Education: Teaching Writers Writing

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Education: Teaching Writers Writing

Posted on October 12th, 2009 in Writing by Guy Hogan

Can writers be taught to write?

As a graduate student in the creative writing program at the University of Pittsburgh, I taught writing to undergraduates from 2004 to 2006. How valuable is a college education to a writer?

In my way of thinking a writer learns how to write in two ways: by being self-taught or by being self-taught combined with some sort of formal education. Having writing credits or a degree in writing can be a huge advantage to a writer, depending on how the writer uses this education.

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In 2006 I got my MFA in fiction writing from the University of Pittsburgh. The MFA course took three years. Some time during my second year I realized that what I was really being taught was not how to write short stories or how to write a novel but how to teach writing. My degree would qualify me to teach composition to undergraduates. I would be able to get a job.

A job is a very good thing, especially if you’re a writer. The thing is I don’t have the patience or the self-discipline to be a professor of writing. I’m too much of a gypsy. So now I’m an online freelance writer. I took early social security and started writing for Triond.

Is formal education beneficial to a writer? You better believe it is. A writer learns the mechanics of writing, something many self-taught writers do not take the time to do.

But no formal education can create the need to write, something many self-taught writers have plenty of.

Good writing is really up to the individual writer. If you’re self-taught, learn the mechanics. If you have the opportunity for some formal education, take it.

What kind of writer are you?

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Tags: composition, creative writing program, degree, education, MFA, social security, student, teach, teaching, Thinking, triond, University of Pittsburgh, write, Writers, Writing

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41 Responses to “Education: Teaching Writers Writing”

deep blue
October 12th, 2009 at 6:13 am

I’ll take your word for it. I’m pretty much like a gypsy type, not a dancer but more of a freelance writer. In writing my own struggles for a better article, I have found my way of life and my occupation is nothing much as a source of sure income to support this hobby. I still have that passion of seeing my name in front of a book as its writer….or more like it. Thanks for the share, Guy.
blackrockrose
October 12th, 2009 at 6:26 am

Since I started writing for Triond I find it absorbs more time than I really ought to give it, if I’m to cover all the other bases in my life. I guess that makes me someone who needs to write.
The college education helps writers with basics like grammar and punctuaton, which can be terribly distracting if not done properly, but a beautifully puntuated and perfectly grammatical piece of prose doth not a gripping piece of fiction make, or an interesting article.
This is a good one, however.
martie
October 12th, 2009 at 7:02 am

I think any educational background can help writer, not just a writing course. I got a degree in public speaking and interpersonal communications years ago and my very first job where I made money for writing was writing speeches for a mayor of a small city.

It was fun.
chitragopi
October 12th, 2009 at 7:10 am

If the mechanics are learnt, as you say, a writer will be able to do better in a short time. thanks for this useful suggestion.
Frances Lawrence
October 12th, 2009 at 8:09 am

Nice article. A university education does not necessarily teach people to spell or to punctuate correctly, but whatever the subject it should help them to grow in knowledge and experience. I think a broad based English degree is a very good starting point for someone who aspires to write.
Marie Antoinette
October 12th, 2009 at 8:16 am

I believe that writing comes from within, and many self taught writers are good writers, but I also believe that credentials open doors.
cutedrishti8
October 12th, 2009 at 8:37 am

Thanks for nice suggestions. Write more and more and u will new things everyday
diamondpoet
October 12th, 2009 at 9:34 am

I am a self taught writer with the intention of taking a creative course. I hope that one day I will be a brilliant writer. Thanks for sharing this article.
martinpm
October 12th, 2009 at 9:56 am

nice post.
Sourav
October 12th, 2009 at 10:00 am

Thanks for the suggestions!
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 10:25 am

deep blue, you have a secure income and the need to write. That can take a writer a long way.
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 10:54 am

blackroserock, in a good writer mastery of the mechanics and a passion for writing come through a piece of writing loud and clear. The reader can sense the balance.
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 11:00 am

martie, there is no doubt that a college education offers opportunities that a writer can take advantage of, any sort of a college education. It all depends on the writer.
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 11:06 am

chitragopi, actually the mechanics of writing are pretty simple but for some reason it seems to take a long time to learn them. The reason may be that the writer is being constantly distracted by more pressing issues.
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 11:20 am

Frances, you’re right that people come out of college and do not know how to spell or punctuate; but if that person wants to be a writer and knows this while in college then he or she must accept his or her responsibility to learn to spell or punctuate correctly.

In my way of thinking, writing is up to the writer. Of course if the decision to be a writer is made after college then the writer will have to learn on his or her own.

