Masters Degree In Creative Writing

So I am seriously contemplating doing a masters degree in creative writing but it does seem like a huge risk to take. I finished university last year doing a degree in politics and was lucky enough to find work immediately afterward. Okay, the salary started off poor, but it has risen recently and it is now over 15k a year which isn't too bad considering the economy at the moment. The problem is I don't get much time to write. I leave the house at 7am and come back after 7pm completely knackered, and I only get 4 weeks holiday a year. Now I do believe I can make it as a writer (doesn't everyone) if I do it consistently enough to improve and develop some contacts. A course in creative writing seems like it would offer me a year of being involved in a creative environment which I think would help me improve greatly. The course I'm looking at also offers talks with agents and publishers and the opportunity to get your work performed on stage. However, it's a lot of money, and I'd have to give up my job which is a big risk to take. Basically, my question is would a masters degree be worth it? Do they create opportunities you wouldn't otherwise get? Do they help you improve as a writer? Or are they pointless, merely existing as a way to take money from the gullible? I can just about afford the course, and hopefully the job market will have improved in a years time meaning that I should be able to find another job quite easily if nothing comes from the year of writing and studying. On the other hand, it may take a downward turn and I may look back at this decision as being the defining moment in me becoming a homeless drunk. Basically, I'm looking for some valuable life insight. Do I stick or twist? And if I twist, is a masters the right way to do it? Answers on a postcard.

I completely recognize that I probably come across as being quite spoilt here, and I should count myself privileged to even have a job, but I can't help it, sorry.

What the hell job are you doing for 60 hours a week that pays 15 grand?

Might I reccomend trying some more basic courses in script reading etc. Start earning then see if you like it?

Well, it depends, I suppose. If you choose a good course at a good uni then if you're lucky, you will make a lot of contacts, you will learn a lot from some really talented, intelligent lecturers and you will write a lot, so it will be totally worth it.

I did exactly what you're describing last year, and I would say it was the right decision for me.

But giving up your job is a pretty serious commitment! So you have to be sure you're choosing the right course for you, and all that.

I've been considering doing some sort of course for a while. I don't have a degree so would have to start there not dive in with an MA. My local uni offers a creative writing course but it doesn't inspire me, or at least, the blurb on their web site doesn't.

The OU offers courses in Literature and Creative Writing and this might be a better approach than flinging myself into full time education.

Anyone know of other distance learning courses, I'm particularly interested in screenwriting?

Quote: steve by any other name @ May 10 2010, 9:56 AM BST

Anyone know of other distance learning courses, I'm particularly interested in screenwriting?

View original

Personally, as someone currently doing an MA in screenwriting, I wouldn't recommend a distance learning course. I've found the workshops and working on scripts and pitching in person to be one of the most helpful bits of my course and which couldn't be replicated over a distance. You could just buy some really good screenwriting books and study them alone.

Also you don't necessarily need a first degree if you can show some previous experience, scripts, etc.

Quote: Dolly Dagger @ May 10 2010, 10:22 AM BST

Personally, as someone currently doing an MA in screenwriting, I wouldn't recommend a distance learning course. I've found the workshops and working on scripts and pitching in person to be one of the most helpful bits of my course and which couldn't be replicated over a distance. You could just buy some really good screenwriting books and study them alone.

Also you don't necessarily need a first degree if you can show some previous experience, scripts, etc.

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Thanks Dolly.

Agree with Dolly.
The workshops are brilliant. And if you get on with the people in your class you'll likely start workshopping your writing with them outside of lessons and carry on after the course finishes.

If you wanted to try something similar before starting an MA you could try a shorter writing course at the City Lit. They do some really interesting-sounding courses like crime writing, sitcom writing, writing for children, novels, etc, etc. I was going to do a bunch of them if I hadn't been accepted on my MA. A lot of the tutors there are also MA tutors at other unis.

http://www.citylit.ac.uk/

Quote: sootyj @ May 9 2010, 9:08 PM BST

What the hell job are you doing for 60 hours a week that pays 15 grand?

Might I reccomend trying some more basic courses in script reading etc. Start earning then see if you like it?

View original

Only 45 of the hours are spent working, the rest is traveling/waiting around. I can't really whinge though, my 'friend' works 9-5 at uni which is compulsory and then she does a 10 hour hospital shift, so I'm a lightweight. It's a risk giving it up, but I don't think I'm giving up a career as I would only end up shooting myself by the time I'm 24 if I carried on doing it anyway, plus I'm still young. Do you get paid much to script read?

