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Master of Fine Arts in Fiction

Master of Fine Arts in Fiction

University of King's College

Imagine your book—with us!

Where is your imagination taking you? Whether the story you want to tell is a mystery or thriller, science fiction or fantasy, romance or historical, or a more current tale, King’s MFA in Fiction will help you bring your imagined world to life on the page. Bring us your idea for a fictional book, and we’ll work with you to turn it into a manuscript that’s on the road to publication.

You’ll learn the craft and practice of being an author as you hone your fiction skills under the mentorship of award-winning writers and editors. With the additional help of top publishing professionals in Canada, the United States and beyond, you’ll do all this and more in just two years. The bonus: you’ll earn a prestigious MFA degree along the way.

The MFA in Fiction is a two-year limited-residency program. During annual June residencies on the campus at the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, students deepen their understanding of the art and craft of fiction writing through lectures, seminars, panels, workshops and readings, while working intensively on their own projects with their mentors. During two six-day online January residencies, one featuring guests primarily from New York and one featuring guests from the Canadian publishing industry (most based in Toronto), students learn about the latest trends in the publishing industry and discuss their writing projects with editors, agents, and publishers based in North America’s main publishing hubs. During the fall and winter semesters, students take part in occasional online webinars and readings and continue to work off-campus on their book manuscript with the support and guidance of their mentors. This limited-residency feature and the exclusive focus on fiction make the King’s MFA in Fiction unique in Canada.

We invite you to take the challenge to turn your great idea into an equally great book!

 

Offered in partnership with Dalhousie University.

Curriculum

The MFA in Fiction is a limited-residency program, with one nine-day June residency and a six-day January residency each year. Students will pursue independent writing and research in the interim, in collaboration with a project mentor. Students are free to live anywhere in these interim periods.

The nine-day June residencies are focused on the crafts of structure, research and writing. They aim to develop a strong narrative focus and scope for your work. The residency is an intensive learning experience comprised of morning sessions with mentors; afternoon lectures, Q&As and guest lectures; and evening sessions featuring student, faculty and guest readings.

The six-day January residencies are focused on the business of writing and developing the skills necessary to be a working writer in nonfiction. Students will meet with literary agents, editors and publishers, and learn crucial skills such as developing marketing plans for their book. In addition, they will meet with their mentors to continue development of their book manuscript.

During the fall and winter semesters, students work with a mentor to make progress on their book manuscript. They will establish a contract of deliverables with their mentors to be reviewed and updated each fall and winter session. Students will have a variety of mentors over the course of the program. Mentors are assigned to help students develop specific skills vital to the progress of their project.

YEAR ONE

Find out more

Students cover travel, meal and accommodation costs themselves for the summer residencies. These expenses are not covered by tuition. If you are in need of accommodation during the summer residency, contact King’s Conference Services by emailing Tim.Ross@ukings.ca.

 

Get more information about graduate-level writing and publishing programs


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