I love science. Some of my fondest memories are from when I was a kid, lying in bed with my eyes open, listening to my parents talking about astronomy or physics. When I grew up and became aware of the world around me, I wanted to know more about it. Naturally, this led me to study science at university. I loved every moment of it – I even tried out for the college football team (unsuccessfully).
While studying for my doctorate, I wrote a little bit of fiction on the side. In hindsight, I suppose this is where my love of writing really came from – why else would you need to go through all that maths and science if you’re not going to write about it? – but it was definitely a side-step from my true calling: to become a researcher and make important scientific discoveries.
Looking back, though, it’s clear this was the right choice for me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to combine my love for science with my love for writing, as I now work in scientific publishing. This is where my research really shines: I get to delve into the details of new studies, and work with some fantastic scientists, all while designing educational materials for kids.
If you’re thinking about getting a PhD in Creative Writing, here’s why you should do it:
1. It’s A Great Career Option For Someone Who Wants To Be A Researcher
More and more people are interested in pursuing a career in science, but there aren’t enough researchers to go around. If you’re looking for a research-based career path, why not consider studying creative writing? In today’s world, literary agents, publishers, and film producers are looking for people with a background in science to expand their reach into fiction. You can even go the extra mile and become a professor of creative writing – the perfect job for someone who loves to teach.
2. It Gives You The Opportunity To Discover New Ideas & Inspiration
If you’re doing your dissertation on a topic you’ve already covered in your creative writing classes, you’re basically just doing it for the sake of it. While it’s great to have a solid academic foundation to build on, you’re really just taking a step back from your creative writing studies. This is why, if you’ve covered the theme of a ghost story in your creative writing course, you can’t very well go back and apply that knowledge in a scientific way.
3. You Get To Try Out New Things
If you ever spent any time hanging around graduate students, you’ll know they’re a very opinionated group of individuals. Being a creative writing PhD means you get to try out new things, and challenge yourself with new ideas. The only limit is your mind. For example, might you decide to try your hand at screenwriting, and end up falling in love with the form? Or, do you decide you want to take a crack at fiction, only to find yourself sucked into a world of novels and never leaving the comfort of your armchair? The choice is up to you, and as long as you keep challenging yourself, you’ll never get stale.
4. It Gives You The Opportunity To Travel
If you get a choice between a travel-based PhD and a non-travel based one, which one would you prefer? There are so many opportunities for a creative writing PhD to travel, both within and outside the EU. You can even end up living abroad for a time, soaking up the local culture and going on adventures that you couldn’t even dream of in your home country. If you’re looking for a new challenge, why not consider a PhD in Creative Writing? You won’t regret it.
There are plenty of reasons why someone would want to get a PhD in creative writing. If you’re looking for a new challenge, or want to combine your love of science and storytelling, this is a great option for you. Make sure, when you do, that you don’t forget why you chose this path in the first place: to discover new things, and to question everyday assumptions.