“Collectively thought-provoking and provocative . . . Essential insights, masterfully assembled, on the precarious state of American publishing.” —Kirkus Reviews Writers write—but what do they do for money? In a widely read essay entitled “MFA vs NYC,” bestselling novelist Chad Harbach (The Art of Fielding) argued that the American literary scene has split into two cultures: New York publishing versus university MFA programs. This book brings together established writers, MFA professors and students, and New York editors, publicists, and agents to talk about these overlapping worlds, and the ways writers make (or fail to make) a living within them. Should you seek an advanced degree, or will workshops smother your style? Do you need to move to New York, or will the high cost of living undo you? What’s worse—having a day job or not having health insurance? How do agents decide what to represent? Will Big Publishing survive? How has the rise of MFA programs affected American fiction? The expert contributors, including George Saunders, Elif Batuman, and Fredric Jameson, consider all these questions and more, with humor and rigor. MFA vs NYC is a must-read for aspiring writers, and for anyone interested in the present and future of American letters. “MFA vs NYC will appeal to many young writers, not merely for its insider perspective but also for its gossip and confessional essays.” —Dwight Garner, The New York Times “The book’s contributors neatly articulate the opposing viewpoints in practical and quite creative ways . . . Any reader who aspires to make a living as an author would do well to devour this collection.” —Library Journal