There’s definitely something different about writing now that I’ve formally studied it (and have a degree to back up my “qualifications”) but I definitely don’t think it’s a MUST DO in order to become a professional novel writer. But, it really increases your chances. And it’s not just a degree but also the little workshops you attend and the micro-credentials you might take on. I was once told that I would never be a published writer if I didn’t go to university and so, despite my worry about its truth, I built an avoidance towards people telling me how to write and how I should learn to write. And then of course I went through the phase of “but these people didn’t finish university” … and then the point of realising that I’m not those people. Eventually, I found a balance.

Learning about the craft of writing is definitely important, but you don’t need to let it cookie-cutter your writing. As much as the universities say they want to “break the mould”, they’re still marking to a criteria and it’s still only a couple of people looking at the pieces, so don’t be entirely discouraged if they don’t like your style or think there’s any merit in it. But, do consider the criticism that they give you, as that is almost always from a place where they want you to write your best writing, even if they don’t quite think your vision works.

I think the most important experiences to me during my degree were related to my minor, my internship and my job, not actually the main writing portion of the degree at all. Those experiences have changed me as a person and changed the way I view the world and so the way I view my writing and the writing of others. The writing portion has definitely helped me refine several areas of my writing, and I’m hoping to attend workshops and extra classes when I have more money.

So, for me, because everyone is different, having a balance of studying writing and developing as a person were equally important for my development as a writer. I don’t think that people need to go to university to become a professional writer, but I do think there needs to be some learning, even if it’s stacks of workshops. You could have the most amazing experiences and stories in your head, but you also need to be able to communicate them in a way that people want to read them.