Season 3 Episode 3: Maximizing Your MFA Journey: Tips, Tricks, and Emotional Resilience from Drexel Alumni

Unlock the secrets to making the most of your MFA Creative Writing program with insights straight from Drexel University's Alumni Association co-chairs, Jamie, Mo, and JD. This episode promises to guide you through the intricate packet exchange process, shedding light on how to prepare for it, navigate it during both years of study, and maintain effective communication with your mentor. Whether you aim for traditional publishing or self-publishing, our guests share candid anecdotes and invaluable tips to enhance your journey in the MFA program.

Discover the challenges and personal growth that come with transitioning between different genres, such as high fantasy and historical fantasy. Learn the significance of setting flexible goals and the normalcy of navigating uncertainties. The discussion underscores the importance of submitting polished work to receive constructive feedback and building a robust, open relationship with mentors. This episode is a treasure trove of advice on maximizing the packet exchange process, all while maintaining your unique writing voice.

Gain insights into the emotional complexities of receiving feedback and strategies for effectively incorporating it into your writing. Jamie, Mo, and JD share their personal techniques for discerning valuable critiques, balancing authenticity, and managing the emotional toll that feedback can bring. This episode also highlights the importance of self-care, work-life balance, and detaching emotionally from your work to accept feedback constructively. Plus, hear about the journey of refining thesis work, the patience required in the revision process, and how alumni communities can play a pivotal role in your ongoing professional development.

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Transcript

Speaker 1 0:05

Welcome to Craft Chat Chronicles, the go-to podcast for tips on crafting best-selling fiction. Here at Craft Chat Chronicles, we bring you expert interviews, insights and tips on writing, publishing and marketing. Join the conversation and embark on a new chapter in your writing journey. For workshops, show notes and more information, visit jdmayalcom. That's jdmayalcom.

Speaker 2 0:39

In season three, episode three of Craft Chat Chronicles. Episode three of Craft Chat Chronicles. Myself as co-chair of the Alumni Association at Drexel, jamie, who's my other co-chair, and other members of our alumni committee come together to do a chat for current students of Drexel, and Nomi, the program director of the MFA program at Drexel, is there and hosting us, and basically we're talking about the packet exchange process for the current students and for you guys as well. So if you're interested in how the packet exchange process works between a creative writing student in the MFA program and their professor, we give you the download on how it worked for us and give advice to people who are seeking to be in that program or who are currently in an MFA creative writing program and want to know more about how the packet exchange goes. So if you're in a program and you're exchanging work with a professor, here are some tips. If you're interested in being a part of an MFA program, here are some tips. And if you just want to hear how our journeys went in this MFA process at Drexel University in Philadelphia, then listen and enjoy. Let's get chatty.

Speaker 2 1:59

Season three, episode three of Craft Chat.

Speaker 3 2:01

I'm going to ask the questions first, but we'll all go around and introduce ourselves. I'm Jamie Grookett.

Speaker 4 2:07

I am one of my or we, you know.

Speaker 3 2:09

welcome all to the program. Congrats on getting through your first year just about, and I'm looking forward to talking to you today. Oh, and I live in Haddonfield, which is about 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia, but on the Jersey side.

Speaker 2 2:31

Also JD, both of me. I'm in Georgia currently. I came out in 22 with Sweet Jamie and we are on the. We are some of the co-chairs of the alumni association and stuff too, so hopefully we'll be working with you guys once you finish the process as well I am.

Speaker 4 2:53

My name is monique, but everyone knows me as mo and probably if you call me monique I would ignore you because I have gotten that that's my name. Um, but I am 923. So I've said exactly where you are at some point three years ago. So I'm excited to talk to you and definitely ask questions.

Speaker 5 3:17

Thanks, question but I also graduated in 2023. I was going to share my genre of choice, but I don't want to make everyone have to do it, so maybe it'll come out anyway. Okay, I think it's up to Jamie. So what we're? I guess I'll give you guys a kind of a preamble. First, too, what we're going to do is we're going to go through like four main categories. So we're going to go with, like, how to prep for packet exchange, what it's like working with your mentor, and then what it's like remediating packet feedback, and then beyond packet exchanges, and then after that we'll do like an outro and then we'll open up for Q&A. So if you have questions, just like, keep them written down or something.

Speaker 3 4:07

So yep, great, and I'm going to start. I put the questions that I'm going to ask in the chat, just so for our visual learners you can read it. And then we're each going to take three, are each going to take three. So what should you expect with the packet exchange and how does the first year differ from the second year? What should you discuss in your first meeting with your packet exchange and how should you prepare for it?

