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UC Riverside

Palm Desert Low-Residency MFA

Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts

Residency

Residency

Hear from recent students

I started the UCR Low-Residency MFA program in the fall of 2020. While we were all disappointed to learn that the spring residency had to take place online, Tod Goldberg, Agam Patel, and the rest of the staff went above and beyond to replicate the student workshops, as well as the informative faculty, guest, and graduate student lectures that we normally experience during in-person residencies. We were also able to have invaluable one-on-one meetings with industry professionals and were even given the opportunity to pitch a major studio executive.
Lynn Grant Beck
Despite being forced to proceed under difficult circumstances, our virtual June residency exceeded expectations. Not having to choose between two or more interesting lectures that were scheduled for the same time was an unexpected bonus —being able to view one lecture live, and then catch up with other lectures later, at my convenience meant I didn’t miss anything. I also deeply appreciated the opportunity to have my friends who are alumni watch and support my own graduate lecture, which would not have been possible previously.
Anjali Becker
The virtual residency was great because it provided a tremendous amount of flexibility. Also, each lecture, event, and speaker, despite it not being in person, offered a rich source of content.
Andrew Navarro

Come to the sun

Learn from award-winning faculty at five 10-day, in-person writing residencies at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort near sunny Palm Springs, California. Take a look at a recent schedule.

Your resort stay is included in your tuition and fees.

Breakfast each morning and a full lunch buffet each afternoon are both included. You will receive generous discounts on food, amenities, and services across the property.

The resort is located in Indian Wells, in the heart of the Coachella Valley, near shopping, dining, entertainment, hiking, and everything else your heart desires. 

When are the residencies?

The in-person residencies begin on the first Friday in June and the first Friday in December. They last 10 days. You must attend all five residencies.

Make industry connections

Each residency is filled with a number of guest lectures and readings, along with regular scheduled courses. At each residency, you’ll meet agents, editors, producers, and showrunners. At your final residency, they’ll read your work. Past guests include editors from every major New York publishing house; Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning writers, producers and showrunners; plus studio executives from Amazon, Netflix, Warner Brothers, Paramount, Disney, and some of the top indie voices in the business.

General Residency Information


Location:

Tommy Bahama Miramonte Resort

45000 Indian Wells Lane

Indian Well, CA 92210

442-305-4500

 
Nearby Airports:
General Information:
  • Check-in at the Tommy Bahama Miramonte is at 3 p.m. Check-out is at noon.
  • All students receive their own room. There is NO double-occupancy option. 
  • Discounts and special menus will be available.
  • Breakfast and lunch are provided. 
  • Free snacks and coffee provided all day! 

 

See frequently asked questions
 
 
 

 

Recent & Upcoming Residency Faculty
  • Luis Alfaro
  • Kendra Atleework
  • Alexandra Barreto
  • Matt Bell
  • Aimee Bender
  • Francesca Lia Block
  • Sara Borjas
  • Sheila Callaghan
  • Cecil Castellucci
  • Steph Cha
  • Chiwan Choi
  • Steve Conrad
  • Jalysa Conway
  • Chad Gomez Creasey
  • Bryan Davidson
  • Natashia Deon
  • Tyler Dilts
  • Diana Marie Delgado
  • Maggie Downs
  • Gina Frangello
  • Edgar Gomez
  • Don Handfield
  • David Harris
  • Rachel Howzell Hall
  • Gabino Iglesias 
  • Liska Jacobs 
  • Dana Johnson
  • Shawna Kenney
  • Dinah Lenney
  • Attica Locke
  • Tembi Locke
  • Roberto Lovato
  • Natasha Marin
  • Karen McCullah
  • Bill Mechanic
  • Jacqueline McKinley
  • Susan Scarf Merrell
  • Robert Mitas
  • Joshua Mohr
  • Miguel Murphy 
  • Viet Thanh Nguyen
  • Mallory O' Meara
  • Heather Scott Partington
  • Victoria Patterson
  • Ivy Pochoda
  • Joy Priest
  • Mary Robertson
  • Hugh Ryan
  • Mark Sarvas
  • Andrea Seigel
  • Margaret Wilkerson Sexton
  • Kevin Smokler
  • Mike Sonksen
  • Rider Strong
  • Michael Torres
  • Paul Tremblay
  • Andy Weir