I have a question about Oregon U. Now that I see (thanks to Seth's blog)their funding, I'm wondering why they rank so high on the list of top schools. Their 9K is far less than many lower ranked schools. I love Laurie Lynn Drummond's writing, but she's not exactly a household name. Is there something I'm overlooking? And for those who applied to Oregon, what particularly attracted you to the program?
"We're in Trouble" by Christopher Coake (Ohio State MFA)
Chris was also one of my profs at the Univ. of Nevada Reno, and happens to be one of the nicest people I've ever met. His story "Cross Country" is one of the best short stories I've ever read.
Honestly, not brown-nosing (he wrote my letters of rec some time ago);-)
The faculty attracted me, as well as location. Plus, being an avid cross country/track enthusiast I cannot resist the appeal of being in Tracktown, USA, even though I know that has little bearing on the program, but still. Also the opportunity to teach.
Fortunately, I am not too worried about cost (though I do agree with Seth's plan of applying to fully funded programs as a signal to non-funded ones).
I think the short answer is that there are only three fully-funded programs on the entire West Coast of the United States. And one of them just started up within the last 24 months. So Irvine and Oregon basically get tons of apps from people who want to stay on that side of the continent.
I've always strongly recommended against the program (at UO) in poetry, through -- so I'm hoping most of those apps are fiction.
And before you ask: One of the primary UO faculty members (in poetry) is said to be an absolute nightmare to work with. I've heard it from too many people not to believe it, and recently had an experience (or a friend did) that confirmed it.
I've been around, observing, for a while. I'm yet to hear from the schools I had applied to, and I was wondering if international applicants get to hear from their schools at a later date?
Are there any international applicants here who have heard from their universities?
Oh, my list of schools: MFA: Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Wisconsin-Madison PhD: USC, Houston, FSU, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
That makes a lot of sense. I didn't realize there were so few fully funded programs on the west coast.
Oregon also ranks high in post grad placements, which is what caught my eye about the program. I wonder if that's a one time anomaly because last year two alumni received Stegner Fellowships, or if there's a continuous history of placements.
Kara, Yes, UCSD. Congrats on the wait-list! Great program!
Brad, I know, right? Unfortunately the website was only recently updated. No one knew that data outside the program until they made it public. Kind of makes you wonder why they waited so long?
Thanks. Yes, I'm a runner/coach. There are going to be some victory glasses of wine and I might treat myself to a long drive to the mountains tomorrow.
I'm really grateful this blog is here to share the news with. All my friends are asleep so I have no one to tell!!!
Been lurking for a long time (read: two years). Last year I was accepted at four programs, unfortunately without funding, and waitlisted at one. Finally getting around to posting my list this year.
All in fiction.
Waiting. CalArts UC Irvine U Arizona UNCG Hollins UC Riverside U Oregon ASU Boise State Georgia C&S U San Diego State Eastern Washington U U Michigan U Iowa UNCW
Denied. UC San Diego U Wisconsin U Wyoming
Good luck, all! Hope some great news comes our way this week!
Way to go, Jason J & Chrissy! Great start to the month.
Also, thanks again for all the congrats.
To throw my two cents into the reading material ring- check out Jason Brown's collections. He's a Cornell MFA grad, a Stegner fellow, and taught me at U of Arizona.
-Driving the Heart and Other Stories -Why the Devil Chose New England For His Work
Nadiya, Hi. I find this sort of thing very intriguing. First off, congrats on Michigan and on knowing exactly where you're going this fall. Now, I'm curious as to what ultimately drove your decision (and I'm kinda looking for some advice). If this isn't something you want to broadcast over the blogosphererealmplace, will you shoot me an e-mail? mangercratie at gmail dot com. Hope to hear from you soon. --Cratts
I took a weekend blog-break... Sooooo, I've just read through the posts and it looks like -- what?! -- Chrissy (the original), JasonJ (the innovator of the MFA mixtape, DigAPony, LauraT (f*ck Plan B, Laura T!), Woon, Franny, Rose, Rosie & umIrenicall received offers this weekend! CONGRATULATIONS!!! It's great to see such super nice, super active members of this community get accepted into such wonderful programs.
Wait! AaaannnnddddLauren got a TAship! Whoopwhoop!
@HappyGoNowhere & DryLeaves - Congratulations on your acceptances to AK! I looked into the program at Alaska-Fairbanks and I AM SO JEALOUS OF YOU!
@Julian - Congratulations! Feel better. Be healed by the love of Wisconsin...
Sorry that I haven't been around lately. Various things have been driving me truly mad, and so I just needed a little bit of a break from the full-time job that is keeping up with all of you wonderful people! But I've also been missing you.
While my attendance record here has been spotty, I have been blogging a bit over at the MFA Chronicles. Come over and check us out if you haven't already. My blogmates are rockstars--all of them.
So much exciting news floating around. I'm so proud of everyone, and so hopeful for those who haven't heard anything yet.
Thanks to everyone for being awesomely nice and for supporting me. I try to return it as best I can.
I just deleted the last post I made. I'm still not sure why or how what I'd written was offensive, but if I did sound offensive or "full of myself", I do apologize. That was not the intent.
congrats to CCA people! but but but HOW do you check your status? is it that webadvisor thing?? HOW did you guys get it to work? Why am I suddenly feeling so incompetent?
I'm curious if anyone knows about the University at Albany - SUNY MA/Ph.D in English with concentration in Writing Practices: Poetics, Rhetorics, Technologies.
I'm curious because I am looking at it and it seems they have a track creative writing in all the genres and the option to pursue a creative thesis/dissertation.
gah I just spent an hour trying to log into CCA's webadvisor. I think I'm just going to have to be content with not knowing yet. If CCA wants me, they will tell me. right? RIGHT? I hope so.
@everyone who received offers over the weekend ... congrats!
i think that includes: Chrissy JasonJ DigAPony LauraT Woon Franny Rose Rosie umIrenic Lauren HappyGoNowhere DryLeaves Julian
and probably a few i missed. y'all rock, and hope the good news continues! i'm really sorry i'm at a crazy-busy work time and can't keep up at the moment!
Michener: DENIED (Poetry). Haha - I just wish they'd have a big flashing "DENIED" on the screen - a bit of simple Html really, or at least print out a "DENIED" banner for my home - it's the least they could do after I cited my own work ethic as wanting "to make Sylvia Plath look like a lazy arse".
I'm not that bothered given that Michener wasn't my first or second choice, and I know I have a divisive style - nevertheless, it seems like a wonderful program, and let's hope some writers from this blog get in, and then give me all their money for my positive wish commission.
As for Brown, I was chatting to them earlier today, and the program's recommendations (at least for poetry) have been forwarded to the Graduate School (as I think maybe has been said before), so it shouldn't be too long. I've already told them that I want my letter to have gold leaf, and to be delivered by a slave - a disguised postman won't do. I mean, it's the Ivy League, and all of my poems for Brown were about rubies, and treasure, and crowns (from seafaring nations).
@Nadiya - I'm not sure who or what made you feel bad about your previous post. I thought it was really nice of you to let the people on waitlist know that you were giving up a spot. I'd planned to do the same thing, once I've made a decision.
RE:Iowa's Waitlist - If you were to get waitlisted at Iowa, you should check out Ellen362's posts on Poets & Writers from a while back. She eventually got into Iowa off the waitlist. It was pretty interesting. I find the Iowa thread, over there, especially fascinating. Reading it, you get to see these wild cycles of hope and fear play out over time. Some people invest a lot of meaning into an acceptance or rejection from Iowa.
RE:Michigan Status - For those of you who were wondering, but who have not yet checked, Wolverine Access now has a "View Decision" button in the "Application Status" section, in addition to "View Credentials" and "View Profile".
Thanks for the heads up about Michigan. Alas, my status hasn't been updated. I demand a cold, stark rejection from you as soon as possible, Michigan! Why have you forsaken me?
@coughdrop Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you! I was sleeping...
To log in at CCA: it IS through webadvisor. When I submitted my application, I got an email from CCA with instructions on how to access it. Basically, your username is CCA plus a number that they give you in that email. Then your password (to start) is your birthdate (six digits, mmddyy), though you'll be promted to change that immediately upon your first login.
Can you find the email? I always have to look it up again to find my CCA number.
So, log in is CCA1234567, password is birthdate (mmddyy), though if you've logged in before, try your favorite passwords...
Hope that helps!!
@Everyone
THANKS SO MUCH! I'm so excited! It still says admitted this morning, so I'm running with it...
I'm European - my conception of "slave" is Roman, where, in a lot of the Latin I read at school, dictator buffoonery, like the response I posted, is met with the last laugh for those enslaved.
The rightful struggle for black equality had nothing to do with my thinking, nor did sexual bondage for that matter. If the latter weren't bound and gagged, they'd be typing you a message too.
MFA books: The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia (Syracuse MFA, I think he's in the PhD program at the University of Southern California, but I'm not positive about that last)
It's beautifully written, one of my favorite novels.
I also don't have a "view decision" on Michigan, though my New & Prospective Student Center does have a financial aid section that I've never noticed before. I'm sure it was there before, but my somewhat warped brain decided that it was a ray of hope.
Hi Folks, I can't wait to read Nam Le's Boat (have ordered it online) - here's a recommendation for another book - 'Tinkers' by Paul Harding (Iowa MFA) is spell-bounding...