Speaker 2 4:41

So with your first meeting with your packet exchange professor usually that's just the get to know you meeting they'll want to know you, they'll want to know your genre. You should want to tell them your goals from the process, because that'll help them basically focus the program and tailor it more toward what you need, whether you're trying to go into traditional publishing or whether you want to self-publish and own a business, a publishing business, business of your own. The more insight they have on what your goals are, the better they'll be able to help you reach them. And how should you prepare for it? Just basically jot down any questions you have or any things that are concerned with your thesis or the project that you're going to be working on with them. Maybe mention things like if you're concerned about pasting, that might be a good time to mention. You know little things that you would like them to maybe keep an eye out for when they start looking at your documents. And. But basically it's just to get to know you that very first meeting and then to bounce off of that.

Speaker 5 5:37

Uh, yes, definitely know your goals or at least try to think of maybe an idea of goals.

Navigating the Writing Program Expectations

Speaker 5 5:42

That's always really great.

Speaker 5 5:43

I feel like, um, and for the first year to the second year so the first year I actually I worked on a different project.

Speaker 5 5:51

I was working on like a high fantasy novel, and then that was my first semester or quarter, I guess we called it uh working on the package exchanges, um, and it found it really difficult to work on a high fantasy novel from scratch because of all the world building that's required. It became too much to try to work through the packet exchange, through that, because I felt like my writing kept being like way ahead of where that was like the project um, especially when I kept getting feedback. So I actually switched projects, um, in the summer, and so then my second year was very different from the first just in the fact that I was very focused on my drafting for a historical fantasy novel and that ended up going a lot smoother because I didn't have to do as much world building. So that was something that kind of was different for me, um, from first year to second year and that really helped me propel forward to the packet exchanges and so yeah like goals and then to prepare just goals.

Speaker 5 6:52

Figure out what you want to do, what you're trying to accomplish, where you want to get to. I wanted to try to get through a whole draft before I graduated with my packet exchanges and I mean, obviously I didn't get through a whole draft because something like so much you can get through, but I did get to the second draft by the end, towards the end of the program, so that was great.

Speaker 4 7:12

Mel. So you know when I think about what should you expect with the packet exchange and how does the first year differ from the second year? I think the expectation is to try to give yourself grace enough to figure it out, to figure out how you're going to work it, because it's new. And so I would say, when you first go in, expect to not know, expect to. You don't have to know, and just expect that you're going. It's going to be a little uncomfortable, at least the first two, until you actually have had that, have engaged in the process and can find your footing stump. So if you find yourself doing the first, you know the first one, you're definitely going to be nervous, You're definitely going to be uncertain, You're definitely going to feel like you don't know what you're doing, and that's normal because it's new. So just breathe through that. And so that is what I would tell you to expect, Expect to not know what you're doing and know that it's okay that you don't know what you're doing.

Speaker 2 8:26

It's not a big deal?

Speaker 4 8:29

And the second question is I do agree that you should have goals, but I always say don't be married to any idea, because you just never know how it's going to change. So be you know, not to say don't be nice. Be committed to your project, but also understand that you don't know, as you go through this journey, what's going to come up and what may spin you in a different direction, as Nicolette said, that she started in one place and ended up in another. So just expect the journey, expect it to be challenging, because it's going to be rewarding.

Speaker 3 9:12

Yeah, I would say yeah, very similar to what everyone else said. I think a lot of it's where you are in your journey, writing and that kind of of that impacts your difference between first and second year. For me, I wanted to really work on my craft for the first year, so I chose to do short story collections and I learned a lot about scene development through that. And then I had gone into the program with a historical fiction novel and I rewrote that for the second year and so using what I had really learned in the first year. So to me that approach was helpful because it helped me reach what my personal goals were, I think, to prepare for your packet exchange.

Speaker 3 10:07

You get out of it what you put into it honestly. So if you hand in a really rough draft, I don't know how helpful it is in terms of the feedback you get. If you really want to get better, hand in the best you've got, because then you're getting feedback on the absolute best you've got, and that's, I think, how you really really can grow and make the most of the exchanges, because they're really valuable, but you really need to submit your best work. So do it for yourself, make time to really put into preparing it before you submit and kind of know that going in.

Speaker 2 10:49

Very true, jamie's definitely right. You want to do lots of revisions and stuff because that way they're not looking for small errors and spelling errors.

