From birthday cards to school papers, writing has been my passion for as long as I can remember. While my peers dreaded a surprise essay in AP literature on Monday morning, I enjoyed it and secretly hoped for them as they would replace the Shakespeare we would read. Despite my passion, the question of what career this major provides followed me to college as I chose to major in advertising rather than creative writing. To me, passion is an important thing that many people spend years trying to find. Despite opposing opinions, I am writing this to explain why creative writing is a valuable major.
When you think about it, writing is everywhere. Yes, in creative writing classes, you are often told to curate your own stories; however, outside the classroom opens doors to creative copy in advertisements, captions on companies’ social posts, or online blogs. It is a common belief that if someone majors in creative writing, they will not become a best-selling author shortly after graduating. Yes, this may be true, however, that should not be the main focus when you choose this major. Above was a short list of other opportunities that utilize writing in the workforce. The common thread linking each job is the creativity it requires. Majoring in creative writing gives you a leg up with a specific job like that because creativity cannot be taught. It’s a skill that comes with a major that does not have one correct answer, like calculus, and it opens up a world of possibilities.
Creative writing encourages you to take a million thoughts in your head and write them down on paper in a way that others will not only understand but will remain engaged throughout the read. As someone whose hand cannot keep up with her mind’s racing thoughts, I believe that this is a valuable skill that other majors do not provide.
The focus of other majors is not learning; it is memorization. Last spring, I was enrolled in business calculus. I can say that I ended with an A because I had to memorize how to solve problems. If I had to take that exam again right now, I would end up failing because I did not learn a skill; I memorized it to pass and then allowed that information to be clear of my brain. With creative writing, the whole idea is learning to improve, not just absorbing information for one test that will immediately leave your brain after the fact. When I graduate, I want to say that I learned a lot in college rather than only passed my tests.
This is a major that also focuses a lot on communication with classmates. As I said, creative writing is not my major but my passion. I have loved the setup of my writing classes more than the setup of my huge lecture halls. Being in a smaller classroom allows you to learn about your classmates and form relationships that will help develop your writing career. Being in workshops with your classmates where you are able to talk to them as a friend allows for more precise feedback that feels more conversational rather than a dig at the work you just spent hours editing before submission.
Creative writing is a valuable major that provides many opportunities other majors do not. Passion is essential and will ultimately drive you to succeed; therefore, if writing is your passion, you should consider a creative writing major.
Logann Abramson is an advertising Major and English Minor at Florida state university. When not at school or work you can find her hanging out with friends, trying new restaurants, or writing. Her passion for writing stemmed at a young age and she hopes to land a job in the creative field.
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