@Jasmine & RedMicky - I'm sorry! I didn't mean to give out unhelpful info. I just work all weekend and have gotten into the habit of obsessively logging into these Status Checkers and I noticed that mine has changed. So, when I read this weekend's posts about Michigan's notifications, I thought maybe nobody else had tried to check via Wolverine Access.
@SamStod - I have that same feeling about my UNLV status that you have about Michigan. Under "Admissions" > "Application Status" > "Evaluation Status", it now says: "Application being reviewed by the Graduate College" whereas, before, I could SWEAR it said something about my application having been forwarded to the department for review. So, I began to wonder what this change could mean?
WHY CAN'T I STOP CHECKING THESE THINGS!?! WHY?! I have friends, a full life, a rigorous schedule. Why can't I quit these status checkers?
My suggestion would be to call them, email them, whatever, and ask. If they got your application (don't know why they wouldn't...did you do it online?) then you have the id number, I'm sure. They can give it to you, probably.
I just want to know if you got in, too! Haha. Good luck!!!!
@Dharini - I don't think International applicants get to hear later, I think I remember someone (sorry I'm bad remembering names) from Ireland here who got a call from Iowa. So I doubt there is a serious time gap.I applied to Iowa ,UCIrvine,Antioch,Pacific Oregon,Spalding - haven't heard from anyone yet:((((
Haha don't feel bad or anything. Their slowness, not yours. Amherst took like a week to update their status checker with my denial (I feel like I'd like them to decline rather than deny or reject....like I'm offering them some finger food and they'd just rather not) after people initially reported theirs updated. Should we bring back the 'are they or aren't they' debate about alphabetical notifications?
I'm trying not to check statuses (stati?) obsessively. It's kind of working.
No problem! Just hoping for some word from somewhere. I got two rejections two weeks ago, then silence from the remaining four ever since... Right now any change of status, even a "denied" or a "you're an illiterate ass-clown and never apply here again" would be a relief.
I'm not checking statuses because I only know of one that will definitely give me a decision-- Michener. I started poking around for others until I found Old Dominion's, which said I hadn't turned in my writing sample (wtf? It was in the same envelope with the recs and SOP, yet you got those!) and decided it was better for my health to let those folks call/email/post me. But maybe the compulsive checking of statuses is keeping you somewhat sane? It's almost like you have some control over when you are told your fate, at least.
Yep, my Iowa acceptance came by phone, but, for international students like myself, there may be some postal delays on waitlists, for example, or, in the case of acceptances, the formal confirmation of those (with funding information).
Best thing to do is to look at your program's listing on "Driftless House" and see how they typically contact those accepted - unfortunately, from memory, I don't think they have data for how those waitlisted are informed (a trawl through the "P&W" MFA board may help).
@Trilbe: you're such a generous and warm person. I know loads of ppl have said this already, but I have to repeat it.
I'd posted my comment for the very reason you mention, to let VT applicants know that a spot had just opened up. But I got an email attacking me about my bragging tendencies (I'm assuming because I mention a Michigan acceptance alongside VT's. But then if I hadn't, someone was bound to ask why on earth I was declining VT...) Anyway, thanks again Trilbe. You're a gem.
I read your original comment and I didn't interpret it as bragging. You were stating your intentions rather blandly. I'm sorry someone sent you an inflammatory email.
The fact is, some people here are lucky enough to be getting multiple acceptances. If you're one of them, what are you supposed to do, not mention it because it might sting someone oversensitive? I remember in years past, people would tell us where they decided to go, and tell us where spots were now open, usually as humbly as they could. Some people took issue, others decided to take it as a kind heads-up service.
Congratulations on Michigan. I'm really happy for you.
Where in Ireland did you live? I lived in Galway for a little while back in 2007. The most underrated city, I think. The whole country was beautiful and truly, truly welcoming. I'd go back right now. Without a suitcase!
did anyone else wake up this morning and expect to have piles of answers waiting for them? I did, and I was horribly disappointed. nothing, still, from 12 schools...ahhh!
Howdy all! Just wanted to let you know, I got an acceptance from Georgia College and State University this morning, via email, for poetry. I'm a giant Flanner O'Connor fan, and this was my first pick in so many ways. (I did, however, scare the crap out of my 3 year old by jumping up and down with excitement, haha)
Congrats and good luck to everyone. I suddenly feel much, much less crazy!
@Arna - Congrats on all of your acceptances! Did Brooklyn mention where they were in the acceptance notification process by any chance? Anyone else apply to Brooklyn (for fiction) and have any tidbits to share? I called the general admissions office last week to ask when accepted folks would begin to hear, and they said "Depends." So that wasn't much help! (side note: I was too chicken to actually call the MFA office)
@Chelsea, I lived in County Meath, just outside of Dublin County. My grandparents were from Galway, I'm an older student...my grandmother was born in the house that is now The Java House on Abbeygate. My grandfather lived on Nun's Island. I have an Irish passport, thanks to my grandparents.
My great-grandmother was from Ennis..unfortunately I didn't get a passport out of the deal. It must be so amazing to know of your family's heritage like that & having the opportunity to live and visit those same places.
I wish my job allowed spontaneous absences so I could jet over there whenever I feel like it!
Congrats on Michigan, and thanks for giving up your spot at VTech, because it's mine now! Got the acceptance email this morning.
Still waiting to hear from 6 programs, so my place Blacksburg is not yet set in stone. One thing's for certain, though: a fiction spot at McNeese is opening up as of today. So good luck, myriad McNeese waitlisters! I know there's a lot of you poking around here.
@chelsea-yes I'd like to go back too. We were there in 2005. One of the schools I applied to( mostly low res, with the exception of the ubiquitous Iowa application), has a residency every year in Ireland, a very good reason to apply:)
@ Nadiya - I didn't get to read your original comment (Mountain Standard Time being what it is) but I am *so* sorry that someone sent you an inflammatory email. I really hope that when Arna and Nick and others who have gotten multiple acceptances decide where they want to go they'll feel free to post that on here instead of worrying about people thinking the success has "gone to their head." There's a reason it was a personal email instead of a blog comment - we blog people would have stood up for you.
I don't delete my posts much. If I recall, I've done it twice to correct a misplaced comma, not to delete anything deemed inciteful. Commas are very important.
I'm from San Francisco. As for Iowa, I think you have me mixed up with someone else (as I'd prob. remember that phone call ha). In any case, I'm fiction.
@WanderingTree- Thanks for that diversion, just spent some time looking at SIUC's site and then at Galway University--my grandfather actually went there a very, very, very, long time ago. I think it was called Queens College then. They have a one year MA in Writing that looks interesting if anyone wanted to just go there and live for a year. (I can't, but it would be fun. @WreckingLight @Patrick - did either of you apply for Oxford's Mst in Creative Writing?
Anyone think it's funny that this blog has evolved into a forum for MFA applicants instead of a real "blog"? I mean, the folks who run this blog don't seem to interact much, except for Seth (who may not run this place at all). Once a week, one of the admins opens a room and lets us all in to congregate. A better alternative would be to set up a forum with more modern features like messaging, quoting, ability to create your own threads, polling, etc. The way this blog is set up, all posts are listed linearly and chronologically without any regard to subject matter.
I've been a long time follower and I finally decided I should post that I got my first rejection today from Colorado-Boulder. I've get seven schools left so here is my list for fiction:
U of Arizona Colorad - Boulder (rejected) Western Michigan University West Virginia University Minnesota @ Mankato Bowling Green Eastern Washington University Minnesota @ Moorhead
Trilbe, I checked my UNLV status and it says "Your application for admission has been received" under Admission Action. Is there where you see that yours was forwarded?
Kitty in A Cathouse, Congrats on GCSU! I wonder if they're notifying for fiction yet... ughhh impending doom.
Have you checked out Amanda's Ning group? More of a private forum for applicants, you can start your own discussions, message privately, etc.
Amanda periodically mentions here that she can invite you if you drop her an email. I can send you an invite too if you want. If you do, email me at lowqualitysound at gmail.
For sharing anything. We have a bunch of discussions going, including portfolio sharing, summer conferences, our lists, workshop fears. Pretty much anything goes.
@Patrick-no I could only apply to low residency schools, aside from Iowa, which is an hour away from where I live. I like the program Oxford has laid out, although it's different from most in the states. I'm an Irish citizen so I can get EU tuition, which is also a good benefit. Where are you from?
1. Not much traffic; 2. Inability to create your own thread; 3. Difficulty finding the info you want because of broad thread titles; 4. The constant feuding - oy vei, as Dolores Humbert would say; 5. Bugs.
Of course, it's not much better here in this blog, but at least there's a lot of traffic.
@Raine--everyone mentions the P&W blog, but I can't seem to find my way to the correct area over there, although I have posted some on the low res forum, not always getting any response. How do I find the regular MFA blog (there seem to be so many)?
I'm kind of curious about why you applied to two Minnesota fiction programs but not to the biggie in Minneapolis. Any thoughts? Good luck with your apps! I'm waiting to hear from EWU as well.
I also applied to Boulder. This is the first thing I've heard about them contacting anyone for fiction. It seems weird that they would send out rejections before acceptances, doesn't it?
I don't have any good MFA news, but I did get a very nice rejection letter from the Minnetonka Review. One of my stories apparently made the final cut for an upcoming issue, but ended up being cut.
