Current MFA Students

Education
M.S. in Computer Science, University of Kentucky
Writing Interests
Her interests range from paranormal fiction, memoir and poetry. She has been rotating like the pendulum between the real and the unreal, between the remembered and the imagined. She loves to find stories in people, places and in circumstances.
Other Interests
I love spending time with my family who specializes in dark humor and sarcasm. And have as many healing naps with my dog. I love mentoring elementary school kids and helping them in math and writing. I volunteer in Issaquah Community Services and trying to give back to the community.

Education
B.F.A. in Creative Media, Champlain College
Writing Interests
My focus is on writing poetry and short stories, and connecting them to create an overarching narrative or theme. I also love learning what goes into creating effective writing, and hope to teach others how to make the best versions of their own writing using that knowledge.
Other Interests
I enjoy illustration, video games, and ttrpgs. Reading is also a passion of mine, and I enjoy reading different translations of novels and short stories to compare the translation choices.

Education 
B.A in English (Writing emphasis) & a minor in Theatre, Central College
Writing Interests
Playwriting, Screenwriting, Fiction Novels (Fantasy), Nonprofit Writing, Travel Writing, Multimedia Storytelling, Short Stories, Retellings of Classical and Mythological Stories.
Other Interests
Working on many other creative endeavors, including Needle Arts, Bookbinding, French Beading, Jewelry Making, Collage, Video Games, Tabletop Games, and crafting and creating in general. Payton also enjoys working on her podcast with her best friend and a blog that she curates and maintains.

Education 
B.A. in Professional Writing, SUNY Cortland
Writing Interests
Her interests in both short-fiction and poetry include sci-fi horror, romantic-dramas, the study of genealogy, mystery-thrillers, the connections between nature and humanity, the study of ancestral spirituality, the intersection between gender sexuality and racial identity, and the psychological study of intergenerational trauma.
Other Interests
Outside of her love for fiction writing, she finds creative passion in directing films, scriptwriting, reading all kinds of books, journal writing during the late-night hours, songwriting, dancing, caring for animals, and being an activist in her community.

Education
B.A. in Creative Writing with minors in Greco-Roman and Middle Eastern History, Western Washington University
Writing Interests
My main focus of interest is fiction, particularly horror and fantasy. I enjoy delving into the relationship between humanity and the natural environment as I consider the personal and societal consequences of rejecting or cooperating with a complex ecosystem. Some writers that influence me include Frank Herbert, Ursula K. Le Guin, Stephen King, and Jack London.
Other Interests
I’ve spent a lot of my professional career working on restoration and trail crews for the state of Washington. My experience in the field cemented my passion for the natural landscape as well as the importance in preserving these places for future generations. When not reading or coming up with writing concepts, I enjoy hiking on trails, playing story-driven video games and scrolling archeological discoveries on my social media feeds. Mostly I look for immersive content that I can get lost exploring.

Education
B.A. in English-Creative Writing, Seattle University
Writing Interests
Prose, poetry
Other Interests
When I’m not writing, you can find me at a concert, gardening, or watching a sci-fi, fantasy, or horror movie with my partner and our two cats.

Education
B.A. in English Literature, University of Washington Seattle
Writing Interests
Horror
Other Interests
I love dogs, miniatures, vinyls, and cartoons

Education
B.S. in Geology & Chemistry, Indiana State University
Writing Interests
Researching the following interests in order to arrive at a theoretical and creative thesis project: Lacanian Psychoanalysis (particularly sinthome studies & the Real, Imaginary, and Symbolic orders), post-structuralism, critical poetics, OOO, queer temporalities, aesthetics of vulnerability, performative ontology, feminist new materialism, simpoiesis, performative writing, ludic methodologies, ritual praxis, artistic research, intermedial performance, biocultural mythologies, poetics of play, relational aesthetics, aesthetics of transformation, authenticity studies, experimental epistemologies, intersectional aesthetics, critical interdisciplinary, radical play, and neurodivergent poetics 
Other Interests
The color green, my baby kitties, intuitive play and movement, music as critical inquiry and meditative state, collecting, aesthetic affect and expression, weird films, hosting, solitude, epistolaries, gifting, attention as care, telling people I love them as I leave a room, snuggling, and eating tiny, crunchy things for as long as possible.

Education
B.A. in Political Science & Sociology, University of Washington Seattle
Writing Interests
Prose, script/screenplay, poetry, lyrics
Other Interests
Collaging, making jewelry, dyeing and altering clothes, music, overanalyzing my favorite movies and TV shows.

Education
B.A. in Communication and Rhetoric, Oglethorpe University 
Certificate in Film and Television Industry Essentials, New York University, Tisch School of the Arts.
Writing Interests
Her primary interests as a writer revolve around exploring identity, origin, resilience and how the artful expression of lived experiences can bridge our human connection. She has a special interest in the transformative power of poetics through written word, music, the moving image, visual poetry and gastronomy.
Other Interests
When she’s not creating poetry, she enjoys cooking meals for loved ones, DJing with her best friend, performing, music curation, traveling, exploring new cultures, watching films, film critiques, eating delish food, listening to live music, curating memorable experiences, being a kind human and dressing well while doing so.

