Several years ago I read an article on the two writing worlds, one that is focused around traditional publishing and one that is focused around academic publishing. (This was before the self-published entrepreneurial e-writer appeared on the scene. That seems to me to be a third writing world.) According to this article, traditional publishing involved publishing in order to support a writing career, and academic publishing involved publishing to support a teaching career.
Erika Dreifus has a piece today on the chances of a writer with a graduate education finding a tenure-track university position. (Imagine an expression of shock here.)
In addition to the information she covers from the Association of Writers & Writing Programs, Dreifus adds this "...unlike other disciplines, creative writing essentially mandates that a
new assistant professor bring a published book to the table as a job
applicant; moreover, it can take a very long time to see one’s first
book published." (Imagine another expression of shock.)
On a more positive note, she suggests taking "a broad view of “nonacademic jobs” and search more diligently for
writing-intensive jobs in universities, publishing houses, cultural
organizations, and so forth (not to mention non-writing jobs, such as
accountancy positions, within writing organizations and centers)..."
No comments:
Post a Comment