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Workshops & More

Check back soon for information on upcoming workshops

Afternoon Workshops

These collaborations with professional artists and trained volunteers help our participants see projects from inspiration to finished works and public recognition. We believe young people write and create with enthusiasm and increasing confidence when they see the steps of a particular artistic process lead to a final product, so each of our workshops is specifically designed to result in a finished work showcased in the most professional format possible — then published, performed, screened, or exhibited before a receptive audience.

During this collaborative creative writing and bookmaking experience, entire middle- and high-school classes are able to visit story booth to experience the professional writing and publishing process from start to finish. By the end of this three-hour field trip, young writers will have a typeset copy of their own original story to keep — in a book they helped to write, design covers for, and bind themselves.

In-School Workshops

Beginning in fall 2015, story booth has partnered with middle and high schools in the greater Crosstown area, where professional writers go to the schools to allow more young people access to our creative-writing programming. These workshops result in a professionally published book as well. Partner schools for 2015 include Humes Preparatory Academy, New Hope Academy (6th grade), Snowden Middle School, and Northside High School .

Literary Community

In the interests of further fostering the vibrant literary culture of Memphis, story booth serves as the site of all of Crosstown Arts’ literary programming. From hosting the Working Writers’ Cocktail Hour, housing a free community lending library, and partnering with editors of the award-winning Pinch literary journal at the University of Memphis to host writing workshops for adults, story booth seeks to be a connecting point for writers and readers at all levels.

Visiting Writers

We collaborate with the independent booksellers of Memphis to bring acclaimed writers to Memphis for Crosstown Arts’ Visiting Writers series. In the past three years, we’ve hosted literary writers such as first-novel award winner Margaret Wrinkle, National Book Award nominee and bestselling Memphis native Alan Lightman, National Book Award-winning young adult writer Jacqueline Woodson, and international bestselling food writer Michael Pollan. story booth is also the site of the Impossible Language poetry series, and we have partnered with other nonprofits such as Literacy MidSouth to host and participate in key programming for the first two MidSouth Book Fests .

Learn about the available opportunities at Crosstown Arts.

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Find details about every creative writing competition—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, grants for translators, and more—that we’ve published in the Grants & Awards section of Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it in the Writing Contests database, the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Find a home for your poems, stories, essays, and reviews by researching the publications vetted by our editorial staff. In the Literary Magazines database you’ll find editorial policies, submission guidelines, contact information—everything you need to know before submitting your work to the publications that share your vision for your work.

Whether you’re pursuing the publication of your first book or your fifth, use the Small Presses database to research potential publishers, including submission guidelines, tips from the editors, contact information, and more.

Research more than one hundred agents who represent poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers, plus details about the kinds of books they’re interested in representing, their clients, and the best way to contact them.

Every week a new publishing professional shares advice, anecdotes, insights, and new ways of thinking about writing and the business of books.

Find publishers ready to read your work now with our Open Reading Periods page, a continually updated resource listing all the literary magazines and small presses currently open for submissions.

Since our founding in 1970, Poets & Writers has served as an information clearinghouse of all matters related to writing. While the range of inquiries has been broad, common themes have emerged over time. Our Top Topics for Writers addresses the most popular and pressing issues, including literary agents, copyright, MFA programs, and self-publishing.

Our series of subject-based handbooks (PDF format; $4.99 each) provide information and advice from authors, literary agents, editors, and publishers. Now available: The Poets & Writers Guide to Publicity and Promotion, The Poets & Writers Guide to the Book Deal, The Poets & Writers Guide to Literary Agents, The Poets & Writers Guide to MFA Programs, and The Poets & Writers Guide to Writing Contests.

Find a home for your work by consulting our searchable databases of writing contests, literary magazines, small presses, literary agents, and more.

Poets & Writers lists readings, workshops, and other literary events held in cities across the country. Whether you are an author on book tour or the curator of a reading series, the Literary Events Calendar can help you find your audience.

Get the Word Out is a new publicity incubator for debut fiction writers and poets.

Research newspapers, magazines, websites, and other publications that consistently publish book reviews using the Review Outlets database, which includes information about publishing schedules, submission guidelines, fees, and more.

Well over ten thousand poets and writers maintain listings in this essential resource for writers interested in connecting with their peers, as well as editors, agents, and reading series coordinators looking for authors. Apply today to join the growing community of writers who stay in touch and informed using the Poets & Writers Directory.

Let the world know about your work by posting your events on our literary events calendar, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

Find a writers group to join or create your own with Poets & Writers Groups. Everything you need to connect, communicate, and collaborate with other poets and writers—all in one place.

Find information about more than two hundred full- and low-residency programs in creative writing in our MFA Programs database, which includes details about deadlines, funding, class size, core faculty, and more. Also included is information about more than fifty MA and PhD programs.

