Expert: Cathy Clamp - 2/1/2008

Question
What education is required to become a writer/author?

Answer
Hi, Dreamer!

Well, there's no "formal" educational requirements to become a writer or author---like a degree or such. Some degrees exist, like a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) which comes after a Bachelor's in Literature or Journalism. But it's not required. There happen to be a lot of writers and authors who HAVE a college degree, but it's seldom a degree in writing. There are doctors and lawyers and engineers among the published, just as there are simple high school graduates (like me) and people who went to trade school for welding or auto mechanics. It's no one thing that allows a person to write.

However, that said---there are some REQUIREMENTS of writing that tend to lead people to higher education. An author or writer has to have a really good grasp of the English language (or whatever their primary language is.) Top notch spelling, punctuation and grammar knowledge are needed, because an "editor" at a publishing house seldom actually has time to edit the book. An editor has a lot of things on their plate . . . from paperwork, to financial statements to reviewing art and marketing. So, a book has to be as TECHNICALLY correct as possible. Ready for the shelf (or as close as possible) from the moment it hits their desk.

So, a couple of classes that would benefit an aspiring author/writer might be: 1) Grammar and composition courses at either a high school or college level (try for a B grade or above. Much less and you could struggle to get the sentence structure right); 2) Creative Writing courses (this will teach how to plot, how to create characters and timing in the story); and 3) Journalism courses, if you're hoping to do magazine articles or news stories. The structure of a feature article is different than writing fiction.

There are plenty of books to pick up, if you'd rather go that route. Just wander the aisle in any bookstore. A few that will help with the technical stuff are:

ELEMENTS OF STYLE (sometimes known just by the author 'Strunk & White')
CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE
EATS, SHOOTS AND LEAVES
ON WRITING by Stephen King

There are tons more of them. You'll just have to see which ones fit your style of writing.

Hope that helps a little! :)