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Do Writers Really Need To Study Writing At University?

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By Lucy Wyndham

There are an estimated 281,300 people employed as writers, editors, and authors, according to Student Scholarships. The organization also predicts that this number will grow by more than 12% over the next decade. While it’s impossible to know how many of these individuals have a writing degree under their belts, there are plenty of respected writers who never went to university, including H.G Wells and Charles Dickens. So, just how crucial is a university degree when you’re an aspiring writer? 

Benefits of a writing degree

The truth is that bagging a writing degree at university isn’t going to guarantee you a job, but it does come with many advantages. The beauty of studying writing is that you’ll constantly be surrounded by like-minded people that you can bounce ideas off. You’re also likely to build up a network of people within the writing industry, including publishers or content marketers, who you may be able to call upon during your career. Having a writing degree may also help you get noticed when applying for writing gigs and may mean you won’t have to start off taking free or low-paid posts. However, to get work you’ll need a solid portfolio behind you regardless of whether you’ve got a degree or not.

But you can also do it without a degree

Writing isn’t an easy job and you’ll need to possess multiple skills, including good grammar, effective communication, the ability to conduct deep research, and be able to self-edit your work. But these skills can all be learned without having to commit to a four-year year university course and $26,900 of debt on average. Alternative options to help you build the skills you’ll need to succeed as a writer include signing up for creative writing courses, enrolling in online training, joining writers’ forums, and starting a blog. You can even further your writing career without the GRE as there are plenty of accelerated online courses that allow you to study for a degree from the comfort of your own home. This is beneficial if you want to avoid uni life, fast track your career, and start professionally writing as soon as possible.

Feedback could be the persuading factor 

All writers will receive rejection throughout their careers. J K Rowling was famously rejected by 12 different publishers before her Harry Potter series was picked up, while Stephen King’s Carrie was turned down by 30 publishers. Feedback is an important thing for any writer, but how you process feedback, including negative criticism, could help you decide whether studying writing at university is for you or not. If you’re keen on feedback on every single thing you write and want a hand-holding experience then university could be perfect for you. On the other hand, if having your work compared to your peers’ sends a shudder down your spine and you’d much rather learn as you go, then skipping university might be the better option.

There’s no denying that there are benefits for writers that wish to study for a writing degree at university. However, university doesn’t guarantee success and there are plenty of options for writers to succeed in the industry without having to go uni every day for years.

 

 

What Impact Will Art Have On Your Digital Content?

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By Lucy Wyndham

Linear Puzzle People as concept

Content creation is the bread and butter of online business, but research shows that you need to have a presentable face in order for web surfers to consume it. According to a study cited by the Forbes council, 88% of businesses consider a presentable website key to both visiting and staying on a site, and where ecommerce is involved, making a purchase. The message of this is clear – investing in the graphic design of your writing website will be as much of a boost as a successful creative process. Having a clear yet recognisable theme for your service will show off your professional credentials.

The personal touch

If at all possible, you should give your art a distinct personal edge to it. According to research reported by CNBC, consumers will willingly give more time to businesses that are able to offer that personal edge, and when it comes to paid services, are often willing to give more money over. With that in mind, it’s well worth developing the skills to be able to conduct simple graphic design. Whether with pen and paper or digitally, it’s quite simple to learn the basics of graphic design and start drawing your own designs. Consider finding an element that is very personal to you and aiming a design around that, perhaps by picking an animal or item that is distinct to your identity, and building a logo around it. A simple sketch of a wise owl, a pen or a pair of glasses, for example, can communicate both your business and your personality, and this will help you to create a cogent design for your page and also let your followers know a bit about you.

When to approach professionals

Of course, there may be times when you are unable to invest in your own design – either because of a lack of time or resources, or because you simply don’t feel you want to develop your own design style. There is no harm in commissioning designers to produce your work, and the web has an absolute bounty of appropriate places to find artwork. Again, aim for a personal touch – look for bespoke designs and designers that will give you the opportunity to really drill down into what sort of function you want the work to have. Like with your writing, it’s great to get people in who can give you a second pair of eyes or opinion, but it’s really important that you don’t neglect the personal angle.

The main focus: consistency

Whether producing your own artistic designs or using professionals, the most important factor to aim for is consistency. Often termed as ‘brand voice’ in marketing, having a consistent style and message will help to build a relationship with those visiting your website. It can help to form an indelible link between your art, your written content, and your regular visitors. Brand voice sounds like marketing jargon, but it’s a well established concept; even government agencies have been directed to develop a brand voice, as it can enhance customer service. This is what your efforts will ultimately come down to – giving the best experience to the people that your writing website is designed for.

No matter how good your writing is, unless you are a world-famous talent, you need a good level of art design to go with it. In the modern digital era, designing your own art is not as onerous as perhaps it was in the past, and it can be done to a decent level with simple tools. Develop a clear and consistent graphic design style and deploy it; your website will feel the benefits.

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