Whether you are looking to meet up with fellow writers, agents, and editors, or trying to find the perfect environment to fuel your writing practice, the Conferences & Residencies is the essential resource for information about well over three hundred writing conferences, writers residencies, and literary festivals around the world.

Discover historical sites, independent bookstores, literary archives, writing centers, and writers spaces in cities across the country using the Literary Places database—the best starting point for any literary journey, whether it’s for research or inspiration.

Search for jobs in education, publishing, the arts, and more within our free, frequently updated job listings for writers and poets.

Establish new connections and enjoy the company of your peers using our searchable databases of MFA programs and writers retreats, apply to be included in our directory of writers, and more.

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Each year the Readings & Workshops program provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops. Learn more about this program, our special events, projects, and supporters, and how to contact us.

The Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award introduces emerging writers to the New York City literary community, providing them with a network for professional advancement.

Find information about how Poets & Writers provides support to hundreds of writers participating in literary readings and conducting writing workshops.

Bring the literary world to your door—at half the newsstand price. Available in print and digital editions, Poets & Writers Magazine is a must-have for writers who are serious about their craft.

View the contents and read select essays, articles, interviews, and profiles from the current issue of the award-winning Poets & Writers Magazine .

Read essays, articles, interviews, profiles, and other select content from Poets & Writers Magazine as well as Online Exclusives.

View the covers and contents of every issue of Poets & Writers Magazine , from the current edition all the way back to the first black-and-white issue in 1987.

Every day the editors of Poets & Writers Magazine scan the headlines—publishing reports, literary dispatches, academic announcements, and more—for all the news that creative writers need to know.

In our weekly series of craft essays, some of the best and brightest minds in contemporary literature explore their craft in compact form, articulating their thoughts about creative obsessions and curiosities in a working notebook of lessons about the art of writing.

The Time Is Now offers weekly writing prompts in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction to help you stay committed to your writing practice throughout the year. Sign up to get The Time Is Now, as well as a weekly book recommendation for guidance and inspiration, delivered to your inbox.

Every week a new author shares books, art, music, writing prompts, films—anything and everything—that has inspired and shaped the creative process.

Listen to original audio recordings of authors featured in Poets & Writers Magazine . Browse the archive of more than 400 author readings.

Ads in Poets & Writers Magazine and on pw.org are the best ways to reach a readership of serious poets and literary prose writers. Our audience trusts our editorial content and looks to it, and to relevant advertising, for information and guidance.

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Peruse paid listings of writing contests, conferences, workshops, editing services, calls for submissions, and more.

Poets & Writers is pleased to provide free subscriptions to Poets & Writers Magazine to award-winning young writers and to high school creative writing teachers for use in their classrooms.

Read select articles from the award-winning magazine and consult the most comprehensive listing of literary grants and awards, deadlines, and prizewinners available in print.

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MFA Program

Poetry: Emily Skaja, Marcus Wicker Fiction: Mark Mayer, Courtney Miller Santo, Eric Schlich

The program offers both full and partial funding. Teaching and graduate assistantships, fellowships, and awards are available to qualified students.

This program features the River City Writers Series as well as the Student Reading Series.

Students may mix genres and choose from four tracks: Studio, Literary Studies, Creative/Professional Writing, Cross Disciplinary Studies. Courses are also offered in publishing and literary career-building.

The application deadline is October 15 for the spring semester and March 1 for the fall semester. Applications are considered year-round.

Dolen Perkins-Valdez, Ruth Bauman, Darnell Arnoult, Will Christopher Baer, Matt Cook, Alexandria La Faye, Doug Haines, CD Mitchell, Kendra Vanderlip, Ashley Roach-Freiman, Kaitlyn Sage Patterson, Randy Rudder, Courtney Miller Santo, John Schulze, Mark Yakich

ENGL 2118 Creative Writing

A One Roof Creative District

in the heart of Memphis

More than a building, program, or studio space: Arrow is a creative central. Meet our resident artists and watch them work, then purchase a piece from their studio to take home. Learn a new skill, utilize specialized maker equipment, or support the budding mini-maker with classes for kids, all in one location. With special events, artist chats, and multiple galleries with ever changing exhibitions, every visit to Arrow offers something new to apprecitate, enjoy, observe or learn.

Upcoming Events

Our retail space houses work from over 80 local artists!

Retail Hours

Thursday friday saturday  , 10:00a - 4:00p 10:00a - 6:00p 10:00a - 6:00p  , upcoming classes.

Thanks for submitting!

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Creative Writing

Anyone ever tell you that studying poetry will lead to a lifetime of living in your parents’ basement? Don’t listen to ’em! Employers are always looking for creative thinkers who can write and communicate with precision, persuasion, and panache. This is why you’ll find creative writing majors in a wide variety of fields including marketing and communications, journalism, technical writing, and even fundraising. It’s an easy leap to take what you learn about story telling and community engagement and apply those skills towards writing a grant to fund projects for schools, arts organizations, or a healthcare non-profit.

