PROGRAM SUMMARY
Due to its location in New York City, home to an important and diverse Latino and Latin American community, NYU is uniquely situated to develop a graduate Creative Writing Program in Spanish. There is a long and rich tradition of writing workshops in the Spanish-speaking world and that should make this program especially attractive. Only one other program of a similar nature exists in the US, the Creative Writing Department at the University of Texas at El Paso, offering a fully bilingual course of study and an MFA in “Creative Writing of the Americas.”
Our MFA program offers instruction mainly in Spanish. Its goal is to enable talented young writers to discover their strengths and develop their craft under the guidance of prominent Latin American, Spanish, and Latino writers. It is a 2-year program of 32 credits (i.e. 8 courses: 2 per semester) and a special project at the end.
PROGRAM CONTENT AND REQUIREMENTS
The program consists of three required courses on general writing issues, three optional modules in the form of practical writing workshops (at least two in the field in which the student plans to specialize) and two electives. Workshops will be offered in fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction and translation. Additional workshops will be added to the program as needed. The two elective courses may be in the Creative Writing Program, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, or in another department, with an advisor’s approval. Students will also write a final project under the advisement of a faculty member at the end of their course of study.
COURSES
REQUIRED COURSES
G95.4001 - Approaches to Narrative and Poetry (4 credits)
An introductory course, combining readings of writers’ reflections on writing with readings in literary theory and criticism. Visiting Spanish, Latin American and Latino writers are invited regularly to lecture in the course. Required for all students. Taught once a year. Instructor: Sylvia Molloy
G95.4002 - Forms and Techniques of Fiction and Non-Fiction Prose (4 credits)
The course assumes some familiarity with major fiction writers in Spanish. Students will discuss fiction and non-fiction techniques in relation to assigned readings and explore various aspects of prose writing, including memoir, literary journalism, journals, and essays. Required for all students. Taught once a year. Instructor: Lila Zemborain or Mariela Dreyfus
G95.4003 - Forms and Techniques of Poetry (4 credits)
This class introduces students to the craft of writing poetry through readings of Spanish and Latin American poets, encourages them to reflect on that poetry and to discover in it possibilities for their own writing. Required for all students. Taught once a year. Instructor: Mariela Dreyfus or Lila Zemborain
WORKSHOPS
Workshops combine exploration of writing techniques, sustained writing exercises, and practice of peer criticism.Students take three workshops, at least two of which will be in their specific fields.
G95.4104 – Workshop in Fiction (4 credits)
G95.4102 – Workshop in Poetry (4 credits)
G95.4103 - Workshop in Creative Non-Fiction (4 credits)
G95.4104 – Workshop in Literary Translation (4 credits)
G95.4105 - Variable Topics Workshop (4 credits)
ELECTIVES (TWO courses)
These courses may be taken in the program, in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese or, with an advisor’s approval, in another literature department.
FINAL PROJECT
Students write a final independent project consisting of between 50-75 pages for prose or 30 pages for poetry under the supervision of a faculty member. The project may be one long piece or a series of shorter pieces. This final project may include, or may be an expansion of work begun during previous courses, but it should represent a culminating effort to shape stories, prose, pieces, a long work, or a set of poems in to a coherent, self-sufficient work.
PERMANENT FACULTY & FACULTY TO BE HIRED
Instruction is assured by permanent faculty, adjunct instructors, and visiting professors from abroad. The permanent faculty consists of the Program’s Director, Sylvia Molloy, and Clinical Professors Mariela Dreyfus and Lila Zemborain.
The visiting faculty includes well-known writers from the New York area who teach in the program on a regular basis. Sergio Chejfec (Argentina) and Lina Meruane (Chile) are visiting professors for 2007-2008. Carmen Boullosa (Mexico), María Negroni (Argentina), Antonio Muñoz Molina (Spain), José Manuel Prieto (Cuba/Mexico).
In addition, prestigious writers from Latin America and Spain will be invited frequently to teach in the program. Diamela Eltit (Chile) is our Distinguished Visiting Writer for 2007-2008. Other writers who have expressed interest in teaching in our Creative Writing Program include Tamara Kamenszain (Argentina), Mario Bellatín (Mexico), Rocío Silva Santisteban (Peru), Margo Glantz (Mexico), Laura Restrepo (Colombia).
ADMISSIONS
Students come from three populations: students having taken creative writing courses at the undergraduate level at NYU and other institutions and wishing to continue; students from the Spanish-speaking community in New York and throughout the country wishing to develop their writing talents; and students from Spain and Latin America.
Minimum requirements for admission would be:
- A BA or Licenciatura in any field of study
- A writing sample consisting of 8 to10 poems or 20 pages of prose (fiction, essay)
- A statement of purpose (500-1000 words)
- Three letters of recommendation
- An official transcript of undergraduate studies
- Submission of GRE scores
- Submission of TOEFL scores (for those whose native language is not English)
Applications will be reviewed by an admissions committee consisting of the director of the Creative Writing Program, the two clinical professors, and visiting faculty teaching in the program on a regular basis. The statement of purpose, the writing sample, and the letters of recommendation are the most decisive factors in this review. Applications should be received each year by February 8.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: spanish.creativewriting@nyu.edu
