You have always wanted to become a writer and have considered getting a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing but aren't sure if you want to invest the time and money.
The question: Should I apply for a Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing?
The answer: It depends.
Instead of leaving it there, let's examine this in detail and see if we can work through a process for making a good decision about whether or not an MFA program is right for you.
Creative writing (both fiction and creative non-fiction) is something that many of us want to do well, and if we can get paid for it, so much the better. While an MFA in creative writing is not required for success as a writer, focused study of the art and craft of writing will help most people. Of course, as I write this, there is a minority of writers - some with MFAs - who will say that an MFA program will hurt certain writers and detrimentally alter their specific style or creative uniqueness. While that may be true in a few cases, as a rule, most of us would benefit from focused training and awareness of writing that will come as part of an MFA program. An MFA program is a big investment in time (2-5 years depending on full or part-time attendance, and whether it is a traditional or low-residence program), and in money (from $15,000 - $35,000 for most programs).
In order to figure out if an MFA program is right for you, you have to seriously consider what your ultimate goal as a writer is. For example, an MFA in creative writing will benefit almost any writer in five ways:
1. It will make you feel like a writer and identify yourself as a writer. (This may actually be the most important thing an MFA program can do for a writer.)
2. You will have time to write, and you will in fact have external and internal deadlines imposed on you - you will have to produce material.
3. You will learn to give and receive well thought out criticism of a piece of poetry, fiction or creative non-fiction (depending on your program orientation).
4. Your writing will improve - if you work at it - because you will focus on improving your skill as a writer and will receive continuous, close feedback on how you are crafting specific work.
5. You will likely make some contacts through the program that may help you in submitting polished work, and, if this is your objective, finding employment in teaching or publishing.
Thus, most MFA programs will improve your writing and will give you a "terminal degree" that will allow you to either teach creative writing or work in publishing. A terminal degree means that the MFA is the accepted top-degree in the field of "creative writing", and is the degree you need to teach at the college and university level. While there are a number of programs offering Ph.Ds in creative writing, the MFA is the mainstay and you don't need a doctorate to teach or find employment.
All of the above are good things, and I would not want to talk anyone out of going down the MFA route if that is what they want, but if your goal in not academia or publishing work, then an MFA may not be the right route for you. There are as many (or more) successful writers without MFAs as there are with MFAs. Now, let's examine some other routes to improving your writing that do not result in MFA degrees.
First, you have to examine critically, and as objectively as possible, where your specific level of writing is at, and what your weaknesses are. This critical self-assessment will allow you to work to find training and mentorship outside of an MFA program to improve your skills. Options to improve your writing are many, but a few are:
- Reading books on craft.
- Attending short workshops and classes (either online or in person).
- Attending a course in writing (this can be at a local college, community center, or a writing center.)
- Finding a mentor who is a more experienced writer or an editor.
- Joining or forming a critique group (this can be online or in person).
- Write a lot and try and improve with each piece you write.
Let's face it, MFA programs are expensive and they take time. But for some, they offer the structure and the time needed to improve your writing and reach your goals. However, if you have a modicum of self-discipline and the internal fortitude to critically assess your weaknesses, you can design a program of seminars, conferences, and classes to make similar improvements that you would in an MFA program.
Senin, 27 November 2017
Kamis, 09 November 2017
Creative Writing- 5 Crucial Reasons Why You Never Really Get Going With Your Creative Writing
How happy are you with your creative writing right now?
If a rating of 100 was "I'm writing the most amazing, rich and deep creative work I'm capable of" and a rating of 0 was "I'm not even writing", where would you be right now on that scale?
If you rated yourself around 80 or above, congratulations, that's fantastic! You've obviously found the methods, routines and techniques that are working incredibly well for you as a writer.
If, like the vast majority, your rating was much lower, then obviously you're aware there must be a number of factors that are preventing you from being the best creative writer you can be.
So here are 5 of the most common reasons why you never really get going with YOUR creative writing, and what you can do instead:
1. You feel you don't have enough time. You don't write very often, and when you do it's only a snatched few minutes here and there. You don't have a chance to get going, to build momentum. There's always something "more important" demanding your attention.
What you can do - Set aside a fixed period to create in every day, even if it's just 15 minutes. Get up earlier, go to bed later, borrow the time from somewhere, make it a priority. Stick to it the same time everyday and within a couple of weeks you'll notice the difference in your creative writing.
2. You lack the confidence in your creativity. You don't believe you ever write anything that's any good or worthwhile. You feel "what's the point of writing if I never come up with anything good?"
