Re: [darredet] advantages and disadvantages of low-res programs?
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Hi Darren,
I can relate to your angst. I've just sent in my applications for five low res MFA programs and am waiting with baited breath--will probably turn blue by mid October.
Especially discouraged because my fiction piece for my MFA applications was just rejected by Belleview lit. rev.
Re: [iceq777] advantages and disadvantages of low-res programs?
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Hi Shelley:
Thanks for the encouragement. Tomorrow I head off to a week long conference at Keene State College where I will get tons of time to write and be among others who enjoy the craft.
What five schools did you apply to?
I'm also sorry to hear about your story being rejected. But, keep in mind that what one person passes on someone else will accept. The whole thing is entirely subjective.
Re: [iceq777] advantages and disadvantages of low-res programs?
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In Reply To
Hi Darren,
I can relate to your angst. I've just sent in my applications for five low res MFA programs and am waiting with baited breath--will probably turn blue by mid October.
BATED! BATED! As in "abated." Not as in, "The cat ate cheese and waited for the mouse with baited breath."
Sorry for the rant, but I used to be a copyeditor.
Re: [pongo] advantages and disadvantages of low-res programs?
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Sorry, David, Actually I typed and re-typed "bated" vs. "baited" several times and I didn't have a dictionary at hand to look it up. Guess I chose the wrong one.
Just a quick note about teaching experience: Once you've got about a year of your MFA done (or all of it, if you prefer), consider checking with your local college to see if you can teach some English 101-type classes for them. Once the MFA is done, see if they'll let you teach some creative writing. Even if you need to do this for free (or nearly) it's a great way to get some experience.
Also, a number of professors have confirmed for me that getting published is far more important than teaching experience.
Re: [darredet] advantages and disadvantages of low-res programs?
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Hi Darren,
Best of luck getting admitted to a program. Let me know where/when you get accepted. Who knows? We might wind up attending the same program. I didn't apply to Stonecoast because I couldn't find much info about it except what was on their website. Do you have any other info on Stonecoast other than what's on their site?
Re: [iceq777] advantages and disadvantages of low-res programs?
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(This off-topic post is brought to you by your friendly neighborhood Links-R-Us busybody.)
Quote
I didn't have a dictionary at hand to look it up.
If you need a handy dictionary while online, check out the Merriam-Webster Online edition at http://www.m-w.com. It's a nice short URL to remember, so you can still get there even when you don't have your own favorites/bookmarks available.
(We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.)
Re: [iceq777] advantages and disadvantages of low-res programs?
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Hi Shelley:
You might wish to ask Elli some questions about Stonecoast. She is in the program right now. I will speaking with Jack Driscoll, a faculty of the program today. He is at the week long conference I am attending and already knows to look out for me; I met his sister a few months ago at a reading. Really exciting. It just goes to show that you need to network.
I will also be meeting with Ellen Lesser from Vermont College this week as well.
This is going to be a fabulous week. I can feel it already. And I will share any information I garnish from lessons learned this week.
Re: [darredet] advantages and disadvantages of low-res programs?
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Hi Shelley:
I didn't have much time to speak with Jack Driscoll as he could only be here for one day before heading back home.
I was privileged to have a conference with him and he did love my material; I had met his sister a few months ago and she said my writing was "sophisticated." He agreed.
Anyway, I asked two big questions I had. The first was about the teaching element. His comment was that many of the people in the program are looking at that and that area can be emphasized. I'm trying to think of the exact wording he used but can't. Also, what they consider the most important is the manuscript.
The nice thing that came out of this was that he said he would give me a letter of recommendation for the program. He also encouraged me to embrace the writing life.
Very rewarding. But now, I must get back to my dorm room and write out some stuff I worked on today and complete tomorrow's reading assignment.
Re: [darredet] advantages and disadvantages of low-res programs?
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Darren,
That's great about getting a recommendation from Jack Driscoll. He read a story at this past Stonecoast residency that just blew me away. And I just finished reading (and annotating!) his novel LUCKY MAN, LUCKY WOMAN.
Did you do a workshop with him at the Keene conference?
I'm actually more interested in part-time teaching, anyway. The ideal is to teach a couple of courses just to fill the coffers, but still have time to write. I have an understanding spouse with a decent job, too. So I needn't support myself entirely with the teaching income. Just contribute.
Rob
"Writing is exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go." -- E.L. Doctorow
