If you are still unsure about joining our Master’s program, don’t just take my word for it! Hear from some of our Eastern Michigan University students and faculty…
The truth about being a writer is, it’s a pretty solitary endeavor. That’s why community is so important for writers. In the Creative Writing program at EMU, you will find community. That’s not just with your fellow students, either. The faculty is part of your community. They are always available for help, for advice, sure. However, they’re also available to bounce ideas off of, to talk about authors you like. The program is very energetic because having a coterie of friends, contemporaries, and advisors is energizing. Being amongst people who have the same interests, the same drives as you is motivating. There’s a stream of innovation that all are invited to submerge themselves in, but also add to. In this program, you’ll be inspired and you will inspire.
– Devon Coleman, graduate student
Our curriculum is one of the best out there, featuring innovative classes that you will find nowhere else, supported civic engagement, a lively reading series, and an actively interdisciplinary approach to writing. That said, the most compelling aspect of our program is the people, both faculty and students. My colleagues are absolutely invested in the program, and they are fun, caring, smart humans who are also amazing artists. By uplifting, inspiring, and challenging one another in and outside the classroom, our grad students thrive in community. Our collective commitment to one another creates a dynamic place for writers to evolve and experiment; it is also the reason I’ve stayed at EMU for 24 years!
– Christine Hume, professorEastern Michigan’s Masters Creative Writing Program presses the boundaries of genre and form. It interrogates writing from a viewpoint of intense philosophy of artistry. Furthermore, this unique experience engages students in more than content mastery but rather encourages experimentation and risk-taking. While the methodologies and approaches I’ve learned are incredibly invaluable, what makes this program exceptional are the interpersonal relationships. I have made immensely meaningful connections through this program both personally and professionally.
– Gates Wesley, professorI feel really lucky to have found such a challenging and unique creative writing program so close to home. The Professors in EMU’s Graduate Program in Creative Writing are highly accomplished experimental artists who right now are pushing the boundaries of the craft. The goal here is much bigger than publishing. Our professors expose us to past and current innovators and challenge us to explore new forms of writing. We’re being prepared to be the next boundary-pushers and innovators. It sounds hyperbolic, but that’s exactly what’s going on here. Before returning to grad school, I had already experienced some success as a writer of Y.A. fiction. That was great. But stylistically, I found myself writing in the same mode and relying on the same style and voice again and again. I intentionally chose EMU as a way of escaping my comfort zone and exploring the possibilities. It’s been hard. And it’s been amazing.
– Patrick Flores-Scott, graduate student
When looking for Creative Writing programs, there were only a handful that seemed to fit the bill for me. I stumbled upon Eastern Michigan University’s program merely out of curiosity, as I was already a graduate student in a completely different field. I have been a writer for most of my life. I’ve been writing poetry since I was a teenager and eventually moved myself to New York City, where I wrote my first volume of work and collaborated with other artists in the Brooklyn scene, performing, writing, and teaching. Art is my life and writing is my passion. I wanted to choose a program that could match the passion I had for writing as an artistic medium. Eastern’s creative writing program enticed me after looking at the courses that make up the program. I was stunned by how beautiful it is, just from the courses offered; the avant-garde and experimental focus is something that called to me. I knew that this was not going to be just an English degree, where I would learn how to “write well”, but a degree that offered to stretch and sharpen me as an artist who uses writing to express themself, specifically. I wanted a program that saw its students as artists first, and EMU’s program does that. To say the least, it. is a hidden gem at the university.
– Brandon Harrison, graduate student
Coming from significantly far away to pursue my degree here, I cannot speak enough about how this program made me feel immediately comfortable and part of the EMU Creative Writing family. What drew me in initially was the fantastic scholarships available and immensely interesting course offerings that stretch your writing even further. Truthfully, I had no idea just how much groundbreaking faculty and their commitment to success would improve my writing on a continual incline. What kept me here, however, was the program’s dedication to growing as a human, creative, and academic. Not only do I feel secure in exploring literary endeavors previously closed to me at past institutions, but I also can confidently say I will take these strong connections with fellow students and staff into my career for many years to come. You will develop professional rapport with faculty, in ways that include opening opportunities in the publishing world or academic conferences, and students who have a vested interest in both of your progress. I will use a classic cliche here: I truthfully will cherish every moment of this two-year program and will accredit much of my future ventures to the skills gained here at EMU.
– Olivia Wright, graduate student
