[Fall 2016 MFA]

 

Genre includes sci fi, fantasy, romance, horror, westerns, YA - basically, there are certain rules that if you're writing genre, you're following. For example, in fantasy the rules are you will be in a fantastical setting that has some sort of magical element. If you're writing a western, it'll be set in the old American west and it'll have cowboys. That kind of thing. Usually, but not always, genre is plot-driven. Neil Gaiman, George R.R. Martin, and Stephen King write genre.
Literary is a little harder to define - pretty much, if it's not genre, it's literary. If you're in a bookstore and there's just a big shelf that says "FICTION", that'd be the literary section. Usually, but not always, it's character-driven.

If you want to send me some of your writing I'd be happy to look at it and tell you if I think it's genre or literary, and why. 

Thank you so much, HookedOnSonnets! This is very helpful!! Now that I think about it, I feel like my writing fits under the Literary category but allows some genre feeling in as well. I would love to see if I'm correct though! How would I go about sending you some of my works?

[Fall 2016 MFA]

Every school I recognize on the list is literary. Don't waste the application fee by giving them genre, because they will take your money and run. My professor's advice when I was applying was, "Don't give them a reason not to accept you."

Thanks HookedOnSonnets! I will try to look into that.

I guess my second question is what exactly is the difference between Literary and Genre writing and how can identify it in my own writing? I was taught to write what I feel but to have a meaning behind it, never knowing what the difference between the two is. 

[Fall 2016 MFA]

Hey guys! 

I have a question about MFA applications. I read somewhere that most schools don't like to see genre writing and I'm afraid that my writing is, well, GENREish... From those who have been accepted/have applied before, what type of writing are admissions people looking for? And could you give a synopsis/example of what you wrote? I have all of my possible writing samples done (need editing, of course) but I want a general idea. 

This is the list of schools I'm applying to:

Brown University

Cornell University

Syracuse University

Vanderbilt University

The New Writers Project (UT)

Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL)

Helen Zell Writers' Program (UMass)

University of Alabama

University of Iowa

Lousiana State University

Texas State University

McNeese State University

The University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley (my undergrad and safety school)

Our Lady of The Lake University (new MA-MFA hybrid program)

The City College of New York (CUNY)

[Fall 2016 MFA]

Hey guys! 

I have a question about MFA applications. I read somewhere that most schools don't like to see genre writing and I'm afraid that my writing is, well, GENREish... From those who have been accepted/have applied before, what type of writing are admissions people looking for? And could you give a synopsis/example of what you wrote? I have all of my possible writing samples done (need editing, of course) but I want a general idea. 

This is the list of schools I'm applying to:

Brown University

Cornell University

Syracuse University

Vanderbilt University

The New Writers Project (UT)

Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL)

Helen Zell Writers' Program (UMass)

University of Alabama

University of Iowa

Lousiana State University

Texas State University

McNeese State University

The University of Texas - Rio Grande Valley (my undergrad and safety school)

Our Lady of The Lake University (new MA-MFA hybrid program)

The City College of New York (CUNY)