creative writing worth it

Is A Creative Writing Degree Worth Your Time (And Money)?

by Hannah Collins
March 20, 2017

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I got my Creative Writing degree by accident. My college, in the UK, was unusual in requiring first-year students to pick an additional subject in their first year – partly to widen their interests, and partly as an escape route if their first choice wasn’t everything they hoped . My major was Fine Art, so naturally I scanned down the list of related arts subjects that A) I was vaguely competent in and B) didn’t clash with anything else on my timetable. Out of everything, Creative Writing seemed the best answer. I figured it would be fun distraction from the studio during the first year of my degree. Little was I to know that I’d be graduating with both subjects emblazoned on my degree certificate.

For most people, a Creative Writing degree isn’t something you sleepily sign up to like I did. Since you’re reading this article, you’re obviously thinking a lot harder about the pros and cons than I ever did. I can tell you straight off the bat that a degree is not an iron-clad guarantee of career success, or even enhancement, nor an automatic ticket to fame and fortune as a writer.

That’s not to say that a Creative Writing degree won’t help your career (especially if you’ll need to pitch for work, like a ghost or travel writer ), but it’s far from a sure thing. Really, the best question isn’t where a Creative Writing degree can take you next , but what it can do for your craft and method.

To help you with this all-important decision, I’ll take you through the pros and cons, as well as some alternative paths that may meet your needs just as well (if not better).

Pros of a Creative Writing degree

1. you’ll be part of a community of writers.

Half (or more) of the appeal of college is socialization. Even if you study part-time; seminars, lectures, group study and extracurricular activities will keep you busy both socially and intellectually. Being regularly entrenched in a fertile learning environment with so many other like-minded people can develop and grow your skills – both writerly and socially – exponentially. You’ll encounter different people with vastly different experiences, tastes, and writing styles to you, and you’ll find unexpected sources influencing and evolving your work.

You’ll also be networking almost constantly, and without the usual unpleasant effort of finding a suitable event. This may sound trivial, but you’ll be learning alongside the influential writers, editors, agents, and reviewers of the future – people who are only going to grow in influence as time wears on. While there’s no guarantee you’ll meet the next huge publisher, you may well form a relationship that will benefit you down the line. Even passing acquaintance makes you a more known quantity when someone is checking manuscripts or organizing a literary fair down the line. And all that’s before the opportunities you’ll have to write for college newspapers, literary collections, and reading events.

2. You’ll be given regular feedback on your work

Criticism can be double-edged sword, but we’ll just focus on the positive side, for now. Unless you already have a bank of reliable and relatively unbiased alpha and beta readers at your disposal, it’s likely that, beyond school teachers, you’ve been relying on family and friends for feedback. The problem with that is that, no matter how much they swear to be as honest as possible, they’re going to be far more inclined to pull their punches when your work really needs beating into shape.

Now, there will be some in your seminars or critique groups who may show you similar kindness, but there will certainly be others who won’t – for better or worse. The thin-skinned may find this a rough ride, but they’ll also find that it almost unavoidably toughens them up. As well as your peers, you’ll of course have the opportunity to pick the brain of your tutors and lecturers, who can sometimes offer counsel worth the steep price of admission by itself.

You’ll also be asked to critique and evaluate the work of others, which not only sharpens your own skills and powers of observation, but will help you define your personal brand .

3. You’ll read. A lot

Bookworms, rejoice! It goes without saying that the key to great writing is reading great writing. A Creative Writing degree will have you reading for study as well as just pleasure, and reading a lot of things you might not normally choose.

A less obvious benefit is that you’ll also read a lot of poor-quality and early work from other writers. Nothing will help you catch lazy decisions, easy clichés, and damaging writing devices quicker than looking out for them in the work of others. Plus, seeing someone else’s work go from first-draft mess to fourth-draft promise will reassure you that your own early efforts can be redeemed.

4. You’ll also write. A lot

It seems almost redundant to say this, but doing a Creative Writing degree will have you doing, well, a lot of creative writing. Probably a good 1000+ words per week. Yes, it can be draining , but writing, like any other skill, needs a lot of practice, and you’ll certainly get that.

5. You’ll learn discipline

The rigorous structure of education – whether full or part-time – can be ideal for those of us who thrive within that kind of environment, and you might be surprised to find yourself in that category. Actively receiving feedback, week after week, incentivizes good writing behavior, and having others depend on you for the same will hone your study of, and appreciation for, the craft.

Cons of a Creative Writing degree

1. college is expensive.

Let’s talk about the gauche subject of money, shall we? America has both the most sought-after and most expensive colleges in the world, ranging at the time of writing between about $11,000 and about $45,000, depending on the length of the course and whether you need bed and board while you study. For many of us who are less financially fortunate, this changes the question from, ‘Should I get a degree?’ to ‘Is it really worth me getting a degree?’

Unfortunately, as I mentioned earlier, there’s no absolute guarantee that pouring your hard-earned savings into a costly course will yield tangible results, and if money is your biggest barrier, then you may want to consider the cheaper alternatives abroad (particularly Canada), or the other options I’ll be sharing soon.

2. Not all the feedback you receive will be useful or constructive

Remember that double-edged sword? Having your work regularly scrutinized can be hugely beneficial, but bear in mind that you’ll be getting a mixed bag each week. We creative people tend to also be a little precious with our work, so turning in something you’re proud of only to have it harshly savaged by your class in an unfriendly (possibly caffeine-deprived) attack can be hard to take, especially if your creative writing journey is in its infancy. The worst part is they might all be wrong, too, as sometimes the pressure of having to contribute something to the class can induce unnecessary opinions.

3. You might not be suited to college

We all learn differently and flourish in different environments. I started my Fine Art degree with a class of about 35—40. By graduation, that group had been whittled down to under 30. College isn’t for everyone, and I don’t mean that those people are in any way stupider or less motivated. The intensive, results-driven, traditional academic system doesn’t work for everyone.

4. The pressure to succeed could make or break you

This goes back to harsh critiquing and the college environment not being everyone’s cup of tea. The students that dropped out of my Fine Art course did so for many different reasons. Some felt they’d picked the wrong course, or even the wrong college. Some felt homesick. Others sadly crumbled under the pressure – which can feel substantial. A lot of that pressure comes from your tutors pushing you to succeed (sometimes to their definition of success), but a lot of it can come from yourself, which is far trickier to deal with.

5. Creative Writing may not be the best subject for your creative writing

Creative writing can be a beneficial degree for writers, but it’s often best as an accompaniment to another subject. It’s possible that the wider knowledge of a Literature degree, the expanded knowledge base of a History or Law degree, the non-fiction applications of a Journalism degree, or even the technical thinking of an Engineering degree will benefit your work more. Before settling on a Creative Writing degree as default, ask yourself what your writing (and your life) really needs.

Alternatives

There may have been a time when a college education was not only highly affordable, but reliably opened doors to well-paid and suitable jobs. Sadly, that’s just not the case anymore. Happily, there’s also more in the way of alternative (and cheaper) educational paths than ever before. To ensure you’re making a totally informed decision, it wouldn’t hurt to consider the other options available to you, such as:

Joining a creative writing group ,
Starting a creative writing group,
Enrolling in a community college course,
Getting a Writing Certificate ,
Taking an online class ,
Joining a low-residency creative writing program ,
Starting a blog or becoming a journalist (learn on your feet!)

To degree or not to degree

It can be just as hard to decide against pursuing a degree as it is to start one. If you feel that something is holding you back from reaching your full potential as a writer, there’s a lot to be said for, well, just being a writer. Read a lot of books. Start a blog. Go out and experience the world. Meet new people. And write – as much as possible. If you’re still feeling stuck in a rut, maybe a degree – or one of the alternatives – could help you.

Ultimately, you get out of a degree what you put into it. Do thorough research, visit as many campuses as you can, listen to what others have to say about certain courses and/or tutors, and – most importantly – figure out exactly what you want.

If you’re committed to improving as a writer, a Creative Writing degree is one of the best places to do so. If you’re not, all you’re really getting is a really expensive piece of paper. Of course, the best way to find out more is to ask those who know. If you have a Creative Writing degree, are currently studying for one, or just want to find out what they’re like, let me know in the comments.

For more advice on honing your writing as part of a group, check out Why Joining A Writing Group May Be The Best Thing You Do All Year , or for a choice of non-college classes, try 10 Online Creative Writing Courses For Every Kind Of Writer .

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Hannah Collins

4 thoughts on “is a creative writing degree worth your time (and money)”.

As you said, a Creative Writing degree is no guarantee of success as a writer. But, here in the States, no degree is guarantee of anything, including employment in a degree field. I have friends with degrees that don’t come close to the jobs they have. With the exception of Law and Medicine, I don’t think there is a degree program (especially at what we call the undergrad level) that really prepares a student for a job in any particular area better than any other degree program. That is, Bachelor’s Degrees are all pretty much the same.

That said, I’m now in graduate school pursuing a Master’s Degree in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing/Fiction. It will allow me to teach, should I need or desire to go that route, or to write professionally (by virtue of the demands it makes on clarity and honing craft). Most of the writers I admire have Master’s degrees either in English or in Fine Arts/Creative Writing. Does that mean I’ll automatically make a spot beside them when I graduate? No. But, it just may be the deciding factor in whether or not I have the skill to do so. Are there successful writers with no college at all? Yes. Just as there are successful writers whose credentials read like alphabet soup. I think there is happy medium to be had and I think everybody needs to figure out where that is for themselves.

In the end, I think the decision of whether to attend grad school for a Creative Writing degree should depend almost entirely upon your skill level. If you’re satisfied taking a chance as you work through your learning curve, cool. If you want a bit more guidance in the most efficient way to do so, by all means enroll in a good writing program. At the very least, you’ll be employable by every company on the planet that fears putting their brand on poor grammar and lazy usage… which I’m still assuming is all of them.

My wife works for a company that demands a Master’s degree for their managers (they don’t specify a subject, which tells me that it isn’t really necessary, just a way to thin the herd of applicants). Increasingly, employers in the States are doing this. With this in mind, you may just as well get some real personal satisfaction out of your degree program. And what better way to do that than to spend all your time reading and writing?

Hi Michael,

Thanks for the comprehensive insight. That’s really interesting to hear in regards to Master’s requirements for recruitment. I wonder if that will sway opinion more in favour of getting a degree for those reading this.

You’re right – if you love doing something, doing it intensively and frequently while becoming more qualified in it sounds ideal. I certainly enjoyed it, but it was still quite draining at times. That being said, I was doing both a Fine Art AND Creative Writing course, so my creative juices were stretched to the limit!

I completely understand the challenges you faced! Congrats, by the way, for doing it! Too many people think of FA/CW degrees as easy. But I’ll match the work necessary to comprehend most philosophy with that of Quantum Physics, any day. It’s all the same process, just different signifiers. The result is, you’re really smart and the world, according to Cormac McCarthy, became personal to you. In the end, that’s the most compelling reason of all to pursue education.

I plan to do a Creative Writing degree, and reading this article and comments help me@

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Should You Really Be A Creative Writing Major?

College Info

So you’re thinking about majoring in creative writing! Completing an undergraduate creative writing program can be a great way to explore your love of fiction or poetry and hone your craft.

As edifying as a creative writing major can be, it may not be what you expect. Dedicated creative writing majors are also quite uncommon, so if you're committed to getting your degree in that subject, you'll have a narrower pool of possible colleges. This post will help you decide whether a creative writing major is right for you.

Feature Image: Nilufer Gadgieva /Flickr

Many Great Schools (with Awesome Writing Classes) Don't Have a Creative Writing Major

As I mentioned above, creative writing is a relatively rare major, so if you're solely focused on schools with a dedicated creative writing degree, you might miss out on schools that could be a great fit for you.

Keep in mind that a lot of school that don’t offer specific majors still have great opportunities to pursue creative writing, whether by completing a minor, contributing to the campus literary journal, or simply taking classes.

Even if you know you want to study creative writing, try researching the opportunities available at different schools with an open mind . You might be surprised by what you find!

You're Going to Have to Read — A Lot

I once had a friend who loved writing ;but hated reading—especially if he had to analyze the text. If you tend to agree with him, and would rather be submerged in a vat of ants than write a paper about Virginia Woolf's use of symbolism to comment on World War I in The Waves , this course of study isn't right for you. Most creative writing majors are run by the English department, and, in fact, many are special tracks within the English major. As such, they involve a lot of reading of all kinds , including fiction, plays, poetry, and literary theory.

I was an English major in undergrad, and we were expected to read a roughly book a week in each class . Some were long (I had one professor assign the longest single volume novel in the English language ) and some were short, but it added up to a lot of books! You’ll also have to write critical essays analyzing these works of literature—if you really only want to write your own fiction or poetry, consider majoring in something else and taking creative writing classes as electives.

You Don't Need a Specific Major to Be a Writer

Writing isn't like engineering: you don't need a specific degree to pursue it professionally. The only thing that you need to do to be a writer is to write.

Most writing jobs, whether in publishing, journalism or teaching, don’t require or even expect you to have majored in creative writing. For the few positions that do require a writing degree, which are almost exclusively in academia, you'll actually need a graduate degree (generally an MFA).

Studying writing in school is a great way to motivate you to work on your writing and to get constructive feedback (more on this below), but it’s not the only way. A lot of great writers studied something totally unrelated to writing or didn’t go to college at all.

You Can Learn A Lot From Really Focusing on Writing

So far I've focused mostly on reasons you might not want or need to major in creative writing, but there's one very good reason to do so: you'll spend a lot of time writing, talking about writing, and reading your peers' writing.

