I’m currently in the process of declaring a major in creative writing (well, in English with a concentration in creative writing, whatever). I’m not dropping my anthropology major because I don’t have to, and I only need 15 more hours for it anyway, and I really do love it, and there’s nothing else I’d really rather take in its place. The plan at this point is to try to get into a good MFA program when I graduate, and then into the unknown. I could either go from there into the outrageously competitive world of trying to get a creative writing teaching gig, or I could find some other profession in the worlds of publishing or public arts management or what have you, or I could go back to school in anthropology. I definitely want to do the MFA first, though, because I’m fairly certain I’ll need that time to ensure that I’ll continue to write through whatever else I go on to do that might not be writing-related. So hopefully I’ll be able to get my poetry to a point that somebody in some MFA program somewhere will enjoy it.
It’s a confusing time. I remember going into my freshman year of college, I had my whole damn life planned out: English (lit) major, get a PhD, teach, meet a dashing Milton scholar, start building a picket fence. And here I am, back to the English major, but an entirely different focus this time. Ack.
Anyway, thought I’d keep you guys updated. For those interested, I’ve been posting poems at various levels of completion here.
Thanks for the link to your blog. I love that kind of poetry - the soul-baring kind that lets you get to know someone you’ve never met.
When I was young I used to detest Philip Larkin as a depressing knobhead for showing me all his fears and complexes. Now I realise it was me who was the knobhead, not Larkin.
Looks like you’re off to a good start. Keep us posted
Yeah, I had the same experience (not specifically with Larkin, but yeah).
If you’re looking for poetry to read, I highly suggest David Wojahn. He’s my new idol and also favorite person. In fact, I’ve an extra copy of his new and selected, Interrogation Palace (long story), and I might be willing to send it to an interested party. He’s actually giving a talk on campus (I’m told he doesn’t do many talks, but he’s taken a lot of graduate students from our department, so he agreed to come down), and I am ecstatic. Can’t wait, can’t wait. I’m going to get him to sign my book. I hope I don’t come across as too much a fan boy.
