Whats the best and worst thing about being in an MFA in Creative Writing program?
One benefit of an MFA program is immersion in the writing scene. San Francisco State has a fantastic and diverse line-up of instructors, but equally as valuable is the breadth of student talent here. Writing may be a solo activity, but failing to engage with other writers can leave you stranded in an echo chamber built for one. The MFA program keeps me loose and fresh. It’s expanded certain horizons. You don’t have to be in an MFA program for this benefit, but it’s there. The worst aspect? Creative Writing MFA programs have been under considerable attack lately, the most recent (to my knowledge) Anis Shivani’s clunky essay in Pleiades. I won’t grapple with any of these attacks here. I do think what you get out of an MFA program is proportional to what you put into it. What does it mean to “live in the Tenderloin”? San Francisco’s Tenderloin is one of the seedier neighborhoods in the city. It’s reputation is slightly inflated, as it’s not nearly as violent or impoverished as districts l
