Let’s face it. It’s been a challenging season. Staying at home more has brought a lot of gifts but for many of us are dealing with new work arrangements, managing children, supporting sick family members, recovering, loss of employment or income, or grieving. My original thought at the start of the pandemic was that I could blog and post weekly but I realize that was a lot to demand myself. I have been doing a lot of journaling, working (although it feels much slower), spiritual life, and goal setting. I will do my best to share what I have been learning along the way. The optimist in me believes that there is good that can come from these challenges.
A “piece of positive news”... I am going back to school. I decided to fulfill a dream and pursue my passion. Once upon a time, I applied to an Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in #CreativeWriting program at UBC in 2011 and Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) in 2014. I did not get into either. I let go of the dream. I found many other ways to “get into” writing through courses, workshops, conferences, critique groups, mentorships, and on-one-on feedback sessions. I now have 6 books published and a 7th on the way, plus 1 poem in an anthology, which I have been able to do without an agent. I have a Master of Education (MEd) degree (2015), jury writing awards, review books, and present all over, including teaching an upcoming course in writing for children at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. You may be asking, why an MFA now? I have blogged a lot about how to have an “MFA experience” without going into loads of debt (read about that here). However, I realized I still held a flame for pursuing one. Part of applying was for me to know that I could get an offer of admission. Secondly, many of my favourite authors completed MFAs and I wanted to learn how they were able to write such great books. I am a multi-genre writer who wants to develop further in my other genres, especially non-fiction, fiction, and drama. With this program, I am amazed at the writing of the award-winning faculty like Carrianne Leung and Dionne Brand and graduates like Canisia Lubrin, Ayelet Tsabari, #SimoneDalton, #JaelRichardson, #RichardScrimger, and Wendy Motion Brathwaite that the MFA program of interest boasted. The MFA in #CreativeWriting Canada as a degree is still fairly new, only 5 institutes offer it in this country. The University of Guelph-Humber program offered a lot of advantages— Toronto’s only MFA in #CreativeWriting program, it’s super close (#Rexdale represent!), it’s tiny (less than 15 students, so the faculty to student ratio is very low), and there are other benefits too. Admittedly, I don’t know what I’m getting into as I’m not sure what it will be like in this #pandemic/#physicaldistancing climate. I will need to juggle studying with other responsibilities. In spite of all of this, I am super excited. I look forward to applying time to my many works in progress— plays, novels, books in my head and being with a group of such talented and focussed people. Thank you so much to all Paul Coccia, Danielle Daniel, Harold Underdown, Ann-Marie Metten, Richard Scrimger, Melanie Fishbane, Shauntay Grant, Jael Richardson, and Karen Krossing who were part of my decision-making process. #writerlylife #writeordiechick #writerwithadayjob The University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA #maturestudent #2nddegree
A “piece of positive news”... I am going back to school. I decided to fulfill a dream and pursue my passion. Once upon a time, I applied to an Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in #CreativeWriting program at UBC in 2011 and Vermont College of Fine Arts (VCFA) in 2014. I did not get into either. I let go of the dream. I found many other ways to “get into” writing through courses, workshops, conferences, critique groups, mentorships, and on-one-on feedback sessions. I now have 6 books published and a 7th on the way, plus 1 poem in an anthology, which I have been able to do without an agent. I have a Master of Education (MEd) degree (2015), jury writing awards, review books, and present all over, including teaching an upcoming course in writing for children at the University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies. You may be asking, why an MFA now? I have blogged a lot about how to have an “MFA experience” without going into loads of debt (read about that here). However, I realized I still held a flame for pursuing one. Part of applying was for me to know that I could get an offer of admission. Secondly, many of my favourite authors completed MFAs and I wanted to learn how they were able to write such great books. I am a multi-genre writer who wants to develop further in my other genres, especially non-fiction, fiction, and drama. With this program, I am amazed at the writing of the award-winning faculty like Carrianne Leung and Dionne Brand and graduates like Canisia Lubrin, Ayelet Tsabari, #SimoneDalton, #JaelRichardson, #RichardScrimger, and Wendy Motion Brathwaite that the MFA program of interest boasted. The MFA in #CreativeWriting Canada as a degree is still fairly new, only 5 institutes offer it in this country. The University of Guelph-Humber program offered a lot of advantages— Toronto’s only MFA in #CreativeWriting program, it’s super close (#Rexdale represent!), it’s tiny (less than 15 students, so the faculty to student ratio is very low), and there are other benefits too. Admittedly, I don’t know what I’m getting into as I’m not sure what it will be like in this #pandemic/#physicaldistancing climate. I will need to juggle studying with other responsibilities. In spite of all of this, I am super excited. I look forward to applying time to my many works in progress— plays, novels, books in my head and being with a group of such talented and focussed people. Thank you so much to all Paul Coccia, Danielle Daniel, Harold Underdown, Ann-Marie Metten, Richard Scrimger, Melanie Fishbane, Shauntay Grant, Jael Richardson, and Karen Krossing who were part of my decision-making process. #writerlylife #writeordiechick #writerwithadayjob The University of Guelph Creative Writing MFA #maturestudent #2nddegree
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