Are you dreaming of becoming a full-time writer? Well, maybe it’s time to wake up and start acting like one. Inspired by the success of well-known authors like Harper Lee and William Shakespeare, hundreds of thousands of people are making their living off the written word today. If you want to become one of them, then it’s time to learn how to get a creative writing degree.
While it’s certainly possible to become a successful writer without any formal training, it’s highly recommended that you gain some formal education in creative writing. Not only will this help you become a more well-rounded individual, but you’ll also have the opportunity to network with other writers and gain valuable insight about the industry. Through classes and readings, you’ll be able to find out what makes a good story, how to best present these ideas to an audience, and the overall structure of a novel.
So how exactly do you go about getting a creative writing degree? It’s not easy, but with a little bit of research and strategy, you may be able to accomplish this feat.
Choose A Major
The first step in getting a writing degree is to choose a major. While it’s certainly possible to become a generalist and end up teaching writing in a community college or university, you should really consider what you want to do with your life and whether you want to go into teaching or become a professional writer. If you’re interested in becoming a professional writer, then you should consider pursuing a creative writing major since these degrees often lead to full-time employment. Alternatively, if you want to teach, you can major in English and get a teaching certificate to go along with your degree. Though it’s certainly possible to become a professional writer without any formal education, having a creative writing degree will definitely open up more doors for you.
Decide On A Career Path
After you’ve chosen your major, it’s time to look at what you want to do with your life. Do you want to settle down and be a housewife/husband? Do you want to become a doctor or lawyer? Maybe you’ve dreamt of being a chef or an airline pilot? Once you’ve determined what you want to do, you can narrow your options of careers down to something that fits. This is especially important since you can’t become a professional writer without a formal education. If you’re looking for a stable career, then you should consider going into law or medicine. However, if you’re looking for a more creative and flexible lifestyle, then you should consider going into teaching or nursing. In the end, it’s a case by case basis, but you should definitely try to choose something that you’re passionate about.
Get A Professional Writing Sample
Once you’ve chosen your major and career path, it’s time to move onto the next step. This is where things get really interesting. To become a professional writer, you need to get a professional writing sample. A writing sample is simply a piece of writing that you’ve done for class or for professional practice. Ideally, you should aim to get something that’s as close to being perfect as possible. If you’re looking for publishing opportunities, then you should consider looking for small press and literary magazines that might be interested in running your work. If you’re more interested in becoming a full-time writer, then you should try to get something published in a professional journal or anthology. The key is to get something that’s good, but not perfect because you’ll never be able to show your best work to a potential employer or academic. A good rule of thumb is to get something published, and then look for ways to improve upon it. This is one of the best ways to become a professional writer, and it takes a lot of hard work and a lot of dedication. Luckily, you’re not alone in this quest to become a professional writer. There are literally hundreds of thousands of writers looking for better ways to make a living, and there’s plenty of room for everyone, regardless of talent. If you follow this path, you can surely write your own ticket to the lifestyle you’ve always wanted, and maybe even fulfill your dreams.