Creative Nonfiction MFA Program

At the beginning of August, I’ll be going to Halifax to help launch the University of King’s College School of Journalism’s Master of Fine Arts in Creative Nonfiction. It’s offered jointly by Dalhousie’s Faculty of Graduate Studies and is the only Creative Nonfiction MFA degree offered in Canada. It’s a limited residency program so over two years, students combine short, intense periods together (in Halifax, Toronto and New York) with living and working wherever they choose while having ongoing, one-on-one communication with their “mentor/advisors” (professional nonfiction writer-instructors). I’m excited to be one of the mentor/advisors and really looking forward to working with five talented MFA students on their projects.

In August, we’ll be starting the first of two summer residencies at King’s, exploring the art and craft of creative nonfiction through lectures, seminars, panels, workshops and readings. For the two short winter residencies — the first in Toronto; the second in New York — students will be meeting book editors, agents and publishers, hearing about the latest trends in the publishing industry and discussing their writing projects. The rest of the time, students will be working on their nonfiction book proposal and manuscripts with support from their mentor/advisors.

Here’s a link to information about the new program: http://www.ukings.ca/master-fine-arts-creative-nonfiction

And a great video that captures the spirit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uL2MF3huJU