Imagine crafting a fantasy world that rivals Middle Earth from nothing but an idea. How about constructing a poem so poignant it makes tears prickle in the eyes of everyone who reads it?
Creative writing is a beautiful art that has the real ability to influence the thoughts and feelings of the people who interact with it.
Of course, writing novels and poems aren’t the only things that creative writers do!
Read on to find out about different creative writing courses and programmes you can study, what jobs you can pursue, and how to constantly improve your writing!
Creative Writing Basics
Before we proceed, let’s talk about what creative writing is.
Creative writing is a member of the fine arts category and focuses on conveying information that the reader finds entertaining and engaging. It is fundamentally different from technical or academic writing which focuses on being precise, clear, and providing factual information.
While you can still convey facts, figures, and technical information when writing creatively, the difference is that instead of only presenting that information in a cut-and-dry way, you’re making it interesting for the reader.
Creative Writing Jobs
Creative writing lends itself to many vocations. Some jobs will require a formal education like an undergraduate (bachelor), postgraduate (master), or doctorate degree. Others may require some certification, but not necessarily a creative writing degree.
Some jobs don’t require any formal education, only adequate work. If you have a penchant for creative writing, you can start pursuing these money-making avenues whenever you’d like!
Requires Degree
- Teacher / professor
- Comic book / graphic novel writer
- Video game writer (write the dialogue and story for a video game)
- Speechwriter
- Ghostwriter
- Essayist
- Copywriter
- Creative writing coach / tutor / workshop leader
- Journalist / columnist / article writer
- Critic / reviewer (some industries)
- Speciality writer (some industries)
- Public relations
- Content, social media, marketing, or advertising manager or executive
Does Not Require a Degree
- Greeting card author
- Lyricist
- Legacy writer
- Personal poet
- Write sleep stories or meditations for a voiceover artist
- Content writer
- Critic / reviewer (some industries)
- Speciality writer (some industries)
- Blogger
- Commissioned short fiction writer
There are a lot of niches out there that require creative writers. Many corporations and companies will hire in-house writers, whether they’re technical writers, columnists, essayists, copywriters, content writers, speechwriters, marketing or ad writers, or PR writers. This means you’ll work for one company and create things only for them.
Another option would be to work for a writing firm that provides services to other people or companies. In this case, you might work for a different client, writing about a different thing, every week. You’re still employed by a company, but who you write for may change.
The last option is freelance or independent contracting. You can choose what jobs to take on a case-by-case basis, vet your clients, set your own rates, and essentially work for yourself to either provide services to others or work on your own projects.
Many people combine freelance with a career so they can make a little more money on the side by working on creative projects that are maybe a little more interesting than their full-time job.
When you are a freelance creative writer, you can provide services at your own pace, and you have many outlets to do them! You can set up a shop on an online platform, set yourself up at an arts and crafts fair, or create a website of your own to allow clients to contact you.
“[As a writer] you have to have the three D’s: drive, discipline and desire. If you’re missing any one of those three, you can have all the talent in the world, but it’s going to be really hard to get anything done.”
Nora Roberts
Creative Writing Programmes and Courses in Universities
When pursuing a creative writing degree, you want to make sure to choose a program that fits your vision. While universities and courses are objectively ranked in order, your subjective experience is more important. Even the number one program in the world won’t do you much good if it’s focused on giving you the tools to become a fantasy novelist and you want to be a historical fiction author. You might be able to figure it out yourself, but wouldn’t it be better to study in a program that suits you more adequately?
Here are some of the (objectively) best writing programs in the world. But make sure to do your own research, too!
University of Cambridge (Master of Studies in Creative Writing)
This programme aims to have given students the chance to develop their own writing and self-editing skills in a range of fiction and non-fiction genres and understand the history of fiction and non-fiction writing, as well as critical theory.
There are four modules in the first year:
- Writing for readers: the art of poetry and the craft of criticism
- Writing fiction: imagined worlds
- Writing for performance: monologue and polyphonic scripts
- Writing life: creative non-fiction
The second year is spent on an independent study with a final portfolio review at the end of the year.
