Is a Master's Degree In Writing Worth the Cost?

Whether you are brand new to the idea of novel writing, a seasoned author, or just someone who loves writing and you're wondering if you should sign your soul away in loans for an MFA in Creative Writing then don't worry we're in the same boat because I'm not even sure of the answer. 

I completed my bachelor's degree in Creative Writing in 2021, thanks to all the spare time I had due to the lockdown and being unable to return to my retail job. Ever since receiving my expensive wall decoration in the mail for my first degree, I've been wondering if I should take the next step in my education and enroll in an online Masters's program for Creative Writing. 

Now it doesn't take even an associate degree to become a writer or even to become an author, but the experience gained can be a push when it comes to the writing experience. Workshops and connecting with other writers are invaluable experiences when you just start off writing. I was also fortunate enough to have an entire class dedicated to growing my author platform using social media.

This isn't to say you can't also find this information or writing workshops with little more than typing a few words into the search bar of your browser of choice, but for me, I needed the structure and deadlines that came with the cost of a new car.  

In my research hunt for the answer of whether or not a writing degree is worth the price tag, I've assembled this pro and con list to consider. 

Pros:

• Opportunity to study and learn about writing in a structured and focused environment
• Access to experienced writing faculty and mentors who can provide feedback and guidance on your work
• Networking opportunities with other writers, agents, and publishers
• Opportunities to participate in workshops, readings, and other events that can help you improve your writing skills
• Opportunity to improve your writing portfolio and credentials

Cons:

• High cost of tuition and fees, which can result in significant debt
• Limited job prospects and earning potential in the writing field
• No guarantee of success or publication after completing the program
• Possibility of burnout or feeling creatively stifled after years of intense study

One of my biggest issues is that I'll run into the same types of issues I had when completing my writing degree at my first in-person college and again at the online college where I finished my degree. 

SNOBS. 

I don't mean any of the students, I never had any problems with them when it came to peer reviews, workshops, and the general sharing of each other work that happened even when it wasn't a graded assignment…

It was the teachers. 

More than once I came across teachers that actively hated and banned horror work from their creative writing classes, fantasy was fine, science fiction was a-okay, but if your work was anything resembling a thriller or horror they wouldn't except it. I had one teacher who accepted everything and I mean everything from fan-fiction to erotica, (even though they tend to be once in the same) but would not accept horror fiction. One went as far as saying, "If you're here to become the next Stephen King then there is the door, this class isn't for you." 

Only once did I come across a teacher who loved receiving anything and everything speculative fiction, Three times a week she would give us a writing prompt to complete in the first few minutes of class to get our writing brains switched on after whatever class we had just come from and 

I absolutely lived for the praise she would give when I managed to turn every prompt she gave me into a small horror story. One time I turned in my page with my story incomplete since we only had ten minutes to write and when she handed it back to me she had written see me after class in the corner. I thought this was the time that I had done it, my story had gone too far. Oofh, was I wrong. She was upset with me for not finishing it as she wanted to know what direction I was going to go next. 

I've never found that support since. Even though I've had some pretty great teachers, one of which still checks in through an email every once in a while, most of the time I've had to start works from scratch in an "acceptable" genre so I would have an approved work to bring to workshops. 

Is the Degree Worth it?

If I were to go back and decide if I was going to complete my bachelor's in Creative Writing I would go back and do it all over again except sooner as I wouldn't have bothered with the time spent as a Biology major or my year of discovery when I took all sorts of classes debating on a new major from something useful like Psychology to something that had my parents at their wit's end… acting before the beloved teacher above let me know that English with a minor in Creative Writing was an option. 

It wasn't long before I could a school that offered Creative Writing as a major instead of just a minor. 

Ultimately, whether a master's degree in writing is worth the cost depends on your goals and circumstances. 

At the moment signing up for another degree is not financially feasible for me so as much as I would like to explore it as an option it will be a decision I revisit as the year goes on and it becomes a financially wise option. 

Until then I will continue with the many less expensive options that are available such as workshops, writing groups, online courses, and of course first and foremost, reading. 

Never stop reading and never stop writing. 

With love, 

B.K. xoxo

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