Speaker 2 10:56

They can look at your big picture, developmental stuff and the stuff that helped polish it and get it ready to start querying and submitting and all the good next steps you want to take. So I will put the questions I'm going to ask into the chat. Okay, how would you describe your relationship with your mentor and what advice do you have to help students get the most out of the packet exchange process?

Speaker 4 11:24

so I had a really excellent relationship with my mentor, um, and a big part of that was um. I was open, um I'm not sure if you guys have entered into it yet, but um, the way the process works is that you get you get to choose, or you can have Nomi hook you up right. She's there for matchmaking for you and and I went through spending hours at least like going through and reading everybody's website and all that just to say Nomi, pick me a partner and I, you know it was just an excellent match and you know there were a couple of things that were very important, that were very significant. There were a couple things that were very important, that were very significant. There was a time where I was a packet with you and I just couldn't get this story together. Actually, my thesis was a short story collection and I couldn't get the story. I had all this prose, I had 15 pages of prose, but I realized I didn't have a story. I had all this prose, I had 15 pages of prose, but I realized, like I didn't have a story, I, you know, was going to give up and you know, I did several different things and including changing the point of view and literally, like I just called her and I was like I'm not doing this. You know, just, I don't have a package to turn in, there's nothing I could do, I've done all I can. The end. And we had scheduled, we had a meeting the next day and you know, she was really kind. She was just like very, very just like just put it down and we'll talk about it tomorrow. And we met and she, you know, just had two suggestions. That like was such aha moment and that actually is one of my favorite stories. But you know, it was just. You know it was.

Speaker 4 13:18

It's important to understand that they're there to help you so you don't have to be ashamed when you're frustrated, when you, when you're not getting something, when you want to give up. Like you know, I was so fortunate to have someone that I could share the gamut of you know those emotions with, when I was excited about a story, I could share with them, when I was affected with the story, when I was doubtful, no matter where I was in the process. I was able to share that. But it's important to communicate Like don't fall off the face of the earth, don't hide if you can't meet the deadline. Like, keep open communication because that's definitely going to help, you know, solidify the relationship and they're there to help you through it. And they're there to help you through it. They are definitely there to help you through it. So that is you know. I think that's to me, the most important thing in establishing a relationship is that you know, be truthful, you know when you can't meet the deadlines.

Speaker 5 14:27

Yeah, so my mentor was Kelly Krieg. I had a bit of a rocky start at first. Part of it was the project, part of it was getting used to basically the exchanges and what that really is going to mean. And also I was probably like 75 percent of the way through my first draft and I was starting from the beginning of my draft for the packets. So my writing was like way ahead of what I was actually submitting basically, which was really really really hard to deal with the feedback because it was like and then I would get feedback and then I'd be, doing it in my active drafting, like what I had received as feedback, I'd be like updating and like making sure I was doing it better.

Speaker 5 15:13

But then, you know, I would turn in another draft that was right after that segment that I'd gotten feedback on, and then I would just get repeated feedback for obvious reasons right, because my changes are way in the future of my draft as opposed to where I was submitting. And that's why, like switching my projects really helped me because I was closer, like I had really bridged the gap. So I finished the other first draft and then I switched first drafts and I started working on the other one as a first draft and so like I got to keep my packets a lot closer and tighter, which really helped me like be able to internalize this feedback, get this feedback and like work on it. But yeah, so my rocky start.

Speaker 5 15:55

I was like a little frustrated with some of it because I was like frustrated that the process wasn't like working and so like I had this moment between the spring and the summer where I was like what do I do?

Speaker 5 16:06

Like I think I should switch projects or like do need to switch packet instructors or is there an issue between us and then, like there was kind of this like moment I talked to Nomi a little bit about it and it kind of like she was like Kelly's great and I was like, yeah, she seems great.

Speaker 5 16:22

I don't know, I'm scared.

Speaker 5 16:26

And then my relationship with Kelly after that moment, like whenever I switched and after I talked to Nomi and we moved forward and kind of like got out some of the I'm frustrated that there's like this constant repeating of things that I feel like I've already been pretty driven home and so like that was like really an issue and something I learned where, like I should have been communicating more with my pack and instructor about, like how I was really interpreting and internalizing the feedback like, and part of that's like hard to deal with just in general, but like that was like one of the bigger things that I learned um, during the exchanges and that really bettered my relationship with my instructor because, um, kelly is great and I got amazing feedback and my writing has significantly improved from these packet exchanges and by the end of it I've been sad, I've been missing it. It's like we've almost not had it for a whole year and it's been kind of a hole in your life a little bit, but I mean, it was nice to take a breather after that.

