title: Now What?: The Creative Writer's Guide to Success After the MFA
author: Ashley C. Andersen Zantop
description: Ashley Andersen Zantop writes and edits fiction and nonfiction. She is group publisher and general manager of Capstone, one of the largest independent publishers of childrens supplemental educational and trade titles and reading software. Andersen Zantop earned her MFA in creative writing from Fairfield University, degrees in English literature (AB) and elementary education (AB.ED) from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, as well as teaching certificates (CERT K-5, CERT 6-8). Andersen Zantop founded and serves as co-president of the Fairfield University MFA Alumni Association. She lives with her husband and daughter in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
zlib_text: 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](images/00004.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Dedication](index_split_004.html#filepos3392)
  
  To my brother and sister with love.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Epigraph](index_split_004.html#filepos3508)
  
  Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale of all.
  
  HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Acknowledgments](index_split_004.html#filepos3622)
  
  A book travels through the hands of so many people on its way to publication,
  and while I may be the one sitting at home, typing away on my keyboard, the
  efforts made by editors and publicists to make the work shine, deserve to be
  mentioned. I’d like to thank my wonderful editor, Erika Tsang, and her
  assistant, Chelsey Emmelhainz, for being so incredibly helpful and easy to
  talk to—working with both of you is an absolute pleasure!
  
  Together with the rest of the Avon team, which includes (but is far from
  limited to) copyeditor Judy Myers, publicists Caroline Perny, Pam Spengler-
  Jaffee and Jessie Edwards, and senior director of marketing, Shawn Nicholls,
  they have off