1. That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings 2. I Feel It All - Feist 3. Again & Again - The Bird and the Bee 4. Plus Profond - Hooverphonic 5. Heart Skipped a Beat - The xx 6. The Trick is to Keep Breathing - Garbage 7. Jigsaw Falling Into Place - Radiohead 8. Rollercoaster - Everything But The Girl 9. Don't Panic - Coldplay 10. Change of Heart - El Perro del Mar 11. Hanging on Too Long - Duffy 12. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House 13. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2 14. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears 15. Try Again - Aaliyah 16. Bulletproof - La Roux 17. You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates 18. One More Time - Daft Punk 19. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers 20. You've Got the Love - Florence + the Machine
@Ashley Brooke--why, why did I go on here and DH this afternoon to only see GCSU started notifying (congratulations to y'all who've got in there so far), just like they said they were aiming for in their last mass e-mail. Now, all day, and perhaps all week, I'll be wondering, "Are they about to notify for fiction next and then CNF (my genre), or vice verse?...both at teh same time?...taking a lunch break and then more e-mails?...and on and on." Ahhh the agony. Ha-ha.
Time to look at my inbox again. Yikes. Good luck to you!
@Coughdrop, definitely search your inbox for any email from CCA and find your id/password info. Then once you log in, go to "Prospective Students". Next you will have a list of things to look at, one of which will be "Application Status". Then you're there..
@Miss Private Eye, obviously our collective rooting for CCA worked.
I'm really stoked right now but also a little tired. Celebrated too enthusiastically last night with Dionysus.
Would you choose a program with more prestige (both program wise and from the overall school) over a less-well known program that offered you better funding/opportunities? (I'm not talking about a huge discrepancy in funding like Columbia but more a well-regarded program with lower funding vs. a new or less well-known program with great funding/opportunities. In other words, would you turn down Iowa for another program that offered you more? (not necc. in funding but in other intangibles). I guess this is the sort of thing that comes down to the individual person, but I'd like to hear thoughts on this.
@WanderingTree: Yes, for me there are more important things than going to the most prestigious school. And if another school offered me more funding and better opportunities, I would definitely take that over another more well-known program.
I know I am not supposed to freak out... but I am a little bit. Still waiting on DU and UNT. PhD fiction. That said, this blog makes it all worth it. Congrats on everyone's acceptances so far! Good luck to those of us still waiting. MARCH RADNESS ALL THE WAY!
I'm a big believer in visiting. I was accepted to 10 schools for undergrad, visited 9, and told one school I would be attending before I visited where I ultimately ended up. I hadn't wanted to visit, I'd made my decision, but everything changed when I went to Binghamton and knew it was where I belonged.
For me, prestige can't be everything. It's about feeling comfortable where you are. There are a lot of factors that go into that, including funding and location and plain gut reaction.
I wouldn't turn down better opportunities for prestige. In fact, getting rejected from certain programs like Michener and Michigan without feeling even a tinge of disappointment showed me that the places I'm most excited about are the lesser knowns. For me, it's all about 1) financial support, 2) location, 3) community outreach, and 4) journals. If a school wants me enough to support me and is excited about my work, then I'm excited about them, and I don't really care how long they've been around or whether stars fall from the heavens when their name is uttered.
iowa definitely looks good on the resume but it really comes down to your writing / publications. there are 50 fiction students there so individual attention might not be as common as a school with only ten.
guess it depends on if you're willing to spend money. maybe you don't want to teach. your profs are very important, too. you don't want to get stuck some place where you feel the profs aren't going to help you (which happened to me at a previous MFA program). even weather comes into play. i've noticed my writing changes depending on my environment.
I def. can relate to visiting. I went to college in Iowa after going to high school in Silicon Valley. If I hadn't visited, I would have never made the decision to go to school in the midwest. I also think how a program reaches out to the admitted (and even applicants at large) goes a long way in sealing the deal. I've come across many programs (undergrad and grad) that just have no people skills at all.
Good pt. about the publishing. Unlike other grad and professional programs where rankings can matter quite a bit more in terms of employment (well, maybe not in this economy), MFAers (in any field I'd wager) depend more on published/produced creative work to land the small handful of positions within academia (if they choose that route).
Prestige matters if it opens doors via jobs, book contracts, exposure. I'm not convinced an MFA degree from one school will get you more than an MFA degree from another school.
My own creative writing teacher told me the MFA was useless. There are many writers who think the MFA is worthless, and others who think you'll learn a lot even if the degree itself is worthless. Some say it's a good degree to have if you want to teach. Others say that the competition for teaching jobs is so fierce that it's not a valid reason anymore for getting an MFA.
If money is not an issue, go wherever you want. If money is an issue, go wherever you want, but best if you followed the advice in "Jerry Maguire" -- Follow the money.
When I was younger and stupid, I used to think prestige mattered for undergrad. I thought I would be more successful upon graduation with a great job offer and, at the very least, I could marry a rich girl. Sweet! LOL! I really thought this!! Oh my gosh!
Nowadays, it doesn't where you did your undergrad or grad. It'll open doors, but the name value of your degree won't keep you in the room. It's what you do with your opportunities that matters. Hard work truly pays off.
Not many people know what "hard work" means. I really believe that people pay lip service to "hard work" but they don't really know what this means.
I'm going to stop myself before I really go off on a tangent.
As long as I have an assistantship, and therefore get paid SOMETHING, even if it's a modest amount: I'm fine.
But I'm in a situation now where I'm in to two programs.. one of them is a top-10 school and I have yet to find out whether or not I'm offered an assistantship-- the other is ranked in the 50s and they have offered me full funding.
I have already decided (assuming I don't get any other offers): if I get the assistantship at the top-10 school, I'll go there. If I don't, I'll go to the other program.
There are a couple other variables playing into my decision, but it's mostly just a matter of funding.
blah, all my emails to CCA are bouncing back! I really don't want to call them and bother them since I am sure they are busy. I wish they'd just let me know if I was accepted or rejected....
I think in some ways this ends up being a moot point. The majority of the most "prestigious" schools have excellent funding - that's part of how they rose to the top. Of course, these funding packages vary wildly - "full funding" at school A might be significantly less than school B, but I think the idea is that you can at least live on it during the school year. At some point, other factors: summer stipends, prize money, funding for thesis research comes into play. If you're competing with 50 other people at Iowa and only, say, 12 people at Irvine - chances are you'll have better luck in California.
I do think it's a tricky question since getting into school A in no way guarantees you'll get into school B. Iowa has held onto that number 1 rank mostly by sheer will. They're the oldest program and have put out a lot of great writers, but they also have a much larger volume of MFAers than any other school. Reading through everyone's lists of books by MFAers I found myself wondering if Iowa is better represented than other schools because they're that much better or simply because they have a *huge* volume of writers compared to other programs.
I'm late, but I wanted to send my congrats to Jason J, Chrissy, Rose, Digapony, and all those who've received good news.
Many are sleeping sounder, but many are still restless. Hang in there, amigos.
@Brad Smith: We're both in @ Boulder. If you decide to attend (barring another funding offer), let's chat! I'm still waiting to hear from a couple of schools, but it's likely I'll stay here (CO).
I've been lurking in the shadows of this blog for a long time. I'm not applying until this winter, and the level of drama I often witness here is a truly frightening indication of things to come. And still, here I am, ready to pose the first of many questions. It it my insatiable curiosity, or blatant lack of shame?
I'm guessing this is already posted somewhere on this site, but I can't find it: what's the difference between an MA and a MFA in Creative Writing? Is either degree purposed for different career paths? Say, honing writing/publishing vs. teaching?
Even though I've already done quite a bit of research, I feel like such a virgin to this process. Please, be gentle. Well... actually, just be good.
I applied in CNF, I think, though it's entirely possible I sent my mixed genre sample (I honestly can't remember), which means it included some poetry. I also sent a reel of my documentary video work. So there's that, too. Haha.
But if they asked me on the application, I would've put down CNF. Haha.
I can't believe it. I'm still sorta shell-shocked. I can't wait to hear official word and to talk to them about funding...
@anotherjenny -- MA vs. MFA. Check out UC Davis's creative writing site. According to them, there's no difference between the MA and MFA. Others believe the MFA is THE terminal degree while with an MA, you still need to get your Ph.D. There's also a good discussion in:
10 schools total. so far i've heard some good news (two waitlists, one acceptance). OSU was my first and likely not last rejection. still waiting to hear from montana & uncw (not feeling too confident on those fronts), plus arizona, new mexico, florida intl, and new hampshire.
I got my snail mail rejection from Montana today in fiction. I thought "oh maybemaybeitsawaitlist," and then I remembered Montana does not have a waitlist. So I opened it and it takes getting through an entire paragraph before they finally say "hell no." Also, the letter comes from the graduate school who is speaking on behalf of the creative writing department. Lame! I don't want to live in the wilderness and work with Kevin Canty anyway. *small cry* Ok, I'm over it. Let's move forward, now...
Can anyone give me a clue what Hunter's admittance process is? First off, are they done notifying? I've seen here that people have gotten a call (still waiting, McCann. Call me?) and then have to go interview, and that it isn't exactly an acceptance. Do they do rounds of interviews, after which they accept or reject you, or is the interview just a formality? It's all very confusing, but Hunter is one of my top schools, so if on the off chance I would actually get a call from a certain Irishman, I don't want to sound like a complete dumbass.
I hope I'm not stepping on someone else's toes here, but aren't you in at Alaska-Fairbanks? I seem to remember seeing that here on the boards a few pages back.
