What's Better for Writers, Living or a Degree?

In an article in yesterday's Times (click here), Charles McGrath discusses the value of an MFA in Creative Writing.  From 1975 to 2004 the number of degree-granting writing programs in the U.S. exploded from 52 to over 300.  McGrath says, "In the 1940s and '50s, Americans who wanted to become writers went to Paris.  Now they go to Palo Alto or Iowa City."  I don't think he names my hometown of Palo Alto because it is the heart of Silicon Valley either.  It's named as the home of Stanford and its writing program.  So is the best route to becoming a writer getting an MFA?

A new grad asked me and other writers on an online forum what she should do to become a writer.  For me the answer was easy -- live.  Get a job.  Be observant. 

In the last few days I've hung with crime-writing friends who write wonderful books after having done stints in advertising, fashion, journalism, teaching, tech writing, legal practice, videography, and medicine.  All these experiences serve their writing well.  Now teachers like Peggy Lucke, Donna Levin, and Ellen Sussman got me going in the writing game and helped me understand the craft.  No reason an MFA can't do the same.  But it ought not serve as a substitute for life experience.  And an MFA is an expensive option.  I took writing courses at night and for a small fraction of what an MFA would have cost.

You can tell what McGrath thinks of the MFA phenomenon for writers from the headline of his article:  "The Ponzi Workshop."  He worries that "we are conceivably approaching a state in which there are more writers in American than there are readers."  Me?  I believe in courses, but even more in living and reading. 

Comments

[Patti Abbott]

The reading thing is partially true though. I can't tell you how poorly read some of the students were in the writing classes I took ten years ago. It was chilling.

[Christopher Cocca]

I don't think it's an either/or ("living" vs. "getting a degree"). The benefits of both can be romanticized. If you go for an MFA, do it because you want to be in that kind of environment and study with particular writers. Don't do it thinking it's a magic bullet. No degree is.

[Keith Raffel]

Patti, I guess they figured why read when you can write. Chris, good point. I wonder if the MFA is getting to be a credential for teaching creating writing.

[Stacey]

Badly need your help. When you want to believe in something, you also have to believe in everything that's necessary for believing in it. Help me! It has to find sites on the: Stock market growth. I found only this - learn the stock market.    Green matters eco friendly cost savings. Freedom to work hard and prosper and enjoy the fruits of your honest labor without fear that it will be forced from you to support the degradation of the constitution. Best regards :confused:, Stacey from Ireland.