Frequently Asked Questions

1. What's the difference between professional writing and creative writing?

Aha! That goes right to the heart of what this program is all about. Check out this page [TK].

2. What kind of jobs do graduates from the Professional Writing area get?

More kinds than you can imagine. Check it out our Career Opportunities list.

3. What are the internships like for Professional Writers?

They're all different, partly because they're with different groups, organizations or companies, but also because every student brings something different to the internship-and the more you bring, the more you get out of it. Check out our internships.

4. Can we concentrate on any particular genres in the major?

Yes-in fact, we expect you to develop preferences. The whole major is designed to have you try different genres and subjects and see which come most naturally to you, and where your interests lie. Quite often, you don't even know what you do best until you try it.

5. What on campus activities can Professional Writers participate in?

Here are some to name a few: The Champlain Current, The Willard and Maple Literary Magazine, Wednesday nights at The Grind, as well as participating in the Champlain Theater.

6. What if I'm a poet?

Hey-we like poets! In fact, even if you're not going to end up writing poetry, you learn all kinds of things by writing poetry that you probably couldn't learn any other way. We have at least five classes that include some poetry writing, and we're also going to encourage you to write for and even help edit Willard & Maple, the college literary magazine. If poetry becomes your strength and your passion, we're even going to suggest you create your own chapbook and we're going to give you guidance in publishing it. (Eventual link to Willard & Maple; not yet available)

7. Why do I have to take Technical and Grant writing if I'm a creative writer?

Good luck trying to make a living as a poet, or a novelist, or a playwright if you don't know how to write a grant! That's what makes the Professional Writing Program unique: we don't just want you to be a creative writer, we want you to be a creative writer with survival skills!

8. Can you really make money by being a writer? Really?

Yes. You need to be good, you need to be smart, and you need to realize that writing is a business and you're a kind of entrepreneur. Then things start happening. At any given time we have somewhere between six and a dozen undergraduates who're making money as writers. Seriously.

9. What if I have problems performing in public?

That's the great thing about writing-it's not just one skill, it's a whole range of skills. Some people are gregarious and outgoing, sure, and they may be performance artists or slam poets or playwright/actors. Some people are more detail-oriented, and likely will end up as editors, copy-editors, or technical writers. Some people are more introspective and imaginative and may end up writing novels or screenplays. But a lot of those sets of skills overlap. And, come to think of it, they'll all benefit from knowing how to write a grant!