When I tell people that I’m a writing major, the response is always a resounding, “Oh, cool.” It’s never enthusiastic, or if it is, it reeks of insincerity. And lately, after having gone through those motions so many times, I find myself quickly admitting that I know it’s not a smart choice, that I know I should have a back-up plan, and saying all those things that your parents tell you when you seemingly doom yourself to the life of a starving artist. I think I was probably starting to believe it all. So then why am I here, sitting in my dorm room writing this article, attending an expensive college, studying writing? How do I reconcile my passion with my “impractical” decision?
My primary goal here is obviously to learn--to learn how to be a better writer. You can argue that writing (or any art) is something that can’t be taught, that one requires an inherent talent if they wish to be successful in such an endeavor. But while inherent talent is a boon to any art, knowledge is even more essential. As high school English classes taught us, there are formulas and structures for how to write academically, and as you branch out and learn to write creatively, it becomes evident that there are also conventions of storytelling that can guide a well-crafted piece. That being said, you don’t need to follow these rules, but awareness of them can provide a better understanding of how to break the mold. After all, you have to know the rules before you can break them. In this sense, a writing degree provides this knowledge, provides a better understanding of how writing works, and how to bend language to your whim.
An important aspect of studying writing in a college environment is the exposure to others like myself, fellow burgeoning writers who are still discovering their voices and learning how to perfect their craft. I can’t even begin to describe how much I appreciate the workshopping process in any given writing class. Being able to give and receive feedback is something you can’t find normally, as writing is typically a solitary act. Being surrounded by and learning from people who are in the same position as you, pursuers of their passion, is incredibly invigorating. It’s bolstered my creativity and inspired me to hone my skills, and is teaching me to think about writing in different ways. I learn as much from my peers as I do from my professors.
More important than the objective benefits of a college writing program is, of course, personal preference. In the face of adversity, writing majors decide to take the chance of creative fulfillment rather than potential financial stability. These are generally the dividing factors when making a decision as important as a career path. These decisions might seem equally good, positive in some ways and negative in others, but neither really wins out over the other. What tips the scale is the meaning you put behind each choice. What will give you the most satisfaction? Sometimes people ignore this question out of fear, which is often the main motivation in such monumental decisions. But should it be? It’s my naïve, young, uninformed opinion that passion should prevail.
When I was young, my elementary school class would visit the library once a week. I perused the shelves with my neck craned, slowly reading every title of every book I passed. The library was colorful, popping with vibrant blues and yellows and greens, like some oasis in the middle of a desert. I was only allowed to pick out two books to take home for every visit, which I’d finish in the next couple of days. Those days I spent engrossed in worlds that did not truly exist, but had become real in my mind: the power of writing and imagination. While I waited for the next library visit to come, I’d spend time writing stories of my own, stapling together large stacks of loose-leaf paper and scribbling out tall tales with my dull pencil. They weren’t good. Heck, I don’t think I even finished a single one. But nonetheless, I craved that escape, and I longed to create an escape of my own. And years later after improving my writing abilities (I think) I still long for creating that escape.
Why did I choose to be a writing major? Because gosh dang, I love it, that’s why.
