UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA WILMINGTON The Coast Line Creative Writing Newsletter of the Department of Creative Writing Winter 2010 “Accelerated Success” Here is an excerpt from “Key Findings” UNCW Creative Writing Program Designated of the “Association of Writers & Writing One of the Top 25 M.F.A. Programs in the Programs (AWP) Assessment of the M.F.A. Program in Creative Writing at UNCW,” Nation by Poets & Writers Magazine September 2009: The Master of Fine Arts in Creative “UNCW’s M.F.A. program in creative Writing program at the University of North writing was established in 1996. AWP last Carolina Wilmington is designated one conducted an assessment of the program of the top 25 M.F.A. programs in creative in 2002, when the young program showed writing in the nation in the Nov./Dec. great promise. That promise had compelled 2009 issue of Poets & Writers magazine. the university’s leadership to make extraor- One of the pre-eminent publications in the dinary investments in the program and to creative writing profession, Poets & Writers grant the program autonomy as its own de- ranks UNC Wilmington’s program fifth in partment of creative writing. We are happy creative nonfiction and ranks it at number to report that the promise of this program 22 in poetry and number 25 in fiction. has been worthy of UNCW’s investment. Maturing quickly, the department has es- “These rankings support and validate the Writing” in The Atlantic magazine’s tablished a strong level of national achieve- remarkable work that UNCW faculty and 2007 Fiction Issue. staff have done in developing and nurturing ment and recognition. We know of few “These rankings say something about our the M.F.A. in Creative Writing,” said Chan- young programs that have accomplished so program,” said Philip Gerard, chair of the cellor Rosemary DePaolo. “It is astounding Department of Creative Writing. “Clearly, ...continued on page 8 that a program created in 1996 has risen to we’re going in the right direction. When challenge some of the most highly regarded we created this program 15 years ago, we creative writing programs in the country.” Ecotone News ................... 2 were very intentional and very conscious of Publishing Lab ............... 3-4 Overall, the UNCW M.F.A. program what we were doing and why we were doing was ranked number 24, ahead of well- it. As faculty members, we created the kind From the BFA ......................5 established and highly funded programs at of program we wished we had been part of Art Show ................................6 Arizona State University, Sarah Lawrence when we were students.” College, University of Houston, University Rebecca Lee ............................7 Alumni agree that UNCW’s program is of Arizona, Boston University, George Ma- student-centered and that faculty provide Writers Week .................9-10 son, Ohio State, Florida State, Penn State, needed support and encouragement to help Visiting Writers ............ 10 the University of Virginia, Purdue and the students become successful writers. University of Maryland, among others. Student News .................. 11 The UNCW M.F.A. program has steadily “What made this program stand out for CRW Awards ...................... 12 gained national recognition in recent me were the professors,” said Kirsten Alumni News ............... 12-13 years. It was named one of the “Five Top Holmstedt, 2006 M.F.A. graduate and Innovative/Unique Programs in Creative author of Band of Sisters and The Girls Faculty News .................... 14 ...continued on page 2 ..continued from page 1 Come Marching Home. “I felt their commit- unique pieces that only UNCW can offer: ment when I entered the program in fall The Publishing Laboratory and Ecotone, 2002 until my book was finished in spring the nationally acclaimed literary journal 2006. They challenged me, and along the that focuses on place, both in the literal way, the belief that I could be published sense of honoring the environment and replaced self-doubt. In the end, it’s the the metaphorical sense of reckoning with combination of selfless professors and the aesthetic boundaries. high quality of students that has made the Eli Hastings, 2004 M.F.A. graduate program such a success.” and author of the award-winning memoir In addition to the program rankings, the Falling Room, added that the program magazine notes funding levels for each of is rigorous, and faculty have high expecta- the M.F.A. programs included in its top tions for students and their work. 50 list. UNC Wilmington ranked 41st “The M.F.A. program at UNCW is, first in overall funding and 42nd in annual of all, serious,” Hasting said. “The three funding. Sixteen of the programs ranked What’s new with ? years to complete it speaks to that, as does Ecotone above UNCW are able to give full funding the focus on producing a publishable