Skip to main content
Arts and Science Department of English

Opportunities

MFA PROGRAM OPPORTUNITIES

Writing North Festival

Writing North is an annual two-day writers' festival and a collaboration between the university's MFA in Writing, Department of English, and College of Arts and Science, and the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild. The festival builds bridges between the USask campus and the wider literary community, offering panel discussions, keynotes, and writing seminars that appeal to creative writing students, established or aspiring writers, and anyone passionate about writers and books. 

Writing North Festival 2026, with keynote speaker Waubgeshig Rice. From left to right: Tea Gerbeza, Cat Abenstein, Waubgeshig Rice, Yolanda Hansen, Debbie Sunchild-Petersen, and Jeanette Lynes.

River Volta

RIVER VOLTA READING SERIES

The River Volta Reading Series, founded in 2014, is a monthly series organized by the MFA in Writing students. Each month, River Volta presents featured authors followed by open mic readings. See our website community page and Facebook page for upcoming reading events.

RIVER VOLTA REVIEW OF BOOKS

The River Volta Review of Books (RVRB) is edited and published by the University of Saskatchewan’s MFA in Writing. RVRB includes book reviews, interviews with mentors and established writers by our MFA students, short essays focused on craft in literary works, and MFA student and graduate updates. The RVRB celebrates our student writers and provide them with a place to share their voices. For more information, visit the RVRB website.

My favorite part of the MFA was the River Volta Reading series.
With every event, I was shocked at how many people came. The space was fully almost every time! I loved doing the series with friends and supportive peers.
~ Tia Hendricks, 2025-26 MFA IN Writing Graduate and co-organizer of the 2025-26 River Volta Reading Series

MFA Guest Lectures, Writing Experiences, and Literary Salons

Each year, the MFA in Writing program hosts guest lectures, writing experiences, and literary salons, providing great opportunities for you to learn about diverse writing approaches, think critically and creatively about the craft of writing, and build your community connections. As well, at the end of each year, we host an MFA Final Reading event featuring all of our MFA in Writing students.

2026 MFA in Writing Graduate Class Reading, including Rahul Edwin, Douglas MacDonald, Jolena Klymyshyn, Tia Hendricks, Marie Lovrod, Veronica Fabian, Shayne Metcalfe, Mikayla Marin, Renelle Morelli, Van Osborne Zimrose, and George Herbers

Department of English Lectures, Readings, and Events

Our MFA in Writing program has its home in the Department of English. This creates extended opportunities for you to access lectures, readings, and events, including the well-established Literature Matters public lecture series, biannual lectures such as the Peter Millard Lecture, and special talks and book launches with English alumni, including our recent visiting author Sheheryar B. Sheikh.

MFA in Writing Variety Show

The idea for this project was born in Spring 2020, during a time of unexpected isolation and uncertainty. The MFA in Writing Variety Show is a collaborative, creative space for students, alumni, faculty, and mentors of the program to share writing they love with the wider community. 

WRITING AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

The USask MFA in Writing graduate program’s supportive and enriching environment provided the ideal conditions for me to experiment and grow as a poet.
~ Sarah Ens, MFA in Writing graduate, award-winning poet, and literary publicist

PLACES, CULTURES, COMMUNITIES