Comments on: Is creative writing teaching a pyramid scheme?

By: Nicola Monaghan

Nicola Monaghan — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:34:05 +0000

'...false expectations are created.' I've both been on and taught on several creative writing courses and this is not my experience at all. In fact, I'd say that the exact point you make above is rammed home by the ones I've been involved in a little too much. When I finished my MA, six months after the course all but two of the people I knew had stopped writing. My opinion is that they'd been so discouraged by hearing this message over and over again from visiting speakers, that they didn't see the point for a while. Luckily, this was only temporary. Of that group, two have book deals, several have had serious interest from an agent, one is in development with a radio play, and all have had at least one minor success ie a stories published, plays picked out in competitions that kind of thing. One works full time as a writer.

Good courses do give you access to publishing industry professionals, and to other writers and a network, so that you find out about opportunities as they arise. Not a single one I know of doesn't work on trying to train people to write better as well. In fact, this is their main focus, and the professional stuff is the secondary activity.

You're quite right that it is very hard to earn enough money as full time writer. That needs to be said, but there needs to be some kind of balance too, so that people are inspired by courses and not put off. It's a hard one to manage but it's as important to stress the reasons to work as a writer other than making your millions, the satisfaction you can get from seeing your words in print and the other jobs you can use to supplement your income. When I worked in Birmingham, we always preached portfolio career, but introduced students to good contacts and made sure they were encouraged as well as educated about the difficulties.

By: Daniel Ribot

Daniel Ribot — Wed, 13 May 2009 18:32:53 +0000

Great post.
The problem, however, is much wider than that, it encompasses the entire education system and is the natural and logical result of market reforms. Universities are now sustaining themselves by providing courses that are popular and ditching everything else. For example, the number of courses involving forensic science have grown like topsy while Chemistry and Physics departments close. The fact that there are ten times the numbers of forensic scientists graduating every year than actual murders, seems to have escaped university administrators. In the degree market no one cares what they sell as long as it is sold, regardless of the consequences. Similarly, journalism courses are still advertising and recruiting despite the loss of thousands of jobs in the sector.
Education has always drawn its fair share of shysters and snake-oil salesmen. The claims that their particular correspondence course/degree/MA will make you rich and give you a fantastic and fulfilling career should always be greeted with suspicion. Nothing, not even creative writing workshops, are ever what they seem. Caveat emptor, dude!

By: Nicola Monaghan

Nicola Monaghan — Wed, 13 May 2009 13:34:05 +0000

By: Daniel Ribot

Daniel Ribot — Wed, 13 May 2009 12:32:53 +0000

By: Adrian Buckner

Adrian Buckner — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:28:05 +0000

I will willingly spend half an afternoon talking to a student about a line ending or the varying nuances of two adjectives, but if you ever hear that I have started talking about publisher's or agents, you can have me shot.
Sorry, its all garrets and fork lift truck driving for 20 years (whilst aspiring to write like Heaney or Turgenev) if you're serious. This would be my message to students, but it wouldn't wash with marketing.

By: Tara

Tara — Mon, 11 May 2009 22:23:47 +0000

Is creative writing teaching a pyramid scheme? http://literaturenetwork.org/?p=1028

By: Drew Gummerson

Drew Gummerson — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:07:56 +0000

James Burt’s blog on Literature Network – http://literaturenetwork.org/?p=1028

By: Sam Strong

Sam Strong — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:34:26 +0000

RT @orbific: New blog post: is creative writing a pyramid scheme? http://literaturenetwork.org/?p=1028 Please drop by – I’d love to se …

By: James Burt

James Burt — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:33:28 +0000

New blog post: is creative writing a pyramid scheme? http://literaturenetwork.org/?p=1028 Please drop by – I’d love to see any responses.

By: Drew Gummerson

Drew Gummerson — Mon, 11 May 2009 09:05:50 +0000

Yeah, exactly! Good blog. The chances are it's not going to make you much money. The important thing is to enjoy it.

By: Damien G Walter

Damien G Walter — Mon, 11 May 2009 03:02:13 +0000

Is creative writing teachiing a pyramid scheme? http://literaturenetwork.org/?p=1028