Speaker 5 17:22

Um. So advice uh, don't be afraid to talk to them of like genuinely and like really express yourself. And if you don't feel comfortable to talk to them of like genuinely and like really express yourself, and if you don't feel comfortable like talking to them about how you're feeling, maybe you should need a new person because, like, most of them should be pretty cool. I've heard really good things about most of the instructors, so, um, you know, and I think they get it because they're writers. So I don't know. If you're having issues, talk to Anomia at least or, of course, or an alumni.

Speaker 3 17:55

We're all here. So, yeah, I I think that you know, I felt like I had a. I really I had two different mentors. They were, they were both, they were great. They were different but they were great. I'm also a teacher, so, and I teach teachers, so I'm very used to giving criticism and getting it, because it's an important part of the process and I think that becomes part of that. You know they're there to support you. They're there to help you grow. Help you grow. Sometimes I'd get my feedback and I'd have to take a couple of days before I could look at it honestly and which I think we're talking about fatigue next. So I'll hold that, but your mentor is there to support you. Definitely, be honest about your goals and what you need from them and understand that they're really there to help you. I feel like that's and you know, be forthright if you're not going to get something to them. Communicate with them. I think that's really how you're going to grow that relationship.

Speaker 2 20:04

Agreed. Communication is very important. I had an awesome relationship with both of my mentors. I had Sadika Johnson and I had Heather Christie and they were both fabulous. They were very different and I like that.

Speaker 2 20:21

Like, sadika gave me a lot of developmental feedback. Um, for example, in my story in the first chapter they were looking for someone and then she was like, well, as a reader, we'd be more invested if the person went missing on the page. And then I rewrote the first chapter and I was like, oh, this is. I love this. This is like 10 times better than what I had. She's right, you know, because they they're more attached to the journey of finding the person that they know that she is. So and then Heather gave me much more detailed notes, like she'd like. If I, for example, mentioned a bush, she'd question what kind? Or if I mentioned a table, is it mahogany, is it cedar? You know what I mean, rather than just saying brown or something like that. And it made it more specific and more visual. So I felt like she upped my scene setting game a lot. So I really liked the feedback I got from my professors.

Speaker 2 21:15

There is critique and, honestly, critique is going to be part of your whole writing journey. You're going to get edit letters, so this is practice. For, that said, it's not always easy. Sometimes you have to breathe, take a moment to digest it before responding, but it's just all meant to polish the work and make you a better writer. And what advice do I have for you guys?

Embracing Feedback and Self-Care

Speaker 2 21:41

Enjoy it, because, honestly, in the real world, once you're outside of the program, you don't always have that feedback. You don't always have the beta readers. People you know are supportive, but everybody has their lives and their own stuff going on, so it's not as readily available once you're beyond the program. So while you're there, even if you're like frustrated, you can feel like, oh, I got to make this deadline and I have other stuff going on. Enjoy it. You pay to be here. Try to get the most out of it. Use it to shine your writing and polish it as good as you can and just take your time. You don't want to be rushing through it because you're not really going to get the best out of the program, so take your time. Revise, revise and enjoy it.

Speaker 4 22:24

I kept the same packet instructor and her name was Rachel Paston, and I loved her. She was absolutely wonderful. So we're going to talk about feedback. So you know, the packet exchange experience is actually sort of your first experience with an editor. Has there been a time when your mentor suggested a change that you adamantly did not agree with, and if so, how did you deal with it?

Speaker 3 22:56

I feel like I, with all feedback, you take some of it and some you don't you know. So I would say there were probably times I don't remember them, I'm certain there were but I feel like I, you know with all feedback, I think that you, you take what resonates with you and I mean, if you ever saw that, did you ever see that? That meme that has, like, I took all the feedback and then it's like a pizza with a turkey on it and.

Speaker 3 23:31

M&M's and like it becomes not your store for you. And the goal is to grow as a writer enough that you're able to feel confident in making those choices and know that you'll second guess yourself forever.

Speaker 2 23:55

But I think that that's okay. You're you're still the author, true, and sometimes the feedback, sometimes the solution might not be what you want to do, but sometimes they're pointing it out because it is a real issue but there might be a better way or a more personalized to you way that you could resolve that problem. You know what I mean. Like if something bores them, you might not necessarily have to cut it, but maybe condensing it or maybe delivering it in a slightly different way.