One of the key features of any creative writing major is the workshop —a small class where students closely read and dissect each other’s work. Workshops can be very productive, since they offer the opportunity for lots of revision and rewriting. However, they also involve a lot of criticism and can be challenging for very sensitive people. Consider how you'll react to someone not liking your writing or suggesting ways to improve it.

Many creative writing majors also require a capstone project or creative BA thesis, which requires you to complete a substantive piece of work that's at or near publication ready. For students who are genuinely committed to publishing their writing, this project is an invaluable stepping stone.

Some Schools Have Special Opportunities for Creative Writing Majors

At schools with particularly strong writing programs, majors may have the opportunity to attend special readings or meetings with authors that aren't open to non-majors. They may also have priority for activities like working at the literary journal or university press.

These kinds of perks are completely dependent on the school, however, so make sure to research the specific programs that you're interested in.

Final Thoughts

Creative writing majors offer a unique opportunity to focus on the craft of writing, but they aren't right for everyone. If the following statements apply to you, a creative writing major could be a great fit:

You love to read and write.
You take criticism well and don't mind other people reading your work.
You want to pursue writing outside of the classroom as well as in it.

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Earning A Master’s In Creative Writing: What To Know

Updated: Nov 1, 2023, 1:51pm

Earning A Master’s In Creative Writing: What To Know

Do you want to create written work that ignites a reader’s imagination and even changes their worldview? With a master’s in creative writing, you can develop strong storytelling and character development skills, equipping you to achieve your writing goals.

If you’re ready to strengthen your writing chops and you enjoy writing original works to inspire others, tell interesting stories and share valuable information, earning a master’s in creative writing may be the next step on your career journey.

The skills learned in a creative writing master’s program qualify you to write your own literary works, teach others creative writing principles or pursue various other careers.

This article explores master’s degrees in creative writing, including common courses and concentrations, admission requirements and careers that use creative writing skills. Read on to learn more about earning a master’s degree in creative writing.

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What Is a Master’s in Creative Writing?

A master’s in creative writing is an advanced degree that helps you develop the skills to write your own novel, poetry, screenplay or nonfiction book. This degree can also prepare you for a career in business, publishing, education, marketing or communications.

In a creative writing master’s degree program, you can expect to analyze literature, explore historical contexts of literary works, master techniques for revising and editing, engage in class workshops and peer critiques, and write your own original work.

Creative writing master’s programs usually require a thesis project, which should be well-written, polished and ready to publish. Typical examples of thesis projects include poetry collections, memoirs, essay collections, short story collections and novels.

A master’s in creative writing typically requires about 36 credits and takes two years to complete. Credit requirements and timelines vary by program, so you may be able to finish your degree quicker.

Specializations for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are a few common concentrations for creative writing master’s programs. These vary by school, so your program’s offerings may look different.

This concentration helps you develop fiction writing skills, such as plot development, character creation and world-building. A fiction concentration is a good option if you plan to write short stories, novels or other types of fiction.

A nonfiction concentration focuses on the mechanics of writing nonfiction narratives. If you plan to write memoirs, travel pieces, magazine articles, technical documents or nonfiction books, this concentration may suit you.

Explore the imagery, tone, rhythm and structure of poetry with a poetry concentration. With this concentration, you can expect to develop your poetry writing skills and learn to curate poetry for journals and magazines.

Screenwriting

Screenwriting is an excellent concentration to explore if you enjoy creating characters and telling stories to make them come alive for television or film. This specialization covers how to write shorts, episodic serials, documentaries and feature-length film scripts.

Admission Requirements for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Below are some typical admission requirements for master’s in creative writing degree programs. These requirements vary, so check with your program to ensure you’ve met the appropriate requirements.

Application for admission
Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Transcripts from previous education
Writing samples
Letters of recommendation
Personal statement or essay

Common Courses in a Master’s in Creative Writing

Story and concept.

This course focuses on conceptualizing, planning and developing stories on a structural level. Learners study how to generate ideas, develop interesting plots, create outlines, draft plot arcs, engage in world-building and create well-rounded characters who move their stories forward.

Graduate Studies in English Literature

Understanding literature is essential to building a career in creative writing. This course prepares you to teach, study literature or write professionally. Expect to discuss topics such as phonology, semantics, dialects, syntax and the history of the English language.

Workshop in Creative Nonfiction

You’ll study classic and contemporary creative nonfiction in this course. Workshops in creative nonfiction explore how different genres have emerged throughout history and how previous works influence new works. In some programs, this course focuses on a specific theme.

Foundations in Fiction

In this course, you’ll explore how the novel has developed throughout literary history and how the short story emerged as an art form. Coursework includes reading classic and contemporary works, writing response essays and crafting critical analyses.

MA in Creative Writing vs. MFA in Creative Writing: What’s the Difference?

While the degrees are similar, a master of arts in creative writing is different from a master of fine arts in creative writing. An MA in creative writing teaches creative writing competencies, building analytical skills through studying literature, literary theory and related topics. This lets you explore storytelling along with a more profound knowledge of literature and literary theory.

If you want your education to take a more academic perspective so you can build a career in one of many fields related to writing, an MA in creative writing may be right for you.

An MFA prepares you to work as a professional writer or novelist. MFA students graduate with a completed manuscript that is ready for publishing. Coursework highlights subjects related to the business of writing, such as digital publishing, the importance of building a platform on social media , marketing, freelancing and teaching. An MA in creative writing also takes less time and requires fewer credits than an MFA.

If you want to understand the business of writing and work as a professional author or novelist, earning an MFA in creative writing might be your best option.

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Creative Writing?

Below are several careers you can pursue with a master’s in creative writing. We sourced salary data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Postsecondary Creative Writing Teacher

Median Annual Salary: $74,280 Minimum Required Education: Ph.D. or another doctoral degree; master’s degree may be accepted at some schools and community colleges Job Overview: Postsecondary teachers, also known as professors or faculty, teach students at the college level. They plan lessons, advise students, serve on committees, conduct research, publish original research, supervise graduate teaching assistants, apply for grants for their research and teach subjects in their areas of expertise.

Median Annual Salary: $73,080 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in English or a related field Job Overview: Editors plan, revise and edit written materials for publication. They work for newspapers, magazines, book publishers, advertising agencies, media networks, and motion picture and video production companies. Editors work closely with writers to ensure their written work is accurate, grammatically correct and written in the appropriate style for the medium.

Median Annual Salary: $55,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in journalism or a related field Job Overview: Journalists research and write stories about local, regional, national and global current events and other newsworthy subjects. Journalists need strong interviewing, editing, analytical and writing skills. Some journalists specialize in a subject, such as sports or politics, and some are generalists. They work for news organizations, magazines and online publications, and some work as freelancers.

Writer or Author

Median Annual Salary: $73,150 Minimum Required Education: None; bachelor’s degree in creative writing or a related field sometimes preferred Job Overview: Writers and authors write fiction or nonfiction content for magazines, plays, blogs, books, television scripts and other forms of media. Novelists, biographers, copywriters, screenwriters and playwrights all fall into this job classification. Writers may work for advertising agencies, news platforms, book publishers and other organizations; some work as freelancers.

Technical Writer

Median Annual Salary: $79,960 Minimum Required Education: Bachelor’s degree Job Overview: Technical writers craft technical documents, such as training manuals and how-to guides. They are adept at simplifying technical information so lay people can easily understand it. Technical writers may work with technical staff, graphic designers, computer support specialists and software developers to create user-friendly finished pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About a Master's in Creative Writing

Is a master’s in creative writing useful.

If your goal is to launch a career as a writer, then yes, a master’s in creative writing is useful. An MA in creative writing is a versatile degree that prepares you for various jobs requiring excellent writing skills.

Is an MFA better than an MA for creative writing?

One is not better than the other; you should choose the one that best equips you for the career you want. An MFA prepares you to build a career as a professional writer or novelist. An MA prepares you for various jobs demanding high-level writing skills.

What kind of jobs can you get with a creative writing degree?

A creative writing degree prepares you for many types of writing jobs. It helps you build your skills and gain expertise to work as an editor, writer, author, technical writer or journalist. This degree is also essential if you plan to teach writing classes at the college level.

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Sheryl Grey is a freelance writer who specializes in creating content related to education, aging and senior living, and real estate. She is also a copywriter who helps businesses grow through expert website copywriting, branding and content creation. Sheryl holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from Indiana University South Bend, and she received her teacher certification training through Bethel University’s Transition to Teaching program.

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Do You Really Need a Creative Writing Degree to be a Successful Writer?

6 benefits of studying creative writing and 6 things i wish i’d learned.

Hannah Visser Pavez

The Writing Cooperative

My brush with a (minor) Canadian celebrity

In 2009, my creative writing honor’s supervisor gave me an opportunity to rub shoulders with a minor Canadian celebrity and published literary author. My professor asked me to pick up Linden MacIntyre, a journalist and novelist, and drive him to his interview with CBC (a popular Canadian broadcasting company). He had recently published his novel, The Bishop’s Man .

And I blew it.

Right before I picked him up from the airport, I realized that I hadn’t cleaned my little beat-up Toyota Corolla in a long time. The floor was covered in dirt and crumbs and I hastily shoved stuff onto the back seat. I felt embarrassed but it was too late. That was my first mistake.

I realized my second mistake as soon as MacIntyre approached my compact car. He was a tall man and coming from a family full of tall men, I saw too late that I should have borrowed a bigger vehicle from my parents. He folded himself into my little car like a slinky and off we went.

Written by Hannah Visser Pavez

I write about traveling in 🇨🇱 Chile, writing tips, and digital marketing.

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What I Wish I Knew as a Creative Writing Major

LEVI SHULTZ

I thought I’d make a career out of writing. That’s what I went to college for. I majored in English: Creative Writing because I loved it. I enjoyed sitting in the classroom, talking to my peers about short stories and poetry… until my senior year rolled around.

What was after college? What was I going to do with this degree that I so loved pursuing? Could I really make a career out of writing?

I worked a slew of odd jobs and writing internships before I landed at Pearson as a Registrar Support Specialist, something I never imagined I’d be doing. Now that I’m 30 and working a job I enjoy, I look back on my college career wishing I had known a few things before graduating. Things like what jobs I could get with this degree and what skills should I be learning to better prepare me for life after college—because it turns out, life after college wasn’t anything like I’d imagined.

If you’re considering majoring in Creative Writing, here are a few things to keep in mind:

A Degree Doesn’t Always Mean A Job

The first question for any English major is “what do you hope to do with an English degree?” It’s a legitimate question and sometimes a hard one. What can one do with an English degree other than teach? Is a creative writing degree even marketable?

As a whole, the purpose of getting a college degree is not primarily about getting a job . The purpose of going to college is to educate yourself, grow as a person, and gain experience and knowledge that will last you a lifetime.

I don’t think I’d be writing this post or any of my past blog posts if I hadn’t pursued writing in college and worked as a writing intern for a couple years. However, I don’t think I would have ended up in my current position as a registrar support specialist—the job that actually pays my bills—if I hadn’t gotten 8+ years of administrative experience and a couple years of management experience alongside my degree.

Just because you’re getting a Creative Writing degree doesn’t mean you’ll end up as a best-selling author or poet. If you want to make yourself marketable for a wide array of jobs, consider gaining specialized experience alongside your writing education.

So, what are some creative job ideas for creative writing majors? Here are just a few ideas:

Marketing communications or copywriting

Web content writer or blogger

Public relations

Technical writer

Communications director

Social media specialist

Grant writer

Are you looking to get a college degree? Accelerated Pathways offers custom degree plans that allow students to achieve their degree and save money. Reach out to our student counselors to get more specialized degree guidance and information about our programs.

A note on freelancing

Thanks to the internet, the demand for freelance writers has grown. Some companies seek help for projects that require excellent writing and communication skills but don’t feel the need to hire someone full-time, so they turn to agencies and job boards that can get the word out. This is a great opportunity for the entrepreneurial-minded writer.

A few such agencies are The Creative Group , Creative Circle , and 24 Seven . You simply give them your resume and portfolio, indicate what kind of work you’re looking for, and they dish out your resume to jobs that may be a good fit. You can also browse job opportunities on their websites on your own and send your resume.

Check job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn. You can often find someone looking for a writer, editor, or expert communicator for various reasons. Just make sure you do a bit of research into the job and/or the company so you know what you’re getting yourself into.

Learn Non-Writing Skills

I love writing short stories and poems. Some of my best college memories are writing stories for my peers to review or talking to my writing professor about how to be a better writer over burgers. The skills I learned by taking writing courses are skills that I cherish even years after graduation.

However, looking back, I wish I had learned more skills than just creative writing. There’s more to jobs and careers than just simply writing. A lot of other skills and knowledge are necessary as well.

For example, I wish I had learned more about marketing and branding. This may have opened up opportunities for me in marketing and communications. For instance, when I interned for a branding agency, I had no idea what Search Engine Optimization (SEO) was or what the difference was between user experience and user interface. Were these pertinent to my role there? Not really, but my co-workers talked about them a lot, and I often felt lost.

Writing is great but learn other things too.

Don’t take odd jobs for granted either. Before I landed my job at Pearson, I worked as a front desk agent at a hotel, as a receiving assistant manager in a grocery store, and had a temporary job for a standardized testing service. While none of these by any means are dream jobs, I learned valuable skills in customer service, administration, management, and communication.

These odd jobs can be good ways to learn other skills that can give you a leg up in the race for employment, and while learning new skills or improving them, these various jobs can also help give you a boost in creativity based on your everyday interactions or duties.

Use Your Minor to Specialize

Minors are another great way to get some perspective in other fields.

On average, a minor takes up approximately 15-18 credits and usually helps fill up elective space in your degree. Don’t fill yours with writing classes. Some minors I would recommend to someone majoring in creative writing are education, business (specifically marketing, if available), journalism, and communications. All of these fields require creative writing in some way, and they are fields you’re most likely to pursue after college.

