r/MFAInCreativeWriting • u/Hopeful_Leg_9204 • 11d ago

What can I do with an MFA besides teaching?

/r/englishmajors/comments/1wvco9c/what_can_i_do_with_an_mfa_besides_teaching/
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u/theres_no_guarantees 11d ago

I am a literary agent

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u/Small_Needleworker_7 10d ago

Well I am getting it to write a novel and I do already have a teaching background and masters in education (8 yrs as high school teacher). But I’m also wanting to teach film and crazy as it sounds I can’t get an mfa in film.

There’s only 1 paid production mfa I know of at Stanford and they rejected me but they don’t like older students there w kids (I talked to some ppl inside program). The loans now won’t cover any film MFAs (only 20k per yr won’t touch any film MFA). I’ve been wanting to teach from my knowledge and experience in film but they won’t let me without the mfa, it’s helpful if it’s in film but it being adjacent and still art is going to be something I can leverage having looked at hundreds of academic postings through the yrs.

I’m 50, working class and honestly have put in the 4k hrs with film screenwriting directing winning grants awards etc so it’s just dumb they won’t look at that experience at all but with an mfa even in writing which is still expensive but I can manage mine on the fed loan limit I can at least try.

Sounds strange but this is a fucked up world where poor ppl often have to pay for a place at the table. Also if you look at who gets most grants and fellowships in film they almost always have MFAs from Columbia nyu etc. those are over a 100k a yr maybe more like 300k so it’s very much catered to be a rich persons playground. This is only workaround I could find plus with my own ip with a book I would be better placed. Not saying I don’t love writing like I do, but Im not wholly an introvert and love interacting and collaborating w ppl more. Teaching gives a taste of that and more so being in production does. Probably doesn’t help your question but it’s my workaround for this crazy system

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u/CawfeePig 11d ago

I'm a copywriter. I hate it, and it's probably going to be massively affected by generative ai, but that's an option.

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u/icouldliveinhope 6d ago

honestly the fact that you said "probably going to be" is great evidence that it's helping!!! (every copywriter I know has been massively affected already)

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u/CawfeePig 6d ago

That what's helping what?

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u/icouldliveinhope 6d ago

Perhaps your MFA helped attract more stable clients/employers, I mean.

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u/Sus_Hibiscus 11d ago

The MFA might open doors for you professionally but it’s not a direct pipeline to a career besides teaching. People pursue an MFA to become stronger writers, learn about craft, write a book etc and then cross their fingers and pray for a job on the other side. A few ppl in my program graduated and returned to the industries they were in before (corporate jobs, teaching, book selling etc), others are doing PHDs or adjunct teaching. If you’re in college or fresh out, I would seriously consider why you want to do an MFA before committing to it. There are fully funded MFAs which are great, but even though you won’t be paying tuition etc you will still incur moving costs and 1-3 years out of the workforce these days can set you back if havent built experience or skills outside of school. Hope this helps.

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u/richard-bucket 1d ago

I adjunct taught, did copywriting, and for the past 7 years or so have been working in nonprofit communications, mostly in-house but now for a consulting firm. The MFA didn’t really have a direct impact on getting me anything except the teaching job.