IndieMFA in Creative Writing
The IndieMFA is for writers who are ready to go deeper. It’s a structured, multi-month program -- one-on-one mentorships, year-long workshops, and intensive cohort programs -- designed as a serious alternative to the traditional MFA. No applications to a university. No relocating. No six-figure tuition. Just sustained, rigorous work with a published author who knows your genre, on the project you’re already committed to.
WritingWorkshops.com is the official education partner of Electric Literature, and as recognized by The Writer’s Chronicle, we are a leading alternative to traditional MFA programs. Our IndieMFA programs are fully remote, run on flexible schedules built around working professionals, and cost a fraction of traditional or low-residency MFA tuition.
Our IndieMFA Faculty
Our faculty includes Ramona Ausubel, Marie-Helene Bertino, Kelly Luce, Brandon Hobson, Morgan Talty, Stewart O’Nan, Chloe Caldwell, Karen E. Bender, Thao Thai, Carol Goodman, and many more — National Book Award finalists, New York Times bestsellers, and contributors to The New Yorker, Tin House, and Best American anthologies. See the full list of current programs and faculty below.
What the program includes
Every IndieMFA program includes personalized feedback on your writing, regular one-on-one sessions with your mentor, a structured curriculum with assignments and deadlines, and guidance on the publishing process. Depending on the program, you may also join a cohort of peers for workshop-style feedback. Programs range from 3-month mentorships to year-long manuscript incubators.
Student Success
Writers who’ve studied with WritingWorkshops.com have signed with agents, sold books to Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, HarperCollins, and St. Martin’s, been named National Book Award finalists, and earned admission to the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, the Michener Center, Columbia, and NYU. See our student publications.
IndieMFA Destination Retreats
IndieMFA participants can incorporate in-person residencies through our destination writing retreats: intensive weeks of workshops, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and guided exploration in locations including Paris, Portland, Iceland, Tuscany, Dublin, Mackinac Island, New York City, and more. Active and former IndieMFA students receive priority consideration for retreat applications.
Upcoming Programs and FAQ
Browse current programs below. Tuition varies by program and can be paid in full or in equal monthly installments at checkout. Not sure which program is right for you? Contact us, and we’ll help you find the right fit.
IndieMFA Faculty & Upcoming Programs
This program with NYT Bestselling novelist Carol Goodman is for the fiction writer who is ready to commit to the work of writing a novel. You don't need prior experience and you don't have to know everything about your novel — just that you have a story you're ready to tell. This year-long novel writing workshop welcomes dedicated writers at all levels who are prepared to build a sustained writing practice.
This is the city of Powell's Books, of Ursula K. Le Guin, of a coffee culture so serious it became its own art form. The Pacific Northwest has always been a place where people come to think more slowly, look more carefully, and write more honestly, and for one week in September 2026, we're bringing our most intimate retreat program to Portland.
This one-on-one humor writing mentorship is for writers who are eager to craft short humor pieces in the style of top publications like The New Yorker and McSweeney's. Whether you're new to humor writing or looking to refine your comedic voice, all levels are welcome.
This fiction mentorship with best-selling novelist Thao Thai is designed for intermediate to advanced writers who have a strong concept and a significant percentage of their novel already written. If you are working on a cross-generational family saga and need expert guidance to bring your ambitious manuscript together, this 1-on-1 writing mentorship will give you the dedicated support and craft strategies to move forward with confidence.
Kelly Luce is the author of Three Scenarios in Which Hana Sasaki Grows a Tail (A Strange Object), winner of Foreword Review's Editor's Choice Prize for Fiction, and the novel Pull Me Under (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux). She received an MFA from the Michener Center for Writers at UT Austin, where she was editor-in-chief of Bat City Review and editorial assistant for the O. Henry Prize Anthology. She is the editor of Electric Literature's Commuter.
Instructor Nathan Dragon is a writer whose work has appeared in NOON, The Baffler, Fence, Annulet, and New York Tyrant. He was a DiTrapano Resident, Fall 2023. His forthcoming short story collection, The Champ Is Here, will be available from C4G Books later this year. Along with Raegan Bird, he is the co-founder and editor of the publishing project Blue Arrangements.
This mentorship is led by New Yorker contributor Frances Badalamenti, author of I Don’t Blame You, Salad Days and Many Seasons (forthcoming in November). This one-on-one program will take a deep dive into your fiction, autofiction, or memoir manuscript.
Ethan Chatagnier is the author of the novel Singer Distance (Tin House Books), winner of the Golden Poppy Award from the California Independent Booksellers Alliance, and the story collection Warnings from the Future (Acre Books), a finalist for the Foreword INDIES awards. Singer Distance was a best book of 2022 at NPR and PopSugar and a most anticipated fall book at LitHub, Gizmodo, Vulture, Tor.com, the Philadelphia Inquirer, ALTA, Debutiful, and DailyHive. Ethan’s short stories have also appeared in the Pushcart Prize anthology, the New England Review, Georgia Review, Colorado Review, Story, and other journals, and listed as notable in the Best American Short Stories. His essays, book reviews, and interviews can be found in the Kenyon Review, the Chicago Review of Books, The Millions, The Common, TriQuarterly, and other publications.
