Post-MFA, There is Another Way: But What Should I Do?

Posted by Guest Writer in WBN News & Events      5 comments

Feb
22

This is the final in a series of three about what to do with post-MFA life. Read Part I and Part II.

Look outside of writing. I’m not saying don’t be a writer. I’m saying there are more people who need writers than you probably think. There are of course press releases and stories to be written in the traditional sense, but most companies also want to develop a strong web presence. Keeping high in search results means constantly producing new content, both on a company’s site and with linking sites all over the web. This is a full-time job at just one company. And there are lots of companies.

If you get in at a start-up, this can potentially mean a big payoff down the line. The more hats you have in the more rings, the more likely one will go big.

Be an Entrepreneur

Yeah yeah, I know the benefits of entrepreneurialism are way over-hyped these days. And I can tell you, running your own business full time can take over your entire life. But once you’ve catalogued all the things you want, need, and are good at, building a business on the side can be more doable. This is especially true given our high-tech society, which can allow you to work online from home.

Why do I think you might be a good entrepreneur? Because creative types and entrepreneurs have a lot in common. Both love birthing ideas, playing with them, building on them, being tortured by them, doing something about them. Sure, the creative tools are different, but they’re all drawn from similar impulses.

Of course, not all artists will make great entrepreneurs. But if you’ve always been the type of student who balances a million activities and gets things done on time, you might just have the analytical and practical skillset it takes to execute your plans. Combine that with your creativity, and you’ve got a powerful combination.

Teaching

Teaching is tough. It’s not like you can waltz into the classroom, throw out a few lines about how witty your latest book is and call it a day.

Except of course, this is exactly what some professors do. We’ve all been in those classrooms – sat there silently. Fuming. Thinking of the work we’ve labored over languishing unread in the professor’s mailbox. Calculating the price we’re paying per hour to prop up someone else’s ego.

Good teaching requires presence, actually being in the classroom with your full mind. It requires reading manuscripts, giving in-depth and empathetic feedback that guides your students without being blunt, dismissive or cruel. It requires honest and frequent assessments of student progress, re-designing exercises and curriculum to fit their needs.

If these things sound exciting to you, great! People like you are an essential part of developing an intelligent, engaged society. Your value is immeasurable.

But remember what I said about you already having one career? Personally, I love almost everything about teaching, and if I didn’t have to balance it with my writing, I would definitely go down this path. But I can’t write when I’m exhausted, and caring too much about my students always leads to this end.

Still, there are ways to teach without sacrificing all of your time and energy, just as long as you look outside of a traditional high school or university classroom. Many universities offer online courses these days, and there are more and more private companies hiring out teachers in much the same way. Tutoring is also a much more flexible and well-paid option, as is working for a writing company like WriteByNight, which hires manuscript and coaching consultants for people hard at work on their private writing projects. You can also start your own services by networking with school administrators, teachers and parents.

And do us all a favor. If you don’t want to teach, don’t teach. Find a career that helps you create a better relationship with your writing and your community.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

It’s not easy going this kind of route. I’m scared a lot of the time. I have found a great career counselor who helps me keep my goals in sight and keeps me from feeling too guilty about making my own way. Networking also has put me in touch with people far ahead of me career-wise who have been the best kind of mentors.

You may find in the end that a traditional career path, should it continue to exist, is right for you. I may find that in several years too. But you will get far more enjoyment out of that route if you know what you need, why you need it, and how to find it. That means conscious and honest assessments, a lot of rethinking and even more hard work.

Afterword

A few potential job titles (but don’t let them box you in!):

Leah Kaminsky is a short story and freelance writer originally from Ithaca, NY. She received her MFA in Fiction Writing from the University of Washington in 2009. She has placed three times in Glimmer Train top 25 lists and was nominated for inclusion in Best New American Voices, 2008. Her work has appeared on the Rumpus, Pindeldyboz, The Yellow Ham and her mother’s fridge right next to that picture of bath time circa 1987. She is a big fan and producer of short-shorts and comics, which she posts semi-regularly on her website, leahkaminsky.wordpress.com. She is in the midst of launching Just Start Applications, a business, college and graduate school consultancy, located in Texas and Virginia and operating mostly online.