I have occasionally identified my master’s degree by the more common term MFA (Master of Fine Arts), but it is time, once and for all, to own my MPW (Master of Professional Writing). For those of you unfamiliar, the traditional English MFA in creative writing requires the student to specialize in one genre, either fiction… Read more about Master of Professional Writing, Limited Edition
When it comes to scholarship and teaching, there is one area where film schools are considerably more advanced than English departments: their comfort with genre. Cinema programs, USC’s in particular, regularly offer classes devoted to melodrama, comedy, musical, noir (actually a style rather than a separate genre), and horror. Media professors acknowledge various conventions to… Read more about What English Departments Can Learn from Film School
I’ve previously written about the benefits of creative writing MFA programs. Today, I’m here to tell you that earning an MFA is unnecessary if you want to be a writer. I know. The thesis seems obvious. Shakespeare, Dickens, and Homer didn’t earn one. Neither did Stephen King. And if anyone thinks he’s not a quality example… Read more about An MFA Is Unnecessary
I am a product of a creative writing MFA program. Before that, I was a product of an undergraduate creative writing program. And even before that, I was a product of playwriting workshops, screenwriting fellowships, and film set production dating back to sophomore year of high school. All this training amounts to over ten years of… Read more about The Benefit of an MFA
I’m a fan of theory. I like figuring out how things work. But more importantly, my main enjoyment comes in applying that knowledge to my own creations. Unfortunately, this is a lesson I often forget. The letters “PhD” magically appear in my head, and off I go looking into graduate programs. I get caught up… Read more about Harry Houdini, PhD