Litsy

The Portable MFA in Creative Writing | New York Writers Workshop

Since Friday I‘ve been at a writing seminar/workshop/craft talk bonanza thanks in huge part to the director of Catapult who just happens to be Julie Buntin, author of Marlena. Other authors I met/heard from include Min Jin Lee, Crystal Hana Kim (If You Leave Me), Akil Kumarasamy (Half Gods), Dan Sheehan (Restless Souls), Manuel Gonzales (The Regional Office is Under Attack), & Gabe Habash (my workshop instructor & author of Stephen Florida). 👇🏻

mrozzz (Cont‘d) I‘m so emotional and overwhelmed, but mostly so happy to have gotten some trustworthy opinions on my novel and I‘m finally feeling some confidence in my writing since about 99% of the time I‘m alone, wondering if I‘m getting anywhere. If other writers are struggling— find other writers and ask for help! Also, take advantage of workshops like these. It‘s not free but much cheaper than an MFA 🤷🏻‍♀️ 7y

britt_brooke Very cool! 💚 7y

PenguinInFlight That‘s awesome! 🙌🏻💜 7y

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AmyG Oh wow. Good luck on your writing. This sounded amazing. 7y

mrozzz Thank you!! @AmyG It was oh so informative and most of the other writers there wanted to make friends and talk shop and figure out the industry. It was exactly what I needed. @britt_brooke @PenguinInFlight 💗💗💗 7y

readordierachel SO COOL. Sounds like a blast! 7y

vivastory That's fantastic! What a great group of writers! 7y

Cinfhen That‘s amazing and what an incredibly talented group of authors to talk shop with 🙌🏻❤️ 7y

cariashley Wow sounds amazing!! 7y

BarbaraBB This sounds great. I am so happy for you that you got the feedback you needed! Now go finish that novel 😀😘💪 7y

mrozzz It really was!! I wish I had that to look forward to every weekend. @ReadOrDieRachel 7y

mrozzz They‘re all so lovely, most are debut authors and so honest about the process. @vivastory 7y

mrozzz @Cinfhen seriously! Ugh. So amazing. 💜 7y

mrozzz @cariashley Yes! I‘m still reeling. 7y

mrozzz @BarbaraBB 😊 What really sealed the exceptional weekend for me was when 1 of the people in my workshop asked if I read House Of Leaves and I had to keep myself from screaming because that book has not/will not stop inspiring me and I couldn‘t believe he understood I have that connection just by reading 15 pages. I‘m gonna finish it ASAP 💕 7y

tammysue So awesome Mel!! 🤩 7y

BarbaraBB So cool that he understood. And I can imagine that House of Leaves is inspiring! Wow, I am so excited for you, I hope it‘ll work out well for you. You can do it 💪, I‘m sure!! 😘 7y

mrozzz Thank you!! @whatshesreadingnow 💜 7y

mrozzz @BarbaraBB 💗💗💗 Appreciate the confidence! 7y

DivineDiana So happy for you! 👏🏻 7y

mrozzz Thanks 😊💜 7y

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REPollock

MFA vs NYC: The Two Cultures of American Fiction | Chad Harbach

pick

This is a solid collection of essays about the state of 21st century American fiction, the pros and cons of academic studies in creative writing, the grim reality of the publishing business.

I‘d have still gotten my MFA even if I‘d read this before I applied, but I still kinda wish I‘d read it then.

Also, the Gordon Lish essay is downright skeevy and gross, and I‘d love to read a post-#MeToo take on it.

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REPollock

MFA vs NYC: The Two Cultures of American Fiction | Chad Harbach

Interesting. Do you think people on the whole read more shallowly now than they did 20 years ago?

wanderinglynn Yes, because of e-reading. Studies have shown that people comprehend less when reading electronic publications (including newspapers & magazines). I know that if I really want to “get” something, I have to print it out or find a print version. 7y

REPollock @wanderinglynn good point. I print stuff out to really concentrate on it too. 7y

AJones Most definitely! I see it all the time; especially at work (I‘m a teacher). Students just skim for the key details. Most of them have no patience or much less take the necessary time to actually read. They want it right then, plain an simple. It‘s truly sad. This is why we need to promote literature. 💙📚 7y

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REPollock

MFA vs NYC: The Two Cultures of American Fiction | Chad Harbach

Let‘s do this. 📚

saresmoore This sounds really interesting! I look forward to your thoughts on it. 7y

REPollock @saresmoore it‘s an essay collection, featuring one of the pieces I just read in

How to Write an Autobiographical Novel: Essays

REPollock @saresmoore ...so I‘m really looking forward to what all the other contributors have to say in their pieces. Chee‘s is 👍👍 7y

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sarahjane1077

Until Tomorrow, Mr. Marsworth | Sheila O'Connor

My little girl is devouring #SheilaOConnor‘s latest middle grade novel. So happy she joined our #MFA program‘s faculty, so I could find another great #strongfemaleprotagonist for my Kiddo.

AmberWB This sounds so good!!! Wrapping up the Viet Nam war with my students right now and in the mood to read something art in that time period! 7y

sarahjane1077 This is an epistolary novel, and the voices of the characters are just so distinct and real. The main character (Reenie) is spunky and precocious in only the best ways, and O‘Connor manages to talk about difficult things like the war and the draft without talking down to her readers. I‘m definitely reading the whole thing when Kiddo is done. Got to hear O‘Connor give a reading from it, and I was instantly hooked (and charmed.) 7y

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