Sarah Gray

Associate Director of the Converse College Low-Residency MFA in Creative Writing is a title that sounds far grander than the position it actually entails.  The truth is, come residency time my goal is to stay invisible because invisibility means everything is running smoothly.  Sometimes clichés stick for a reason, and in this case it holds true. No news is good news.

But before we get to the residency and all the work that goes on behind the scenes, we need to answer questions from prospective students.  Lots and lots of questions.  And that’s good.  We always have a smart group of applicants who ask intelligent and necessary questions to make sure that our program is right for them (which, of course, it totally is).

In the past, we’ve had information sessions on campus for prospective applicants to check out the place, meet some faculty, alumni, current students, and just generally get a feel for the program.  Unfortunately, this limited our info sessions to locals and people within driving distance.  So this year, we’re thinking bigger.  We hope you will join us.

Saturday, September 16, at 11 am, we will be holding our very first Facebook Live Event.  Part information session, part AMA, this is your chance to hear about the program and ask any questions you may have, no matter how big or small.  Our event will be hosted by me, Sarah Gray (Associate Director and a fiction alumna), Rick Mulkey (Director of the program), and Travis Burnham (fiction alumnus).  So if you’re doing the math, that’s two fiction writers and a poet.  We want to represent everyone that might be watching, so we can answer YA and nonfiction inquiries as well.

During this session, we also plan to discuss the amazing online literary journal that is affiliated with our program, South 85 Journal.  Prospective students are always asking about writing and publication opportunities within the program, and South 85  is our shining star in that department.  Students who work on the journal learn editing, publishing, and marketing skills.  There are even possibilities for those who have interest/experience in graphic design.  And best of all, Editor-in-Chief Debby DeRosa is a joy to work with and is passionate about the journal and its high standards.

If you’re still reading, go right now and “Like” our Facebook page.  Once you do, you’ll automatically get notified on your smart device when we go live.  Get your questions ready, and maybe set up a drinking game for every time I say “Um.”  On second thought, don’t do that.  You’ll be too drunk to make it through the session.  Either way, tune in to our Facebook Live on Saturday, September 16, at 11 am.  We can’t wait to meet you.

Sarah Gray graduated from Converse with a BFA in Creative and Professional Writing in 2009 through the Converse II program and stayed around to earn her MFA in Creative Writing (Fiction) at Converse as a member of the program’s very first graduating class in 2011. She founded the MFA program’s literary journal, South 85, directed the Converse Young Writers’ Workshop for two years, and served as an adjunct for three years before stepping into her current position as Associate Director of the MFA in Creative Writing program.