tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post1406335766681123997..comments2024-03-28T02:14:08.783-07:00Comments on THE MFA BLOG: Mailbag for October 22, 2007Tom Kealeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11913868167191023096noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-46155790413481296122007-10-30T20:32:00.000-07:002007-10-30T20:32:00.000-07:00U of Orgeon in Eugene? Anybody got anything to sa...U of Orgeon in Eugene? Anybody got anything to say about that place? I haven't heard much about it.Brady Evan Walkerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03197139217832346433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-50388189103496173852007-10-30T01:39:00.000-07:002007-10-30T01:39:00.000-07:00thanks, vince! that site was great. for anyone who...thanks, vince! that site was great. for anyone who hasn't seen it, there lots of info about many different programs.Jensen Beachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015685995777136003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-12971042371142396682007-10-29T10:31:00.000-07:002007-10-29T10:31:00.000-07:00elizabeth,FSU requires coursework in two genres, f...elizabeth,<BR/><BR/>FSU requires coursework in two genres, from fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and (in some cases) playwriting/screenwriting.Lizzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01722516560885221073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-61506871889491368792007-10-29T07:08:00.000-07:002007-10-29T07:08:00.000-07:00ms. esquire: You want the committee to see your st...ms. esquire: You want the committee to see your strongest work from the start. If the second strongest doesn't pass muster, they aren't going to keep reading.Bolivia Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456888682134585210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-27461430468899955652007-10-29T07:02:00.000-07:002007-10-29T07:02:00.000-07:00Jennifer's super-weird question: I would change th...Jennifer's super-weird question: I would change the names of your minor characters to be different for each story. The admissions committee may assume your stories are linked somehow when they aren't. You can change the names back laterBolivia Redhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16456888682134585210noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-50224564550604156102007-10-28T19:07:00.000-07:002007-10-28T19:07:00.000-07:00Regarding multi-genre study (if I understand the q...Regarding multi-genre study (if I understand the question correctly), Notre Dame allows its poetry students to take the prose workshop and its prose students to take the poetry workshop. That's the case this semester with both workshops. Also, there are two non-fiction writers under the umbrella of "prose".Mike Valentehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05655671939237508024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-4056641881682676352007-10-28T16:11:00.000-07:002007-10-28T16:11:00.000-07:00Hi there,I will be including three stories in my p...Hi there,<BR/><BR/>I will be including three stories in my portfolio. The strongest story is also the longest. The second-strongest is a short, and the third is average short story length. Is the "put your strongest story first" rule universal? My readers have suggested that I put the short first in order to draw people in.Miss Esquirehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09449522726952647318noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-72061534687410081792007-10-28T14:36:00.000-07:002007-10-28T14:36:00.000-07:00For those concerned about size: A directory list o...For those concerned about size: A directory list of programs by state with size information is available through P&W's M.F.A. toolkit.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11939556181617016148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-84997917508131936942007-10-28T11:13:00.000-07:002007-10-28T11:13:00.000-07:00mp: look up the following conferences online: sewa...mp: look up the following conferences online: sewanee, breadloaf, and napa valley writers conference. you will be able to work with distinguished writers in a workshop format, and hopefully get good recommendations.Meredith Ramirezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00065004371057515813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-65502724286310036722007-10-28T11:06:00.000-07:002007-10-28T11:06:00.000-07:00Writing conference, huh? Before applying? Will thi...Writing conference, huh? Before applying? Will this help in getting in...or what, exactly? I still have to give my GRE, so between that, and the workshop, managing an existing website, etc., I should really look into the conference option if it poses a significant advantage when applying. It being affordable isn't a consideration. :) So do let me know on this. <BR/>- mp.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06919606507400714532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-29422815851674719762007-10-28T10:54:00.000-07:002007-10-28T10:54:00.000-07:00mp213: i apologize. i wrote the above in haste and...mp213: i apologize. i wrote the above in haste and was being wildly presumptuous. i took my writing workshop through mediabistro.com but i've heard good things about ucla. you should also look into going to an american writers conference this summer if you can afford it, such as sewanee, napa valley, and breadloaf.Meredith Ramirezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00065004371057515813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-90201381812422080582007-10-28T08:48:00.000-07:002007-10-28T08:48:00.000-07:00Oops! Sorry, realized my first was already asked....Oops! Sorry, realized my first was already asked. Although if anyone's got more info, I'd appreciate an expansion. Thanks!lishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03647625031764576992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-89229375605606599382007-10-28T08:44:00.000-07:002007-10-28T08:44:00.000-07:00I have two questions:Does anyone have any advice f...I have two questions:<BR/><BR/>Does anyone have any advice for someone looking to apply in multiple genres (for me, specifically, playwriting and fiction). I know Michener has an interdisciplinary program, but just one on the list isn't really a sure bet.<BR/><BR/>And also, for someone who previously applied last year, I know some schools don't require you to resubmit all the materials; NYU and Brown, for instance, are clear about this on their website, whereas Iowa and the UC system I'm less clear on. Has anyone had to try to figure this out yet, and found a good system for doing so? I may wait to reapply for another year, in which case the point would be moot, but I thought I'd ask just in case.lishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03647625031764576992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-30564868663037282712007-10-28T04:19:00.000-07:002007-10-28T04:19:00.000-07:00M. Ramirez Talusan, thanks for the help. Much appr...M. Ramirez Talusan, thanks for the help. Much appreciated. Since I don't have the chance of actually participating in creative writing workshops here (there aren't any in my country that I know of, which might be why I'm applying to the program! :) ), any suggestions for the online ones? I've heard UCLA has some good ones, but are there any particularly notable ones out there? Again, thanks for the help.