You might be thinking about pursuing a career in creative writing, but what does that actually mean? How does one become a writer? What do you do with a degree in creative writing? Let’s take a look.
Career Opportunities
If you’re wondering where you might be headed with a creative writing degree, there are quite a few career opportunities available. Your degree might not specifically prepare you for a chosen field, but it sure as hell helps! Here are just a few options:
- Magazine editor
- Academic journal
- Blogger
- Copywriter
- Proofreader
- Freelance writer
Depending on your major, your degree might also open up a world of opportunity in the form of graduate schools or teaching positions. Many institutions understand the value of a creative writing degree and will even pay you to further your education.
The Creative Process
A creative writing degree doesn’t just prepare you to write essays and stories; it also teaches you how to use your imagination to solve problems, come up with ideas, and create stories. Here’s a perfect example of how a creative writing degree can help you solve problems:
Imagine you’re writing a story about a magical girl named Lucy who travels to Wonderland to solve the mystery surrounding the missing Mad Hatter. As the story unfolds, you discover that the Mad Hatter’s invisibility cloak is actually causing him to go missing, as he cannot be seen by anyone except for the girl he loves. Now it’s your turn to write the solution to the mystery!
Here’s another example:
A man wakes up one morning and decides he’s going to write a poem about the beauty of the sunrise. As he sits there, contemplating the subject, a stray dog wanders up and sits beside him. The man thinks to himself, “I wonder if I could write a poem about the sunrise. It would be interesting to see what comes out of my head as I write.” So he starts writing and before long, he has completed a perfect poem about the sunrise.
These stories might seem like they were written randomly, but that’s the beauty of it! You, the author, get to decide what happens next. The point is that you’re not bound by any rules, as you’ve come up with the story yourself. This is the kind of freedom that comes with a creative writing degree.
The Nitty-Gritty
Now that you understand the potential for a creative writing degree, it’s time to get practical. As a student, you’ll be required to complete specific courses to earn your degree. Some of these courses might include:
- English composition
- English literature
- Creative writing fundamentals
- Advanced writing
- Research techniques
During your studies, you’ll also be expected to complete several assignments, which could include anything from writing a paper to creating a literary magazine. With a creative writing degree, you’ll graduate with a toolbox full of skills that can only help you in your quest for employment. And that, my friend, is valuable currency in this ever-evolving gig economy.
Further Reading
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in creative writing, check out these books: