The Writer's Loft: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who may apply? Because this is a non-degreed certificate program, there are no formal requirements other than a passion to write and a commitment to work with a mentor to improve your craft.  The structure of The Loft is such that it requires a student who is a self-starter and can work at home and meet deadlines.  If you have questions about how to schedule your writing into your already hectic life, we can give advice about what has worked for our current and former students.  Just contact us!

How long will it take me to earn this certificate? Remember, you can go for the full certificate or you can enroll on a semester-by-semester basis.  If you do wish to complete the program and receive your certificate then you will need to complete three semesters, with each session lasting four months. Each year, the Spring semester is from January to April, The Summer semester runs from May to August, and the Fall semester is from September to December. You may take as long as you need to in order to earn the certificate. The sessions do NOT need to be back-to-back, so you can only enroll in the Summer semesters if that works with your life, or you can go straight through.  You can also begin in any semester you wish.  And even when you complete your certificate, you can still take additional semesters if you like.  We've designed the program to be as flexible as possible to meet your lifestyle and writing needs.

Will I earn college credit while in The Writer's Loft? Since The Writer's Loft is operated by the noncredit department of our College, we cannot offer University credit.

May I transfer courses from another university and receive credit for any portion of The Writer's Loft? Since The Writer's Loft is not a formal part of any graduate or undergraduate program, courses cannot be transferred.

If I am already working on a piece of fiction, say a novel, can I bring that to The Writer's Loft? Absolutely. In fact, we encourage you to do so. Your time in The Writer's Loft is your time. Revise material you've written alone or work on new fiction, poetry, or personal narrative. In addition, we encourage you to look at the entire certificate experience, lasting three semesters and a total of nine (9) packets. Create a series of short stories. Start or finish a novel. We offer the student a great deal of flexibility while still working under a mentor's guidance. And as mentioned above, if you're in the middle of a longer work when you complete your certificate and want to continue working with a mentor on a packet deadline, you can.

Do I retain the rights to any material created while in The Writer's Loft? Yes. Everything you write belongs to you.