I’ve occasionally identified my master’s degree by the more common term MFA (Master of Fine Arts), but it’s 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 or poetry, […]
What English Departments Can Learn from Film School
When it comes to scholarship and teaching, there is one area where film schools are considerably more advanced than English departments: their comfort level 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 […]
An MFA Is Unnecessary
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 […]
The Benefit of an MFA
I’m 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 dedicated, […]
Harry Houdini, PhD
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. I get caught up in learning and thinking to the point where I need to stop, close the Internet browser, […]