Instructor Lyzette Wanzer is a San Francisco writer, editor, and writing workshop instructor. Library Journal named her book, TRAUMA, TRESSES, & TRUTH: Untangling Our Hair Through Personal Narratives (Chicago Review Press), a Top 10 Best Social Sciences Book. She’s been an application reviewer for the Anderson Center Artists’ Residency and the California Arts Council. She presents her work at conferences across the country, including the American and Popular Culture Association, Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP), College English Association, Desert Nights, Rising Stars (Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing), Empowering Wom[x]n of Color Conference, Louisville Conference on Literature & Culture Since 1900, Grub Street’s Muse & The Marketplace, San Francisco Writers Conference, The Society for the Study of African American Life and History, and Southern Humanities Council. Her work has been supported with grants from the Center for Cultural Innovation, San Francisco Arts Commission, California Arts Council, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, Black Artist Foundry, The Awesome Foundation, and California Humanities, a National Endowment for the Humanities partner. 

Have you thought about enrolling in a Creative Writing MFA program, but feel intimidated by the application process?

Do you fret about how to make your application rise to the top in a stack of fierce competitors? How can you avoid the most common pitfalls?

You know how competitive these programs are and how exacting the admissions requirements can be.

Learn how to curate a polished, professional, impactful application package that's designed to impress admission committees. 

Transform Your MFA Dreams Into Acceptance Letters

Ready to apply to competitive Creative Writing MFA programs but overwhelmed by the application process? Limited to just 16 students, this comprehensive 6-week workshop eliminates guesswork and gives you the strategic advantage you need.

What You'll Master:

• Professional literary resume creation following industry standards
• Personal statement writing that captivates admissions committees
• Program selection strategies (traditional vs. low-residency formats)
• Funding and financial aid navigation
• Common application mistakes that sink candidacies
• Professional networking and recommendation letter strategies

Perfect for aspiring fiction writers, creative nonfiction authors, poets, playwrights, and screenwriters ready to take their craft to the graduate level.

Weekly Workshop Structure: Each session combines expert instruction, hands-on application work, feedback sessions, and personalized guidance. You'll complete actual application components while receiving real-time feedback.

From literary autobiography development to final application polishing, this workshop provides the comprehensive preparation that transforms hopeful MFA applicants into confident candidates.

Your Expert Guide

As a former application reviewer for prestigious residencies and arts councils, Lyzette brings insider knowledge to help you craft winning MFA applications.

Assigned Reading Material Will Include: 

• AWP Guidelines for Creative Writing Programs & Teachers of Creative Writing
• AWP Hallmarks of a Successful MFA Program in Creative Writing
• AWP Hallmarks of an Effective Low-Residency MFA Program in Creative Writing

COURSE OUTLINE

WEEK 1: The different types of programs/The Blue Statement/Evidence to an admissions committee that you are not ready/Brainstorming exercise

WEEK 2: Homework review/Why you need an Literary Autobiography/LinkedIn True or False/Letters of recommendation/Which programs are best for you?/Partner Praise Sandwich #1

WEEK 3: Homework review/LI profiles/Your literary resume/Programs Research Sheet

WEEK 4: Professional literary organizations/Author bios/Partner Praise Sandwich #2

WEEK 5: Homework review/Partner Praise Sandwich #3/Statement shares/Profile show-and-tell/Open Q&A session

WEEK 6: Homework review/Statement shares (cont'd)/MFA Programs Final Exam (team format)/Literary CV CV Final Exam (team format)/Exam reviews

STUDENT TESTIMONIALS:

Your teaching style and presence are indeed the business! What you offered was
incredibly helpful and comprehensive! I'm still working on my artist statement. In fact, I've told other colleagues about your offerings. You have much to offer and I continue singing your praises to fellow writers. -A. Franklin, The Art of the Artist Statement

I want to thank you for the grant writing workshop. I did apply for my first grant with Nashville Metro Arts. I was awarded that grant. I’m excited to build from that momentum. Mostly, I learned through the course to write with intention and apply. -T. Beard, Applying for Grants, Fellowships, & Residencies

Thank you so much for the safe space to learn the ins and outs of finding funding! Yes, Lyzette went above and beyond expectations. Her classes were well thought out and packed with resources. She structured the class so that we walk away with key pieces of a grant application at least started. There’s also community feedback, opportunities to network, and accountability built into the class. Lyzette definitely looked after us. -L. Salisman, Fund Your Muse

Expectations were extremely exceeded. The amount and quality of the resources Lyzette shared blew my mind. She is such a gem. Lyzette has a wealth of information. And I really appreciate her transparency and encouragement. Lyzette explained the application process. I really enjoyed learning what happens when the application committee meets to discuss the applications. Course was well-organized and easy to follow. -K. Morris, Fund Your Muse

