solsticemfa.bsky.social

@solsticemfa.bsky.social

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Solstice MFA is a full-time, two-year program that helps you further your writing practice with a high level of professional proficiency while developing your unique voice in a supportive community.

SOLSTICE MFA Virtual Info Session, August 26 at 6 p.m. Eastern
Four smiling Solstice MFA graduates standing together between two columns with foliage in the background
Solstice MFA writers sitting a table together sharing a meal
Three Solstice MFA writers smiling and standing behind of a music stand holding a branded banner and in front of a textured wall with high windows and congrats on 20 years sign
Solstice MFA fiction workshop students and instructor
Three Solstice MFA writers standing behind a music stand with a branded banner and in front of a textured wall with high windows
Grid photo of Solstice MFA students reading their writing
Solstice MFA students, faculty, and alum in a lounge looking up at a TV screen of former faculty Laure-Anne Bosselaar as she reads her poetry
Large group of smiling Solstice MFA students, faculty, staff, and alums standing on a stepped seating area
Solstice MFA Founding Director Meg Kearney standing behind a microphone with her hands on her hips
Four smiling Solstice MFA graduating students standing behind a branded banner
Solstice MFA founding director Meg Kearney standing behind a music stand with a laptop and talking into a microphone with a hand up
Three smiling Solstice MFA writers in front of a textured wall with high windows
Three smiling writers standing behind a branded Solstice MFA banner
Three smiling Solstice MFA writers in front of a textured wall with high windows
Three smiling Solstice MFA writers standing in front of a textured wall and high windows
Four smiling Solstice MFA writers standing together in front of a textured wall and high windows
Solstice MFA Reading Series, 131 Woodland Road, Auburndale, Massachusetts , 02466 and livestreamed on Zoom July 17, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern featuring Quintin Collins, Aaron Caycedo-Kimura, David Yoo Three photos of writers arranged in a grid next to icons of a person speaking at a lectern and people in the audience listening
Two Solstice MFA students chatting in an auditorium with other students talking in the background
Solstice MFA Reading Series, 131 Woodland Road, Auburndale, Massachusetts , 02466 and livestreamed on Zoom July 16, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern featuring Jessamin McSwain, Adi Rule, Zoraida Cordova Three photos of writers arranged in a grid next to icons of a person speaking at a lectern and people in the audience listening
Solstice MFA Reading Series, 131 Woodland Road, Auburndale, Massachusetts , 02466 and livestreamed on Zoom July 15, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern featuring graduating students Laure-Anne Bosselaar, F. Douglas Brown, Anne-Marie Oomen Three photos of writers arranged in a grid next to icons of a person speaking at a lectern and people in the audience listening
Solstice MFA Virtual Info Session, July 22 at 12 p.m. Eastern
Solstice MFA Reading Series, 131 Woodland Road, Auburndale, Massachusetts , 02466 and livestreamed on Zoom July 14, 2026, at 4:45 p.m. Eastern featuring graduating students Shane Patrick Dowling, Beth Haverkamp Powers, Jay B. Snyder, Peter Meidlinger Four photos of writers arranged in a grid next to icons of a person speaking at a lectern and people in the audience listening
Solstice MFA Reading Series, 131 Woodland Road, Auburndale, Massachusetts , 02466 and livestreamed on Zoom July 13, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern featuring Jennifer Murvin, Laura Williams McCaffrey, Mary Simmons Three photos of writers arranged in a grid next to icons of a person speaking at a lectern and people in the audience listening
Solstice MFA Reading Series, 131 Woodland Road, Auburndale, Massachusetts , 02466 and livestreamed on Zoom July 12, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern featuring Ethan Gilsdorf, Richard Smith, Jedediah Berry Three photos of writers arranged in a grid next to icons of a person speaking at a lectern and people in the audience listening
Solstice MFA Reading Series, 131 Woodland Road, Auburndale, Massachusetts , 02466 and livestreamed on Zoom July 11, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern featuring Josh Neufeld, Meg Kearney, Tara Betts Three photos of writers arranged in a grid next to icons of a person speaking at a lectern and people in the audience listening
Solstice MFA Reading Series, 131 Woodland Road, Auburndale, Massachusetts , 02466 and livestreamed on Zoom July 10, 2026, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern featuring Maurizio Turco, Gina Chung, Kathleen Aguero, Kevin McLellan Four photos of writers arranged in a grid next to icons of a person speaking at a lectern and people in the audience listening
$2,886 raised toward our need-based scholarship fund in celebration of our upcoming 20th anniversary!
$1,700 raised toward our need-based scholarship fund in celebration of our upcoming 20th anniversary!
2024: Solstice graduates its first class of students who completed the entire program at Lasell University.
