Recently, two of my learned writing friends at LiveJournal were discussing the place of higher echelon education in the background of ‘the writer’.
Some interesting conversation ensued and has had me thinking over the past couple of weeks – a process that’s really dangerous as my brain is often prone to wander about and seep through facial fixtures during times of cognitive stress. However:
Is it vital to have further education in the areas of Fine Arts, Literature, English or Whathaveyou 101 in order to achieve publishable status (if you are an unknown and new writer)?
It could lead to the very philosophical question, is publishing the only reason to write?
The second question is best left for another day. The ramifications of that one are complex, and the purpose of here and now is to ponder (somewhat shallowly) the need for higher education with the view to being recognized at publishing standards.
In truth? My friends were discussing how an extra couple of years at university level might get your work better known, might enable you to make networks and influence peeps in the know. They were not suggesting that (made-up name) Janice Graville-Lavine – the latest talent from the streets of Sydney – need attend university to study English before she would have any chance of ‘being published.’
The other side of this double-edged coin (even though that’s not really possible) caused cerebral spasm – is it important for ‘the writer’ to have a ‘recognized’ background in literary education? Is it vital for the artist to study past high school levels in order to create a masterpiece. Is it better for the clothes designer to attend college and study the academic element to their craft?
Consider the owner of Squirt Baby. She is a RL mate and a (proud) science boffin. She and her partner collect microscope slides, eat their dinner over a bunsen burner and pipet each other’s drinks into their mouths. I’ve known her a long time and she understands I’ve seen this. She has a specific, very academic background. Lately, she’s done a 360 and is now producing children’s wear that has her peer purchasing and market crowds recognizing as wonderful. She is educated – but she’s never done college-level design or university sewing in her life. She is running a small business and wowing people.
Sometimes education need not be specific. Sometimes talent is enough. We can relate this example of ‘making it’ without further education to success stories around the world and throughout history. It happens and sometimes we don’t need to study on.
Can we relate this to writing publishable fiction?
Again, I’m not an authority but I believe so. It’s happening every day. ’The writer’ is published without returning to uni or college to reinforce their intellectualizing of literature appreciation or knowledge of language. Perhaps they know enough English to get a really great story out there? Maybe they are aware that syntax and metaphor and scary grammatical rules do exist, but they rely on an instinct to get the tale done. They use their time to create rather than study. They might miss networking opportunities and develop ‘loneliness’ calluses on their butt from sitting at the keyboard too long, but it’s the alternate path.
It all depends on the individual, it seems. It depends on their stage of life, their love of study, their financial situation, their desire to further their education of a specialized area. So many mitigating factors.
Personally? I love studying. However if there was a choice between creating a story for two hours or studying the use of its and/or it’s in grammatical situations, I would select the former. As always, different strokes for different folks.
And who is to say that either path is more correct?
*special thanks to Livejournal sisters who often have the best conversations in the comment sections of posts.
Nice, Rosie. I had seen the convo between our common friends, and it was very interesting.
I think when it comes to fiction, and publishing fiction, you raise good points here that can lead to a lively discussion. However, when it comes to more theoretical work/books, I think going to uni, and having a huge knowledge and background in the discipline you want to write about is essential.
Talent/being creative takes time, a lot of work. But if people can get better by just dedicating time, effort and willpower, it’s possible they’ll accomplish something that’s worth it.
There’s always room for improvement!
Hi Rosie – This is fascinating, and completely relevant given the shifting access to “publishing” we all have given the explosion of blogging and other social media. I completely agree with Maureen: in terms of fiction writing and non-fiction personal essays, I don’t see it necessary to have an educational background in creative writing. All it takes, I think, is a commitment to write, write, and write some more. (Oh, and perhaps, read from time to time.) But we do run into trouble, at times, when an Internet connection and a platform make some folks believe they can fashion themselves as experts in more technical fields.
Great post!
Hi Maureen.
I don’t think anyone could disagree with your last statement. No matter what your field or who you be, learning and improvement are ongoing. For sure.
It’s too difficult to compare what’s best for the fiction or non-fiction writer (academic background or life experience or god-given talent)? Perhaps it’s a nice combo of the three aspects? Or perhaps a formal qualification hasn’t been required at all?
Too many variables, so little time.
Thanks for the visit. Have a nice weekend
Hi Kristen,
thanks for visiting. You are spot on about publishing platforms being placed in non-technical hands if we start to advocate as experts. Um, I am an expert at the non-toxic possibilities of drinking arsenic in large quantities. It’s totes fine! No worries.
