Creative Writing is a discipline that goes beyond traditional writing. It allows individuals to express their thoughts, emotions and ideas through the power of words. It is the process of creating original and imaginative works that transcends conventional writing and encourages individuals to explore language, structure and narrative, allowing individuals to share their unique perspectives and experiences with the world.

Creative Writing as a subject is invariably informed by other areas of study which can pretty much be paired with literature, communication and philosophy. It is a unique challenge, demanding students to make things from nothing as no other subject does and so pursuing Creative Writing at university will turn students into masters of language.

Because the world always needs writers and almost every job requires some sort of written work, whether it’s simple written communication or something more elaborate like publishing data or marketing details, Creative Writing has many potential areas of employment opportunities both within the realms of literature and in career-related writing.

Study levels:

Students who wish to develop their writing skills and creativity can opt for a course in Creative Writing which is offered by colleges and universities in India and abroad at the undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral level. These include:

• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Journalism
• Bachelor of Arts in English
• Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing
• Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing
• Bachelor of Arts in English Literature
• Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts
• Master of Arts in English Literature
• Master of Arts in Creative writing
• Master of Arts in Art and Media Studies
• Master of Arts in Screen Writing
• Master of Philosophy in Writing
• PhD

Specialisations:

Courses in Creative Writing teaches students various forms, styles and modes of writing. These courses provide training in the elements of prosody and the craft of storytelling and each specialisation prepares students for successful careers as writers and equips them with important skills.

The different areas of specialization that are offered under this sub-discipline include:

• Short story writing
• Fiction writing
• Creative non-fiction
• Narrative non-fiction
• Copy editing
• Screenplay writing
• Personal storytelling
• Film making
• Video game writing
• Novel writing
• Poetry writing
• Journaling
• Character creation
• Stage drama
• Television drama
• Radio drama
• Publishing

Employability:

Creative writing skills are much sought after on resumes, since both creativity and the ability to write are soft skills in decline.

Creative writers are involved in the creation and growth of all kinds of innovative work across genres including fiction, memoirs, non-fiction, science fiction, romance and travelogues. All of these can also be incorporated into script writing and tv shows. There are also opportunities to write feature articles, write food blogs and reviews, and work for an online magazine. In addition, creative writers can also work as consultants to create content for corporate websites and business portfolios, among other freelance activities.

Some of the existing job roles for graduates in Creative Writing include:

• Copywriter
• Grant writer
• Communications/ Public Relations specialist
• Novelist
• Article writer
• Script writer
• Creative Director
• Blogger
• Lyricist
• Columnist Journalist
• Web Content Manager
• Editor
• Professor/Teacher