Low Residency, or Cash Cow? - You Don't Need No MFA

Worthy Quote
Mac Wellman, who shared with me his frank opinion of the purpose of graduate playwriting programs: "to replace the Bohemian communities we had in the 1960s." (Wellman heads his own graduate program at Brooklyn College). From an article by playwright Clarence Coo for the Playwright's Forum.

Worthy Quote

Mac Wellman, who shared with me his frank opinion of the purpose of graduate playwriting programs: "to replace the Bohemian communities we had in the 1960s." (Wellman heads his own graduate program at Brooklyn College).

From an article by playwright Clarence Coo for the Playwright's Forum.

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Low Residency, or Cash Cow?

You Don't Need No MFA

We are a small, but growing collective of individuals who feel it is important to spread the word that it is not necessary to have a Masters of Fine Art (or other advanced degree) in Creative Writing in order to have a successful writing career. While it is true that some people benefit from such degrees, they are expensive, time-consuming, and not necessarily the most nurturing enviroment for writers. We want to show you that there are alternatives.

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Low Residency, or Cash Cow?

Dec 09, 2006 at 11:38 PM

Are these things really for real? Write on your own for weeks and weeks, then go to what amounts to a writing conference (which, by the way, you can attend any time you like for a hell of a lot less money), and then go back to working on your own. What are you really getting for your $20,000+ per year??? If it's deadlines you want, just ask me. I'll give 'em to you!

More to come on this topic.

User Comments

Comment by GUEST on 2007-05-25 13:08:16
Real and, to some, invaluable.

Comment by GUEST on 2007-05-25 15:10:24
All depends on the person and their goals, and to a very large, extent on the faculty and their willingness to engage between residencies.

Comment by GUEST on 2008-06-14 20:45:33
I've looked at the low residency option at Warren-Wilson and their faculty is full of writers I admire and would love to learn from. I also know the reality of being the next hot writer (J.K. Rowling, Stephen King, et al.) is slim, and as a teacher I can at least get a regular paycheck and the additional incentive to write ("publish or parish" in academic careers). That said, the cost is incredible. I would have a better shot at a PhD fellowship (since I have a MA in storytelling already). The only problem is, there are no teaching careers for storytellers and most universities will only let people with writing degrees teach writing. It is so CONFUSING and frustrating trying to decide what to do....

Last Updated ( Dec 10, 2006 at 09:01 AM )

Credo
If the best thing about MFAs is that they help build a community of writers, what does it say about the community that they have to spend $20,000-$50,000 and take a few years out of their lives to build it? We support alternative communities without entrance fees and want to ensure that people without MFAs are not excluded from publishing. We also enjoy food, drink and good company. Feel free to join us.

Credo

If the best thing about MFAs is that they help build a community of writers, what does it say about the community that they have to spend $20,000-$50,000 and take a few years out of their lives to build it? We support alternative communities without entrance fees and want to ensure that people without MFAs are not excluded from publishing. We also enjoy food, drink and good company. Feel free to join us.

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