Why Become a Writer and Why Study Writing?

There are as many reasons to write as there are varied genres of writing.

Over the years we have developed more and more courses to accommodate requests and new areas of writing that have emerged.

Who is our typical student?

We receive applications from people who have always wanted to write and are looking to start a new career. We also see a large number of applicants who want to explore their creativity (some to have fun and others who are interested in serious literary writing), whether it is to write poetry, short stories, a memoir or a novel that is burning to be written. Finally, we receive applications from people who want to specialize in certain areas of writing, usually because of new challenges in their jobs.

Most of them have questions like:

• Do I have what it takes to be a writer?
• Could I make money from writing?
• How can I improve my writing?
• How can I feel more confident about my writing?
• Where do I even start with writing a book/ article/ script?

Some of these applicants are writers, some will become writers, but everyone who applies has come to the conclusion that writing needs to be learned and practiced to improve and gain new skills. Studying one-on-one  with an expert in the field (usually an acclaimed writer) is giving yourself the best chance to enhance your skills.

Writing fits a work-from-home freelance lifestyle

A career as a writer in a team

Challenging and fascinating

Depending on the field of writing you choose to specialize in, the job of a writer can take you to…

•  exotic far-flung places (Travel  Writing and Write a Non-fiction Book),
•  meet fascinating CEOs, leading scientists and film stars (Magazine Journalism)
•  the depths of your own memories and life story (Write Your Memoir)
•  the heights of your own imagination (Creative Writing, Poetry, Scriptwriting, Novel Writing, Children’s Book Writing, Short Story Writing and Flash Fiction)
• the plain, persuasive and grammatically perfect writing demanded in the workplace (Business Writing, Copywriting, Grammar Skills and Writing Coach Course)
•  the wild, wild Web and the world of social media, marketing and Web Writing.

Make money writing

What’s more, with a variety of writing jobs and hard work, it is possible to make a living as a writer.

Changes in the publishing field mean that you can, without vast upfront costs, write and publish e-books on a variety of topics. Thanks to the Net you can work online writing copy for a variety of formats (websites or content factories).

Business writing, Copywriting and Press Release Writing are high-paying fields. Similarly, writing articles for magazines can bring in a solid income once you have built up a relationship with editors at several magazines. Working as an in-house journalist or broadcast journalist will pay a decent salary.

• Networking ability (just like in any business!). The more editors and publishers you know – the more commissions you’re likely to land. The more knowledgeable you are about social media and using the Web to promote yourself as a writer, the better.
• Integrity: plagiarism and faulty research are likely to spell the end of your career
• Determination: One publisher’s “No” can often be another’s “Yes”. Keep trying. Keep writing.
• Versatility: most writers need to work for a variety of employers to make a good income. So, for example, creative writers have several stories on the go, do book reviews for newspapers and magazines, enter literary competitions and do proof-reading on the side.

Good writers hone good habits

Being a good writer isn’t just about good writing. All writers need to learn how to manage themselves as a professional, honing these core skills:

•  They can stick to deadlines.
•  Their facts are accurate; their research is sound and thorough.
•  Their work is not “shoddy” – meaning that spelling, grammar and punctuation are correct, and sentences are carefully crafted.
•  They behave professionally, from cover letter to their invoice.
•  They have a head for innovative ideas: trend spotting and an ability to transmute current social issues into words.

Writing is a crucial skill in the workplace

A beautifully written report, emails that communicate clearly and effectively, business letters that command respect and a response: these are proficiencies that cannot be underestimated. The converse, sending out correspondence that is riddled with typos, grammar errors and hard-to-read layout, is never going to impress the boss or your colleagues.

It is never too late to take a Grammar Course or work one-on-one with a Writing Coach to learn solid writing skills that can help you communicate clearly and effectively, and could even land you that promotion at work.

Why do you need to study writing?

It was Ernest Hemingway who said: “It's none of their business that you have to learn how to write. Let them think you were born that way.”

Just like great painters apprentice under a master and musicians study their instrument for years before they stand on a stage, most well known writers have studied writing. Every field of expertise requires years of training and development. Writing is no exception.

There are, of course, issues around how writing can be taught. Most would agree that sitting in a class absorbing hours of theory is not going to give you the results you want. For instance, studying Beethoven by reading a textbook is not going to help you play ‘The Moonlight Sonata’. You have to practise your craft, over and over. The same goes for writing.