tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.comments2023-10-30T01:51:54.540-07:00The Three Ps of Post- Montana MFA '08:Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03977107815941606137noreply@blogger.comBlogger389125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-9475724706108343472012-07-10T00:35:42.433-07:002012-07-10T00:35:42.433-07:00This post really helps me a lot. Thank you for thi...This post really helps me a lot. Thank you for this guys.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01423475517981432729noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-61329447708775286832012-05-07T16:09:03.754-07:002012-05-07T16:09:03.754-07:00Hi! I used to read your blog regularly and really ...Hi! I used to read your blog regularly and really enjoyed it. I stopped back today b/c I'm visiting Chicago next week, and was wondering if Laura has any suggestions on where poetry readings happen? Etc. If this ever gets to you, I'd love to know the inside scoop. --Kim (MFA, Eastern Wash Univ, 06)kimberly lambrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17206918512522077441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-11587017884337217922011-11-29T03:00:13.443-08:002011-11-29T03:00:13.443-08:00The trolley degenerates beside another parody! An ...The trolley degenerates beside another parody! An unsound group establishes a motive. The tremendous disclaimer depresses a choral sod. Can a heritage convict the market?camgirlshttp://www.dateawomen.tknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-24059270271867575932011-11-28T23:12:33.152-08:002011-11-28T23:12:33.152-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.russian brides womenhttp://www.russianbrideladies.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-89205290975258825582011-10-10T17:06:23.871-07:002011-10-10T17:06:23.871-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-58343523745628658182011-09-25T23:36:02.662-07:002011-09-25T23:36:02.662-07:00The rescue possesses a sigh. Outside the stopped i...The rescue possesses a sigh. Outside the stopped idea speculates the far mummy. A circular friendship flames a liquid fortune. Does the supplier board an infrastructure?911asianhttp://www.addmy5.infonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-45835523316400714962011-09-07T16:07:15.064-07:002011-09-07T16:07:15.064-07:003 Ps,
Congratulations on all of your successes and...3 Ps,<br />Congratulations on all of your successes and best of luck to all of you! I always enjoyed reading your blog and found it really useful in evaluating my own MFA goals, writing future, and general life ambitions. Thank you!Katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00605572970027523243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-27683475485594726942011-09-06T16:43:48.385-07:002011-09-06T16:43:48.385-07:00Thanks, Steve! You as well.Thanks, Steve! You as well.Kelly Kathleen Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10460551966636430277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-15776013508094735352011-08-31T18:48:54.622-07:002011-08-31T18:48:54.622-07:00I'm not even sure how I found your blog, but i...I'm not even sure how I found your blog, but it was always on my shortlist of sites to check at least once a week. Best of luck to all of you, on whatever comes next...Steve Hamiltonhttp://www.authorstevehamilton.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-74241626542734352722011-08-11T07:45:31.006-07:002011-08-11T07:45:31.006-07:00Okay, Evison is on the list. And Klink. Right now ...Okay, Evison is on the list. And Klink. Right now I'm reading back issues of Best American Essays, etc. to prepare to teach. I'm turning comp into a nonfiction class.Kelly Kathleen Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10460551966636430277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-16720080045395743792011-08-08T16:23:17.675-07:002011-08-08T16:23:17.675-07:00I have been the girl in that photo. I am the girl ...I have been the girl in that photo. I am the girl in that photo.Travis Fortneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176806276224727788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-41313217448894137412011-08-08T16:21:49.306-07:002011-08-08T16:21:49.306-07:00Congrats, Trina! Love the Dancing Girl.Congrats, Trina! Love the Dancing Girl.Travis Fortneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176806276224727788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-35719779341351624352011-08-08T16:15:36.127-07:002011-08-08T16:15:36.127-07:00Oh, and the Volkman. The Volkman is better than an...Oh, and the Volkman. The Volkman is better than any of it. She is a genius. Except Joanna Klink's last book was actually very, very good. I know they are rivals or whatever, but both great poets. Before Klink's last book I was firmly in the Volkman camp. You should check it out.Travis Fortneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176806276224727788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-63589432595385758402011-08-08T16:11:45.005-07:002011-08-08T16:11:45.005-07:00I too got swamped in Swamplandia! Or bogged down? ...I too got swamped in Swamplandia! Or bogged down? I do not believe that book is very good. It is like the last Shteygart, in a way. I liked Goon Squad. I equate Mark Richard to Denis Johnson. You should read a book called West of Here by Jonathan Evison. It better than all of these except for Infinite Jest.Travis Fortneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176806276224727788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-41223849749589379782011-06-12T20:19:52.155-07:002011-06-12T20:19:52.155-07:00Yes, a book an author makes. I'm happy for you...Yes, a book an author makes. I'm happy for you.Bellehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14175778756449339363noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-49218804513477557482011-06-07T14:20:46.512-07:002011-06-07T14:20:46.512-07:00Hey, nice interview. Thanks for commenting. I noti...Hey, nice interview. Thanks for commenting. I noticed I share many of the same adult fav authors with you as well.Kelly Kathleen Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10460551966636430277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-85131801134581805302011-06-07T12:34:14.486-07:002011-06-07T12:34:14.486-07:00Hey,