Program Highlights

• Student editorships for the campus literary journal Castings
• Annual Literary Contest with monetary awards in each genre
• Mentorship and networking opportunities with award-winning writers
• Annual trips to the Southern Literary Festival
• Extracurricular events with Spillit Memphis , Crosstown Arts , and Memphis Reads

What You’ll Study

The Creative Writing major requires 121 credit hours. You’ll take CBU general education and liberal arts courses, plus courses in:

• Fiction and creative nonfiction writing
• Playwriting and screenwriting
• American and British literature

The major culminates in a Senior Capstone Project – a book or chapbook of publishable work accompanied by a live reading.

• English – 18 credits in upper level English courses
• Creative Writing – 18 credits in English and creating writing courses; these courses also contribute to interdisciplinary minors in American Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, Sustainability Studies, and Peace Studies
• Foreign Language – 12 credits in Chinese, French, German, Greek, Latin, Russian, or Spanish

Professional Writing Certificate

CBU’s professional writing certificate allows students from majors across the university to combine four courses to add to their credentials as proficient and career-ready communicators. Courses include business communications, advanced composition, creative writing, art, and creative nonfiction.

Meet the Faculty

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Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning Classes

Continuing Education and Lifelong Learning

Memphis Public Libraries is providing continuing education and lifelong learning classes designed to give people an opportunity to grow in their professional and personal lives by offering 4 intense weeks of study in various subject areas.

We’ll have more classes soon, so check back later!

Starting & Maintaining a Business

(In-person)

Led by Successful Living Economic & Community Development Corporation, this series tackles not only starting a business but maintaining it. Discussions include the challenges entrepreneurs face, how to acquire funding, growing the business and maintaining budgets.

Instructor: Efrem Keith Simmons has been performing business development and management consulting for over 32 years. He works as a Senior Business Consultant with The Consulting Group Inc and as a Senior Trainer with the non-profit, Successful Living Economic & Community Development Corporation (SLECDC).

Where: Crenshaw Branch Library (Meeting room) Dates: October 28, November 4, 11, 18 Times: Saturdays, 2:00pm–3:00pm Ages: 18 and over

Computers/Technology

Website Design

In this series you will learn the tools needed to design your own webpage. This includes claiming a domain name, gathering your content, designing your elements and more.

Instructor: Briana Brooks is the owner of B. Lashon Enterprises which consist of three different businesses. She began her entrepreneurship journey in 2016. Bri Bliss Designs was her first business, and it has grown to over 500 plus clients both domestic and international.

Where: Whitehaven Branch Library, 4120 Millbranch Rd, 38116 (Meeting Room) Dates: October 25, November 1, 8, 15 (Last Class in Conference Room) Times: Wednesdays, 12pm–1pm Ages: 18 and over

Africa in Focus

Africa in Focus was designed to teach members in our community about the history and culture of various communities in Africa. Virtual guest speakers, cross-cultural collaborations, and live demonstrations are features of the program. We will focus on the Ashanti people and the noted Kente fabric, the history and traditions of Senegal, Nigeria and inexpensive ways to travel the continent.

Instructor: Tanisha Dudley-Williams is a teacher with Memphis Shelby County Schools. She has been in the education field for 25-years. In addition to having bachelor and masters degrees she received her Teaching Africa Teacher Certificate through Boston University African Studies Center in 2022. In 2019 she spent time in Senegal as Fulbright Teachers for Global Classroom Fellow. She was also a participant in the 2022 Fulbright-Hays group project abroad which provided her an opportunity to spend time in Ghana.

Register online at memphislibrary.org

Where: Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar, 38111 (Room L56) Dates: Starts October 21 Classes: October 28 November 4, 11 Times: Saturdays, 10am–11am Ages: 18 and over

Digital Media

Digital Photography & Videography

Learn photography basics consisting of film, digital photography, lighting, and film print.

Instructor: Alandras Massey, Jr. is a multi-media specialist with more than 25-years of experience in mass communication and journalism. He is the founder and owner of AMJ Production.

Where: Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar Ave, Memphis, TN 38111 When: October 6, 13, 20, 27 Times: Fridays, 4:30pm – 5:30pm Ages: 18 and over

Hairstyling

All Things Natural Hair 411

A creative, informative, and fun series on the different aspects of styling loose and locked natural hair. Classes to include the 8 techniques for creating natural hair styles, live demos, models, product information, special guest stylists, Q & A, give-a-ways and more!

Instructor: Pearl “Hair Deva” Walker has been a licensed cosmetologist for over 30 years and has been specializing in natural hair styling for 23 years. Walker was the first stylist in the history of the state of Tennessee to serve on the state cosmetology board with a specialty in natural hair styling.

