What are we doing here? The question's claimed permanent residency in my head. With AI closing in from every direction, threatening to colonize all human interactions, I've been thinking about what we do in this writing program and trying to work out why it (still) matters. The truth is, writing's always been under threat, not only from technology, but from the easier paths through life: the surface, the obvious, the already-said. AI is the latest incarnation of this threat, churning out...

Here's the truth: As an MFA program chair, I read hundreds of personal statements every year. Most are forgettable, some are painful, and a select few make me think, "We NEED this person in our program." What's the difference between a forgettable personal statement and a memorable one? It's understanding that your personal statement isn't a cover letter or a resume recap—it's a literary document unto itself. It's a personal essay that should be as well-written, as carefully crafted, as any...

Here's what nobody tells you about becoming a writer: it's not only about what you do—it's about what you stop doing. The most successful...