PLNU’s Master of Arts in Writing is a two-year program designed to help writers expand their knowledge and skills in the written craft. The program offers a wide range of opportunities to do so, including collaborative workshops, graduate teaching assistant positions, the opportunity to tutor at the Writing Center, and expert mentorship.
Tony Le Calvez’s journey through the Master of Arts in Writing (MAW) program at PLNU is a testament to the program's rigor and its ability to foster both academic and creative growth. Balancing the program's requirements, Tony has also excelled in the world of music journalism.
What Does a Typical Day Look Like in the MAW Program?
The Master of Arts in Writing program has a combination of day and night time classes that also allow students to fulfill their commitments to tutoring in the writing center. Primarily, pedagogy classes take place in the morning. In this 6-unit, two-course pedagogy sequence, graduate students will prepare to tutor in the Point Loma campus Writing Center during their first year and teach College Composition in the second year.
Students like Tony enrolled in the MAW program are offered the opportunity to take a pedagogy track, which waives tuition for the program and provides an annual stipend. Students in this track serve as tutors in the writing center for 20 hours a week, which prepares them for teaching assistant opportunities. This commitment typically takes place after morning pedagogy classes.
In addition to the tutoring commitment, students must also attend various MAW-required courses, including workshops each semester. The workshop topics can vary and may include poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and others, depending on what is offered during that semester.
Inside an MAW Classroom: Workshops, Collaboration, Creativity
Tony and his fellow students in the MAW program find workshops to be valuable spaces for creative expression and collaboration. These workshops offer a platform for students to share their written work, provide feedback to one another, and engage in constructive discussions. Through these interactions, they can refine their writing skills and gain insight into how to improve their writing.Tony described his Nonfiction and Poetry workshops from this semester, but Fiction workshops are also offered for students.
Nonfiction Workshop
In the non-fiction workshop, the class is divided into two groups. Each week, half the students bring in their writing, which the rest of the class reads and critiques in the next session. The following week, the other half shares their pieces for critique. Tony describes this as an opportunity to get a second set of eyes on his work to really refine it or help with stuck points. The peer-editing portion of this exercise allows students to appreciate and learn more about each other as writers, fostering mutual respect and learning among each other.
In addition to this, each student gives a 40-minute craft presentation once a semester. For these presentations, students choose an essay by another writer that they admire and teach a 40-minute session on the craft elements they appreciate in that piece. Tony, an aspiring music journalist, often selects music-related essays for his craft presentations.
Poetry Workshop
The poetry workshop follows a similar format to the nonfiction workshop. However, Tony, an aspiring music journalist, was initially apprehensive about it. He consulted his mentor, Professor Dr. Katie Manning, who changed his perspective on the idea. She explained to him how learning poetry helps to improve mastery of language and sentence structure, and how it aids in crafting vivid images and characters. Tony feels that his writing has expanded, especially with the focus on structure in this semester's workshop, ultimately contributing to his development as a writer.
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Who are you called to be?
Pursue your purpose at PLNU.
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Tony Le Calvez’s Journey in Music Writing
Students in the Writing M.A. are encouraged to bring their unique voices to the program, and to continue developing professional (and publishable) writing in and out of the classroom. When Tony is not fulfilling his writing center commitment or participating in workshops, he is working on his passion for music writing. Tony Le Calvez has published 17 music reviews and 5 interviews with artists across a variety of music websites. He writes for The Needle Drop, which is a premier independent music website.
The NeedleDrop
Tony was recently hired as a staff writer for The Needle Drop,a highly competitive platform that selects only about 20 out of 150 applicants. The site features some of Tony's notable work. One of Tony's articles, "Drum Corps International 2024: Bluecoats Win World Championships," reached 40,000 views on its first day. Tony mentioned that this article was special to him as he was involved in band as a kid. He felt it was a unique way to connect with people in this realm of music like himself, and the high number of views proved the article's impact.
The Needle Drop also allows Tony to write about various topics in music. Tony’s article "Massive Attack Launches Climate conscious Concert Series" was an opportunity to write about a band that he loves supporting a significant cause.
AmplifiedSD
AmplifiedSD is another platform that Tony writes for. This outlet was created to provide a space for musicians and artists to promote their work, discover music events in San Diego, read write-ups and reviews on local artists, delve into interviews with underground acts, view photo showcases, and more.
In a recent article, Tony had the opportunity to interview Bishop Snow, a local rapper from Oceanside. Tony described this as a chance to write about music from the local San Diego area. Another piece of Tony's work for AmplifiedSD is his review of R.A.P. Ferreira and Fumitake Tamura.
How an M.A. in Writing Sets You Up for Career Success
Tony originally pursued music journalism but discovered that most outlets favored hard news experience, limiting his mobility in the industry fresh out of undergrad. The MAW program, however, has provided him the freedom to explore creative writing, broadening his skills and making his resume more versatile, ultimately enhancing his employability. Through the program, Tony has also connected with industry professionals like Michael Rocha and George Varga of The San Diego Union-Tribune, further expanding his network and career opportunities.
As Tony continues to develop his writing portfolio, he remains focused on building a career in music journalism. Despite the rigorous components of the MAW program, he appreciates how it allows him to balance both his academic and professional pursuits. Tony is particularly excited about the opportunity to attend visiting writer events in his final semesters, which expose him to new perspectives and help him grow as a writer. With a bright future ahead, Tony is eager to make his mark in the world of music journalism.
Take the next steps to earn your Master of Arts in Writing
When it comes to writing, everyone has their own niche and passion. The MAW program offers a great opportunity to develop your skills as a writer, with small class sizes, mentorship, collaboration, and teaching opportunities. The MAW at PLNU prepares you for professional success in whatever area your writing passions lead you to.
