Exploring the Path to Becoming a Writer: School or Self-Study?

As an aspiring writer, you might find yourself facing the question: Will you go to school to study English if it was free, or will you spend that time reading and writing?
My hope is that this isn’t an either/or situation for you. Can you do both, as I did, and become a self-supporting freelance writer for over twenty years?

My Journey: Leaving an English Program after One Semester

I decided to leave an English program after my first semester. I found the workshops I attended as an MD/PhD student at another university to be incredibly helpful. While I don’t have a formal background in creative writing, I have read a substantial amount of creative writing pieces and handbooks, and I have 67 publications, mostly in literary journals. I know some MFAs who have had a lot of success publishing as well.

Would I Study English Literature if It Was Free?

Given the choice, I would definitely study English Literature if it was free. Reading is the most valuable habit for a writer, and writing is second. Studying English requires a lot of reading, especially analytical reading. While you don’t necessarily need to go to school to learn, doing so can certainly shorten the learning curve.

Maximizing School Opportunities

Some students go to college with scholarships, making it as close to free as it could get. Take full advantage of your opportunities. If you decide that school is not for you after a semester or two, don’t stress about it. In fact, it may be beneficial to get past the first few semesters before making such a decision.

Writing While in School

If you’re in school, you’re already doing reading, which is a significant part of becoming a better writer. If you’re reading on your own and not bound by academic metrics, you’re still learning. A professor once told me that an MFA can help you write a book and delay making a life decision. However, I did not pursue an MFA.

Choosing Between Certification and Time

Deciding whether to go for an MFA or to focus on self-study depends on what’s important to you: a certification of reading and writing lots of material or having slightly more time to read and write. The ideal of an autodidact—one who is self-taught—resonates with many successful writers. An academic institution can be an excellent place to find a mentor, but you can also learn from informal writing groups at coffee shops and other local venues.

Breaking Rules to Create Art

The idea of learning rules and then breaking them can apply to whether you pursue a formal education or self-study. Given the opportunity to freely partake of academia, I would likely choose that path. I enjoy and thrive on formalism and goal-oriented pursuits. However, as someone with discipline issues when it comes to studying and writing, I understand that not everyone shares my needs.

There are countless writers who never went to college. The key is to find the approach that works best for you. Ultimately, the best writers are those who read and write a lot, and ascribe to the ideal of an autodidact. The path is up to you, but don’t let the fear of making a decision prevent you from taking the first step.

Remember, whether you decide to go to school or pursue self-study, the most important thing is to keep reading and writing. Creativity and inspiration can come from a variety of places, and the more you read and write, the more you will develop your skills and find your unique voice.