Speaker 2 24:15

Um, honestly, with that scene I was telling you guys that I revised based on Sadiska's feedback when I first heard it, like when I first read it, that was one of those things where I had to read it, digest, wait a few days, then respond Because I didn't want to do the work. I loved my initial scene and I was like, no, no, I already had the whole story planned this way. This would cause a lot of changes. But once I did it, like I said, I felt like it worked and I felt like she was completely right and made it much better felt like she was completely right and made it much better.

Speaker 5 24:53

Yeah, I think one of my favorite things I learned from my time during the MFA program was just the idea that, like, if somebody's calling something out that there's probably a problem. I wouldn't necessarily go with exactly what they tell you to do, but you should probably sit around and think about it. And I think one of the biggest things I learned was like how to not take any feedback personally, basically. Um, because I mean, at the end of the day, it's not really personal.

Speaker 5 25:16

Uh, might feel like it sometimes, especially if you're attached to something, but now, like after the program, I started doing copywriting full-time and my uh, one of my co-workers was has been an editor for like 20 years, so I feel so fortunate to work with her. But she's basically like, oh yeah, she was trying to be all like fluffy with me and like, oh, I hope this doesn't like I hope, yeah, you did a good job here or there and I'm like I actually don't care. I don't remember what I wrote anymore. Like like I'm so detached from what I write that like now it's like a lot easier for me to just be like oh yeah, okay, I'll just change it, uh, without really thinking too hard about it. Um, I think that answers the question.

Speaker 4 25:58

I hope it did, absolutely. And so how do you deal with the emotional toll? How, how do you deal with? You know you get the feedback that you know. Nicolette, you definitely spoke about how you were getting feedback it was this with NAMI but how did you handle it with yourself? How did you self-care yourself, give yourself self-care?

Speaker 5 26:35

Yeah, I had to learn a lot of self-care during the program, but just in general, because I didn't always have a really good work-life balance, and so I learned work-life balance through this because I had full-time work and then I was also trying to write a novel or two and then I was also in school. So that was kind of a lot at the same time which, if you let it, that will completely consume you. But I tried not to. I mean, there was things I wasn't doing, like you know, walking, going outside. I tried to. I got better at it towards the end of the program, like the last year I was doing a little bit better.

Speaker 5 27:12

But, um, I was in therapy during the program too. Uh, so I had like a lot of weird subtle care things going on, I guess, or very normal self-care things, I guess. But, um, as far as like the emotional toll of dealing with you know, hearing that maybe what you think is good isn't good, um, that was like that wasn't really my problem. Actually, I didn't really care about that. Um, it was more about just like getting repeated feedback and just the general annoyance that I feel whenever I'm like reading the same thing like 50 times. I'm just like I get it like.

Speaker 5 27:51

So mine was again more an issue of like not communicating, um, but yeah and so then I guess, like a different emotional toll was more about like having forgiveness for myself and grace with myself for like how much I was able to write in a day, and like keeping consistent but also recognizing. You know, I might only be able to do 200 words today, or 250 words today, and maybe that's okay and maybe I'm doing enough, right, it's like, and then sometimes I could get 500 words, but I never really got above that daily, so that was like what I could do at the time. So it was more about just having grace with myself.

Speaker 3 28:32

I think the responding to to the critique is you really need to just take time sometimes to digest it, or else you that that for me, my emotions get heightened and I'm not able to really hear what they're telling me. So setting it aside, like looking at it, crying a little bit, if that's what happens, but feeling it because it's part of the process and then setting it aside, and sometimes it would take me a couple of days, it's still. When I get feedback, I sometimes go and I glance at it and then if I'm really going to start doing something with it, I need to have a few days to process it and then I can go back to it. And for me, I had my, my, I was able to do a novel, that final, that that second year, because I I did 60, 60 pages, uh, or at least I made. She was, she was really good.

Speaker 3 29:33

But again I had it almost complete. I had written it and then I was rewriting what I had rewritten several times already. So I was. It was easier for me to do that amount because I wasn't starting from scratch, I was rewriting. It just went much faster and I think that the feedback that I was getting was really helpful because I was far enough along in the process. But my short stories were pretty organic. I wrote them while I was there, while I was in writing them actually to submit them. So I think that I think that was really great. I in terms of learning learning the craft and some of the nuances of writing that I hadn't been paying attention to- Thank you, if you.

