‘I want to be ripped to shreds’: writers flock to MFAs - but does it breed elitist literature?
Summary
Many well-known writers today earn a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree, showing a shift from the idea of writers as solitary geniuses to trained professionals. MFA programs, especially in the U.S., teach creative writing through workshops where students critique each other's work, but these workshops can be intense and sometimes stressful.Key Facts
- An MFA is a graduate degree in creative arts like writing, usually taking two years to complete.
- MFA programs cost from about $10,000 to over $80,000 per year.
- The U.S. has more than 250 MFA programs in creative writing.
- The Iowa Writers’ Workshop, founded in 1936, was the first MFA writing program and inspired many others.
- Workshops involve students sitting in groups to discuss and critique each other’s writing.
- The aim is to improve writing by focusing on craft rather than personal feelings.
- Some writers find workshops helpful, but others experience tough criticism and social tensions.
- Popular culture and novels sometimes portray writing workshops as harsh or elitist places.
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