But ultimately, minor in anything you’re interested in. This will help you learn more, and give you more to write about! Besides, following your interests is a great way to land a job you love .

Pursue Internships

You’ll hear a lot of negative things about internships, like how they don’t pay well (or at all) or don’t teach you enough. To be honest, these things are true. But don’t be so quick to throw out the opportunity.

There are many well-meaning companies offering college students the opportunity to learn practical, on-the-job skills, and sometimes an internship can be a stepping stone to something better.

Making the decision to pursue an internship can be tough, and it comes with risks. You may not make any money, you might be new to the field, and you seriously have no idea what you’re doing. So, here are things you can do when pursuing an internship :

Make a budget. Can you afford to do something for free with the hope of something better in the future? After all, you do need to eat and to pay for the gas to get to your internship.

Make a list of local companies that may offer internships in your desired field. This may include companies that require you to commute, which will affect the aforementioned budget.

Contact your advisor and/or professors. They may have some very helpful information and connections. Depending on your school, degree, or major, you may even be required to complete an internship for graduation.

Treat it just like searching for any other job. You’ll be competing with hundreds—maybe thousands—of other eager students like yourself. You can’t win them all, but you should be persistent, professional, and confident.

When you interview for an internship, listen and ask good questions. Make sure you understand what the interviewer is asking of you, and if you don’t know something, ask because you’re there to learn.

Pursue What You Value

When deciding on a major, a minor, side jobs, or any of the myriad of decisions you’ll make in college, it’s important to know what you want to do in the future and set goals. These goals will help orient you and make the decision-making process a lot easier.

But even more important than setting goals is defining your values . The things you value are the motivators for reaching your goals. These values answer the question of “why?” Why do you want to achieve this or that goal? Why is this goal important to you?

For example, as a writer, I want to get a short story published, a common goal that many writers share. The value (or the motivator to reach this goal) is that I want to tell people about the things I care about, struggle with, and think about, to share my story and my perspective. That value is true even as I write this blog post. If and when I achieve this goal, I will make a new goal, but my values will remain more or less consistent for months and years to come, possibly for the rest of my life.

It’s your values that will carry you through all of the writing, job searching, skill acquiring, and interning you can muster, not your goals. So, what do you value? How do those values motivate you to reach your goals or your dream job as it were?

As long as you consistently pursue what you value, no matter what other choices you make about your major, you’re guaranteed to walk toward a meaningful future career.

Learn more about how Accelerated Pathways can help you get an affordable English degree that also gives you the flexibility you need to build other important career skills at the same time.

Levi Shultz

Levi is a Registrar Support Specialist here at Pearson by day, short-story author by night. When he’s not working (or writing), you can find him playing board games with friends, playing guitar, watching tv with his wife, or eating a delicious home-cooked meal.

What is Creative Writing? A Key Piece of the Writer’s Toolbox

Not all writing is the same and there’s a type of writing that has the ability to transport, teach, and inspire others like no other.

Creative writing stands out due to its unique approach and focus on imagination. Here’s how to get started and grow as you explore the broad and beautiful world of creative writing!

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a form of writing that extends beyond the bounds of regular professional, journalistic, academic, or technical forms of literature. It is characterized by its emphasis on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes or poetic techniques to express ideas in an original and imaginative way.

Creative writing can take on various forms such as:

short stories
screenplays

It’s a way for writers to express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas in a creative, often symbolic, way . It’s about using the power of words to transport readers into a world created by the writer.

5 Key Characteristics of Creative Writing

Creative writing is marked by several defining characteristics, each working to create a distinct form of expression:

1. Imagination and Creativity: Creative writing is all about harnessing your creativity and imagination to create an engaging and compelling piece of work. It allows writers to explore different scenarios, characters, and worlds that may not exist in reality.

2. Emotional Engagement: Creative writing often evokes strong emotions in the reader. It aims to make the reader feel something — whether it’s happiness, sorrow, excitement, or fear.

3. Originality: Creative writing values originality. It’s about presenting familiar things in new ways or exploring ideas that are less conventional.

4. Use of Literary Devices: Creative writing frequently employs literary devices such as metaphors, similes, personification, and others to enrich the text and convey meanings in a more subtle, layered manner.

5. Focus on Aesthetics: The beauty of language and the way words flow together is important in creative writing. The aim is to create a piece that’s not just interesting to read, but also beautiful to hear when read aloud.

Remember, creative writing is not just about producing a work of art. It’s also a means of self-expression and a way to share your perspective with the world. Whether you’re considering it as a hobby or contemplating a career in it, understanding the nature and characteristics of creative writing can help you hone your skills and create more engaging pieces .

For more insights into creative writing, check out our articles on creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree and is a degree in creative writing worth it .

Styles of Creative Writing

To fully understand creative writing , you must be aware of the various styles involved. Creative writing explores a multitude of genres, each with its own unique characteristics and techniques.

Poetry is a form of creative writing that uses expressive language to evoke emotions and ideas. Poets often employ rhythm, rhyme, and other poetic devices to create pieces that are deeply personal and impactful. Poems can vary greatly in length, style, and subject matter, making this a versatile and dynamic form of creative writing.

Short Stories

Short stories are another common style of creative writing. These are brief narratives that typically revolve around a single event or idea. Despite their length, short stories can provide a powerful punch, using precise language and tight narrative structures to convey a complete story in a limited space.

Novels represent a longer form of narrative creative writing. They usually involve complex plots, multiple characters, and various themes. Writing a novel requires a significant investment of time and effort; however, the result can be a rich and immersive reading experience.

Screenplays

Screenplays are written works intended for the screen, be it television, film, or online platforms. They require a specific format, incorporating dialogue and visual descriptions to guide the production process. Screenwriters must also consider the practical aspects of filmmaking, making this an intricate and specialized form of creative writing.

If you’re interested in this style, understanding creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree can provide useful insights.

Writing for the theater is another specialized form of creative writing. Plays, like screenplays, combine dialogue and action, but they also require an understanding of the unique dynamics of the theatrical stage. Playwrights must think about the live audience and the physical space of the theater when crafting their works.

Each of these styles offers unique opportunities for creativity and expression. Whether you’re drawn to the concise power of poetry, the detailed storytelling of novels, or the visual language of screenplays and plays, there’s a form of creative writing that will suit your artistic voice. The key is to explore, experiment, and find the style that resonates with you.

For those looking to spark their creativity, our article on creative writing prompts offers a wealth of ideas to get you started.

Importance of Creative Writing

Understanding what is creative writing involves recognizing its value and significance. Engaging in creative writing can provide numerous benefits – let’s take a closer look.

Developing Creativity and Imagination

Creative writing serves as a fertile ground for nurturing creativity and imagination. It encourages you to think outside the box, explore different perspectives, and create unique and original content. This leads to improved problem-solving skills and a broader worldview , both of which can be beneficial in various aspects of life.

Through creative writing, one can build entire worlds, create characters, and weave complex narratives, all of which are products of a creative mind and vivid imagination. This can be especially beneficial for those seeking creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

Enhancing Communication Skills

Creative writing can also play a crucial role in honing communication skills. It demands clarity, precision, and a strong command of language. This helps to improve your vocabulary, grammar, and syntax, making it easier to express thoughts and ideas effectively .

Moreover, creative writing encourages empathy as you often need to portray a variety of characters from different backgrounds and perspectives. This leads to a better understanding of people and improved interpersonal communication skills.

Exploring Emotions and Ideas

One of the most profound aspects of creative writing is its ability to provide a safe space for exploring emotions and ideas. It serves as an outlet for thoughts and feelings , allowing you to express yourself in ways that might not be possible in everyday conversation.

Writing can be therapeutic, helping you process complex emotions, navigate difficult life events, and gain insight into your own experiences and perceptions. It can also be a means of self-discovery , helping you to understand yourself and the world around you better.

So, whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, the benefits of creative writing are vast and varied. For those interested in developing their creative writing skills, check out our articles on creative writing prompts and how to teach creative writing . If you’re considering a career in this field, you might find our article on is a degree in creative writing worth it helpful.

4 Steps to Start Creative Writing

Creative writing can seem daunting to beginners, but with the right approach, anyone can start their journey into this creative field. Here are some steps to help you start creative writing .

1. Finding Inspiration

The first step in creative writing is finding inspiration . Inspiration can come from anywhere and anything. Observe the world around you, listen to conversations, explore different cultures, and delve into various topics of interest.

Reading widely can also be a significant source of inspiration. Read different types of books, articles, and blogs. Discover what resonates with you and sparks your imagination.

For structured creative prompts, visit our list of creative writing prompts to get your creative juices flowing.

Editor’s Note : When something excites or interests you, stop and take note – it could be the inspiration for your next creative writing piece.

2. Planning Your Piece

Once you have an idea, the next step is to plan your piece . Start by outlining:

the main points

Remember, this can serve as a roadmap to guide your writing process. A plan doesn’t have to be rigid. It’s a flexible guideline that can be adjusted as you delve deeper into your writing. The primary purpose is to provide direction and prevent writer’s block.

3. Writing Your First Draft

After planning your piece, you can start writing your first draft . This is where you give life to your ideas and breathe life into your characters.

Don’t worry about making it perfect in the first go. The first draft is about getting your ideas down on paper . You can always refine and polish your work later. And if you don’t have a great place to write that first draft, consider a journal for writing .

4. Editing and Revising Your Work

The final step in the creative writing process is editing and revising your work . This is where you fine-tune your piece, correct grammatical errors, and improve sentence structure and flow.

Editing is also an opportunity to enhance your storytelling . You can add more descriptive details, develop your characters further, and make sure your plot is engaging and coherent.

Remember, writing is a craft that improves with practice . Don’t be discouraged if your first few pieces don’t meet your expectations. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, enjoy the creative process.

For more insights on creative writing, check out our articles on how to teach creative writing or creative writing activities for kids.

Tips to Improve Creative Writing Skills

Understanding what is creative writing is the first step. But how can one improve their creative writing skills? Here are some tips that can help.

Read Widely

Reading is a vital part of becoming a better writer. By immersing oneself in a variety of genres, styles, and authors, one can gain a richer understanding of language and storytelling techniques . Different authors have unique voices and methods of telling stories, which can serve as inspiration for your own work. So, read widely and frequently!

Practice Regularly

Like any skill, creative writing improves with practice. Consistently writing — whether it be daily, weekly, or monthly — helps develop your writing style and voice . Using creative writing prompts can be a fun way to stimulate your imagination and get the words flowing.

Attend Writing Workshops and Courses

Formal education such as workshops and courses can offer structured learning and expert guidance. These can provide invaluable insights into the world of creative writing, from understanding plot development to character creation. If you’re wondering is a degree in creative writing worth it, these classes can also give you a taste of what studying creative writing at a higher level might look like .

Joining Writing Groups and Communities

Being part of a writing community can provide motivation, constructive feedback, and a sense of camaraderie. These groups often hold regular meetings where members share their work and give each other feedback. Plus, it’s a great way to connect with others who share your passion for writing.

Seeking Feedback on Your Work

Feedback is a crucial part of improving as a writer. It offers a fresh perspective on your work, highlighting areas of strength and opportunities for improvement. Whether it’s from a writing group, a mentor, or even friends and family, constructive criticism can help refine your writing .

Start Creative Writing Today!

Remember, becoming a proficient writer takes time and patience. So, don’t be discouraged by initial challenges. Keep writing, keep learning, and most importantly, keep enjoying the process. Who knows, your passion for creative writing might even lead to creative writing jobs and what you can do with a creative writing degree .

Happy writing!

Brooks Manley

Creative Primer is a resource on all things journaling, creativity, and productivity. We’ll help you produce better ideas, get more done, and live a more effective life.

My name is Brooks. I do a ton of journaling, like to think I’m a creative (jury’s out), and spend a lot of time thinking about productivity. I hope these resources and product recommendations serve you well. Reach out if you ever want to chat or let me know about a journal I need to check out!

Here’s my favorite journal for 2024:

Gratitude Journal Prompts Mindfulness Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Anxiety Reflective Journal Prompts Healing Journal Prompts Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Journal Prompts Mental Health Journal Prompts ASMR Journal Prompts Manifestation Journal Prompts Self-Care Journal Prompts Morning Journal Prompts Evening Journal Prompts Self-Improvement Journal Prompts Creative Writing Journal Prompts Dream Journal Prompts Relationship Journal Prompts "What If" Journal Prompts New Year Journal Prompts Shadow Work Journal Prompts Journal Prompts for Overcoming Fear Journal Prompts for Dealing with Loss Journal Prompts for Discerning and Decision Making Travel Journal Prompts Fun Journal Prompts

Inspiring Ink: Expert Tips on How to Teach Creative Writing

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Is a creative writing degree really worth it?

Like any craftsman dedicated to the improvement of his chosen vocation, a logical step for aspiring wordsmiths is to take a university degree in Creative Writing. At the end of three arduous years of dedication to the literary arts you will end up with a piece of paper, telling everyone you thrust it at that, yes, you can write and, yes, this also extends to reading too. Being a Bachelor in Creative Writing was my ambition since reading Matilda by Roald Dahl in my childhood. But what I am now contemplating is whether it was really worth it, both in terms of money and time.

I have been a graduate for well over a year now and I have not turned into the next Stephen King, with millions flowing out of my pockets. Nor have I found one of the myriad of jobs I was told I was a shoo-in for with my shiny new degree. I do feel slightly betrayed by everyone who said that the fruits of my labours would be rewarded by a career or my own bestseller. Yes, there was a time when a writing degree was a ticket to success. But thanks to the recession and the growing employer preference for experience over qualifications, this golden age is dead, its owner having cashed it in for a few bob at the local pawn shop.