Speaker 4 30:20

You know, as you probably, if I like this. That's where your second one yeah, for me I started to feel where the problem was before my instructor gave me the feedback, so, like I knew, like I kind of sensed where it needed to be strengthened there, and so the feedback for me was like okay, okay, like we're on the same page. The feedback for me was like, okay, okay, like we're on the same page. So I did you know that was for for the most part, that's how it worked with the feedback. Feedback is that I knew um, where I needed the help at, and then I would say to her I think I definitely needed to pay attention to a, b, c and d, and then she would be like, yep, a, b, c and D were the issues. So you know, as you get further into your project, as you get more comfortable with your writing, as you learn more or something that we are going to be able to pick up, you know where the holes are, and that makes you feel better. It made me feel better.

Feedback, Writing Process, and Alumni Relations

Speaker 5 31:29

We should probably move on to Nicolette, because that way we can do that less questions and then we'll have time for Q&A from everyone before we wrap up you took the words right out of my mouth yeah, so onto publishing and beyond the packet exchange, what is the biggest thing you learned from developing your thesis and working with your packet structure that helped, beyond the MFA, in your development towards becoming a professional writer? I have a second question, but that was a really long one. And then also, have you made efforts towards, or do you intend to work towards, publishing your thesis work? Jamie, it's you go first.

Speaker 3 32:16

Yeah, my thesis is just came out as a novel.

Speaker 3 32:19

So, um, and, and I would say that, yeah, it was just a few two days ago so it's very early, but um I think it was really helpful in learning how an editor, editor, um, writer relationships works, um, and it's a very professional relationship like there becomes like you have a responsibility and they have a responsibility, and to understand how that works and that it's a professional relationship in terms of your you're, you're accepting that feedback, you're appreciating it.

Speaker 3 32:55

It's not always going to come exactly how you want it packaged and that's dealing with humans.

Speaker 3 33:02

So I think you start to realize like that that's part of the process and trying to not let the package the wording that they use there Remember they're going through pretty quickly in your work and sometimes I've worked with a lot of different editors at this point and sometimes people say things nicer than others and it's recognizing that when you're going through something quickly and they're making that comment that they're being professional and they're helping you right and so not to take it personal and shut down and to really just stay open to it and to allow that, to communicate and take that into your work if it's something that's going to be helpful for you.

Speaker 3 33:45

I thought that was really helpful for me because you're it's a vulnerable position and so having them have that, having them give you that feedback, can be hard, but it helped me understand how important it is to get feedback, and to get feedback on something through, I was really fortunate because I did it start to finish and so I was able to have the same person really critiquing my work from start to finish, critiquing my work from start to finish and unlike a beta reader who's reading you and giving you some general feedback. She really went through and we've gotten to developmental stuff and I just thought it was very helpful and it was very much, I feel like mimics a lot of the professional way of how you hone a novel.

Speaker 2 34:41

Very true, very true, I guess I would say. The biggest thing I learned from developing my thesis and working with the packet exchange instructor that is still helpful is responding to an edit letter, because I went through line by line responding to her comment or inline comments and the feedback in the letter and you know sticking to deadlines, because when you're writing for yourself, you can take every.

Speaker 2 35:02

You know you can take your time with everything. When you're writing to deadline, you have to get it in on time, and I'm dealing with deadlines now. Um, do I intend to to make efforts toward publishing my thesis work? I do. I'm actually still tinkering with my thesis work. So, yeah, I'm going to do another revision or two before you know moving any further with trying to get it published. But I think it has promise. I think it's much better now than it was before I started the program and I think I'm a better writer because of the feedback and because of the critique.

Speaker 4 35:46

For me, the biggest thing and this is a piggyback off of what the others said is just learning how the editing process will work, because that's pretty much what it is process will work, because that's pretty much what it is, and understanding that you know even myself, and how I work under deadline, under pressure, you know. So you sort of get to get a feel for who you are and who you will be as a writer on the business side and who you will be as a writer on the business side. So that was. I took that away from it and I'm definitely going to and working on publishing my thesis project.

Speaker 4 36:30

And well, you already published like a short story. I thought from that, didn't you? No, it actually wasn't from that, that was a story that I did in France, actually.

Speaker 5 36:41

Oh, okay, that's what it was. Okay, I'll go really quick because we still have a few minutes actually. So the biggest thing I learned actually was how long everything's going to take.