Education
B.A. in Film and Television with a minor in Sociology, Boise State University
Writing Interests
Screenwriting, Sci-Fi, and Western short stories.
Other Interests
Along with writing fiction, I have a deep interest in memoirs and screenwriting for documentaries. Telling a compelling story while also abiding by the reality of the story.

Education
B.A. in English-Creative Writing (Honors), Seattle University
Writing Interests
Fiction, historical fiction, and playwriting
Other Interests
I am interested in history and art, staying home reading a book and taking naps with my old dogs and cat.

Education 
B.A. in Cultural Studies, SUNY Empire State College
Writing Interests
I am interested in prose, both short stories and novels, along with poetry. I’m also interested in watercolor and 3D sculpture, especially with found and natural components.
Other Interests
I am returning to my first love, writing, after 36 years of being steeped in other people’s words working as an interpreter and translator.

Education 
B.A. in Writing, with minors in Music and Philosophy, Drury University
Writing Interests
Philosophical fiction, neurodiversity and states of consciousness, individuality and self-actualization, eco-writing, field guides, spirituality, ekphrastic poetry, multimedia experiences, travel writing, children’s media, impressionistic music and found sounds, arts criticism, handwriting, book art, mixed media embroidery and fiber arts.
Other Interests
Weird movies, cats, snails, cooking shows, yoga, ceramics, handheld video games, audio production, musical instruments, walking (briskly)

Education
B.A. in Theatre, Rollins College
Writing Interests
Teaching, Playwrighting, Prose, and Poetry
Other Interests
Audio Engineering, Horror, Board and Card games

Education
B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Creative Writing, Willamette University
Writing Interests
I am interested in fiction! I especially love suspense, thrillers, paranormal horror, mystery and romance. I also love video games, so storytelling within mediums like games is something I’m extremely interested in. I love subtext, and using that to tell my stories. Jordan Peele is a great inspiration for me.
Other Interests
I’ve loved writing ever since I was young, being especially motivated by the fact that I rarely saw black people and especially black women as main characters who weren’t just automatically assigned tragic or stereotypical stories. It’s been my mission to always make black women the focal point of every one of my stories, with compelling character-driven backstories that are different and unique.

Education
B.A. in English: Creative Writing, University of Washington Seattle
Writing Interests
Primarily but not limited to: Cosmic + Supernatural + Analog Horror, Urban Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Spirituality, Dreams + The Void, Witchcraft, Physics, and LGBTQ+ identities in Novel, Short-Story, Script, Poetry, Prose Poetry, Collage, Video, and any other format I can get my hands on that is necessary for the vision.
Other Interests
Working on Audio Drama, Spiritual + Dreamwork Research, Drawing, Stargazing, Video Games, Drinking Lemonade or Lemonade-adjacent things, and keeping the demons at bay by promising myself that someday I’ll pursue Physics.

Education
A.A. Green River College
B.A. in Fine Arts with a minor in Humanities, Washington State University.
Writing Interests
Writing the natural world, science textbooks, memoir, autofiction, queer literature, trauma (historic), science fiction, short stories, chapbooks, zines, poetry, figuring out how to avoid the urge to write a neat and happy ending.
Other Interests
I am a neutron star in the whatever galaxy. I love weaving science into poetry and prose. My scientific focus is astronomy, specifically the theory of stellar evolution (the life and death of stars). I am also drawn to bodies of water. Both in a literary sense and a desire to be near it always. I’m big on medieval literature and history. I have two podcasts. One on feminism and the other on everything medieval. I collect rocks and gems. Horror films are some of my most favorite films. The music I listen to the most is drift ambient.

Education
B.A. in English: Creative Writing, University of Washington Seattle
Writing Interests
Poetry 
Other Interests
Ricardo Ruiz is a multi-dimensional writer of poetry and prose. The son of potato factory workers, Ricardo hails from Othello, Washington. His work draws from his experience as a first-generation Mexican-American and from his military service. His debut collection of poetry reached #1 on Amazon’s Hispanic-American Poetry Chart and won the Washington State Book Award in 2023.

Education
A.A. in Literary Arts, South Puget Sound Community College
B.A. in Creative Writing, The Evergreen State College
Writing Interests
Experimental writing, fiction, screenwriting, multimedia, short story, and magical realism.
Other Interests
Spending time with my fish, baking, photography, horror films, and playing video games.

Education
B.A. in Philosophy, Hampshire College
Writing Interests
Fiction, realism, magical realism, and philosophy
Other Interests
Other than writing, I like to read, I do CrossFit, and I like running.  I studied Ludwig Wittgenstein in college, and still love philosophy.

Education
B.A. in Environmental Science: Conservation, Biodiversity & Natural Resources, University of Tennessee – Chattanooga
Writing Certificate, University of Washington Seattle
Writing Interests
Poetry with themes around mythology/fairytale, shadow work, trauma, psychology. Interested in exploring more fiction, both short stories and writing a romantasy novel.
Other Interests
Reading, collage art, knitting, embroidery, film photography, nature, & travel