I was looking for information on how to prepare to write applications for grants as well as different places to look for grant opportunities and received a great amount of information. There was a lot of information to research. I established an accountability partner. –Adrienne M., Fund Your Muse

The class met my expectations. Lyzette gave us practical advice and assignments that helped to get us organized for submitting to artist residencies, grants, and publications to help our writing careers grow. ? I personally have no complaints. I thought Lyzette was equal parts compassionate and rigorous. Biggest pros: Practical, supportive, encouraging, inspiring. -Jordan E., Fund Your Muse

Thank you immensely for your guidance and support. I have my sights set on applying to MFA programs in the not too distant future and would love to reach out for private consults once that process gets set in motion. -I. Rendon, Muses & Melanin

I also wanted to thank you again for such a wonderful course on getting funding for writing. While I haven’t solicited funding yet (I know, I know…) I have ramped-up my involvement in two writers associations. I’m volunteering at the AWP meeting in Los Angeles and was just elected to a chapter leadership position of a medical writers association. I’m leaning into my writing in 2025 and feel your course was the boost (or boot) I needed. -K. Jinnett, Fund Your Muse

Thanks again for your class. I so appreciate the way you both give so much space for individual work time, as well as paired conversation time, and that you can download so much incredibly helpful information, without it feeling at all like a lecture. The trust you place in your students, and the way the majority of the work is being done by us, is also something that I especially admire, and strikes the balance I aspire to as an educator. I'm so glad I got to do this with you. The mentoring and modelling is a joy to witness. –L. Velez, Craft Your Artist Statement

Loads of information, networking, and hands-on activity. As always, a great class with Lyzette. I’d like classes to repeat more often in case I miss one! -J. Anderson, How to Apply for Creative Writing Grants

I do feel this and my other class with Lyzette has helped me imagine and present myself as a professional with concrete goals. I would like more skills on professional skills for writers. I’d like to know when y’all will be offering more classes from Lyzette! -J. Southworth, How to Apply for Creative Writing Grants

Lyzette gave us the how and the where of submitting, and how to get over our fear and anxiety about rejection. It opened my mind about markets. This was a fantastic class. It was a little tight around the table [with] all the laptops, but it paid off for those who stuck with it. -Y. Johnson, How and Where to Submit Your Work

Lyzette delivered everything she promised. The course covered the basics but was also great for em as someone who has fellowships and publications. -Anonymous, How to Apply for Creative Writing Grants

Exceeded my expectations. I picked this class because I liked the full cycle of writing, revising, and submitting. I left with a good sense of how to actually build a writing/submitting practice. Very practical. Lizette is a really good teacher. -E. Milligan, Write, Revise, Submit: Flash Fiction

I wrote. I re-wrote. I submitted. I was introduced to many facets of writing including: reading, listening, critiquing, as well as writing and building community with other writers. Class is extremely well structured to get all the elements included in 2.5 hours. Thank you to Lyzette. -R. Shimmin, Write, Revise, Submit: Flash Fiction

She offered myriad forms of supportive advice and tips. Just happy to engage with such a high quality experienced writer and author -D. Lee, How to Apply for Creative Writing Grants

Absolutely, the tips and hands-on format was invaluable. Lyzette is a pro. Extremely knowledgeable and inspirational. -J. Chriqui, How and Where to Submit Your Work

Lizette’s dedication was amazing. The amount of time and effort Lizette put in so that we had a piece we could submit was impressive. The amount of work I had to put in was much more than I expected, but the workshop description did say to come prepared to work! -Anonymous, Write, Revise, Submit: Flash Fiction

This is my second class with Lyzette and was very informative. This class was great because Lyzette is always so prepared and willing to share a wealth of important Information—she has an excellent teaching demeanor and communication style.
-C. Clark, How To Apply for Creative Writing Grants

Exceeded my expectations! It was so structured and Lizette read our works carefully, and gave us thoughtful, useful feedback. -Anonymous, Write, Revise, Submit: Flash Fiction

Yes! So many resources, and Ms. Lyzette is so skilled at keeping things going and focused. -L. Shields, How To Apply for Creative Writing Grants

Definitely exceeded expectations. The info was much more far-reaching than I expected.
-C. Splan, How to Apply for Creative Writing Grants

Excellent course. Thorough. Teacher was well-prepared. I’m walking away with a wealth of information. -Anonymous, How To Apply for Creative Writing Grants

Lyzette is a wonderful facilitator! More classes by Lyzette would be great. Today’s class is a perfect foundational class. -M.K. Chavez, How to Apply for Creative Writing Grants

It was terrific! Keep it up! -S. Hollyman, How To Apply for Creative Writing Grants

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE: