So I'm about to graduate in a few months and I haven't given a whole lot of thought about what I will do until recently.
Presently, I'm tossing around the idea of continuing school (the horror!) and getting an MFA in Creative Writing.
Talk about random, right?
The problem is looking into everything is kinda overwhelming.
I mean, I think I can write decently well . . . but everyone wants a 20-30 page sample and I just don't have anything that long that I've done since, you know, high school.
Also, three references. Once again, having taken no classes in English beyond Gen-Eds since high school, there aren't really any people who can attest to my ability to write creatively from a professional standpoint.
So, basically, I'm stuck. I don't know if I should take a break and beef up my resume before applying to a good school, try to patch together an application to a middle-of-the-road school now, or just give up this foolishness entirely.
Bah, growing up is such a pain.
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6 comments:
I feel like I am in the same boat as you-I was looking at going into Grad school for journalism-The only problem, I have been working in PR and Advertising. I have enough writing to send but my recomendations will all be from not the right type of profs.
I actually wish I could get the MFA like you're talking about, but I don't have the moola. My mom is even like, "Yeah that would be great for you to do..." but is not offering money for it, ha ha. I would also be totally up for getting a MFA in film or scriptwriting from Regents University in VA, but again, there's the whole money thing. (And not living there, though I think I can do the writing one online, but not the other.) So right now I'm just trying to write for fun. I'm highly considering self-publishing once I feel my writing's ready for it.
But at the end of the day, I'm still not 100% sure of what I want to be doing with my life. Sigh.
Here's the thing Brian-- you're a fine writer. You have impeccable grammar, a creative mind (even though you may have writer's block at times), and the talent to get your writing noticed WITHOUT furthering your education in writing.
Look at the number of published authors (well known or not)-- I doubt many of them went to grad school (or college at all) to get where they are. The same goes for actors, photographers, and singers. . . either you have the talent or you don't, and I don't think any amount of education will teach you talent.
You have all the tools you need to write well. You may have to practice at it, but they're there. I know you can do well.
However, if you really think getting a MFA is what you need to do, then go for it. I just thought I'd give you a different view (or maybe you've already thought about that lol).
Cara--
I know exactly what you mean about the professors. Ugh!
Amy P-Shaw--
I think the monies would be my biggest obstacle as well, especially barring financial aid. I've seen a few of those low-residency programs in my search, but am not sure where I would stay during the few weeks that I had to be there? I dunno, it's a lot to think about.
Anna--
I appreciate the compliment to my writing, but I think the main drive behind wanting to do a program would probably be networking. And learning techniques to combat the writer's block. I dunno.
I really have no idea what to do when I graduate. :'(
I need to learn the techniques of overcoming writer's block too! And overcoming stopping in the middle of a story! By the way, I just now saw your comment here before making the latest comment on your new post, so sorry for bringing up going to school again without seeing your comment about money.
Anyhow, I agree with Anna that you don't have to go to school for writing, but I understand your motives for doing so (hoping it will refine your technique). If you have room in your schedule next semester, take a fiction writing class. I would have never written that short story that's on Facebook had I not taken it. I think that's the main reason why I'm writing again. It did so much for me. It forced me to write and it made me fall in love with it all over again.
you can come up with a 25-30 page sample if you discipline yourself to write every day. i struggled with this in my poetry workshop and am coming up short in my portfolio, but looking back, i should have just MADE myself write SOMETHING every day.
in terms of references, you could probably get away with asking some of your other professors to attest to your ability to write academic papers with a distinctive style.
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