Creative Writing Major

• What is Creative Writing?
• What Kinds of Students Major in Creative Writing?
• What Courses Do Creative Writing Majors Take?
• List of Creative Writing Jobs
• What is the Median Salary Range for Creative Writing Careers?
• College and University Departments to Consider

What is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a relatively new major. Creative writing majors obtain the skills and methodologies needed to write original works of poetry, prose, scripts and stories. Students read and write extensively. Creative writing helps students sharpen their creativity through exercises and examples. Most creative writing programs emphasize contact with practicing writers and employ teachers who themselves are recognized as successful writers.

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What Kinds of Students Major in Creative Writing?

Students must enjoy writing and they must be creative. Additionally, students need to want to learn the English language in its written form. Students that are interested in writing and expressing their thoughts enjoy this major.

Is Creative Writing the right major for you?
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What Courses Do Creative Writing Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for Creative Writing majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

Contemporary Poetry	Creative Non-Fiction
Fiction	Journalism
Plays	Playwriting
Poetry Workshop	Scriptwriting
The Craft of Writing

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List of Potential Jobs in Creative Writing

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Author	Film Script Writer
Journalist	Magazine Writer
Newspaper Writer/Editor	Novelist
Playwright	Poet
Teacher

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What is the Median Salary Range for Creative Writing Careers?

Actual expected salaries will vary depending on your chosen career path, experience, and even your geographic location. Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Colleges and Universities offering majors in Creative Writing

MyMajors complete list has 312 schools in the USA with a major in Creative Writing.
-View the national listing!

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