Inside The Writer's Loft: How it Works

Format and Structure

The Loft currently has two tracks for the creative writing student:

1.  A student can enroll in The Loft’s full certificate program which is structured as a three semester, stand-alone program for the nontraditional student who wishes to develop as a writer, but is not interested, or cannot attend a traditional degreed writing program.  Each student successfully completing three semesters of work at The Writer’s Loft will receive an impressive certificate of completion and will be able to list the program completion on resumes or curriculum vitas. 

2.  Students may choose to enroll in the program on a semester-by-semester basis.  This is helpful to the beginning writer who wishes to explore his or her potential to write and also to see if he or she can dedicate the time necessary to improve as a writer, without making a substantial financial commitment.  This is also ideal for the student who has completed the three semesters necessary to receive the certificate but wishes to finish a book or project under the one-on-one guidance of a mentor and a structured packet schedule.

Either way, each Spring and Fall semester includes:

Orientation Weekend:  The orientation takes place over two days at the beginning of the Spring and Fall semesters.  Although schedules may change from semester to semester, the first evening of a typical orientation will feature a reception/mixer at which students can meet and talk writing with students and mentors.  This is a great way to build a sense of community among program members and one of the activities student say they enjoy the most.  On the second day, mentors and students will meet, discuss the student’s work and goals for the semester, and prepare a semester plan.  Three copies of the plan are made, with the student and mentor each retaining a copy and the program keeping a copy for the student’s file.  There will be a presentation on The Loft, a Q&A period, and refreshments will be served.  Students will be given orientation packets for each semester.  As part of the orientation, lectures and panel discussions will be offered.  Some orientations will include readings by both faculty and students of their own work.  When possible, the orientation weekend will include a visit by a published author and a Q&A session with the students. 

One-on-One Mentor Study: This is The Loft’s core structure.  The maximum student-mentor ratio will never exceed 5 to 1 in order to provide personal attention.  After orientation day, students and mentors return home, and the student writes and submits three packets of fiction, creative non-fiction (CNF), or poetry to the mentor, delivered either by e-mail or postal mail, as determined by the mentor.  The packet deadlines will be predetermined in advance of, and presented during, the orientation weekend.  Once received, the mentor has two weeks to post the response to each packet. 

In addition, each student will read one novel, CNF book, collection of short stories or essays, or a book of poetry for each packet (a total of three per semester).  In the packet, the student writes a single critical essay on what the student leaned “as a writer” from reading the work. 

The student can expect their manuscript to be reviewed, marked up with suggestions, edits and corrections by the mentor.  In addition, the mentor will provide a letter to the student with comments on the packet.  This letter will be no shorter than three, single-spaced pages.

Mid-semester telephone conference:  About halfway through the semester, the mentor and student will agree upon a time for a thirty-minute telephone conference in which the student can ask questions and get clarifications as to any of the mentor’s comments or about writing in general.

Graduation:  After a student has successfully completed three semesters of study, he or she will attend the following orientation weekend at which the writer will be presented the certificate of completion as a part of the Loft program.  As a graduate of the program, the writer will be entitled to attend certain events for alumni at each future orientation weekend.

Registration includes all orientation weekend events and the semester of study with a personal mentor.

The summer semester does not include an orientation weekend, but provides the one-on-one semester study at a reduced rate.  This is ideal for students who cannot travel to Murfreesboro for the orientation weekend or for writers who teach during the academic year, but have more free time during their summers.

Come join us and be a part of this thriving community of writers!.

The Fall Orientation weekend kicking off the fall semester will be September 18th and 19th, 2009.

Tuition for summer semesters is $1,000.  Fall and spring semester tuition is $1,250.  A deposit of $200 (applied toward the tuition) is required at the time of enrollment with the balance due no later than the first day of the semester. 

Registration is now open for the Summer and Fall 2009 Semesters as well as the Spring 2010 Semester.  To sign up for any or all of the above, click here.