Patstarks3

Hi Folks. I'm new to the forum and have a somewhat unusual question. Not even sure if you guys can help, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I am a fiction writer actively seeking an agent/publisher, etc. I have my undergrad degree from SUNY Albany and an MFA in fiction writing from the New School. I believe that getting my MFA in creative writing was a waste of time because I'm not interested in aspiring or pseudo writers critiquing my work. I now believe a deep study of literature is by far more essential than those awful writers workshops that usually don't offer much in the way of constructive advice. Flash forward seven years. I really want to go back to school to continue my study of literature. When I was in college, I had semesters that nearly wore me out, studying the Bible and Dante and Milton, and I can remember never feeling more fulfilled and creatively electrified. I want to experience that again (I realize than an MA or PhD would be far more intensive; I'm just referring to the general feeling), but here's my conundrum: I don't really want to learn another language (I wish I had earlier, but that's now water under the bridge, I guess), and, truth be told, I don't really care about the degree. I'm in this purely for the sake of being able to experience the literature more thoroughly under the tutelage of professors, and, to ultimately foster a more thorough foundation for my own work. And so, here I am. I guess the most practical question I have is how hard is it to fulfill the language requirements and, additionally, are there programs which don't require it? (A cursory search has revealed to me that there are many more MA programs that either don't require it, or that their requirements are far more lenient.) Also, is there any way to study literature deeply without entering a degree program? Most of the "Continuing Education" courses I've examined seem like less than what I'm looking for. I'd appreciate any guidance the forum can provide on these somewhat unusual stipulations. Thanks in advance. I look forward to your responses. Danny

Hi Folks. I'm new to the forum and have a somewhat unusual question. Not even sure if you guys can help, but I thought I'd give it a shot. I am a fiction writer actively seeking an agent/publisher, etc. I have my undergrad degree from SUNY Albany and an MFA in fiction writing from the New School. I believe that getting my MFA in creative writing was a waste of time because I'm not interested in aspiring or pseudo writers critiquing my work. I now believe a deep study of literature is by far more essential than those awful writers workshops that usually don't offer much in the way of constructive advice. Flash forward seven years. I really want to go back to school to continue my study of literature. When I was in college, I had semesters that nearly wore me out, studying the Bible and Dante and Milton, and I can remember never feeling more fulfilled and creatively electrified. I want to experience that again (I realize than an MA or PhD would be far more intensive; I'm just referring to the general feeling), but here's my conundrum: I don't really want to learn another language (I wish I had earlier, but that's now water under the bridge, I guess), and, truth be told, I don't really care about the degree. I'm in this purely for the sake of being able to experience the literature more thoroughly under the tutelage of professors, and, to ultimately foster a more thorough foundation for my own work. And so, here I am. I guess the most practical question I have is how hard is it to fulfill the language requirements and, additionally, are there programs which don't require it? (A cursory search has revealed to me that there are many more MA programs that either don't require it, or that their requirements are far more lenient.) Also, is there any way to study literature deeply without entering a degree program? Most of the "Continuing Education" courses I've examined seem like less than what I'm looking for. I'd appreciate any guidance the forum can provide on these somewhat unusual stipulations. Thanks in advance. I look forward to your responses. Danny