Class 2: Recap and homework

We discussed the structure for Mikoyan's 5-year career plan.

It will break into four sections

* Short section: developing as a writer
* Short section: Work, possible study (teachers coll?) and integrating it with writing
* Long section: Marketing individual poems
* Long section: Self-publishing a collection

We also discussed that each 5-year plan needs to include an interview.

Homework:
Erin will consider what came out of her discussion with Anna.
Mikoyan will look at possible poets to interview.

Also - I've confirmed that Jane Arthur is happy to come and talk to us.

Class 1: Recap and homework

Assignment 1 involves creating a written 5-year career plan for after you leave Whitireia. As appropriate to your individual situations, it should cover your own writing – how you will continue with it and market it; paid work; any further education; and any travel. There will also be an intro and a conclusion, which can be written last. Please plan for it to be 1500 to 2000 words.

We discussed that the sections in Erin’s plan will include:

- Possible further education (e.g. publishing course, MA in creative writing, maybe poetry course?)

- Possible jobs (esp. in publishing, but also possibly libraries, bookshops etc.)

- How to market your manuscripts (probably via an agent)

- Juggling everything

- Any appendices - e.g. prospectuses, a sample letter to an agent (not included in word count)

Homework:

Erin will possibly be talking to Anna this week about her manuscript. If so, take some ideas from that, do a little extra research if necessary, and bring thoughts and info to next class.

If meeting with Anna doesn’t eventuate yet, then investigate one of the courses you might be interested in, and bring some info about that along to the next class.

Mikoyan – please bring some thoughts about where you’d like to go over the next 5-6 years when it comes to – your own writing work, any further education, and paid work

Class 1: Notes

This year, you'll be working on three assignments:

1. A written five-year career plan (30%)

2. A written plan for a specific literary project (40%)

3. A promotional project with an oral component (30%)


The career plan

The first term will be devoted to your five-year career plan, which will be due early in the second term. (Exact date TBA.)

The career plan is an opportunity to research and reflect on what you'd like to do, and what possibilities are open to you, once you graduate from Whitireia.

In this first class, we'll discuss where you're at right now with thinking about this, and start in on research.

We'll also discuss what guest speakers would be useful to you this year.


If you have any questions over the next week, please add them as comments on this post.