Thanks for your interest in MFA for All! Here are some answers to our most frequently asked questions:
How will the class run? Each class consists of two linked 2-hour lectures on Zoom Webinar, two weeks apart. Each lecture will have a 10-minute break. The instructor will determine the style and management of the class. During the lecture, students are encouraged to ask questions via the Q&A and make comments in the moderated chat box. The instructor will answer as many of the questions as possible. Relevant supporting materials from the instructors will be distributed electronically.
How many students will be in the class? There is no registration cap to these classes.
Will students be allowed to speak during the lectures? Students will be muted during the lectures. However, you will be able to ask questions via the Q&A and have conversations in the moderated chat box. Instructors may invite additional interaction during class time.
Will I be able to communicate with the instructor outside of class time? You will not be in direct contact with the instructor. If you have questions pertaining to the subject of the class, you can type them into the Q&A during the lectures. If you have questions about the class in general, contact us at mfaforall@americanshortfiction.org.
Are the sessions pre-recorded or live? The lectures will be held live at specific dates and times. They will also be recorded. We will email students a link to the recording within a few days following the class. Students will then have a month to view the video, after which time it expires.
Can I still sign up for a class if I can’t make the class time? Yes. The lectures will be recorded, and we will email students a link to the recording within a few days following the class. Students will then have a month to view the video, after which time it expires.
Will I get an MFA if I complete this program? No. MFA for All is not a degree-granting program—it is a community-rich online educational experience led by top-notch faculty, free of the significant hurdles of time, expense, and geography that MFAs demand.
Will the instructor read my work, or is there a workshop component to the class? No. MFA for All classes are online webinar lectures with supplementary materials and suggestions for further reading. Students who sign up for a full semester will have access to Zoom seminars and an online platform where they have can connect with each other. We hope in this way to help build a meaningful writing community.
Who has access to the online community? Students who purchase the full semester of classes will be invited to participate in an optional additional series of panels and writing meet-ups.
What does access to the online community look like? After listening to your survey responses over the past three semesters, we’ve decided to forgo the online community platform in favor of online meet-up opportunities. We’ve added two Zoom writing sessions where you’ll have the opportunity to spend some time writing and then break out into groups to meet and chat. We know how busy you all are, and we hope that these meetings will provide more meaningful moments of connection with your fellow attendees.
I’ve just purchased a class or full semester. What should I expect next? You will receive an email with all the details about how to sign up for your class(es) and where to find class schedules, Zoom links, materials, and more in the coming days.
Are you still running your in-person ASF Summer Workshop? We loved those workshops, but for the time being we are focusing on MFA for All.