With the degrees you have, you probably aren't limited in what you can do. To date, what has been your favorite occupation and why?

How often do you write, and how long does it typically take you to finish a piece of writing?

What ideas and strategies do you recommend for someone just coming into the writing business? Do you recommend an agent?

It's no secret that drama makes for good writing. Reality shows are popular for this reason; if seventeen year-old Janelle on MTV's "16 and Pregnant" wasn't out getting beat up by her new boyfriend while her mother was raising her child....well, most people wouldn't really care. But it is this drama, this ado, that attracts attention and makes for good material. 



"The Road to PUBLICATION" instantly caught my attention, as memoirs and personal pieces are some of my favorite forms of writing. Unfortunately I have had some crises and drama in my life, maybe a little more than most. I am by no means a "drama queen" but I have used these life-changing experiences as writing material, and I feel that I have definitely excelled, and will hopefully continue to do so.


Have you ever read a book where you felt like you were actually in the story, experiencing everything as if you were one of the main characters? Putting this drama down on paper is what makes for reading a good story. Easier said than done, right?!

"Welcome to the Real World" was a very interesting and informative article to read. I plan to teach children after obtaining my degree, however I've always enjoyed writing and would like to maybe publish a children's book in the future, so this article has provided me with some insight.

One aspect of this article that surprised me was that "there are no jobs for writers." There are many different avenues a Writing Arts major can pursue (editing, etc.) and because of this, one would think that there are ample jobs out there. I think this misinformation lies in the fact that there are no ads in the newspaper that say "writers wanted". A true writer should actively pursue all possible venues; they should contact publishers and continuously send their pieces to publishers. Getting work published is not an easy task as it requires patience and perseverance. Many people share the belief that a good way to get your foot in the door at a publisher is to initially take an editing job. I personally would love to have an editing job, as I am a phanatic about grammar, punctuation, and spelling, so I think I would do well.

This article also stated that "this is a business, folks".  It is a vocation; writers must fully commit themselves if they want to be successful. And this means never giving up.