Got a call this morning from Goddard College, the “vanguard” school to offer low-residency programs in Master’s of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing.

Short story: I’m “in”.

I’ve been accepted to participate in graduate level work in creative nonfiction. The program starts in January but I’m hoping I can defer that and start in June. I would attend two “residencies” 10-day workshop sessions in Port Townsend, WA each year, and do all the writing / reading / critique work with my advisor(s) through correspondence. After two years (5 residencies) I’d have my MFA and and a “publishable” manuscript. I think there is also a “teaching” element or practicum.

This news was a huge boost for me after getting two denial letters in the last month and having the country blues I posted about below. It’s so validating and encouraging to get this kind of feedback. I was starting to seriously doubt the quality of the manuscript I submitted. Now I feel a little better about it. The journey is just beginning, but this is the kind of start I was hoping for.

Some notable Goddard college alumni: Piers Anthony (fantasy wizard / author), Mark Doty (award-winning poet), and William H Macy (actor). There are many other artists listed here on Wikipedia.

Here’s a picture of Goddard’s main campus in Vermont. Thanks to everyone who prayed, wrote reference letters, encouraged me, and have commented on my writing for years now on this (and other) blog posts. I will keep you posted re: what happens next. (I’m still waiting to hear back from one last remaining school that I applied to.)