/joking
Yes, and this is where know-how is vital. Non-fictionally, I tend to agree with you (and Maureen) also. It’s one of those very open-ended discussions. You just can’t predict what the outcome of more (or less) education might be.
And ARSENIC IS VERY DANGEROUS.
Thanks for the words hear and lovely to read about Marley too.
Hmm, I think I agree with you with it depends on the person. If someone is happy to write and plod along unpublished and hope for a break that’s great but I think it’s rarer to find a sucess story that way, no matter how awesome they are.
As easy as it is to say that the credentials don’t matter, I’m sure there are plenty of publishers that want that background just so they feel safer about their investment. So if you are good but didn’t do a Bachelorette or Master a Doctor, maybe one could just pretend they did but say it was years ago before anything was recorded on computer and the dog ate the certificate then maybe dazzle them with an elaboration of the story.
When I was shelving books it was apparent how unfair book publishing is. There’s no rhyme or reason except established names sell. My library carries the Star Wars cookbook, I shit you not. I shelved SO much Harlequin and Mills and Boon.
Hmm, this topic is a thinker.
I read this post yesterday, and I’ve been thinking on it a bit before commenting. From my own perspective, education/training in my current endeavour would speed up some of the processes! Instead of trying to teach myself, or potentially outsourcing, I’d already have this skill set and wouldn’t be “wasting” precious time. Perhaps I’d also have found my direction earlier – who knows. What I do know is that I am in this particular place at this particular time. I am tapping into my creative side without being steered by external forces (lecturers, peers etc). I am discovering people around me who are prepared to share their skills, just as you are with your writing and your special LJ mates.
Education can help speed up the process, smooth the rough edges. But, it also depends on your own particular journey. Do you want to spend a number of years learning the finer points of writing, or would you rather just be writing and discovering yourself along the way? Why should an “educated” writer be any more credible than an “uneducated” one? Surely it’s about the quality of the work rather than one’s educational pedigree.
This is what I have learned over the past 6 months or more – I may feel like a “fraud” because I’m untrained, but I have customers who like my products and come back for more. I try my very hardest to make products in styles and fabrics that I love and not be swayed by what others are producing and apparently selling by the container load. I don’t want to be a Pumpkin Patch, I want to be the person who produces limited edition, handmade gear. It has to be genuine, it has to be me. And if that’s not good enough, then that’s too bad.
Hmm, so to get back to the questions you posed above – do you need specific education to be publishable? Not in my humble opinion (but what would I know!?). Is publishing the only reason to write? It’s not the only reason, but to be published is a validation of one’s creative force, proof that all those hours spent tapping away have produced work of merit! It’s a natural part of us – our ego (is not a dirty word) – to want to have our work out there on a wider stage. It doesn’t have to be on the JK Rowling scale, it might be on more of a cult-following type scale. It is natural, and healthy.
Another important question is – what do you want? Where do you want to take your writing and what do you have to do to get there?
PS Thanks for the lovely comments darls – but are you sure that’s me you’re talking about??
Hi Sarah. How are you, ma’am. I found myself laughing at the idea of a Star Wars Cookbook. Did they have Chewie Cookies. *amuses self, dislocates funny bone and hip)
Seriously what you’ve said is very sound. There seems to be no rhyme or reason to achieving publication, but persistence is a huge factor if you are new. It’s hard though, as you would know. I also think your point about publishers wanting an academic background as a safety net for an investment in someone new is a good one. The bottom line is time, innit – do you/we/me/us want to give our time to studying formally, or creating. Difficult and definitely a thinker. thanks honx
Fiona, my dear. Thanks for joining this blog. I’ve missed your insights while you’ve been bludging. I LOVE how you have equated the people you are meeting from like-minded passions (in your case, clothing manufacture and mine, writing with LJ peeps) with us developing a support structure. Instead of receiving a formal education for this stage of our lives (as we did in science, physiology, boffinism, practical anatomy=perving) we are almost networking.
It’s lovely to have that common theme. And I do hear you about education smoothing out some of the processes – you might whiz through the technical stuff easier and I might make less syntax mistakes – but how boring are those things, FFS?
Great words about ego (not being a dirty word) and getting validation too.
As for me? I love writing fiction. I want to finish self publishing this series then polish a couple of novels that are more mainstream and look for an agent. It’s almost going back to square one, yes, but it’s a goal at least.
Oh, and I want to wax my upper lip.
Much love, lady.