Just graduated with a Creative Writing degree! Now what?
Look at you! You’ve got your shiny new degree in Creative Writing! Congrats! I know you worked hard! But here’s the question that everyone will be asking you: “Now what?”
Ugh. What an annoying question. But it’s something you should definitely be thinking about. Luckily, there’s a lot out there that you can do with your Creative Writing degree, and we’ve compiled this list of some of the better choices.
Share your work serially!
There are websites out there, like Wattpad and Radish, that let you post your writing one chapter at a time. It’s a great way to share your work as you write it and get feedback and encouragement instantly from readers! It can keep you motivated to continue writing — especially when you hit the middle slump (why is the middle always so hard?!) Not to mention you may find friends and fellow writers to build relationships with.
Writing Competitions
There are a TON of competitions out there. Some of them are more competitive, like the BBC National Short Story Awards. Some of them build camaraderie and community as you share your struggles, like National Novel Writing Month (better known as NaNoWriMo.) But any competition can help you build your craft and keep you writing. Especially ones with a set submission date, which is good practice at writing to a deadline — a skill every writer needs to master.
Create your own website
Nowadays, building a website is ridiculously easy to do and generally can be done at a very low cost, or even free. Your website can be a great place to showcase some of your work to give readers and potential employers an idea of your craft and the stories that you like to write. Also, it can be fun to design your own space on the web!
Freelance
Sharing your work is great. But you know what is also great? Getting paid real monies for your creative writing! Who doesn’t want that?! There are some great ways to find paid work for writers. You can create freelancer profiles on platforms like Upwork and Reedsy to find clients who are looking for the type of services you offer. You can reach out directly to companies to see if they have any opportunities available — think about any company that needs to tell a story: video & board games, advertising agencies, publishers, etc. And the more work you do, the bigger your portfolio becomes, making it even easier to get higher-paying gigs. Win!
Join writing groups
With the creation of the internet, it’s gotten so so easy to find other writers who share the same interests. You can check Facebook or LinkedIn. Twitter has common hashtags like #amwriting where you can find other like-minded writers to build friendships with. Because writing can be a solitary endeavor, it’s always worth trying to find people who can help you along the way.
Get in the Biz
Maybe you want to actually be in the business of publishing. That’s great! There’s a lot of different ways to do so. Maybe you can sum up any story up in a sentence, and pitching and selling manuscripts would be easy for you. Sounds like you might enjoy being a literary agent! Many agencies offer internships for people who want to learn the trade. And if you’re a good fit with the agency, they may let you start taking on your own clients.
Or perhaps you love the idea of acquiring and editing manuscripts for a publisher. Check for internships for some of the bigger houses or take an entry-level editing position. Smaller houses often hire new writers to fill their editing needs. You can surround yourself with publishing professionals and help curate a list of wonderful titles for your publishing house.
Conferences
Literary conferences can be a great way to find almost anything you’re looking for when it comes to being a writer. Meet new writers and forge connections. Pitch your work to agents or editors. Listen to panels of authors and publishing professionals. Maybe speak on a panel yourself!
There are hundreds of different conferences with different themes, so pick ones that sound interesting to you and dive in. They can be a lot of fun and also help you get your career on track.
Keep learning
We all know that you never learn it all when it comes to creative writing. That’s why it’s important to keep learning, even if you have your degree. Maybe you want to teach creative writing at a college level and so you want your Masters of Fine Arts. Or perhaps you want to try writing in a different genre or category. Or you may want to give poetry a try. Or graphic novels. Or picture books. The sky’s the limit!
Take a look at what’s available. Some classes you can take in person, especially if you’re lucky enough to live near a literary center such as The Loft in Minneapolis, Minnesota. But there are plenty of online and digital options, too. Check out the catalog at Coursera or Udemy and see if there’s anything that strikes your fancy. The more you keep learning, the better your writing will become.
Work at a book packager like Relay!
Book packagers can be a great way to keep your writing muscles fit and trim while getting paid for the work you do. Maybe you’re looking for a way to earn money with your fiction skills but need a break from your own worlds and manuscripts. Book packagers hire all sorts of writers to ghostwrite, edit, and even come up with story ideas for new titles.. Your name might not be on the cover of the book when all is said and done, but you’ll keep stretching your writing muscles, grow your craft, and earn money along the way. It can be a great way to build up a writing habit as well as get your foot in the door in the business of publishing.
Packagers like Relay are often looking for new writers, so check out their website and look for ghostwriting work in an array of genres. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You never know what kind of door it will open for you.
So, the next time someone asks you “Now what?” You’ve got this handy list to help you figure out some ways forward with your degree and career.
