Hey, all. As stated in the title, I got my master's. I owe a lot to this site's community to keep me going and safe from being gaslit.
If it would help people, I would love to share my knowledge and experience about graduate school, writing spaces, or anything that might interest you. Here are some details that might invite questions (that won't doxx me):
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My focus was Prose/Fiction
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To complete the master's I had to turn in a novel as my thesis.
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I volunteered in the anti-racist program in my Creative Writing Department and handled some cases of in-class discrimination issues.
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Some of my peers are boomers and/or libs and I workshopped with them.
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I took courses on teaching Creative Writing, if you want some general advice.
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I was only made aware of the CIA's history of influencing writing programs during my final semester.
If you have any questions, I'm happy to answer them or go into more detail.
How do I write good? Also more importantly what's your thoughts on using story and the like to slip theory into reader's minds?
I'll say writing comes with practice, and it's so different from what's taught in composition. Also, it's incredibly subjective. Can't say how many times someone 'complimented' me on embracing an 'urban voice' when I write a character that speaks slightly differently than I do in class.
For practical advice, I'd say check out a book or piece of work you personally enjoy and examine what it is you like about it. Is it the word choices? The way the narrator talks? The pacing? Try to develop what it is that makes you appreciate writing. That way, you start off working on talents you can recognize.
And I love using story to slip in theory. In my book, I have certain bits of worldbuilding as a matter of fact. There are almost no cars/carriages in the setting and the cities are planned to be accessible. Commerce still happens, but it's largely through worker-owned goods/services. I'm still fine-tuning the story before publication, but my working logic was, 'why do I need to reproduce a western capitalist understanding of the world when I literally don't have to?'