Thank you for sharing your experience with the MFA program. Sounds wonderful! I would love to attend a MFA program specifically because of the opportunity for total immersion in writing and reading and analyzing that it offers. However, I am 63, don’t have the financial resources or time as I work full time. I barely have time to write and an MFA program, even a low residency one, would be overwhelming.
HI Gabriella. Yes, I feel very privileged to have had the time and money to devote to a full-time program. Today (post pandemic) there are the many, good writing classes and courses available online at much, much less cost. Really good faculty and good content. Some free too. Maybe you can give your self a treat if time permits. Good Luck. Thanks for reading. Best, A
I didn't start writing until I was 60—not one word. And no MFA. Then I wrote qa little bit. Now at 72, I'm in the middle of one of the most significant projects of my life — helping a 92-year-old friend finish his memoir because he can’t. Your line about bringing life experience to the page at 50 resonated with me. How about 72? I don’t think I could have done this in the past. Sometimes, being late is exactly right.
Yes it's never too late, I believe. And yes, yes, later can even be a better time. Your project sounds cool and rewarding. Your 92-year-old friend is fortunate to have you tell his story.
Thanks for revealing your journey and insecurities along the way. The life experiences you started with likely made the inner awareness much stronger, catapulting you to the successes as a writer and teacher you now enjoy. You are an inspiration.
Dear Andrea, I love this! You are an inspiration to those of us who've ever regretted not getting an MFA. It's always a nice reminder to hear that it's never too late. And....to never throw away those old t-shirts! :)
Your essay found me at a major crossroads. I was just accepted into a Granta Long-form Journalism Workshop. But like the financial and emotional reality checks you mentioned, I’m staring at a steep £3,000 price tag without a bursary, asking myself if this specific investment is the right pivot for me right now, or if my path lies elsewhere.
Your line about needing to feel off-kilter and vulnerable to push yourself to a new place stayed with me. Thank you for reminding us that there is no expired deadline for our dreams, only our own timing.
The Grants Long-Form Journalism course looks like a great experience. Such a great outlet. And congrats on being accepted, I'm sure it was competitive. I love long-form journalism, read it all the time. And sometimes I wish I that I'd pursued journalism after college, but that wasn't my path. Although I did start writing for a newspaper and then magazines in my 40's, after exhausting another couple of careers. Kind of late to journalism and self-taught. A great adventure that readied me for the MFA. Only you know you path--but I think our paths can have many arteries, twists and turns. Wish you all the best with the course you choose!
I love hearing your backstory. I graduated from college (BA English!) when I was 60. I still worked and could afford the degree. After earning credits at a community college and learning how to use a computer for something other than my sales job, I transferred to a college that had created a space for nontraditional (older) students. Motivated by my experience, I earned my MFA. I agree one doesn't need an MFA now that there are a multitude of excellent courses and workshops online, but the BA and the MFA low-residency program changed my life in all the right ways.
Great journey Jill. Congrats for changing you life in such positive ways and thanks for sharing. Yes, let us embrace the "nontraditional path," although I wish we had another word for it, something that didn't start with non, a special word for it :-)
This story is inspiring. It’s never too late to chase dreams and exciting to keep learning. Like you, I’m switching genres from technical writing to personal essays. And, like you, The Fourth State of Matter” opened my eyes to what is possible with words. At this point I’m in my life, I’m not interested in an MFA, but I’m keen to improve my writing. There are many online CNF workshops with wonderful teachers, like you, and are many avenues to grow and stretch as a writer. Thank you for sharing yours.
Such a great story - thank you for sharing! I went back at 32 and I was so worried I'd be the only one - imagining a room full of 22 year olds. I was wrong. We were such a wide-range of ages from 22 to 62, it was great.
I love your line, "I learned how to read as a writer and quickly picked up the craft. It was like putting on 3D glasses. I could see how the writing worked. I knew I’d never read the same way again.I learned how to read as a writer and quickly picked up the craft. It was like putting on 3D glasses. I could see how the writing worked. I knew I’d never read the same way again." When I first started taking writing workshop classes at Grub Street in Boston (before going to do the MFA) it was eye-opening. I feel nostalgic often for those days when it all felt so new!
Thank you for sharing. I've been interested in earning an MFA because I want to teach creative writing. I don’t have a way to work it out yet but I'll see what the future holds.
Yes the MFA can be a good springboard into teaching creative writing. If you do look at MFA programs, look to see what teaching opportunities they support while you are in the program. I was able to TA/and teach undergrads while in my program and also teach writing in community setting too--supported by the university with some pay (modest). I hadn't thought about teaching until I was in the MFA program, then found I really liked it and my faculty were very supportive--I learned a lot about teaching from the, When I graduated I set up a school for creative writing with a grad school friend. You can make it happen. To teach in university setting you probably need the MFA. To teach in the community, no necessarily at all--Good Luck
Congratulations on taking such a step, following that long-held dream and making it your own.
Thank you, too, for putting Jo Ann Beard's essay on my radar. I understand why it made such an impact - what an amazing piece of writing. Most of my own writing has been in fiction and poetry, with only a few forays into nonfiction. My palms have been itching toward the personal essay, and this has sort of flung the door open. I love when that happens.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the MFA program. Sounds wonderful! I would love to attend a MFA program specifically because of the opportunity for total immersion in writing and reading and analyzing that it offers. However, I am 63, don’t have the financial resources or time as I work full time. I barely have time to write and an MFA program, even a low residency one, would be overwhelming.