Would I do it again though? Would I spend another three years writing and reading everything from Katie Price to Jack Kerouac? I would, but not for the degree certificate which I've already said is nothing special, but for the skills I learned. There's no doubt in my mind that as a result of my creative writing degree I have improved my art and broadened my horizons. I've learned to find inspiration everywhere and in everybody. But maybe these are skills I could have learned from a good writers' group, or writers' retreats? If I wanted to be a scientist or a historian then the relevant degree would be a definite asset. But with many of the practical degrees, ranging from applied arts to film studies and including writing, what really matters is the quality of the skills you learn and not the piece of paper saying you have learnt them.

I wouldn't want to discredit a creative writing BA entirely. Having one can be useful if you wish to pursue it into the realms of a Masters or Doctorate which can then lead into professor/lecturer positions at educational institutions. But it is all academia related; much like philosophy degrees, the only job prospects are in teaching it.

So if you are looking to improve your skills as a writer and explore the wonderful and sometimes frightening world of creative literature, think carefully about what you want the end result to be. Many of the skills can be learnt for free, or at a reduced price. But the experience of gaining a university degree is unique and unforgettable and if you can get over the fact that the end result isn't exactly what you expected, I would give it my vote and reluctantly, my money.

Josh Spears graduated in Creative Writing and Film Studies from the University of Cumbria in Carlisle. He is working on his writing and waiting patiently to become a bestselling author.

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10 Best Creative Writing Courses for 2024: Craft Authentic Stories

Learn how to tell your story and engage your readers with great storytelling.

As a lifelong literature enthusiast, I decided to challenge myself in 2010 by participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), which tasks participants with writing a 50,000-word draft within a month. Although I’ve only achieved this goal twice since then, the experience has been invaluable. I’ve connected with a wonderful community of writers, both online and in person.

Through my experience, I can confidently say that creative writing is a skill that can be developed and honed, just like any other. While traditionally associated with literature, creative writing is increasingly being recognized as a powerful tool in various forms of writing, from copywriting and storytelling to novels and poetry. It has the ability to captivate readers and elevate the impact of written expression.

If you’re searching for the best online Creative Writing courses and resources, you’ve come to the right place. This Best Courses Guide (BCG) is built from Class Central’s catalog of over 300 Creative Writing courses and selected according to a methodology that you can check below.

Click on the shortcuts for more details:

What is Creative Writing?

Courses overview, why you should trust us, how we made our picks and tested them, here are our top picks.

Click on one to skip to the course details:


	15 hours
	5-6 hours
	4-5 hours
	12 hours
	1-2 hours
	2 hours
	5-6 hours
	1-2 hours
	1 hour
	18 hours
	NA

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Creative writing is a genre of writing that seeks to evoke emotions and feelings in its readers. It surpasses the limits of traditional forms of literature and emphasizes narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes and poetic traditions. Creative writing finds application in various forms of writing, including screenplays, plays, novels, poems, and other written works. In this guide, I will delve into some of its most popular facets.

Enhancing resilience and creativity through writing

Research shows that the brains of professional writers work differently from those of novice writers. Moreover, creative writing has been found to boost resilience in students . If you want to enjoy the benefits of writing, it’s important to develop the habit of jotting down your thoughts and words. Doing so can help you overcome writer’s block.

Creative writing is so powerful that it’s used in prisons to give inmates a chance to express themselves in programs like PEN America . “By providing resources, mentorship, and audiences outside the walls, we help these writers to join and enrich the broader literary community.”

Creative writing is a skill that can be learned and practiced like any other. Techniques such as ABDCE structure, 1st or 3rd person point of view, “show don’t tell”, dialogues, and tropes can be easily learned through the online courses in this guide.

Together, they account for over 1M enrollments
Skillshare, with 2 courses, is the most featured provider
The single most popular course has nearly 400k enrollments
Three courses are entirely free or free-to-audit.

Best Fantasy And Short-Stories Writing Lessons For Beginners (Brandon Sanderson)

Besides being an awesome writer, Sanderson is an instructor with a very unique talent for keeping us engaged. He has also made available a full course in creative writing on YouTube , originally presented at Brigham Young University, which includes the most crucial tools for any beginner or even experienced writers. The course is comprehensive and rich in content, with great sound and video quality.

Each video discusses a specific tool or technique, so you can easily select the theme you want to explore next or watch it all in sequence. It’s up to you. I recommend you take your time, watch one video at a time and experiment with each concept, or even better, find a writing buddy or form a group to practice writing together.

What you’ll learn:

Plot construction, character development, and engaging storytelling
Techniques for crafting immersive worlds and believable viewpoints
Insights into the publishing industry, tailored for emerging writers
Strategies for writing compelling short stories and leveraging them for larger projects.

“Very informative! I’m a beginner writer looking to study writing for video games, and this class gave me a lot of helpful tools to start understanding how stories work/how to organize my ideas! Will definitely be returning to some of these lectures in the future for guidance 👍” – Paige Webster

	Brigham Young University
	Youtube
	Brandon Sanderson
	Beginner
	15 hours
	1.8M
	5/5 (6 reviews)
	None

Best University-level Creative Writing Course (Wesleyan University)

Creative Writing by Wesleyan University is a specialization for those looking for a way to improve their writing structure, scene and character creations and finding your style. Each course includes writing practice (for paying learners) and insightful interviews. It’s worth your time and effort if you are a disorganized writer like myself.

Techniques for crafting a bracing story with memorable characters and an interesting setting
How to employ a fresh descriptive style in your writing
Skills for analyzing and constructively evaluating peer writing
The ability to refine your writing, critique writing in general, and draw inspiration from existing literature
The process of drafting, rewriting, and completing an original story in the genre of your choosing.

It should be noted that the peer-grading system often lacks depth. However, the assignments are well-crafted and can be easily evaluated with minimal effort, providing some insights from other participants in the form of feedback or inspiration from their submissions.

“Great information about plot and scene structure. The information about revision was entirely new to me – thank you! The exercises were good and difficult in a good way that helped me hone my writing.” – Laura B, Coursera learner

	Wesleyan University
	Coursera
	Brando Skyhorse, Amity Gaige, Amy Bloom and Salvatore Scibona
	Beginner
	40 hours

	126K
	4.7 (5K)
	Yes, paid

Best Course to Find Your Voice (Neil Gaiman)

Neil Gaiman is currently one the most prolific writers I know of: he’s written books , comics , movies and even TV shows . Even if you’re not a fan of his style, there is definitely something you can learn from him.

In Neil Gaiman Teaches The Art Of Storytelling you will discover Neil’s philosophy on what drives a story and learn to unlock new stories within yourself.

While MasterClass doesn’t sell single courses, a subscription provides access to their entire library, including other writing courses like Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing , Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers , Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing , and James Patterson Teaches Writing . If you are considering the purchase, you should definitely enjoy the rest of their catalog.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Discover and develop your unique writing voice
Generate and develop original ideas
Create dynamic, well-rounded characters that come to life on the page.

This course includes a 94-page workbook that includes assignments and supplemental material.

	MasterClass
	Neil Gaiman
	Beginner
	4-5 hours worth of lectures
	Paid Certificate Available

Best Practical Writing Course With Support (Trace Crawford)

I love it when a passionate teacher like Trace Crawford puts the effort into creating a comprehensive curriculum. COMPLETE Creative Writing – All Genres is a 12-hour course with 145 downloadable resources. In this course, you will learn how to write engaging fiction, poetry, drama, and creative non-fiction, helping you become the successful writer you want to be.

The four genres of creative writing: fiction, poetry, drama, and creative non-fiction
How to discover, refine, and share your unique writing voice
A series of authentic writing assignments designed to target the skills you need to develop
Writing techniques, literary devices, and specialized skills to enhance your writing
Opportunities for publishing, podcasts, and how to create a professional creative writing portfolio
Discover multiple public outlets to share your writing with others as you gain confidence and experience success in your writing ability.

This is a practical creative writing course that includes assignments reviewed by the instructor, though response time may vary.

“The short snippets of theory in combination with the short assignments suits my learning style. I don’t remember the last time I’ve written anything creative, but this course gave me the incentive to set some foundation and its actually quite enjoyable if you stick to it.” – Nikolaos-Stylianos Z., Udemy learner

	Udemy
	Trace Crawford
	Beginner
	12 hours
	37 quizzes and writing practice
	31K
	4.7 (3.9K)
	Available, paid

Best Course to Overcome Writer’s Block: 10-Day Journaling Challenge (Emily Gould)

I couldn’t resist adding Creative Writing for All: A 10-Day Journaling Challenge to this guide. Emily Gould is a delightful instructor, and her approach to inviting you to participate in the challenge is impossible to decline. It’s the perfect course to overcome writer’s block, which is exactly what she proposes. In this 10-day creative writing challenge, filled with inspiring examples, observation prompts, and clever revision tricks, writers and enthusiasts will be able to express their creativity in a personal and artful way.

This course is the shortest one on the list, and it’s more about the challenge of keeping a journal. If you decide to subscribe to Skillshare, you can also enjoy their entire library of courses. In addition to the other two recommended courses on this list, you can also check out these other Skillshare courses: Writing Suspense: How to Write Stories That Thrill in Any Genre and The Writer’s Toolkit: 6 Steps to a Successful Writing Habit .

	Skillshare
	Emily Gould
	Beginner
	26 min
	58K
	99% (1K)
	Available, paid

Best Course to Create Fiction From Personal Experience (Shaun Levin)

Shaun’s approach to writing in Short Story Writing: Create Fiction from Personal Experience is an unusual one. It draws from your personal experience to create a compelling fictional story. I can say from experience that this technique will help you write with more depth and authenticity. Every time we bring our own life to the story, it becomes alive, believable and relatable. In a way, all fictional stories are based on the author’s life.

This course will help you with techniques and a series of practical exercises to start writing your scenes from a more philosophical point of view, creating compelling stories. You’ll learn how to delve into your imagination to find everything you’ll need to become a prolific writer, no matter where you are.

By the end of the course, you will have a final project that will receive feedback from Shaun and other learners as well. Actually, if you want to check it out, in the course page on Domestika you can open the submitted projects and read the comments.

Shaun’s other courses: Creative Writing for Beginners: Bringing Your Story to Life .

“A practical course. Shaun Levin talks about theory but also demonstrates his process, which was invaluable. The exercises got my creative juices flowing. Thinking about doing his other course in the future.” – Maya Dicheva

	Domestika
	Shaun Levin
	Beginner
	2 hours
	30K
	99% (764)
	Available, paid

Best Course to Make Writing Less Stressful with Best Practices (Jennie Nash)

If you struggle to start or get stuck in your writing, Write Your Book: Start Strong and Get It Done can help. With good advice and emotional support, you’ll learn techniques to make writing less stressful. The accompanying workbook guides you to think methodically by asking the right questions to keep you focused on your story and not chasing your own tail.

In this class, you’ll learn how to:

Design every element of your novel or memoir, including the protagonist, plot, story structure and a project success plan
Define your narrator’s voice
Determine where your story begins and where it ends
Decide what point you’re making about human nature
Make sure you’re giving your ideal reader exactly what they want
Gain the confidence you need to push past any doubts and finish your book.

This course is more of a masterclass, so there are no assignments included but it teaches good practices and provides a very useful workbook.

	CreativeLive
	Jennie Nash
	Beginner
	5-6 hours
	18.8K
	100% (29)
	None

Best Course to Create A Compelling Story (Lisa Cron)

Writing: The Craft of Story is a series of well-produced lectures covering the basic building blocks of a story. Taught by author Lisa Cron, you will learn how to create compelling stories based on the way the brain responds to storytelling. This course emphasizes the importance of capturing the reader’s attention through techniques such as suspense, exploring the protagonist’s inner issues and dreams, specificity, and cause and effect. Upon completion of the quizzes, you will receive a certificate for your LinkedIn profile. Additionally, you can watch all the videos without subscribing to the course.

“Learning the fundamentals of crafting a story was and is a fascinating experience. And yes, I would highly recommend writing to anyone interested in learning how to express the communication of feeling.” – Nicole Gillard, LinkedIn learner.

	LinkedIn Learning
	Lisa Cron
	Beginner
	1-2 hours worth of material
	100K
	4.7 (649)
	Available, paid

Best Course to Write Personal Essays with Impact (Roxane Gay)

Discover the art of crafting powerful personal essays with best-selling author Roxane Gay in her course, Creative Writing: Crafting Personal Essays with Impact . Through her honest and thoughtful approach, Roxane will help you find your story, craft your truth, and write to make a difference.

This master class offers eight video lessons that are filled with practical guidance, actionable tactics, and example essays to guide you from the first idea to a final, publication-ready work.

You’ll learn how to:

Find a specific purpose for telling your story
Connect your work to larger conversations and timely themes
Conduct crucial research to support your work
Navigate personal memories to write your truth
Write and revise your final work, and submit your work for publication.

Additionally, the class provides a downloadable worksheet to support your ongoing creative nonfiction writing practice, as well as links to additional resources.

If you enjoy creative nonfiction writing, you might consider this course that’s also on Skillshare: Creative Nonfiction: Write Truth with Style (Skillshare Original) by Susan Orlean

	Skillshare
	Roxane Gay
	Beginner
	1 hour
	45K
	100% (1.2K)
	Available, paid.

Best Course to Develop Your Ideas And Research for Characters (The Open University)

Start Writing Fiction explores the writing process, from journaling and idea development to reflection and editing. It features insights from established writers such as Louis de Bernières, Patricia Duncker, Alex Garland, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Tim Pears, Michèle Roberts, and Monique Roffey, who share their approaches to research and turning events into plot. Led by Derek Neale, a novelist and short story writer, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of the writing rituals and techniques used by successful writers.

