More Than a Conference: How AWP Shaped My First Year as an MFA Student
- Kyndra Nicholle
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
Intro
Welcome to a new blog series chronicling my experience attending the 2025 Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Conference in Los Angeles, California. I had the incredible opportunity to travel as the MFA Ambassador for Sam Houston State University, supported by generous funding through our program. This series blends personal reflection, literary exploration, and practical tips for navigating AWP as an MFA student. Whether you're a prospective MFA student at SHSU or simply curious about what it’s like to attend AWP, you’re in the right place. Feel free to skip around to the posts that interest you most, and be sure to check out SHSU MFA on Instagram for photos and posts from me and other SHSU attendees!
More Than a Conference: How AWP Shaped My First Year as an MFA Student
As a first-year grad student, I didn’t fully realize what doors the MFA program, especially at SHSU, would open for me. The chance to represent our program and attend AWP, the most well-known and expansive writing conference in the country, was not in my playing cards, but I’ll be forever grateful to be chosen in my first year.
When I first saw that AWP 2025 would be held in Los Angeles, California, I never imagined I’d be able to attend. It felt out of reach—too expensive, too far, unfamiliar even. However, the MFA program then issued a call for applications for travel funding. I decided to go for it. A month later, I received an email saying I had been selected, and I was ecstatic!
Although the trip was still months away, I started planning immediately (something I highly recommend). AWP is a unique opportunity for any writer, but it takes intention, prep, and purpose. Here are a few things I’d love to share with anyone considering attending, especially if you're in grad school and navigating it for the first time like I was.
1. Figure Out Your “Why”
AWP is an excellent chance to grow as a writer. You’ll meet fellow creatives, maybe your favorite author, connect with journals and presses, discover writing organizations, and attend incredible craft talks. But amid the excitement, don’t forget to figure out your why.
Ask yourself:
Why do I want to go to AWP?
What kind of writing life am I trying to build?
How does this experience help shape that?
What am I hoping to feel, learn, or carry home with me?
Before I even applied for funding, I knew I wanted to go, not just because I’d never been, but because I had a clear vision for where I wanted to grow and go as a writer. I was especially excited about the panels and the opportunity to engage with working writers and professionals in real-time.
Don’t go to AWP just to buy books. Don’t go just because everyone else is going.
Go because it matters to you. Go because you want to invest in your voice, your future, and your community as a writer.
AWP can be expensive. It requires time, energy, and commitment. So, go with purpose.
2. Budget and Save Early
Speaking of money… yes, AWP is expensive. No matter what city it’s hosted in, you’ll need to account for travel, housing, registration fees, food, local transportation, and even things to do in the city outside the conference.
If you’re fortunate enough to receive funding—whether through your school or program, or another source—decide early what matters most to you. The funding may not cover everything, but it can cover the most essential parts.
For example, my husband and I used the majority of our funding to cover our hotel stay, because we knew that was non-negotiable. You might choose to use yours on airfare, conference registration, meals, or even parking and transit costs. Just know your priorities, and build your trip around what’s possible.
3. What This Opportunity Did for Me
Receiving funding to attend AWP was a gift, and not just in terms of professional development. It gave me the chance to travel, to explore, and to create a lasting memory for myself and my relationship.
Thankfully, my husband was able to come with me. Although he didn’t attend the conference itself (he’s not a writer or reader, but he is an advocate for both! :D ), we were able to explore Los Angeles together. That experience—of combining growth, adventure, and partnership—meant so much to me, and I’ll always be grateful for my MFA program for helping make it possible.
If you’re ever offered the opportunity to attend AWP through your program, I encourage you: take it and run with it. Say yes. Show up. And have fun. Not everyone gets to go, but if you do or have the means, don’t waste the moment. This conference can help you build confidence, make meaningful connections, and even find clarity in your writing journey.
In study and stillness,
Kyndra Nicholle < 3
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