All frequenters of this forum: some want to be profs, but most want to be authors. Discuss.

[turonnobot]

Just verifying that these are, indeed, the only reasons to pursue postgrad lit/lit-derivative studies. Speaking as someone who's probably going to crap out and opt for law instead, so I wanted to check whether I'm missing anything.

(besides unrelenting passion for the written word etc etc)

[generic31290]

Go to law school.

[TripWillis]

I'm going because I want to be a tax attorney...

[ecritdansleau]

Professors are authors...of literary criticism.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_criticism

[butalas]

I can't think of any other valid reason to pursue graduate studies besides the desire to study.

[ComeBackZinc]

I can't think of any other valid reason to pursue graduate studies besides the desire to study.

I would add the desire to teach.

[Galoup11]

FUCK GUYS THE JIG IS UP!!!!1

[dazedandbemused]

If we're talking fiction writing here, I can't think of a single reason why you would do a PhD. Critical writing, on the other hand, is probably why we're all here.

[lyonessrampant]

Trolls are trolling

[HunkyDory]

Check out Charles Bernstein's "Attack of the Difficult Poems"--in one of the essays early on he talks about Buffalo and the general shift of other PhD programs away from just creating critics to creating scholars who can write critically and creatively, and teach both.

I know a large part of getting my PhD is to study things related to my personal poetics that I'm developing, as well as make me more marketable as a writer.

[poeteer]

If we're talking fiction writing here, I can't think of a single reason why you would do a PhD. Critical writing, on the other hand, is probably why we're all here.

Creative Writing Ph.D programs exist -- I'm headed to one. I guess it's technically "English Ph.D with creative writing major field and creative dissertation" but, really, it's a CW degree and I plan to list it as such on my CV. With the CW job market the way it is now, more and more people are going that route post-MFA.

Edited April 19, 2012 by poeteer

[HunkyDory]

Creative Writing Ph.D programs exist -- I'm headed to one. I guess it's technically "English Ph.D with creative writing major field and creative dissertation" but, really, it's a CW degree and I plan to list it as such on my CV. With the CW job market the way it is now, more and more people are going that route post-MFA.

Every MFA I've talked to HATES Creative Writing PhDs. They talk nonstop about how they're worthless and do nothing but attempt to lower the value of current MFAs...and that most people don't take them seriously at all.

That's just what I've been told tho. YMMV

[TripWillis]

Every MFA I've talked to HATES Creative Writing PhDs. They talk nonstop about how they're worthless and do nothing but attempt to lower the value of current MFAs...and that most people don't take them seriously at all.

That's just what I've been told tho. YMMV

This is, like, a classic example of a dokkeynot post.

[poeteer]

Every MFA I've talked to HATES Creative Writing PhDs. They talk nonstop about how they're worthless and do nothing but attempt to lower the value of current MFAs...and that most people don't take them seriously at all.

That's just what I've been told tho. YMMV

That's how I considered the CW Ph.D when I was finishing up my MFA. I said I would never get one, made fun of them, etc. I had two fellowship years afterward, and that was wonderful. And now what am I supposed to do? I've had a job for a year and it sucks. I'm 27, still finishing my first book, and I only qualify for crappy adjunct positions. While I'm trying to finish my book and get it out there, I'd rather be a TA/student -- at least that comes with health coverage. As an English Ph.D, you'll see what it's like to be out in the world after your degree in a job market that's still a lottery game for people with accolades and publications galore -- not pretty. MFA graduates who should be on the job market are applying for CW Ph.D programs because they can't find work that's worth it.

edit: also the CW Ph.D program is no longer a "new thing" -- it's not "trying to devalue" the MFA. it's been an option for a long time, but it wasn't popular until recently. The economy -- and humanities cuts across the country -- has done that for the MFA.

Edited April 19, 2012 by poeteer

[dazedandbemused]

Creative Writing Ph.D programs exist -- I'm headed to one. I guess it's technically "English Ph.D with creative writing major field and creative dissertation" but, really, it's a CW degree and I plan to list it as such on my CV. With the CW job market the way it is now, more and more people are going that route post-MFA.

I was thinking totally in terms of literature PhDs; probably should have mentioned that

[ProfLorax]

This writing instructor replies,

"Where is the textual evidence to support your initial claim?"

Edited April 19, 2012 by proflorax

[HunkyDory]

This is, like, a classic example of a dokkeynot post.

Yup, saying something factual meant to elevate the conversation? My bad bro, I should know better

[TripWillis]

Yup, saying something factual meant to elevate the conversation? My bad bro, I should know better

I was more referencing the idea that you really shoot from the hip with mixed results. I wouldn't say it always "elevates the conversation," bro.

[ComeBackZinc]

You said on a different post that this forum is "easy to troll." I used my amazing powers of deduction to conclude that you are, in fact, a troll. And you haven't done much to dissuade me from that stance since.

[Stately Plump]

I'm hoping to become a professor.

But I'm also going to get a PhD for the sake of the PhD itself. Even if I end up running the family business, I don't want to be 50 or 60 and have to think, "Would my life have been different if I had pursued my dreams of obtaining a PhD?"

<--- no regrets sunglasses

[Two Espressos]

Just verifying that these are, indeed, the only reasons to pursue postgrad lit/lit-derivative studies. Speaking as someone who's probably going to crap out and opt for law instead, so I wanted to check whether I'm missing anything.

(besides unrelenting passion for the written word etc etc)

This is a troll post and probably isn't worth responding to, but alas...

If by "author" you mean "creative writer," then my answer is an absolute "hell no." I have a (probably undue) dislike of creative writing programs, likely because the creative writers at my university are, for the most part, goddamn awful. More power to those who want to pursue it, but creative writing isn't my thing at all. Creative writing was a major part of my life from childhood until maybe 2 years ago, but I have no desire to write creatively anymore. So, at least for me, the whole stereotype of literature professors being failed writers or music critics being failed musicians doesn't apply.

I want to pursue a Ph.D. in English because I love the field and have many theoretical questions I'd like to answer or get closer to answering. Also, I love Beckett to death, and I want to study him and other 20th century British authors. I'm primarily interested in research, though I think I'd really like teaching as well.

[transcendental]

I'm doing the PhD in English for the money, obviously.

[hiphopanonymous]

I'm doing the PhD in English for the money, obviously.

Interesting. I'm doing it for the POWER.

[Phil Sparrow]

Interesting. I'm doing it for the POWER.

I'm doing it for Santorum alone.

[poeteer]

a good deal of successful writers of any era are "goddamn awful."

but your line of thinking is odd to me. the act of creative writing in itself =/= creative writing programs, even in our heyday of MFA programs. and the creative writing program at your one school =/= all, or even most, creative writing programs. especially if the program at your school does not have the funds or presence to attract the best writers.

your "hell no" reaction is also odd, as if you'd rather be a leper than a contemporary writer (and only two years post-passion)…because some writers at your school are bad?