You’ll get to critique the work of other writers and receive feedback. This course is designed for individuals interested in starting or improving their fiction writing and does not require prior experience in the subject.

You’ll learn:

Creation of characters in fiction
Different sources and ways of presenting characters in stories
Reading as a writer
Writing practice including creativity, research, observation and editing
Peer reviewing, workshops and the importance of feedback.

“This course takes learners through many aspects of writing such as developing characters, observing and describing details, finding inspiration, writing and editing. It includes some peer reviews which can be varying in quality. I was lucky enough to have some of my writing reviewed by a reviewer who gave very helpful and positive feedback.” – Pat Bowden

	The Open University
	Future Learn
	Derek Neale
	Beginner
	24 hours
	389,780 learners
	4.7 (923)
	Available, paid

What’s Next

Scribophile is one of the largest online writing communities. You can get feedback on your writing and join writing groups. If you decide to join with a free plan, you need to collect points by reviewing other writers’ work before submitting your own work for review. They also developed some advanced tools for evaluating work and guidelines to make sure you give/receive feedback that is actually meaningful.

NaNoWriMo started out as a month-long challenge where you invite your friends and join other writers in your region, be it online in their forums or in person, to challenge yourself in writing your first draft. Nowadays, they run all-year round writing challenges (but November is still the biggest one in terms of participation). What is cool about it is you actually get to meet people in real life with various writing skills and backgrounds. I was able to make some great friends over the years and even met a few professional writers that decided to join our local group just to support us.

If you have any resources you would like to have added here, leave a comment below.

Class Central , a Tripadvisor for online education, has helped 60 million learners find their next course. We’ve been combing through online education for more than a decade to aggregate a catalog of 200,000 online courses and 200,000 reviews written by our users. And we’re online learners ourselves: combined, the Class Central team has completed over 400 online courses, including online degrees.

Trying to find “the best” can be daunting, even for those of us who live and breathe online courses. Here’s how I approached this task.

First, I combed through Class Central’s Catalog and the internet to find a variety of free and paid open courses, some with certificates. You don’t need to enroll in a university to learn about creative writing.

When choosing courses, I considered the following factors:

Renowned Institutions : I looked for recognized institutions in creative writing
Instructor experience : I sought instructors with extensive experience in creative writing and engaging presentation styles
Popularity : I checked numbers of enrollments and views to find popular courses
Course content : I examined courses that covered a range of topics and presentation styles, including the basics and more advanced topics. I watched some course videos to sample courses I hadn’t already taken
Learner reviews : I read learner reviews (when available) to get a sense of the quality of each course, leveraging the Class Central database with its thousands of course ratings and reviews written by our users as well as available course provider reviews.

Then, I defined the scope for these recommendations. A creative writing course can cover various topics, so I chose top courses from a range of sub-fields.

Ultimately, I used a combination of data and my own judgment to make these picks. I’m confident these recommendations will be a reliable way to learn about creative writing.

Best Courses Guides. Start Learning, Stop Procrastinating.

Fabio Dantas

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Creative Writing Classes: Are They Really Worth It?

The rumors are true. You can become a successful author without a degree in creative writing .

In fact, it’s even possible to learn the craft on the cheap, scraping together insight from free articles, library books, and fellow writers. You don’t have to take a formal writing course at all .

So why do creative writing classes even exist?

Loads of reasons, actually.

For one thing, many aspiring writers learn best in a structured classroom or workshop setting with personal attention from an instructor.

Creative writing courses also provide opportunities to form relationships with other writers and even find a mentor. They often require you to share your writing and provide feedback on your classmates’ work, both of which teach you how to think more analytically about the craft and embrace constructive criticism .

You don’t even have to be an aspiring author to reap the benefits of these classes.

You could be a college student looking to boost your communication skills. Or a senior hoping to share their story with future generations. Or a person who’s just looking for a fun hobby.

There are plenty of reasons to pursue formal instruction in writing. The trick is determining whether a class can help you meet your current goals and, if so, which course is right for you.

You and I are going to think through that together. We’ll talk about what you can learn in these courses, key considerations when choosing your class, and how to get the most out of it.

You’ll even leave with some tips for overcoming the biggest challenges of writing workshops… like the part where you have to share your hot mess of a first draft with a room full of semi-strangers.

First, we need to get clear on what creative writing even is.

What Counts as Creative Writing?

A person sitting at a laptop writes in a notebook with one hand and touches their other hand to their temple, staring off into space and thinking.t

Creative writing is a ridiculously broad term that can mean a lot of things. It basically covers all forms of writing that are creative, personal, and expressive rather than informative and objective.

Creative writing uses literary devices like metaphor and symbolism to create an emotional experience for the reader. In non-creative writing, factual clarity is the primary goal, which often means using direct language and avoiding emotion or bias.

For example, a novel is creative writing. A newspaper article is not.

A poem is creative writing. The user manual for your new smart toilet is not.

If you’re looking at a class that promises to teach you “creative writing,” take a close look at the description to make sure it fits your actual goals. That course could be covering any one of—or even all of—these things:

Forms of Creative Writing

There are three primary forms of creative writing. Each one has approximately half a billion sub-forms and genres , which is why it’s a good idea to be specific in your search for creative writing classes.

Here are the three main forms of creative writing:

Fiction - Any narrative that isn’t true or is even partially made up falls under the category of fiction. This includes novels, novellas , and short stories as well as scripted fiction like plays, screenplays, and teleplays.

Creative nonfiction - This includes anything that’s true but expressed creatively through the biased perspective of the author. In this category, you’ll find things like memoirs , personal essays, travel writing, nature writing, and literary journalism.

Poetry - Poetry has so many subgenres it’s borderline impossible to define. Generally speaking, it’s an expression of abstract ideas or emotions, often using evocative sensory details and unconventional sentence structures. It may or may not have a deliberate rhythm, it may or may not rhyme, and it might even tell a true or made-up story, stepping its bold little foot into the territory of narrative essays or fiction.

Where to Find Creative Writing Classes

Once you know which specific creative writing skills you’d like to develop, how do you find the class that’s right for you?

Turns out, there are a ton of places to look.

If you want to take an in-person course, you can see what the local community college has to offer. You might also be able to find creative writing classes at a local community center or attend a workshop hosted by a writers’ group.

There are also absolute buckets of online writing courses. Browse the options available on sites like Coursera , Udemy , MasterClass , and Gotham Writers Workshop . Or Google exactly what you’re looking for and see what comes up.

You’ll discover that you have a ton of options. The next challenge is narrowing them down.

How to Choose the Right Creative Writing Class

A finger hovers over a page of paint chips in different shades of orange and red.

Once you realize just how many creative writing courses are out there, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. How are you supposed to know which one is right for you?

Start by asking yourself these seven easy-peasy questions:

1. What Do You Want to Write?

Do you want to write fiction? Nonfiction? Poetry?

Whichever one it is, are you able to narrow your preferences down even further?

Let’s say you know you want to study fiction writing. Is it because you dream of being a novelist? Because you have a great screenplay idea? Or maybe you want to be a novelist, but you’d like to learn the fundamentals by writing a short story first.

Don’t be afraid to get even more specific. For example, if you’d love to learn how to write fantasy , see what fantasy writing courses are out there.

You may find options that are too specific for where you are in your journey. If you’re still not clear on how to craft a character arc or create unforgettable characters , it might not be time to worry about developing magic systems .

But maybe a class on fantasy story development will be more beneficial than a more generic fiction writing class.

On that note, if you want to focus on genre fiction (like fantasy, sci-fi , romance , horror … that kind of stuff), make sure you take a genre-friendly class. Some creative writing classes—especially in academia—focus on literary fiction and get a little snooty about the commercial stuff.

2. What are Your Goals?

Think about why you want to take a creative writing class in the first place. What do you hope to get out of this?

Common motivations include:

Exploring creative writing as a hobby
Building the skills necessary to become a successful author
Unwinding and having fun through self-expression
Leaving a legacy
Learning how to write books that sell
Becoming more involved in the writing community
Sharpening specific creative writing skills, like character development or prose

Based on your goal, which writing courses are likely to help you the most?

Most class descriptions provide a breakdown of the objectives for the class, indicate what kind of assignments or major project you’ll complete, and lay out the topics you’ll cover. For many online courses, you can even read reviews from past students.

All this information can give you a clear indication of what the class can (or cannot) do to help you on your journey.

3. Do You Want to Learn Online or in Person?

If you prefer online writing courses, you’ll have way more options to choose from. You can also learn from the comfort of your own home and enjoy the opportunity to connect with writers from all over the country… maybe even all over the world.

Depending on the way the class is set up, you might also have a flexible schedule. Some online courses feature pre-recorded video lectures and exercises you can do on your own time. The downside is that you can’t easily connect with your fellow learners and may not get feedback on your work.

Other online creative writing classes have live sessions and assignments with real deadlines, so there’s less flexibility but you can still enjoy the ease of a twenty-foot commute.

In-person classes are great because they help you build relationships with fellow writers in your community (or close enough). They also promote a deeper, more focused commitment. Not only do you have to block out the time and show up, you also physically remove yourself from the distractions of your personal life.

There are pros and cons to both options. Only you can decide what makes sense for you.

4. What Skill Level Does This Course Demand?

If you already have some knowledge of writing fundamentals, you’ll be bored senseless in a class that teaches you what symbolism is and how to use dialogue tags .

You’ll also be miserable in a class that’s way over your head.

Once again, the course description should help you deduce whether this course will be tough enough to advance your writing skills without being so challenging that you can’t keep up. When in doubt, email the instructor and ask if their class is right for someone of your experience level.

5. What Do You Know About the Instructor?

Is the instructor published or working professionally in your area of study? What are their strengths as a teacher? Does this seem like the right person to help you reach your writing goals?

Whenever possible check out reviews or ask previous students what they say about their class and teaching style. Just because an instructor gets great work out of their students, that doesn’t automatically mean they’re the best guide for everyone.

If your only objective is to have fun exploring a new hobby, you probably don’t need the “look to your left, look to your right, only one of you will survive this class” instructor.

6. What Do You Know About the Other Students?

You don’t need to get your hands on the class roster. I just mean, what do you know about the type of people who typically take this particular writing course?

What are their goals? How advanced are their creative writing skills? Are they creative writing majors in a competitive academic environment? Newbies who are just trying to get a sense of what the writing world is like? Aspiring indie authors eager to encourage one another?

Also, how many of them are there? Whether you’re hoping for more focused guidance from the instructor or kiiiiinda wanna blend into the crowd, class size is something to consider.

7. How Much Does It Cost?

Depending on how extensive they are or where you find them, creative writing courses can cost anywhere from a little to a whole, whole lot. Before you get attached to any specific class, search your soul (and your bank account) and decide how much you’re ready to invest in building your writing skills.

The right answer is whatever answer is right for you .

What to Expect in a Creative Writing Course

A person sits at a kitchen island, staring at a laptop screen.

Okay. You’ve enrolled, you bought a new notebook, you’ve got your four-color pen… now what? What can you expect from your creative writing course?

Seeing as how this grand world of ours is full of so many different types of creative writing and different writing classes and different writing instructors, I can’t give you a super specific answer.

But I’ll do my best to provide a general overview of what you might experience in a very typical writing class.

What You’ll Learn

I know I seem pretty obsessed with course descriptions at this point, but that really is the best place to look if you want to know what topics your instructor will cover.

Other than that, here are some concepts that are commonly covered in the following creative writing classes:

In a standard fiction writing class, you’ll likely go over all the essential building blocks of a story. That includes plot structure , character development , conflict , setting , and theme .

You might also have an opportunity to dive into the prose itself, working to perfect more detailed skills like dialogue , scene description , and pacing .

If you study any form of script writing (playwriting, screenwriting, or teleplay writing), you may also learn formatting rules and how to write action, especially if it’s a beginner class.

You’ll have a lot of writing assignments. Some creative writing classes are structured to help you complete a project, in which case your assignments might build towards writing a script, novel, novella, short story, or children’s book.

You can probably expect a lot of reading assignments, too, as your instructor will want you to see how published authors have mastered the skills you’re learning.

Creative Nonfiction

In this type of course, you’ll most likely learn how to find the narrative arc in a true story, zero in on a theme, and tell a compelling tale without abandoning reality.

In some classes, you might also explore ethical issues surrounding nonfiction writing or dive into advanced topics like incorporating research and blending personal stories with societal issues.

As for assignments, it’s the same deal as if you were learning fiction. You’ll probably read work by the greats, do some writing of your own, and end the class with at least one good personal essay or the beginnings of a great memoir.

In a poetry class, you can expect to cover different poetic forms (haiku, sonnet, all that jazz) and learn a truckload of literary devices. You’ll probably dive into elements like meter, rhyme, and rhythm.

Try not to be too shocked when I tell you that you’ll also write poems—like, a ton of poems—and read even more.

Class Structure

As for the way the class is structured, your course will land somewhere on the lecture-to-workshop spectrum. Allow me to explain.

In some creative writing classes, you mostly listen to the teacher teach, do some assigned reading, and turn your writing assignments in to be graded or critiqued by the instructor.

Actually, there are online creative writing classes where you don’t even do that much.

MasterClass courses, for example, are completely self-directed, with pre-recorded video lectures and workbooks you go through on your own. You don’t share your work with the instructor because the instructors are people like Margaret Atwood, and Margaret Atwood is very busy doing other things.

On the other end of the spectrum are writing workshops, where there’s a lot less teaching and loads more writing. In this scenario, you and your fellow students spend most of your class time sharing and providing feedback on one another’s work.