8 schools total. So far, I've only heard back from CCA with some good news (acceptance). Still waiting on word from the other seven; although, my hopes are starting to feel somewhat dampen for Hunter and Brooklyn because there have been so much talk here from folks that have had the fortune of speaking with Mr. McCann (or his colleague, Englander).
bummer about montana. their letter sounds similar to the one i got from oregon state. i had hoped to at least get rejected from the CW department directly. oh well.
frantically checking my email, to the point where i'm checking my spam mail in my gmail account. the award for best subject line goes to: "Make your Manhood Enthusiastic!" Merf. I wanted my g.d. Colorado acceptance already.
I almost forgot this happened, but I must share the dream I had last night. I was back at my undergrad university (which was of course weird and steampunky with lots of elevator shafts) and I ran into one of my LOR writers and I thanked him for writing my letter, and he asked if I'd been able to adopt the baby yet. In my dream I was not applying for an MFA but to adopt a baby from Mongolia. I told him that it was very competitive and he suggested that I check out the ads on craigslist for "casual encounters" so that maybe I could have my own baby as a Plan B. Then I was on a train. AHHHHHHHHHH wtf.
@ ashley brooke. my dreams have also been really crazy. i was thinking of quitting my job and getting a hospital to induce me into a coma for the month of march, because I CANT TAKE THIS BS ANYMORE AHHHH
just got rejection email from uncw (fiction). they were nice enough to promise that a written letter will follow shortly, just to really drive in the fact that apparently i won't be spending the next few years at the beach...
As someone mentioned earlier today, I created a space for us at ning (MFA-Limbo), which is password-protected and has online chat, discussion forums, music, videos, blogs, ability to post profile info, etc. There are 36 of us on there now and I'd be happy to add anyone who's interested. Other ning members can also send invites to you. Email me at mandasue at gmail dot com if you want to join.
I've found it's been really nice to just be able to refer back to things easily, especially to see where people have applied to and such. And we've also used it for posting our portfolios to get feedback on. It's no facebook, but it gets the job done and is less awkward to use than the blog or Speakeasy.
So...I still have no official word from ANY program, and as much as I don't want to move on to Plan B, I feel like I should start preparing myself. But my Plan B is basically to write as much as I can, get involved in more workshops, etc etc. One problem...I can't write. Ever since I sent out my manuscripts I haven't been able to produce anything worthwhile. It's like this MFA preoccupation has ruined my right brain. Is anyone else having this problem? I want a cure...I can't hold out until April 15.
When you can't write, try editing what you've already written. It's kind of like the opposite of writing, erasing, deleting, rearranging, etc. Works for me when nothing original is coming from my head.
I know EXACTLY what you mean. I, too, have not heard back from anyone yet. For some reason, this fear/lack of contact has completely blocked my brain from writing anything of substance. I can't focus. I can't think. I need answers. Even if they're rejections, I NEED answers.
omegawd I've been having that same problem!!! It seriously feels like my brain can't focus on one storyline long enough, or something... I've never had this happen before! I think it's because I'm so strung out with dread over rejection letters...?
and I haven't heard anything either. Except from UT (heh). grrrrr!
2,502 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 801 – 1000 of 2502 Newer› Newest»@Rose
By snail mail
My genre is poetry.
And you're right... I still have 10 more schools to wait for, so I'll keep some hope alive. (:
http://bigthink.com/ideas/18770
Edward Hirsch discussing if MFA programs hurt poetry... interesting stuff indeed.
I wrote 20 pages today and am now exhausted. The first time I've written in awhile. Tired, but it feels good too.
@ Rose, Seth & everyone,
I have a question about Oregon U. Now that I see (thanks to Seth's blog)their funding, I'm wondering why they rank so high on the list of top schools. Their 9K is far less than many lower ranked schools. I love Laurie Lynn Drummond's writing, but she's not exactly a household name. Is there something I'm overlooking? And for those who applied to Oregon, what particularly attracted you to the program?
Also want to add a book to the growing list:
"We're in Trouble" by Christopher Coake (Ohio State MFA)
Chris was also one of my profs at the Univ. of Nevada Reno, and happens to be one of the nicest people I've ever met. His story "Cross Country" is one of the best short stories I've ever read.
Honestly, not brown-nosing (he wrote my letters of rec some time ago);-)
Also,
"Girl Trouble" by Holly Goddard Jones (also Ohio State)
I thought I would throw another book out there.
Transparency by Frances Hwang (Montana MFA)
I have her as a professor and I really enjoy her writing.
re: U of O
The faculty attracted me, as well as location. Plus, being an avid cross country/track enthusiast I cannot resist the appeal of being in Tracktown, USA, even though I know that has little bearing on the program, but still. Also the opportunity to teach.
Fortunately, I am not too worried about cost (though I do agree with Seth's plan of applying to fully funded programs as a signal to non-funded ones).
Mr. Hemlock,
I think the short answer is that there are only three fully-funded programs on the entire West Coast of the United States. And one of them just started up within the last 24 months. So Irvine and Oregon basically get tons of apps from people who want to stay on that side of the continent.
I've always strongly recommended against the program (at UO) in poetry, through -- so I'm hoping most of those apps are fiction.
And before you ask: One of the primary UO faculty members (in poetry) is said to be an absolute nightmare to work with. I've heard it from too many people not to believe it, and recently had an experience (or a friend did) that confirmed it.
Be well,
S.
woah, when did Houston become #2 in funding? is this recent?
Right now I'm listening to Andrew WK's Party Hard.
Checked my CCA app status... as of 2/27 "Congratulations - Admitted"!!!!
Whooooooooooo!!!
I feel like an incredible weight has been lifted from my shoulders.
I've been around, observing, for a while. I'm yet to hear from the schools I had applied to, and I was wondering if international applicants get to hear from their schools at a later date?
Are there any international applicants here who have heard from their universities?
Oh, my list of schools:
MFA: Iowa, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Wisconsin-Madison
PhD: USC, Houston, FSU, Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Thanks Seth,
That makes a lot of sense. I didn't realize there were so few fully funded programs on the west coast.
Oregon also ranks high in post grad placements, which is what caught my eye about the program. I wonder if that's a one time anomaly because last year two alumni received Stegner Fellowships, or if there's a continuous history of placements.
Holy shit on the Houston funding..!
I would have applied had I known at the time..
Good job Jason!
You're the runner/coach, right? Imagine yourself a few victory laps!
Hannah,
Updated today based on new data.
UH students pressured the program to put their funding data online b/c they said the program wasn't being fairly represented on TSE.
See, change happens!
:-)
S.
Kara,
Yes, UCSD. Congrats on the wait-list! Great program!
Brad,
I know, right? Unfortunately the website was only recently updated. No one knew that data outside the program until they made it public. Kind of makes you wonder why they waited so long?
Be well,
S.
congrats JasonJ!!
AHH - March Radness in effect!
Right. And when a program refuses to share specifics, I tend to assume that they have something to hide. Or at least nothing spectacular to show.
That's fantastic- thanks, Seth.
Thanks for the info, Seth!
YAY Chrissy!
And WOOHOO for Houston! I knew applying there was a good decision. ;).
PS- Don't die. It'd cut short your celebrations!
@Gena, the Duchess
Thanks. Yes, I'm a runner/coach. There are going to be some victory glasses of wine and I might treat myself to a long drive to the mountains tomorrow.
I'm really grateful this blog is here to share the news with. All my friends are asleep so I have no one to tell!!!
it's strange that Houston wouldn't want to broadcast that kind of funding. why do you think that is?
Been lurking for a long time (read: two years). Last year I was accepted at four programs, unfortunately without funding, and waitlisted at one. Finally getting around to posting my list this year.
All in fiction.
Waiting.
CalArts
UC Irvine
U Arizona
UNCG
Hollins
UC Riverside
U Oregon
ASU
Boise State
Georgia C&S U
San Diego State
Eastern Washington U
U Michigan
U Iowa
UNCW
Denied.
UC San Diego
U Wisconsin
U Wyoming
Good luck, all! Hope some great news comes our way this week!
Way to go, Jason J & Chrissy! Great start to the month.
Also, thanks again for all the congrats.
To throw my two cents into the reading material ring- check out Jason Brown's collections. He's a Cornell MFA grad, a Stegner fellow, and taught me at U of Arizona.
-Driving the Heart and Other Stories
-Why the Devil Chose New England For His Work
Buenas noches!
Nadiya,
Hi. I find this sort of thing very intriguing. First off, congrats on Michigan and on knowing exactly where you're going this fall. Now, I'm curious as to what ultimately drove your decision (and I'm kinda looking for some advice). If this isn't something you want to broadcast over the blogosphererealmplace, will you shoot me an e-mail? mangercratie at gmail dot com. Hope to hear from you soon.
--Cratts
I took a weekend blog-break... Sooooo, I've just read through the posts and it looks like -- what?! -- Chrissy (the original), JasonJ (the innovator of the MFA mixtape, DigAPony, LauraT (f*ck Plan B, Laura T!), Woon, Franny, Rose, Rosie & umIrenic all received offers this weekend! CONGRATULATIONS!!! It's great to see such super nice, super active members of this community get accepted into such wonderful programs.
Wait! Aaaannnndddd Lauren got a TAship! Whoopwhoop!
@HappyGoNowhere & DryLeaves - Congratulations on your acceptances to AK! I looked into the program at Alaska-Fairbanks and I AM SO JEALOUS OF YOU!
@Julian - Congratulations! Feel better. Be healed by the love of Wisconsin...
Hey Everybody!
Sorry that I haven't been around lately. Various things have been driving me truly mad, and so I just needed a little bit of a break from the full-time job that is keeping up with all of you wonderful people! But I've also been missing you.
