Graduate Writing

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NEW FOR 2013

We are pleased to announce the expansion of the translation track in our MFA program. Students who choose to concentrate in this track will produce a book-length translation of literary prose or poetry as their thesis project.

We have developed this concentration in response to a growing need for access to world literary traditions. Otis is uniquely positioned to offer a translation emphasis: our faculty’s achievement in the field, our curricular focus on international writing, and our publishing commitment to works in translation, all make Otis the ideal place for students who wish to explore this emerging and vital discipline. See YouTube video

WELCOME

Founded in 2000, the Graduate Writing Program at Otis is a two-year residency program offering a Master of Fine Arts degree with concentrations in prose, poetry, and literary translation. Workshops and literary seminars culminate in the completion of a creative thesis, while two-year paid practicums in teaching or publishing prepare students for life after graduate school in fields that complement a lasting writing practice.

We admit a total of eight new students each year. The small size and selective nature of the program ensure an exemplary student/faculty ratio and allow us to provide equal funding to all admitted students.

As the only full-residency MFA writing program in the city of Los Angeles, Otis makes the most of our location in a diverse, complex city that has inspired writers ranging from Thomas Pynchon to Joan Didion, Chester Himes to Raymond Chandler. The program is enriched by the eclectic literary resources of L.A. -- its book festivals, reading series, galleries and museums, small presses, legendary writers’ haunts, and independent bookstores.

Our own biweekly literary events bring in writers, translators, and editors from around the world to meet and talk with students, sharing their work and expertise. The other graduate and undergraduate programs at Otis—including those in Fine Arts, Graphic Design, Public Practice, Digital Media, Illustration, and Book Arts—offer the possibility for interdisciplinary projects and artistic collaboration.

A hallmark of the Graduate Writing Program is our press, Otis Books/Seismicity Editions. Established in 2003 as an alternative to both corporate and small press publishing, Otis Books is committed to publishing innovative works of contemporary fiction, poetry, essays, and creative non-fiction in high quality, elegantly designed editions. The press publishes four books annually, at least one of which is a work in translation. The program also publishes

, a free-of-charge literary tabloid featuring an international array of renowned poets, prose writers, and visual artists.

Upon acceptance, students receive a guarantee of two years’ fellowship support, as well as employment through the teaching and publishing practicums. In addition, second-year students are eligible for the First Book Fellowship, a $10,000 grant that enables them, following completion of the degree, to focus on developing and revising their thesis manuscript for publication.

Announcing the publication of 9, the literary tabloid and publication project of the Otis Graduate Writing program, featuring poetry, fiction, translations, essays, reviews and visual art, from around the world. This issue includes an international array of prose and poetry by Amy Allara, Luigi Ballerini, Nanni Ballestrini, Mariano Baino, Art Beck, Guy Bennett, Neeli Cherkovski, Allesandro DeFrancesco, Ray DiPalma, Marco Giovenale, Dale Herd, Stephen Kessler, David Lloyd, Barbara Maloutas, Giulio Marzaioli, Sarah Maxwell, Douglas Messerli, Beatrice Mousli, Dennis Phillips, Gianluca Rizzo, Giovanna Sandri, Ersi Sotiropoulos, Marjorie Welish and Michele Zaffarano. Cover photography by Gianluca Muratori.

Past issues from 2008 to the present contain new work and translations by Solar Abdoh, Adonis, Jorge Amado, Amiri Baraka, Guy Bennett, Brian Blanchfield, Nani Cagnone, Giorgio Caproni, Gilian Conoley, Bob Crosson, Mohammed Dib, Dolores Dorantes, Ben Ehrenreich, Gilad Elbom, Marco Giovenale, Jen Hofer, Ko Un, Rainer Kunze, John Latta, Laura Moriarty, Ryan Murphy, Raymond Queneau, Elizabeth Robinson, Giovanna Sandri, Standard Schaefer, Ersi Sotiropoulos, Adriano Spatola, Dominic Stansberry, Nathaniel Tarn, Frederic Tuten and Valentino Zeichen, among others.

is free-of-charge, published in an edition of 5,000 copies, and is distributed internationally to individuals, institutions and bookstores. To be added to our mailing list, or to contact us, please contact the editor: pvangel@otis.edu.

Otis Books/Seismicity Editions Recent publications include Laura Mullen's poetry collection, Enduring Freedom, Laura Mullen is the author of seven books: Enduring Freedom: A Little Book of Mechanical Brides, The Surface, After I Was Dead, Subject, Dark Archive, The Tales of Horror, and Murmur.

Slated for publication in the 2012-2013 are Aldo Palazzeschi's The Arsonist, translated by Nicholas Benson, and Wholly Falsetto with People Dancing by Paul Vangelisti.

To see the titles selected for publication in Fall 2012, please visit the Seismicity page! Or check out our blog.

To join the mailing list and receive our new catalog, contact us.