Reflection Value 9
How have you gained knowledge of the post-graduate options available to you?
A lot of my knowledge gained about post-graduate options available, I gained incidentally—through using Twitter for class, or simply keeping up with the world of writing, at large. Initially a Journalism student, I actually switched to Writing Arts (with my concentration in professional writing, not creative writing), because I thought it would give me greater career options. After all, Writing Arts, in many ways incorporates journalism, as well a technical writing, editing, tutoring, as well as opens up the world of publishing to me.
I am very much interested in publishing—not being published (which I have already been), but working the publishing, as an industry. In particular, since shortly after starting Rowan I have been interested in being a Literary Agent, and as I write this (in Fall 2013), I am preparing to apply for an internship at an agency—an agency I found through the aforementioned use of Twitter.
Outside of this particular goal, I have also learned other options: For a time I considered graduate school (in particular continuing at Rowan), which I learned about in-depth through my time interning with Glasswork Literary Magazine in Spring 2013. Although I knew knew some information beforehand, by volunteering at the Glassworks table at the AWP Conference in March 2013, I had to remember a lot about the program—you can definitely say that having to tell other people about Rowan's MA in Writing Arts endeared the program to me, even if I am no longer planning on going to graduate school right after graduating.
However, perhaps the most useful in terms of learning about options for after graduation was the Professions in Writing Art class I took Fall 2013. Although it was a comparatively short course to full three-credit classes, in that time we covered a variety of post-graduate options, including internships, graduate school, and potential careers. Professions is easily the only class I took that did not assume one of two options for me, as a Writing Arts student. So often I feel like every professor assumes we are trying to be a teacher or creative writer (which I found incredibly frustrating), and it was refreshing to have a class where neither options was often-mentioned. Even in the week we spent covering publishing, I did not feel the “creative writing” expectation that I feel in many classes, and in turn I learned about options even outside of the publishing industry for writers, as well as numerous websites I was unfamiliar with in order to find writing jobs. Finally!
I am very much interested in publishing—not being published (which I have already been), but working the publishing, as an industry. In particular, since shortly after starting Rowan I have been interested in being a Literary Agent, and as I write this (in Fall 2013), I am preparing to apply for an internship at an agency—an agency I found through the aforementioned use of Twitter.
Outside of this particular goal, I have also learned other options: For a time I considered graduate school (in particular continuing at Rowan), which I learned about in-depth through my time interning with Glasswork Literary Magazine in Spring 2013. Although I knew knew some information beforehand, by volunteering at the Glassworks table at the AWP Conference in March 2013, I had to remember a lot about the program—you can definitely say that having to tell other people about Rowan's MA in Writing Arts endeared the program to me, even if I am no longer planning on going to graduate school right after graduating.
However, perhaps the most useful in terms of learning about options for after graduation was the Professions in Writing Art class I took Fall 2013. Although it was a comparatively short course to full three-credit classes, in that time we covered a variety of post-graduate options, including internships, graduate school, and potential careers. Professions is easily the only class I took that did not assume one of two options for me, as a Writing Arts student. So often I feel like every professor assumes we are trying to be a teacher or creative writer (which I found incredibly frustrating), and it was refreshing to have a class where neither options was often-mentioned. Even in the week we spent covering publishing, I did not feel the “creative writing” expectation that I feel in many classes, and in turn I learned about options even outside of the publishing industry for writers, as well as numerous websites I was unfamiliar with in order to find writing jobs. Finally!
How has the WA Program prepared you to work in a variety of fields?
The Writing Arts program has prepared me for various jobs by giving me the skills to write professionally, think creatively about projects, and edit and understand the work of others.
I have a degree in Digital Design already. This, my ability to write, and the fact personal branding and social media use is addressed in many classes, prepares me for many online fields, and opens up options in the event I do not get to work in publishing. Even my job at Rowan—that I got at the suggestion of Professor Tweedie—prepares me for such things, being that I work as a blogger for the university.
Writing Arts has also given me the ability to think critically about stories—mainly through the Evaluating Writing course. Being that I want a job in publishing being able to look at a story and judge it through both content and form is incredibly important—just as important as being able to write well. I feel like, in many ways, Writing Arts, as a major, prepares for a job as a literary agent better than an English degree would specifically because we often have to look at stories as a craft on a whole, with less time spent on symbolism, etc. and more time spent with crafting a story that will sell—or understanding what will make a story worthy of publishing.
The fact I took the concentration in Professional Writing, helped especially well for preparing for various jobs. Since many classes in that bank are not restricted to Writing Arts, it gave me skills in writing memos, reports, and other documents whose importance spans greatly outside of the area of writing, publishing, and teaching.
I have a degree in Digital Design already. This, my ability to write, and the fact personal branding and social media use is addressed in many classes, prepares me for many online fields, and opens up options in the event I do not get to work in publishing. Even my job at Rowan—that I got at the suggestion of Professor Tweedie—prepares me for such things, being that I work as a blogger for the university.
Writing Arts has also given me the ability to think critically about stories—mainly through the Evaluating Writing course. Being that I want a job in publishing being able to look at a story and judge it through both content and form is incredibly important—just as important as being able to write well. I feel like, in many ways, Writing Arts, as a major, prepares for a job as a literary agent better than an English degree would specifically because we often have to look at stories as a craft on a whole, with less time spent on symbolism, etc. and more time spent with crafting a story that will sell—or understanding what will make a story worthy of publishing.
The fact I took the concentration in Professional Writing, helped especially well for preparing for various jobs. Since many classes in that bank are not restricted to Writing Arts, it gave me skills in writing memos, reports, and other documents whose importance spans greatly outside of the area of writing, publishing, and teaching.