Anyone a creative writing major?

[Car Crash Dream]

I've always loved english class, writing papers, debating, stories, whatever. Currently I am doing aerospace engineering, but it is really boring, we just today received our first project to design a spacecraft that can carry a satellite and deposit it in a low earth orbit. Anyway, I have been considering either Astrophysics or Creative Writing. So, I ask, is anyone on this site a creative writing/something similar major? If so, what is it like, what kind of classes are you taking, is it more analyzing literature (like reading novels and writing papers about how the author used so and so technique to his advantage) or is it writing papers trying to prove something about the novel, like a problem in society the author is trying to shed light on? do you focus on classical or modern literature? what about film and tv?

lots of questions, i know, sorry.

[odizzle_word]

I'm an English major with a Creative Writing minor. English classes are a lot of reading and analyzing rhetoric, language, historical/cultural significance, etc., then writing papers about that stuff. Creative Writing classes, on the other hand, are workshops of about 15 kids where we write stories (fiction or non-fiction depending on which workshop you're in) and then critique them. There's also a little bit of assigned reading in the creative writing classes, but we don't write about what we've read, more of just studying the authors' writing methods and seeing how we could integrate similar techniques into our own works.

[The Personist]

I'm an English Literature and Theatre double major. I guess I can't comment specifically on a Creative Writing major, but as someone who wants to be a writer, I can say that the amount of reading you'll do as an English major will be invaluable. Classes tend to analyze both the structure (the techniques used by the writer) and the content (what the writer was trying to say, why it was significant, etc.) You'll probably talk about how the content and the form reinforce and inform one another in the context of any given work of writing; in other words, it's a bit of both the things you asked about. At least where I go to school, the focus is very broad. we're required to take 4 pre-1900 Lit classes to be able to graduate in the major, but the classes run the gamut.

I hope this was helpful.

[The Personist]

Oh, yeah, workshops, right. I took a general creative writing workshop last semester, and am now in an upper-level poetry class. You basically discuss what you've read and critique each other's writing. We have to keep a blog for the class about what we read, too, though that's probably more particular to my professor than to those kinds of classes in general.

[Car Crash Dream]

Thank you both, I am so glad they weren't just single statement throw-the-dog-a-bone answers. They were both helpful. I was hoping it was a little of both. Do either of you know any schools that are well known for having a good creative writing degree, and aren't particularly expensive?

[I am Mick]

I'm not officially (declared) a creative writing major yet until I can transfer (hoping for Pitt) but i've just taken every english class I can so far at my community college and some film study stuff, along with the required math bullshit and what not.

[sargentlgfuad]

I hate english class, but i creative writing is a possible major i'm looking at.
Is that dumb?

[odizzle_word]

I hate english class, but i creative writing is a possible major i'm looking at.
Is that dumb?

I don't think that's dumb at all. Some people just like writing their own stories/poetry and not about the work of others.

[Chancetobe]

Well, I would be if my school offered that, but they don't. Therefore I'm an English major who takes a lot of creative writing classes. I tend to think that English classes where you analyze literature is bullshit. It's really just making things up. But I couldn't enjoy my creative writing courses more, and, it actually makes it worth it for me to sit in on all the shitty normal english classes that are required. A lot of the courses are workshops, where everyone can voice their opinion on your work. It's really helpful, and I actually look forward to doing my homework. The only difficult thing, is sometimes creativity just doesn't come out.

[I am Mick]

The only difficult thing, is sometimes creativity just doesn't come out.

I've self-published a book in highschool, constantly write, been published on a bunch of online places (had a piece featured on AbsoluteINK, which I miss on this site haha) and failed my high school creative writing class because I had a month long dry spell. Absolutely terrible haha

[Chancetobe]

I've self-published a book in highschool, constantly write, been published on a bunch of online places (had a piece featured on AbsoluteINK, which I miss on this site haha) and failed my high school creative writing class because I had a month long dry spell. Absolutely terrible haha

Yeah, I kind of wish they would start that up again. I've been writing a bit, just for classes, but I really like to get feedback on what I write, and my roomies are sick of doing it. They just kind of like everything, which isn't particularly helpful to me.

Also, huge props to you for writing enough to actually have a book. That's really awesome.

[I am Mick]

Yeah, I kind of wish they would start that up again. I've been writing a bit, just for classes, but I really like to get feedback on what I write, and my roomies are sick of doing it. They just kind of like everything, which isn't particularly helpful to me.

