How to Write an MFA Thesis

If you aspire to write novels or work as a professional writer, you might consider pursuing a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing to help you get there. An MFA in Creative Writing can prepare you for a variety of writing careers, whether you want to teach, offer services as a freelancer or work as an editor for a publishing company.

While studying creative writing, you'll learn about storytelling, genre and more. One way master's degree programs prompt students to demonstrate what they've learned is through a thesis. 

Do You Write a Thesis for an MFA?

You typically have to complete a thesis as your capstone project in an MFA program.

Your thesis project can reveal to your instructor — and to you — what skills and knowledge you’ve acquired throughout your MFA studies.

Writing a thesis allows you to demonstrate that you can implement the various elements you’ve learned throughout the program, according to Paul Witcover, an associate dean of the online MFA program at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) with more than 30 years as a professional writer and editor. These elements include:

• Character
• Pacing
• Plot
• Point of view

Depending on your school or program, you might be asked to approach your thesis in a certain way. Some schools will have classes specifically dedicated to working on your thesis.

For instance, at SNHU, there are three classes in the MFA program centered around thesis work.

Jason Morgan, a creative writing instructor at SNHU and author of 12 books, said you write approximately half of your book in the initial thesis course, and the goal of the second course is to finish your first draft. Morgan said your instructor will give you detailed feedback you can implement in your final thesis course, which is focused on revision.

Instructors in SNHU’s MFA program look at five main components, Morgan said, including:

1. Writing elements – This includes clarity and comprehension.
2. Storytelling elements – These are the tools such as conflict and point of view that help your story to come alive.
3. Genre tropes – Every genre has different characteristics readers know and love, such as dystopian futures in speculative fiction and love triangles in romance.
4. Lack of cliche – Although you'll use genre tropes, it’s important that you’re also bringing something new to the story.
5. Articulation of response – This includes grammar, spelling and formatting.

It’s important to look at the syllabus and speak with your instructors if you’re not sure which components need to be evident in your thesis project.

What Does a Good MFA Thesis Look Like?

Requirements might differ based on your school and program, and your final word count may also depend on the genre you choose.

In the online MFA at SNHU, students are expected to produce a novel of at least 50,000 words, according to Witcover, who helped develop the program. Your chosen genre will also influence the word count. For example, a romance novel might end up at around 70,000 to 80,000 words, while a fantasy novel may be a bit longer, according to Witcover.

“You should have a novel that you can submit or self-publish with confidence, with a sense that you have created something that meets professional standards,” said Witcover.

This doesn’t mean your manuscript must be perfect, with no room for further editing.

When his first book was accepted for publication, Morgan said the publisher asked for additional revisions. Producing a novel that catches a publisher's attention is the first step, he said, and professional editors can help you polish your final product.

Is It Hard to Do an MFA Thesis?

In any academic program, you may have to navigate challenges. Time management is a particularly common one.

“Budgeting your time and preparing for the difficulties that you're likely to face is probably the single biggest challenge that I see in the thesis,” said Witcover, who has taught creative writing for 15 years.

Mark your important deadlines on your calendar, and try to work out a schedule for writing, if possible. Developing a consistent writing practice can help you to stay on track.

Students might also struggle with imposter syndrome. “A lot of people have a lot of self-doubt, and it's really common," Morgan said.

He said surrounding yourself with people who support you can go a long way.

“When you're in an MFA program, you're part of a community,” said Witcover. If you’re struggling, you can always reach out to your advisor, instructor or peers for support.

How Can I Overcome Writer’s Block?

It can be frustrating to feel like you can’t write when you have deadlines approaching, but there are a few ways to deal with writer's block. It's important to find which method works best for you.

If you’re struggling with writer’s block, you might consider switching to a different task for a while. Sometimes, taking a break can help you return to your project with fresh eyes, according to Morgan.

For example, you might try grabbing a snack or going for a walk. Even writing in a different location, such as another room or a coffee shop, could help to change your perspective.

If that’s not possible, Witcover suggests sitting down and trying to write something. It’s not always easy, but putting words on the page is the first step to getting to where you want to be.

The deadlines in the capstone courses prepare students for real-life deadlines as a professional writer, according to Witcover, who has published a number of novels, short stories and critical essays.

“If you have a deadline and you don't make it, you don't get paid,” he said. “So we're kind of teaching our students and preparing our students for successful careers as professional writers.”

What Does Revision Look Like?

When it comes to revision, everyone has a different process.

Some writers prefer to finish their first draft before revising, said Witcover, while others edit as they go.

Morgan said he strongly encourages his thesis students to get their first draft down, because knowing the whole story can help with revision. Even if you have an idea of what you want your story to be about, your characters and plots might change and expand as you write your first draft.

“Revision is such an important part of the writing process,” said Morgan.

He said revision allows you to take a step back and look at your story and characters, while also considering the feedback you received from your instructor and peers. Revision is a great opportunity to clean up your first draft.

Becoming the Writer You’re Meant to Be

Although writing for a class can be intimidating, your instructors are there to help you, not tell you what or how they think you should write.

“We're not in the business of trying to turn writers into who we think they should be,” said Witcover. “We're trying to help writers become who they already are, whether they know it or not.”

He said it’s okay to want to become the next George R.R. Martin, but what if the world doesn’t need another George R.R. Martin? Maybe it needs you instead.

Realizing that can be a huge moment in a writer’s career, according to Witcover.

Morgan said his main goal isn’t to teach his students how to be creative, but rather how to improve their writing.

“The overall goal is not for me to tell a creative person how to be them, how to write,” he said. “It's to help them be a better them.”

From the time she was a child, Ashleigh Worley '22 found inspiration between the pages of books. Before long, she fell in love with telling stories herself. That love followed her into adulthood, leading her to earn a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature from Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Today, Worley is a writer at SNHU, where she's pursuing a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. When she's not writing, she's usually enjoying time with her dad and her abundance of cats. Connect with her on LinkedIn.