[stylist] Topic for discussion

[Chris Kuell]

Bridgit,

To directly address your question, I always think education is a good thing.
You can never be too smart or know too much, in my opinion.

To indirectly address your question, it depends on why you want to get your
MFA. If you want to teach, it is almost a requirement. If you want to
publish, it can help you become a better writer, and it may open doors  for
you, but then again, it might not. As an NY agent told me at a writer's
conference several years ago--Stephen King doesn't hav an MFA. He just kept
writing and working on the craft until he started selling.

I believe there is a stigma around self published books, and I don't see it
going away. Being kind, I'd say 80% of self-published books are crap. And
I'm not just saying that--I'm a very supportive friend, and have purchased
at least a dozen self-published books by people I know. Most are okay, but
it's not hard to see why an agent or publisher didn't pick them up. And one
or two were downright awful. I'm also certain there are some excellent
self-published books out there, and we've all heard stories of those one in
ten thousand who actually hit it big with a self-published novel. 

And while there are some published books that I think stink, by in large
publishing houses and agents have vetted them, and they appeal to certain
readers. So when you buy a traditionally published book, you have a greater
certainty that the contents will be of higher quality.

Now--does an MFA assure higher quality work? Again, I might apply the 80/20
rule. Mostly, yes, but I have read some books where I learned the author got
an MFA from this place or that, and I think--you didn't learn much, did you?

I think Julie made a very interesting analogy to home schooling. My wife
teaches Organic Chemistry at Yale, where all the students are top notch. And
every year she has a few students who were home schooled by parents who did
an excellent job. On the other hand, I know a couple at our church who home
school their kids, and are doing a terrible job. The kids read and write and
do math at well below their grade level, because quite honestly, the parents
aren't qualified to teach them.

And that's the source of the stigma behind self-published books. Most people
think writing is easy and anybody can do it.
Good writers know that's not true.     

Chris