Where: Whitehaven Branch Library, 4120 Millbranch, 38116 (Meeting Room)   Dates: November 8, 15  Times: Wednesdays, 5:30pm-7:30pm   Ages: 18 and over 

Self Help/Improvement

A Better You – How to Overcome Setbacks, Downsizing and Starting-Over

Led by Successful Living Economic & Community Development Corporation, This course is designed to help adults deal with challenging life situations such as late-life career transitions, layoffs, marriage failures, and midlife crisis. This course will help the participants learn coping skills and techniques to positively deal with these life situations.

Instructor: Efrem Keith Simmons has two advanced degrees from the University of Memphis including a Master of Professional Studies in Training and Development. He has also experienced divorce, downsizing, and multiple other setbacks. To resolve his personal issues, Efrem studied the human experience as a life coach and Certified DISC Profile Analyst to understand how individuals could become a better person, better understand themselves, and effectively acquire the skills to overcome their present life situation. As a Professional Trainer for over 13 years, he has designed and presented trainings for SCORE, the TN Small Business Development Center – Memphis, Pinnacle Bank, and Shelby County Government – Vehicle Services.

Where: Frayser Branch Library, 3712 Argonne St, 38127 (Meeting room) Dates: October 9, 16, 23, 30 Times: Mondays, 12pm–1:pm Ages: 18 and over

SELF HELP/IMPROVEMENT How to Communicate Effectively

Led by Successful Living Economic & Community Development Corporation, this course is designed to help adults deal with communication challenges that may result in divorce, lack/loss of personal relationships, and career advancement/enhancement. This course will also help those dealing with anger and self-esteem issues. The ability to effectively communicate is an important life and soft skill needed for one to be understood and feel meaningful.

Instructor: Efrem Keith Simmons has two advanced degrees from the University of Memphis including a Master of Professional Studies in Training and Development. While working for The State of TN-Department of Revenue, he was one of the first group of individuals to complete the Statewide Learning and Development Council’s Management and Leadership Pyramid that had 4 levels and 26 modules. The learning pyramid dealt extensively with effective communication and its application in the work environment. He also qualified to be a Certified Agency Trainer in the State of TN. Register online at memphislibrary.org

Where: Frayser Branch Library, 3712 Argonne St, 38127 (Meeting room) Dates: October 6, 13, 20, 27 Times: Fridays, 2pm–3:pm Ages: 18 and over

Language and Communication

English Language Learner (ELL)

Classes are designed to teach adults how to pronounce and write some basic English words and phrases.

Instructor: Patricia Posada is a native Spanish speaker who wants to help out the community and teach early English learners how to pronounce and write a few words and phrases. Patricia has over 10 years of experience translating.

Where: Cordova Branch Library, 8457 Trinity Rd, 38018 (Conference Room) Dates: October 9, 16, 23, November 6 Times: Mondays, 5:00pm-6:00pm Ages: 18 and over

Survival French for the Vacationer  

This class is geared towards learning the bare bones of French for your next trip to France! In this course, you’ll learn the basics such as manners, how to ask for directions, basic emergency vocabulary, and how to order food.

Instructor: Rebecca Stovall. All through high school Rebecca took advanced placement French classes, then continued to major in French and Japanese at the University of Memphis. In her time there she also studied abroad for half a year in Lille, France. She is a proficient speaker, reader, and writer in French.

Where: Officer Geoffrey Redd, 5094 Poplar Avenue, 38117 (Meeting Room) When: October 5,12,19, 26 Times: Thursdays, 4pm-5pm Ages: 18 and over

Spanish for Travelers

Classes will go over some introductory Spanish terms and keywords for people who plan to travel to a Spanish-speaking country. Lessons will go over vocabulary, speaking, and some writing skills.

Instructor: Patricia Posada is a native Spanish speaker. She has translated medical and educational information for others in various capacities.

Where: Cordova Branch Library, 8457 Trinity Rd Poplar, 38018 (Conference Room) When: October 9, 16, 23, November 6 Times: Mondays, 6pm-7pm Ages: 18 and over

American Sign Language

Classes will take on the natural, visual, non-spoken language with its own distinct grammatical structure. Shape, movements, and location of the hands, facial expressions and body will be utilized for communicating.

Instructor: Wanda Gray started her sign language journey in 2014 when a customer who was deaf came into her office. Wanda was frustrated with not being able to communicate with the customer, so she made the decision to teach herself the language. She told the customer, “When you come back into the office, I will be speaking your language.” He came back in April and the rest is history.

