Standin' at the crossroads (advice welcome)

[Dooku's Disciple]

At the end of this year I am supposed (that being the operative word) to complete a Masters in Creative Writing. My final manuscript will be a moderately supernatural crime novel that's occupied large areas of my brain since 1997.

If all goes according to plan, I would like to continue with a Ph. D in 2006 and beyond, if I can fool the applications people into thinking I'm a suitable candidate .

Now comes the tricky bit. I can either do a Creative Writing Ph. D (Adelaide is one of few unis in the world that offers these) and produce a novel of so-called Great Literary Merit, or a conventional research Ph. D that will open more doors to a teaching position down the track and give me a much needed professional boost.

I have plenty of ideas for both and look forward to doing either, but I'm worried about a) losing creative momentum if I take the traditional academic path or b) endangering my future career prospects if I follow my fictional whims. Any thoughts, folks?

DD

[Stuart Mackey]

Go for what will give you the money to pay the bills. Save the glory for another day.

[darthdavid]

Flip a coin.

[Mr Bean]

Flip a coin.

Gives you a hell of a story to tell years from now.

[Son of the Suns]

Depends on how good of a writer you are. Just because your colleges say you are doesn't mean the general population will purchase anything you have written, and in doing so, pay the bills. Have you ever released anything for publication before?


In any case, if you can produce a piece that is good enough to impress everyone, it really doesn't matter if your Ph.D is in Creative Writing or in a more research oriented area does it? I'd go with the other, since you will have the teaching position to fall back on.

[Dooku's Disciple]

"Have you ever released anything for publication before?"

Outside of the fan press, no. I don't harbour any illusions that I'll be able to make a living from writing alone, so right now I'm leaning towards the research option with a view to doing creative stuff in my spare time. I'm sure I could juggle both quite well, and there's no reason why you can't like steak *and* cheesecake .

DD