In the United States, the number of individuals who claim to be creative writers or artists is increasing every year. According to the most recent US Census data, over 32.8 million people in America identified themselves as “creative writers.” This is a 30% increase from 2000, and the number is expected to continue growing.
While it’s evident that plenty of people are interested in creative writing, finding the time to actually study the art form can be difficult. That’s why it’s crucial to determine which courses you’ll need to take in order to become a successful creative writer. In this article, we’ll discuss what courses you should consider taking to start your creative writing journey, as well as some common myths surrounding this field.
Which Courses Should You Take?
If you’re serious about becoming a successful creative writer, it’s time to focus on your studies. There are four areas of creative writing you should work on developing:
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Punctuation
- Style
These are known as the “Big Four” of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style. If you’re unfamiliar with these terms, don’t worry, just know that these are the elements that make up a good piece of writing. If you want to sound professional, these elements need to be taken into consideration.
What’s important is that you work on improving in all four areas. Trying to focus on just one area may result in stagnation. Also, remember that creative writing is all about expressing yourself through language, so you should work on developing your vocabulary. With that being said, here are the top courses to take if you’re serious about becoming a creative writer:
English
If you’re a native English speaker, chances are you’ve already begun your creative writing journey. English is the language of literature, so it follows that those who speak it well can write excellent pieces. Unfortunately, not all English speaking people are created equal. Some are naturally more gifted with words than others are. This doesn’t mean that they’re going to be good writers just because they speak the language well, it means that they can sound cool and trendy while writing, which can make or break your creative writing efforts!
If you want to become a successful creative writer, you should consider taking an English-taught writing course. These types of courses are abundant, and there’s no shortage of great instructors willing to help you achieve your goals. Just make sure you’re not getting sold a phony bill of goods by taking a look at the reviews or talking to current students. There are plenty of places you can study English Literature that couldn’t possibly teach you to be a better writer. Letting a good teacher guide your efforts can only set you up for success.
Creative Writing
Creative writing is a very broad field, and while there are certainly those who teach it, it’s not usually at the degree level. That being said, it can be difficult to pigeonhole creative writing into a single category. Depending on how you define it, it can range from journalism to fiction to non-fiction. Here are the top three areas of creative writing you should focus on developing:
- Short Story
- Novel
- Non-Fiction
Short Story is probably the most common form of creative writing. It can be any length from a few pages to a few hundred or more. Short stories don’t have to be very long, either. Many successful writers don’t even bother to write anything more than a few pages, since they know that the short story form allows for plenty of room to be creative, while still maintaining a manageable word count. Some of the best short story writers in the world can be found in the 2019 World English Literary Awards. These writers come from all over the world and showcase a remarkable mastery of the form.
A novel is a narrative work written in verse. It usually follows the form of a traditional romance novel, which is filled with description of setting, character, and plot. Some examples of famous novels include:
- Moby Dick
- The Scarlet and the Black
- Ulysses
- A Tale of Two Cities
- Frankenstein
- Don Quixote
- Great Expectations
- Wuthering Heights
- The Lord of the Rings
Traditional novels can be a great vehicle for creative writing. Not only do you get to play the part of a novelist, you also get to reinvent the form and really explore your imagination. It’s always important to keep the reader’s attention, and this can be difficult if you don’t feel comfortable with the English language. Fortunately, you have novels such as:
- A Clockwork Orange
- Utopia
- The Handmaid’s Tale
- Paradise Lost
- The Trial
- The Windup Girl
- The Grapes of Wrath
- Brave New World
- The Handmaid’s Tale
- The Island of Dr. Moreau
- We Can’t Go Home Again
- The Power and the Glory
- The Witches OF Oz
Journalism
Journalism is mostly seen as a “traditional” form of writing, along with literary journalism and creative non-fiction. While it can be used to report on various events, it’s usually seen as a form of “free speech.” This is a reflection of its more popular uses. Unfortunately, while free speech is an ideal that should be championed by all journalists, it doesn’t mean that they all write excellent pieces. Getting published isn’t easy, and it takes a lot of hard work and some talent. If you want to be a successful creative writer, it’s important to consider pursuing a career in journalism.
If you’re looking for a stable career, journalism can be a great choice. The pay is usually good and there are plenty of jobs. However, if you want to achieve your dream of being a successful creative writer, it may not be the right choice for you. The competition is fierce, and it can be difficult to stand out among the crowd. Instead, consider looking into other fields where your creativity can shine through, like fiction or non-fiction.
History
Creative writing doesn’t always have to be about fiction or non-fiction. History is another option, as you can tell stories about historical figures and events through the use of fiction. You may even choose to use creative techniques, like poetic devices or alliteration, to make your writing all the more engaging.
In a history course, you will learn about the different wars, social movements, and historic events that shaped the world we live in today. While it’s exciting to learn about the past, it’s important to keep in mind that the coursework can be difficult. You may want to consider taking a literature course with a specialty in history in order to get a better feel for the theoretical side of your studies. Plus, being a good writer takes a lot of practice, and there’s no better way to learn than through writing assignments. As a history major, you will have ample opportunity to write a lot of good stories. Just keep in mind that the competition is fierce, so make sure you’re putting your best foot forward!
If you’re wondering what courses you should avoid, there are some things you need to avoid as well. Sometimes, a misinformed student can get sold a bill of goods by a so-called “creative writing professor.” That is, a professor might tell you that your writing is good enough, even though it isn’t. They might also tell you that you don’t need to worry about spelling or punctuation, because they can take care of that. Finally, they may claim that journalism is a stable, secure career with good pay, and that is certainly true. Unfortunately, there are a lot of problems with journalism. There’s a lot of competition, and getting a good job can be difficult. Because of this, it would probably be best to avoid journalism as a possible major.