So, the future. It's poking its head around all my corners, looking me over. Hmm. What to do.
Bonnie Jo mentioned teaching at a low-residency MFA program out in Oregon on her blog this a.m.. I'm wondering. Maybe this would be something to consider. Maybe it would be a better fit for my future. Thoughts?
10 comments:
I like the option of a low-res MFA...it's probably more helpful to people with families, work, lives, all that. Sounds like something you might really enjoy, and you're certainly qualified.
The only thing I would say is make sure if you get an MFA, it's paid for by somebody else. Just my own suggestion. I think most good MFA programs do it, anyway.
I'm not so sure the low-res MFAs are always paid for. I'm just checking out the costs right now. Frightening!
I think its quite the opposoite: the los-res MFA's are really, really expensive. But you're rich, right?
:)
Last I checked I had one kid in college and one on the way. I'm hopeless! Back to work for me.
No, I'm not sure about the low-res in particular. It just seems like a degree one wouldn't want to pay for, to me. I mean, you're already a poet. That's a lot of money to pay for a degree that doesn't really qualify you to do anything more than what you're already doing. I guess one could argue that it would qualify you to teach poetry, but so does success in publishing. Hmmm...it sucks when money becomes an issue in academic pursuits.
Yes, many MFAs (I'd hesitate to say the 'good ones do') pay you, but only if you teach classes, which may or may not be up your alley. So far Notre Dame is the only program I've found that charges no tuition, no strings attached.
And like others mentioned, low-res programs, at least every single one I've ever seen or heard of, are ridiculously expensive. I also don't think their low-res nature is a particularly good or helpful thing, DDL seems to agree with me.
Yes. I don't care about what a program will "get" me. I just want to keep writing at higher levels.
That being said, I'm tired of being stuck in the house and am probably just poking sticks at things, seeing if they move. Winter does not amuse me.
Charmi, given your goals, maybe it would be worthwhile to either take a graduate level poetry class (which would certainly cost less than a whole degree), or attend a well-known workshop...I don't know, just throwing some stuff out there. I've found some cool programs in Chicago that aren't connected to an academic degree; maybe DDL would be able to say if they're good or not.
Charmi:
Low residency programs are wonderful for those who are trying to combine a writing life with the demands of an adult life.
I say go for it.
Thanks, Greg. I'm still thinking about it. The money, though...
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