Here is what I can tell you about trying to get into the publishing industry as someone who has recently acquired an undergraduate degree: it is really hard to do. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Writing and English with a concentration in Language and Literature. I have done internships, both paid and unpaid; I’ve spoken with career counselors, professors, and professionals in my desired field. If books, movies, and TV can believed, I have done everything right in my higher education journey and should be enjoying a grueling but fulfilling entry-level position in publishing right now.
And yet, it’s been difficult breaking into the publishing industry as an entry-level professional. Many places, despite advertising entry-level positions, require years of experience. And many opportunities to gain experience come unpaid, even though they ask you to work full-time hours.
If you’re like me, you’ve probably grown exhausted of finding jobs you’re suitable for and receiving rejections or no answer at all. With everyone from similar degree specialties applying for the same jobs, it can feel like you’ll never get a foothold in the industry. Luckily, there are ways to buff up your resume, gain valuable experience, and learn more theoretical and practical knowledge about the field.
As an aspiring writer, I have been looking into graduate creative writing programs to learn more about the writing craft, which will arm me with language that will come in handy when navigating the publishing field. Many people choose to pursue graduate degrees in writing in order to learn more about their desired specialty or have an academic experience dedicated to helping them hone their craft. Applying to graduate programs can be an intimidating process, but some strategies make it easier. Here is what you can expect to learn from this article:
- Why Get A Graduate Degree
- The Difference Between An MA and An MFA
- Find The Right Program For You
- Applying Strategically
- Helpful Research Tools
Why Get A Graduate Degree
There are several benefits to pursuing creative writing in graduate school. As a graduate student, you immediately gain a community of similar-minded people and a roster of professors at your disposal. You also have the ability to narrow your studies to your interest in a way you couldn’t while completing an undergraduate degree. This reason is why many people choose graduate school: because they are passionate about a certain topic or issue and want to learn more about it. That passion will come in handy at the end of your degree when you’re expected to defend your thesis, which is the culmination of all the research and study you’ve completed during your program.
Many universities also have opportunities to grow your career while you pursue your degree. These opportunities include working for a literary magazine or journal, teaching an introductory class, or networking and making valuable connections to help you navigate the publishing industry.
Above all, the biggest benefit to graduate school is improving your skills. The more confident you are in your abilities, the better you are able to market yourself as an asset to the jobs you desire. So, to get the most out of your program, you should decide how you want to hone your skills. The choice you make will determine the type of graduate degree you work toward.
The Difference Between An MA and An MFA
Since I only have a Bachelor’s degree, I’m applying for a Master’s program. I was surprised to learn that Liberal Arts fields (like writing, film, art, and the like) have two different types of Master’s degrees to pursue: a Master of Arts (MA) or a Master of Fine Arts (MFA). While both will involve the same amount of work and result in the same amount of time spent earning them, they have different types of study and practical applications.
Master of Arts
An MA degree is a broader program that is theory-based. For example, I am interested in the career of a sensitivity reader within the industry, which is a type of editor. As a sensitivity reader, I would read works that feature Black characters for any instances of bias, stereotyping, or inaccuracy. While I can do this all based on my experience as a Black woman living in America, I could also supplement my living experience with an MA in African and African American Studies.
An MA gives the chance to learn different parts of the same subject. If I choose to study African and African American studies, I would learn about the culture, history, and issues that Africans, African Americans, and members of the African diaspora face. The same can be said for any other identity I might have a Master’s in studying: Jewish, Queer, disabled, to name a few common options.
But I’m also interested in what it takes to be a literary agent. A core skill for any literary agent is being able to read and respond to writing, so maybe I should do an MA in Creative Writing. Studying creative writing at a Master’s-level teaches how to break down writing as a theoretical process, noting the traits that make or break a piece of writing.
Master of Fine Arts
In comparison, an MFA degree has a more specific focus. If an MA is about “learning,” an MFA is about “doing,” giving students time to work on their craft. Someone getting their MA will have a final, culminating project in the form of a thesis paper, something that argues a point you have made throughout your work. For an MFA, however, your final work will be a full-length project. Because the MFA is so specific, all universities have the same or a similar name for their writing-based MFA program–usually Creative Writing.
As I said before, I’m an aspiring writer. I don’t need an MFA to be a writer, but I like the idea of learning about writing on a theoretical level that I can then apply with my own unique style. I also work well when aided by structure, and there isn’t a more structured experience than academia.
Knowing I want to have an MFA is just the start. MFAs, depending on the school you apply to, have their own distinctions that will determine what your final project is and what genre of writing is your specialty.
Distinctions Within an MFA
The type of project you present at the end of your program depends on what genre you choose as your specialty. There are three main genres most if not all, MFA creative writing programs have:
- Fiction
- Poetry
- Non-Fiction
Some schools have other types as well, like Writing for Children and Young Adults, Drama, and Scriptwriting. For the most part, however, Fiction, Poetry, and Non-Fiction are the three main distinctions for writers working towards MFAs.
