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Tag Archives: creative writing programs
Last Lecture: What matters more: Story or Sentence?
Every time I teach novel writing, I end the semester with a “Last Lecture” on a topic that’s been on my mind all semester long. Last spring, I wrote about learning to self-identify as a writer; this post, “Am I … Continue reading
Posted in Teaching, Writing
Tagged Ball State, creative writing programs, pedagogy, students, teaching creative writing, writing process
12 Comments
“I can’t do this anymore.”
I’m having a real crisis. I’m starting to wonder if teaching a novel-writing class with 15 students can really be done. Let me explain. This semester, I taught Advanced Fiction, a 400-level course at Ball State which I teach as … Continue reading
Posted in Teaching
Tagged Ball State, creative writing programs, novel, pedagogy, teaching creative writing
9 Comments
My Next Big Thing: Literary Citizenship
For the last few years, I’ve ended my classes with a presentation/pep talk on Literary Citizenship (basically this post as a Power Point). But next semester, I’m going to teach a whole class on Literary Citizenship. Course descriptions are due … Continue reading
Posted in Literary Citizenship, Teaching
Tagged Ball State, blogging, creative writing programs, literary citizenship, MFA, MWW, social media, students
8 Comments
Why Do Writers Need Letters of Recommendation?
Today, I got this question: “How do I go about getting Letters of Recommendation for places like Breadloaf and Yaddo? I didn’t get an MFA. I’m older than the average Bright Young Thing applicant. Might we question the very system … Continue reading
Posted in CW Programs, Writing
Tagged blurbs, Breadloaf, creative writing programs, Letters of Recommendation, MFA, Yaddo
3 Comments
Last Lecture: “Am I a writer?”
At the end of the semester, I give presentations in my novel-writing classes about the publishing business. Many students are seniors getting ready to graduate. Hence, they are full of anxieties. The first thing they say is: Why didn’t anyone … Continue reading
Posted in CW Programs, Teaching, The Biggest Things, Writing
Tagged Ball State, creative writing programs, students, teaching creative writing
34 Comments
Novels vs. Stories in MFA Programs Survey Results
My plan was to release the survey results one question at a time via ruminative blog posts like this one on whether MFA programs are “anti-novel” or not and this one on the “professionalization” question. But I’ve changed my mind. Many people … Continue reading
Posted in CW Programs, Teaching
Tagged AWP, creative writing programs, MFA, novel workshop, short story, teaching creative writing, workshop
2 Comments
Should we make it our business to teach the business of being a writer?
Writing as craft and writing as business Here’s the question I asked both MFA faculty and students on the survey. MFA programs should avoid “professionalization” and “business” issues related to the writing life, such as discussions of the market and … Continue reading
Posted in CW Programs, Teaching
Tagged creative writing programs, MFA, novel, teaching creative writing
37 Comments
How I Answered the AWP Survey
Take the survey! You have until March 22. It’s important. I filled it out the other day, and I found that I had so much to say in that little comment module I decided to cut and paste it into a … Continue reading
Survey Results: 56% say MFA favors story over novel
It is possible to teach novel writing in MFA programs, and many do. My panelists (David Haynes, Patricia Henley, Sheila O’Connor, and Elizabeth Stuckey-French) prove it here, by sharing their syllabi with you. You’ve got everything you need to design your … Continue reading
Posted in CW Programs, Teaching, Writing
Tagged AWP, creative writing programs, novel workshop, pedagogy, teaching creative writing
4 Comments
MFA FAQ: The LOR
A series of posts about applying to graduate creative writing programs. This one’s about the etiquette of asking for an LOR, or letter of recommendation. Dear former student o’ mine, Thanks for your email/Facebook message asking for a LOR. I’m … Continue reading
Posted in CW Programs, General, Teaching, The Biggest Things
Tagged creative writing programs, etiquette, Letters of Recommendation, MFA
12 Comments
