Steffi Drewes

In the MFA Writing Program at CCA, I was able to experience different facets of a real-world writing life, including one-on-one dialogue with established writers and mentors, teaching and guest-speaking opportunities in undergraduate classrooms, an internship with a small press literary nonprofit, and editorial work with two literary journals.

Each semester brought me closer to the reality that my role as a writer, the nature of my writing, and the space in which I present my work will be constantly changing, and I started to embrace that idea. Not only was I focusing on craft and learning to trust my own work, but I felt prepared to pursue different writing paths based on my coursework and experiences.

I found myself in the company of energized students and faculty whose interests and talents extended beyond the page—which at times meant incorporating photography or sculpture or painting into their writing spheres.

CCA is a great reminder of why an art and design school makes a dynamic setting for a graduate writing program.