On Saturday January 12, 2013, I was awarded an MFA in Creative Writing from the Stonecoast MFA Program at the University of Southern Maine. (Pictured above, L-to-R: Allister Timms, Derek Hoffman, Jim Kelly, Amy Tibbetts, Kendall Giles)
There was much rejoicing.
Note: as backgrounders on writing and how to become a better writer, check out my articles on a writer’s quick-start guide and how to choose an MFA writing program.
Stonecoast is a top-ten MFA program, and is structured for those of us who have jobs and other life obligations yet still want to invest in professional writing development. Stonecoast is also a perfect example of how universities are changing to give more options for learning in a modern age. The people and curriculum at Stonecoast are outstanding, and I was thrilled to be able to learn to write the types of things I like to read, which was one of my goals in getting my MFA.
But still, some suggest an MFA is not worth the effort and expense.
Admittedly, some of the data for writing and publishing success, even with an MFA, does not look good:
A survey of past graduates of Columbia University’s creative-writing program found a high percentage of real-estate brokers, social workers, employees of insurance companies and advertising agencies, school guidance counselors, proofreaders and college-level freshman composition teachers whose publication experience was nonexistent or modest at best.
Perhaps the publishing industry is as bad as some say it is, and that is why so many of those Columbia MFA grads gave up on their writing and publishing dreams. Or, perhaps their MFA program is not well-suited to prepare their students for the realities of writing in the real world. Who knows.
What I do know is that I am a bit more optimistic.
From my research, from looking at the data, from interviewing professional authors, publishers, and literary agents, and from the skills I’ve received as a result of the Stonecoast MFA program, I’d have to say I’m going to give a thumbs up for the writing and publishing road ahead. In fact, I’ll echo what Tom Hallock at Beacon Press said, “It’s a good time to be writing, a good time to be publishing.”
ANY BIG SUCCESS IS A TEAM EFFORT
But before I talk about what I’m going to do with my MFA, I first need to thank those who helped me earn it. Though I wrote the words in my stories and thesis, read and reviewed many books written by other authors, and had my own work critiqued in workshop, getting an MFA was by no means a solitary achievement.
Almost any big success depends on being part of a great team, having your own tribe. My MFA was due to the help, patience, wisdom, friendship, and support of many people, including:
My Absolutely Amazing Mentors
My Phenomenally Talented Workshop Leaders
My Totally Awesome PopFic Student Cohort
- Derek Hoffman
- Allister Timms
- Amy Tibbetts
- Shawn Crawford
Plus the Stonecoast staff, and fellow Stonecoast students and alumni, cannot be forgotten.
Also, and perhaps most importantly, I wouldn’t have even been able to begin my MFA adventure without the support of my wife and family.
Finally, I have to give a shout out to literary agent Peter McGuigan for the opportunity to intern at Foundry Literary + Media in New York. It was a transformational experience, which led directly to the creation of my presentation, “How Sausage Is Made: Becoming A Professional Writer.”
Thanks everyone—I couldn’t have asked for a better tribe to be a part of.
WHAT’S NEXT?
Many people have asked me variants of these questions:
So, what are you going to do once you get your MFA?
Well, a few things.
I’ve got a novel to write (a literary agent I pitched my idea to said, “You have to give me this novel when you finish it.”). Maybe once I give her my novel she won’t be interested, but at least I’ve got a target to aim for. I’ve also got a non-fiction book proposal to shop around. I’m sure a short story or two, as well as some non-fiction essays and articles, will sprout here and there. I’m also going to write content for my main website, kendallgiles.com. And there are a couple of skunkworks projects I’m working on back in the Batcave.
Is it going to be scary, marching off into the open world, pen in hand, trying to find an audience?
Absolutely. Writing, perhaps more than any other profession, involves not only confronting your own vulnerabilities, doubts, and fears, but also exposing those weaknesses to other people. Not everyone survives that leap across the chasm.
Is being a writer difficult?
Without a doubt. Reality eagerly provides many excuses, obstacles, and setbacks to thwart progress. But if you want to achieve a result, you have to do the work. You have to soldier on when you are tired, frustrated, disillusioned. You must never give up.
Is it risky trying to be a writer?
Yes. Let’s face it, achieving success in writing is like playing with a deck stacked against you. The odds, for those without heart and grit and commitment, just aren’t in your favor. But keep in mind that risk, difficulty, and fear are involved in achieving anything worthwhile.
Thanks to advances in technology, the small worlding effects of the Internet, and reading and writing cultural shifts—what Beacon Press publisher Tom Hallock calls a “digital migration”—the only real publishing gatekeepers these days are the writers themselves. The opportunities for writers to get their messages, their words, and their stories in front of an audience are more plentiful than ever before—only the gatekeeper in the mind of the writer is truly preventing publication success.
Though there’s always a chance of failure, I’m working on a plan to help make sure I don’t let the gatekeeper in my mind sabotage my own efforts, goals, and dreams.
WHENCE, WHERETO, AND WHEREFORE
Finally, while this is a Nike ad, I like the message:
So, what do you do with an MFA?
You slay monsters. You create worlds. You spread love. You haunt dreams. You bring hope.
In other words, you write.
But remember, most any success is the result of a team effort, so I’d love your support. You are part of my tribe. Make the charge with me.
Here we go, into the breach…