tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post3590276601452767942..comments2023-10-26T11:34:38.322-04:00Comments on Ask Allison: To MFA or Not? That is The Question.Allison Winn Scotchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-33776551385970773662007-04-27T09:05:00.000-04:002007-04-27T09:05:00.000-04:00Congrats, R.T! I know several people who have gon...Congrats, R.T! I know several people who have gone there (a while ago though). It's a great program.Allison Winn Scotchhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06820208316115681320noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-23232089813799782722007-04-26T20:46:00.000-04:002007-04-26T20:46:00.000-04:00Anyone want to let me in on their mfa experiences?...Anyone want to let me in on their mfa experiences? I'm headed to Columbia in the fall...R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/12489620899171644098noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-21950787656646069922007-04-20T13:44:00.000-04:002007-04-20T13:44:00.000-04:00I do think it depends on what kind of writing you ...I do think it depends on what kind of writing you want to do. I learned a ton about craft in my MFA program, and it provided me with a writing community and some important connections. It doesn't seem to matter at all as I move into magazine writing, but I do hope it will help as I search for an agent.kate hopperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08761820572827505993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-28246006637463149852007-04-19T22:51:00.000-04:002007-04-19T22:51:00.000-04:00An MFA provides you with an opportunity to focus o...An MFA provides you with an opportunity to focus on writing and learning craft. It doesn't make it easier to sell. It can help if you need a teaching job to make ends meet while you wait to sell.<BR/><BR/>Everyone I've met on the editor/agent side are clear that an MFA isn't required or even preferred. It is a personal choice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-48275479951660985552007-04-19T18:27:00.000-04:002007-04-19T18:27:00.000-04:00I'm a novice writer without an MFA, but if I had t...I'm a novice writer without an MFA, but if I had the opportunity to attend a program, I certainly would. Having said that, I'm a voracious reader and my list of favorite authors includes both those with extensive academic credentials and those with none. I'm sure it depends entirely on your career goals and how skilled you are now.Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00665632105920753931noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31033821.post-74011082186938980202007-04-19T13:26:00.000-04:002007-04-19T13:26:00.000-04:00This is absolutely a matter both of personal prefe...This is absolutely a matter both of personal preference--because an MFA is certainly not necessary for writing success--but I'll weigh in with "yay."<BR/><BR/>I have an MFA, and I'm writing commercial fiction (debuting Jan. 29th '08!!). But it's commercial fiction with a literary edge--it straddles that literary/commercial line.<BR/><BR/>My experience is that the process of earning the MFA invariably improves the quality of a person's writing, regardless of what kind of fiction they aspire to. But it's a huge time committment and isn't the only way to improve writing quality!<BR/><BR/>Hope Allison won't mind me sharing this link to one of my posts on the subject:<BR/>http://theresefowler.blogspot.com/2006/11/why-you-need-mfa-and-why-you-dont.htmlTheresehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01915740239016736614noreply@blogger.com