cecsav

I'll be at ASU

I'll be at ASU

I'll be at ASU

I'll be at ASU

Hey have you guys committed to going to anywhere yet for your MFA programs? I'd like to know where you all are headed!

Just my two cents-- but I did a ton of copywriting after I graduated which then gradually shifted into PR. I did write alot, as I was promised by well meaning advice givers in my family, but it was all marketing copy/bylines & I absolutely hated PR. I have so much more brainspace for my own writing when I'm working jobs that are totally unrelated-- I got a lot done when I quit and worked at a factory packing candles into boxes lol! But it definitely is a choice I've made that has influenced how much $$ I make and my level of comfort in other parts of my life. TLDR-- you can write a ton in a nonwriting related field, or write very little in a field seemingly more connected....Or you may not find this to be true. It ultimately depends on how you personally work best, ya know!
Also-- @Cecsav, library life sounds so nice!!!

I'm not sure it's "writer-ish," but my job is definitely "reader-ish." I've been working at a library for almost two years. I absolutely love it there. The environment is great. I'm surrounded by people who read (and by books to read... I literally have 74 books checked out at this very moment!), and they are amazingly flexible with my schedule. I'm still in undergrad though, so my response doesn't technically answer your question. Lol

I'm not sure it's "writer-ish," but my job is definitely "reader-ish." I've been working at a library for almost two years. I absolutely love it there. The environment is great. I'm surrounded by people who read (and by books to read... I literally have 74 books checked out at this very moment!), and they are amazingly flexible with my schedule. I'm still in undergrad though, so my response doesn't technically answer your question. Lol

Libraries are beautiful, amazing organizations that allow you to take books home with you for FREE! And often, they have a process for patrons to request books that are not yet in their system. I regularly request poetry books for my library to purchase, and my requests are almost always approved. 

I love libraries haha, I basically lived in libraries for most of my childhood. There's something about a large library that makes me very very happy. Maybe I should renew my membership.

I thought of something to add to the great age/experience debate (if someone has said this I'm sorry, I just wrote this so I didn't forget it). I was told by some people that MFA programs want you to be moldable(?) as well as talented and dedicated. Not "teaching you writing" a.k.a making everyone into the same writer, but that your professors have the ability to form you in the best way they know how. You have to have grown enough, but not too much that they can't work with you. If they think they will be able to help you and you feel the same, then it's all the more reason for them to want you in the program.
Side note, I noticed some of you applied without doing too much research. It's helpful to read the professors' work ahead of time and figure out who you want to work with (you don't have to buy all the books, just read some of their work online).

OMG, I'm kissing you on both cheeks right now!!! THANK YOU. Big hugs from the south!

The only reason I said anything is because I published some poetry on my social media and didn't realize the repercussions until much later!! You should totally do whatever you want, I just wanted to make sure you knew it would count as "previously published." The lit mag world is full of weird rules that I'm still figuring out too
I use google docs personally with my writing group!  You can leave "notes" and suggestions in the margins and it can be accessed by multiple readers at the same time. It's also possible for you to make a separate, anonymous email if you're worried about privacy in an online group. I think that there are also FB workshop groups for MFA applicants but I understand if that's not a route you're interested in! 

See if you can find something here
https://www.awpwriter.org/community_calendar/writing_group_overview

See if you can find something here
https://www.awpwriter.org/community_calendar/writing_group_overview

My bad. I'm just looking for help from people in the same boat. Do you happen to know/suggest the proper place to seek out help/peer reviews? I'm still figuring all this out but would really appreciate a finger pointing to HERE. Where is that magical place I seek? 

This is the way I'd look at this: With regard to the fully funded programs to which you've been accepted, the fact that you spent the time and money applying to them in the first place indicates that the programs have at least some attractive (to you) features. If you like the program, the faculty, the location, etc (I'm hoping you wouldn't have applied otherwise), and they're offering you adequate financial support, I'd say go for it. 

Since the two people I turn to for creative/professional advice are telling me opposite things, I wanted to ask the internet: 
If this was your first time applying and you got into more than one fully funded programs, waitlisted at more than one fully funded program, but rejected by your 4 "dream" schools (Cornell, Brown, Hunter, IWW) would you:
A ) be grateful and accept the best offer you got this year
B ) read these results as a sign to roll the dice and apply again next year believing there will be fewer apps and your manuscript will be better, and you'll get actually into one of your dream schools.

After getting an encouraging personal rejection from Iowa (fiction), I honestly feel torn about this.  I really admire the people who apply 2,3, or more times and DO end up exactly where they want. But this process has given me months of nontrivial anxiety - and so does the thought of going through it again when I don't have to (and ultimately could get in nowhere). I feel like there's a relevant aphorism out there that would tell me what to do, but I don't have a good memory for that kind of thing lol. 

Oh heck. I'm sorry, I was unclear. I think it's an excellent idea to form an online workshop/critique group! I was just suggesting a different format, perhaps via email or a shareable Google Doc rather than posted publicly within this forum. 

oh and happy belated birthday. you just made me feel a bit better.

I turned 41 Monday!
 
Edited to add: Out of 12 applications, I have received four acceptances and am still waiting to hear from UNM. 

yay. congrats and thank you ::))))

I turned 41 Monday!
 
Edited to add: Out of 12 applications, I have received four acceptances and am still waiting to hear from UNM. 

I had a question for the people here. Is there anyone who is in their 40s? Does that sort of affect your chances? I haven't seen too many people in their 40a apply or getting accepted for that matter. It has been bothering me for a while. I did get into Columbia with some scholarship but got five rejections, which makes me think if my writing is really bad or if my age (41) works against me. Maybe my writing sample didn't make the cut. But is it also age?

I, too, wonder what other sadistic schools have not notified other than BU and Columbia ?