To Earn a MFA or Not?

In my recent interview with novelist, Thrity Umrigar, we discussed the value of attaining a graduate degree in creative writing.

Umrigar, holds a Ph.D. in Literature, teaches creative writing and African American Literature at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio.

Thrity, as do I, believes a person does not need to earn a higher degree in writing to achieve publication. Neither does earning an MFA or Ph.D. in writing or literature guarantee that you will be published.

Yet time spent studying literature can allow one to develop and improve their ability to read, most specifically attaining the ability to read as a fiction writer.

This has been my experience in earning my MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College.

I entered the program having studied writing for three years under poet, and fiction writer, and acclaimed San Francisco Bay Area Writing Teacher, Clive Matson.

During the 36 months preceding my entry into graduate studies for writing I participated concurrently in 3 writing workshops led by Clive.

Two of the workshops, novel groups, met every other week. A third that included essayists, short story writers, poets and yours truly, a novelist, met each week. The gatherings for all lasted 3 hours each.

Participation in these workshops provided me with the ability to take critique and cull useful information from comments given in the pursuit of writing my novel. None of the novels I wrote in those groups have achieved publication.

The information I received provided a spreadsheet of detailing the strengths and weaknesses of my writing. I entered my MFA program having a sense of what was my strong suit, so to speak, and where lay my challenges in crafting entertaining and engaging fiction.

Have you considered pursuing a higher degree in writing?

What did hope to gain in doing so?

Have you participated in any ongoing writing workshops/groups for a year more?

If so, what has been your experience?