“Creative writing courses, especially at the undergraduate level, may not necessarily produce the world’s next generation of literary geniuses. As I see it, that is not the purpose of such courses anyway. A deeper more important purpose is to afford students at least a glimpse of what it is like to be a creative writer. And that purpose cannot be accomplished without significant and sustained attention to process.” —Tim Mayers (as quoted in Darin Ciccotelli‘s excellent article on MFA programs in the AWP Writer’s Chronicle.)

Let’s discuss today: http://aaww.org/pubcon16/#menu1

1-1:45PM

WHAT I WISHED I KNEW BEFORE I GOT MY MFA

Novelists Naomi Jackson (Iowa Writers Workshop), Karim Dimechkie (The Michener Center), and Kaitlyn Greenidge (Hunter MFA) discuss their pre- and post-MFA experience and give advice about how to navigate the writing program. Moderated by author Joseph Salvatore (The Brooklyn Rail), an assistant professor at The New School.