An under caffeinated, highly boozy account of a my 10-day MFA residency at the University of St. Thomas in Houston. PLUS: online event tomorrow 6/25/2025!
I just finished helping run the Write to Publish conference for writers and the number one complaint I think I heard was, "Pllleeeeease give us more coffee!!"
Thank you for sharing your experience, Zina ! I agree that there’s nothing like meeting in person. So glad for Notre Dame last fall! You (and your pictures of wonderful people) are delightful ❤️ 🤩
I hope we can somehow meet again in person! I’m not sure about Notre Dame. It’s a lot for my husband to handle. This residency was by far the trickiest.
It’s a really great program I was writing very poorly composed free verse prior to entering the program. It’s a wonder that I got into it with my packet. Glad James Matthew Wilson saw something in my writing. ✍️
So glad you got to go. My MFA was all online. Lindenwood University. I chose not to have a concentration and chose an even amount of poetry, fiction, nonfiction courses. Still haven't decided about Frost Farm conference. I better hurry might be too late now! Did sign up for tomorrow's Wednesday CLA panel!
I know people doing the online version of my MFA, and is fine. But it is special — being able to go see people in person. As for Frost, I am pretty sure there is still space. It would be great to see you again, and it’s not too far from you!
I love your Moana dress- where did you find it? Your experience looked amazing. I have never been to a MFA residency of any kind, but I have been to two different writing retreats of weekend length and I found it hard enough to schedule those. I spent way too much time debating if I was truly a “writer” enough to justify a writing retreat. With your busy schedule, it is great that you could carve out the time to further hone your craft in person.
I got the Moana dress from ThredUp, so it’s essentially thrifted. You should look into Summer Writers Institute which is what Steve Knepper did. It’s an intensive three day program that gives a taste of what the MFA students learn. It’s well worth it!
Now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure you need to have at least one residency experience. Even briefly! You’re such a wonderful part of the community. We need IRL Maura, not just virtual Maura.
We gotta coordinate even just a short jaunt! I can't make all of residency next year but I am toying with what Alex did which is coming for just 3 days over the weekend.
Zina, I may not drink alcohol anymore, but I still drink tons of coffee. I have coffee in my office (right behind the Link-Lee mansion), and MFA students are always welcome to get caffeinated, borrow my printer, whatever. I also approve of the gold pants.
Thank you so much! I will make note of the coffee supply for future residency visits! Thank you for your fellowship. It was so wonderful seeing you and Jackie. I can't see how anyone would object to gold pants.
It was so wonderful to meet you in person, John. I feel like I didn't get enough time to talk to you. At least we have Discord! Please keep in touch. I hope we see each other in class. I am in the "forever" track so chances seem good that I will see you again, at least online. You are a great poet with a good sense of narrative. It was an honor to give you feedback and likewise for me to receive your critique!
It was funny. And I really enjoyed your genre talk. Speaking as someone who writes poetry, this was something that made me into a more discerning reader. I hope our paths cross again sometime soon!
What a lovely diary!! As one of the happy few, the band of poets, it was a joy to be there. Thanks for sharing the word about the St. Thomas Houston MFA — the program continues to be a remarkable font of blessings in my life. Oh, yeah, and my poetry has gotten so much better too!
It was an utter joy to meet you in person. Finally. After having seen you from afar at the Catholic Imagination Conference in Dallas! You are a wonderful friend. ❤️ Here’s to more and more improved poetry!
I loved hearing your poems, Zina. You're absolutely correct that hearing JMW read his poems is a must. I didn't expect to laugh as much as I did before he began reading them. We sure heard poetry that spanned all the aspects of human emotions at our conviviality readings and evening seminars. Such a beautiful time together.
It was such a wonderful time. And I’m grateful to have had such wonderful exchanges over text/email prior to residency. It was a joy to finally meet you and connect a face to the correspondence. Please keep in touch, Sandra! ❤️
Great write up, and will concur, great pants :)
Do you have mine?
I think I might!
Looks like a great time! Missing Ryan Wilson pretty hard after seeing all those beaming pictures of him.
I just finished helping run the Write to Publish conference for writers and the number one complaint I think I heard was, "Pllleeeeease give us more coffee!!"