While my attendance record here has been spotty, I have been blogging a bit over at the MFA Chronicles. Come over and check us out if you haven't already. My blogmates are rockstars--all of them.
So much exciting news floating around. I'm so proud of everyone, and so hopeful for those who haven't heard anything yet.
Thanks to everyone for being awesomely nice and for supporting me. I try to return it as best I can.
Love love love,
NM
Hi!
I just deleted the last post I made. I'm still not sure why or how what I'd written was offensive, but if I did sound offensive or "full of myself", I do apologize. That was not the intent.
@cratty: emailing you.
congrats to CCA people! but but but HOW do you check your status? is it that webadvisor thing?? HOW did you guys get it to work? Why am I suddenly feeling so incompetent?
congratulations to umlrenic, jason j and chrissy!!
Wanted to add my congrats to everyone, too!
I'm curious if anyone knows about the University at Albany - SUNY MA/Ph.D in English with concentration in Writing Practices: Poetics, Rhetorics, Technologies.
I'm curious because I am looking at it and it seems they have a track creative writing in all the genres and the option to pursue a creative thesis/dissertation.
Here's the link: http://www.albany.edu/english/writingconcentration.shtml
Any thoughts on it?
gah I just spent an hour trying to log into CCA's webadvisor. I think I'm just going to have to be content with not knowing yet. If CCA wants me, they will tell me. right? RIGHT? I hope so.
Congrats to everyone that heard news! ;)
Congratulations to everyone who heard over the weekend!
@Jason J--
YES!!!!! I was soooo rooting for you! Awesome job, and HUGE congrats!
@everyone who received offers over the weekend ... congrats!
i think that includes:
Chrissy
JasonJ
DigAPony
LauraT
Woon
Franny
Rose
Rosie
umIrenic
Lauren
HappyGoNowhere
DryLeaves
Julian
and probably a few i missed. y'all rock, and hope the good news continues! i'm really sorry i'm at a crazy-busy work time and can't keep up at the moment!
how many people does brooklyn admit per genre?
@Julian
Congrats on Wisconsin!!! I'm so happy for you! I'm rooting for everyone from workshop to find a program.
-the "nonfiction" Courtney from Sackett Street
Michener: DENIED (Poetry). Haha - I just wish they'd have a big flashing "DENIED" on the screen - a bit of simple Html really, or at least print out a "DENIED" banner for my home - it's the least they could do after I cited my own work ethic as wanting "to make Sylvia Plath look like a lazy arse".
I'm not that bothered given that Michener wasn't my first or second choice, and I know I have a divisive style - nevertheless, it seems like a wonderful program, and let's hope some writers from this blog get in, and then give me all their money for my positive wish commission.
As for Brown, I was chatting to them earlier today, and the program's recommendations (at least for poetry) have been forwarded to the Graduate School (as I think maybe has been said before), so it shouldn't be too long. I've already told them that I want my letter to have gold leaf, and to be delivered by a slave - a disguised postman won't do. I mean, it's the Ivy League, and all of my poems for Brown were about rubies, and treasure, and crowns (from seafaring nations).
WL
don't use the word slave.
Sorry Cecil, I left my manners in the dungeon. With the slaves.
HAPPY MARCH, GUYS!
Is anyone else ridiculously excited for what this week might bring?
@Nadiya - I'm not sure who or what made you feel bad about your previous post. I thought it was really nice of you to let the people on waitlist know that you were giving up a spot. I'd planned to do the same thing, once I've made a decision.
RE:Iowa's Waitlist - If you were to get waitlisted at Iowa, you should check out Ellen362's posts on Poets & Writers from a while back. She eventually got into Iowa off the waitlist. It was pretty interesting. I find the Iowa thread, over there, especially fascinating. Reading it, you get to see these wild cycles of hope and fear play out over time. Some people invest a lot of meaning into an acceptance or rejection from Iowa.
RE:Michigan Status - For those of you who were wondering, but who have not yet checked, Wolverine Access now has a "View Decision" button in the "Application Status" section, in addition to "View Credentials" and "View Profile".
@WL: While I did flinch a little at the slave joke, your retort WINS, via the redemptive power of ME LAUGHING.
Correction! - Michigan's page says: "View Application Data" & "View Credentials" &now "View Decision"
Trilbe
Thanks for the heads up about Michigan. Alas, my status hasn't been updated. I demand a cold, stark rejection from you as soon as possible, Michigan! Why have you forsaken me?
@coughdrop Sorry it's taken me so long to get back to you! I was sleeping...
To log in at CCA: it IS through webadvisor. When I submitted my application, I got an email from CCA with instructions on how to access it. Basically, your username is CCA plus a number that they give you in that email. Then your password (to start) is your birthdate (six digits, mmddyy), though you'll be promted to change that immediately upon your first login.
Can you find the email? I always have to look it up again to find my CCA number.
So, log in is CCA1234567, password is birthdate (mmddyy), though if you've logged in before, try your favorite passwords...
Hope that helps!!
@Everyone
THANKS SO MUCH! I'm so excited! It still says admitted this morning, so I'm running with it...
March radness, eff yes.
Let it begin.
I'm European - my conception of "slave" is Roman, where, in a lot of the Latin I read at school, dictator buffoonery, like the response I posted, is met with the last laugh for those enslaved.
The rightful struggle for black equality had nothing to do with my thinking, nor did sexual bondage for that matter. If the latter weren't bound and gagged, they'd be typing you a message too.
subscribing
subscribed
Just checked Michigan's Wolverine Access...No "View Decision" button for me. Still in Limbo. Yay.
While I'm here, quick addition to the MFA book recomendation list:
"The End" - Salvatore Scibona (Iowa MFA)
Absolutely amazing novel. It was nominated for a National Book Award, and won the Young Lion Award and a shit-ton of others. And it's his first.
MFA books: The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia (Syracuse MFA, I think he's in the PhD program at the University of Southern California, but I'm not positive about that last)
It's beautifully written, one of my favorite novels.
I also don't have a "view decision" on Michigan, though my New & Prospective Student Center does have a financial aid section that I've never noticed before. I'm sure it was there before, but my somewhat warped brain decided that it was a ray of hope.
@ JasonJ and Chrissy!!!
YAYYYY!!!!
we might be classmates!!
congratulations! i'm so happy for both of you!
(JasonJ, I was pullin' for you to hear from CCA after their mtg this past Friday! Woo hoo!!)
Not sure if anyone has mentioned this book but I read a little bit of Name Le's The Boat (Iowa MFA) and it was beautiful.
Still no acceptances/rejections. I am just hanging around in MFA Limbo Land here.
Hi Folks, I can't wait to read Nam Le's Boat (have ordered it online) - here's a recommendation for another book - 'Tinkers' by Paul Harding (Iowa MFA) is spell-bounding...
Thanks Chrissy!
I am positive that I never got this email which does not bode very well. Augh....
@Jasmine & RedMicky - I'm sorry! I didn't mean to give out unhelpful info. I just work all weekend and have gotten into the habit of obsessively logging into these Status Checkers and I noticed that mine has changed. So, when I read this weekend's posts about Michigan's notifications, I thought maybe nobody else had tried to check via Wolverine Access.
@SamStod - I have that same feeling about my UNLV status that you have about Michigan. Under "Admissions" > "Application Status" > "Evaluation Status", it now says: "Application being reviewed by the Graduate College" whereas, before, I could SWEAR it said something about my application having been forwarded to the department for review. So, I began to wonder what this change could mean?
WHY CAN'T I STOP CHECKING THESE THINGS!?! WHY?! I have friends, a full life, a rigorous schedule. Why can't I quit these status checkers?
@Coughdrop
It would be the email titled "CCA application received".
The login info is in the latter half of the message.
My fingers are crossed for you!
@Coughdrop
My suggestion would be to call them, email them, whatever, and ask. If they got your application (don't know why they wouldn't...did you do it online?) then you have the id number, I'm sure. They can give it to you, probably.
I just want to know if you got in, too! Haha. Good luck!!!!
@Dharini - I don't think International applicants get to hear later, I think I remember someone (sorry I'm bad remembering names) from Ireland here who got a call from Iowa. So I doubt there is a serious time gap.I applied to Iowa ,UCIrvine,Antioch,Pacific Oregon,Spalding - haven't heard from anyone yet:((((
@miss private eye
THANKS! I'm so psyched! I just told my brother and he was like, "So are you going to go?"
I said, "I don't know...depends on funding."
He said, "Where is it?"
Me: "San Francisco."
Him: "WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT?!"
Bahahaha! We'll see what happens, but fingers crossed that I have a stroke of luck and get me some moneyz. Congrats to you, too!
Trilbe,
Haha don't feel bad or anything. Their slowness, not yours. Amherst took like a week to update their status checker with my denial (I feel like I'd like them to decline rather than deny or reject....like I'm offering them some finger food and they'd just rather not) after people initially reported theirs updated. Should we bring back the 'are they or aren't they' debate about alphabetical notifications?
I'm trying not to check statuses (stati?) obsessively. It's kind of working.
Trilbe,
No problem! Just hoping for some word from somewhere. I got two rejections two weeks ago, then silence from the remaining four ever since... Right now any change of status, even a "denied" or a "you're an illiterate ass-clown and never apply here again" would be a relief.
@Trilbe--
I'm not checking statuses because I only know of one that will definitely give me a decision-- Michener. I started poking around for others until I found Old Dominion's, which said I hadn't turned in my writing sample (wtf? It was in the same envelope with the recs and SOP, yet you got those!) and decided it was better for my health to let those folks call/email/post me. But maybe the compulsive checking of statuses is keeping you somewhat sane? It's almost like you have some control over when you are told your fate, at least.
