pervy_potluck and Creative Writing mussings

[misanagi]

pervy_potluck Event!
Saturday, August 26th :D THAT'S TOMORROW!!
12pm Pacific, 1pm Mountain, 2pm Central, 3pm Eastern, here is a time converter

The chat will be announced in pervy_potluck, so be sure to look there! :D A few geeks pervs will probably be waiting there already before the time it starts XD

Hope to see a lot of you there. I'm sure it'll be lots of fun.
_____

I have a question, kind of. I know thejennabides and sintari are heading over to school for a Creative Writing program (Masters, right?), anyone else has been, plans to, or would like to enter a creative writing program?

And no, that's not the question, the question is what type of advantages, if any, a degree in Creative Writing would bring if you are looking for a job? Does it help at all? Do you think it'll help you get contacts in the publishing industry or stuff? Okay, that's way more than one question.

The thing is I've been thinking of applying for a Masters in a Creative Writing program here but I don't know if maybe I shouldn't do what I want and try something more practical like in teaching or journalism. I've been reading the syllabus of many different grad programs, and yeah, I feel capable of doing a lot of those but I keep thinking it's not what I really want. And then I read the Creative Writing one and oh yes, I want that… but maybe I should stop indulging in what I want (like studying Literature) and start thinking practically.

And there's the other thing about me actually getting in, which I don't know if I will…

So yeah, probably this wasn't a question but more the need to put these thoughts out there, see what you think…

I guess that's it for now. Have a wonderful Friday, everyone.

Comments

[razberrycreme.livejournal.com]

Even though I'm not in any of those *headdesk* I am in Journalism this year, because it's what I want and it's fun. You should do what YOU want that YOU think is fun!!! That way you'll have a great time :) it's better than thinking the class is a drag cough cough math class cough cough XD

*hugs*

I CAN'T WAIT FOR PERVY POTLUCK! *dances* methinks I should request cubicle-love type things for everyone...but wait, they'll post it so I can't have them do it >> hmmm dilemma this is. XD

hope you can make up your mind and that YOUR COLD GOES AWAY!! *hugs*

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

*laughs* I hate math too!

Pervy Potluck shall be lots of fun! *pets you* maybe just remind everyone of the contest now and then?

I still have some time to think and wibble about it before making a decision.

*drinks hot tea*

[razberrycreme.livejournal.com]

I was two years ahead of my, er, year in math. *sighs* it was fun sometimes, but most of the time it was just =_= NO MORE LOGARITHMS PLZ!!! XD

I was thinking more remind...every day. 8D!!! nagging? FOR SURE naaah. :D

Awww! wibbly mis is so kyuuuuuute!!! *SQUISHES*

^^ ♥

[thejennabides.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this will help you at all, but the program Sin and I are doing is called a Master of Arts in Professional Writing (MAPW). There are three concentrations to choose from: Creative Writing, Composition & Rhetoric (mostly geared for teachers), and Applied Writing (technical writing, journalism, web design/publishing, etc.). I'm aiming to do both Creating and Applied. The things I think I'll get out of the degree are (1) experience and skills in different kinds of writing, leading to (2) the building of a portfolio I can use when applying for jobs; and separately, (3) experience and contacts from doing internships.

Of the friends and other people I know who do something with writing for a living, I would say that most of them do not have creative writing degrees. But personally, I think I need the external discipline of something like classes and a degree program to get me started on writing seriously. And I definitely like the opportunities afforded by internships to get my foot in the door with publishers, for example; not with an eye towards passing them my work necessarily, but in case I want to pursue a career in editing/publishing rather than as a writer myself.

Eep eep!

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

Your program is way more versatile than mine. The one here has prose, scripts and theory. And I'm not sure there are internships here, which I would love. But yeah, I want the experience, try to write different thing and this type of program would make me write. I lack discipline too so I'm thinking this could be great. I keep hoping maybe I could get contacts there to get into the publishing industry too, but who knows?

I guess I keep thinking what if I invest time and money in this and in the end I don't make it? I don't think there's anything I want to do but write, but is that even possible? Probably not.

And I'm not even mentioning how scared I am that I apply and they say no.

*hides* Yep, maybe I'm just scared.