Also, huge props to you for writing enough to actually have a book. That's really awesome.

it was really short and not very good, working on my second collection of short stories and hoping to actually make something of it.
There was a writers thread in one of the forums where people would share and give feedback, but I can't find it anymore haha

[Chancetobe]

it was really short and not very good, working on my second collection of short stories and hoping to actually make something of it.
There was a writers thread in one of the forums where people would share and give feedback, but I can't find it anymore haha

I know, I did a search for it the other day, but to no avail. Perhaps we should make a new one. I loved reading what other people wrote. This site has some real talent.

[sargentlgfuad]

I don't think that's dumb at all. Some people just like writing their own stories/poetry and not about the work of others.
haha. ok. that's exactly how i feel. i like to write, read, and just try different types of writing activities on my own, but when it comes to english as a class I begin to change my mind about going into writing as a career.

[Chancetobe]

I'm writting this paper on Shakespeare right now. Biggest waste of time ever. I see no point in analyzing diction, ect. In English classes you can say almost anything and be right. I make stuff up all the time.

[cacophonous]

You seem to already have had your questions answered, but I'll throw in my experience as well.

I'm a creative writing major at a small liberal arts college. The major consists of taking a bunch of workshops from different genres (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, script writing). There's a beginning class of each genre, and then upper-level workshops. Beginning classes are a little more reading but still a big focus on every member of the class writing their own material. The upper-level workshops are intense. Only once a week, but from 7:30 pm to midnight. Fiction workshops require two stories per term per student and you read and critique everyone's. Since poems are generally shorter than the typical short story, those workshops require a lot more output. We also have to do a senior portfolio, where we go through our past work, review and revise it, as well as write about it. The rest of the major is literature classes, including one non-western, one focused on a single author, one before 1900, as well as a fine art class. Every student is required to give a reading sometime during their junior or senior year. There are also honors projects you can do (i.e., a student will write a manuscript of a collection of short stories or something, wide range of stuff you can do). Obviously, all programs will be different, but yeah, that's mine, so it's a little bit of both like you were looking for.

The big thing is, though, finding a creative writing program that's good and that has what you want from it. This usually doesn't come into play until grad school (and it's mainly an issue for fiction writers), but if you're interested in writing say, fantasy, you'll find a lot of schools aren't very receptive to it. Many of the most prestigious grad schools only allow literary fiction. Then again, there are other grad schools that let you do whatever you want, so long as it's good. I would highly recommend looking into a major in creative writing. It's obviously not going to lead to huge financial success (unless you're part of the .000001% of the lucky ones; your career will probably end up being teaching creative writing, which really, if you love it, isn't such a bad thing).

If it's something you love, then go for it. But it's really gotta be a big part of your life (I mean, unless you double-major in something that will lead to a better paying career!).

[Car Crash Dream]

You seem to already have had your questions answered, but I'll throw in my experience as well.

I'm a creative writing major at a small liberal arts college. The major consists of taking a bunch of workshops from different genres (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, script writing). There's a beginning class of each genre, and then upper-level workshops. Beginning classes are a little more reading but still a big focus on every member of the class writing their own material. The upper-level workshops are intense. Only once a week, but from 7:30 pm to midnight. Fiction workshops require two stories per term per student and you read and critique everyone's. Since poems are generally shorter than the typical short story, those workshops require a lot more output. We also have to do a senior portfolio, where we go through our past work, review and revise it, as well as write about it. The rest of the major is literature classes, including one non-western, one focused on a single author, one before 1900, as well as a fine art class. Every student is required to give a reading sometime during their junior or senior year. There are also honors projects you can do (i.e., a student will write a manuscript of a collection of short stories or something, wide range of stuff you can do). Obviously, all programs will be different, but yeah, that's mine, so it's a little bit of both like you were looking for.

The big thing is, though, finding a creative writing program that's good and that has what you want from it. This usually doesn't come into play until grad school (and it's mainly an issue for fiction writers), but if you're interested in writing say, fantasy, you'll find a lot of schools aren't very receptive to it. Many of the most prestigious grad schools only allow literary fiction. Then again, there are other grad schools that let you do whatever you want, so long as it's good. I would highly recommend looking into a major in creative writing. It's obviously not going to lead to huge financial success (unless you're part of the .000001% of the lucky ones; your career will probably end up being teaching creative writing, which really, if you love it, isn't such a bad thing).

If it's something you love, then go for it. But it's really gotta be a big part of your life (I mean, unless you double-major in something that will lead to a better paying career!).

I am not a fan of poetry. Is it possible to be a creative writing major without doing poetry?

[Dymytry Vance]

You seem to already have had your questions answered, but I'll throw in my experience as well.