@Nefrettiti / @Dharini
Yep, my Iowa acceptance came by phone, but, for international students like myself, there may be some postal delays on waitlists, for example, or, in the case of acceptances, the formal confirmation of those (with funding information).
Best thing to do is to look at your program's listing on "Driftless House" and see how they typically contact those accepted - unfortunately, from memory, I don't think they have data for how those waitlisted are informed (a trawl through the "P&W" MFA board may help).
@Trilbe: you're such a generous and warm person. I know loads of ppl have said this already, but I have to repeat it.
I'd posted my comment for the very reason you mention, to let VT applicants know that a spot had just opened up. But I got an email attacking me about my bragging tendencies (I'm assuming because I mention a Michigan acceptance alongside VT's. But then if I hadn't, someone was bound to ask why on earth I was declining VT...) Anyway, thanks again Trilbe. You're a gem.
'the boat' by nam le is one of the best collections in the past twenty years. he has unbelievable range.
'the things around your neck' by adichie is also well written.
paul yoon's 'once the shore' is also worth the read.
(obviously i have a thing for authors who write about events / places outside of america)
@Wrecking Light-I may have seen this earlier but can't remember...when did Iowa call you? I lived in Ireland for eight months, absolutely loved it!
@Wrecking Light-I may have seen this earlier but can't remember...when did Iowa call you? I lived in Ireland for eight months, absolutely loved it!
Nadiya,
I read your original comment and I didn't interpret it as bragging. You were stating your intentions rather blandly. I'm sorry someone sent you an inflammatory email.
The fact is, some people here are lucky enough to be getting multiple acceptances. If you're one of them, what are you supposed to do, not mention it because it might sting someone oversensitive? I remember in years past, people would tell us where they decided to go, and tell us where spots were now open, usually as humbly as they could. Some people took issue, others decided to take it as a kind heads-up service.
Congratulations on Michigan. I'm really happy for you.
@Sud
Where in Ireland did you live? I lived in Galway for a little while back in 2007. The most underrated city, I think. The whole country was beautiful and truly, truly welcoming. I'd go back right now. Without a suitcase!
did anyone else wake up this morning and expect to have piles of answers waiting for them? I did, and I was horribly disappointed. nothing, still, from 12 schools...ahhh!
Jason J and Chrissy and anyone else with a CCA acceptance - congrats! Just found out the same thing. My status was updated as of 2/27.
I'm in MA, and the thought of an East-West transition is SCARY.
Howdy all! Just wanted to let you know, I got an acceptance from Georgia College and State University this morning, via email, for poetry. I'm a giant Flanner O'Connor fan, and this was my first pick in so many ways. (I did, however, scare the crap out of my 3 year old by jumping up and down with excitement, haha)
Congrats and good luck to everyone. I suddenly feel much, much less crazy!
Thanks so much, Jasmine!
@Arna - Congrats on all of your acceptances! Did Brooklyn mention where they were in the acceptance notification process by any chance? Anyone else apply to Brooklyn (for fiction) and have any tidbits to share? I called the general admissions office last week to ask when accepted folks would begin to hear, and they said "Depends." So that wasn't much help! (side note: I was too chicken to actually call the MFA office)
If anyone needs a break from all the insanity, this gave me lots of lols:
hipsterpuppies.tumblr.com
Yay Michael!
Man, we're going to have an MFA Blog contingent there if we all decide to go. Haha. Four of us already!
@Sahaider
Oooh hipster puppies. Hello, distraction!
Thanks for sharing [:
@Chelsea, I lived in County Meath, just outside of Dublin County. My grandparents were from Galway, I'm an older student...my grandmother was born in the house that is now The Java House on Abbeygate. My grandfather lived on Nun's Island. I have an Irish passport, thanks to my grandparents.
@Sud
My great-grandmother was from Ennis..unfortunately I didn't get a passport out of the deal. It must be so amazing to know of your family's heritage like that & having the opportunity to live and visit those same places.
I wish my job allowed spontaneous absences so I could jet over there whenever I feel like it!
@sahaider
I ALMOST posted Hipster Puppies a few weeks ago. But obviously, got distracted by something else.
They are THE BEST.
Between this blog and hipster puppies, I doubt I'll get anything done at work today!
Congrats to all the acceptances and waitlists!
Still no news here. Luckily I've had the move and the MAR workshop to keep me occupied.
Good luck to everyone!
@Nadiya -- Good luck at Michigan!
@ Nadiya
Congrats on Michigan, and thanks for giving up your spot at VTech, because it's mine now! Got the acceptance email this morning.
Still waiting to hear from 6 programs, so my place Blacksburg is not yet set in stone. One thing's for certain, though: a fiction spot at McNeese is opening up as of today. So good luck, myriad McNeese waitlisters! I know there's a lot of you poking around here.
@chelsea-yes I'd like to go back too. We were there in 2005. One of the schools I applied to( mostly low res, with the exception of the ubiquitous Iowa application),
has a residency every year in Ireland, a very good reason to apply:)
@Chelsea/Nefrettiti/Sud
SIUC has a pretty sweet program that sends students to Galway for a semester.
http://ireland.siuc.edu/Study%20Abroad.html
Also, Congrats to everyone that received good news this past weekend! Two more weeks!
@ Nadiya - I didn't get to read your original comment (Mountain Standard Time being what it is) but I am *so* sorry that someone sent you an inflammatory email. I really hope that when Arna and Nick and others who have gotten multiple acceptances decide where they want to go they'll feel free to post that on here instead of worrying about people thinking the success has "gone to their head." There's a reason it was a personal email instead of a blog comment - we blog people would have stood up for you.
@Wanderingtree
..Clearly I should've applied to SIUC.. Hmph, hindsight is always 20/20.
Oh well, guess I'll make to another excuse to head over there and do some writing on my own [:
@ Andy: that is awesome! So happy for you, congratulations!!
@Peaqah: you're right. I should just stop worrying...
I don't delete my posts much. If I recall, I've done it twice to correct a misplaced comma, not to delete anything deemed inciteful. Commas are very important.
@WreckingLight
I just saw you from Ireland. Me too.. where?
Did you apply for many UK Colleges?
I got my first FOE this morning...
I checked my e-mail on the phone, and when I saw "Columbia College" flash across the screen I panicked.
It was about their undergraduate open house.
Well, at least I'm wide awake now.
@Patrick
I'm from San Francisco. As for Iowa, I think you have me mixed up with someone else (as I'd prob. remember that phone call ha). In any case, I'm fiction.
@WanderingTree
Sorry, wrong blogger! appologies!
Fiction too!
Good luck, hope you hear good news!
Nadiya,
Congrats on your final decision!
And to Andy for VTech!
@WanderingTree- Thanks for that diversion, just spent some time looking at SIUC's site and then at Galway University--my grandfather actually went there a very, very, very, long time ago. I think it was called Queens College then. They have a one year MA in Writing that looks interesting if anyone wanted to just go there and live for a year. (I can't, but it would be fun.
@WreckingLight
@Patrick - did either of you apply for Oxford's Mst in Creative Writing?
@Sud.
Yeah I did, but havn't heard anything yet. think we won't hear until middle of March. By post I think.
Did you apply to any other UK schools?
http://gawker.com/5482180/your-depressed-friends-are-both-more-successful-and-creative-than-you
@ Wandering Tree- well haven't decided yet...am (hoping against hope) about iowa...
Anyone think it's funny that this blog has evolved into a forum for MFA applicants instead of a real "blog"? I mean, the folks who run this blog don't seem to interact much, except for Seth (who may not run this place at all). Once a week, one of the admins opens a room and lets us all in to congregate. A better alternative would be to set up a forum with more modern features like messaging, quoting, ability to create your own threads, polling, etc. The way this blog is set up, all posts are listed linearly and chronologically without any regard to subject matter.
Ahhh, but I digress...
I've been a long time follower and I finally decided I should post that I got my first rejection today from Colorado-Boulder. I've get seven schools left so here is my list for fiction:
U of Arizona
Colorad - Boulder (rejected)
Western Michigan University
West Virginia University
Minnesota @ Mankato
Bowling Green
Eastern Washington University
Minnesota @ Moorhead
Good Luck to Everyone!
Trilbe,
I checked my UNLV status and it says "Your application for admission has been received" under Admission Action. Is there where you see that yours was forwarded?
Kitty in A Cathouse,
Congrats on GCSU! I wonder if they're notifying for fiction yet... ughhh impending doom.
@ Andy, Jason, Chrissy, Nadiya, Michael, anyone else I missed-
Congratulations!
Woon,
Have you checked out Amanda's Ning group? More of a private forum for applicants, you can start your own discussions, message privately, etc.
Amanda periodically mentions here that she can invite you if you drop her an email. I can send you an invite too if you want. If you do, email me at lowqualitysound at gmail.
@Jasmine - I thought it was supposed to be a forum for sharing recipes?
@Woon - It is kind of odd that all the activity is happening here this year, rather than the Poets & Writers Speakeasy MFA forum.
Woon,
For sharing anything. We have a bunch of discussions going, including portfolio sharing, summer conferences, our lists, workshop fears. Pretty much anything goes.
@Patrick-no I could only apply to low residency schools, aside from Iowa, which is an hour away from where I live. I like the program Oxford has laid out, although it's different from most in the states. I'm an Irish citizen so I can get EU tuition, which is also a good benefit. Where are you from?
