rmexiq

Thanks for your response. For clarification, I wouldn't write on a topic I wasn't already interested in. It's just that my interest in contemporary literature (a poorly represented period at most departments) stretches into aspects of modernism, and I'm wondering if it would be better to focus more on the latter. It seems like that would keep things more open-ended for PhD applications.

I'm trying to choose a topic for my master's thesis. Am I right in thinking that it would be better to choose a "safe" topic in a big subfield (e.g. modernism) rather than something less traditional (e.g. science fiction) outside the major subfields? I'm assuming ad-comms expect some continuity between your MA work and PhD application, and that pigeon-holing yourself into an obscure area might get you ruled out at some departments. This seems like kind of a backwards question to ask; ideally you'd research whatever you wanted and apply only to departments where you could expand those interests. But certain areas are less in vogue than others, and I don't want to diminish my chances of getting into a good PhD program. The thesis is only two semesters, and it's not like there aren't cool things to write about in the major subfields. Plus, there's all that stuff about professionalization. Answers are bound to be speculative, but I'm curious what you guys think.

The MFA in fiction is a studio degree for people who write literary fiction. There's nothing to stop you from enrolling in an MFA and writing stories dealing with religion; there will be people writing about all sorts of things, and I suspect the workshop environment will be more accepting than academic programs of religion. Keep in mind, though, that the main focus of the fiction MFA is the mechanics of the short story (e.g. point of view, dialog, character development). Stories will be analyzed as works of craft rather than assessed on their instructive (or other) merits. You could also look into the low-residency MFA, which is an MFA done by correspondence. You are paired with an advisor, who critiques your work and oversees your thesis. If you can find a writer at such a program interested in instructive or religious fiction, I suspect the low-residency MFA might be a better path for you. There's a lot of info on both full- and low-residency MFAs online. I'd start with the blog I'll link to below, which ranks programs based on funding. Good luck! http://creative-writ...k.blogspot.com/