Academia and Experimental Writing

I'm terrible at formal writing, so forgive me. This will be very casual. For my senior seminar, I applied with manuscript, to the creative writing section here at the U. I was accepted, by Julie Schumacher, who
is now the head of the creative writing program. She contantly commented on how wonderful my work was. The other students in class scoffed at my work, not considering it fiction because it did not follow the norm. Plot, character etc... No one wanted to be challenged, or discuss alternatives to traditional writing. The class was beneficial because I wrote, and received postive feedback & encouragement from the Professor, enough that I thought I might be able to get into the MFA program here, as she really seemed to like my work. She told me I should be very proud of what I had accomplished (perhaps I will post that short story here) etc...etc...I applied to the U, with her letter of recommendation, and did not get in. Did not even receive a private note. I submitted a manuscript to a Grad level fiction class, following my rejection and was chosen out of numerous applicants. Again, my work is very experimental, non-traditional, it's not as if these Prof's received standard work and were surprised once class started. I called this class the stab myself in the eye class, because that is what I wanted to do to
myself every class period. I thought MFA students would be excited about writing, want to discuss and exchange ideas, but instead they talked about their personal lives and how my work was nothing... maybe it was pretty words, but that was all (to this day I would like to see them come up with words as pretty as mine). I became silent, tired of trying to explain the validity of what I was doing, tired of being attacked, instead of having my work and viewpoint explored. And I am not just saying this, the majority of work in that class was mediocre at best. Things I was writing years ago, things people have written a hundred times before. I went to the Professor's office one day, and without uttering a word, he said, I know, I know, the class is disorganized, unfocused, out of control. He asked ME to help him get it back on track! I was the undergrad...he was the Prof. He wasn't defending me, I sure as hell was not going to do his job for him. He gave me a B+, claimed I had not turned in all my work (which I had and could prove) and told me I didn't participate in discussion enough. I stopped writing for 2 years. I questioned my desire to ever apply to another MFA program. If this was what it was going to be like, I wanted no part of it. The 'workshopping' of my pieces by other students was half hearted and completely unhelpful, as they had no desire to expand their horizons and understand what I was doing. There is no room for anything, other than the norm. I did not hold a high opinion of the loft, but knew I never wanted to take another writing course at the U of MN. I reviewed their offerings and noticed a class called Intuitive Writing. I was skeptical, but have been very pleased so far. The environment is welcoming to all styles of writing. People are there because they want to write, not because they need to feel superior to others, or be unquestioning. It is a supportive environment. I understand not everyone is a 'good' writer, but if you want to, need to write, this class is just the ticket. The teacher opens with physical exercises, making noises, stretching, word generation, etc...then she gives us an exercise. Pick one of these words and start writing without thinking or stopping. Perfect! I understand the need to craft sometimes, but I don't believe it is always required. Though I feel what I am doing is over most of their heads, I do not feel judged. This class has me writing and thinking and talking about my viewpoint on writing. Granted, most people are beginners and don't have much to say, but I still feel supported.
After this class finished, the teacher asked if I had thought about applying to the U's MFA program? Ironic? I'm sorry this is such a mess. I don't really have time to pause and craft at work.
I hope to post something about what my writing is about (though I don't
even understand it fully).