What It Takes

What It Takes

I feel official now. Last fall I began a low residency MFA course at Spalding University. I want to write professionally and have been dabbling for sometime with my stories often frustrated because I never studied writing other than the basic college English courses required as part of my Business degrees.

I’m beginning my second semester and in the past six months, my writing life changed dramatically. The tools are there now and I’m learning to use them skillfully and bit by bit I see the differences in what I produce, professional and polished pieces unfolding in front of me.

There are all kinds of men and women out there who write, some with formal educations in writing, some self taught. Some are excellent writers, some are born with remarkable story telling skills, others like me waffle and end up being mundane, making it by with a half decent book now and then. I decided I wanted more.

So for those who have the passion and the drive and who don’t have a formal education in writing (mine was in business) I highly encourage and recommend an MFA program. The time and money invested is substantial but the pay back is becoming a better and more well rounded writer, one who feels comfortable with the craft. Now isn’t that what we all aspire to be?

Best Regards,

Linda Bilodeau
www.lindabilodeau.com

Linda is the author of The Wine Seekers, Stepping Through Seagrass and The Olive Branch A Tale of Resistance. She is working on a two other novels and a short story collection as part of her work in the MFA program at Spalding University.