​​Welcome to the Class of 2022
​​April 2, 2020.
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​​Welcome to the Class of 2022!
​​Here's an update on where we are, and a look ahead.
​​Please review this message carefully -- there will be some repetition for students admitted early, but I need to bring newly admitted students up to speed as well.  
​​>> The June Residency
​​Kim, Stephen and I have been meeting — and talking with your future mentors and others — to figure out how to create the best residency online while still giving you the best possible personal and community experience. 
​​We've come up with some general working principles:
  • ​​People can't sit in front of a screen for hours.
  • ​​We want to keep the number of required platforms to a minimum, and opt for those that are most accessible to our students and mentors. As of now, we have landed on Zoom (for large group sessions and "coffee shops") and Microsoft Teams (for mentor groups).
  • ​​We want to provide a mix of synchronous (live) and asynchronous (recorded) content, with the synchronous live content in the same time window every day, and that window chosen to allow daytime working hours access across Canadian time zones. This will mean setting aside time each day during the residency (June 6-14) for your mentor group meetings and other live sessions and events. The Residency schedule is almost complete and I will send it to you ASAP.
  • ​​Synchronous live content will favour small-group sessions to improve opportunities for interaction.
  • ​​Asynchronous recorded content will be provided in as many formats as we can manage (video, transcript, audio) to improve accessibility and take into account possible bandwidth issues. 
  • ​​Asynchronous content will be supported with discussion threads, readings, handouts and exercises.
  • ​​We want to include optional live online social and networking opportunities, such as drop-in virtual "coffee shops". 
  • ​​Optional live content will be captured either with note-taking or recorded video, so that those who can't attend live can still access the content.
​​While how all this will play out in the actual schedule is still a work in progress, we’ll update you as we finalize our plans. 
​​
​​>> What's in the rest of this email:
  • ​​Assignment: Bio/Project Description and head & shoulders photo
  • ​​Textbooks ... and where to get them (and one added)
  • ​​Pre-residency assignment based on Writer-in-Residence's book
  • ​​Class of 2021 "buddies" update 
​​>> Bio/Project Description plus head & shoulders photo:
​​I have received these from students admitted before March 25 or so (and acknowledged receipt). Newly admitted students -- please send me (at dean.jobb@ukings.ca) a brief bio and project description (maximum 100 words each) along with a head & shoulders photo, so everyone can put faces to names. These will be shared with your classmates and members of the Class of 2021.
​​Deadline: April 10.
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​​>> Textbooks ... and where to get them (and one added)
​​Prior to the residency, we ask you to read these core texts:
  • ​​Hart, Jack. Storycraft: The Complete Guide to Writing Nonfiction. University of Chicago Press. Chicago. (Paperback 2012).
  • ​​Rabiner, Susan and Fortunato, Alfred. Thinking Like Your Editor. Norton. New York (Paperback 2003).
  • ​​Larsen, Michael. How to Write a Book Proposal. New York: Writer’s Digest Books (5th edition 2017).
  • ​​-------- 
  • ​​And ... left off an earlier list I circulated:
  • ​​Friedman, Jane. The Business of Being a Writer.  University of Chicago Press, 2018.
​​All can be ordered from the King's Co-op Bookstore (https://www.kingsbookstore.ca). (If you live in the Halifax Regional Municipality, Manager Paul McKay might even deliver them to your door!)
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​​>> Pre-residency assignment based on Writer-in-residence's book:
​​MFA alum Jessica McDiarmid, author of the critically acclaimed nonfiction book, Highway of Tears, will be our writer-in-(virtual)-residence this year. As in past years, we ask you to read her book, so you’ll be able to engage with it — and with her — during the residency. And, to get you thinking about some of the issues the book raises, we have a short pre-residency assignment for you.
  • ​​In Highway of Tears, author Jessica McDiarmid tells a tragic and disturbing story of racism, official indifference and unspeakable loss. Choose one section of the book that you found particularly effective. In 500 words, and citing specific examples from the section upon which you are focusing, discuss the storytelling and research techniques that McDiarmid uses to effectively tell this story. 
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​​While your local bookstores aren’t open for browsing these days, it’s worth checking out their websites. Many are happy to fill online orders. And it’s good for you — as authors — to make friends with your local bookseller. You can order Jessica's book from the King's Co-op Bookstore as well.
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​​>> Class of 2021 "buddies" update 
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​​There has been a strong demand for Class of 2021 "buddies" (sorry -- we neglected to stock-up!). Some of you have been matched up and we're working on finding more volunteers. Stay tuned!
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