There is an argument amongst some writers. The question at the center of it all is how important is an education? Or is it better to just dig into the craft? If education is important, what kind? A bachelors degree (does the major matter)? A graduate degree? An MFA (what are the merits)? Speaking as a person who has an MFA (along with an alphabet of other unrelated degrees), I personally feel that had I not pursued the degree, I might not be in the same place I am today. I might not be writing at all had I not had the immersive experience of meeting regularly with other writers, reading new fiction I might not have discovered on my own, or simply exploring my relationship with words. That said, I can appreciate that an MFA may not be for everyone. And Tanya Paperny weighed in on this topic today over at
LitDrift, here's an excerpt:
Long story short, I won’t try to talk anyone into or out of getting an MFA, and I don’t think people on the internet should waste their time doing so, either. It’s an institution that’s not going anywhere for a long time. Universities are making money off their MFA programs. Many well-known contemporary writers got their starts in graduate school. Many others never studied writing formally. Neither path is better or more likely to lead to success. It’s about the individual and their needs. Admit that to yourself.
There is an argument amongst some writers. The question at the center of it all is how important is an education? Or is it better to just dig into the craft? If education is important, what kind? A bachelors degree (does the major matter)? A graduate degree? An MFA (what are the merits)? Speaking as a person who has an MFA (along with an alphabet of other unrelated degrees), I personally feel that had I not pursued the degree, I might not be in the same place I am today. I might not be writing at all had I not had the immersive experience of meeting regularly with other writers, reading new fiction I might not have discovered on my own, or simply exploring my relationship with words. That said, I can appreciate that an MFA may not be for everyone. And Tanya Paperny weighed in on this topic today over at LitDrift, here's an excerpt:
December 18, 2009 12:05 PM
Yes, yes, yes. I agree with both you and Tanya.
There's no magic formula on how to be a writer, and almost all writers agree with this. But we still get heated up about "to MFA or not to MFA" question.
But you and Tanya offer valuable, smart insights. Thanks!