Ty Phelps

Ty Phelps is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of English at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), where he contributes to creative writing education and literary discourse. His academic work intersects teaching with writing practice, and he maintains an active presence through publications and awards.

Education:

• MFA in Fiction and Creative Nonfiction, VCU, 2022
• MA in Secondary English Teaching, Lewis and Clark College, 2012
• BA in English Literature, Carleton College, 2005

Phelps specializes in Creative Writing across genres (fiction, nonfiction, poetry) with a focus on Narrative Theory, American Postmodernism, and Contemporary Short Story forms. His publications reflect experimental storytelling techniques and thematic exploration of human experiences.

Literary Awards:

• VCU Cabell First Novelist Award Fellowship (2021–2022)
• Nancy Ludmerer Flash Fiction Fellowship (2021)
• VCU Catherine and Joan Byrne Poetry Prize (2019)
• Winner of The Gravity of the Thing Six Word Story Contest (2016)

Phelps teaches courses in fiction writing and theory (ENGL 447, ENGL 307, ENGL 295), blending pedagogy with creative practice. His work appears in journals like Blackbird, Streetlight, and Zizzle, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches to narrative construction.