The problems with the P&W Speakeasy are:
1. Not much traffic;
2. Inability to create your own thread;
3. Difficulty finding the info you want because of broad thread titles;
4. The constant feuding - oy vei, as Dolores Humbert would say;
5. Bugs.
Of course, it's not much better here in this blog, but at least there's a lot of traffic.
Mary---so sorry! I applied to Boulder, too, and now I'm extra nervous. Did they email you, or write you?
@Raine--everyone mentions the P&W blog, but I can't seem to find my way to the correct area over there, although I have posted some on the low res forum, not always getting any response. How do I find the regular MFA blog (there seem to be so many)?
@ Mary
I'm kind of curious about why you applied to two Minnesota fiction programs but not to the biggie in Minneapolis. Any thoughts? Good luck with your apps! I'm waiting to hear from EWU as well.
I also applied to Boulder. This is the first thing I've heard about them contacting anyone for fiction. It seems weird that they would send out rejections before acceptances, doesn't it?
@Sud - It's not a blog, it's a forum. Here:
http://www.pw.org/speakeasy/
You have to be registered. Then, you can view and post in the subforum called "MFA Programs."
Have fun!
@sud
Here is the link for the MFA forum over at P&W. They are rather dead, it seems to me.
http://www.pw.org/speakeasy/gforum.cgi?forum=34;guest=6175555
@Woon, okay thanks. It's not like I need another blog to distract me from what I should be doing:)
@anyone-any new calls from Iowa? I'd like to put that one to bed!
@Sud
Am from Cork, in Ireland!
But am finishing my undergrad in Scotland at the moment!
Iowa... Would be awesome, but I'm guessing as I have heard only silence from them, I've been rejected!
Ouch!
I don't have any good MFA news, but I did get a very nice rejection letter from the Minnetonka Review. One of my stories apparently made the final cut for an upcoming issue, but ended up being cut.
Still, almost got there!
mary posted her rejection from boulder and now every sound my phone or laptop makes is sending me into a tizzy. i think i hurt my brain!
@mj: welcome to my world.
Good luck to everyone this month!
Finally got around to this:
MFA Playlist
1. That's Not My Name - The Ting Tings
2. I Feel It All - Feist
3. Again & Again - The Bird and the Bee
4. Plus Profond - Hooverphonic
5. Heart Skipped a Beat - The xx
6. The Trick is to Keep Breathing - Garbage
7. Jigsaw Falling Into Place - Radiohead
8. Rollercoaster - Everything But The Girl
9. Don't Panic - Coldplay
10. Change of Heart - El Perro del Mar
11. Hanging on Too Long - Duffy
12. Don't Dream It's Over - Crowded House
13. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For - U2
14. Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Tears for Fears
15. Try Again - Aaliyah
16. Bulletproof - La Roux
17. You Make My Dreams - Hall & Oates
18. One More Time - Daft Punk
19. All These Things That I've Done - The Killers
20. You've Got the Love - Florence + the Machine
http://www.mediafire.com/?sharekey=59707908c3b47b7faaca48175a79d1c345fe5815704055b6947708e37b913e74
@Ashley Brooke--why, why did I go on here and DH this afternoon to only see GCSU started notifying (congratulations to y'all who've got in there so far), just like they said they were aiming for in their last mass e-mail. Now, all day, and perhaps all week, I'll be wondering, "Are they about to notify for fiction next and then CNF (my genre), or vice verse?...both at teh same time?...taking a lunch break and then more e-mails?...and on and on." Ahhh the agony. Ha-ha.
Time to look at my inbox again. Yikes. Good luck to you!
@Coughdrop, definitely search your inbox for any email from CCA and find your id/password info. Then once you log in, go to "Prospective Students". Next you will have a list of things to look at, one of which will be "Application Status". Then you're there..
@Miss Private Eye, obviously our collective rooting for CCA worked.
I'm really stoked right now but also a little tired. Celebrated too enthusiastically last night with Dionysus.
thnx duchess,
the playlist looks fantastic!!
Here's a question for everyone:
Would you choose a program with more prestige (both program wise and from the overall school) over a less-well known program that offered you better funding/opportunities? (I'm not talking about a huge discrepancy in funding like Columbia but more a well-regarded program with lower funding vs. a new or less well-known program with great funding/opportunities. In other words, would you turn down Iowa for another program that offered you more? (not necc. in funding but in other intangibles). I guess this is the sort of thing that comes down to the individual person, but I'd like to hear thoughts on this.
@WanderingTree: Yes, for me there are more important things than going to the most prestigious school. And if another school offered me more funding and better opportunities, I would definitely take that over another more well-known program.
I know I am not supposed to freak out... but I am a little bit. Still waiting on DU and UNT. PhD fiction. That said, this blog makes it all worth it. Congrats on everyone's acceptances so far! Good luck to those of us still waiting. MARCH RADNESS ALL THE WAY!
WT:
I'm a big believer in visiting. I was accepted to 10 schools for undergrad, visited 9, and told one school I would be attending before I visited where I ultimately ended up. I hadn't wanted to visit, I'd made my decision, but everything changed when I went to Binghamton and knew it was where I belonged.
For me, prestige can't be everything. It's about feeling comfortable where you are. There are a lot of factors that go into that, including funding and location and plain gut reaction.
@ WanderingTree:
I wouldn't turn down better opportunities for prestige. In fact, getting rejected from certain programs like Michener and Michigan without feeling even a tinge of disappointment showed me that the places I'm most excited about are the lesser knowns. For me, it's all about 1) financial support, 2) location, 3) community outreach, and 4) journals. If a school wants me enough to support me and is excited about my work, then I'm excited about them, and I don't really care how long they've been around or whether stars fall from the heavens when their name is uttered.
WT,
iowa definitely looks good on the resume but it really comes down to your writing / publications. there are 50 fiction students there so individual attention might not be as common as a school with only ten.
guess it depends on if you're willing to spend money. maybe you don't want to teach. your profs are very important, too. you don't want to get stuck some place where you feel the profs aren't going to help you (which happened to me at a previous MFA program). even weather comes into play. i've noticed my writing changes depending on my environment.
@Jasmine,
I def. can relate to visiting. I went to college in Iowa after going to high school in Silicon Valley. If I hadn't visited, I would have never made the decision to go to school in the midwest. I also think how a program reaches out to the admitted (and even applicants at large) goes a long way in sealing the deal. I've come across many programs (undergrad and grad) that just have no people skills at all.
shiiiiiiiit.
Michener: We have received all credentials required to process your application. Your file has been forwarded to the Graduate Committee for review.
That means, in an hour... DENIED. No sparkles... oh the long, drawn-out, bleeding rejections are my favorite...
@ Cecil
Good pt. about the publishing. Unlike other grad and professional programs where rankings can matter quite a bit more in terms of employment (well, maybe not in this economy), MFAers (in any field I'd wager) depend more on published/produced creative work to land the small handful of positions within academia (if they choose that route).
Damn, actually it just took a few seconds.
DENIED.
Re. prestige factor.
Prestige matters if it opens doors via jobs, book contracts, exposure. I'm not convinced an MFA degree from one school will get you more than an MFA degree from another school.
My own creative writing teacher told me the MFA was useless. There are many writers who think the MFA is worthless, and others who think you'll learn a lot even if the degree itself is worthless. Some say it's a good degree to have if you want to teach. Others say that the competition for teaching jobs is so fierce that it's not a valid reason anymore for getting an MFA.
If money is not an issue, go wherever you want. If money is an issue, go wherever you want, but best if you followed the advice in "Jerry Maguire" -- Follow the money.
When I was younger and stupid, I used to think prestige mattered for undergrad. I thought I would be more successful upon graduation with a great job offer and, at the very least, I could marry a rich girl. Sweet! LOL! I really thought this!! Oh my gosh!
Nowadays, it doesn't where you did your undergrad or grad. It'll open doors, but the name value of your degree won't keep you in the room. It's what you do with your opportunities that matters. Hard work truly pays off.
Not many people know what "hard work" means. I really believe that people pay lip service to "hard work" but they don't really know what this means.
I'm going to stop myself before I really go off on a tangent.
To me, it's always a question of degree.
As long as I have an assistantship, and therefore get paid SOMETHING, even if it's a modest amount: I'm fine.
But I'm in a situation now where I'm in to two programs.. one of them is a top-10 school and I have yet to find out whether or not I'm offered an assistantship-- the other is ranked in the 50s and they have offered me full funding.
I have already decided (assuming I don't get any other offers): if I get the assistantship at the top-10 school, I'll go there. If I don't, I'll go to the other program.
There are a couple other variables playing into my decision, but it's mostly just a matter of funding.
blah, all my emails to CCA are bouncing back! I really don't want to call them and bother them since I am sure they are busy. I wish they'd just let me know if I was accepted or rejected....
I think in some ways this ends up being a moot point. The majority of the most "prestigious" schools have excellent funding - that's part of how they rose to the top. Of course, these funding packages vary wildly - "full funding" at school A might be significantly less than school B, but I think the idea is that you can at least live on it during the school year. At some point, other factors: summer stipends, prize money, funding for thesis research comes into play. If you're competing with 50 other people at Iowa and only, say, 12 people at Irvine - chances are you'll have better luck in California.
I do think it's a tricky question since getting into school A in no way guarantees you'll get into school B. Iowa has held onto that number 1 rank mostly by sheer will. They're the oldest program and have put out a lot of great writers, but they also have a much larger volume of MFAers than any other school. Reading through everyone's lists of books by MFAers I found myself wondering if Iowa is better represented than other schools because they're that much better or simply because they have a *huge* volume of writers compared to other programs.