This mentorship is designed for writers working on any age category of children's fiction: picture books, chapter books, middle grade, or young adult. The ideal applicant is a writer committed to pursuing traditional publication, whether they are just beginning a draft or deep into revisions. This online writing mentorship is open to all levels—what matters most is the desire to work hard and learn.
Our Finding Your Voice Retreat brings together poetry, fiction, and nonfiction writers for an intensive week of generative writing, craft seminars, one-on-one conferences, and in-depth discussions on the craft and business of writing. Our program is inclusive, intentionally small, and will take place on the shores of Lake Huron on an island set between Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas with breathtaking views and the peace of a locale free of motor traffic and metropolitan noise.
IndieMFA Destination Retreats
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the IndieMFA program?
It depends on the program you select. Some are 3-month one-on-one mentorships; others are year-long workshops with a cohort. All include a structured curriculum with regular assignments, deadlines, and checkpoints. See individual program pages below for details.
What does it cost?
Tuition varies by program and ranges from $2,400 for a 3-month mentorship to $7,200 for a year-long program. You can pay in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm for equal monthly installments at checkout. Visit individual program pages for specific pricing.
Is the IndieMFA program accredited?
No. The IndieMFA is an unaccredited continuing education program — a deliberate alternative to degree-granting MFA programs. For many writers, it’s the step that gets their manuscript finished and published. For others, it’s preparation for applying to a university-level MFA program.
Do you have student success stories?
Yes. Our students have signed with agents, sold books to the Big Five, been named National Book Award finalists, and earned admission to Iowa, the Michener Center, Columbia, and NYU. See student publications here.
How do I apply?
Click on the individual program page. You’ll submit a writing sample, a statement of purpose, and any relevant supporting materials. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
Who is IndieMFA for?
Intermediate and advanced writers who are serious about their craft and committed to a specific project — a novel, memoir, poetry collection, or story collection. You don’t need prior publication, but you should be past the beginner stage and ready for sustained, rigorous feedback.
Can I do this with a full-time job?
Yes. The program is designed for working professionals. It’s fully remote, schedules are flexible, and deadlines are structured but manageable alongside other commitments.
Are there financial aid options?
Payment plans are available through Affirm and Shop Pay at checkout. You can pay in full or split tuition into equal monthly installments. Rates and eligibility vary; details at affirm.com/lenders.
What are the key features of the program?
Depending on the program: personalized feedback, one-on-one mentorship, craft seminars, writing workshops, and guest lectures from established authors. Some programs include cohort-based peer workshops. All include professional development guidance.
How can I learn more about the mentors and faculty?
Visit the individual program pages below. Each includes a detailed bio and professional background for the instructor leading that program.
I want to take a class, but don’t know which is right for me.
We’d love to help. Use our Contact form or the chat feature on the bottom of your screen, and we’ll help you find the best fit.
If I’m enrolled in IndieMFA, do I need to apply separately for a destination retreat?
Yes, but your application receives priority consideration as an active or former IndieMFA participant. See our Destination Retreats page for application details.
I applied to a program. When will I hear back?
Generally, within a couple of weeks. Applications are sent to the instructor for review as they come in. For destination retreats, the timeline may be longer due to higher application volume.
Will I receive a certificate upon completion?
Yes. If requested, we provide a certificate of completion for all participants who finish their IndieMFA program.
Will my mentor write a letter of recommendation?
In many cases, yes — it depends on their schedule and how much lead time you provide. Discuss this with your mentor toward the end of your program.
Can you help me prepare for a traditional MFA application?
Absolutely. Our students have been admitted to Iowa, the Michener Center, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Michigan, NYU, Columbia, UC-Irvine, Brooklyn College, and many others. Check out our MFA Application Services for more information.
Could my class be canceled or rescheduled?
If a workshop doesn’t reach minimum enrollment or the instructor has a scheduling conflict, we may reschedule or cancel up to the start date. If this happens, you’ll receive a full refund or the option to transfer to another class.
Who do I contact if I have to miss a class?
Let your instructor know as soon as possible. For Zoom-based classes, recordings are available at the instructor’s discretion.
How often are new classes offered?
We update offerings on a rolling basis. Sign up for our newsletter to hear about new programs as soon as they’re announced.
What is the refund policy?
Our refund policy is designed to be fair and transparent. For full details, see our refund policy here.
What are the community guidelines?
We ask all participants to treat fellow writers, instructors, and staff with respect; provide constructive feedback; keep shared work confidential; maintain professionalism; uphold creative integrity (no plagiarism); engage actively in workshops and discussions; and resolve conflicts respectfully. If issues arise, reach out to your instructor or program coordinator.
How can I get in touch with more questions?
Ready to go deeper with your writing?
Ready to go deeper with your writing? Browse the programs above to find the right fit, or contact us if you have questions. We’re here to help you find your next step.