Where: Whitehaven Branch Library, 4120 Millbranch, 38116 (Meeting Room) When: October 3, 10, 17, 24 Times: Tuesday, 6pm-7pm Ages: 18 and over

If you missed Wanda’s American Sign Language series in October, you have another opportunity in November. This session has 2 one-hour-30 minute classes. Classes will take on the natural, visual, non-spoken language with its own distinct grammatical structure. Shape, movements, and location of the hands, facial expressions and body will be utilized for communicating.

Where: Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar, 38111 (Meeting Room C) When: November 21, 28 Times: Tuesday, 6pm-8pm Ages: 18 and over

Do It Yourself Small Claim Court Filing

Class will share with individuals who cannot afford an attorney through the process of filing a small claim in Shelby County General Sessions Court on their own behalf (pro se). It will cover the court’s rules, decorum, filing procedures, service of process, presenting a case, and enforcement of judgement.

Instructor: Julian R. Griffin is a paralegal professional with more than 20-years’ experience in executing detailed tasked in fast-paced and deadline driven environments. He has diversified experience in employment, social security, personal injury, and worker’ compensation law.

Where: Virtual When: October 7, 14, 21, 28 Times: Saturdays, 1pm-2pm Ages: 18 and over

Craft Making with Vinyl & Sublimation

Class will show how to make products through use of sublimation printing, epoxy tumbling, silhouette cameo and much more.

Instructor: Marlena Oliver-Coleman is the founder and owner of Lena’s Creative Innovations. Marlena has been printing for six years and loves what she does, creating for others and bringing their vision to life. She owns several different printing machines and software.

Where: Benjamin L. Hooks Central Library, 3030 Poplar, 38111 (1st floor L56) When: October 11, 18, 25, November 1 Times: Wednesdays, 6:00 pm-7:00pm Ages: 18 and over

Visual Arts

Amalgamate: the Art of Blending Series

This four-part series deals with art on various surfaces which includes acrylic on paper, acrylic on canvas, acrylic on clothes and spray paint on canvas.

Instructor:

Somijah Archer, also known as ‘Sumo The Artist’, is a Trans-Disciplinary artist that uses color to share and teach the value of intention setting through interpretation. She takes pride in cultivating community mindfulness through intention setting via classes, events, and personal experiences. Specializing in abstract art, her skills include painting on a variety of mediums such as clothing, wall murals, canvas & more.

Links:  https://www.thisisintentional.com

Instagram & Facebook: This Is Intentional

Where: Benjamin L. Hook Central Library, 3030 Poplar, 38111 (Cloud 901 2nd Floor) Dates: November 7, 14, 21, 28 Times: Tuesdays, 12:00pm-1:00pm Ages: 18 and over

Writing/Performance Arts

From the Page to the Stage

This class/workshop will focus on dramatic writing culminating to presenting works on stage including poetry, short stories, and prose in a dramatic form.

Instructor: Levi Frazier, Jr. of Blues City Cultural Center has been writing, producing, and directing for more than 50 years. He has had plays produced all over the country and in Europe. He won the Ostrander Award for Best Play (When it Rains) and won a Chattanooga Theatre Center playwriting contest. Frazier performed A Tribute to Richard Wright in Paris France.

Where: Cherokee, 3300 Sharpe Ave, 38111 (Meeting Room) When: 11, 18, 25 Times: Wednesdays, 4:30pm– 5:30pm Ages: 18 and over

Children’s Book Publishing 

Take the mystery out of publishing a children’s book and learn the how to of getting your work out to the public. This series includes illustration, costs, and marketing.

Instructor: T’Arrah Marjé After years of media work (television production and photography), she recently decided to pursue publishing and writing children’s books. Since inner-city Memphis has a low literacy rate, T’Arrah wanted to contribute something to her community that could help. Her books are targeted to communities of color with content they can relate to and be inspired to keep reading and go after what they want in life.

Where: Raleigh Branch Library, 3452 Austin Peay Highway, 38128 (2nd Floor Demonstration Room) Dates: November 4, 11, 18, 25 Times: Saturdays, 2:00pm-3:00pm Ages: 18 and over

Making a Career Out of Writing Books

Led by Memphis author Douglas Pratt, this 4-part series will discuss how to turn your passion for writing into an ongoing career. You will learn how to network, get published and take advantage of writing opportunities.

Instructor: Douglas Pratt was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. He has been writing since the third grade. During high school, Douglas dabbled in short stories and poems. Douglas graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in Journalism.

Where: Cordova Branch Library, 8457 Trinity Rd, Cordova, TN 38018 (Conference Room) Dates: October 4,11, 18, 25 Times: Wednesday, 5:00pm-6:00pm Ages: 18 and over

Thanks to the Memphis Library Foundation for supporting this and other programs.

Summer Writing Institute

2024 Summer Writing Institute

Established in 1977   For High School Students

June 16-28, 2024 - On Campus Applications are now open.