This is a part-time-only course and is not available for online studies.
The cost of the two-year course for foreign students is £29,750 (AUD 55,506).
Columbia University School of the Arts (Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing, Master of Fine Arts in Writing)
The undergraduate degree programme features rigorous writing workshops at all levels in fiction, literary nonfiction, poetry, dramatic writing, and screenwriting.
The programme aims to help students develop and hone their literary technique in workshops and creative writing seminars and give students historical context to the various ways that language has been used to make art.
Students can choose to major in a Single Genre (Poetry, Fiction, or Nonfiction) or Cross-Genre (a combination of two genres).
The cost of the undergraduate degree is $85,352 + Travel + Fees (AUD 127,651) per academic year (two terms).
The graduate MFA programme features editors, publishers, agents, and other literary professionals who participate in the classes, panels, and informal discussions. Current students serve as interns at magazines such as The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and Parnassus, and at literary presses and organizations such as Archipelago Press, PEN, Poets & Writers. Students also have opportunities to work as research assistants to writers who also serve as mentors, such as Alan Burdick, William Finnegan, Tim Weiner and Brenda Wineapple.
The cost of the MFA degree for the first two years is $76,177 + Fees (AUD 113,929) per academic year (two terms). Then, it is $12,539 + Fees (AUD 18,753) per academic year for the third and fourth years, which are for academic research.
Scholarships may be available through the University, and you can also apply outside scholarships to your tuition.
University of Sydney (Master of Creative Writing)
This programme aims to help students gain a deep understanding of theories and histories of writing and develop the core skills of writing, structuring and editing. The programme focuses on developing your core skills in professional writing, structuring and editing of fiction, non-fiction, poetry and other forms of writing.
You will complete core units in the fundamentals of creative writing and research, in addition to elective units from across the University including two workshop selective units.
Finally, you will complete a capstone unit where you will undertake a creative dissertation or project as a self-study.
It is a 1.5-year course if taken full-time.
The cost is $30,500 per academic year.
You may be eligible for a commonwealth supported place (CSP) subsidy when you apply. You can also apply for scholarships through the University.
Need assistance getting qualified to be a University candidate? You can find VCE English tutors on Superprof.
Other Ways to Learn Creative Writing
There are plenty of workshops, boot camps and tutors available to help you study and learn creative writing.
You can find online and in-person resources in (almost) any part of the world! So, even if you’re travelling, you can still enrol in an online course.
Check out these resources to see if any are a right fit for you!
Certificate Programmes
University of Sydney (Graduate Diploma in Creative Writing)
This 1-year course invites you to explore and develop your skills in fiction, non-fiction, screenwriting, poetry and more.
The cost is $30,500 per academic year.
University of Sydney (Graduate Certificate in Creative Writing)
This course aims to help students explore and develop their skills in fiction, non-fiction, screenwriting, poetry and more. Throughout these studies students will gain a deep understanding of theories and histories of writing.
The cost is $15,250 per academic year.
In-Person Workshops
- The Writer’s Studio
- The Writing Workshop
- Search Eventbrite for individual events
Online Workshops
- Australian Writers Centre
- The Writer’s Studio
- Open Universities Australia
Tutors and Coaches
Where to find a writing tutor or coach:
- In your local newspaper or community bulletin
- On websites like Superprof where you can find English tutors who can meet in-person and online
- Word-of-mouth
- Through your school or university
- Through a local youth program
Exercises to Improve Creative Writing
Whether you’re enrolled in a creative writing programme or not, you can benefit from utilising techniques and practices that help you to build on your writing skills. Try these tips to work on your writing on your own!
- Research Your Topic
- Read
- Write Daily
- Utilise Writing Prompts
- Try a Different Medium
- Practice “Show, Don’t Tell”
- Write at Odd Hours of the Day
- Take a Surveillance Field Trip
- Write a Scene From All Angles
- “Wonder Out Loud”
As a creative writer, you have an expansive world of opportunities awaiting you!
Explore English tutoring online for a private, personalised tutor to help you level-up your writing fast!
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