What should a writer major in? (5)

1 Name: Bookworm : 2009-03-06 14:23 ID:qhWAnyrd

I know its pretty much either literature or English, but which one would benefit me the most as a writer? (for both creativity and skill)

2 Name: Bookworm : 2009-03-06 19:26 ID:btzyC033

Accounting. That way you can get a day job when your first book is a miserable failure/never even gets accepted by a publisher.

Okay, that was overly snarky, but see http://4-ch.net/book/kareha.pl/1221176053/15 (and do consider hedging your bets with a minor)

3 Name: trans-wannabe : 2009-04-21 19:28 ID:GGiJcPv2

Why not Translation? I mean, you get to study literature from other cultures and see how they tackle issues that are very possibly faced by your own culture.

4 Name: Bookworm : 2009-07-04 16:47 ID:ekOWMK/k

Creativity isn't going to jump into you through studying literature. It WILL increase your skill in writing, but it won't make you more creative. Either you're imaginative or you learn to draw from life.

Honestly, I don't recommend studying literature or English simply because of how highly competitive the field is and the economy is in bad shape. Study something else to land yourself a day job and make writing a sidejob.

5 Name: Bookworm : 2009-07-23 01:27 ID:Z0R68b4K

I recommend some sort of science that interests you, and a minor in English. This is not just so you can have a day job. Scientific discipline and good literature have more in common than you might think. For example, Vladimir Nabokov was a dedicated lepidopterist, contributing to the field in his spare time, and his scientific eye lent his work the striking acuity that makes it so great.

People seem to think science and English are worlds apart, but the better you can see and understand the world around you, the better your writing will be. Expand your mind, and you will become more insightful.

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