1. You want to study the craft of writing.

2. You know that your own voice is your greatest strength as a writer.

3. You understand that in order to develop your own voice as a writer you need to read and to write, and you’d like to do both with purpose.

4. You want to direct your own study of writing on your own time, because you understand that while a formal MFA program provides you with a framework in which to direct your own study of writing—

5. You can think of at least one better way to spend tens of thousands of dollars. (You’re clearly a smart, financially responsible person!)

6. At this point in your life, you don’t need (or want) the MFA credential (i.e. teaching isn’t the path you’re interested in taking right now)—you merely want to study and write with purpose.

7. You’d like to study how other writers tell stories and use language.

8. You’d like to exercise your critical thinking and writing skills in a way that’s specific to your own interests and desires.

9. You know you could benefit from working within a structure, on a schedule.

10. You know you can direct your own study of writing and would like to have a framework to reference as you study your craft.

Welcome to the Self-Directed MFA.

Explore the Self-Directed MFA framework.

Learn more about designing a syllabus you can use to direct your own study.