Why San Francisco?

The Literary Capital Where Your Writing Career Begins

Our MFA program benefits from being embedded within the #1 art school in the nation for return on investment - the same career-focused culture, industry connections, and practical approach that makes our undergraduates successful also supports our graduate writers in building sustainable creative careers.

San Francisco: Where Literature Lives and Breathes

San Francisco isn't just a backdrop for your MFA experience—it's an active collaborator in your literary education. As the only MFA program combining serious literary training with cross-disciplinary arts education in the heart of San Francisco, CCA MFA Writing offers unprecedented access to one of America's most vibrant literary ecosystems.

Why does location matter for your writing? Because great writing emerges from engagement with the world, not isolation from it. In San Francisco, your classroom extends far beyond campus walls.

A Literary Legacy Like No Other

San Francisco's literary DNA runs deep, shaped by generations of writers who found inspiration and community here:

Beat Generation Hub: Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, and Lawrence Ferlinghetti made San Francisco the epicenter of American literary rebellion
City Lights Bookstore (1953): America's first all-paperback bookstore, still a gathering place for writers worldwide
San Francisco Renaissance: Kenneth Rexroth, Michael McClure, and Gary Snyder created a distinctly West Coast literary voice
Feminist Literary Movement: Judy Grahn, Pat Parker, and others pioneered feminist and LGBTQ+ literary voices
Asian American Literary Renaissance: Maxine Hong Kingston, Amy Tan, and others established San Francisco as the heart of Asian American literature

Contemporary Literary Innovation

Today's San Francisco continues this legacy of literary risk-taking:

McSweeney's Publishing headquarters in the Mission District
The Believer magazine editorial offices
Litquake festival - the West Coast's premier literary celebration
Voice of Witness - pioneering oral history and social justice literature
Bay Area Book Festival
Small press revolution with dozens of independent publishers calling SF home

Your Literary Community Awaits

Reading Series That Matter

As a CCA MFA student, you'll have access to San Francisco's unparalleled reading scene.

Year-Round Reading Series:

City Lights Bookstore: Authors & Publishers Series
The Booksmith: Regular author events and book launches
Green Apple Books: Literary salons and readings
Litcrawl: Annual pub-crawling literary festival
Word for Word: Innovative literary adaptations for theater
Book Passage: Author events

Specialty Series:

Writers with Drinks: Where literary meets performance art
Quiet Lightning: Flash fiction and microstory showcases
Language Exchange: Multilingual and translation-focused readings
Sunday Stories: Community storytelling at cafes throughout the city

Literary Organizations and Partners

Our students regularly engage with San Francisco's rich network of literary organizations:

Litquake
Bay Area Book Festival
San Francisco Writers' Grotto: Coworking space for professional writers
Intersection for the Arts: Multimedia literary programming
Youth Speaks: Spoken word and community engagement initiatives
826 Valencia: Writing and tutoring nonprofit founded by Dave Eggers

Ready to Make San Francisco Your Literary Home?

In a literary landscape where MFA programs often isolate students from the working world, CCA MFA Writing embeds you in one of America's most vibrant literary communities.

Your San Francisco literary education includes:

Weekly access to world-class readings and literary events
Professional networking opportunities unavailable elsewhere
Cross-disciplinary inspiration from the broader arts community
Career development within San Francisco's diverse economy
25 years of alumni connections throughout the city's creative industries
The cultural richness and social consciousness that defines San Francisco literature

Next Steps:

Schedule a Campus Visit - See our facilities and explore the neighborhood
Attend Our Next Event - Experience our community in action
Apply Now - Join the next cohort of San Francisco literary voices
Connect with Current Students - Hear directly about the San Francisco experience