[thejennabides.livejournal.com]

*pulls you out of hiding and cuddles you*

But what if you get to the end of your life, or even just half-way through, wondering what might have been if you had made the investment of time and money, no longer able to even try? Not to mention that you could make an investment in other things you aren't as interested in or excited about, just to have those not work out either. See, for example, Muskrit's life. ;p

Seriously, I think you should go for it. Life is just too short not to. I don't know how competitive your program is, but I do know your writing and I think they'd be crazy to turn you away. If you want an opinion on any original stuff or converted fic you're thinking of including in an application portfolio, I would be more than happy to offer comments.

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

*cuddles in close*

I really want to do something that makes me happy. And you are right that there are no guarantees that if I do something more "practical" it'll help.

The university is the National University, which is one of the best and also, it's the only really good one which isn't that expensive, which means a lot of people try to get in. However, I don't know how many people are interested in a Creative Writing masters. *wibbles*

I'm not sure what would they require for the admission procedure... I would love to get your comments but anything I submit would have to be in Spanish. So yeah, even more scary because I can't ask you guys for help.

*hugs you* Thanks for commenting, and letting me ramble at you. I still have some time to think this over, so we'll see...

[thejennabides.livejournal.com]

*smacks forehead* I forgot about the Spanish language aspect.

I'm not going to push you into something you're not ready for, so I'll just leave it with one last nudge:

There are things far worse than rejection.

%%--
(is that symbol for a four leaf clover? if it's not, can we pretend it is?)

[lil-1337.livejournal.com]

If writing is what you truly want then that is what you should do. Practical is a wonderful thing, but you shouldn't have to give up your dreams for it. If you don't enjoy your work it becomes a struggle. You have such talent and potential to suceed.

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

I want to write, I really do but maybe I'm dreaming a bit too much? Maybe I should have a fallback, you know? or something?

[lil-1337.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with dreaming. I can see where you would be scared, but you never know if you can fly til you take the jump. Is there anyone you can talk to? An advisor or such that will be able to discuss the pros and cons with you?

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

Maybe. The director of the program is a member of my comunity. O might get the chance to talk to him, and it's not a bad idea. *ponders*

[lil-1337.livejournal.com]

It never hurts to get another opinion and to know exactly what to expect going in.

[dentelle-noir.livejournal.com]

At my university we have an "English & Creative Writing" program.
What that does is give us a degree in English, as well as Creative writing, at the end. You would still have your English degree as much as that would help, and then you have also your creative writing fun. Unfortunately, my University doesn't have internships or different paths like the program others were talking about, but it is just a local program.

The other option is taking courses for a more practical minor OR minoring in Creative writing, so that you can have the best of both worlds.

It all depends on what is offered there. And while I agree that doing what you love is important, using 4 years of your life to attain a degree that will get you nowhere is not fun.

Writing is an important part of you, but you need to put food on the table and a roof over your head. Don't shoot yourself in the foot. Remember, there is NOTHING stopping you from taking multiple degrees concurrently or even one after the other.

It is your life, and it's important you live it your way. I hate to sound all Disney, but ‘listen to your heart’. If you want to take Creative writing, but you keep thinking about all the other possibilities, then your first want is to take it-- then TAKE IT!!! But, if you are thinking that a degree in ______ is good, but you really want to take creative writing, then remember that your first wish is for the _____ degree. Take Creative writing in summer school, a local after-school program, or keep doing it in your spare time.
Remember, only 1% of published writers actually earn their living by writing.

Do what you feel you need to, because YOU have to live with the consequences, good or bad.

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

I already have a degree in Literature, which is kind of like your English. That's what I studied, and what I'm thinking about is a Masters in Creative Writing. It would be halftime and 2 years, and hopefully by then I'll have a job...

So yeah, the thing is I already did the "get a degree" part but now, I'm not sure if I should try to get a masters in something more practical or do what I really want.

[windsorblue.livejournal.com]

It's been my experience that a 'practical' degree is no guarantee of a career. If it's in something that doesn't interest you, doesn't capture you, and isn't what you want to spend the rest of your working life doing - well, you're not likely to stay in that field, no matter how practical it is. I realized in my senior year of my bachelor's degree that I'd majored in the wrong thing, and stuck with it just because I had only one more semester to go and I wanted to be done with it. And after graduation, I spent another ten years working at Disneyland. ^^;;

[misanagi.livejournal.com]

You are right. Practical doesn't necessarily means it'll work better. I still have time to ponder this, but the more I think about it, the more I want it. Thanks for the advice ^^