Since I’ve been blogging a bit about bridging and community work, it’s worth mentioning that I’ll be hosting this weekend’s emerging writers’ panel at SFPL. I can’t gauge how much interest there is in this panel, as I’ve been too close to it to see what other people outside my immediate circle think. I do remember this panel’s origins as being some of the MFA Industrial Complex discussion about paying for consulting services for assistance in the MFA application process, who accesses these services, who benefits from these services.
To restate some of what I’ve previously blogged: I still believe no one absolutely needs the MFA degree in order to write or become a writer or author. I do not believe in the MFA as the thing that validates a writer to call herself a writer. I do not believe the MFA degree gives you the keys to any kingdom.
I do believe in the MFA program as one of many strategies a writer can use to hone her craft, to read and write beyond her current frame of reference, to develop critical language, to find critical readers of her work in progress. I also believe these can be found elsewhere — in writing circles, in community arts workshops, in community college writing courses. I believe that as writers we must try to do everything we can to fight off stagnation, to thrive and grow. I believe in surrounding ourselves with those critical readers instead of enablers and people with soft expectations for our work.
That said, below is the info for this weekend’s panel. I hope to see some of you there.
RSS - Posts