What you can do - Build your confidence by starting with small projects. Pick a simple form like a short article or poem and just experiment writing with different approaches. Detach yourself from the outcome of the "finished product". Just write to enjoy the experience of writing.
3. You struggle to focus on one project. You always have about 17 projects at various stages of completion. Whenever you start working on one project, you come up with ideas for the others, and you feel bombarded with options and overwhelmed.
What you can do - Pick one project. Make it something quite small, something you can finish within a couple of hours. Put all the other projects away out of sight. The aim here is to practice seeing one project through to the end, and experience what that feels like.
4. You don't think you come up with enough good ideas. You often just sit staring blankly at a screen, wondering where on earth your next idea will ever come from. This makes you feel more and more anxious and to avoid this feeling, over time you've stopped even sitting down to write.
What you can do - Being open to ideas and to stimulation is a state of mind, something that anyone can develop. Take a notebook or sketchbook out to a new environment. Go through each of your 5 senses in turn and write down as much as you can about what you're experiencing through that sense. This will enhance your sensory awareness, and ideas will flow more easily to you.
5. You feel a slave to procrastination. You never quite get around to writing, you always manage to find something else important to do. Like reorganising your bookshelf or cleaning the entire contents of your cutlery drawer.
What you can do - Set a short period of time to create every day, say 15 minutes. In this time, just write, forget about everything else. Just write what comes to you, whatever that may be. The more you practice just sitting down and going straight into writing - without finding an excuse not to - the easier it'll get.
These are 5 of the top reasons why people struggle to be the wonderful creative writer they have the potential to be.
Which do you relate to most?
What actions can you start to take today to move your creative writing forward?
If a rating of 100 was "I'm writing the most amazing, rich and deep creative work I'm capable of" and a rating of 0 was "I'm not even writing", where would you be right now on that scale?
If you rated yourself around 80 or above, congratulations, that's fantastic! You've obviously found the methods, routines and techniques that are working incredibly well for you as a writer.
If, like the vast majority, your rating was much lower, then obviously you're aware there must be a number of factors that are preventing you from being the best creative writer you can be.
So here are 5 of the most common reasons why you never really get going with YOUR creative writing, and what you can do instead:
1. You feel you don't have enough time. You don't write very often, and when you do it's only a snatched few minutes here and there. You don't have a chance to get going, to build momentum. There's always something "more important" demanding your attention.
What you can do - Set aside a fixed period to create in every day, even if it's just 15 minutes. Get up earlier, go to bed later, borrow the time from somewhere, make it a priority. Stick to it the same time everyday and within a couple of weeks you'll notice the difference in your creative writing.
2. You lack the confidence in your creativity. You don't believe you ever write anything that's any good or worthwhile. You feel "what's the point of writing if I never come up with anything good?"
What you can do - Build your confidence by starting with small projects. Pick a simple form like a short article or poem and just experiment writing with different approaches. Detach yourself from the outcome of the "finished product". Just write to enjoy the experience of writing.
3. You struggle to focus on one project. You always have about 17 projects at various stages of completion. Whenever you start working on one project, you come up with ideas for the others, and you feel bombarded with options and overwhelmed.
What you can do - Pick one project. Make it something quite small, something you can finish within a couple of hours. Put all the other projects away out of sight. The aim here is to practice seeing one project through to the end, and experience what that feels like.
4. You don't think you come up with enough good ideas. You often just sit staring blankly at a screen, wondering where on earth your next idea will ever come from. This makes you feel more and more anxious and to avoid this feeling, over time you've stopped even sitting down to write.
What you can do - Being open to ideas and to stimulation is a state of mind, something that anyone can develop. Take a notebook or sketchbook out to a new environment. Go through each of your 5 senses in turn and write down as much as you can about what you're experiencing through that sense. This will enhance your sensory awareness, and ideas will flow more easily to you.
5. You feel a slave to procrastination. You never quite get around to writing, you always manage to find something else important to do. Like reorganising your bookshelf or cleaning the entire contents of your cutlery drawer.
What you can do - Set a short period of time to create every day, say 15 minutes. In this time, just write, forget about everything else. Just write what comes to you, whatever that may be. The more you practice just sitting down and going straight into writing - without finding an excuse not to - the easier it'll get.
These are 5 of the top reasons why people struggle to be the wonderful creative writer they have the potential to be.
Which do you relate to most?
What actions can you start to take today to move your creative writing forward?
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