I'm a creative writing major at a small liberal arts college. The major consists of taking a bunch of workshops from different genres (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, script writing). There's a beginning class of each genre, and then upper-level workshops. Beginning classes are a little more reading but still a big focus on every member of the class writing their own material. The upper-level workshops are intense. Only once a week, but from 7:30 pm to midnight. Fiction workshops require two stories per term per student and you read and critique everyone's. Since poems are generally shorter than the typical short story, those workshops require a lot more output. We also have to do a senior portfolio, where we go through our past work, review and revise it, as well as write about it. The rest of the major is literature classes, including one non-western, one focused on a single author, one before 1900, as well as a fine art class. Every student is required to give a reading sometime during their junior or senior year. There are also honors projects you can do (i.e., a student will write a manuscript of a collection of short stories or something, wide range of stuff you can do). Obviously, all programs will be different, but yeah, that's mine, so it's a little bit of both like you were looking for.

The big thing is, though, finding a creative writing program that's good and that has what you want from it. This usually doesn't come into play until grad school (and it's mainly an issue for fiction writers), but if you're interested in writing say, fantasy, you'll find a lot of schools aren't very receptive to it. Many of the most prestigious grad schools only allow literary fiction. Then again, there are other grad schools that let you do whatever you want, so long as it's good. I would highly recommend looking into a major in creative writing. It's obviously not going to lead to huge financial success (unless you're part of the .000001% of the lucky ones; your career will probably end up being teaching creative writing, which really, if you love it, isn't such a bad thing).

If it's something you love, then go for it. But it's really gotta be a big part of your life (I mean, unless you double-major in something that will lead to a better paying career!).
That sounds amazing.

[BrennanHickson]

it was really short and not very good, working on my second collection of short stories and hoping to actually make something of it.
There was a writers thread in one of the forums where people would share and give feedback, but I can't find it anymore haha
I know, I did a search for it the other day, but to no avail. Perhaps we should make a new one. I loved reading what other people wrote. This site has some real talent.
Here's the Official Writer's Thread (http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=552731). I think it's the thread you two are referencing.

[cacophonous]

That sounds amazing.

It is, absolutely. Not looking forward to it ending. Thus far it's been the most rewarding two years of my life.

I am not a fan of poetry. Is it possible to be a creative writing major without doing poetry?

Yeah. I mean, like I said, depends on the program, but at my school, your requirements are two beginning workshops (each from a different genre--so if poetry is out, that still leaves you with drama writing, fiction, and creative non-fiction) and three upper-level workshops (which can be from any genre you have taken a beginning workshop for). So long as you get your other requirements down, there's really no limit on how many workshops and how many different genres you can take.

You will undoubtedly have to read and analyze poetry in literature classes, and from what I remember when I was looking into different schools, most creative writing majors do require a good deal of lit classes. So reading poetry is probably unavoidable. But you for sure don't have to write poetry if you don't want (though I know there are some programs that do require both fiction and poetry, or have something like a "beginning creative writing" course, where you write in many genres... So my advice would be, if you really don't want to write poetry, look for a program that meets that requirement. However, it might not be such a bad thing to try out. I know a lot of people who came in thinking they were going to focus on fiction and ended up really loving and having a talent for poetry. So I wouldn't shut yourself off from the idea completely).

Look into as many programs as possible, and I don't just mean look at the English department web site... try to get in touch with some of the creative writing professors, see if you can sit in on classes, etc. Take tours, the whole deal.

[Dymytry Vance]

It is, absolutely. Not looking forward to it ending. Thus far it's been the most rewarding two years of my life.



Yeah. I mean, like I said, depends on the program, but at my school, your requirements are two beginning workshops (each from a different genre--so if poetry is out, that still leaves you with drama writing, fiction, and creative non-fiction) and three upper-level workshops (which can be from any genre you have taken a beginning workshop for). So long as you get your other requirements down, there's really no limit on how many workshops and how many different genres you can take.

You will undoubtedly have to read and analyze poetry in literature classes, and from what I remember when I was looking into different schools, most creative writing majors do require a good deal of lit classes. So reading poetry is probably unavoidable. But you for sure don't have to write poetry if you don't want (though I know there are some programs that do require both fiction and poetry, or have something like a "beginning creative writing" course, where you write in many genres... So my advice would be, if you really don't want to write poetry, look for a program that meets that requirement. However, it might not be such a bad thing to try out. I know a lot of people who came in thinking they were going to focus on fiction and ended up really loving and having a talent for poetry. So I wouldn't shut yourself off from the idea completely).

Look into as many programs as possible, and I don't just mean look at the English department web site... try to get in touch with some of the creative writing professors, see if you can sit in on classes, etc. Take tours, the whole deal.
Do you mind if you critique some of my writings? I'll send you two old ones if you'd be fine with critiquing them.

[eraserhead]

I'm an English major with emphasis on Lit right now, but I'm going to switch to Creative Writing soon. Realized Lit classes involve a lot of really fucking boring reading (IMO).