But now that I’ve finished, I wanted to reflect on some of the most important things I’ve gained from it. Mostly because I need to justify all the money I’ve spent, but also because I want anyone who reads this to understand that if you’re serious about writing, it’s worth every penny.

My program afforded me a lot of valuable networking. I know it’s cliché to say “it’s all about who you know,” but that phrase is a cliché for a reason. With all the stiff competition out there, the millions of queries that go out everyday, it is helpful to be able to put a referral on your query letter. But that’s not going to get you published. What’s most important about getting to know a few agents and authors is that it allows you to understand what you’re getting into, who you’re choosing to represent you, and how you need to go about doing it. The internet is a wealth of knowledge on all of this, but the personal stories and information you’ll get from knowing people already in the industry is invaluable. 

The skills I’ve learned throughout the process have made me a better writer. There’s an obvious improvement in the things I write now versus what I wrote before the program. In fact, I hate to go back and read the things I’d written before actually knowing how to write. It took me a lot of writing and rewriting to finally understand. I didn’t just get my knowledge from lectures, books, or the internet. I had to write out my terrible sentences and plots and learn the hard way—through those terrifying editorial letters from my mentors.

Most importantly, the degree has given me a good writer’s work ethic. Everything I wrote over the course of the program was done in the midst of a my other jobs (three, in fact) and additional school work. I had to make time to write. I had to give up parts of my precious social life. After a long day of work, I needed to find solace in my stories rather than multiple episodes of a Netflix show. I had deadlines like any working writer, and I came up with ways to write around my other life.

When I think back on everything my MFA has given me, I don’t mind the loans or the time it took, and I’m excited to think about my future in writing. But of course, everyone has their own experiences. I’m interested in knowing what other people feel about MFAs. Do you think they’re worth it?