact with writers in our Global Voices Visiting Writer series (recent visitors have been Raquel Salas Rivera and Carole Maso), and work with visiting prose writers - recently these have included Jane Unrue, ZZ Packer, and Fanny Howe.

Capstone: Completion of an MFA thesis of 48 to 64 pages of poetry or 100 to 200 pages of fiction written under the supervision of a thesis advisor, reviewed by a thesis committee, and subject to a public defense.

Statute of limitations: Five years.

Contact & Faculty

Graduate Program Director John Fulton john.fulton [at] umb.edu (617) 287-6700

English & Creative Writing MFA Department englishmfaprogram [at] umb.edu (617) 287-6702

Fiction Faculty

John Fulton , Program Director & Associate Professor Askold Melnyczuk , Professor Eileen Pollack , Visiting Assistant Professor

Poetry Faculty

Jill McDonough , Professor Shangyang Fang , Associate Lecturer

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Elizabeth Graver

English department faculty.

Stokes Hall S439

Telephone: 617-552-4154

Email: [email protected]

ORCID 0000-0003-2981-8378

• B.A., Wesleyan University
• M.F.A., Washington University

Research Interests

Creative Writing; Fiction; Non-Fiction; Contemporary Literatures of Migration; Literary Historical Fiction; Women's Studies. 

Elizabeth Graver is co-director of the Creative Writing Concentration and teaches fiction and nonfiction writing workshops, including “Advanced Fiction Workshop,” “Writing About Place,” and “Writing Across Cultures.” She also teaches in the Core and offers contemporary literature electives, most recently with a focus on American immigrant literatures. She is the founder of Fiction Days and has brought many writers to campus, including John Banville, Edwidge Danticat, Anne Enright, Gish Jen, Dina Nayeri, Zadie Smith, and Ocean Vuong. 

Elizabeth Graver's novel,  Kantika , is forthcoming in April 2023 from Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt.  Her fourth novel,  The End of the Point , was long-listed for the 2013 National Book Award in fiction. Her other novels are  Awake ,  The Honey Thief , and  Unravelling . Her story collection,  Have You Seen Me? , won the 1991 Drue Heinz Literature Prize. Her work has been anthologized in  Best American Short Stories  (1991, 2001);  Prize Stories: The O. Henry Awards  (1994, 1996, 2001),  The Pushcart Prize Anthology  (2001), and  Best American Essays  (1998). She has received fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the MacDowell Colony, the Yaddo Foundation, and the Guggenheim Foundation. For a detailed bibliography, please see her  author’s website .

Selected Publications

• Kantika  (forthcoming, Metropolitan Books/Henry Holt, 2023)
• The End of the Point  (Harpercollins, 2013)
• Awake (Henry Holt, 2004)
• The Honey Thief  (Hyperion, 1999)
• Unravelling  (Hyperion, 1997)
• Have You Seen Me?  (Ecco Press, 1993)
• Interview with former student, Yang Huang  ( Catapult , May 2021) 
• " Corona (of a Star, etc.) " ( Harvard Review,  March 2020)
• " B-Side, On Edgar P. Jones's  All Aunt Hagar's Children "  ( Public Books , 5/2/2019)
• “Welcome Home”  Tablet  (October 26, 2016)
• “Walker Evans, Kitchen Wall”  ( Gastronomica Magazine , July, 2012)
• “Distance Education”  ( Boston College Magazine , Fall 2010).

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33 Best Creative Writing Classes in Boston

Showing 33 courses that match your search.

Intro to Playwriting

Intro to Playwriting is a six-week course designed for beginners who want to write their first stage play, and intermediate playwrights seeking a refresher on the fundamentals.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/intro-to-playwriting-su24

Categories: Playwriting and Fiction

Start date:

Prerequisites: For writers age 13 - 18 ONLY.

Jumpstart Your Writing

Through a series of engaging writing exercises, we will mine our experiences and imagination for material and bring what we find to life on the page, constructing characters and settings, shaping vivid dialogue, creating imagery, and exploring the nuances of voice.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/jumpstart-your-writing-su...

Categories: Book, Fiction, Memoir, Nonfiction, and Poetry

6 Weeks, 6 Essays

In this fun, intensive class, over the course of six weeks, writers will produce six short essays (between 500 and 1,000 words each). Each week we will look at model essays, and students will respond to prompts based on the works we have read.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/6-weeks-6-essays-summer-2...

Categories: Essay and Nonfiction

How to Write a Novel

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Developing Your Short Fiction

In this course, we'll learn and practice the tried-and-true elements of fiction—style, voice, character, narrative, dialogue, point of view, and revision—with an emphasis on the short story form. Classes will include discussions on various elements of craft and close readings of essays on writing and published stories.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/developing-your-s...