A degree in English is an excellent starting point.
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 11:25 am

marie, I totally agreed: the need comes from within and credentials can open doors. It’s nice to have both.
fishfry aka Elizabeth Figueroa
October 12th, 2009 at 11:28 am

I am a self taught writer, hoping to get better with time. I have found that it helps me to release stress, get my thoughts out to others in the simpliest ways when it comes to health issues. Other times I find writing about things that annoy me, help me to realize why that is so. I love triond because I get to read so much useful information, and while I am at it I am learning.
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 11:41 am

diamondpoet, good for you. I hope you enjoy your course and keep learning on your own.
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 11:48 am

martinpm, education is nice but if a writer does not have that need to write the education may be better used in any field besides writing.
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 11:51 am

Sourav, ultimately it’s up to the writer to learn the mechanics whether the writer goes to college or not.
Guy Hogan
October 12th, 2009 at 11:57 am

Elizabeth, in the real sense of the word all writers are “self-taught” whether they have taken courses in writing or not.
Aleena
October 12th, 2009 at 3:56 pm

All I’ve learned about writing has come from my parents, reading, and what I’ve learned in school. You get information from sources, but really its up to you to find a way how to use it.
ken bultman
October 12th, 2009 at 4:24 pm

If a writer is to be successful it is going to come down to style, not grammer, punctuation or mechanics. If the reader isn’t interested the writer is dead in the water.
Netty net
October 12th, 2009 at 10:36 pm

Will two thumbs up in my book.
Shaman
October 13th, 2009 at 2:45 am

Thanks great stuff man. I’ll have to agree with Ken on this as well.

Part of being a writer, is developing your own style. You don’t have a style, then ur the same as any other damn writer on the planet. You need to stand out, as a writer in order for others to recognize you.
Write Easy
October 13th, 2009 at 8:03 am

I have no formal writing education…but having adds a lot of credibility to the resume..I did lose on some real good projects thanks to that…
Julia L. White
October 13th, 2009 at 10:34 am

Nothing formal here, but love for writing and communicating effectively.
Good thing for spell check, I truly wish some writers would take advantage of this free tool.
sexy sunshine143
October 13th, 2009 at 10:39 am

A gypsy. lol. you made me laugh. I was thinking before to get a masters in Creative writing. It is still in the back of my mind. I totally agree that having a writing degree is an advantage. I was hoping you would be my professor. good work like always.
Stickinthemud
October 13th, 2009 at 12:14 pm

What kind of writer am I?

I guess you could say that I’m a self-taught writer. But I graduated with high marks in English class, and though the extent of my formal training in the language only goes that far, I had to continue to teach myself how to compose sentences and paragraphs that flowed well. I am not making light of your degree, but formality only goes so far. Beyond that, the writer must continue to learn about the craft, and must keep practising his or her style in order to improve. So, yes, I agree that an education in the language’s structure and its unspoken regulations is definitely a plus for the writer. Any writer worth his salt will realize that sooner than later. But in this career path, any old dog can learn new tricks. Ciao and thanks for sharing.
Guy Hogan
October 13th, 2009 at 12:20 pm

Aleena, long before I got my MFA degree in writing I taught myself to write the same way you are teaching yourself right now. I was pretty good at teaching myself. That’s how I won my fellowship that allowed me to get my MFA degree for free.
Guy Hogan
October 13th, 2009 at 12:34 pm

ken, I have to disagree with you there. A writer with great talent will find someone to make sure the work has the proper spelling, grammar, punctuation and so forth. I don’t know of any recent successful writer whose work was full of editorial errors. Work that is riddled with proofreading errors not only causes the writer to lose readers but it also causes the publisher to lose magazine, newspaper or book buyers. Few editors and publishers are going to take that risk. Talent no matter how great is not enough.
Guy Hogan
October 13th, 2009 at 12:42 pm

Netty net, all writers are really self-taught no matter how much formal education they get.
Guy Hogan
October 13th, 2009 at 12:51 pm

mzmax, style is what makes a writer stand out. There’s no doubt about that. My position is, style doesn’t matter if it’s full of proofreading errors.
Guy Hogan
October 13th, 2009 at 1:02 pm

Write Easy, two of my favorite writers had no college education, Hemingway and John O’Hara. Both of them were newspaper men before they made their reputations as fiction writers, but they had no writing degrees.
Guy Hogan
October 13th, 2009 at 1:15 pm

Julia, spell check is wonderful; but it doesn’t help with words like: two, too, to or then and than or there and their or whose and who’s and other words.

This is why a writer must either educate herself about the mechanics of writing or seek out some education about the mechanics. Talent and passion must be added to understanding how written language actually works. A good writer will have and do all these things.
Guy Hogan
October 13th, 2009 at 1:30 pm

marlene, I would love to have the income of a professor but I’m too lazy to do all the work of a professor.
Guy Hogan
October 13th, 2009 at 1:35 pm

Stickinthemud, we agree. The mechanics of the written language have to be picked up one way or another.
Ruby Hawk
October 13th, 2009 at 6:34 pm

I have taken no classes in writing as everyone can see who reads my articles. I read a lot and I love writing. I guess you could say it is my main hobby. I like the money too.
dawngordon
October 15th, 2009 at 11:56 am

you give me such hope Guy, that article you wrote that you are not disappointed to where your writing led you, was so humbling, and so full of humility of the struggles we endure as scribes

I am going to pray that you receive something mind blowing with your writing, since you show so much humbleness
dawngordon
October 15th, 2009 at 11:58 am

Do you have links of where to find these mechanics, since you are a humble sort of writer, with editing skills with your teaching, I would be humble to take any links or even your own links of mechanics?
dawngordon
October 15th, 2009 at 12:00 pm

yet many are running around the forums, no education, writing a few months and believe they can edit, it is horrid and so far from uplifting or encouraging, I find you encouraging to someone like me who is not educated, but loves to write