self-education

One of the best lessons I learned in graduate school was that I didn't need a college degree or a Master's degree-- that once we were independent learners, we could pretty much teach ourselves anything. Interested in day trading? Read up on it and start some practice portfolios. Curious about the history of elevators? Or virtually anything else? Read up and become an expert.

So, what's the point of formal schooling then? I was told it was the professors and instructors—the value they add in personal experience and the perspective and insights they share may not be found in the books. It might even be the way to think about a concept or approach a problem. Or maybe it's the shared-interest peer group—you may never find such a passionate group of people who swoon over 19th century British literature/physical chemistry/string theory to befriend again.

But for many people, going to college or graduate school isn't always an easy option, especially if you're working full-time or have started a family, so I like the idea that I can self-educate on pretty much anything I'm interested in learning more about. An MFA in writing seems like a dream (a very expensive one, potentially!), but if that isn't a feasible option, you can read up on writing technique and learn a lot on your own. There's a Portable MFA from the New York Writers Workshop (which isn't anywhere near an actual MFA but gives you some perspective on one), an endless number of books on writing, and at the end of the day, it seems the only way to truly improve upon one's craft is just to keep on practicing.

So, rather than letting life give you excuses to not write, if you are passionate about writing and want to truly become a writer, then we must remember that it's a verb, and one that writes is a writer. So, go forth, practice your craft, read and learn on your own, practice some more and then keep on practicing, and one day, you will become the prolific and/or profound writer you've always dreamed of becoming. Good luck.