Then, of course, there are creative writing courses that land somewhere between the two, with a little sharing, a little lecturing, and hopefully a lot of learning.

Specialized Creative Writing Courses

Another thing you might notice on your quest to find creative writing classes is that some of these courses get very specific. There are plenty of advanced skills you can learn to take your writing to the next level, boost your qualifications in a specific area, or improve your odds of making a living off your words.

Let’s take a quick look at the kind of specialized classes you might find as you search for creative writing courses.

By Skill

Rather than learning the basics of a particular form of writing, you can take classes that invite you to focus on a single skill or element.

You might learn how to craft a compelling plot, develop characters with psychological and emotional depth, or write for a specific audience .

You can also find a course that will help you develop non-writing skills that will still make you a better writer, like developmental or copy editing .

As I mentioned before, it may be worth looking for creative writing classes that are specific to your genre. Each genre comes with its own tropes, conventions, and reader expectations. You can embrace or subvert them, but you can’t do either if you don’t know them.

You might find more generalized courses like “How to Write Mysteries” or more specific ones like “How to Build Romantic Tension.”

The Business

Then there are the courses that focus less on the craft of creative writing and more on the business of it .

If you hope to publish traditionally , you might look for classes on writing query letters , creating book proposals, or navigating the publishing industry as a whole.

If you plan to self-publish , you can find courses on writing to market , developing a marketing plan , the entire self-publishing process , or any of the other six thousand things indie authors have to think about.

This kind of education can be extremely helpful if you hope to make a living from your words.

Seizing the Opportunity to Build a Community

Two smiling people sit together in a cafe, looking at a laptop screen.

Writers need other writers. Your peers can inspire you to stay on course, share resources and opportunities, and possibly even connect you with gatekeepers when you’re ready to publish.

Most importantly, they understand the journey you’re on. That might not seem like a big deal now, but you’ll see the benefit of it when you’re standing there in your salsa-stained sweatshirt, trying to explain to your helplessly confused spouse that you’re freaking out because your protagonist derailed your entire third act by making a choice that wasn’t in the outline .

Yeah. Writing gets weird. Your people can help you get through the weirdness, and writing courses present great opportunities for finding your community.

Here’s how to make it happen:

Connecting With Classmates

The tricks for making friends in a creative writing class are the same as in any other context. Make friendly conversation before and after class and during breaks. Share ideas or resources that might be helpful.

Focus on connecting with people you’d genuinely like to be friends with. The relationships that help you the most in the long term will always be the ones that start from a real connection.

Also keep in mind that a creative writing class is a vulnerable place, especially if it’s a workshop where everyone is sharing early drafts.

When you offer feedback to your fellow writers, be kind and constructive. On the flip side, notice which of your classmates know how to be helpful without scoffing at your efforts. That combination of positive and enriching is absolutely essential for a long-term writer friendship.

Staying Connected

The next challenge is staying in touch with these people after the course ends. There are many ways to do this.

Tell the person or people you want to stay in touch with that you want to stay in touch with them. Swap phone numbers or email addresses if you haven’t already.

You could also invite someone to meet up for lunch or coffee in the near future.

You could arrange to be critique partners for one another on your current project. Or simply agree to be accountability partners, checking in with each other once a week to see how things are going.

If you really clicked with your classmates, you might consider creating a writers’ group. This happened with an online essay writing class I took once. We continued sharing personal essays and giving feedback for about a year after the course ended.

If all of these options overwhelm you, start small. Become social media chums. Engage with their content. As you become more comfortable, send them a private message asking how their latest work in progress is going. Build the relationship actively but gradually.

Common Obstacles

Runners jump over a long row of hurdles.

I promised to go over some of the trickier or more intimidating aspects of creative writing courses. These are the little obstacles that crop up when you’re suddenly in a position of having to share your work or craft masterful writing on someone else’s schedule.

It can be overwhelming, but it’s all survivable. And, as is the case with most overwhelming things, these challenges will build character and better prepare you for a writing career, if that’s what you’re after.

Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is that thing where all your creative gears seem to come to a grinding halt. You can’t think of a single story idea or figure out what happens next or even write one coherent sentence.

It’s a frustrating problem that gets even tougher when you have to have ten pages ready to share with the class by Friday.

So how do you get past it?

The best move is to first identify what’s really going on. Your imagination might be frozen because you’re afraid your story will suck. Or maybe you can’t quiet your inner critic or you’ve got a lot going on in your life and your brain can’t handle another job right now.

You can find a ton of exercises to work through these issues in this article . In the meantime, one of the best ways to get through writer’s block is to simply let it be bad. Let yourself write garbage, if that’s how it has to be. You can fix it once it’s on the page.

Fear of Feedback

Not exactly stoked to have a bunch of people you just met tell you what’s wrong with your story? None of us are, my friend.

Nevertheless, receiving constructive criticism is crucial for improving your skills. Plus, if you plan to build a writing career, you’ll be receiving loads of feedback on your work for the rest of your life. Creative writing classes can help you ease into this jarring scenario so you can be a real pro about it when you receive notes from agents, editors, and readers.

We actually have a guide on managing this fear, too, so I’ll just give you the short version for now:

Focus on becoming a better writer rather than proving that you’re a good one.

You might already be fantastic. But you can always be better, and if that’s your goal, you’ll be able to appreciate feedback for the gift that it is.

Meeting Deadlines

Creative writing almost always takes longer than we think it should. In fact, the more you learn, the longer you’ll probably spend on your assignments.

I recommend scheduling your writing time in advance. Block out writing sessions and stick to them.

Not only does this help you prioritize your writing rather than leaving it to the last minute, it also trains your brain to enter the creative zone when your official writing time rolls around. That helps you get the work done faster.

You can find more tips on creating an effective writing schedule here , advice for building a writing habit here , and tricks for writing faster here .

Keep Learning Beyond Creative Writing Classes

A person holds open a book with a tangle of string lights on the pages, illuminating the reader's face.

You won’t learn all the creative writing skills you need in a single class. You won’t even learn them in a single lifetime.

Great writers pursue education continuously. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend all your walkin’ around money on online writing classes.

You also learn the craft by reading the authors you admire, studying the way they structure their stories and shape their prose.

You learn by sharing your work with critique partners for feedback and by examining their work—an exercise that trains you to think more analytically about what makes a great story great.

You can read books and articles on writing. You can attend conferences and seminars and literary events.

And you can hang out with us here at Dabble.

We’ve got loads of free articles and other resources in DabbleU . We’ve got a free ebook that walks you through the entire process of writing a novel. We’ve got a free newsletter that delivers hot tips right to your inbox.

All of this is available to you even if you don’t use our super rad, all-in-one writing tool .

And if you do ?

So glad you asked. Premium Dabble subscribers also get access to a bonus, information-packed newsletter and exclusive workshops. (You can get a sneak peek of one here .)

Not a Dabbler yet, but always been a little curious? Click this link for a free trial. That gets you access to all Premium features for two weeks. You don’t even have to enter a credit card!

Consider it a free education.

Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.

TAKE A BREAK FROM WRITING...

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Creative writing

A degree in creative writing allows you to develop your writing, research and creative thinking skills. These skills are useful in a range of careers such as writing, publishing, marketing, PR and teaching

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

Advertising copywriter
Arts administrator
Community arts worker
Creative director
Digital copywriter
Editorial assistant
Higher education lecturer
Lexicographer
Magazine journalist
Newspaper journalist
Publishing copy-editor/proofreader

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

Academic librarian
Digital marketer
Film director
Marketing executive
Public librarian
Public relations officer
Secondary school teacher
Social media manager
Talent agent
Web content manager

Remember that many employers accept applications from graduates with any degree subject, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here.

Work experience

Make sure you create a portfolio of your written work, especially any that you've had published. This will provide evidence of your writing skills and establish your reputation as a writer.

You can gain valuable experience by writing for your student newspaper or magazine, volunteering in schools, or getting involved with writers' groups. Also, try submitting work to journals or anthologies, entering competitions, performing at spoken word events or approaching local drama groups to see if they will use your scripts. This will boost your profile and help build your confidence.

To make yourself more employable, look for opportunities to gain some solid work experience. This could be in the form of paid administrative work for a company, or volunteering with a local charity, for example, helping them to promote the work they do.

You can also look for related work experience with, for example, publishing houses and advertising and marketing firms. You could write speculatively to a number of businesses to ask if you could complete some short-term work experience or shadowing. This can help you get a foot in the door in a highly-competitive industry and could lead to a permanent position.

As well as creative talent and writing experience, you will also need perseverance and determination to succeed as a writer.

Search for placements and find out more about work experience and internships .

Typical employers

As a creative writing graduate you may work to establish yourself as a writer on a self-employed basis, either writing your own works, or writing for others in a freelance capacity.

Alternatively, you could find opportunities with a variety of employers, including:

publishing houses or editorial/technical writing service companies
advertising, marketing and public relations agencies, particularly in a copywriting capacity
primary, secondary, further and higher education institutions
media organisations and social media companies
general businesses - in an administrative or general management position
Civil Service, library or charitable organisations.

Find information on employers in marketing, advertising and PR , media and internet , teacher training and education , and other job sectors .

Skills for your CV

As well as building specialist knowledge of creative writing, you also develop effective written, oral and presentation skills through your degree. Other skills include:

creative and critical thinking and problem solving - these skills are useful for many jobs and you'll have gained them from developing characters and storylines
independent working - having to be self-motivated as a writer means you can effectively determine and direct your own workload
time management and organisation - learning to structure your time effectively as a writer means you can be highly organised
a good understanding of information technology
collaboration - from liaising with students from other related courses such as journalism and film studies
independent research and analysis - you'll be adept at this from turning ideas into well-rounded stories
editorial and proofreading - from producing accurately written content
negotiation and networking - learning how to market your work effectively gives you the skill to negotiate in other workplace settings.

Further study

As a creative writing graduate you can develop your creative writing skills further by undertaking postgraduate study at Masters or PhD level. You can also specialise in an area such as screenwriting, the graphic novel, writing for young people, writing poetry, or writing and producing comedy.

Alternatively, you may want to undertake further vocational training in areas such as teaching, journalism, librarianship or publishing. Vocational courses allow you to study in an area in which you would like to have a career.

You may also want to consider further study in areas such as PR, marketing or advertising.

For more information on further study and to find a course that interests you, see Masters degrees and search postgraduate courses in creative writing .

What do creative writing graduates do?

A tenth (10%) of creative writing graduates in employment in the UK are working in artistic, literary and media occupations, while 7% are working as sales, marketing and related associate professionals. 4% are teaching professionals, and a further 4% are media professionals.

Destination	Percentage
Employed	63
Further study	9
Working and studying	12
Unemployed	6.4
Other	9.6

Type of work	Percentage
Retail, catering and customer service	23.1
Arts, design and media	15.4
Marketing, PR and sales	14
Clerical, secretarial and administrative	13.1
Other	34.4

Find out what other creative writing graduates are doing 15 months after finishing their degrees in What do graduates do?

Graduate Outcomes survey data from HESA.

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creative writing
honours degree
screenwriting

Should I go to university?

Seren Writeaholic

Is a creative writing honours degree really worth it.

Discussion in ' Traditional Publishing ' started by Seren , Dec 6, 2016 .

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); I'm aware that there's a slightly similar thread already up, but I wanted to be more specific. I recently applied for a creative writing and screenwriting joint degree at my local university, and I've been given a conditional offer. Great. But I'm not certain that I do really want to go to university. On the plus side, I'd learn a completely new skill - screenwriting. I'd also (you would hope) improve in my novel-writing skills, get lots of feedback, and build up a CV that would make me look slightly more interesting to agents/publishers. The thing is, all I currently aspire to be is a writer. I know it's not going to pay well, but I can't bear the thought of any other job dominating my life. So, a degree isn't really necessary for me. In addition, some people think I could achieve most of these things without university, simply by practising, joining a writer's group, and entering competitions to try and build my CV by myself. Is there anything a creative writing degree can give you that I couldn't find through a different path? Really good contacts? Super-human skills?

antlad Banned

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); I feel the two best things it can give are- A habit to sit and write Contacts. Is the teacher known in lit circles at all? Is there a benefit from having that teacher?

big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Tbh you can probably learn the course content from books and the internet , so my advice would be no , unless you are applying for writing jobs that specify it as a requirement

Caveriver Active Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); IMO, if you are going to go to school anyway, and want to get your degree in something you love, and that happens to be writing, then go for it. I learned more from books, peers, and just plain reading (a lot) than I did from writing classes in college. I did enjoy all the peer review opportunities, and the people wanting to voice opinions and trade ideas. Did I enjoy it? Yes, for the most part (it was easy). Did I become a better writer, simply because I went through it? Nah, I don't really think so. That has come from lots of practice, experience, and trial and error (none of which costs nearly as much money as higher education).

mrieder79 Probably not a ground squirrel Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); I have never regretted education. Education is the key to everything. I would recommend that anyone should get educated to their highest ability. Here's the catch: Make sure the area of your education will bring sufficient income to cover costs and help you achieve your life goals. I've got friends who went to university and ended up working manual labor because they took studies in fields with poor practical application. Don't do this. If you go, be smart. Cover your costs. Avoid debt. Make sure that when your are finished, your degree will get you where you want to be.

BayView Huh. Interesting. Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); It's not so much a question of writing (creative writing, at least) not paying well as it is of writing not paying at all , at least for a lot of writers. So if you've got independent income and can afford to go to school for something that really isn't related to earning a living, then, for sure, taking a degree in creative writing sounds fascinating. But if you need to earn a living? Creative writing isn't likely to pay the bills. Would you rather have a mid-level job (based on your university education) and write on the side, or a menial job (based on your lack of university education) and write on the side? I'm not saying it's impossible to make a living from creative writing, but it's tough. And I don't think a degree in creative writing makes it significantly easier, so I'd be more inclined to get a degree in something you find somewhat interesting, take creative writing courses on the side, and graduate with a passion and an employment prospect.

