Should A Writer Go To College?

Posted on May 19, 2013 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Sylvia Plath

Sylvia Plath (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hemingway didn’t go to college.  John O’Hara didn’t go to college; but F. Scott Fitzgerald did and so did Sylvia Plath.

What does this tell you about the value of a college education for a writer?

Actually, not much.

I can tell you about the impact my college education had on my writing.  I got two writing degrees from the University of Pittsburgh, a BA in 2003 and a MFA in 2006.

There is no doubt that going to college made me a better writer.  It also put me in debt for the rest of my life even though I won a generous fellowship that put me through graduate school.

Am I glad that I have a BA and a MFA?  You bet I am. 

English: The Alumni Hall at the University of ...

English: The Alumni Hall at the University of Pittsburgh. photo by Michael G White (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Am I unhappy that I’ll never get out of debt?  You bet I am.

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This blog is published near the University of Pittsburgh.

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A Writer’s Blog Published Near The University Of Pittsburgh

Posted on April 27, 2013 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Cathedral of Learning

Cathedral of Learning (Photo credit: AxsDeny)

Today is a sunny day, around 70 degrees.  I walked to the Carnegie Public Library and then walked around the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.

Such memories.  The Old Soldier got his MFA in fiction writing from Pitt in 2006.

But today, people walked around in black-graduation gowns.  Graduates stood on the statue of The Panther in front of the student union building to have their pictures taken.

A five-man brass section entertained a crowd in front of the Carnegie Museum in celebration of the opening of a small play area for children right in front of the museum.

A few people were stretched out on the grass of Schenley Plaza.  I looked around at all the buildings that belonged to the university. 

English: Homecoming reception inside the Cathe...

English: Homecoming reception inside the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room at the University of Pittsburgh on October 29th, 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And above it all towered the Cathedral of Learning, 44 stories high against the bright blue sky.

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Andy Warhol grew up near the main campus of the University of Pittsburgh.

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This magazine (blog) is published for readers and writers who appreciate serious writing and brazen sexuality in the same online publication.

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Writers, The Gazette Is Here To Support You

Posted on March 8, 2013 by pittsburghflashfictiongazette
Woman As Art

Woman As Art

Karaoke at Del’s in Bloomfield, Pittsburgh’s “Little Italy”, tonight.  The Old Soldier will be there.

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Remember to turn your clocks forward one hour tomorrow night.

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The Old Soldier has been a writer for over forty years.  I know what life is like for most writers.

 My greatest accomplishment as a writer was being awarded a K. LeRoy Irvis Fellowship that paid for my MFA at the University of Pittsburgh and gave me a generous stipend to live off of for my three years of graduate school.

Regular readers of this blog may be tired of this story, but I like to repeat it because 70% of visitors to a site are new to the site.  I hope my regular readers will forgive me.

Writer's Block 1

Writer’s Block 1 (Photo credit: OkayCityNate)

But I’m trying to make an important point that needs to be made often: success for 99% of all serious writers does not mean national recognition and an income you can live on.

Success for the 99% (like me) means exposure in what are called small publications (like this one) and a few dollars here and there.

I mean just because you’re good-looking does not mean you’re going to be a movie star.  The Old Soldier is all right looking, but he always wanted to be the frontman for a bad ass rock ‘n’ roll band.  Now I’m a performance artist (karaoke).

But I do consider myself a success as a writer.  I got my MFA and I edit and publish the most exciting flash fiction magazine on the Internet; which allows me to publish other talented writers.

English: The K. Leroy Irvis Room in Hillman Li...

English: The K. Leroy Irvis Room in Hillman Library at the University of Pittsburgh (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This magazine is a paying market.

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The Pittsburgh Flash Fiction Gazette is a blog for writers.  This is the Old Soldier reporting from Pittsburgh.

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