Quote: zooo @ May 9 2010, 9:27 PM BST

Well, it depends, I suppose. If you choose a good course at a good uni then if you're lucky, you will make a lot of contacts, you will learn a lot from some really talented, intelligent lecturers and you will write a lot, so it will be totally worth it.

View original

Did you make lots of contacts? Do you think it's opened up opportunities you wouldn't otherwise have had? Or is it more about improving you as a writer? Which obviously isn't a bad thing, but I think there could be cheaper ways to achieving this. Sorry if I'm coming across as a tad nosy

Ha, nose away.
It's definitely improved my writing, and opened up some opportunities I wouldn't have otherwise had. All the tutors and guest tutors are published writers, and if they think you're any good they will go out of their way to help you. You also meet agents and publishers as part of the course. And the guest speakers/lecturers tend to be people on the inside who can give you information you wouldn't otherwise know, like the terrible cliches (often things you wouldn't expect were cliches) and mistakes that make people throw your work in the bin immediately. Useful stuff like that.

Quote: zooo @ May 10 2010, 8:44 PM BST

Ha, nose away.
It's definitely improved me as a writer, and opened up some opportunities I wouldn't have had otherwise. All the tutors and guest tutors are published writers, and if they think you're any good they will go out of their way to help you. You also meet agents and publishers as part of the course. And the guest speakers/lecturers tend to be people on the inside who can give you information you wouldn't otherwise know, like the terrible cliches (often things you wouldn't expect were cliches) and mistakes that make people throw your work in the bin immediately. Useful stuff like that.

View original

Never throw your stuff in the bin. Keep it and recycle it later.

Quote: Mickeza @ May 9 2010, 9:06 PM BST

So I am seriously contemplating doing a masters degree in creative writing but it does seem like a huge risk to take. I finished university last year doing a degree in politics and was lucky enough to find work immediately afterward. Okay, the salary started off poor, but it has risen recently and it is now over 15k a year which isn't too bad considering the economy at the moment. The problem is I don't get much time to write. I leave the house at 7am and come back after 7pm completely knackered, and I only get 4 weeks holiday a year. Now I do believe I can make it as a writer (doesn't everyone) if I do it consistently enough to improve and develop some contacts. A course in creative writing seems like it would offer me a year of being involved in a creative environment which I think would help me improve greatly. The course I'm looking at also offers talks with agents and publishers and the opportunity to get your work performed on stage. However, it's a lot of money, and I'd have to give up my job which is a big risk to take. Basically, my question is would a masters degree be worth it? Do they create opportunities you wouldn't otherwise get? Do they help you improve as a writer? Or are they pointless, merely existing as a way to take money from the gullible? I can just about afford the course, and hopefully the job market will have improved in a years time meaning that I should be able to find another job quite easily if nothing comes from the year of writing and studying. On the other hand, it may take a downward turn and I may look back at this decision as being the defining moment in me becoming a homeless drunk. Basically, I'm looking for some valuable life insight. Do I stick or twist? And if I twist, is a masters the right way to do it? Answers on a postcard.

I completely recognize that I probably come across as being quite spoilt here, and I should count myself privileged to even have a job, but I can't help it, sorry.

View original

I believe you are what is commonly known as a troll.

?
I don't see why.

At the very least Mick, they'll make you use paragraphs, which has to be a good thing.

I've been lurking on the site for a couple of months, but haven't had the guts to say hello until now! So, hello everyone

I've also been looking at doing a part-time MA in creative writing or screenwriting somewhere in London, and am very interested in what everyone on the board thinks about courses and where it's best to study.

So far, I've looked at LCC, City and CSSD for screenwriting/writing for theatre. LCC seems to come out tops if I wanted a career, while City has the best screenwriting/theatre mix. On the other hand, I've been told by a former student to avoid CSSD at all costs! Is there anywhere else in London that people would recommend. I work three days a week, so I can't take a full time course, which does rules out a couple of places...

Mickeza - you don't say what you want to write. Is it books, screenplays, theatre, short stories etc etc? I just ask as somewhere that's good for fiction isn't necessarily the place to be a screenwriter and vice versa. As well as that, from meeting some of the current students, the people that seemed happiest were those who knew what they wanted to get out of their MA, be it a year developing their writing, more contacts or a professional career.

I did a residential MA four terms a year and a bit or so. Great fun. Study for study sake and if it focuses you into doing some writing so much the better. Mine wasn't in creative writing apart from the application form! Best of luck with the choices you make.