Ecotone’s fall 2009 issue hit the stands in to their creative writing graduate students. thesis by the time one completes the November. This “Brutality” issue features Currently, UNCW is able to offer funding degree. It pushes students to become a full-length play by Denis Johnson, poet- support to about 40 percent of its students. professional, published writers and makes ry from Sherman Alexie and Marvin Bell, “The comparison between our sure the people coming into the program our first-ever comics from Eisner-nominee academic ranking and our funding have that as their aim. I wanted my butt Jamie Tanner, and much more. kicked, frankly, in terms of deadlines, ranking was pretty telling,” said It has been an exciting year for Ecotone. critiques and work. I wasn’t disappointed.” Gerard. “There’s a big disparity Katherine Miles’ essay “Dog Is Our there. As a program, we’re Gerard notes that social networking has Copilot” from our “Evolution” issue was performing about twice rapidly spread word of the many unique reprinted in Best American Essays, and as well as our funding level aspects of UNCW’s program to prospec- Cary Holladay’s story “Horse People” was says we should be.” tive M.F.A. students around the country. included in New Stories from the South Prospective students seek out current 2009: The Year’s Best. students through Facebook and Twit- Gerard’s goal, which he noted is shared In addition to these reprints, several other ter to ask them about their experience at by administrators at UNCW who are very essays and stories from the “Evolution” UNCW, and the responses they receive supportive of the M.F.A. program, is to issue received honorable mentions in influence their decision to apply. increase that funding in the future, the Best American Series. Daniel primarily through gifts and grants from “The best promotion for our program is Orozco’s story “Only Connect,” from private sources. In the meantime, Gerard the word of mouth of our current students the “Evolution” issue, will be listed as one said the faculty members intend to and alumni,” he said. of two “Recommended Stories” in the next continue doing the things they are doing UNCW M.F.A. program students and volume of the O. Henry Prize Stories, and right that have brought the program alumni have published more than 30 Daniel also will be featured on the Web site to its current prominence. books and dozens of shorter works; when the volume comes out next May. In addition to the intentional, student- core faculty have published more This is the first such honor forEcotone . oriented design of the program, Gerard than 50 books as well as hundreds We recently received the good news that points to other successful aspects such as of shorter pieces. the NEA has awarded Ecotone with a grant the program’s sense of community, the Article courtesy of UNCW Marketing for the second year in a row. Please keep consistency and longevity of program and Communications an eye out for new changes to our Web faculty and the support of university ad- site: http://www.ecotonejournal.com. ministration. There are also two 2 The Coast Line • Winter 2010 The Publishing Laboratory with Emily Smith Show & Tell: Writers on Writing If you haven’t seen a copy of the depart- Unlike most publishers, The Publishing ment’s textbook Show & Tell: Writers on Laboratory had the advantage of study- Writing in a while, you may want to take ing its textbook in use, as well as getting another look. What began eight years ago access to valuable feedback from veteran as a handbook featuring the writing of instructors and TAs. At their behest, editors eleven faculty members is now a 432-page working with pub lab director Emily Smith anthology of award-winning published solicited and added essays on grammar, works and essays on how to create them. revision and the art of editing, as well as a Illuminating the fundamentals of writing glossary of essential terms. M.F.A. students fiction, creative non-fiction and poetry, the Tom Dunn, Corinne Manning, Erin Sroka sixth edition guides readers through practi- and Jennifer Weathers shepherded the book cal and inspiring conversations with faculty, through the copyediting, proofreading and visiting writers and alumni. design process. The sixth edition, published in August, Although Show & Tell has wide application has come a long way since its initial 2001 in the classroom, it will appeal to all readers In this edition of impression, published under the visionary of contemporary literature. The creative guidance of former visiting professor Stan- selections alone—more than thirty stories, Show & Tell: ley Colbert. Wrapped in a no-frills cover essays and groups of poems—provide an and produced on demand in the depart- excellent introduction to the department’s • Wendy Brenner reveals her ment’s then-fledgling Publishing Labora- growing and talented community of writers.