Careers
Powerful storytelling skills will help you in every career. Our students are lawyers, doctors, civil engineers, teachers, authors, illustrators, designers, bereavement counselors — a degree makes you more effective in any job. Graduates do sometimes go on to work in publishing as editors, literary agents, and marketers.
How Do Children’s Authors Build Careers?
There are as many different kinds of careers built as there are writers. It is extremely difficult (and rare) to have a career based solely in writing. It’s also often not the dream life that some people imagine, and many people find they are more productive as writers with day jobs, or at least non-writing work. Authors earn money doing school visits and giving lectures, on manuscript consultation and editing services, as writing teachers and writing program faculty, running retreats. Having a writing career that works is often dependent on being in community with other writers and the publishing industry. We will show you how to go about the work of building your network, which will help you make both a living and a life.
Does an MFA Help With Networking?
Networking is built into the MFA experience. Every one of your faculty members is a well-published author. We bring in agents and editors to enlighten you with their thinking about the work we do, so that you not only get to know them as human beings, but also about their understanding of the kinds of books young readers need and how adult writers can make them. Your peers are also your future network. Many of you will go on to publish, win awards, hit bestseller- and best-of lists. If you want to be part of the writing community, this is absolutely a path in.
Can I Work in Publishing With an MFA?
Yes. When you learn about how and why good writing works and can be made, you have a much better chance of being an effective editor, marketer, agent, or other publishing industry professional.
Is an MFA Necessary for Publishing?
It is not. Many people have wonderful careers without the degree, and an MFA is also not a guarantee of publication. However, a program like this offers a powerful learning environment. Writing books is complex work — even those that look simple, like many books for young readers. We will guide you through the work and provide a framework for continued learning throughout your life. Our systems and the one-on-one attention you'll receive create the most powerful learning environment possible. Beyond that, you will be a member of a transformative community, fostering lifelong friendships and support networks.
Can an MFA Help Me Teach Writing?
Part of our curriculum will show you why and how we teach the way we do. This will not only help you understand why you do what we ask you to do, but also why it works and how, if and when you want to teach writing, you can create an equally effective curriculum. Because we are so serious about equipping you to be a great teacher, we also offer a Certificate in Creative Writing Pedagogy after you’ve earned your MFA.