😂 ☕️ So funny! Yes, writers need coffee! (Well, most writers ✍️)
No, I don't think so.
Thank you for sharing your experience, Zina ! I agree that there’s nothing like meeting in person. So glad for Notre Dame last fall! You (and your pictures of wonderful people) are delightful ❤️ 🤩
I hope we can somehow meet again in person! I’m not sure about Notre Dame. It’s a lot for my husband to handle. This residency was by far the trickiest.
Zina! Strict metrical and cosmic? Who knew such a thing still existed in the world?
It’s a really great program I was writing very poorly composed free verse prior to entering the program. It’s a wonder that I got into it with my packet. Glad James Matthew Wilson saw something in my writing. ✍️
Would you be willing to take a look at a few poems? I would appreciate your thoughts.
Sure. Do you have my email?
No.
Clothes matter to the wearer.
They sure do. It also makes you stand out at the playground if your kids need to find you. Best pandemic purchase!
So glad you got to go. My MFA was all online. Lindenwood University. I chose not to have a concentration and chose an even amount of poetry, fiction, nonfiction courses. Still haven't decided about Frost Farm conference. I better hurry might be too late now! Did sign up for tomorrow's Wednesday CLA panel!
I know people doing the online version of my MFA, and is fine. But it is special — being able to go see people in person. As for Frost, I am pretty sure there is still space. It would be great to see you again, and it’s not too far from you!
I love your Moana dress- where did you find it? Your experience looked amazing. I have never been to a MFA residency of any kind, but I have been to two different writing retreats of weekend length and I found it hard enough to schedule those. I spent way too much time debating if I was truly a “writer” enough to justify a writing retreat. With your busy schedule, it is great that you could carve out the time to further hone your craft in person.
I got the Moana dress from ThredUp, so it’s essentially thrifted. You should look into Summer Writers Institute which is what Steve Knepper did. It’s an intensive three day program that gives a taste of what the MFA students learn. It’s well worth it!
I'm crying at all I missed!!!!
Now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure you need to have at least one residency experience. Even briefly! You’re such a wonderful part of the community. We need IRL Maura, not just virtual Maura.
We gotta coordinate even just a short jaunt! I can't make all of residency next year but I am toying with what Alex did which is coming for just 3 days over the weekend.
Zina, I may not drink alcohol anymore, but I still drink tons of coffee. I have coffee in my office (right behind the Link-Lee mansion), and MFA students are always welcome to get caffeinated, borrow my printer, whatever. I also approve of the gold pants.
Thank you so much! I will make note of the coffee supply for future residency visits! Thank you for your fellowship. It was so wonderful seeing you and Jackie. I can't see how anyone would object to gold pants.
It was wonderful to be there! Thanks so much for your feedback, Zina <3
It was so wonderful to meet you in person, John. I feel like I didn't get enough time to talk to you. At least we have Discord! Please keep in touch. I hope we see each other in class. I am in the "forever" track so chances seem good that I will see you again, at least online. You are a great poet with a good sense of narrative. It was an honor to give you feedback and likewise for me to receive your critique!
It was so good to meet you in person! Also, thanks for being so gracious about my Moana example. 😳
It was funny. And I really enjoyed your genre talk. Speaking as someone who writes poetry, this was something that made me into a more discerning reader. I hope our paths cross again sometime soon!
What a lovely diary!! As one of the happy few, the band of poets, it was a joy to be there. Thanks for sharing the word about the St. Thomas Houston MFA — the program continues to be a remarkable font of blessings in my life. Oh, yeah, and my poetry has gotten so much better too!
It was an utter joy to meet you in person. Finally. After having seen you from afar at the Catholic Imagination Conference in Dallas! You are a wonderful friend. ❤️ Here’s to more and more improved poetry!
I loved hearing your poems, Zina. You're absolutely correct that hearing JMW read his poems is a must. I didn't expect to laugh as much as I did before he began reading them. We sure heard poetry that spanned all the aspects of human emotions at our conviviality readings and evening seminars. Such a beautiful time together.
It was such a wonderful time. And I’m grateful to have had such wonderful exchanges over text/email prior to residency. It was a joy to finally meet you and connect a face to the correspondence. Please keep in touch, Sandra! ❤️