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algy wrote:

I wasn't using 'viable commercial product' as a generic catch-all label. Edge had stated that he was confident that his peice would have a 'better than average chance of marketability', and so my statement was tailored to his. Therefore it isn't a 'misnomer'.

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And I'm also not assuming that a Masters is easy.

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algy wrote:

Well, I'm dropping out of the Masters running for September. So you can sort out any problems or issues by the time I'm in a position to do it

And I'm still not saying that *I* assume that it's easy to pass.

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Algy wrote:
...Edge might have a choice to make - and that that choice is an enviable one for those not in his position.

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Fitzgerald Fortune wrote:
The sentence also aligned the phrase 'viable commercial product' with the notion of 'creativity', which is problematic. My point is that the production of a 'commercial product' would require Mark to jump through as many hoops as his MA studies are requiring him to do, but at this point without the 'inside' contacts the goalposts for that achievement are an unknown quantity. On the other hand, the goalpoasts for his MA studies are known to him. My advice would always be to work with what you know, rather than aim for something that you can't possibly measure at this point in time (i.e. what you specifically have to do to please Publisher A or Editor C).

In sum, Mark's choice isn't between getting a good mark at his MA and producing something that *may* be considered for publication. Mark can

(a) produce something that he enjoys writing, which may or may not get a good mark or which may or may not be considered for publication;

(b) he can aim for a good mark in his MA, which may make him equally happy, but which may involve making some compromises within a framework that he already understands; or

(c) he can aim for producing work for commercial publication, which would involve at least an equal amount of compromise but which could have a negative impact on his mark for his MA and which would involve working within an unknown and unfamiliar framework, towards an unknown and immeasurable goal.

My advice would be to do what makes him happy or work within the confines of a framework that he understands, so I would recommend choosing either option (a) or option (b).

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Edge44 wrote:

I'm dismayed to see that there's been some 'unrest' arising from my posts, and yet I'm also thankful that it's happened because it's helped peel the blinkers from my eyes. I'll try to address what's been said.

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