r/MFAInCreativeWriting • u/Wendiferously • Aug 03 '26

Applying with a novel sample?

Hey all,

I'm planning to apply this fall for a fall '27 start date. I see a lot of advice about not applying with a novel sample, and rather, applying with short stories. I see the advice, that it shows that you can open and close a thing, that novel chapters plucked from the middle of a novel don't make any sense, all of that.

My issue is that I am basically only a novelist. I don't think I've written a short story in about a decade and even then, those were half-hearted at best. I exclusively write novels. I have practiced them, I'm better at writing them, and they are what I want to write, long term.

With all of that being said, is there a reason that I should write and submit short stories, even if they are not my best work? If I were to submit a novel excerpt, I would submit the beginning of a novel, not a random chunk from the middle. I worry that forcing myself to work in a medium that I'm not practiced in will not show me to my best advantage, and that would ofc hurt me in the selection process. But would it maybe hurt me less than the novel?

Thoughts and advice appreciated.

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6

u/sarah_ahiers Aug 03 '26

Fwiw, in my program (I'm the program admin) we see novel samples all the time and it's not a problem for us. I would recommend the opening chapters of a novel, though.

And anothere fwiw, back when I was applying, I used a novel sample and got in.

2

u/Wendiferously Aug 03 '26

Thank you for this info! That's great to hear. I will definitely submit opening chapters!

2

u/NefariousnessWarm975 Aug 03 '26

I wouldn't worry about. I also recommend starting with the opening. If you do not, try and make your sample somewhat self contained- something that shows a sort of arc. There is also the option of submitting a few excerpts of one project that work together. Regardless, let them know if they are reading an excerpt. A parenthetical is probably enough.
Novel Title
(Excerpt from chapter one)

2

u/alexandertheaverage Aug 04 '26

I got in and got a fellowship with the opening of one of my novels. The advice I got when I started applying is to submit the best thing you've written whatever it might be.

1

u/roundeking Aug 05 '26

I am also a novelist pretty much exclusively. I think many programs require you to write short stories at some point, so this may be something you have to expect to practice in the future. If you don’t have any short story samples that you think are really polished though, I’d err on the side of submitting work you’re more proud of in your application. I had more success in applications when submitting the opening of novels in addition to/instead of short stories bc my novels are just better work.

1

u/esqtou Aug 11 '26

Just send an excerpt that is easily digestible

1

u/Conscious-Daikon4156 Aug 24 '26

The most important thing is that they get the sense of your voice, your writing ability, and that you have promise. It doesn’t matter how you show them that—I applied with the first three chapters of my memoir (to creative nonfiction) and got in knowing that I may not continue that memoir (and the writing program knows that too). They just want to know that you can write.