One thing to remember is that an MFA is not only about craft; it’s about merit. MFA creative writing programs are often exclusive and competitive because they are prestigious. These programs, especially fiction programs, will focus on how to use the craft of writing to discuss the human condition and comment on the world around you. It’s important to know going in, very few (if any) MFA programs accept genre fiction in your application portfolio or as your thesis project. Fiction MFA programs are about crafting literary fiction, and they want to see you have engaged with it in some capacity in your application. Otherwise, why apply for the program?
Find The Right Program For You
One of the biggest challenges of graduate school is finding the right university for you. The application fees add up quickly, and only a few schools have fee waivers for applicants, so it’s best to think carefully about which ones fit your career goals and what you want to get out of your graduate school experience.
I did not make the decision to look at graduate schools lightly, and I didn’t make it an isolated process. As I thought about how and why I wanted to enter academia again, I turned to some professors from my undergraduate studies to help me map out my plan. Although not required, I found it helpful to speak to my former professors for multiple reasons. For one, any application you fill out will require letters of recommendation, so it’s beneficial to know what professors you want advocating for you. And professors have been through graduate school; it’s likely they will have invaluable tips for helping you on your journey.
In my research and discussions, I’ve found these factors to consider:
- What classes are there (undergraduate and graduate-level)
- The professors and faculty of the department
- The program’s alumni
- The opportunities that the program and its department offers
- The funding available for graduate students
- If the program has a residency requirement
By applying to a Master’s program, you’re signing up to spend at least two years at a university and submitting yourself to its culture, so it should be a university you’ll like. There are other practical considerations, too: living on- or off-campus, commuting, tuition, in-state or out-of-state. However, going to any graduate program will have risks; make sure to apply to a program that makes taking those risks worth it.
Apply Strategically
There is one thing that has not changed between undergraduate and graduate degrees: the application fees. Depending on how many schools you apply to, you could be spending upwards of $500 before you’ve even been accepted into a program. Some universities have fee waivers, but that’s not a guarantee. To save yourself some money and not spread yourself too thin, choose your top choices to focus on applying to.
Personally, I have three schools I’m looking to apply to: the University of Michigan, Ohio State University, and the University of Notre Dame. It’s no accident that all three of those schools have fully-funded programs. Since I know I am definitely applying to these schools, I’ve written down crucial information about them, including their application fees, application deadlines, and application requirements.
Application Process and Needed Documents
An application process for just one school can be a long and tedious process, so doing it three times over will be time-consuming. Fortunately, most creative writing graduate programs require the same materials:
- Letters of Recommendation
- Transcripts
- Writing Sample
- Statement of Interest
Similar to application fees, retrieving your transcripts is not a cheap process. Check that the school you’re applying to accepts unofficial transcripts, but many insist on an official one from your previous university’s registrar. You can spend anywhere from $2 to $5 per requested transcript, so plan accordingly.
The rest of the application materials are relatively straightforward, but I had a professor tell me that some universities put different weights on different materials. One school might consider your statement of interest more, while another puts more weight on your writing sample. Read the application pages of your programs of interest carefully. It doesn’t hurt to reach out and introduce yourself to one of the graduate professors and glean what information you can.
Helpful Research Tools
Even though I have my top three choices, I’m still on the lookout for any other programs that may interest me. The world is big, and there are writers everywhere, so it could be that an even better program for me is out there, and I just haven’t heard of it yet. In my process of researching programs, I have found the following resources to be incredibly helpful:
These websites have done the hard part of gathering information about MA and MFA programs around the world and collating them into a user-friendly database. You can expand your search to different countries or just stay in the United States. Some of the websites, like ProFellow, will even show you which programs are fully funded.
Although they can’t give you all the information you want, these sites are a great jumping-off point. You can compare universities based on program length, estimated tuition, and available distinctions. Then, once you’ve found something that stands out to you, you can navigate to the university site and learn more about the program and its department.
Consider Your Options Carefully
I know I can pursue a writing career without getting an MFA. I can also continue to work my way into the publishing industry without an MFA. Despite the prestige and importance we as a society put on graduate degrees, they are not necessary for successful careers. But I also know that I would benefit from the structure and community it provides. Deciding to go to graduate school is not the hard part; what is hard is finding the program that is best for you and your talents. Hopefully, this peek into my journey with graduate school can help you on your journey.
You may read all of this and decide graduate school isn’t for you – that’s okay, too! There are plenty of other ways to get the benefits graduate school provides without paying all the money and doing all the homework. There are hundreds of different writing communities out there and even more ways of building a writing routine that works for you. The important thing is finding what works best for you, not what other people think is right or wrong.
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