Sunday, March 26, 2006
MFA final update
I e-mailed Vanderbilt and Wyoming yesterday to let them know I wouldn't be attending their MFA programs. It's a very tough thing to do, and I can't help but feel like I'm letting people down, even though rationally I don't think it can be taken that way--they have people choose to go elsewhere all the time, and they reject people all the time too. Ultimately, it came down to the fact that I'm happy enough with my poetic and personal situation right now that if I'm going to uproot and move and pay money to get mostly the experience of getting this basically useless piece of paper, it needs to be the perfect situation, and neither place felt quite like it. I think I was closest to going to Wyoming, but I got the feeling that I'd go somewhat crazy (crazier) living in Laramie, I discovered I very much enjoy my steady employment and fiscal solvency, and I also realized that if I'm going to move for an MFA, I'd most like to move to St. Louis, or near there. I think I'll apply next year to several schools in that area. People keep asking me about the low-residency MFAs, but that route doesn't particularly appeal to me.
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I think you made a great decision to go with your instincts. The whole MFA process is quite insane and it's tough to decide on what to do. I'm going to Bennington (a low-res), but that's what's right for me. I think the fact that you have established yourself quite well is proof that you don't need the MFA to be a good writer or editor.
Perhaps you forgot about 'Fist-Factor Double X!'
... kidding aside, my position was always that you should do what you feel, and you're doing exactly that. It didn't feel perfect, and you decided not to settle. How can anyone feel let down by that? You stuck to your guns! Good on ya, mate!
Of course, I'm still going to punch you.
... kidding aside, my position was always that you should do what you feel, and you're doing exactly that. It didn't feel perfect, and you decided not to settle. How can anyone feel let down by that? You stuck to your guns! Good on ya, mate!
Of course, I'm still going to punch you.
We get led to do different things, Steve. If you're in a good place and doing good work, then I think that you most certainly made the right choice.
I for one can't see how your poetry could "improve" with an MFA. I don't mean to sound presumptuous. I just think that we're all still developing as poets. If you have a good community of writers where you are, I think that you're in good shape.
Heck, I think it sometimes helps if a writer is alone for a while, away from a writing community.
Anywho, good on ya, to quote A.J.
(This morning, I responded to a forward that asked me to name 4 websites that I visit daily. Yours was on the list)
I for one can't see how your poetry could "improve" with an MFA. I don't mean to sound presumptuous. I just think that we're all still developing as poets. If you have a good community of writers where you are, I think that you're in good shape.
Heck, I think it sometimes helps if a writer is alone for a while, away from a writing community.
Anywho, good on ya, to quote A.J.
(This morning, I responded to a forward that asked me to name 4 websites that I visit daily. Yours was on the list)
Thank you all for your support and kindness. No matter what the naysayers may say (that's a lot of "ay" sounds in a row), this blog community is a great thing for me too.
I still expect I'll go for an MFA, but I want to make sure it's the right situation at the right time.
I still expect I'll go for an MFA, but I want to make sure it's the right situation at the right time.
Glad you're following your heart + mind on this big decision. I've been reading MFA apps for weeks, so this topic has definitely been in my thoughts and on my desk.
Do it if/when you're ready and want a change. A mon avis, it sounds like you're already thriving as a writer and editor.
Do it if/when you're ready and want a change. A mon avis, it sounds like you're already thriving as a writer and editor.
If you can't get exactly what you want than you made the right choice. Plus I have my own personal agenda for not wanting you to go--i don't have an MFA either! Let's start a club! You know, really we could do something like encourage one another to read more/different books than what we're used to reading. I don't need encouragement to read (spent almost 400 bucks on books this month alone) but I read the same "kind" of poetry all the time. It wouldn't hurt me to expand my aesthetical horizons every once in awhile. it might be cool to have a little book email correspondance or something. Hell, I dunno.
Have you ever seen that film about Laramie? Looks like someplace you don't want to live. . .
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Have you ever seen that film about Laramie? Looks like someplace you don't want to live. . .
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