Of course I'm not trying to bait you! I read Iowa blog regularly, and thought these quotes were interesting. I admire the work of many Iowa grads.

And, personally, while at the University of Florida, I was in an undergraduate workshop with a writer who was clearly the most talented writer in the class, if not among the entire student population at U.F. He went on to Iowa and published a book and managed to become a doctor at the same time. I mention this writer only because it was clear to all of us that he would be published one day, that he was very good. And I think Iowa must have helped him toward that achievement.

I meant no disrespect in quoting the Iowa blog. I thought it was an interesting discussion. I'm in a writing program too--not a well-known one--and am interested in these kinds of discussions, that's all.

I'm sorry that you felt the post was in some way directed at you, Nathalie.

Now that I've had some coffee, perhaps I can respond more intelligently.

Nathalie, I was astonished to read that you thought I was trying to bait you by linking to the Iowa quotes. I've read Iowa Blog for the last year and a half, before I was even aware of your blog, and have linked to it before, although not on these matters. I honestly didn't even think of you when I posted those comments. I think the posts I mentioned are relevant to all writers in writing programs, including my friends and me.

My comment above was intended to convey that I know and have the deepest respect for many graduates of Iowa. What's more, it is absolutely undebatable that Iowa has produced or enhanced the writings of some of the greatest writing talents of the last century. I mean, c'mon, Flannery O'Connor studied at Iowa. And you're there. I respect you. I meant no disrespect to you or your program.

If you were kidding, I'm sorry for taking this so seriously. It's been a long couple of days--death in the family, impending trip to Florida, review to finish, a pile of work for the day job. If you were serious, I'm genuinely sorry that you thought the post was directed at you.

I've emailed you, but please contact me if you have any concerns after reading my email and these responses.

Thanks.

Oh, Maud, I know you weren't trying to bait me. But, given that I'm in Iowa's MFA program, I felt compelled to comment on your post.
Also: it's an interesting question, especially if abstracted from the concerns in my other post on the subject (the roles of criticism/praise). Does Iowa impart particular kinds of lessons? If so, do those lessons take some of the "edge" off students' fiction?
But, back to your comment: I know the post wasn't directed at me, and I did mean my post title to come off as a joke. Ack: I feel so bad that I made you think otherwise, and, given the recent reception of jokes I've made, I think your response is indicative of my joke's badness and not your pre-coffee state of mind.

Oh, what a relief!! I think I'm just feeling sensitive today.

Your comments were excellent. These two sentences strike me as particularly poignant: "But the irony of Iowa is that no one thinks he/she is the typical 'Iowa writer'; everyone feels equally alienated by the program's reputation."

Coincidenally, Claire Zulkey posted an interview with T.C. Boyle today, and here's what he had to say about the Iowa program:

"The Writers' Workshop gave me the time to become a writer (and a scholar: I worked simultaneously in the English Department on my Ph.D. in Nineteenth Century British). I learned to spend less time at Gabe & Walker's Bar and more time at my typewriter. I learned the fanaticism of art. I learned how to see cornfields as nature. I learned that all writers are madman and madwomen and to be strenuously avoided at all cost."

Actually, I guess that bit I quoted from you is one sentence, two clauses. Time for more coffee....