Wilkes’ online writing program connects creative minds

U.S. Navy Lt. J.G. Alysha Haran works on her master’s degree at Wilkes University even when she’s thousands of miles away from shore.

Haran has only been on the university’s campus less than two weeks, even though she’s in her second semester of the creative writing graduate program.

Haran has communicated with her professors and other students through the Internet as she’s submitted work for critique for months. Now she, fellow students and faculty are meeting during an eight-day residency program that started last Friday and runs through tomorrow. The Master of Arts and Master of Fine Arts in creative writing were created as a primarily online program in 2004 to allow students from across the nation to work with nationally acclaimed writers. Students must attend four intense residency programs, offered every January and June, to complete the degree.

“One of the great benefits of the program is the hard work is masked by the rewards of the program,” Haran said.

With an extensive background in the theater and film business, this course allows her the creative outlet she needs, especially when deployed.

“During the semester the community you are a part of is really what sustains you the ability to get through assignments and keep going,” she said.

Chris Bullard, an attorney living near Philadelphia, is finishing his graduate degree with this week’s residency.

Returning to writing after 20 years of inactivity, his collection of poetry will be published later this year.

“It’s an overwhelming experience if you get it right. There is so much pleasure in having the wording and to actually put down the words in the right order,” Bullard said.

He and Haran said they were attracted to the program after realizing what top quality professional writers the university employs as professors, including Beverly Donofrio and Kaylie Jones, a novelist and daughter of writer James Jones.

Donofrio authored the memoir “Riding in Cars With Boys,” which was later turned into a movie starring Drew Barrymore in 2001. Jones’ third novel, “A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries,” was turned into a film in 1998.

While the students learn a great deal about the writing industry from their professors, Donofrio said she learns from her students as well.