Speaker 5 36:53

I am not in a rush. That's what I learned from everything I have. Both the first drafts I worked on during the program are now second drafts. So I'm actually midway through the high fantasy novel I put away. I'm actually halfway through that second draft and I already finished the other one's second draft that I mostly worked on through the packet exchanges. So that means like my stuff is taking forever. Um, I learned that through the packets and exchanges because, uh, you know, I could only move so fast and then I can only make it better so fast, as and like I'd rather take time than not. So I'm like, okay, I'm learning. Here I go, I'll keep learning, I'll keep going, I'll keep trying, I'll keep getting better. Um, I'm not. So there's no fast track. Um, I mean you can try, but good luck. Um, and then, yeah, so, as I said, I'm working towards it. So, yes, I will publish it eventually, but maybe very long time from now. Um, and so our last thing that we're gonna run through really quick is just a little bit talking about the alumni uh, committee, community, community.

Speaker 5 38:02

Um, I do a lot of communications work. So I'm actually like the alumni communications head with uh, anthony chapfield, who was, I think he graduated with. He graduated with you guys, okay, yeah, so I work with him a lot and we basically send all the communications out. Um, that's pretty much it. So I work with him a lot and we basically send all the communications out. That's pretty much it. So I get to know a lot of what happens and that's really great because it keeps me tapped into the community without really having to do anything too crazy. So we started Substack and that also gave me new skills, so it's been a pretty good time.

Speaker 3 38:34

Does anyone have any questions for us? No, it's okay, I can wait after you.

Speaker 4 38:41

no, I was just gonna like pretend to have a question, okay my question is so everyone kept their packet exchange mentor from throughout the program, correct? I didn't no no, okay, you kept yours. What about? I'm the only one who kept the same one?

Speaker 3 39:07

no, it's me and Mo, so okay, jamie, how many did you have? I had two. I started off with short story, so I had Brandy, and then I was working on historical fiction novels, so I had Heather Webb, so that was her. That was just what the genre that they were known for, so it was just more helpful.

Speaker 2 39:27

Okay.

Speaker 4 39:28

And each term? Do you just tell Naomi hey, we're having a good time, I want to keep the same one, or do you go?

Speaker 3 39:36

Yeah, she sent out a questionnaire, right, or wasn't there. If there was kind of there was a time where you could, you could answer that, you could. Yeah, I'll pop in and answer that as well. Um, so, you know, I love when you guys communicate with me when there is a problem or when there's not a problem, but that you want to make a switch because you're switching genre of what you're working on. But I like when you tell me that, like even before you start thinking about it, because our quarters go by so quickly. So if you wait until late in, you know in, let's just say I met, you know you have your matches, and then you start working with a person in the spring and something just doesn't feel right Like this, doesn't feel like the relationship that you want to keep up with throughout your MFA, but you don't tell me until week 10 because you felt badly about it or you didn't get to it or whatever.

Speaker 3 40:41

That's really too late for me to make a switch for you for the next quarter, because your instructor will already have their contracts to do that packet exchange relationship with you the next quarter, so the earliest you can tell me that you would like to make a switch, or you're thinking about it, or you want to talk about it. Don't hesitate, okay, because it can be too late to do it for the next quarter if it's weak, like right now. What week are we in? We're in week two, right, and I got an email today from Nicole Pearson, our advisor, saying Nomi, please confirm the match-ups for summer. Now you just started your match, your packet change relationships, and I already have to confirm them for the summer.

Speaker 3 41:43

So, um, don't hesitate, right, like, if you're even thinking that this might not be something that you want to continue, for whatever reason, like it's not a good personality match, or like, jamie, I want to work with a writer in a different genre, then tell me, like you know, before you even started to formulate that in your head, and I will assume everything's fine. If I don't hear from you, I'm keeping you with that packet exchange. Instructor. Sorry, my dogs are so loud. Other questions for me or for our wonderful wonderful alumni.

Speaker 5 42:32

There's a question in the chat from Liz. Have any of your PACT instructors? Worked with you after graduation? Do you still have a relationship? I know that her name is Cheryl. I think she graduated with you, was it Cheryl? No, maybe she went to Highlights one time.

Speaker 2 42:55

Silver Karen Karen Karen.

Speaker 5 42:58

Karen, sorry one time um silver karen, karen, karen, karen. Sorry, uh, karen, um, she actually continued working on packets after um, but I do think it is like a you know, you obviously want to pay them because they're not just going to do it for free and actually developmental editing is more expensive than how our packet exchange instructors get paid.

