Alice Amayu’s journey defies the typical ‘dream acceptance’ narrative. In January 2024, she received an offer from the University of Sydney’s graduate creative writing program—an achievement that many would celebrate. However, as she witnessed a rapidly evolving landscape, her excitement gave way to thoughtful scepticism.
By late 2023, tools like ChatGPT were already shifting the media and literary industries. AI was not only generating content at scale but also reshaping traditional roles in ways that felt unpredictable. The publishing world, once a sanctuary for human storytelling, suddenly faced the reality of thousands of AI-produced ebooks each month.
Despite reassurances from the program, Alice began to question whether a traditional MFA could truly prepare her for a market increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence. The prospect of spending $50,000 on a degree that might not fully address these new challenges sparked a real debate for her, especially if you’ve ever worried about whether educational investments pay off in a fast-changing world.
Ultimately, Alice chose a different route. Rather than following the well-worn path of academic prestige, she stepped away from the MFA. Instead, she has been exploring diverse storytelling projects and engaging with communities that prize authentic, human-crafted narratives. While she occasionally wonders about the experiences she might have gained, her decision reflects a willingness to evolve and adapt.
For those grappling with career crossroads in an AI-impacted industry, Alice’s story is a reminder: staying true to your voice is invaluable, even when the rules of the game are changing.
