The Boston Biome

There are 3 MFA programs in the greater Boston area. UMass (the primary focus of our study), Emerson, and Boston University. They all are roughly within 5 miles of one another. Scattered around them is a robust network of new-used hybrid, used, and independent bookstores which accept independent local authors work on comission. If UMB's MFA program on the 6th floor of wheatley hall is an isolated ecosystem, then Boston is the greater biome. We have already successfully proven that UMB's reach extends out towards Downtown Crossing and Commonwealth Books (in blue on the map.) Therefore, work does travel. The question becomes twofold. 

1. How much? 

2. Can we map it in real time with even passable accuracy? 

MFA students, naturally, do not live in their native English Departments. They live throughout the city and interact with it outside of workshop or class time. Faculty micro-presses are also active outside of their native English Departments. While not the primary purpose of this archive, it is important to situate it within the broader context of its geographic location and explore where books will end up and is an important ancillary line of research.  

Trident, for example, has a poetry open mic night and is situated directly between two MFA programs (Emerson and BU), with UMass being distant, but reachable. They also have a poetry collective which situates them as a potential prime source of extra-curricular engagement for MFA students who are looking to both gain experience outside of classes and connect with the broader community.