Hello Reader. So I've been thinking about how I'm going to make myself look abso-positiva-lutely amazing to agents, so much so that they will want to just gobble me and my book right up! The best answer would be to get an MFA. Seeing as how I'm set on this Neuroscience track, I don't think that's really feasible. Unless I fail this genetics class. But please God don't push me into writing by beating the crap out of me in science. Pretty please?
Anyways, seeing as how MFA-dom is slightly further away than Pluto I've been looking into/getting suggestions for writing contests! And literary magazines of course, which I've already talked about. Not extensively, I know, but enough to fill you in. Need to know basis and all.
So, there are two contests in my sights right now: The Shirley Collier Prize and the Coachella Review Prize. Both are prestigious in their own way. Both say prize at the end, making me sound extra special. "I won a prize Agent X!" "Alrighty son, sign me up!"
Right, well, a man can dream. This is an update, pure and simple. My life has become so much more hectic now that my procrastination has finally caught up to me. Until next time then.
I am confused why a neuroscience major can't get an MFA. I thought all you need is a portfolio that the program can look at. Besides, some of the great 20th century writers never held formal degrees in writing. This includes Isaac Asimov and Kurt Vonnegut, both chemistry majors. Many dropped out of college early, like the iconoclastic Faulkner. So don't worry about formal degrees. And I think writing contests is a great idea.
ReplyDeleteI think he might mean he doesn't have the time/energy for an MFA... but yeah, English degrees are not necessary for getting published. Sometimes it can hinder, like how art school can sometimes kill the artist's desire to create.
ReplyDeleteThose contests sound good, and of course there's always that monstrous list of literary magazines and contests in Writer's Market, and acceptance in either of those would be a pretty little star on your record. :) Good luck!