tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post1922849995768085401..comments2023-11-02T01:29:11.575-07:00Comments on The MFA Chronicles: Exciting time at UNCG!JayTeehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02923700657540655227noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-46761216491387550872010-01-29T15:05:04.565-08:002010-01-29T15:05:04.565-08:00Job searches are exciting, but a little nerve-wrac...Job searches are exciting, but a little nerve-wracking if you desperately want a specific person to come, or don't think one of the applicants would come if the job is offered to him/her (if that person is just leveraging for more money somewhere else). But I do hope your school's job search works out.<br /><br />And lucky that y'all got a workshop and a reading out of it!<br /><br />Houston has a good amount of support in terms of fellowship/job preparations because we've got the dual MFA/PhD track, and most of the people here for the latter are interested in going into academia (go trickle down effect!), but I think it's more a matter of consciousness than anything else--hypothetically: Is your programming training you in a craft or a discipline?<br /><br />I think if a person sets academia as a goal, most programs probably offer resources to help get on that path, even if it's only possible with the aid of lots of luck (should the other steps, like a solid base in literature and pedagogy be there).<br /><br />But yeah, it is nerve-wracking being here and not knowing what to do next. The PhD always looks appealing...Joshua Gottlieb-Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16562233353440767788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-67394078859647979712010-01-28T20:01:53.089-08:002010-01-28T20:01:53.089-08:00Ya know if things hadn't changed so drasticall...Ya know if things hadn't changed so drastically at my old job in the year before I started the mfa, I would have stayed. If you can find a decent low-stress office job of definitely has it's merits. At my low res program we were given a lot of tips via panel discussions and lots of networking as well as faculty support for letter writing. My final residency was a lot about life after the mfa. My friends teach mostly at community colleges as adjuncts. I hope, someday, to work in support at a college. Like as a mfa coordinator perhaps?Jessie Cartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13181286764480973423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-85843552129971945922010-01-28T09:14:44.052-08:002010-01-28T09:14:44.052-08:00The funniest thing is, from a corporate perspectiv...The funniest thing is, from a corporate perspective, I have become a far more effective and productive employee since I really started managing my time to write. I realized that every hour was precious re my own writing time, and this carried over to my job.<br /><br />And, while I'm definitely not pushing the corporate angle (think I'm going to school to escape it!), it just seems like in the world we live in, everyone's got to be a mini-Martha Stewart, ie self as enterprise, and can no longer fall back on a benevolent academic fun-farm as we wait for our Nobel prizes.Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17506923967926484067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-48906913040376295922010-01-28T09:06:17.279-08:002010-01-28T09:06:17.279-08:00I look at a job in academia post-mfa as an impossi...I look at a job in academia post-mfa as an impossibility and only a small possibility after a few books and a lot of years. I like Jamie's idea of max earnings/minimum time and I'm always considering what type of employment I will go after post-mfa. I've thought of leveraging the teaching experience into a corporate training position, copywriting, corporate consulting. Eh, I don't know. I just don't want the time commitment. I would honestly pursue a PhD for the love of lit and time to write, so I may go that route. But yeah, I'm not expecting the MFA to immediately open any jobs in academia for me. That's pretty much the guidance I was given from a few schools upon acceptance.JayTeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923700657540655227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1396226836483140641.post-24204132206229704872010-01-28T08:41:30.992-08:002010-01-28T08:41:30.992-08:00Thanks for the post. Great topic!
I haven't e...Thanks for the post. Great topic!<br /><br />I haven't even gotten in anywhere (everything's crossed that can be), and I'm already thinking about the post-degree job dilemma.<br /><br />My starting principle is: how do I make the most money per hour, so I can preserve the most hours for writing? <br /><br />And I've wondered if teaching is the way. Everyone knows there are a glut of humanities grad degree-holders, including those in creative writing, and a scarcity of academic jobs. Plus, this market imbalance has created a glorified temping situation for university teachers. You get paid nothing and you don't get benefits - you're a contractor, moving around institutions as the academic years go by. Making the jump from this after-degree state to a more secure position is quite difficult, and a hustle in itself. <br /><br />Which is fine, if you want it, but I wonder how much it supports one's writing. I'm a little obstinate, but I'm still thinking maximum earnings to minimum time is the best way to get the time I need to write.<br /><br />What I wonder is, has anyone considered less orthodox careers that still use your MFA? Some kind of freelancing (I'm currently a marketing copywriter, so think of this a lot)? Adult education? Giving lectures to book clubs? Retirees? Teaching in private companies? Community colleges? <br /><br />Maybe I'm too cynical, but I feel that the academic system isn't the supportive, reflective place it used to be, at least not for most of us potential job seekers. I feel it's just as much of a hustle as any private enterprise, but it has this intellectual patina that attracts arts types (who end up economically disadvantaged), whereas the private world repels arts types because of its money-centrism (which is, admittedly, repelling).<br /><br />I guess my premise is, the need for writing and reading literature still seems very present, and goes beyond the university. Since there are so many of us, why not take our show on the road?Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17506923967926484067noreply@blogger.com