I just found you via a search for "summ...Hey,<br /><br />I just found you via a search for "summer submissions" (Montana had a few, and I then got to a recent post on a book on Laura I. Wilder, whom I just happened to note in an interview posted today--anyway, congrats on your book with Press 53. I guess I've strayed from my Wilder beginning, but somehow she got into my recent thoughts.<br />Good luck with your writing.<br />best,<br />alex kudera<br />ps--wilder comes early on here: http://atticusbooksonline.com/one-of-a-kind-a-foreword-interview-with-alex-kudera/Alex Kuderahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00785071321375071866noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-9501667622686807112011-06-03T22:40:33.328-07:002011-06-03T22:40:33.328-07:00Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, summer reading ...Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, summer reading at its summeriest. How do you defy destiny?Travis Fortneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176806276224727788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-30807900469926945412011-04-18T11:47:00.992-07:002011-04-18T11:47:00.992-07:00The whole idea of writers needing to have websites...The whole idea of writers needing to have websites has to do with the endless (self-)promotion writers are now supposed to engage in. I find that it takes an enormous amount of time to compose something for a blog and between everything else going on, given the choice between a writing for a blog or my own website versus writing another story or advancing on a novel, I want to do the story and book writing.Marsupialushttp://www.hollyridgepress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-15933573297852074552011-04-17T17:50:30.995-07:002011-04-17T17:50:30.995-07:00Nice. Some people have the graphic touch, but for ...Nice. Some people have the graphic touch, but for the most part, I think you can tell when a writer paid a pro.Kelly Kathleen Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10460551966636430277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-50076483302502964142011-04-17T13:09:45.635-07:002011-04-17T13:09:45.635-07:00I'm proud of mine: http://www.monicabyrne.org ...I'm proud of mine: http://www.monicabyrne.org <br /><br />The designer is Tien-Yi Lee. I highly recommend her.Monicahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02074737476863325166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-60819094069065773432011-04-04T17:21:46.316-07:002011-04-04T17:21:46.316-07:00I think it depends on how many courses you are req...I think it depends on how many courses you are required to take as well, in terms of time. <br /><br />While at Hopkins (we were all equally funded, and all required to teach Intro to Fiction and Poetry), there was plenty of time to write. We were required to take only one workshop and one reading seminar per semester, which came out to 6 hours of class a week, and 3 hours of teaching.<br /><br />I was admitted into Montana, but couldn't imagine my life without the financial support. Regardless, it's true that talent without determination means little.<br /><br />The selection process for admitted students was sort of haphazard. The pile of applications was split into four, and each of the faculty would select a few favorites (at times it was clear which professor had chosen which student not because of favoritism, but because of their common and very specific interests, i.e., Victorian ghost stories). But they would throw their faves into a pile, and then choose again.R.T.https://www.blogger.com/profile/02583017912707300954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-54460534546150467962011-04-03T07:50:13.562-07:002011-04-03T07:50:13.562-07:00Aryn was funded, although it all happened last min...Aryn was funded, although it all happened last minute. But yeah, I agree that the time free from teaching is pretty huge. Some Phds here have fellowships and I wonder what it'd be like to be that free to write.Kelly Kathleen Fergusonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10460551966636430277noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-4576425366369069052011-04-02T19:43:10.058-07:002011-04-02T19:43:10.058-07:00It's also well known within the program that t...It's also well known within the program that the unfunded students tend to "kick ass" upon graduation. I don't think Aryn Kyle was funded. Carter Benton, who won the Atlantic prize while we were there was unfunded. Brian Kevin, the only member of our class so far to publish a book you can buy at Barnes and Noble, was unfunded, and so was Marvin Shackelford, who's published stories in 40 or 50 magazines and was pretty much universally thought of as the best writer in the program while we were there. <br /><br />I think all of this has something to do with being forced to deal with the horrors of "the real word" (i.e. paying rent, buying groceries, etc.) while still in school. That's a real benefit to a writer.Travis Fortneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18176806276224727788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8029609980074730323.post-36864898955249155522011-04-01T04:31:34.166-07:002011-04-01T04:31:34.166-07:00Thanks for your uplifting and beautifully written ...Thanks for your uplifting and beautifully written advice, Kelly. I have to ask this question, though since it gets so much attention on blogs and here too. Does tiered funding create a problem in the workshops? Various handbooks and popular blogs out there say it does. The "advice" tells prospective students that it creates a situation which negatively influences the dynamic in the workshop. (Like a war between the "haves" and the "have-nots."The "advice" tells students to attend only if funding is offered. Can you and others weigh in on this. Obviously, I know from your comments that you were funded, but how were the experiences and opportunities of unfunded candidates? Do they come into the program with the stigma by other students and staff that their talents are less? Thanks in advance for your honest and open advice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com