current events at the end of 2009
I've been thinking about what to do after I get my MA from UTC, and last night while I was looking around online to see what PhD programs are offered in the area, I came across Vanderbilt's MFA program-- if you're accepted, they pay for everything and give you a stipend.
I was blown away. They have an MFA program in Creative Writing (yes, the extra 'F' is important) and it would be free. The only cons are time and transportation. My car could never manage thrice-weekly (or more) sojourns to Nashville and back, and the volume of time it would take to complete the program and be away from Chattanooga just overwhelms me.
Still, though. They PAY for you to go there. Which also means it's probably impossible to get in. On their FAQ site, one of the questions is "Can I meet with someone to discuss this?" and the answer is "Nope, we're too busy." It's probably intense, and I would never get in. But I mean, I should try, right? It would look stellar on my resume, and I do want an MFA. Having an MFA would make me more marketable and it would help improve my writing skills most likely. Also, I would feel more confident having an MFA from Vandy if/when I do go looking into PhD programs.
Another drawback though is the deadline, which is in a month (January 15th for fall 2010). So I have very little time to get things together and ask professors for recommendations. I just feel like I should try, you know? They even waive the application fee if you submit everything online. It's like a giant yellow arrow pointing the way. That's what it feels like, anyway.
In other news, I finished the novel with two weeks to spare, and I got an A for the course. The novel is in shambles, but Bryce tells me it's engaging so maybe there's something to work with. My dad also liked the setup, so maybe I don't need to scrap everything and start over. I don't know if I'm destined for novel greatness but it was my first try so I can't exactly give it all up after one go. I'd like to try the Children's/Fantasy genre next.
If I did go for my PhD, I'd choose MTSU (at this point, it's the only school within a reasonable radius that offers one in English) and I'd pick either Children's and Young Adult's Lit or (more likely) Victorian Lit as my specialty. Either of those sounds fun to me. Yep, English nerd for life. Can I just get a degree in reading interesting things? I feel like that should be an option.
As for the spring, I'm taking Teaching College Writing and I hope that it shows me whether or not I'd like to consider teaching as a career. I would definitely need more education to teach at the university level, but for now I'd just like to see if it's for me. I'm still wishy-washy about it. Part of me likes the idea of teaching; most of me can't fathom it. But I'm 24 now and, while that's not old by a long shot, it's closer to 30 than 23, and it sounds and feels closer. I want to be largely done with school by the time I'm 30. If I'm going to have kids-- and I will, at least one sometime in the distant future-- I want to be finished with school (at least the bulk of it) so that I'm not one of those frantic mothers still in college and trying to juggle motherhood & education simultaneously. My mom went back to school in her early 40s and it was a challenge for her.
We'll see how life goes in the next couple months.
The spring semester, in other news, is probably going to kill me. So all talk of continuing education may be moot. I'm taking the Teaching class, Shakesepeare, and my thesis. The latter two are required for the MA program. I do love Shakespeare, but I don't see the necessity of taking him at the graduate level. I had a whole class about him in undergrad, and while I'm sure there's always something to learn from Billy S., I just don't think another course should be required for Creative Writing students. Yes, yes, he was a great writer and founder of blah blah blah, but I'd rather take another course on how to improve my own writing rather than another course about how I'll never be the great writer that Shakespeare was. (I really wouldn't mind so much if it didn't coincide with the semester I'm taking my thesis.)
As for the thesis? I think I've lost my mojo recently. I'm trying to summon it back for the spring, but we'll see how that goes. Wish me luck & prayers & other such things. I'll need it.
My fingers are freezing. I think I'll go wash dishes to warm them up. Oh, the life I lead.
I was blown away. They have an MFA program in Creative Writing (yes, the extra 'F' is important) and it would be free. The only cons are time and transportation. My car could never manage thrice-weekly (or more) sojourns to Nashville and back, and the volume of time it would take to complete the program and be away from Chattanooga just overwhelms me.
Still, though. They PAY for you to go there. Which also means it's probably impossible to get in. On their FAQ site, one of the questions is "Can I meet with someone to discuss this?" and the answer is "Nope, we're too busy." It's probably intense, and I would never get in. But I mean, I should try, right? It would look stellar on my resume, and I do want an MFA. Having an MFA would make me more marketable and it would help improve my writing skills most likely. Also, I would feel more confident having an MFA from Vandy if/when I do go looking into PhD programs.
Another drawback though is the deadline, which is in a month (January 15th for fall 2010). So I have very little time to get things together and ask professors for recommendations. I just feel like I should try, you know? They even waive the application fee if you submit everything online. It's like a giant yellow arrow pointing the way. That's what it feels like, anyway.
In other news, I finished the novel with two weeks to spare, and I got an A for the course. The novel is in shambles, but Bryce tells me it's engaging so maybe there's something to work with. My dad also liked the setup, so maybe I don't need to scrap everything and start over. I don't know if I'm destined for novel greatness but it was my first try so I can't exactly give it all up after one go. I'd like to try the Children's/Fantasy genre next.
If I did go for my PhD, I'd choose MTSU (at this point, it's the only school within a reasonable radius that offers one in English) and I'd pick either Children's and Young Adult's Lit or (more likely) Victorian Lit as my specialty. Either of those sounds fun to me. Yep, English nerd for life. Can I just get a degree in reading interesting things? I feel like that should be an option.
As for the spring, I'm taking Teaching College Writing and I hope that it shows me whether or not I'd like to consider teaching as a career. I would definitely need more education to teach at the university level, but for now I'd just like to see if it's for me. I'm still wishy-washy about it. Part of me likes the idea of teaching; most of me can't fathom it. But I'm 24 now and, while that's not old by a long shot, it's closer to 30 than 23, and it sounds and feels closer. I want to be largely done with school by the time I'm 30. If I'm going to have kids-- and I will, at least one sometime in the distant future-- I want to be finished with school (at least the bulk of it) so that I'm not one of those frantic mothers still in college and trying to juggle motherhood & education simultaneously. My mom went back to school in her early 40s and it was a challenge for her.
We'll see how life goes in the next couple months.
The spring semester, in other news, is probably going to kill me. So all talk of continuing education may be moot. I'm taking the Teaching class, Shakesepeare, and my thesis. The latter two are required for the MA program. I do love Shakespeare, but I don't see the necessity of taking him at the graduate level. I had a whole class about him in undergrad, and while I'm sure there's always something to learn from Billy S., I just don't think another course should be required for Creative Writing students. Yes, yes, he was a great writer and founder of blah blah blah, but I'd rather take another course on how to improve my own writing rather than another course about how I'll never be the great writer that Shakespeare was. (I really wouldn't mind so much if it didn't coincide with the semester I'm taking my thesis.)
As for the thesis? I think I've lost my mojo recently. I'm trying to summon it back for the spring, but we'll see how that goes. Wish me luck & prayers & other such things. I'll need it.
My fingers are freezing. I think I'll go wash dishes to warm them up. Oh, the life I lead.