The beautiful thing about writing is it has no real respect for credentialism. You can get various degrees in writing. (Indeed my initial plan was to get an MFA.) But a degree can’t make you a writer in the way that JD can make you a lawyer.
Great writing comes from all classes people and all kinds of experience. Edith Wharton was raised rich. E.L. Doctorow was not.
When I visit schools around the country I consistently repeat this—not because I think school is worthless, but because, very often, there are kids in the audience who are lost, just as I once was. I don’t come there to contravene their education. I don’t come there to tell them to drop out.
On the contrary, I try to reinforce the ethic of hard work. But they need to know that a grade in a class, is not who they are—and I would say that whether the grade is an A or an F. I failed English in high school. And then failed British Literature in college. For whatever reason, it simply wasn’t my time. But had I taken those grades as an eternal mark, I doubt I would be talking to you now.
To Be Made Whole Again (via TNC)
