Okay, I'm going to delurk to try to give what help I can. As a college
senior, here's my take on the whole thing: They won't let you take only
creative writing courses anyway.
You aren't going to blow your chances at any career but writing fantasy if
you take creative writing - most schools require students to take courses in
a variety of subjects, and this is good thing. As a writer, maybe a few
history or science classes will give you just the inspiration you need. So,
by the same token, even if you do find a nonwriting career that you really
love - say, being an architect - it won't do you any harm to be an architect
with some experience writing fiction!
Maybe writing is what you'll want to do with your life, or maybe you'll find
something else. You really have nothing to lose by giving it a shot and
taking a class or two.
Even if all you get out of those courses is enjoyment, that may actually
help your academic career. There are few college experiences worse than an
entire semester of dreary classes. It can be really depressing and make you
lose interest in school. Taking a class you love is rarely a waste of time.
Writing courses can, sadly, on some occasions be flaky and annoying since
writing is such a personal art and very hard to teach. The best advice I can
give you on actual courses themselves is: Ask other kids who have taken
writing classes what classes they've taken and how they liked them. It can
be a real life saver.
Good luck!
Kate Fitzsimons
>From: Hans Schweitzer <hans117 at yahoo.com>
>To: dragaera at dragaera.info
>Subject: creative writing
>Date: Sun, 12 Dec 2004 19:01:32 -0800 (PST)
>
>
>Forgive me for something extremely off topic but Steve’s web log got me
>thinking.
>
>I am a high school senior and as the fate of all such people I am stuck
>with the perilous question of where to go to college. I finished my
>applications on Friday. As I completed the application process, it
>occurred to me that I’ve been thinking far too much, about what is
>practical than what I will enjoy. I stumbled across Brust in 3rd grade and
>since then have had a deep love for reading and later writing fantasy. I
>however, don’t have the guts to write professionally. I figure that many
>people on this list have taken creative writing courses. Were these
>courses worthwhile? Where are the best creative writing programs? If I
>was confident that I would get something out of these classes except for
>enjoyment, I might be able to think more about doing something I love
>rather than doing something for financial motives.
>
>
>
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