colleges for creative writing

colleges for creative writing

Colleges for Creative Writing

1. Introduction

For as long as humankind has existed, people have been telling stories, creating works of art, and using language to communicate, inform, and entertain. Creative writing is a form of art that allows people to express themselves using the written word. It includes poetry, song, scripts for TV, radio, film, stage and screen, fiction (novels, short stories, plays, etc.), and content writing such as copywriting, blogging, journalism, and more. The purpose of written expression is to provide a permanent record of ideas, to give others a perspective to consider, to make a statement, to share an idea, and to act as a source of entertainment. Through creative writing, writers can express their hopes, dreams, and inner aspirations with others in an indirect way. It provides an opportunity for writers to challenge themselves and develop new skills. A work of literature can be a legacy and provide a form of immortality for its creator.

2. Benefits of Pursuing Creative Writing in College

You will be able to foster and discover your literary voice through a range of exercises and writing out of your comfort zone. These activities would be helpful to the amateur writer, but are very beneficial for a professional writer too. To be able to understand and utilize a variety of techniques and tools to create a well-structured meaningful piece takes time; it takes education. Although at first it may seem as though the education of a bachelor’s degree in creative writing is a huge investment, it can lead to a high paying position as a writer or author. This is especially true in an age where content is constantly being cranked out across all mediums. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the median pay for a writer in 2010 was around $55,000 a year. In comparison to other professions one can acquire with only a high school diploma, this is quite a bit more lucrative. Oftentimes, writers who are at a loss as to whether or not they could really make it as a professional spend years stuck in dead-end jobs, or not using their full potential when it comes to freelance writing. With a degree in writing, one is much more prepared to take on a writing career. Another possibility to utilize a degree in creative writing would be to teach at the high school level or something similar, which still allows time to work on one’s own writing. For a professional who is already working in publishing, they can widen their horizon by fully immersing in different genres of creative writing in order to make a stronger future in the field of publishing. Career change and increasing options are themes of education in creative writing.

3. Top Colleges for Creative Writing Programs

4. Brown University Like the University of Iowa’s Master of Fine Arts program in creative writing, Brown’s Literary Arts program offers one degree in writing, but with more specific genres; offering an MFA in fiction, poetry, or digital/cross-disciplinary writing. The program hosts a reading series and the Sarah Goodman Brown lectures in literary arts. MFA students have the option of teaching freshman-level writing courses during their second year of study at Brown.

3. Johns Hopkins University The Hopkins program, hailed as the first “research and teaching” award in an American university, is aimed at students who wish to become scholar-teachers of literature and creative writing, or to undertake careers in editing or publishing. The program offers no degree but does offer the opportunity to spend two years at Yale taking classes and working on a thesis or dissertation while being fully supported.

2. University of Wisconsin If the Wisconsin Institute for Creative Writing can boast a staff that includes U.S. poet laureates, Wisconsin has much to offer MFA students who may find the cost of living more affordable than in other areas, and the idea of a two-year MFA appealing.

1. University of Iowa Iowa has been stated as the best MFA in creative writing. The program is both challenging and nurturing. At Iowa, the MFA is a three-year studio/academic program focusing on the practice of writing in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction.

This section could be significantly larger if desired, but I think the most successful and competitive MFA programs would comprise the top 10 or so. Here are just a few that might be at the top of the list. Keep in mind, however, that while their MFA programs are high caliber, each of the schools on this list has a wide range of creative writing activities taking place.

4. Admission Requirements and Application Process

Applicants to the MFA program in creative writing must have a bachelor’s degree (or its equivalent) from a college or university. They will have completed the online application supplied by the Graduate School, including the application fee. The application form should say, within the program objective section, that the applicant is applying for admission to the MFA program and that the declared major is English. The applicant should also transcript and three letters of recommendation according to the directions supplied within the Graduate School forms. The applicant should submit, via the online application, admission to the Graduate School an unofficial transcript from every college or university attended. At the request of the prospective student, the actual transcript could also be evaluated to the Creative Writing Program, but this is not obligatory for an admission decision. An applicant unable to pay by credit card should contact the Graduate Admissions Office at gradsch AT unc.edu for directions regarding alternative methods of payment. Special note to international students: This MFA program at UNC-Greensboro is a terminal degree. The MFA was conceived as spanning two years; it is not intended to extend studies in and provide additional training in creative writing beyond the MFA. Therefore, the MFA will be the sole degree on the visa application and the I-20. Unfortunately, the MFA is not a distance-education degree program, and we cannot obtain a waiver from the I-20 requirement and the accompanying student visa. An applicant who is in this country on a visa other than the student visa should contact the International Students office, within 48 hours of admission to the MFA program, to discuss changing visa status to the F-1 student visa. Note: the request for the change of visa status must be made prior to enrollment. The official transcript and test scores are sent to the UNCG Graduate School at this address: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, 241 Mossman Building, 1202 Spring Garden Street Greensboro, NC 27412.

Creative writing students are encouraged to apply for creative writing awards in Duke-sponsored writing contests. Switch to the dark mode that’s kinder on your eyes at night time. To complete a minor in creative writing, a student… In 1996, the creative writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University was the belief that skill in writing can be taught through practice, revision, and mentorship. During their tenure at VCU, creative writing students learn how to sustain a practice of writing and revising that explores questions, puzzles, and problems that matter to them. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the…

5. Conclusion

Creative writing can be a field that takes a long time to break into, but many people find this work to be incredibly fulfilling. Writers work in business, communications, human resources, information technology, media, and a variety of other industries. Someone with a creative writing degree can also find a career in education, since writing is a skill needed for all academic programs. Students currently have the opportunity to study specifically for a college degree in creative writing from numerous respected institutions. Each has its own strengths and requirements, and it’s important to find the right program for you. Whether you’re a beginning writer or a published author ready to take the next step, there are many ways in which you can design the degree to be very useful. After considering a variety of program possibilities, a student should be able to find a seasoned creative writing professional willing to direct them in creating a publishable work. Networking is the other major way to secure a career, and most writers do this through an internship—in many cases, this is the same as taking the first step into a career since an intern can be hired on. The college environment may be perfect for some writers, but the prospects for a creative writing degree won’t narrow with the completion of one. An MFA is a terminal degree, which means it is the highest possible degree in the field (a PhD is for theoretical doctors and isn’t necessary for creative writing teaching most of the time). In these programs, students will meet several published writers and will be given the opportunity to work as teachers. It is common for MFAs to ultimately seek a career in academia; there are full-time teaching positions available for college graduates. With the growth of online education, many MFAs can find teaching jobs online. Published authors can also use an MFA as a way to learn new teaching methods for their continuing education seminars. (cppgrp) This field is growing at a rate consistent with the average profession, and the average salary is increasing. This is partially because writing jobs entering the market in this day and age are far more versatile than before. Magazine and newspaper production is moving to the web, and there are major corporations specifically dedicated to creating web content. This creates new and different writing positions, and the salary is enough to make a career out of it. Many new MFA graduates in the competitive teaching field, or writers wanting to do community college teaching, are finding it difficult to land part-time jobs. However, there are more employment options than there are people who know creative writing, so if you have the skills, it’s just a matter of time before you find the right position.