Steerpike Felis amatus Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Yes, a very successful science fiction writer once told me if your primary interest is making money, almost anything you can think of to do apart from writing is likely to be a more productive use of your time.

EnginEsq Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Note that a lot of published fiction authors have law degrees, and that half of the people who have law degrees do not work as lawyers. I think there's a reason for this. Law school has been called the last true liberal-arts education. If you apply yourself to it, any decent law school will teach you to think, to write,and to persuade - and they might teach you about law, too. Law school will also broaden your perspectives, and teach you things about people and society that you may not want to know, but that can enrich your writing. And while it's not the golden ticket it was in 2006, a law degree is marketable. So if you have the time and money (or can get a scholarship), I suggest going to law school.

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Steerpike said: ↑ Yes, a very successful science fiction writer once told me if your primary interest is making money, almost anything you can think of to do apart from writing is likely to be a more productive use of your time. Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); BayView said: ↑ Or possibly there's a confusion of cause and effect... maybe law school is attractive to people who are good with words, so a lot of naturally writerly-types go to law school and learn nothing that helps them continue as writerly-types? Click to expand...

Infel Contributor Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Go to University for anything BUT writing. History, English, Aerospace Engineering, Roman Art and Architecture: the knowledge you gain and the experience you acquire there will expand your mind and your ability to process the world around you, and it will give you more experience to add to your pool of knowledge to write about. I majored in Anthropology and History. I will never use that degree to get a job, but I use it every day in how I look at the world and people around me.

psychotick Contributor Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Hi, I voted yes, go to uni, but not necessarily to study creative writing. I mean if that's your love then fine, but expect the types of jobs you can get out of it at the end as being teaching English, journalism or similar. The value in advanced education is really that it broadens your mind as they say. It makes you think about things, gives you other perspectives than you might have otherwise, gives you the tools to think properly etc. Tertiary study also introduces you to loads of friends, political movements, social groups all of which are important for people as they mature from older teenagers to young adults. It may lead to better job prospects too, but that to me is secondary. The one suggestion I would have for you apart from do go, is don't focus on just one subject area. It's boring. When I first started at uni I was a straight science nerd - microbiology all the way. Then somewhere during that first degree I did a psych paper and hey presto, started a second degree in that. Later I started work in public health and began doing post grad stuff in epidemiology, environmental health, occ health etc, and eventually finished a masters in this stuff. And I admit I loved it. I loved being able to study and work. But often it was the oddball subjects that truly made my academic life. Philosophy papers absolutely blew my mind - and I would strongly recommend to everyone to at a minimum do a basic course in critical thinking. I enjoyed economics though it was utterly out of my comfort zone. But the maths is awesome. Stats is also invaluable. So yes go to uni. Advance yourself. Learn. And learn to think. But as for the value of creative writing to you as a career choice advancement as an author, I don't know. Might it help you cut some corners in your goal? Maybe. But even if it does, it won't make you a best selling author. That's a completely different kettle of fish. You know what's made me a more successful author. A drunk driver! Not kidding! She unexpectedly retired me three years ago and forced me to turn a hobby into a money making enterprise. That focus and dedication forced on me is what drove me to start writing more professionally. I don't recommend this as a career advancement step for anyone by the way! Cheers, Greg.

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Wow! Thanks for all these replies. Getting all these opinions is really useful. I'd say I already have a good habit of sitting and writing, though I suppose a creative writing course would encourage me to do that even more. I would also assume the teachers have good contacts. It was mentioned during an open day I attended that the course would be useful for getting contacts, though of course, I don't know how useful or whether those contacts could really take me anywhere. The general idea I'm now getting is that the degree would probably only be worth the money if I decided to do something like journalism afterwards. I think a creative writing degree would also open the pathway of editing to me, which sound interesting. I don't think I could change what degree I've applied for now, but I don't think I'd want to, anyway. I think if I do go to university and take that course, I'll try and get into editing. If I don't go, I'll try following my heart for a while. I suppose I can always choose to go in a few years if that doesn't work out and pick a different degree. But I might find a job that doesn't require a degree that pays just enough and gives me a little more time to write. I'm still thinking about it, though I have some new information and different perspectives now. This isn't going to be easy...but I'll try not to let a drunk driver make the decision for me. (I'm glad it worked out for you though, Greg.)

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); I'd tend to suggest that if you want to do journalism a journalism degree would be more useful (and make sure its a good one with decent contacts in the industry) - you ought to be able to transfer degrees within the same uni if you want Given how much debt a degree incurs these days its worth making sure you are on the best one for your intended career

pamedria Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); You are basically another version of ME. I considered a Creative Writing degree and I went to all these different open days, but I got put off when looking at university stats. If I remember correctly only 33% of those graduated in creative writing were employed six months after graduating, while with journalism it was 84% on average out of the universities I looked at. That shouldn't necessarily discourage people from going for creative writing as it may merely imply that there were a chunk of people out of work because they were in the middle of their novel. However, I feel that people could do this without paying the overall 27k for university. Personally, I chose journalism because it's broad and I am a very indecisive person, so I like keeping options open. If you do go for that though, make sure you only go to those accredited by national bodies. Journalism is a thing to consider because it's also creative, but you will have to do extra stuff you may find boring alongside practical things, like exams for other qualification bodies, study media law, politics, ethics etc. My older sister actually did journalism and creative writing but she now runs her own marketing company, which is cool, it shows you can branch off in different career paths. You get applicable skills, connections and form life-long friendships. I've had some opportunities from university, but in my own personal opinion - it really isn't necessary, unless you want it for the full experience of moving away from home, meeting new people etc. For this industry, I believe if you bag yourself a great internship (like Penguin's annual ones) then you are pretty much sorted anyway! There are so many publishing/journalism internships throughout the year as well. It may be an idea to take a gap year, write A LOT, and apply to loads of internships. Also do freelance work (probably for free at first though which can suck) and enter loads of writing competitions. Many writing jobs I've seen advertised do require degrees though, so keep it in mind. If you come to decide you deffo want to go to uni, definitely do something creative that you will enjoy. Creative Writing does sound like a fun degree - but it certainly has a stigma around it, and be sure to check the particular course's stats online. Good luck

TWErvin2 Contributor Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Some things to consider: If you can, see what's become of previous graduates with the degree? What kind of contacts do the professors have, with agents, producers, other screen writers, editors, publishers, etc? Do they specialize in a genre/area you're interested in? While you probably will learn while there, but I am not sure the actual degree will benefit you much in advancing your career. The skills and contacts are what will make the difference. Will the time and expense be worth it? Good luck, whatever you decide.

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Seren said: ↑ . . I don't think I could change what degree I've applied for now, Click to expand...

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Ah, right, I didn't make the year I've applied for clear. It is indeed September 2017. So yes, I have lots of time to think, thank goodness. I've had a quick peak at Penguin's internships, so now I know that's an option. Interesting. Would you still be expected to get a degree afterwards, though, if you did decide to become an editor? Is it something you must have? Hopefully I'll be able to attend an applicant day at the university at some point. Then I can quiz them properly on exactly what contacts they have. The website doesn't specifically say, but it does say a lot about what they've already done with their careers. They look like they should have contacts, especially the teacher on the creative writing side of the course. In fact, I think she set the course up herself, so she should know what she's doing.

deadrats Contributor Contributor

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); I wouldn't ask anyone who they have for contacts or expect that they will offer them to you. That's not what they're there to do. And you can't recommend every student to your agent or editor. You'll need to prove yourself and earn something like that. They will need to know your writing. And still, there will always be far too many students to expect that you're the one the faculty are going to go out on a limb for. I'm not saying it never happens, but you haven't even started the program and you want to quiz faculty on their contacts? Do yourself a favor -- don't do that! That being said, I am a big fan of writing degrees. I have an MFA. Earning the degree is what turned me into the writer I am today. I don't believe I would be anything close to the writer I am had I not formally studied the craft. Getting a creative writing degree means you will have some sort of writing routine and be held accountable for it. There will be loads of reading. And you will be part of a community of other writers right where you are. Plus, an advisor or professor often can serve as a mentor as well. There will be standards and your performance will be graded. Sure, one could argue that you can find all that elsewhere, but I don't think it's the same. When you really study anything, you spend a lot of time with it. I think putting in all that time and work can be hard to do on your own. I know earning my degree really pushed me. I don't know why you are asking this question, really. You obviously wanted to study creative writing when you applied for this program. What's changed?

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); @deadrats I'll just hint at it then, and perhaps ask a general question about the sort of contacts I might gain through taking the course (not just from the teachers alone) and see what they say. I actually didn't want to quiz them because I was expecting them to start recommending me to people, though. I just want to know who they knew, and therefore who I might end up having an opportunity to prove myself to, or who I might have the opportunity to speak to who could potentially help. It's interesting to hear from someone who's actually done the course. I admit, I will miss the writer's group I'm currently a part of when I leave college, and it can be a little harder to find local writer's groups in the community that meet regularly somewhere I can actually access simply. Plus, I'd find it much easier to relate to my other classmates than to much older people who've already done a great deal more writing than me. For some reason, I hadn't thought of my teacher also being my mentor before now, but that makes sense. It's definitely something I won't get from books or the internet. Just out of interest, how much writing did you do before you took the degree, if any? Did you think you did lots of writing and then find out that actually, your schedule could have been even better? Or did you struggle to make yourself sit and write? By the time I applied for this programme I was actually already uncertain, but I was certain that if I was going to do a degree, this would be the one. I was very excited when I first looked around the university and listened to the talks that were given about the course, and then it faded with time and I began to grow doubtful as I considered my other options.

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Asking someone about what sort of contacts they have is just about as inappropriate as asking someone how much money they make. Honestly, if you do a little googling of the faculty, you can easily find a lot of info like who has published their works, who there agents are and a ton of other stuff. Those are their contacts. They have contacts. You don't need to ask them. If I was asked this sort of thing, I would think it was rude and a little ignorant. Read their books, see the movies they wrote scripts for. Talk about those sort of things when you first meet them. If you ever want them to use any connections on you, I would suggest making a good first impression. And chances are your work right now is nowhere near where it would need to be to have someone pass it along to their contacts. Be patient. Give yourself time to learn and grow as a writer. You might come out of this program such a good writer that you don't need anyone's contacts. You're sort of putting the cart before the horse. Learn. Write. Edit. Don't be in a rush to get contacts. Showing something too early to any contact someone shares with you, won't help you anymore than if you never had a contact. The other students in my program quickly became and still are some of my best friends. We still talk about writing and share work with each other. And remember that those other writers in your program might make contacts they would share with you in the future. I did a lot of writing before applying and entering my program. I had a long career in journalism. But creative writing I only started seriously for about a year or two before starting my program. Still, I did a ton of writing. My program is pretty competitive. I actually took two creative writing courses before even applying. I have never struggled to write, but if that is something you struggle with, I think a writing program can help. I don't see why you wouldn't give your program try. It's a few years dedicated to writing. Who wouldn't want that? Instead of worrying about contacts, why don't you ask the university if you can sit in on a writing class and/or talk to current students? I'm sure the university will be happy to make those things happen for you. My program had the occasional visitor. I believe they want you to already be accepted before sitting in on a workshop, but you're in so it shouldn't be a problem. By the way, congratulations on getting in.

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); deadrats said: ↑ Asking someone about what sort of contacts they have is just about as inappropriate as asking someone how much money they make. Honestly, if you do a little googling of the faculty, you can easily find a lot of info like who has published their works, who there agents are and a ton of other stuff. Those are their contacts. They have contacts. You don't need to ask them. If I was asked this sort of thing, I would think it was rude and a little ignorant. Read their books, see the movies they wrote scripts for. Talk about those sort of things when you first meet them. If you ever want them to use any connections on you, I would suggest making a good first impression. And chances are your work right now is nowhere near where it would need to be to have someone pass it along to their contacts. Be patient. Give yourself time to learn and grow as a writer. You might come out of this program such a good writer that you don't need anyone's contacts. You're sort of putting the cart before the horse. Learn. Write. Edit. Don't be in a rush to get contacts. Showing something too early to any contact someone shares with you, won't help you anymore than if you never had a contact. The other students in my program quickly became and still are some of my best friends. We still talk about writing and share work with each other. And remember that those other writers in your program might make contacts they would share with you in the future. I did a lot of writing before applying and entering my program. I had a long career in journalism. But creative writing I only started seriously for about a year or two before starting my program. Still, I did a ton of writing. My program is pretty competitive. I actually took two creative writing courses before even applying. I have never struggled to write, but if that is something you struggle with, I think a writing program can help. I don't see why you wouldn't give your program try. It's a few years dedicated to writing. Who wouldn't want that? Instead of worrying about contacts, why don't you ask the university if you can sit in on a writing class and/or talk to current students? I'm sure the university will be happy to make those things happen for you. My program had the occasional visitor. I believe they want you to already be accepted before sitting in on a workshop, but you're in so it shouldn't be a problem. By the way, congratulations on getting in. Click to expand...

terobi Senior Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); Wasn't it Stephen King who said creative writing is the worst choice of university degree if you want to be a writer? Whoever it was, the point is sound: if you study history, you come to your fiction writing with a history specialism and a unique viewpoint, if you study science/engineering, you have a science background that informs your writing, etc. and the same goes for politics, law, sociology, etc. etc. etc. Whereas if you study creative writing.... you come to writing solely with the viewpoint of someone who wants to put words on a page. I think just about everything you can get out of a creative writing degree, you can get much more cheaply on your own. Literally hundreds of authors have released books on how to write fiction. Some who teach university writing classes, like Brandon Sanderson, have actually put up their entire course on youtube . But of course the thing you're paying for is the networking, the peer feedback and the mentoring. The thing is, you can do most, if not all of that for free as well. Joining a writing group (through meetup , say) allows you to get a lot of the things that you're looking for: a regular time and place for discussing the finer points of technique, a chance to network with authors at various stages of their careers, and specific feedback on your own work. If you're willing to part with some money, the various writers conferences which include panels and meetings with authors, agents, publishers, etc. are all a good shout, and better for building contacts and knowledge of the names within the industry (agents apparently like it when you mention that you enjoyed their panel appearance at X, etc. when querying them). University is great (and I should know, as a PhD student I've been here for bloody ages now), but really think about what you expect to get out of the course, and if a degree in something else might not suit your needs and ambitions more.

