Graduate School: Taking Writing to the Next Level

So, you’ve just graduated from an undergraduate program in university. You’ve dedicated the past few years of your life to maxing out your academic profile with an honours degree in English. Throughout these rewarding years of post-secondary education, you’ve developed a growing interest for creative writing, considering it as a focus when choosing your courses for each semester. The question that will probably arise at this point is: Do I want to find easy work at the local McDonald’s while I strenuously search for a job in my field, or is there something more that I can do? Well, if fast-food isn’t your strong suit, another option is graduate school. Why not take that interest in creative writing and put it to use in order to further your education?

It is important to remember that graduate school is not the type of decision that one should make without some thorough thought. There are a number of reasons for one to attend a graduate program besides the fact that they are heavily interested in their area of study, such as better pay and more job opportunities, and all of these reasons should be taken into account before making the final decision. For more information on this matter, visit the following link:

http://www.embark.com/articles/Pages/WhyGotoGraduateSchool.aspx.

            If graduate school is absolutely something that you would like to pursue, you’re probably wondering which schools offer these programs for creative writing. There are a number of schools throughout Canada that can be considered, stretching from University of Toronto to University of British Columbia. However, one doesn’t even need to leave the Maritimes to complete a graduate degree in creative writing; these programs are offered at University of New Brunswick as well. Visit this link for information, such as course options, how to apply, and financial aid: http://www.unb.ca/fredericton/arts/departments/english/creativewriting/index.html.

            Graduate school is a commitment that can’t be taken lightly. It involves plenty of hard work and a number of years of one’s life; however, when taken seriously, it can be one of the most rewarding decisions you will make.   

Writing: Stick to it!

As a hopeful writer, passionate in the art of the written word, I have often thought to myself “What the hell am I going to do with writing?” If you talk to any non-writer in the world, it seems they will ask you the same question. Usually, the conversation proceeds as follows: “What would you like to do after you graduate?” 
Me: “Honestly, I would really like to pursue a career in writing.” 
Other person: “Oh... And when that fails?”

"Really dude?"

It seems as though no one wants us to be writers anymore. It’s one of those jobs where, unless you are producing the next Harry Potter saga, people tend not to care. Or they think they don't care. What people fail to realize almost every time is that writing is a fundamental part of almost all jobs, and it just happens that having a passion for it usually means you’re good at it. Behind a brilliant politician, is a writer hearing his speech performed. In a commercial, someone somewhere is listening to the line that they wrote.

Writing is not limited to creativity, and being a good writer can get you so far. I know from my own experience that having a “power with words” can really progress you through a career, even if that career only happens to be a summer job.

I love writing. Even if I don’t end up being the next J.K. Rowling, why should I let that get in the way of my passion? There are many careers such as journalism, magazines, publishing, teaching, and even being a professor for a creative writing class, which can accent your love of writing. Yet no matter the job, just having the ability to write well will work tremendously in your favor.

I believe wholeheartedly that if you believe in something strong enough, it will happen.Don't let those non-writers bring you down. As my mother would always say, they're just jealous!

"Thanks Mom!"