the phd in creative writing

 the phd in creative writing

The Importance of a PhD in Creative Writing

1. The Advantages of Pursuing a PhD in Creative Writing

A creative writing PhD is about the structuring and supervision of a substantial piece of creative work in the context of a long academic thesis (usually between 70,000 and 100,000 words). This is perhaps the most significant offshoot of seeking a higher qualification in this field, a chance to produce a sustained work of publishable quality under the useful eye of a more experienced and successful writer. This can come at a price, however, creative writing is a woolly subject and standards can vary radically between one place and another, so it can be important to choose a program that has a closer resemblance to professional writing and critique. High academic standards are not necessary, but a strong literary “culture”, having good writers and an active research environment can be helpful. This is a tough thing to judge, and some of the more traditional literature department programs may not be comfortable with postgraduate writers sitting in on undergrad modules as is quite common now.

A PhD in creative writing offers many facets worth exploring. An obvious one is simply gaining the qualification, which is important for those making a career in a field where publication and production are key markers of success. Although a degree is not strictly necessary, it will provide vital experience and networking opportunities. Your range of teachers can shape the genre you are going to be writing and reading, so teaching options could also be narrowed down by the qualifications of a postgraduate degree. Having an MA may also decrease the number of years you are willing to spend teaching an introduction to creative writing course to bored school leavers! This is all logical and well noted, but there are more reasons to inquire into a PhD program that are less “business” oriented than this simplistic rationale. Depending on what you intend to teach and how you intend to convey certain elements of the craft, a PhD can be a significant contribution to the bases of knowledge in the given field.

2. The Research Process in Creative Writing

Dialogic interaction refers to the idea that two people interact and through the process of interaction create something new. In the case of a creative writing student and their supervisor, this ‘something new’ can be a piece of work, together authored through their discussions. As a student’s primary supervisor is likely to be an experienced writer in their chosen form, they can potentially act as a mentor, providing the student with the opportunity to learn from someone more experienced. As the relationship develops, the supervisor may at times adopt the role of a peer, as the two will have shared interests in the form of the writing being produced. Through interaction with supervisors and other research students, creative writers can gain a ‘sense of community’ that can be a rare experience for a writer, who may spend many isolated hours working. This sense of community can help prospective writers to see their writing as a social process, involving consideration of an audience’s views and hence moving away from the ‘Romantic’ notion of the author as someone working in inspired isolation.

3. Developing Advanced Writing Skills through a PhD Program

Firstly, a thoughtful consideration of the postgraduate program must acknowledge the diversity of writers. Given that such vast differences exist in age, cultural background, and professional experience, saying that a program will or will not benefit a writer is a relative thing. An older writer with a successful professional career in business writing has far different needs from a young writer straight out of an English undergraduate program. Both will approach a PhD with different motivations and expectations.

At the heart of what a writer wants from a program—a deepening and refining of his personal voice—is an elusive thing, a thing that most program administrators and faculty will say cannot be taught. Quite the same thing can be said about a writer’s potential. These are things which ultimately a writer must discover for himself through his own journey and his own effort. So if it is true that no writing program has direct access to these things, it begs the question as to what it can offer.

Writers can be skeptical of the practicality of a PhD in Creative Writing. As a terminal degree, it is a seemingly precarious monetary investment with no promise of a return. Writers might rightfully question whether the tremendous time and energy that goes into the degree is worthwhile. Will the investment pay off in the form of improved craft?

4. Publishing Opportunities for PhD Graduates in Creative Writing

Opportunities for those with advanced degrees in creative writing are expanding, but there is a constant low-key debate about whether or not to require a PhD or MFA to teach creative writing. Though the push to obtain a higher degree is usually focused on the teaching profession, occasional opportunities do arise for MFA holders to teach creative writing or to engage in literary publishing; these are usually the result of faculty turnover at the graduate or undergraduate level. MFAs who are affiliated with AWP (the Association of Writers and Writing Programs) often find employment in their writing field at the community college level; teaching developmental writing or composition and working part-time at local 4-year colleges/universities to supplement their income and support their writing habits. A PhD in CW can offer teaching opportunities at the post-secondary level, but also writing and research opportunities within non-profit, government and private sectors. Publishing opportunities for CW PhD graduates may be the most advantageous element of their degree; after teaching and training work has been done in the academic field, a creative writer with a PhD has a wealth of publication options with which to utilize their acquired skills.

5. Career Prospects and Opportunities with a PhD in Creative Writing

The Ph.D. will offer the most career opportunities to those who are versatile writers and scholars. A common situation for the versatile writer is one in which he or she wishes to continue working in creative writing, but also wants a career that will offer more financial stability. A Ph.D. qualifies writers for many adjunct teaching positions, as well as curriculum writing at various educational levels. These are jobs that can be done part time and on the side of a full time job in another field, and they are also good fallback positions in the event that a writer cannot sustain a career in creative writing. Finally, the Ph.D. enables writers to work in the field of literary studies. This is perhaps not the most desired career for creative writers, yet there are many writers who also have an interest in studying and writing about literature. A research career in literary criticism can be a satisfying way of using one’s writing and analytical abilities, and it is also a very secure career since writing is a requirement for all academic professionals and research grants are often available.

Many creative writers are drawn to jobs in the entertainment industry. A teaching career can provide a writer with a steady source of income while he or she is working on creative projects, and a career in some facet of the entertainment industry can provide writers with a way of writing creatively as a full time job. Despite the increasingly global nature of our world, the U.S. is still where the most creative writing is being done in film, and it is also the leader in the video game industry. A large portion of creative writing teaching jobs are available due to the popularity of various forms of media and entertainment, and a considerable number of our graduates were hired on the basis of their MFA to teach video game design. That type of job is still possible with a Ph.D., which may also be a way to obtain employment in writing for video games. Other Ph.D. recipients may find work in screenwriting or writing for television, yet as previously mentioned, the most significant reason behind such employment is the financial incentive it provides for creative writing. A wealthy writer can more easily spend time doing what he or she most wants to do.

College or university teaching is the most desired career of our graduates and a Ph.D. is a requirement for a teaching position in creative writing. At Cal State LA, our graduates have had great success in obtaining tenure-track positions. With many M.A. graduates on the faculty job market, we understand that positions are becoming increasingly scarce. Despite this climate, we believe that within the next decade there will be a significant increase in tenure track jobs for creative writers with Ph.Ds. This is due to the impending retirements of large numbers of faculty in this relatively new field and it is also due to the increasing recognition of the value of a Ph.D. in its contributions to literary studies. An MFA in creative writing is considered a terminal degree, and thus a large portion of the people who obtain MFAs have long term goals of obtaining college teaching jobs, while other MFA graduates currently teaching will eventually seek a Ph.D. in order to maintain relevancy in an increasingly competitive environment.

Having a Ph.D. in creative writing and literature can create a pathway to a number of careers. Some of these careers will include college teaching and writing. With a Ph.D. in creative writing, graduates have gone on to further study in prestigious MFA programs, or they have gone on to contribute to their communities and professional organizations through their teaching and writing. Graduates teaching creative writing can also find employment in various sectors of the entertainment industry; such employment often provides significant financial incentives for writers who can also find the time to write creatively. Finally, our Ph.D. recipients gain specialized knowledge and writing power that enables them to contribute to a range of fields outside teaching and creative writing.