MFA Collective A creative writing magazine written by students in creative writing programs.

Brian Russell wrote this response to an original post written about some of the drawbacks of the low-residency MFA model, originally titled “Low-Residency MFA Thoughts.” He expressed how he could relate to some of the points of the original post, but wanted to use his experience to show that the low-residency program does not always have to be that way.

I thought I’d take a moment to share some thoughts. I read a posting written by a man who is attending the brief-residency program at Murray State in Western Kentucky. He expressed the frustration with getting close to people during the residency portion and then losing touch with them during the “at home” time.

I hear what he’s saying. And, it doesn’t have to be that way.

I am attending the brief-residency program at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. This coming May will be my third of five residencies, and I will soon be beginning my third of four terms in the MFA program. First off, let me say that my experience at Spalding has been very, very good. Wonderful faculty, rigorous program, intense but hugely rewarding residencies.

I am fortunate to have become involved with a group of fellow Spalding students, and we email each other every single week. We share what we’re up to in our reading and our writing and, in this way, we are able to keep some semblance of that deep connection that students (artists) develop and enjoy and thrive on during the residency period in such a program.

It doesn’t take that much to do, but what it provides in terms of continuing support, of reminding one’s self that you are not alone in the challenges you face, is priceless. So, I encourage all students enrolled in brief residency programs to find a way to keep connected through the many months between residencies. Email each other. Talk on the phone. Write letters. Whatever works. We aren’t alone, but only we can make sure that we don’t feel alone!

–Brian Russell

You can read more from Brian Russell by visiting his blog - Another Chicago Writer