The vast majority of my students were hardworking, thoughtful people devoted to improving their craft despite having nothing interesting to express and no interesting way to express it.
"The vast majority of my students were hardworking, thoughtful people devoted to improving their craft despite having nothing interesting to express and no interesting way to express it." James Yamasaki

In the introduction to Slate's Culture Gabfest "Woodshedding" Edition, they say: "The internet took this very hard." They're referring to "Things I Can Say About MFA Writing Programs Now That I No Longer Teach in One." They describe it as "a rant" and "brutally honest supposed truth-telling." They also refer to this follow-up interview and this rejoinder to Ryan's piece by one of his former students.

The conversation about it begins at the 32:50 mark:

The Guardian has also published a collection of reactions to Ryan's piece.