tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post5901792950072903249..comments2024-02-21T05:25:03.233-05:00Comments on Adventures in YA Publishing: The M.F.A. Cheat SheetMartina Boonehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-72567146242431005442013-10-07T22:51:42.640-04:002013-10-07T22:51:42.640-04:00LHughes I have a stupid question for you.... How d...LHughes I have a stupid question for you.... How do most people handle this MFA program while working? Are most of them teachers so they have the summers off?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943910898690231820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-76010396458754242102012-06-24T00:45:29.772-04:002012-06-24T00:45:29.772-04:00This is great information. I've thought about ...This is great information. I've thought about doing this more than once. It's nice to see all of the options together.Sherrie Petersenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11670339498152684137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-41440025007056838662012-06-12T22:03:04.915-04:002012-06-12T22:03:04.915-04:00Just wanted to add, Antioch University in Los Ange...Just wanted to add, Antioch University in Los Angeles just recently added Writing for Young People to their Low Residency MFA Creative Writing Program.Gwen Hardinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-39895961379816893242012-06-09T13:48:34.518-04:002012-06-09T13:48:34.518-04:00Heather, wow, thank you for such a thorough and en...Heather, wow, thank you for such a thorough and enthusiastic comment. I'm motivated just reading it! That's wonderful that the time and money committed to your program has yielded such valuable results. I'm starting at Hollins in a week, but may try and apply to VCFA even still. It's got such a fabulous reputation. Best of luck in your fourth semester and have fun at the July residency!Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-60879207184831101632012-06-08T10:08:56.314-04:002012-06-08T10:08:56.314-04:00I attend VCFA, about to head into my fourth semest...I attend VCFA, about to head into my fourth semester. It's the best decision I've ever made. One of my critique partners recently told me that she can tell how much I've grown as a writer in the last year and a half; I owe that completely to VCFA. The low-residency format, with two residencies twice a year, makes it possible for me to attend while still working full-time. The faculty is seriously impressive, and we get incredible guest speakers each residency (often, we get multiple speakers). The amount of feedback I get on each submission of work is almost overwhelming; every faculty member puts as much thought into my work as I do. They're all working writers and they care about seeing you grow. It's hard work and you definitely sacrifice a lot of time and money, but it's absolutely worth it. There's also a focus on the critical aspect, so in addition to improving my creative writing, I've become a much more critical reader and learned how to better analyze what does and doesn't work in a piece of literature. <br /><br />Going to VCFA has also connected me with an incredible community of fellow children's writers. They're my closest friends, my best source of writing advice. We have workshops every residency which are the best workshops I've ever participated in. And we have fun! I love everything about VCFA and recommend it to anyone.Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15307781675912818191noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-39579529764021195752012-06-07T21:36:55.804-04:002012-06-07T21:36:55.804-04:00Ghenet, thanks so much for offering this one up. I...Ghenet, thanks so much for offering this one up. I hadn't caught it in my "search net." It's funny how the low-residency factor plays out from program to program.Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-65773980717471595932012-06-07T13:13:40.580-04:002012-06-07T13:13:40.580-04:00One program you should absolutely include on your ...One program you should absolutely include on your list is The New School in New York City. I got an MFA from there in Writing for Children. It's a great program. Many kidlit authors graduated from there, including Siobhan Vivian, Jenny Han, Coe Booth, Morgan Matson and others. David Levithan teaches there. It is NOT a low-residency program, however.Ghenet Myrthilhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12621168379560585094noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-5087891564418857392012-06-06T21:46:16.659-04:002012-06-06T21:46:16.659-04:00Yay! I hope you love it as much as I do! I consi...Yay! I hope you love it as much as I do! I consider it my own little paradise. We'll definitely meet-it's a small campus :)LHugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-17833479066657979752012-06-06T20:06:28.074-04:002012-06-06T20:06:28.074-04:00LHughes, I'm heading there this summer! Hope t...LHughes, I'm heading there this summer! Hope to meet you at some point :) Thanks for the feedback on their program.Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-72269871976488221042012-06-06T16:16:19.136-04:002012-06-06T16:16:19.136-04:00Hollins has a fantastic program. I'm in my th...Hollins has a fantastic program. I'm in my third year. It is a great environment for writing, so nurturing, and very knowledgeable staff. The fact that it's 6 weeks in the summer makes it more doable than some other full time programs. I blog about classes and guest speakers in the summer, if anyone would like to follow and get a feel for the program:<br /><br />www.hughesya.blogspot.comLHugheshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07447464817875756643noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-65576661079676819992012-06-06T07:22:54.800-04:002012-06-06T07:22:54.800-04:00Thanks, Jen! We're happy to help. When I start...Thanks, Jen! We're happy to help. When I started hunting down information for kid lit programs, it was much harder than I thought to narrow down schools that really focused on children's writing. Curious to know where you're thinking of going. I graduated with my B.S. in Childhood Ed. in 2002, completed another M.S. in Reading & Literacy in 2007, and am finally taking the plunge into an M.F.A. <br /><br />I've been thankful for the work experiences I've had as a classroom teacher over that 9 year gap because they've really fed into my writing in so many ways. I am planning on substitute teaching to stay connected with the kids, earn some cash, and keep a foot in the door in terms of long-term work. But I think we each have to figure out what makes sense for us as individuals. I'm sure you'll make a great choice but you must promise to let us know what you decide :)Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-34600969595603838892012-06-06T07:16:29.263-04:002012-06-06T07:16:29.263-04:00Keep us posted! Would love to know what you decide...Keep us posted! Would love to know what you decide.Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-51982801853952396792012-06-06T07:16:01.116-04:002012-06-06T07:16:01.116-04:00Thanks, Sheri!Thanks, Sheri!Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-38033910857449318852012-06-06T07:13:41.435-04:002012-06-06T07:13:41.435-04:00Natalie, I completely understand. The variety of s...Natalie, I completely understand. The variety of stressors associated with starting an MFA program has been huge in my household. I'm going to share some of the key points I'm picking up in my program along the way, so hopefully those will be beneficial for you without having to actually enroll :)Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-40214493327737123602012-06-06T07:11:19.066-04:002012-06-06T07:11:19.066-04:00Christopher, thanks so much for weighing in. I par...Christopher, thanks so much for weighing in. I particularly love your lesson of treating our writing like we would treat work. Additionally, the value of networking is HUGE when you enter into a structured community of writers. A formal program in writing affords that great opportunity.Martina Boonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03358736828122139189noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-19925390523467683472012-06-05T11:00:40.649-04:002012-06-05T11:00:40.649-04:00Great resources and information! I'm in the pr...Great resources and information! I'm in the process right now of deciding on an MFA program. I think I have the school narrowed down; now it's just deciding do I go straight out of my BA program or wait a bit?<br /><br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683486631901017529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-48924258776738209212012-06-05T09:03:26.191-04:002012-06-05T09:03:26.191-04:00Thank you! I've been looking for a program.
...Thank you! I've been looking for a program. <br /><br />TeresaT. Powell Coltrinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02160774009926623671noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-43373694385104069282012-06-05T07:51:54.703-04:002012-06-05T07:51:54.703-04:00Thanks for sharing this list. Tweeted for you. ;DThanks for sharing this list. Tweeted for you. ;DS.A. Larsenッhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241633272588383935noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-33416658044935050572012-06-05T07:13:07.997-04:002012-06-05T07:13:07.997-04:00Thanks for sharing all these resources Marissa. If...Thanks for sharing all these resources Marissa. If I didn't have a daughter going to college in a few years, I might consider it.Natalie Aguirrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03756087804171246660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8005062827798430682.post-81067363946688841492012-06-05T07:11:10.895-04:002012-06-05T07:11:10.895-04:00I have an MA in Creative and Critical Writing from...I have an MA in Creative and Critical Writing from the University of Winchester in England. I studied part time and I would say it was definitely the best investment in time I have done to improve my writing. Prior to this I went to weekend writing schools and seminars but after the first few I found I was not learning much more each time. Eventually I counted myself lucky if I learnt one thing from an entire weekend of classes. Most attendees at creative writing weekends seem to be looking for a magic formula that guarantees bestsellership or that means they can write a 120,000 word novel without doing the hard work. To be fair quite a lot of presenters told us this but we ignored it. Once I understood this (I'm a slow learner I need to be told something many times to learn it...) I enrolled on the MA.<br /><br />I don't want to bore you with details but I learnt a lot. The best thing I learnt was that if you want to write for a living then treat it as if it was work. In other words sit down every day and get some writing done and if you want to succeed you need to work hard. The second best thing I learnt was that there is no magic formula and no right way to write. It's like art, there are many mediums, many styles and many ways of putting paint on paper.<br /><br />But the real joy of doing the MA was the networking. For two years I had a ready and willing network of expert writers able to answer my every question and I had access to agents and publishers and now after I have finished I have friends who are serious about writing with whom I still communicate about writing. As I say it was the best investment in time I could have made.crwhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12609642011288457976noreply@blogger.com