2024: Solstice launches the Social Action & Writing Track in response to student and alum requests for more coursework in this area.
2022: Solstice staff, faculty, students, and operations move to Lasell University in Auburndale, MA, with the program officially relaunching in the spring.
2020: Solstice hosts its first fully online residency for July due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019: Solstice alum Quintin Collins succeeds Beth Cho Little as assistant director.
2018: Solstice launches the Post-Grad Certificate Program for MFA holders who want to study in a second genre.
See the link for an accessible version of the schedule
2016: Solstice alum Beth Cho Little succeeds Tanya Whiton as assistant director.
$400 raised toward our need-based scholarship fund in celebration of our upcoming 20th anniversary!
Photos of Amy M. Alvarez and Kevin McLellan next to their names, a welcome message, and the Solstice logo
Photo of Asyah in a polaroid photo frame on a notebook graphic with pen and coffee graphics on the sides. Her quote reads "Receiving the fellowship is one of the highest honors, because it means that I get to carry out my mission of being a voice for young people who want to feel inspired, empowered and authentically themselves."
2016: Solstice adds the Comics & Graphic Narratives concentration, with Josh Neufeld as founding faculty.
2014: Solstice launches the Pedagogy Track to help students interested in teaching in higher education better prepare for the job search.
2013: The Grad Buddy Program builds on the success of the Buddy Program, linking new alums with more veteran graduates.
2013: MFA holders get more out of Solstice with the launch of the Post-Graduate Semester.
2011: Classes for Audit offering opens up the Solstice experience to prospective students and the community.
2009: The Buddy Program launches giving incoming students a current student to help welcome and guide them into the community.
Solstice MFA Program logo in a frame of angled rectangles with text saying "Celebrating 20 Years" next to more text that says "2008: Solstice's first three alums graduate during the July residency"
Solstice MFA Program logo in a frame of angled rectangles with text saying "Celebrating 20 Years" next to more text that says "2006: The Solstice MFA Program launches at Pine Manor College in Chestnut Hill, MA"
Graphic of a smartphone with reminders on the screen and text that says Solstice MFA Upcoming Deadlines, General Applications due today
Graphic of a smartphone with text saying Solstice MFA Upcoming Deadlines, General Applications due tomorrow
Smartphone graphic with text that says Solstice MFA Upcoming Deadlines, General Applications, 3 days left to apply
Image of a smartphone icon text saying Solstice MFA Upcoming Deadlines, General applications, 1 week left to apply
Upcoming Solstice MFA deadlines. Fellowship applicants must apply today, April 27. This includes submitting supplementary essays where required, as well as your personal statement, writing sample, and 2 recommendation forms. Missing transcripts won't hold up a decision but must be delivered before your first residency.
Solstice MFA Virtual Info Session, April 15 at 6 p.m. Eastern
a smartphone graphic showing reminders for materials needed for a Solstice MFA application, including a personal statement, writing sample, transcripts, and 2 recommendations, all due in six weeks Text that reads Solstice MFA upcoming deadlines: Fellowship consideration on April 27 and general applications on May 11
Photo of Mary standing next to a tree in the woods with a hand under her chin and an image of her book's cover. Text says Spotlight Poet Mary Simmons
pencil, pen, coffee, and notepad with text CARRIE WATSON LEGACY FELLOWSHIP for Young People's Literature, Apply by April 27 "The Carrie Watson Legacy Fund is a testament to the woman who ignited my love of storytelling: my mother, Carrie Elizabeth Watson. She was my first and greatest supporter. With every grant awarded, her legacy lives on. It is my deepest honor to pass her steadfast encouragement forward to new writers as they pursue their own dreams." –Renée Watson Watson Fellowship Underwriter $1,500 Award
pencil, peen, coffee cup, and notepad with text FRANCIS L. TONER FELLOWSHIP for Veterans, Apply by April 27 "[It was] an honor to receive the 2024 Francis L. Toner Fellowship, provided by Mark Jednaszewski. This fellowship is a significant milestone in my writing journey, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to propel my aspirations as a novelist and educator." –Ryan LaBee Toner Fellow $1,500 Award
pencil, pen, coffee cup, and notepad with text MONICA HAND FELLOWSHIP for Nontraditional Students. Apply by April 27 "Receiving the 2024 Monica Hand Fellowship for Nontraditional Students meant a great deal to me as I embarked on my MFA degree. It is my hope that I can make a difference in both my classroom and my community with this degree, and the fellowship was a great help." –Jay B. Snyder Hand Fellow $1,500 Award
Pen, pencil, coffee, and notepad with text BILLY STILL FELLOWSHIP for Social Action & Writing, Apply by April 27 “Being a professional, working writer has been a goal of mine for quite some time. Receiving this fellowship has added to my drive to become the writer I’ve always wanted to be.” –Sarah Lewis Still Fellow $1,500 award