The Academic Program The Summer Writing Institute at Rhodes College takes place annually for two weeks during June and is a residential academic program committed to developing the critical thinking and writing skills of high school students. Within the college′s liberal arts environment, students sharpen their reading and analytical skills and learn strategies for writing creatively and critically. At the end of the session, students receive a grade for their work and class participation, earn two college credits (transferable to most colleges and universities), and will complete a portfolio of college-level writing.

Approach The goal of the Institute is to offer a structured, diverse, and inspiring writing community. Sponsored by the Rhodes English Department and First Year Writing Program, the Institute emphasizes writing but also engages faculty from many college disciplines to expose students to a variety of subjects. Students choose between the College Writing Seminar, modeled after Rhodes’ First Year Writing Seminar, and the Creative Writing Workshop. Faculty teaching both types of courses emphasize the entire writing process from the seed of an idea to the completion of a story, poem, or argumentative essay. Through class discussions and peer workshops, each professor guides students in understanding others′ writing and in creating their own writing-expressing ideas, finding a voice, discovering a style, building a structure, and developing a theme or position.

Academic Overview

In addition to coursework and writing seminars, students have the opportunity attend lectures, take advantage of Rhodes' world class facilities, and receive college prep advice from faculty and staff.

Admission and Tuition Information

The Institute invites any interested high school student to apply. Financial aid is available.

Learn more about Institute students, campus living, academic work, and extracurricular activities during the program.

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If you have applied and been accepted, please click on the Campus and Program Policies & Guidelines Information link below for more detailed information. 

Campus and Program Policies & Guidelines Information

Sample Lecture and College Prep Schedule

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Social and Residential Life

Institute students experience life on campus as if they were Rhodes undergraduates, taking advantage of both the beautiful gothic architecture and state of the art academic and recreational facilities, including tennis and racquetball courts, basketball courts, a weight and exercise room, and a swimming pool. Students take their classes in Southwestern, Robertson, and Clough Halls, the central academic buildings on campus, eat meals in the refectory, and live with roommates in the residence halls. Select Rhodes undergraduates serve as Resident Assistants who supervise, live and dine with the students. On the weekends and after daily activities, students come together in social settings. Favorite annual events include trips to Memphis landmarks and Open Mic Night.

Testimonials

Hear from past Institute students about the benefits of their SWI experience.

Typical Daily Schedule

See what a day is like as part of the Rhodes Summer Writing Institute.

Contact Information

Summer Writing Institute 901-843-3794 [email protected]

Professor Rebecca Finlayson Director

Lorie Yearwood Departmental Assistant

Important Documents

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Creative Aging, Memphis Libraries looking to grow partnership, offering art, theater and more

The room at the Frayser Library bustled with activity. Seniors looked through stacks of cookie cutters and photos of windchimes for inspiration, then started to flatten clay and cut out shapes.

One woman cut around a parrot feather to make just the right shapes for her windchime. Others pressed doilies and bits of foliage into the clay to add texture.

When one participant asked Debbie Lovett, the class instructor, for advice, Lovett had a simple question: “What’s your vision?”

The class was the first of three sessions in a clay windchime workshop hosted by the nonprofit Creative Aging in partnership with Memphis Public Libraries .

It’s the 20th anniversary for Creative Aging as an organization and the fifth anniversary of its partnership with Memphis Public Libraries. And, with great demand for the free courses offered to those age 65 and up, the partnership has plans to expand.

Programs help mental health, quality of life

On a Wednesday in Frayser, Vicki Kinder worked on cutting and molding the clay into cactus shapes for her windchime. This was her second time taking the clay windchime class, one of her favorites of the roughly 10 Creative Aging courses she’s taken.

Once, her work was put on display at the Memphis Brooks Museum of Art .

While she has a vibrant church life, many seniors find retirement isolating, Kinder said.

“(People) need to consider how helping seniors actually helps our entire community,” she said.

Across the room, Janet Hope pressed leaves and cones to the clay, creating ridges and specks.

Hope said that since losing her husband, her life has been changed. This program helps with her mental health and her overall life, she said.

“When you go from a very active life to your world falling apart, this is so helpful to the mending,” Hope said.

Harriet Burton, who attended the class with longtime friend Debbie Edwards, agreed. She also lost her husband, and said the classes provide an answer for when people ask, “What are you doing with yourself these days?”

“I’m taking art classes,” Burton said she tells people. “Then you don’t have to get into the details.”

Taking art, theater to seniors across Memphis

Creative Aging offers about 40 different studio courses across the city of Memphis, including at all 18 library branches.

Courses range from theater to creative writing to printmaking to drawing and painting. In one course, participants watch an episode of The Twilight Zone, then discuss its script and themes.

“Our passion is bringing music and the arts to older adults, at places they live and gather,” said Mia Henley, executive director of Creative Aging. “So we take the music, take the art, take the theater, to seniors at places all over the city and county.”

