My Experience Studying Creative Writing

After studying creative writing for four and a half year and completing two degrees, a Master of Creative Writing, Editing and Publishing, and a Bachelor of Arts specialising in Professional and Creative Writing, I am free from formal education. I’m now finding myself reflecting on this time and whether dedicating so much time and effort to studying writing was worth it.

Overall I loved my time at university, but four questions keep crossing my mind: What were the benefits to studying creative writing? What were the negatives? What would I do with hindsight?

Let’s start with the good stuff: what were the benefits?

First of all, I loved it when I really got into the short stories I’d have to write for assignments. When this happened it never felt like I was studying, and often I had to remind myself to stop writing so I wouldn’t go over the word limit.

One of the best parts was being surrounded by so many other writers, and creatives in general. It was very helpful when I was stuck with something in a story and my peers were able to help me out. It also created an environment where creative ideas flowed and stories were developed my groups of people. I always felt creatively energised after a great class. I was also very lucky with my undergrad cohort because everyone was super encouraging, there wasn’t any competitiveness.

I very quickly learnt how to take criticism on board, especially when it hurt, and use it to improve my writing. I also learnt how to choose which feedback would strengthen my pieces and which wouldn’t.

One of the biggest benefits was definitely developing my writing skills. I’d be very worried if this wasn’t a benefit. Over the years I’ve come to know what I do well in writing, where I can improve, the themes I often write about and how and when I write most effectively. All of my tutors constantly told us how important it is to be able to write on que, not just when we feel like it. This was pushed a great deal, and as a result, most of the time I can write on que.

Another benefit of studying writing was being taught my people who work in the industry. I had tutors who had published books, had bestsellers, work at big publishing houses and had extensive knowledge in writing, editing and publishing.

What were the negatives of studying creative writing?

There were times when I had to workshop my stories with peers who hadn’t learnt how to give feedback respectfully. This led to some awful incidents that I never want to relive, but only happened on occasion. Most peers were great.

The biggest negative, and something I’m still trying to recover from is that the fun of writing slipped away over time. I didn’t realise this until the end of my Masters. Writing became something I had to do, not something I wanted to do. My thesis supervisor told me that the most important thing about my thesis was that I had fun, had fun writing it and with the story. There were a few things that led to writing not being as fun as I once found it:

• My undergrad wanted us to only write literary fiction, which made me think that all my stories had to be super highbrow

• Constantly having to come up with new ideas, which I’ve always struggled with

• The pressure of grades and having to meet certain criteria

These are not permanent, and I’m consciously reminding myself why I love writing and asking sure that I write whatever I want. It doesn’t have to be perfect and I don’t have to write for other people. I’ve decided to write for my self and if other people like it, great, if not, oh well.

Would I have studied creative writing knowing what I know now?

Short answer, yes, but not in the same way. In my undergrad I would’ve majored in history (I was tossing up whether to study writing or history once I finished school) and then completed the same Masters degree.

Studying history initially would’ve expanded my knowledge and would have helped inform my writing more, and studying the same Masters degree, but the two year program, not the year and half program I did, would have given me the same creative writing skills and knowledge that my four and half years did.