The Popular Fiction Writing & Publishing MFA program at Emerson, affectionately known as PopFic, brings together writers at all stages of their creative and professional careers, each drawn to the program for different reasons. For some, it’s the fully online format; for others, it’s the opportunity to learn from awesome professors who work to make you a stronger writer while teaching business elements all authors should know. Whatever the reason, there’s no better way to get a deeper understanding of this program than by hearing from students who have experienced it firsthand!
I connected with two students quite familiar with the PopFic program, Susanne and Alissa, one a recent grad and the other preparing for her hooding ceremony this May. Read on to hear their experiences in the program, how their writing has evolved, and what advice they’d offer to eager writers looking to join this flourishing community.
Meet Susanne Salehi: Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Susanne now lives just outside Atlanta, Georgia. She graduated from Emerson’s PopFic MFA program in December 2025 and is walking during the Spring 2026 graduation ceremony.
Meet Alissa Mutton: Alissa is also a part of the Popular Fiction MFA 2026 graduating class, and she is from Rochester, New York.
What made you want to pursue higher education in popular fiction?
Susanne: I’ve always wanted to craft the types of stories I’d grown up reading, the kind that invite escape and save little weirdos’ lives. After undergrad, I walked away from an MFA program acceptance, choosing and completing an MA in medical anthropology instead. The dream was still there, so I waited five years, applied to another MFA program, and was accepted. That time, I deferred my admission for two years before admitting defeat. Somehow, I was ten years past my first grad degree, with zero writing progress. I desperately needed an MFA program’s structured support and encouragement to finally write the book lurking in my heart.
Alissa: This is an excellent question. I have a BA in Creative Writing, but the only reason I went back to school at all is because I was captivated by an ad for Emerson’s PopFic program. When I looked into the program and the school, I knew immediately that this was exactly where I needed to be.
What made Emerson’s program stand out compared to others you considered?
Susanne: Emerson’s PopFic MFA is fully online, an enticing draw to someone cozily settled in their life. I was also looking at low-residency options, though I didn’t actually have enough vacation time at my job to let me do that, either. The thing that clinched it was that Emerson was the only program I found that specifically focused on genre (popular) fiction. At Emerson, I wouldn’t have to hedge my writing or scrub all traces of speculative elements from it. There was a bonus, too: Emerson focuses on the practicalities after you write the book. How does publishing work? How do you market yourself as an author? This was something else I didn’t see other programs offering.
Alissa: Although I didn’t look into any other schools or programs, I knew PopFic at Emerson was one of a kind. This is the first program in higher education I’ve ever heard of that teaches both the fine art and business aspects of writing. I can’t think of a more valuable combination of topics to offer in a curriculum for creative writers.
How has Emerson’s PopFic MFA shaped or challenged your writing?
Susanne: How hasn’t it? This program challenged me in ways I didn’t think possible, which means that it helped me forge the strongest version of myself. This program has given me the kind of confidence I would have called audacious once. Now, I think: Why not? Someone has to do it. Might as well be me. I’ve also been shaped by the incredible world-class faculty, who gently steered me in the right direction and provided excellent mentorship. Emerson’s PopFic MFA program helped me come into my own and feel like a “real” author (whatever that means!).
Alissa: I went into this program extremely rusty and disenchanted with my own writing, but motivated to learn. Thanks to my professors and classmates, I was able to let go of a lot of self-judgement, learn new techniques, and discover the blind spots that were keeping my writing from meeting its full potential.
How would you describe the program to someone considering applying?
Susanne: If you put in the effort, your PopFic MFA will be one of the hardest things you ever do, and one of the most rewarding and joyful. It will become the foundation for the artistic life you’re trying to build. Since it’s online and asynchronous, the program fits neatly into whatever space you have for it in your life. You can keep doing whatever it is you’re doing for dollars. The Emerson PopFic community is warm and bustling, full of faculty and students alike that all want to see you flourish. The PopFic program itself is pure magic: it has been lovingly and intentionally crafted to give a student everything they’d need to succeed at their writing goals.
Alissa: I would describe this program as an extremely interesting, fun, challenging pursuit that is taught by some of the most supportive, kind, and brilliant people you’ve ever met.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to future Pop Fiction students?
Susanne: Find your people and build your writing community. Your writing buds are going to see you through some tough times. They will commiserate with you on the umpteenth rejection and emit joyful screams when you finally, finally get that residency, publication, or That Thing you’ve been pining over. They’ll send you sympathy notes when your cat dies and 90s holiday cards and postcards just because. They will puzzle through plot points and character idiosyncrasies with you and agree that your villain isn’t quite unhinged enough—or tell you your protagonist is simply too perfect to enjoy. They will keep you sane, is what I’m saying.
This is probably obvious, but don’t limit yourself to one group or person. Community can run the gamut: A friend you don’t know too well, but you chat about your writing for a few minutes each week; an established author friend and mentor (friendtor?) who hosts a daily writing Zoom you try to stop by a few times a month; classmates whose writing you vibed with and now you edit each other’s work. And the Discords, and the text threads, and the snail mail friends. Find your niches! Find. Your. Weirdos.
Alissa: Take the classes that interest you most, even if they don’t seem immediately “practical.” I took Intro to Book Design last fall with zero graphic design experience and no plans to pursue it when I graduate. Thanks to that class, I know how to typeset a book. I could self-publish and typeset my first novel if I wanted to!
For writers considering their next step, Emerson’s PopFic MFA offers more than just classwork. It also provides a community of writers who know exactly what you’re going through, and a network of successful professors who can guide you through the journey. As expressed by Susanne and Alissa, skills and friends gained from this program extend well beyond graduation.
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