DJ Lambchop

Reading a Karen Russell ARC next to my German shepherd.

I tend to feel better when I read my favorite writers. Kind of reminds me why I’m here. Bonus if your favorite writers did not get an MFA!

This has felt like the longest month in the history of months.

Seeing people get multiple acceptances/waitlists at all the schools I applied to while I receive complete silence makes me feel like shit. I’ve only had one hard rejection so far but at this point half the schools I applied to have notified acceptances and waitlists and I feel like what even was the point in applying? Why did I waste so much time and money?

I stupidly did not workshop my sample with anyone the first time I applied. You never know how blind you are to your own writing faults until you get someone to read your stories. This time I had new stories which I workshopped with two MFA alums and my mom, who used to write articles for a magazine. But honestly, I’m still not expecting an offer anywhere. Maybe a waitlist at best. I’m basically playing the lottery.

Fiction

This is sort of a weird recommendation but I find Rajiv Surendra’s YouTube videos really entertaining. He’s Kevin Gnapor in Mean Girls and today he has a YouTube channel and shows off all the really specific things he owns, like a horse hair mattress and fancy spoons and whatnot. He also learns whatever art form he wants and makes videos about that.

To second this, I had an MFA alum/published author look over one of my stories, and I had my mom look over the same one. My mom ended up understanding the nuances of my story much, much better than the MFA alum!

I don’t think so!

When I sent in my writing samples, I was like “oh yeah, this is good stuff.” Now when I look back at my sample, I’m thinking “wtf is this crap?”

Everyone goes on and on about how subjective these admissions processes are, but that begins to feel less so when I see individuals on draft getting offers of admission from multiple schools.

For Cornell being a supposedly great MFA program, they sure overused the word "very" in their rejection email.

Who’s ready for some rejections this week!!!!! Yeah, lemme hear you!!!!! Woo woo woo!

Yes, twin cities

Does anyone know if they accept people to programs in waves/rolling? I don't understand why they wait so long after accepting people to send out rejections. Just put us out of our misery already. (Thinking of University of Minnesota who just sent out waitlists today [according to draft]. At this point I can assume I'm a rejection, right?)

I had a dream last night that I was invited to an Iowa event where they revealed who was accepted. I was rejected but was forced to watch other people get their acceptances on a stage. Then the admissions committee took me aside and told me my writing was terrible.

Do we think there will be a lot of notifications dropping this weekend?

I wonder too... it looks like last year they sent out a few interview requests on 2/6 and then another one on 2/12. It's hard to know if they intentionally staggered them or if one of the interviewees was no good so they had to reach out to another.

Guys I just realized I did not write my home address down on the Iowa manuscript cover when I sent it in back in December 🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️🤦🏼‍♀️. I know it’s on the Iowa portal somewhere but as they are all gung ho about that physical manuscript, I’m worried this will affect how I receive my notification.

Applied to nine programs. Would be surprised if I get waitlisted at even one of them. I feel like I’m playing the lottery.

Saw on draft two acceptances to University of Minnesota today via email. To anyone who applied, I also applied and haven't heard anything yet.