M-Lin

also wondering about this! Was hoping that NYU would continue to make some calls after last Friday's fellowship calls. I truly don't understand why they have to release notifications in this fashion....

Thank you so much for the positive energy. Really needed it! Wish you all the best in your application process as well! ❤️

For people who applied to partially-funded programs like I did, I got some advice regarding funding from the program director of Sarah Lawrence. She said one should always negotiate funding if it's a school one really wanted to go, because as accepted students decline offers, funding frees up and gets reallocated. I'm sure many of you already know this but thought I'd mention just in case! It seems like even well-funded programs are getting screwed this year. Bracing for the coming week!

Thank you! I sure hope this is the case. though without a full fellowship, affording it is another story... But not ready to call it a rejection yet!

Yep. I saw them too. Thanks!! Guess I'll be staring at my phone all afternoon.

My heart skipped a beat! Where are you seeing the news?

I'm in NYC! So have many (partial or no funding ?) options... The 4-hour commute is in Boston. I guess it's not really a commute. I would have to stay there one or two nights a week.

29 and married. Freelancer so income very unstable. Only applied to nearby schools because my partner can't move for his job. Might commute to a school 4 hours away... they said it's commutable (only required to be on campus 1-2 days a week). Oh, and also, first-time applicant. Applied to 7 schools. Fingers crossed for everyone here! ? ps: I've recently experienced some personal health crisis. Absolutely life-changing. I understand that it feels like whether we get into an MFA program is what our lives are all about right now, but please remember to appreciate your health, your loved ones, and every breath you take

@JPReinhold Your anxiety might be too FIRE? to realize that you meant to quote Starbuck420's quote above? HAHAHA

Never read Gogol, but have you read Jhumpa Lahiri's The Namesake? The main character is named after Gogol ?

I think it also just shows that we're generating some good conversations here. Plus, between Feb 3 last year and Feb 3 this year, there's a world of difference. Let's say, Feb 3 2020 was in the "before-time", and now we're in the "after-time". And with that, the individual anxiety level and the collective need of community has risen in tandem.

To whoever is willing to share, how was your acceptance communicated? Phone? Mail? E-mail (personal e-mail, form acceptance, e-mail to check application status)? Homing pigeon? Tele-pathetically, somehow?

Congrats, Congrats, Congrats. Important things need to be said thrice!!! =D

Thank you!!! You too! Maybe we'll meet each other at school Other than NYU & Columbia, I applied to Hunter, The New School, Brooklyn College and Sarah Lawrence. I branched out to Boston U as well since I really dig the program there and they said their previous students have lived outside of Boston, as far as NYC and Maine, and commuted. It's the only o fully-funded program I applied to besides Hunter, so it'll be a dream if I get in. Though of course it is so small and competitive. Actually as I'm writing about it, I feel like all my chances are pretty low. But it's okay, first time! Hope we hear news soon!

I'm doing the same thing! Fellow NYU and Columbia applicant (in fiction) here. I can't move away from New York so applied to all New York schools. Unfortunately almost none of them has good funding. And kind of regretting applying to Columbia at all since it doesn't seem like it's affordable even if I get funding, according to how stingy they've been. Anyway, just waiting it out in the snow storm. Hey, at least it's finally February!

I'm assuming you've seen the movie Parasite? LOL

Hi there! For me, having a day job that is completely unrelated to writing worked much better than having to do something that is a form of writing (political writing, copywriting etc.) because I think having to output any writing as part of your job will bleed into your personal writing. But, of course, when you're a writer, everything is related to writing! I've done hosting jobs in restaurants, bartending, coat-checking in night clubs, babysitting for kids who go to fancy New York private schools, tutoring, and film production jobs (my background). Honestly I think these "day jobs" have fueled my writing in many ways, though money is always a struggle! But it all depends on what you think you need, or there's never going to be enough money. I do realize that so many of these options are not available right now amid the pandemic :(. I hope you find something that are physically and mentally less taxing on you!

Same here. Maybe slightly earlier... like first week of March. I applied to two schools with a Feb 1 deadline, one of them being my first choice. I wouldn't be surprised if they don't have results until April. In that case, I am not sure I will make it sane until then. ? In the meantime, the new semester has started everywhere. If you're on the mailing list of a lot of the programs, you should see a lot of readings coming up. Good distractions and good free writing lessons!

HUGE CONGRATS!!! Your kids must be so proud of you right now I hope we all have more good news to celebrate soon! Gotta get myself a bottle of those sparkling Welch's. Yum.

Thanks everyone for recommending! keep them coming

What books on writing does everyone recommend? I've read On Writing by Stephen King, Bird by Bird by Anna Lamott, On Writing Well by William Zinsser. I recommend the latter two, though King's childhood anecdotes are enjoyable. How Fiction Works by James Wood is very much to the point. On my shelf that I've not read yet - Vonnegut & McConnell's Pity the Reader and John McPhee's Draft No.4: On the Writing Process. For grammar and style, obviously, The Element of Style. Recently read Dreyer's English and found it very helpful. It cleared up some things that I was always not so sure about. It's also full of jokes. I find non-fiction writing books illuminating to fiction writing as well. And writers' diaries/journals, when available, are so fun to read. The sense of schadenfreude I feel when I see great writers having almost the same daily struggles... Would love to hear everyone's recommendations! What else have we got but time to read.

I also think it's particularly hard to get out of my head this year because I literally spend all my time home (a one-bedroom apartment) other than occasional grocery run and walking my dog. As much as I treasure this time to read and write, it's also incredibly under-stimulating. With less daylight in the winter, I think we can all get a little too deep in our heads these days.

I think that's great advice! For however many times I tried to get through the book The Artist's Way, I've never managed finish it. I think I'm allergic to self-help books. But you just reminded me that, in the book, there are instructions for "morning pages" (free flow writing) and self-affirmations. I do find it true that when I write stuff down (those insecure, self-abasing thoughts we all have), I'm able to just file it away. Like it's out of my system. As I'm writing this, the most appropriate analogy that comes up is a comparison with human bowel movements. Just flush it out! LOL

Hi lurker fettuccine! I would love some insight on the instructor actually, because it's a writer I've not read. I was planning to check her out a little more before I officially sign up and pay. Her name is Courtney Mauk. If you have any knowledge of her or recommend any other instructor, please feel free to DM me, so we don't have to mention too many names here. That would totally destroy your lurker status!

Got it. Was totally confused! Oooh I thought you meant on grad cafe, lol. I quit Draft. The stress there doesn't work for me (it's probably just me being too stressed and can't handle it.)