George Said:

What college major is best for a writing career?

We Answered:

You're talking about a bachelor's degree here? My advice is stick with English. Any and every writer needs to read and read and read if they're to really know their craft. Depending on the college/university that you're attending, there may be specific courses offered that will give you a preview of various writing jobs (playwrighting is a great choice, for example, if you're interested in being a screenwriter). A novelist is a different animal altogether from so-called entertainment writing. Still, English is the major that will expose you to the greatest variety in writing. Journalism courses are recommended, as well, but majoring in this area wouldn't make sense unless this is the specific sort of writing you're interested in. Good luck!

Francisco Said:

Having a career in writing? Is this a decent degree to obtain?

We Answered:

To become an excellent writer, you have to know from where great writing came. Some of the best authors have literature degrees. You will read the great writers and poets that you would otherwise not read with other degrees.

For example, no journalism or writing student would ever study these authors and their work:

Pain, form, writing = Audre Lorde, poet
Craft, process, internal monologue = Virginia Woolf, modern/post modern
rhythm, craft, rhyme = Alexander Pope

As a good writer, you need to be a carnivore. Read it, immerse yourself in the work, and familiarize yourself with the authors' lives.

Recently, I was saw a scene from a very popular James Cameron movie. He wrote the script and a line jumped right out at me. Why? It was in iambic pentameter. Even great directors and screenplay writers refer to time tested dialogue modalities when an important line must reach the audience.

Submit your writing to every legitimate writing contest there is (most sponsored by universities). Once you win, you will secure a good agent and hopefully, we will all be reading your novels or watching your work on the big screen.

Good luck

Randall Said:

Are you currently pursuing a writing career and if so, how is it going?

We Answered:

I have many friends who are professional writers. Even my friends who have had novels published by well-known publishing houses and what not still have full-time jobs (teaching at universities, working at nonprofits in proposal writing, writing technical manuals, etc.). They consider themselves lucky to have jobs that are somewhat creative in order to support their "real" love.

They all write regularly, as though they have deadlines to meet. They have a schedule to finish short stories and novels. They have a set time of day to write at least five days a week. If someone says, "I'd like to read something you have written," they have at least three finished short stories or novel chapters to share. They are all members of writer's groups, in order to "test" their material.

If you have short stories or finished chapters of a novel, you should be submitting them to literary magazines sponsored by universities and nonprofit foundations (don't fall for Internet scams claiming to publish things for you). You should join a writer's group (or form one yourself with other writers) and regularly meet and share your materials with each other and critique each other's material. Your group can get together read material in public (many small bars are willing to sponsor a "writer's night" once a month where people read their work). A writer's group helps you network with other writers, understand "the biz," and get your own work critiqued.

Monica Said:

how does one start a career writing pieces for big magazines?

We Answered:

I'm in the same situation, except I've come up with a plan to work my way up to the top and eventually reach my goal of becoming an editor-in-chief of a top women's magazine. First of all, if she wants to work with magazines, majoring in journalism is ideal. I'm majoring in communications with a minor in English. Second, she should join the newspaper/magazine staff at her school to get a small taste of the journalism world. If she's somehow unable to do so, find a local magazine and apply to become an intern. If that doesn't work out, just ask if they need any assistance. Even if she's making copies or getting coffee for someone, she's still establishing connections and getting a feel for the magazine environment. The one thing I've been told over and over again, is that making connections is very important in this business. When you know the right people, you can work your way to the top much faster. She should also start submitting her writing to local newspapers/magazines. After getting involved in journalism locally and around campus, she should look into serious internship programs offered at her school. Also, she needs to look into applying for internships at big-name magazines like Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Teen Vogue, etc. If she gets involved in local newspapers/magazines around school and the city, she will have excellent things to put on her resume. I don't know where she is attending college, but maybe after her first or second year, consider relocating somewhere where most of the fashion magazine headquarters are (New York). I'm attending school in Texas, but am transferring after this year to a college in New York City. She needs to remember that everyone who works for fashion magazines started somewhere small and climbed up the ladder to their dream job. A lot of the editor-in-chiefs for fashion magazines worked for magazines like Home and Garden, and Child. Even though they weren't working in the fashion industry neccesarily, they still worked for a magazine and got their feet out the door from doing so. Well, good luck, and if she puts her mind to it, she can do it. Maybe someday we will be working together at Vogue or Elle. :)

Herbert Said:

If atheists dont believe in God, why do so many of them make a career writing about God? ?

We Answered:

Well, they see so many theists earning truckloads of money writing about a God that doesn't exist, and they want in on the action. Can't say I blame them.

Carol Said:

Can anyone offer advice on starting a writing career?

We Answered:

Here is all the advise you need - NEVER STOP WRITING, ALWAYS WRITE.

That's the first and most important thing to do. Then you should freelance - it's quite easy to do. Send your work into different magazines and periodicals. As far as a regular gig, well I supposed there are different routes - also depends on what you want to do. Starting out at a small paper is a great thing to do then as you become more proficient and experienced - you can move up the ladder (to big papers or to a magazine). This is what I heard as being the best way to go about.

Remember - your not going to write for the NY Times or Newsweek the day you graduate from college. However, you can right for the Topeka Gazette or Naperville News (IL) out of school. JUST DON'T STOP WRITING - THAT HAS BEEN MY MISTAKE OVER THE YEARS.

Monica Said:

If I want a career writing for a magazine, do I need a degree in English or something?

We Answered:

Maybe no