Fri Jul 18 2025

In this episode of the Grad School Femtoring Podcast, I speak with Maceo Nafisah Cabrera Estévez, a writer, book coach, editor, and co-founder of the Muslim Writer Salon. We discuss the realities of exploring creative writing beyond the MFA as BIPOC writers and what it means to thrive both within and outside of those institutional spaces. Maceo shares her personal journey, from struggling through grad school and navigating the white literary canon, to building vibrant writing communities rooted in belonging, voice, and joy. She offers honest reflections on the limitations of MFA programs, especially for marginalized writers, and uplifts alternative ways to gain support, develop your craft, and build a writing career on your own terms. We also discuss the business side of writing, the emotional labor of sharing your work, and the mindset shifts needed to sustain a creative practice. If you’ve ever wondered whether you really need an MFA, or how to build a writing life that honors ...