Categories: Fiction and Short Story

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Find Your Voice in Fiction

In this class, we’ll discuss strategies for developing and implementing an engaging voice to carry a compelling story. We’ll cover the importance of point-of-view and its relationship to voice in fiction.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/seminar/find-your-voice-in-fiction...

Categories: Book, Fiction, and Short Story

Prerequisites: Come prepared to write, and bring a brief one to two paragraph description of your project.

Jumpstart Your Memoir (In Person: Seaport)

This course has a very clear mission: to get you started on your memoir. Through a series of targeted writing exercises, we will explore the terrain of memoir writing: mining for material, constructing settings, finding emotional stakes and turning points, and looking for connecting threads to identify your overarching theme.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/jumpstart-your-memoir-su2...

Categories: Book and Memoir

Far Out: World-Building in Short Stories

In this class, we’re exploring the art of inventing new worlds in the small space that is the short story. We’ll experiment with different tools for developing speculative worlds, whether they be sci-fi, fantasy, surrealism, magical realism, horror, or otherwise

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/far-out-world-building-in...

Prerequisites: Please come to the first class with a copy of "an elevator pitch" for your memoir.

Jumpstart Your Memoir (Online: Zoom)

This course has a very clear mission: to get you started on your memoir. Through a series of targeted writing exercises, we will explore the terrain of memoir writing: mining for material, constructing settings, shaping vivid dialogue, and honing your voice.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/jumpstart-your-memoir-und...

Categories: Memoir

Poetry Revision Workshop

This online class is meant for poets who have written a few drafts of poems and want a supportive environment and concrete set of tools to polish them. In this class, we will focus on sharpening your editing and revision skills.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/seminar/poetry-revision-workshop-u...

Categories: Poetry

The Art of Immersive Setting

Setting and place are a collection of details that will captivate readers. We will uncover the ways to use place and setting to make your story sing. We'll discuss how to make the setting a natural extension of your characters and how to choose the right descriptive details.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/seminar/the-art-of-immersive-setti...

Categories: Book and Short Story

Speculative Fiction Workshop

Speculative fiction is an exciting and fast-evolving genre. This course will offer writers the chance to develop one to two speculative short stories and to participate in a critique workshop with peers. Along the way, study craft and learn from stories written by some of today's most prominent voices, such as Rivers Solomon, Ursula K. Le Guin, Octavia Butler and more!

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/speculative-fiction-workshop

6 Weeks, 6 Stories

Over six weeks, participants will embark on a creative journey to produce six short stories, exploring various themes, genres, and writing techniques. This course offers a unique blend of writing prompts, workshops, and critical feedback sessions that encourage writers to experiment and grow.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/6-weeks-6-stories...

So you’re looking for creative writing classes in Boston

Congrats! By committing to taking a creative writing class in Boston, you’ve taken a big step towards improving your writing skills, and what better place to do it than in The City on a Hill? Some of the world’s most famous authors have come from Boston, including Robert Frost, Sylvia Plath, and Louisa May Alcott—and you may be next to join their ranks.

This directory of the best writing courses in Boston is meant to help you locate the right one for yourself.  We’ve included filters for price and genre so that you can quickly sort through the writing classes. And before you commit to any one writing class, consider the following questions:

• Who is the instructor?
• What is the price of the writing course?
• How far away is the writing course in Boston? Is there a remote alternative?
• How long could the course last?

Got any questions about finding the right writing class in Boston for you? Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . Good luck!

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Boston University Academics

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MFA in Creative Writing

The MFA in Creative Writing is a small, intensive one-year program that is completed over two to three semesters. The program is designed to help students become better writers of original prose or poetry and to produce readers and critics of the highest quality. Our program also strives to help students improve as creative writing instructors.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the Creative Writing MFA program, all students should be able to:

• If they are fiction writers: write and revise original fiction that has a compelling and original voice; interesting, well-developed characters; a clear narrative arc; and emotional resonance. It should reflect an awareness of previous and current achievement in fiction.
• If they are poets: write and revise original poetry that uses language, image, voice, and form in interesting ways that reflect an awareness of previous and current poetic achievement.
• Provide constructive, insightful, and helpful criticism of their peers’ original fiction or poetry.
• Closely read and critique literature with a particular eye for the way(s) in which their own creative work can benefit from the work of writers before them.
• Effectively teach creative writing and literature at the high school and/or college level.
• Demonstrate an understanding (through the world language requirement, including the option of taking Translation Seminar) of the resources available to their own creative work in the literatures of other countries.
• Through Global Fellowship travel, explore and reflect upon the cultural, historical, geographical, and linguistic landscapes of a country of their choice outside of the United States for up to three months.