Integer Member

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('funpub_e140939489fdf01c6a5ce8877683eba6'); }); I work for a university that offers a CW course. I would say definitely go to university. But think hard about whether you want to do CW. Firstly, despite what course leaders say about publishing rates very few CW grads will make even one penny out of CW let alone a career. Secondly, a CW degree isn't held in as high esteem as other liberal arts disciplines. If you want to apply to do a masters in Law, or to join a graduate training programme, a solid History, English Lit, or Philosophy degree from a good uni will be looked on more favourably than one in CW. Thirdly, you will still have to work really hard to get your degree, and incur lots of debt. Best to future proof yourself as much as possible. Write and hone your CW craft on the side. Join a writers group. It doesn't matter how good the course is or how well connected your tutors are, there are no jobs going in creative writing they can get you. They have matriculated literally thousands of CW grads in their careers and are well aware that none of them are successful writers. Unless your writing is exceptionally brilliant they aren't going to pester their own agent for you, if they are even still writing themselves. However there is one reason when the ONLY degree you should do is creative writing. And that's it you want to study it. You are usually only at the time in your life once when you can study something you love exclusively, with other people who love it and in some cases have excelled in, for three or four years. And if you do LOVE creative writing and want nothing more than to immerse yourself, and don't mind the debt or lack of career options, then go for it and don't look back.

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Writing Creatively to Make Sense of the Times We Live In

Journalist katrin schumann talks about why she writes fiction..

Updated July 12, 2024 | Reviewed by Davia Sills

Studies show that the act of all kinds of writing hones our reflective abilities.
Creative writing stretches our imagination, increases emotional resilience, and alleviates stress.
Writers of nonfiction examine complex issues that are relevant to our times.
Novelists examine the issues using characters as a vehicle for empathy.

Studies show that the act of writing hones our reflective abilities, stretches our imagination , increases emotional resilience , and alleviates stress . In my conversation with journalist-turned-novelist Katrin Schumann, we discuss how creative writing, in particular, is a worthy pursuit to understand the issues of our time. Schumann is the author of the nonfiction books Mothers Need Time Outs Too and The Secret Life of Middle Children, as well as the novels The Forgotten Hours and This Terrible Beauty .

You’re a trained journalist and the author of nonfiction books. Why, in the last few years, have you focused on writing fiction?

Writing nonfiction has been a way for me to examine complex issues that are relevant to our times, including psychological ones, but I’ve found that in recent years, I’ve been drawn to fiction because it allows me to get closer to the subject. In exploring thorny issues like loyalty and trust or co-dependency , I’m able to do more of a deep dive in fiction. The form allows me to sit with the complexities, to live in the gray areas with my characters.

I can’t always do this with nonfiction, where I’m approaching the topic from a specific angle, seeking solutions. In fiction, I have space to explore nuances that fascinate and confuse me and try to make sense of the inevitable contradictions. It’s messier and more delicate than nonfiction. For me, this feels more true to the human experience.

All writing involves deep reflection. Do you find the act of writing fiction to be a different kind of therapy?

Yes. Spending years creating characters and situations that grapple with serious, real-world problems lets me explore my own difficult experiences. For instance, I’d been wrestling with the aftermath of dealing with a narcissist when I started writing my first novel. By fictionalizing those challenges, I was able to find the courage to linger in the dark areas, examining them from all angles in order to find where the light might get in.

I discovered greater empathy and resilience in myself while also being able to acknowledge the trauma I’d been through. It’s using my imagination, combined with researching some very real and current psychological challenges, that ultimately feels most powerful to me and an effective way to reach readers.

How does fictionalizing the story give you more latitude or depth in exploring topics? You write about things like self-reliance and depression, and I’m wondering why not just write articles about it.

I write to figure out my own issues and to learn, but also to share. For me, fiction writing makes me work harder and go deeper. I’m trying to change people’s minds and hearts in subtler ways. I’m reflecting on experiences I’ve had, wrestling with what they mean, and how we can all learn from them and come out the better for it.

Yet, I don’t want to be prescriptive; I want people to draw their own conclusions. I research deeply about whatever topic I’m tackling.

To write my last novel, I studied the history of neuropsychology, dissecting studies on substance abuse . I conducted interviews. For all my books, I gather and study facts and figures, but with novels, I take that a step further. I put those facts and figures into play with my imagined characters to explore what happens. I imbue the impersonal with empathy and allow readers to try to figure out how they feel about how the characters contend with the issue. This approach leads me to meaningful personal discoveries while also taking the reader along on the emotional journey.

How do you decide whether to approach a topic in a nonfiction book or in a novel?

The more I’m personally involved with the topic, the more I want to explore it in fictional form. Ironically, for fiction, I feel like I should have an even better understanding of some of these psychological challenges than if I were covering them through straight nonfiction reportage. I first have to understand the topic and its history so my story is not only realistic but feels authentic.

I want readers to trust me, which means I have to be thorough. It’s my aim to take them on a ride that’s compelling as well as informative. And I love learning something new when I’m immersed in researching and writing fiction.

If writing fiction is about wrestling with your own demons, why not simply journal?

Cross-section through a cluster of maize leaves

Journaling is, without question, a beneficial reflective activity. Yet what differentiates this kind of work from journaling about our problems or writing blog posts is that novelists are committing more time and energy to the deep dive on a specific topic. My last novel took almost three years to write, and during that time, I was reading everything I could get my hands on about the topic in order to distill it so that readers might find it relevant to their own lives.

At that stage, it’s not really about me anymore; it’s about the human condition. And in the end, that’s what readers relate to, I think. It’s what makes them call their friends and say, “I just finished this great book. You’ve got to read it.”

More about Katrin Schumann 's work

Lynne Griffin, R.N., M.Ed. , researches family life and is a novelist.

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Study of AI as a creative writing helper finds that it works, but there's a catch

A finger points to the ChatGPT app on a phone screen.

Researchers are exploring the existential implications of generative AI , including whether or not the advancing technology will actually make humans more creatively capable — or narrow our views.

The new study , published in Science Advances by two University College London and University of Exeter researchers, tested hundreds of short stories created solely by humans against those created with the creative help of ChatGPT's generative AI. One group of writers had access solely to their own ideas, a second group could ask ChatGPT for one story idea, and a third could work with a set of five ChatGPT made prompts. The stories were then rated on "novelty, usefulness (i.e. likelihood of publishing), and emotional enjoyment," reported TechCrunch .

"These results point to an increase in individual creativity at the risk of losing collective novelty," the study reads. "This dynamic resembles a social dilemma: With generative AI, writers are individually better off, but collectively a narrower scope of novel content is produced."

Participants were "measured" for creativity prior to the writing session with a commonly used word-production task that builds a standard of creativity among respondents. Those who tested lower on these creativity proxy tests received better scores on their personal writing when given access to AI-generated ideas. But for those with already high creativity scores, AI ideas had little to no benefit on their story ratings.

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Additionally, the pool of stories aided by AI-generated prompts were deemed to be less diverse and displayed less unique writing characteristics, suggesting the limits of ChatGPT's all-around ingenuity. The new study's literary findings add to concerns about AI's self-consuming training loops , or the problem of AI models trained only on AI outputs degrading AI models themselves, Mashable's Cecily Mauran reported.

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Study author Oliver Hauser said in a comment to TechCrunch : "Our study represents an early view on a very big question on how large language models and generative AI more generally will affect human activities, including creativity... It will be important that AI is actually being evaluated rigorously — rather than just implemented widely, under the assumption that it will have positive outcomes."

Topics Artificial Intelligence

Chase sits in front of a green framed window, wearing a cheetah print shirt and looking to her right. On the window's glass pane reads "Ricas's Tostadas" in red lettering.

Chase joined Mashable's Social Good team in 2020, covering online stories about digital activism, climate justice, accessibility, and media representation. Her work also touches on how these conversations manifest in politics, popular culture, and fandom. Sometimes she's very funny.

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IMAGES

What Are The Characteristics Of Creative Writing?
How Creative Writing Has Changed the World for the Better
6 Creative Writing Benefits You Will Earn By Doing Exercises
What is Creative Writing & How to Get Started
Copy of Creative Writing Tips
Is Majoring In Creative Writing Worth It?

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COMMENTS

Is a Creative Writing Degree Worth It? Let's Get Into It
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Should You Really Be A Creative Writing Major?
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Do You Need a Creative Writing Degree?
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What I Wish I Knew as a Creative Writing Major
What I Wish I Knew as a Creative Writing Major. I thought I'd make a career out of writing. That's what I went to college for. I majored in English: Creative Writing because I loved it. I enjoyed sitting in the classroom, talking to my peers about short stories and poetry… until my senior year rolled around.
What is Creative Writing? A Key Piece of the Writer's Toolbox
Learn the definition, benefits, and examples of creative writing, and discover how to unleash your imagination and express yourself through words.
The Pros and Cons of Getting a Creative Writing MFA
PROS: 1) Community: Writing is a solitary pursuit, and after spending hours alone with your thoughts, you might crave a tribe of writers. MFA programs offer exactly that: total immersion in a culture of books and writing to the exclusion of all else. (Call us fanatics.
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Creative Writing Classes: Are They Really Worth It?
Creative writing is a ridiculously broad term that can mean a lot of things. It basically covers all forms of writing that are creative, personal, and expressive rather than informative and objective. Creative writing uses literary devices like metaphor and symbolism to create an emotional experience for the reader.
Creative Writing/Literature Degree, worth it?
Many MFA programs don't cost a dime as they are funded with the expectation that you take courses and teach classes, either creative writing or comp 101. If you don't do that, you'll probably need to pay. BAs generally aren't funded, but are valuable. less close-knit, but you still learn a lot about yourself and peers.
Is a degree in creative writing worth it?
A degree in creative writing is not a degree that leads to work unless you want to teach. If you want to teach, you may not have any time to write (Catch-22). I have an MFA, and really want to make enough money to pay off my student loans (I am unemployed at the moment-- so there is no retirement plan for me).
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Age old question: Is a creative writing degree worth it? In terms of employment, post-grad debt, etc., for an individual who really enjoys writing?
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Is a Creative Writing Honours Degree Really Worth It? Discussion in ' Traditional Publishing ' started by Seren, Dec 6, 2016 .
Writing Creatively to Make Sense of the Times We Live In
Studies show the act of writing hones our reflective abilities, stretches our imagination, increases emotional resilience, and alleviates stress. Creative writing is a pursuit.
Study: AI boosts individuals' creative writing, but reduces creative
An experiment analyzing ChatGPT's effect on creative writing showed individuals benefitted from the tool, but the collective may suffer.

Is A Creative Writing Degree Worth Your Time (And Money)?

Pros of a Creative Writing degree

2. You’ll be given regular feedback on your work

3. You’ll read. A lot

4. You’ll also write. A lot

5. You’ll learn discipline

Cons of a Creative Writing degree

2. Not all the feedback you receive will be useful or constructive

3. You might not be suited to college

4. The pressure to succeed could make or break you

5. Creative Writing may not be the best subject for your creative writing

Alternatives

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Should You Really Be A Creative Writing Major?

Many Great Schools (with Awesome Writing Classes) Don't Have a Creative Writing Major

You're Going to Have to Read — A Lot

You Don't Need a Specific Major to Be a Writer

You Can Learn A Lot From Really Focusing on Writing

Some Schools Have Special Opportunities for Creative Writing Majors

Final Thoughts

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Earning A Master’s In Creative Writing: What To Know

Why You Can Trust Forbes Advisor Education

What Is a Master’s in Creative Writing?

Specializations for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Screenwriting

Admission Requirements for a Master’s in Creative Writing

Common Courses in a Master’s in Creative Writing

Graduate Studies in English Literature

Workshop in Creative Nonfiction

Foundations in Fiction

MA in Creative Writing vs. MFA in Creative Writing: What’s the Difference?

What Can You Do With a Master’s in Creative Writing?

Postsecondary Creative Writing Teacher

Writer or Author

Technical Writer

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About a Master's in Creative Writing

Is an MFA better than an MA for creative writing?

What kind of jobs can you get with a creative writing degree?

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Best Online Master’s In History Degrees Of 2024

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Do You Really Need a Creative Writing Degree to be a Successful Writer?

My brush with a (minor) Canadian celebrity

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What I Wish I Knew as a Creative Writing Major

LEVI SHULTZ

A Degree Doesn’t Always Mean A Job

A note on freelancing

Learn Non-Writing Skills

Use Your Minor to Specialize

Pursue Internships

Pursue What You Value

What is Creative Writing? A Key Piece of the Writer’s Toolbox

What is Creative Writing?

5 Key Characteristics of Creative Writing

Styles of Creative Writing

Short Stories

Screenplays

Importance of Creative Writing

Developing Creativity and Imagination