McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Maybe an English degree is a must?
arianne:
Yes, I was referring to BA English and/or creative writing courses, not just high school English or even college freshmen English courses. I mean a degree or a course that focuses entirely on the writing of a creative work (and not just the grammar or the SAT words of a language).
Language itself carries so much more than just the things we get tested on in high school--it contains elements of culture and modes of thinking and whatnot. (For example, a joke that works in English may fall flat or even be offensive in Spanish). Knowing a language, speaking it fluently, and having a lot of vocab doesn't necessarily make a good writer.
Sully:
Off the top of my head, Elizabeth Moon has degrees in history and biology. None in English.
I think you see so many authors with English degrees because somebody in love with literature and a creative bent isn't likely to go after a science degree. Moon excepted. ;)
Going one step farther, you get better at writing by writing, not doing lab report math.
--- Quote from: Shecky on April 19, 2013, 02:23:40 PM ---It may sound odd coming from me (I was not far from becoming a permanent student), but degrees mean nothing in and of themselves. What matters is innate ability + study (be it guided or otherwise, as long as it's done intelligently and fully) + practice. Yes, those often occur among those who choose advanced study in the field, but it's not a MUST-have.
--- End quote ---
Yeah, music degrees aren't hard, just work. Gotta put the time in practicing, that is all. IF you've got the talent to start with. Very very very few people fail their recital(fail the recital, no degree-no matter what your grades are). You pretty much figure out if you can hack it well before then. I'd imagine the other arts are the same.
the neurovore of Zur-En-Aargh:
--- Quote from: Sully on May 10, 2013, 01:17:48 AM ---I think you see so many authors with English degrees because somebody in love with literature and a creative bent isn't likely to go after a science degree.
--- End quote ---
And then again, you see genre writers like Gregory Benford and Alison Sinclair who are working academic scientists, and I am a working scientist with strong love for writing and aspirations to write professionally myself.
Quantus:
--- Quote from: Sully on May 10, 2013, 01:17:48 AM ---I think you see so many authors with English degrees because somebody in love with literature and a creative bent isn't likely to go after a science degree. Moon excepted. ;)
--- End quote ---
You've obviously never played DnD ;)
The Deposed King:
--- Quote from: Quantus on May 21, 2013, 03:31:30 PM ---You've obviously never played DnD ;)
--- End quote ---
Going where Dragon's fear to tread, eh Quantus? Neuro delights in taking such statements and tearing them apart!
The Deposed King
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