Courses and supplies are free to adults age 65 and over.

When Creative Aging first launched two decades ago, it offered 10 classes that year. Now, it offers more than 100 across the city at libraries and other locations, with classes meeting weekly for 3-6 weeks.

Now, with the support of Friends of the Library, the Memphis Library Foundation and ARTSMemphis, the program is growing “dramatically,” Henley said.

Currently, every class has a waitlist. In the future, they hope to offer enough classes to do away with that waitlist, said Claire Rutkauskas, program director at Creative Aging.

“We're just trying to find a way to provide engagement to folks who are retired,” Rutkauskas said. “And you know, once people retire, their sense of drive and their sense of passion can wane quickly. They can find themselves lonely, so we try to make sure that these classes are during weekdays where they may not have other activities.”

Wang-Ying Glasgow, adult services coordinator at Memphis Public Libraries, said the current work of the partnership is “just the beginning,” with room to “really expand.”

The partnership with the libraries means classes can be offered across the city, engaging communities locally and also bringing people to visit parts of the city they might otherwise not have seen.

“To have these art programs is really wonderful because art builds community,” Glasgow said. “We really see the need, especially for seniors they learn a skill (and have) an opportunity to socialize and be connected with others.”

Katherine Burgess covers Memphis City Government and religion. She can be reached at [email protected] or followed on X, formerly known as Twitter, @kathsburgess.

MFA Degree Program

The Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing provides studies in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, along with a variety of options for either a studio degree in Creative Writing, or a degree combining work in either the Department of English or other departments in which course work, or independent study, seems particularly pertinent to the student’s creative thesis. A book-length thesis of publishable quality is required; it will be directed by a member of the MFA faculty. The MFA requires 48 graduate semester hours, with a 3.00 grade point average in all graduate courses.

Admission Requirements

• An overall minimum grade point average of 2.75 at the undergraduate level.
• An official undergraduate and if applicable graduate transcript sent to Graduate Admissions.
• A portfolio of published or unpublished writing samples in the applicant’s chosen genre (at least 20-25 pages of fiction, 10 poems, or 25 pages of nonfiction), demonstrating a potential for development to a professional standard of writing, should be submitted to the English Graduate Office along with two letters of recommendation and a cover letter stating the candidate’s choice of genre and reasons for pursuing the degree. The writing sample will be evaluated by a committee of MFA faculty. The committee will recommend admission of those applicants with the highest demonstrated talent.
• Students who wish to change genres after being accepted in one genre, even if they are already registered and enrolled in the program, must submit a new portfolio of work in the new genre and be approved by the MFA faculty for admission in the new genre.
• Bachelor’s degree in English or if BA is in another field, twelve (12) semester hours in upper division literature or creative writing courses with a minimum grade point average of 2.75 in these courses.
• Graduate Record General Examination (a competitive score on the verbal section is expected).
• Deadlines: for best consideration apply by March 1 for the following fall semester admission and October 15 for following spring semester. Applications may be considered later but prospective students applying by those dates have first priority.

Any applicant who holds an MA degree in English may apply up to a maximum of 24 semester hours in English earned for that degree toward the MFA degree, with the approval of the graduate coordinator. A student’s advisor will insure that the combination of MA credits and courses taken in the program has appropriate breadth. Credit previously earned at another institution must be presented for evaluation not later than the end of the student’s second semester of enrollment.

Program Requirements

All students must fulfill the 48-hour degree requirement from the Core Requirements in section 1 in combination with one area of specialization under the Additional Requirements in section 2: the Studio Option, the Literary Studies Option, The Creative/Professional Option, the TESL/TEFL Option, or the Cross-Disciplinary Option.

Core Requirements

Writing workshops and forms courses.

A total of 6 courses (18 hours) required:

Four Workshop courses, at least three of which must be in chosen genre:

• ENGL 7601 - Creative Nonfiction Wkshp
• ENGL 7602 - Fiction Workshop
• ENGL 7603 - Poetry Workshop

One Forms course in chosen genre:

• ENGL 7470 - Forms Creative Nonfict
• ENGL 7471 - Forms Of Fiction
• ENGL 7472 - Forms Of Poetry

One Cross-Genre Course:

For Poetry Students

• ENGL 6610 - Creative Writing/Translation
• ENGL 7602 - Fiction Workshop for poets

For Fiction and Creative Nonfiction students:

Cross-genre course.

ENGL 6610    may serve as a cross-genre course if the focus was on a cross-genre, but the student must submit a portfolio of cross-genre work from the course and get written approval from the Creative Writing Coordinator.

Creative Writing Colloquium

At least two sections of ENGL 7900    must be taken (6 hours).

NOTE: Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.

• ENGL 7996 - Thesis (3 hours)

Comprehensive Exam

A Comprehensive Exam based on a reading list formed by the student and the student’s thesis director.