HI Gabriella. Yes, I feel very privileged to have had the time and money to devote to a full-time program. Today (post pandemic) there are the many, good writing classes and courses available online at much, much less cost. Really good faculty and good content. Some free too. Maybe you can give your self a treat if time permits. Good Luck. Thanks for reading. Best, A
I didn't start writing until I was 60—not one word. And no MFA. Then I wrote qa little bit. Now at 72, I'm in the middle of one of the most significant projects of my life — helping a 92-year-old friend finish his memoir because he can’t. Your line about bringing life experience to the page at 50 resonated with me. How about 72? I don’t think I could have done this in the past. Sometimes, being late is exactly right.
Yes it's never too late, I believe. And yes, yes, later can even be a better time. Your project sounds cool and rewarding. Your 92-year-old friend is fortunate to have you tell his story.
Thanks for revealing your journey and insecurities along the way. The life experiences you started with likely made the inner awareness much stronger, catapulting you to the successes as a writer and teacher you now enjoy. You are an inspiration.
TY TJ :-)
Dear Andrea, I love this! You are an inspiration to those of us who've ever regretted not getting an MFA. It's always a nice reminder to hear that it's never too late. And....to never throw away those old t-shirts! :)
Love this perspective, Andrea, and love hearing what you gained from your MFA program! Thanks so much for sharing!
Your essay found me at a major crossroads. I was just accepted into a Granta Long-form Journalism Workshop. But like the financial and emotional reality checks you mentioned, I’m staring at a steep £3,000 price tag without a bursary, asking myself if this specific investment is the right pivot for me right now, or if my path lies elsewhere.
Your line about needing to feel off-kilter and vulnerable to push yourself to a new place stayed with me. Thank you for reminding us that there is no expired deadline for our dreams, only our own timing.
The Grants Long-Form Journalism course looks like a great experience. Such a great outlet. And congrats on being accepted, I'm sure it was competitive. I love long-form journalism, read it all the time. And sometimes I wish I that I'd pursued journalism after college, but that wasn't my path. Although I did start writing for a newspaper and then magazines in my 40's, after exhausting another couple of careers. Kind of late to journalism and self-taught. A great adventure that readied me for the MFA. Only you know you path--but I think our paths can have many arteries, twists and turns. Wish you all the best with the course you choose!
I love hearing your backstory. I graduated from college (BA English!) when I was 60. I still worked and could afford the degree. After earning credits at a community college and learning how to use a computer for something other than my sales job, I transferred to a college that had created a space for nontraditional (older) students. Motivated by my experience, I earned my MFA. I agree one doesn't need an MFA now that there are a multitude of excellent courses and workshops online, but the BA and the MFA low-residency program changed my life in all the right ways.
Great journey Jill. Congrats for changing you life in such positive ways and thanks for sharing. Yes, let us embrace the "nontraditional path," although I wish we had another word for it, something that didn't start with non, a special word for it :-)
Oh, I agree about the non!
Love this story! It’s never too late to listen to your inner voice and follow where it leads!
This story is inspiring. It’s never too late to chase dreams and exciting to keep learning. Like you, I’m switching genres from technical writing to personal essays. And, like you, The Fourth State of Matter” opened my eyes to what is possible with words. At this point I’m in my life, I’m not interested in an MFA, but I’m keen to improve my writing. There are many online CNF workshops with wonderful teachers, like you, and are many avenues to grow and stretch as a writer. Thank you for sharing yours.
Thx Karen!
Such a great story - thank you for sharing! I went back at 32 and I was so worried I'd be the only one - imagining a room full of 22 year olds. I was wrong. We were such a wide-range of ages from 22 to 62, it was great.
I love your line, "I learned how to read as a writer and quickly picked up the craft. It was like putting on 3D glasses. I could see how the writing worked. I knew I’d never read the same way again.I learned how to read as a writer and quickly picked up the craft. It was like putting on 3D glasses. I could see how the writing worked. I knew I’d never read the same way again." When I first started taking writing workshop classes at Grub Street in Boston (before going to do the MFA) it was eye-opening. I feel nostalgic often for those days when it all felt so new!
Thank you for sharing. I've been interested in earning an MFA because I want to teach creative writing. I don’t have a way to work it out yet but I'll see what the future holds.
Yes the MFA can be a good springboard into teaching creative writing. If you do look at MFA programs, look to see what teaching opportunities they support while you are in the program. I was able to TA/and teach undergrads while in my program and also teach writing in community setting too--supported by the university with some pay (modest). I hadn't thought about teaching until I was in the MFA program, then found I really liked it and my faculty were very supportive--I learned a lot about teaching from the, When I graduated I set up a school for creative writing with a grad school friend. You can make it happen. To teach in university setting you probably need the MFA. To teach in the community, no necessarily at all--Good Luck
Congratulations on taking such a step, following that long-held dream and making it your own.
Thank you, too, for putting Jo Ann Beard's essay on my radar. I understand why it made such an impact - what an amazing piece of writing. Most of my own writing has been in fiction and poetry, with only a few forays into nonfiction. My palms have been itching toward the personal essay, and this has sort of flung the door open. I love when that happens.
Me too!