Creative wriing?

I have always enjoyed writing, I've always been able to express myself on paper easily. recently my teacher has been pushing the thoughts of going into creative writing as a career so much I'm nearly choking on it. after the pestering and the hints she's been dropping like little bombs, I'm beginning to surrender. I only wish I could see what she sees. I wuish I could read my writing and smile as big as she does. every single friend I have is telling me to write my heart out, they all tell me how much they love reading my work, I love giving it to them. but how do I know I'm good enough to turn this into a career? what can I do with a creative writing degree? is it a hard degree to accomplish? I wish I could give you guys links to my work to have you all criticize me, and hopefully give me advice. what should I do?
Creative wriing?
wriing wriing wriing wriing, banana phone.





All I have to say is; follow your dreams... and with a little bit of determination, and kindness, you will go far in life.
Creative wriing?
If the people who are reading your writing like it, then you're obviously doing something right. Most of the time when we write, we have an audience and the goal is the please the audience using our skill and talent.





I will tell you though, if you don't have confidence in what you're doing you won't make it far. As far as the "creative writing degree" goes, writers are not made, they are born so it shouldn't be a hard goal for you to achieve if you're a born writer.





Go for your dreams, just find the confidence in yourself. :)
Reply:Kiddo - 5% of authors today make a living at it. The rest write and have some kind of other job. Consider teaching, journalism, advertising ... something creative that pays the bills and leaves you time to write, too.





Stephen King lived in a trailer park and taught while he wrote his first two. James Patterson ran an ad agency until he broke through. Dave Barry, Michael Connelly, Carl Hiaasen and many others were journalists.





Then there was this one fascinating author. Glen Cook. Very prolific. His Garrett books have had a huge underground following for years. I am a fan since forever. Well, he wrote his books while working days on the GM Light Truck Assembly Line building pickups. He recently retired and is now a full time author living on a GM pension.





Teachers tend to get a little overzealous. Not for nothing there is that old expression "Those who can - do. Those who can't - teach". Teachers aren't publishers. They see talent and push it without discussing much in the way of the realities of the situation. You are still going to have lean years -- even if you end up with a bestseller.





So discuss options with the teacher. Tell her you are interested in writing, but you also have to consider reality. Ask her what careers would offer you that. A creative writing degree and two bucks will get you on the NYC subway. You can't flash a degree in a publisher's face and demand publication. Yes, it is still hard work.





Just remember writing is about discipline. 365 days a year - every day. Same time. It is a job. In 95% of cases, a second job. So put one foot in the creative writing world if you want, but put another foot in something more secure.





Hope that helps. Pax-C
Reply:If you're looking for experience and feedback, a creative writing path in college is great. You talk with like-minded people and professors with background in the field.





If you're looking for credentials, don't waste your money. No editor gives two craps if you have a degree in writing. In most cases, newspapers don't either. Experience and your writing speak for themselves. The advantage of studying English is that inadvertently, it teaches you to write better, but the degree itself is just a piece of paper when it comes down to it.





Best of luck with your writing.