online creative writing degree

online creative writing degree

The Benefits of Pursuing an Online Creative Writing Degree

1. Introduction

In today’s world, time is our most precious commodity. The internet has opened doors for people from all walks of life to earn a degree from a remote location. For people with the desire to write, an online creative writing degree can be the start of a rewarding career. This may seem futile for a subject that is not viewed as academic, however, the fact is that creative writing is a field that now requires many employees to have a degree. A creative writing degree is no guarantee for a job in the industry, but it just might give you the upper hand in an interview for an entry-level position. As a writer progresses, they will find that they need to look for different types of employment, as many writers are freelance or self-employed. This can be an immense challenge without a degree, as these jobs are often taken by word of mouth and networking. A degree is now required for many positions and can be the fuel behind this pursuit and the backbone to the writer’s career.

2. Flexibility of Online Learning

The material is always available. With online classes, no more hunting down the instructor for the information discussed three weeks ago that you forgot about. All material is always available online and therefore can be accessed at any time. This can be especially helpful when writing papers as students can easily copy and paste excerpts from their sources. No more sorting through citation after citation trying to find where you found the information you need.

With an online creative writing degree program, individuals are able to decide the time of day that is most suitable for them to complete their coursework. Students that are most productive in the mornings may opt to wake up an hour or two earlier to complete their work. Also, whether you’re a night owl or one who prefers the afternoon, you are not limited to a specific time of day to complete your assignments. Students are free to work when it is most convenient for them.

3. Comprehensive Curriculum

These courses, described in further detail below, are designed to teach students about the various elements and forms of creative writing, to improve the quality of their writing, and to provide them with the knowledge and critical thinking skills necessary to succeed in an increasingly competitive and fast-paced job market. Students completing a major or minor in creative writing are also strongly urged to study abroad and are given permission to count appropriate courses taken abroad towards the major/minor requirements.

To achieve the above-mentioned purposes, the department has structured the curriculum with a common core of 4 required courses for both the creative writing major and minor. These are: WRIT 203: Introduction to Creative Writing WRIT 204: Reading and Writing Poetry WRIT 205: Reading and Writing Fiction WRIT 206: Reading and Writing Non-Fiction

The creative writing students are facilitated with the opportunity to foster their creative skills potential by practicing written expression in a friendly, pressure-free environment. This is also the place where they learn the mechanics of writing, essential for all the types of writing they will do in future, not only in creative writing. The department strongly believes that good writing and reading are the bedrock of good learning and scholarship, and so students are urged to take what they learn in creative writing and use it to enrich their lives in other disciplines. Thus the creative writing curriculum has a dual benefit: it serves to develop students’ creative writing skills in a rigorous and disciplined environment, as well as providing them with an intellectual anchor – strong writing and communication skills – that will enable them to succeed in various professional and academic fields.

4. Engaging and Interactive Learning Environment

The online interactive environment is a good training ground for those aspiring writers who want to practice in various genres. Creative writing is about expressing thoughts, emotions, and opinions in an imaginative way rather than just presenting written facts. Successful writers know how to use their writing skills to evoke emotions and capture the audience, and this is an important skill that can be honed through practice. Online workshops provide a tool for writers to critique the work of others. In order for a writer to improve, they must be able to handle constructive criticism and there’s no better place for this than a workshop. Creativity thrives in a community of like-minded individuals, and the tools provided within an online environment foster creativity through sharing and collaboration. Researching information for creative works is also very important, and the web is home to an unlimited amount of information that writers can use to improve the quality of their work. Finally, writing is a solitary activity, and many writers feel uncomfortable in large groups. An online environment eliminates the pressure of being in a face-to-face situation and allows the writer to comfortably express themselves.

5. Career Opportunities and Advancement

For graduates of online creative writing degrees, the career options broaden, allowing for the exercise of skill in many creative endeavors. Upon the completion of a certificate, associateship, bachelor’s degree or master’s program, the individual will have gained a multitude of writing skills. Part of the required courses will include grammar and mechanics, technical writing, and editing processes. Grammar and mechanics are the building blocks of language, thus it is an essential skill writers must master. Creative writers are vastly becoming in demand, and those who stand out in the technical writing field can learn to explain to the general public complex and sometimes hard to understand information on various technical things ranging from consumer products, computer technology, and medical information. Technical writers are commonly asked to write manuals, training guides, online help documentation, as well as content for websites. Technical writing can open a few doors to journalism and ultimately to creative writing. Technical writers can use their skills to write ads getting people to buy products, services, or even awareness articles. With a bachelor’s degree in hand, possible writing options include creating video game storylines, writing for television, and writing movie and play scripts. This is in addition to the widespread opportunities in magazine and book writing. Graduates can look for ways to better their career with self-employment, as the abundance of online and print publications would allow for work as a freelance writer. Writers with a master’s degree can find instructional work at colleges and universities. Online degree program master graduates will have an advantage in teaching distance education courses.