tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post8024592435305893402..comments2024-03-25T03:14:46.787-04:00Comments on Across the Board: Do you need a mothereffin A (MFA)?Stephen Kozeniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15185600045044927669noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-18714750328118684312017-05-26T04:52:04.612-04:002017-05-26T04:52:04.612-04:00I wrote my first novel, Checkmate, while I was doi...I wrote my first novel, Checkmate, while I was doing an MA and MRes in Creative Writing and my second one while I was doing my PhD.<br />Taking the academic path teaches you to take criticism and use it properly. It gives the opportunity to make friends at the same early stages of being an author and to make professional networks. Importantly for a genre writer (I write supernatural Gothic horror) it gives an opportunity to really study how the genre works and I think this has made me a more competent writer. I fell that writing is more a craft, rather than an art.<br />And yes, you do become an eternal student, but then, that's no bad thing.<br />If you can do a higher degree, then I would grab the opportunity and see where it takes you.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17262725074413868473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-57783780194056602882017-05-25T19:48:51.520-04:002017-05-25T19:48:51.520-04:00I would love to get an MFA. Unfortunately, life ha...I would love to get an MFA. Unfortunately, life has other plans for me. My big misgiving as I get older is I did not get a PhD. Ann Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17759967601352382204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-77946947267649130862017-05-25T17:37:17.413-04:002017-05-25T17:37:17.413-04:00I would do one to become a better writer -- to cha...I would do one to become a better writer -- to challenge me in ways I can't do alone -- but not at a 40K price point.Kimberly G. Giarratanohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03983330164849240374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1020653850161663700.post-75399872410750337082017-05-25T15:32:47.141-04:002017-05-25T15:32:47.141-04:00I don't have one, and at times I wonder if it ...I don't have one, and at times I wonder if it would be beneficial. I mean, a BSME and an MBA aren't the standard qualifications for a writer. However, one of the things I've come to love about writing is the freedom of letting things happen organically. I fear with more targeted education I'd bog myself down with the 'proper' way things are supposed to be done. As you say, learning is important, but I think these days there are many other ways it can be accomplished. But who knows - maybe some day I'll determine it's necessary.Carrie Beckorthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04324065022504846662noreply@blogger.com