Children & young adults

The Writing for Children and Young Adults (WCYA) track is one of the only programs of its kind on the West Coast. It boasts a faculty of some of the most successful, cutting edge authors and professionals in children’s literature, all dedicated to fostering each writer’s unique voice.

The MFA program consists of five 10-day residencies, in early January and early August, and five distance semesters. Students work throughout with the award-winning authors on our faculty; during the final semester each student concentrates on editing the final stages of their manuscript.

There is no formula to writing compelling work for children and young adults; the program is dedicated to fostering each writer’s unique voice and craft. The WCYA track is a safe place to challenge yourself to write without fear and from your deepest creative self. We are all writers here. We all have a voice that needs to be heard.

Faculty in the writing for children and young adults concentration

Our faculty are creators and editors of award-winning, New York Times bestselling, and groundbreaking books of literary and commercial quality for children and young adults.