I'm late, but I wanted to send my congrats to Jason J, Chrissy, Rose, Digapony, and all those who've received good news.
Many are sleeping sounder, but many are still restless. Hang in there, amigos.
@Brad Smith: We're both in @ Boulder. If you decide to attend (barring another funding offer), let's chat! I'm still waiting to hear from a couple of schools, but it's likely I'll stay here (CO).
sara r marshall at gmail dot com
ah Gena, I feel your pain. That was me last Monday...
@Franny and @Brad Smith... you are both currently in Boulder? I am at Denver. I would love to do coffee if you are available! ;)
I've been lurking in the shadows of this blog for a long time. I'm not applying until this winter, and the level of drama I often witness here is a truly frightening indication of things to come. And still, here I am, ready to pose the first of many questions. It it my insatiable curiosity, or blatant lack of shame?
I'm guessing this is already posted somewhere on this site, but I can't find it: what's the difference between an MA and a MFA in Creative Writing? Is either degree purposed for different career paths? Say, honing writing/publishing vs. teaching?
Even though I've already done quite a bit of research, I feel like such a virgin to this process. Please, be gentle. Well... actually, just be good.
@Jojee: You, too, on the Boulder front. I know you were also accepted at CSU, but let me know what happens as this whole thing unfolds.
CHRISSY! I'm so happy for you!! Another online status notification! Congratulations. Did you apply to CCA in poetry or nonfiction?
Congratulations to all the recent acceptances!
rejected (via impersonal grad college letter) from oregon state (cnf, 3/1/10). i guess i ain't moving to the pacific nw.
Mathilda: I live in Denver and was just accepted at CU. By "in Denver" do mean living in Denver or are you at or accepted to DU??
Either way, feel free to shoot me an email!
sara r marshall at gmail dot com
@Wandering Tree
I'm in SF too. :)
@Coughdrop
I'd call. Don't worry, they anticipate these sorts of phone calls during this time. And calling will deal with whatever admin issue there is quicker.
Plus, I selfishly want to know if there is another CCA congrats to send out!
@Dry Leaves
I'm sorry. :( Their loss. How many more schools are you waiting to hear from?
@Laura T -- THANKS! I am so psyched!
I applied in CNF, I think, though it's entirely possible I sent my mixed genre sample (I honestly can't remember), which means it included some poetry. I also sent a reel of my documentary video work. So there's that, too. Haha.
But if they asked me on the application, I would've put down CNF. Haha.
I can't believe it. I'm still sorta shell-shocked. I can't wait to hear official word and to talk to them about funding...
@anotherjenny -- MA vs. MFA. Check out UC Davis's creative writing site. According to them, there's no difference between the MA and MFA. Others believe the MFA is THE terminal degree while with an MA, you still need to get your Ph.D. There's also a good discussion in:
http://www.pw.org/speakeasy/gforum.cgi?forum=34;do=forum_view_collapsed;
It's the thread titled "Why an MFA --- MA vs. MFA" on the second page, I believe.
@ miss private eye
10 schools total. so far i've heard some good news (two waitlists, one acceptance). OSU was my first and likely not last rejection. still waiting to hear from montana & uncw (not feeling too confident on those fronts), plus arizona, new mexico, florida intl, and new hampshire.
and you?
I got my snail mail rejection from Montana today in fiction.
I thought "oh maybemaybeitsawaitlist," and then I remembered Montana does not have a waitlist. So I opened it and it takes getting through an entire paragraph before they finally say "hell no." Also, the letter comes from the graduate school who is speaking on behalf of the creative writing department. Lame! I don't want to live in the wilderness and work with Kevin Canty anyway. *small cry* Ok, I'm over it. Let's move forward, now...
Can anyone give me a clue what Hunter's admittance process is? First off, are they done notifying? I've seen here that people have gotten a call (still waiting, McCann. Call me?) and then have to go interview, and that it isn't exactly an acceptance. Do they do rounds of interviews, after which they accept or reject you, or is the interview just a formality? It's all very confusing, but Hunter is one of my top schools, so if on the off chance I would actually get a call from a certain Irishman, I don't want to sound like a complete dumbass.
@ Dry Leaves
I hope I'm not stepping on someone else's toes here, but aren't you in at Alaska-Fairbanks? I seem to remember seeing that here on the boards a few pages back.
If you are, me too! For fiction!
Correspondence?
hansenma at onid dot orst dot edu
CU Boulder hasn't sent out anything for fiction students yet . . . or have they?
@Dry Leaves
8 schools total. So far, I've only heard back from CCA with some good news (acceptance). Still waiting on word from the other seven; although, my hopes are starting to feel somewhat dampen for Hunter and Brooklyn because there have been so much talk here from folks that have had the fortune of speaking with Mr. McCann (or his colleague, Englander).
We shall see how rad March is. We shall.
@ ashley brooke
bummer about montana. their letter sounds similar to the one i got from oregon state. i had hoped to at least get rejected from the CW department directly. oh well.
frantically checking my email, to the point where i'm checking my spam mail in my gmail account. the award for best subject line goes to: "Make your Manhood Enthusiastic!" Merf. I wanted my g.d. Colorado acceptance already.
@ Emily,
Not that I know of. Nothing posted on the blogs for Boulder for fiction.
@mj
i've been checking my spam folder on gmail too!! lol, just in case, just in case.
I agree that this place really, really needs a forum. The current system is, for lack of a better term, ghetto as hell.
I almost forgot this happened, but I must share the dream I had last night.
I was back at my undergrad university (which was of course weird and steampunky with lots of elevator shafts) and I ran into one of my LOR writers and I thanked him for writing my letter, and he asked if I'd been able to adopt the baby yet. In my dream I was not applying for an MFA but to adopt a baby from Mongolia. I told him that it was very competitive and he suggested that I check out the ads on craigslist for "casual encounters" so that maybe I could have my own baby as a Plan B. Then I was on a train.
AHHHHHHHHHH wtf.
That's amazing
@Woon
Thanks! That's just what I needed to look at.
I also got my snail mail rejection from Montana. 1 down, 8 to go. Let's hope there is some good news somewhere out there.
@ ashley brooke. my dreams have also been really crazy. i was thinking of quitting my job and getting a hospital to induce me into a coma for the month of march, because I CANT TAKE THIS BS ANYMORE AHHHH
have all these snail mail rejections from montana been for fiction?
@Mike
Yeah, mine was for fiction.
@ rose
Yes! In at AK-Fairbanks for CNF. Let us correspond.
Just got a rejection email from UNCW. Anticipating rejection from Montana as soon as the San Francisco USPS gets its shit together.
March Radness off to a very bearish start...
just got rejection email from uncw (fiction). they were nice enough to promise that a written letter will follow shortly, just to really drive in the fact that apparently i won't be spending the next few years at the beach...
@jessica
I enjoyed the line "we send this email as a courtesy and as an invitation to consider re-applying to the program in the future."
How courteous! And what a lovely invitation!
L.Lewis and jessicastone: I'm sorry. That hurts. My fingers are crossed that the next two weeks bring good tidings.
@ Tim Noble and others:
As someone mentioned earlier today, I created a space for us at ning (MFA-Limbo), which is password-protected and has online chat, discussion forums, music, videos, blogs, ability to post profile info, etc. There are 36 of us on there now and I'd be happy to add anyone who's interested. Other ning members can also send invites to you. Email me at mandasue at gmail dot com if you want to join.
I've found it's been really nice to just be able to refer back to things easily, especially to see where people have applied to and such. And we've also used it for posting our portfolios to get feedback on. It's no facebook, but it gets the job done and is less awkward to use than the blog or Speakeasy.
So...I still have no official word from ANY program, and as much as I don't want to move on to Plan B, I feel like I should start preparing myself. But my Plan B is basically to write as much as I can, get involved in more workshops, etc etc. One problem...I can't write. Ever since I sent out my manuscripts I haven't been able to produce anything worthwhile. It's like this MFA preoccupation has ruined my right brain. Is anyone else having this problem? I want a cure...I can't hold out until April 15.
@llewis - wasn't that sweet? so much classier than "we look forward to getting another $65 bucks from you next year."
ah, well. on to bigger and better - here's hoping for great things for you!!
@Michelle
When you can't write, try editing what you've already written. It's kind of like the opposite of writing, erasing, deleting, rearranging, etc. Works for me when nothing original is coming from my head.
UPDATES:
Hunter is about to finalize its list of six acceptance offers for fiction (I took myself out of the running).
and
Iowa is putting their official letters of rejection/acceptance in the mail on Friday.
@Michelle
I know EXACTLY what you mean. I, too, have not heard back from anyone yet. For some reason, this fear/lack of contact has completely blocked my brain from writing anything of substance. I can't focus. I can't think. I need answers. Even if they're rejections, I NEED answers.
@Arna
You told Englander I could have your spot right? Haha.
@Jason J
I'll definitely try that. Maybe it will even segue into something new.
What works for you when you HAVE to write something new? i.e. for an upcoming workshop deadline? None of my usual routines are working.
@ Michelle
omegawd I've been having that same problem!!! It seriously feels like my brain can't focus on one storyline long enough, or something... I've never had this happen before! I think it's because I'm so strung out with dread over rejection letters...?
and I haven't heard anything either. Except from UT (heh). grrrrr!
thanks for the info, Arna! hooray for updates!
Post a Comment