Oral Review of Thesis

Although it is not a core requirement for the degree, all students receiving a Teaching Assistantship must take ENGL 7003    either before they become a teaching assistant or during their first semester of teaching. It is included as an alternative course in each of the options for additional requirements below.

Specialization Requirements:

Studio option:.

7 courses, 21 hours, chosen from the following:

• ENGL 7475 - Literary Publishing
• ENGL 7485 - Lit Arts Programming
• ENGL 7604 - Creative Writing Wkshp
• ENGL 7605 - Adv Grad Fiction Wkshp
• ENGL 7606 - Adv Creative Non-Fict Wkshp
• ENGL 7607 - Advanced Poetry Workshop

Students may take, as an alternative to replace up to 3 of these courses, an equivalent number of other courses (of 3 hours each) from other disciplines within the Department of English (this includes ENGL 7003   , which is a requirement if the student receives a Teaching Assistantship). Note: as stated in the course descriptions, ENGL 7475    and ENGL 7485    can only be counted for a maximum of 6 hours each toward the degree requirements.

Literary Studies Option:

7 courses, 21 hours, made up of the following:

At least 9 hours of Literature Courses

At least 3 hours of theory of writing and english language/linguistics courses, selected from:.

• ENGL 7020 - Special Topics in English through
• ENGL 7029 - Special Topics in English
• ENGL 7003 - Thry/Prac Tchng Comp
• ENGL 7501 - History English Lang
• ENGL 7511 - Survey of Linguistics through
• ENGL 7517 - Discourse Analysis
• ENGL 7531 - Theory and History of ESL ** through
• ENGL 7537 - Issues in Second Language Reading
• ENGL 7590 - Appl/Theory Linguistics
• ENGL 7801 - History Composition
• ENGL 7805 - Foundations of Writing Studies

Literary Editing

Up to 6 hours of

Literary Arts Programming

Forms courses.

Up to 9 hours of

Creative/Professional Writing Option:

At least 9 hours of professional writing courses:.

• ENGL 6618 - Document Design
• ENGL 6619 - Web Design/Online Writing **
• ENGL 7013 - Wkshp Hlth Care Writing
• ENGL 7014 - Wkshp Public Hlth Care Writing
• ENGL 7806 - Resch Meth In Writing
• ENGL 7807 - Wksp/Govmt & Corp Wrtg
• ENGL 7808 - Wksp/Sci & Techn Wrtg
• ENGL 7809 - Technical Editing
• ENGL 7818 - Collaborative Writing

Note: Up to 6 hours of ENGL 7811 - Internship Prof Wrtng    may be counted toward this requirement. All internships must be pre-approved by the coordinator of the Creative Writing program along with another professor in the student’s primary genre.

Up to 6 hours of:

Tesl/tefl option:.

• 15 hours in the Certificate Program in Teaching English as a Second/Foreign Language (TESL/TEFL), including 12 hours in the certificate core:
• ENGL 7530 - Field Experience and Practicum in ESL **
• ENGL 7531 - Theory and History of ESL **
• ENGL 7532 - Principles of Skills Assessment **
• ENGL 7535 - ESL Grammar

3 elective hours selected from:

• ENGL 7533 - Methods/Techniques of ESL in K-12 **
• ENGL 7536 - Issues in Second Language Writing
• ENGL 7538 - Cultural Issues in ESL
• ENGL 6533 - ESL/EFL in Multicultural Settings

6 hours of electives in English, Creative Writing, or Foreign Languages

Cross-disciplinary option:.

Up to 9 hours of English courses from any discipline (includes  ENGL 7003   )

At least 12 hours of courses from another department: Art, History, Journalism, Theater, Foreign Languages, or other department in which course work, or independent study, seems particularly pertinent to the student’s creative thesis.

Up to 9 of the 21 hours may be fulfilled by independent study in another department and/or internship hours, but all cross-disciplinary courses/independent studies/internships must be pre-approved by the coordinator of the Creative Writing program along with another professor in the student’s primary genre. Internships must be of a nature that will allow the student to participate in research that will form the basis of the student’s thesis.

Although taking all 12 hours of the cross-disciplinary minimum in only one other department is not required, it is recommended that the student focus primarily on one area or else have a clear rationale for fulfilling the 12-hour minimum in more than one cross-disciplinary area.

Retention Requirements

Upon entering the MFA program, a student chooses an advisor in his or her concentration. The advisor will monitor the student’s progress toward completion of the degree. Each semester the Graduate Studies Committee will examine the academic progress of all students for retention in the program. If a student receives either two C’s, one D, or one F grade in any English graduate level course, that student will be subject to review and could be dismissed from the program. In order to remain in good standing, all graduate students must maintain a 3.0 average in all courses. Students who are on academic probation for two consecutive semesters will not be allowed to continue in the program.

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