Speaker 3 43:24

So, like you know, for our packet exchange instructors it adds up quarter by quarter. But if you're going to send somebody a whole book, that can be thousands of dollars for them to developmental edit for you. This is something that it's always good to talk to your instructor about before you graduate. Do you do developmental editing? Is this a relationship that we could continue? What would it cost me now, since you already have a relationship with them? It's possible they would give you a break on their regular prices. So that's something you know that's worthwhile having a relationship with them. It's possible they would give you a break on their regular prices. So that's something you know that's worthwhile having a conversation with them.

Speaker 4 44:04

Well, I've been battling some health issues so I haven't did much writing since I've graduated last year. But my pregnant instructor we do reach out to each other to say hi periodically. But my packet instructor we do reach out to each other to say hi periodically. She does check in when I publish my story. I definitely send it to her. So we're definitely friendly. We're on friendly terms.

Speaker 2 44:36

And if I, definitely, when I get to the point of meeting an editor, I would definitely reach out to her. I'm on pretty decent, pretty good terms with both of my packet exchange professors too. I don't like daily or monthly communicate with them or anything like that, but um Sadiqa came back and did the craft chat for us, and then Heather Christie did two craft chats for me on two different things um, there are people who will blow up your books one day right Of your professional network.

Speaker 2 45:02

Yep, and when Tadeika was coming, I'm sorry, when Tadeika was coming down she was like when she was coming to Georgia she was like, if you can come by, stop by. And I was very frustrated and sad that I couldn't, but I wish I could have because it would have been great to see her.

Speaker 5 45:20

I'm just gonna say I definitely keep up with my Packet Instructor's books. She published one last year and or was it last year? No, last year and I was like congrats on your book. So I keep up. Like I'm not the best at picking up sometimes, but I definitely told her I was like you know, whenever I have it at a stage where I'm really ready, um, I was definitely planning to reach out and she was super into that. So, but also, like I mean that makes sense partially, but uh, she's just really great. So I definitely would. Um, she'd be like my first pick.

Speaker 2 45:56

Naomi? Do either of them still be packet exchanges, sadiqa or Heather Christie?

Speaker 4 46:01

Sadiqa doesn't.

Speaker 3 46:02

She taught two classes last fall for us. She taught two dialogue classes, but not packets at this point and Heather also isn't doing them at the moment. I imagine both of them might do them again sometime in the future.

Speaker 2 46:20

Okay, because they were really great, so I was going to recommend them.

Speaker 3 46:26

So something I want to mention is just the incredible work that our alumni committee is doing. You guys are so incredible Craft chats, writing, accountability meetups, professional development chats, highlight retreats, a newsletter shouting out people's accomplishments and more Like. It's incredible. So please, you know this program sadly goes by in a snap, but we'll never let you go. So please already think about coming to alumni events like this and getting involved with the alumni organization when you graduate, because we really do aim to be a lifelong community and you're looking at the people here who are helping to really make that happen in a really sophisticated way also that barnes and noble um readings is our alumni committee, um, I could go on and on.

Speaker 3 47:29

You guys are amazing.

Speaker 2 47:29

Yeah, thank you and if you guys, like you know, want help with your packets and stuff like that, we have our key groups and stuff like that. That'll be coming soon too. So we've got a lot of things in progress and things already in motion. So definitely, you know, reach out.

Speaker 3 47:53

OK, well, it looks like we're coming to an end. Okay, well, it looks like we're coming to an end. Take away here is you know it's something. If you want to have a conversation with me, you know where to find me and you know that I'm happy to chat and help make these relationships really work for you. I curate these relationships really carefully. I take into account your feedback in terms of who you'd like to work with. I think about if I think that's a good idea and then I try and make it happen. But you're never alone in these relationships. So please know that you can always reach out to me for any support and to our wonderful alumni to continue this conversation.

Speaker 2 48:36

Definitely, if you guys need any help or you need anything, reach out.

Speaker 4 48:41

And, like Nicolette said, have grace with yourself, be patient with yourself and definitely take care and we're here and enjoy the ride.

Speaker 2 48:53

It's fun and you're gonna miss it when you're done. So enjoy it, and they go fast. You know it's fun and you're going to miss it when you're done, so enjoy it, and it goes fast okay on that note bye everybody, bye, good night. Thank you good to see you again, jenna and everybody who I've seen before.

Speaker 6 49:08

Thank you that wraps up today's craft chat chronicles with jd mayor. Thanks for joining us. If you like the episode, please comment, subscribe and share. For show notes, writing workshops and tips, head to jdmayorcom. That's jdmayorcom. While you're there, join jd's mailing list for updates, giveaways and more.