About an MFA

GSU panther

GSU panther

I found out this spring that I’ve been accepted to the MFA program in creative writing at Georgia State University, with a concentration in poetry. Since then I’ve been preparing myself in all kinds of ways, from diving into my reading list to getting booster shots for tetanus and other diseases (not pleasant – tetanus shots hurt). I even have a school ID card! The last time I had a student ID was when my youngest son was a baby, 15 years ago. In my photo his bald head is next to mine, peeking out at the camera from his perch in a backpack.

So now I will be a student again, for yet another advanced degree. That’s how crazy I am about poetry, that I’d be willing to drastically change my lifestyle for the sake of art. Yes, I’ll be a sort of Grandma Moses, and yes I will sit in a desk and listen when as a former teacher I’m more used to being the one in charge of a classroom. But I’ll be in one poetry workshop after another, and I’ll have the chance to work with other writers, something I don’t get to do much when I’m not online.

My biggest challenge, besides having to receive grades and study, will be to balance all my other obligations – my family, the house, and my work with Jo. The one place where I’ll have to cut back the most is blogging, since it’s the only optional activity I have these days. So if I don’t visit your blog as often as I used to, schoolwork will be the culprit. I’m going to try to post once a week, and visit everyone on my blogroll once a week. I don’t want to lose touch with all of you… .

Published by Christine

Christine Swint’s poems have appeared in Calyx, Birmingham Poetry Review, Slant, a Journal of Poetry, Tampa Review, Heron Tree, Ekphrasis, and others. Her poems have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and Best New Poets, and she has won first place prizes from the Georgia Poetry Society and Agnes Scott College. Her first collection, Swimming This, was published in 2015 by FutureCycle Press. She teaches first-year composition at a metro-Atlanta university and writes about poetry, art, hiking, and yoga at Balanced on the Edge, https://balancedonedge.blog Twitter @christine_swint

17 thoughts on “About an MFA”

  1. Michelle Johnson says:
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    Ooh Christine this is GREAT news. I wish you all the best. I think everyone will understand your obligations to classwork, family, house and Jo. If you don’t make it by as much that’s okay. Know that we all support you on your new venture. Have a night night.

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  2. paisley says:
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    well i am happy for you if this is what you want… and in order to make changes to accommodate the program you must really want to be a part of it.. i will look forward to your posts and your visits…

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  3. christine says:
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    Thanks, Michelle. I’ll try to update my progress here. I’ll certainly keep up with your doings too.

    You know J, what I want changes day by day. I’ve been trying to let tomorrow’s decisions grow out of today’s if that makes any sense. Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. dale says:
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    Cool! I’d love to go back to school. Maybe I will someday. Take it all with a grain of salt, of course 🙂

    (But you, I don’t worry about much. Some people I’d frown & chew the lower lip a bit, but you know all about wheat & chaff.)

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  9. Julie says:
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    Congratulations, Christine! I never regretted getting an MFA. The poets and writers I met were amazing. Don’t worry about blogging. You’re doing the important work:) But I do hope you post all the new poems you produce.

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