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06919606507400714532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-71968466895979258292007-10-27T18:40:00.000-07:002007-10-27T18:40:00.000-07:00I totally second Jensen's question. I have also n...I totally second Jensen's question. I have also noticed that there are a plethora of 4-6 student programs, and the larger programs seem to remain mysteriously hidden.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13889296708935648435noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-38890016596056699892007-10-27T11:00:00.000-07:002007-10-27T11:00:00.000-07:00I'm having a hard time tracking down info about ac...I'm having a hard time tracking down info about actual program size. <BR/><BR/>It seems to me that there are many small programs (4-6 students per genre) and some medium (10+) and only a few large (20 or so). This would make sense. But maybe there are some I haven't looked at.<BR/><BR/>Anyone know which are the big programs? I know Columbia and Iowa are large and Montana and UMass are medium/largish but are there any others? <BR/><BR/>I'm trying to get a good mix between large and small and having a hard time finding larger programs.<BR/><BR/>Any help is much appreciated.<BR/><BR/>JJensen Beachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015685995777136003noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-33997287290208588602007-10-26T06:35:00.000-07:002007-10-26T06:35:00.000-07:00mp213: if you're planning to apply for fall '09, j...mp213: if you're planning to apply for fall '09, just take some writing workshops now, even online ones, to supplement your application. committee's aren't just looking for a good writer. they're looking for people who can function in a group and have some familiarity with a workshop environment. appropriate recs are not hard to get... i got one of mine from someone i've never met in person since i took a workshop with him online. the cs background itself is not a problem. in fact, it makes you stand out and is probably an asset.Meredith Ramirezhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00065004371057515813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-58310397646642477602007-10-25T21:25:00.000-07:002007-10-25T21:25:00.000-07:00I have a super weird question!I have a friend that...I have a super weird question!<BR/><BR/>I have a friend that passed away and, I usually name a minor character in my short stories after him in his memory. For my writing sample, I am sending two stories, both of which feature two such characters. Should I change the name in one of the stories? Does it look tacky and unoriginal to leave it that way without knowing why I did it or am I thinking too much?<BR/><BR/>Thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13746748842459139385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-68366984580169454032007-10-25T16:58:00.000-07:002007-10-25T16:58:00.000-07:00alicia, I think it might be sort of like asking yo...alicia, I think it might be sort of like asking your sister to recommend you. Not quite that blatant, but yeah... But that's just one person's opinion :o)Lizzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01722516560885221073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-12634860271071556002007-10-25T15:52:00.000-07:002007-10-25T15:52:00.000-07:00What are people's thoughts on having a literary ag...What are people's thoughts on having a literary agent or editor write recommendation letters? Good because they know your writing (and like it, obviously) or bad because they work with your professionally and potentially stand to benefit from any of your success?Aliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07878355409462427383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-64078036238012331112007-10-25T15:51:00.000-07:002007-10-25T15:51:00.000-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Aliciahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07878355409462427383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-89334300942533332912007-10-25T14:04:00.000-07:002007-10-25T14:04:00.000-07:00Hi Sailor Jordan,Sometimes new MFA programs are wi...Hi Sailor Jordan,<BR/><BR/>Sometimes new MFA programs are willing to take more of a risk because they know they won't get the top-flight folks who will be snapped up by famous programs. There are drawbacks to being in a new program, but if your goal is to be in an MFA -- any MFA! -- some of those could be worth a try.Sarah & Orhanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17575293822995582239noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-14736960010140985592007-10-25T01:30:00.000-07:002007-10-25T01:30:00.000-07:00Hi,I'm a prospective MFA applicant from Pakistan, ...Hi,<BR/><BR/>I'm a prospective MFA applicant from Pakistan, and have no...and I repeat, no prior experience with English majors in my undergrad. I studied computer science in a place where they taught nothing but computer science. So aside from being shortlisted in a writing competition, and owning a writer's website and being a writer for the past 12 years (I'm 22), I don't know what else I've got going for me. I guess my question is this: does it really matter if you're not coming from an English Lit background? I know they primarily focus on your writing sample. In addition, my recommenders are all former CS teachers. No one, aside from the people on the writer's community I'm a part of, can comment effectively on my work. I realize I'm being a bit of a pessimist about this, but I need help. Note: I applied last year for Fall '07, but was rejected (only applied to UMich - dumb, I know) and now I want to apply for Fall '09.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06919606507400714532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-82398767515623943872007-10-24T20:48:00.000-07:002007-10-24T20:48:00.000-07:00A few people last year posted their winning SOPs a...A few people last year posted their winning SOPs at PW.org in a thread called.... drumroll... "Statement of Purpose."<BR/><BR/>You'll have to comb through it. I'd look as far back as two years ago. I know they're in there.Lizzyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01722516560885221073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15642985.post-66326347673778494772007-10-24T18:42:00.000-07:002007-10-24T18:42:00.000-07:00Re: Statement of PurposeI know Tom's statement is ...Re: Statement of Purpose<BR/><BR/>I know Tom's statement is on here somewhere, but is there a resource for statement of purpose samples anyone is aware of? This thing's stressing me out!OrangeDrinkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08953707483684004773noreply@blogger.com