First Semester Finals

Well, the time has come: it’s almost finals for my first semester of my M.A. program. I’ve completed the final project for my Theory of Expository Writing class; I wrote a review of post-process theory from the perspective of a creative writer. Since pretty much my entire education has focused on writing as a process, I wanted to dig in a bit deeper to the theory that came after process theory to see if it changed how I view creative writing. It was a research paper, but without a thesis or argumentative statement.

For my Humanism in the Renaissance class, I’m writing an argumentative paper on Sir Thomas More’s Utopia, specifically the role of women in his “better world.” Utopia was very much a satire criticizing the scholars and society of Europe – and especially England – at the time. He uses the fictional character of Raphael Hythloday to communicate the kind of life and religious and political set up of the also fictional island of Utopia. More was a devout Catholic, and while much of what he writes in his most famous text seems to be revolutionary for the time, the satiric nature of the work exposes just how transgressive Utopia really is. In my paper, I’m not arguing the feminist or oppressive views of More himself, but I am pointing out that in Utopia, this world that is presented as a massive improvement of the real world, women are little better than slaves dressed up in an exterior that looks progressive, but isn’t.

It’s been a long time since I’ve crafted a thesis statement and written a critical research paper, complete with an Annotated Bibliography and a minimum of eight sources. And holy shit, does it feel good to work on this paper.

Now that I have a clearer direction for my career in project management, I’m no longer looking at this M.A. as the next step in my career goals. This means I’m studying in this program for my own personal benefit, rather than for career progression. And to that end, I’m giving myself permission not to pursue a 4.0 GPA. Working full time, having a book coming out this year that requires a lot of time, revision, and meetings with editors and the publisher, and raising a puppy with my wonderful partner of almost two years, I just don’t have the energy needed to consistently get a 4.0. And since I’m doing this for my own enjoyment, I can take away some of the pressure I always put on myself and just have fun with my classes. It’s a really exciting thing.

Next semester I’m taking a class on LGBTQIA+ literature, and a class on Monsters. I’m absolutely thrilled