Again, yes and no. The two years of the program are all about craft. The faculty will want you to stay focused on your writing, not the business. They believe that the best way to get published is to be the strongest writer you can be. But in the last semester of your program you can begin exploring next steps with your faculty. In addition, since students come in at all different points in their career, you will learn much from your fellow students and visiting writers along the way. A degree from VCFA opens doors in the publishing industry because the gatekeepers know the quality of the work that comes from our alumnx.

View some of our students’ work and read more about our alumnx.

Founded in 1997, ours was the first academic program dedicated exclusively to writing for children and young adults. We are experts in the model, the style of education, and the field. So many of the finest writers have passed through our doors as students, faculty, and visiting writers that our program is a veritable who’s who of children’s literature. Our location on a hill in beautiful Montpelier, Vermont, is a bonus, as is our fabulous optional summer residency in Oxford and Bath, England. Our faculty comprises award-winning authors who are experts in helping writers deepen their craft while respecting their individual voice.

Learn more about our residencies abroad.