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A room of her own just got bigger ...
Nancy Rawlinson, writer/editor/teacher/coach -- and this Wednesday's webinar instructor at She Writes -- offers four ways to know whether a MFA is right for you, and whether you are right for a MFA. (Three days left to register for her info-packed webinar, right here!)
Anyone who writes regularly –- whether it’s honing a novel in the small hours of the morning or blogging up a storm or crafting a line of poetry -– has probably considered the following question: Should I get a MFA? After all, it’s hard not to notice the proliferation of programs and the increasing number of people who have MFAs. But a MFA is a big commitment. All that time and money -– what’s the return? Is it really worth it? And how do you know if it’s the right move for you? I have helped many clients and students answer these questions, and I can tell you the four factors I consider before I give my advice.
1. Are you ready for a MFA?
A good question to start with, maybe, but one that’s hard to answer. How do you know? You know by workshopping. I would caution against diving into a MFA experience if you have never been in a formal workshop setting. The workshop is the central teaching tool of the MFA, and you need to be comfortable with the in and outs of it –- and know what you are letting yourself in for. If you don’t live in easy proximity of an in-person workshop, try some online classes. There are plenty of them about, and they will at least give you a sample of what it is like to have your work critiqued by strangers, and, just as importantly, help you develop your own critiquing skills.
This first question is linked to the second:
2. Is your work strong enough for a MFA?
This is a bit of a chicken and egg question, as the only way you’ll really know is by applying -– but once again, the workshop is your best barometer. If you are getting enthusiastic responses and lots of encouragement, not only from your fellow workshoppers but also from your professor, you should be good to go ahead with your applications. If in doubt, ask directly, or seek a second opinion from a freelance editor –- some, such as me, specialize in helping MFA applicants, and though no one can say for sure whether you will get accepted or not, you can at least find out if you are in the right ball park.
3. Can you afford an MFA?
There are plenty of fully funded programs out there, some of which carry stipends. Getting accepted into one of those programs is like being paid to write –- what an opportunity! The competition for those places is strong, though, and you also have to factor in the other, hidden costs: the loss of earnings during the MFA period, the cost of relocating if necessary, and the deflation of your other assets as the economy (hopefully) moves forward. For students who end up paying some or all of their tuition costs themselves, the price tag of a MFA is a lot higher –- often too high. So let me just say this right now, nice and clearly: It’s not worth taking on a lot of debt to get a MFA. The potential financial return doesn’t justify it, and graduating with $100k of loans will do absolutely nothing for your writing career. I’d say $20k is the maximum any MFA student should even consider taking on, and ideally it would be less, or none. Do what it takes to avoid that debt, and if you can’t, you may find that your MFA hinders rather than helps your artistic progression.
4. Do you need an MFA?
This is perhaps the most nebulous question of them all, because “need” varies so much from one person to the next, and it can easily be confused with desire. So let’s break this down. What needs can a MFA meet? It can give you time and space to write in a way that is hard to find in “regular” life. A MFA can help realign your priorities –- some people use it as a bridge into a new life, one in which writing is