Course Requirements

The MFA is an eight-course, 32-credit degree, including four workshops, four graduate literature courses, and completion of a world language requirement.

At least four of the courses taken must be workshops the genre in which the student is admitted (either fiction or poetry). The four remaining courses are normally graduate-level literature courses, some of which may be completed during the BU summer session(s). Students must receive a grade of at least B– in these courses.

It is possible to take a course (or courses) in a subject or discipline other than literature, provided that these are demonstrably essential to the student’s creative work, and show a strong emphasis in reading literary, as distinct from purely scholarly or academic, texts. Such courses are subject to the approval of the program director.

Language Requirement

Each student who has not previously completed at least two college courses of intermediate study in a non-English world language or is not already multilingual may fulfill the language requirement in one of the following ways:

• Satisfactory completion of CAS TL 540 (the Translation Seminar) (it should be noted that proficiency in a second language is listed as a prerequisite for the course) and its corequisite CAS TL 542 (Literary Translation). Students who choose this option may first wish to consult the Translation Seminar instructor; they must also choose a mentor from the language department for the source language from which they are working.
• Satisfactory completion of a BU course in a non-English world language, usually taught in that language (for example, CAS LF 350 Introduction to French Texts), or a 500-level reading course in a world language (texts and instruction usually in that language), subject to approval by the Creative Writing Program Director.
• Passing GRS LF 621 Reading French, GRS LG 621 Reading German, GRS LI 621 Reading Italian, or GRS LS 621 Reading Spanish. These reading knowledge-only courses are offered Pass/Fail for no academic credit, and enrollment is limited.
• Passing a Translation Exam proctored by a Creative Writing Department administrator or faculty member and graded by an expert in the language being translated.

Completion of a substantial master’s thesis in fiction or poetry is required for all students. The thesis should consist of a minimum of 95 pages of prose or 35 pages of poetry and must be read and signed by two members of Boston University faculty.

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Undergraduate Creative Writing (BFA)

Develop the talent and technique it takes to excel as a creative writer in our BFA program.

About the Undergraduate Creative Writing Major

Words have power. They can catapult people out of their mindsets, throw them out of time, motivate them to rethink beliefs, and move them to introspection and tears. At Emerson College, writers have the opportunity to examine the power of the written word and experiment with offbeat ideas, novel approaches, and timeless topics. 

Our undergraduate Creative Writing BFA program is designed for the imaginative, the curious, and the poetic. Housed in the Department of Writing, Literature and Publishing in the School of the Arts, the program’s faculty challenge you to sharpen your writing skills and find your own voice, ensuring that you leave Emerson as a formidable communicator—and also a unique one. Our writing courses give you a deep understanding of how writing as an art form has developed over time and across cultures, leaving you well-positioned to succeed in creative writing—a life of provoking and persuading, entertaining and educating, imagining and inspiring.

I enjoy the Creative Writing program because I am able to focus on specific genres….I am able to explore different forms of writing to solidify what I am interested in and what I am not interested in. I have learned a lot from my professors, who are all experienced writers—they are very helpful.

Real-World Experience as a Writer

Creative Writing majors have ample opportunity to gain real-world learning experience. Here are a few examples:

• Students can write or work for a number of student literary journals and magazines, including Redivider, em Magazine, The Emerson Review, Concrete Literary Magazine, and Your Magazine.
• Emerson hosts a Pitch Slam event during which students give a one-minute pitch to a board of local and national editors for the opportunity to have their writing published. 
• Beyond campus, students have access to coveted internships through our alumni network, which includes New York Times –bestselling authors, editors, and publishing professionals. Recent internship sites include: Boston magazine, Reader’s Digest , and Yale University Press.
• Through a partnership with Penguin Random House, students are mentored during a semester-long program.

Careers for Creative Writing Majors

Our Creative Writing graduates have gone on to become prominent authors, screenwriters, and critics. Examples of careers include:

• Acquisitions Editor
• Book Reviewer
• Social Media Specialist
• Writing Instructor

Notable Writing, Literature and Publishing Alumni

• Lara Egger, Author, H ow to Love Everyone and Almost Get Away with It
• Alex Garner, Assistant Editor, Museum of Modern Art
• Jaweed Kaleem, National Correspondent, Los Angeles Times
• Kira Salak, Travel Writer and Contributing Editor, National Geographic

Meet Our Faculty

Ready to pursue your daring ideas.

• Learn More about the Undergraduate Creative Writing (BFA) Program
• Apply to the Undergraduate Creative Writing (BFA) Program

Media Gallery Creative Writing

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