Graduate

Graduate Alumni Interview: Samantha Chianese

Samantha Chianese,

MFA in Creative Writing
Spring 2023

Why did you come to USF for your MFA?

The opportunity to write in multiple genres, work on a journal’s staff, receive a stipend and tuition waiver, and have an extra year for thesis development are the reasons why I chose USF's MFA program. The opportunity to work and have tuition waived was especially a big point of consideration in choosing a program.

What was a unique opportunity that you had while in your program?

I got to introduce Dr. Chen Chen for the USF Humanities Institute and participate in several public readings, including the Nov. 2022 Tampa Writers Harvest and the Feb. 2023 Spoonbill.

What did you like best about your time in your program?

Several things come to mind (listed in no particular order):

Our program's encouragement of genre hybridity was a draw for me. As someone who came in writing both poetry and fiction, it was important to me to have a chance to take classes in both genres and to be encouraged to do so. However, cross-genre work was equally important for allowing me to try not only new genres but also new subgenres and forms (like experimenting with new poetic forms I hadn't written in before; learning about children's books in addition to short stories and novels; and even getting a chance to practice my creative nonfiction writing and add CNF to my “genres I write in” repertoire).

Being in a three-year MFA program really helped with thesis development. Having that extra year of not only taking classes but also teaching poetry allowed me to find threads in my writing and try new poetic forms in a way beyond what I may have otherwise been exposed to. I could learn and practice new techniques and forms before including them in a book. We also have a very knowledgeable and supportive faculty, with a warm student community centered on fostering connections between cohorts. Together, faculty and students build excitement for each other's work and incorporate a workshop model that promotes growth and revision in a positive way.

The chance to work as a poetry editor and a production editor on USF's Saw Palm journal was a pivotal opportunity for me and cemented my decision to work in editing and publishing. Being involved in the production of a literary journal also gave me a first-hand look at the selection process and how much work, thought, effort, and discussion goes into the creation of a journal issue and the decisions on which pieces to publish.

What are you currently doing and how did your experience in the English department prepare you?

I'm currently applying for jobs and sending my work (including my thesis!) out to publishers. The English department prepared me for this process because I was able to take both craft classes and workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, as well as practicums on composition, creative writing, and editing/publishing that prepared me for writing cover letters, diversity statements, CVs, bios, and more. Through teaching, I learned a lot about forms I had not previously been exposed to, and I got to participate in curriculum development both by designing my own creative writing classes and working over the summer of 2022 with the First-Year Composition department. I also feel I had a very strong thesis committee and that my work was genuinely cared for and understood: through every step of the process, I felt like my director saw my work not just as a thesis but as an important book for me to produce and I felt like my work was supported and valued by all faculty I worked with. Additionally, working on Saw Palm gave me editorial experience and helped me solidify a direction for my career path.