Cristie

Y'all are better than Netflix.

It's also very similar to a bad divorce...takes months to happen, costs a lot of money, you feel rejected....I could go on but I'm sure you get it.

Maybe there is still hope. My letter of rejection from them said they only accepted 1.3% of the applicants this year. And that the work had to be "Interests of our particular faculty". My writing could be described as dark and southern. That was on Friday at 6:18 pm. Remember I'm fiction, last name starts with an A. And I still haven't heard from UNO. Do you know if any fiction/non people have?

Thank you for the guidance. Question...no funding is pretty extenuating (for me). Could it be done or is it like so taboo that no one would accept you? I ask this because I've seen the graduate catalogs say that they will admit/transfer with up to twelve hours. I just don't know the unspoken rules. Many thanks, Cristie

I hope everyone is enjoying their Spring Break and going outside and soaking up some sunshine. The last several weeks haven't been my favorite. This process has been a pretty humbling experience. I've heard it said that if you can't get into an MFA first round, to get into an MA for a year (work your ass off some more-improve writing and CV) and try again for the MFA on the next round. If anyone has actually done this with some success or advice about going this route, will you please share. Or do you accept something with no funding and pay for a year and try to get funding for the next? Can you go from one MFA program to a better one (is that a no-no)? What other options are there? This is my first attempt so looking for some advice from someone who was in my boat last year. What did you do?

Just got my Florida rejection by email. Hope you get better news.

Sorry to hear that, that's who you were hoping for right?

Whispers: Maybe don't call everyone else's dreams weak...just a thought. Other than that, congrats and good luck making a decision. Sounds like you have some great options!

This is a tough one. If this were me, I'd have to really ask myself if I had the kind of self discipline a low-res would require. My poetry professor did one (in Maine?) and raves about it. But I need to be IN/AT school to learn best (covid taught me that). So I think it comes down to YOU, not them. I'd also email your chair, AND mentor/professor and pose the situation to them. Get 2 different professional opinions from those who know you and probably about those programs. Might want to write "urgent". Good luck, interested to see how you work out of this pickle! Lol. Give an update!

Anyone else doing the zoom meeting tomorrow for UMKC?

Just wanted to say good luck on mid-terms and big paper assignments for those of you who are also trying to keep up your GPA while going through this insanity. I know I'm like- read a page, check my email, read a page, check my email....(sigh). I feel like my life is on hold when I should be bouncing off the walls about graduating...virtually (which sucks too). Come on normal....I miss you.

No problem, I'll check back after. And thanks, I just figured if THEY don't put any thought into it then maybe I should take them that way and not as personally as I did. Rejection sucks but some have been way nicer than others-like please apply again, we could only take 5 this time v. your application was not accepted (period, scribbled name). Maybe it just depends on the program (like everything else). Again, thanks for your input, very helpful. Oh..one more...do they read the WHOLE submission or just the first two pages. We've debated that too. Someone needs to do a documentary on this process covering multiple schools...if that is out there someone let me know.

I have a few questions. But first, thanks for that long post. Can you say what program you are with? I'm curious because it sounds appealing and I'm pretty new here. I couldn't find where you go. Also, in that secret room and process...did they ever discuss rejection letters? There has been much discussion over the coldness of rejection letters and I'm just curious if that was ever even discussed behind the scenes. Many thanks, Cristie

Look at Poet & Writers grad program database...it tells the incoming class size for each program. Not that it's true for THIS year, but a general idea at least.

That's because you are a truth-teller. I was a cop for a bit and all I ever did was tell the truth. When I left that career, I couldn't write nonfiction...I was so mentally blocked there. But I told myself I was tired of seeing and telling all the ugly truths. I used fiction as a way to escape that often morbid reality. So I get the bad shit you see and how it sticks with you. Not everyone will agree with me, but I found that writing in third person, past tense really helped me detach from that issue I was having (from a truth-telling profession). All those times I wished the ending for people would have been different...I wrote it that way-the way I wish it could have been. Maybe try that. The guy with the bird...I'd read that one.

Congrats, I'm in the camp that waitlists can be a good thing. I wouldn't balk at getting waitlisted. I'd do a little dance because it's NOT a rejection...very validating for your feelings about your writing!

I love to push the limits in nonfiction though...using metaphor, imagination and dreams, skewed memories, etc. Creative nonfiction or autofiction (it's ok to break the rules a bit). And for Blackhole...when I get stumped. I just open a dictionary, blindly flip to a page and put my finger down. Then I look at all the other words on that one page that I can use...the brain starts putting things together and boom...story. What I'm saying is that sometimes writing prompts help. Word a day calendars, google writing prompt lists. You like Leonard-he's powerful. Turn a song into a story. Music is a great writing inspiration too. I wrote an entire novel over an old Echo and the Bunnymen song. Over a single line about a blue moon that caught me. Another over the line "on the edge of seventeen"- and I bet we could all write a story based on that line alone. I've used Stevie Nix, Black Sabbath, Cowboy Junkies...all kinds of music. People watching...in the grocery, stuck in traffic...keep a notepad on your dash for stoplight inspiration...make them all serial killers, escaped prisoners, lovers or whatever your thing is. Everyone around you is a possible character. I'm already intrigued by the people you've mentioned so far. Use them. I'd love to hear what others do when they hit that wall. Team Edward... Oubukibun...(not really, but the Twilight thing made me chuckle).

Did you guys see the news that all the GA's at Columbia are on strike? I'm not an applicant there but hope that doesn't slow down the process for you all who are.

OMG I'm out of hearts. WTH? How can I be out of hearts??? So, I heart this and the other one too. You guys make me laugh.

Aw...a little stroking never hurt anyone. (face on fire but had to)

Someone else please admit that they are carrying their phone into the bathroom....Just in case. lol

You know, I felt that way about Florida State's rejection...COLD. Like it was nothing. But when I got rejected from Wyoming...it was the nicest and most personal rejection (a letter and an email), even encouraged me to apply again and waived the fee for next time. That might have taken someone an extra minute to type to me. But If I do this again, I'd apply to Wyoming again but never Florida State. All over a few lines and just being decent (and I HATE the cold). It's not like most of these people don't know what rejection feels like (they are all writers!). So I'm split, I I feel your frustration too, but also see Ydrl's point in that I don't want to wait forever either.

Nice..I hate those teacher's pets types..(groan) I'm more thorn in your side, grumbling and plotting deaths from the back of the workshop room. I'm doomed.

No, that makes sense. I put my short one first and long one second. I probably should have flipped them. I don't know how much you all spent on application fees, but at 60, 70 bucks each...I'd hope they would read more than the first two pages. UGH.

While we wait and REFRESH repeatedly, any advice on Zoom Meet and Greet meetings? I have one Friday afternoon. A get to know you with faculty and students already in the program, Q&A. (This is also a school I've heard no word on funding from-and don't think (?) anyone else has either). In my current nervous state...Is this a test? Advice please... Many thanks and big luck to everyone waiting.