B.A. in Literature with Emphasis in Writing
To Be a Writer
Writers are among the most admired people in society. To be a writer is to be skilled in self-expression, to be gifted in finding the exact word for the occasion, to be capable of choosing a phrase that both accurately informs and beautifully delights. Writers are a kind of magi. They don’t simply convey information; they conjure linguistic patterns that speak to both the surface and depth of our collective Being. A French poet once said, the difference between ordinary written utterance and the rhetorical expression of an accomplished writer “is the difference between walking and dancing.”
Writers have been called the cultivators of the imagination. Although they are often visionary, they are also extremely practical. Through desire and diligence they have developed skills that always have caché, that never go out of fashion. Every business, every organization needs people who can communicate well. A degree emphasizing writing opens students to numerous possibilities. Professionals in any field possess an advantage if they can write well. Good writing and language skills give a person a level of sophistication and refinement beyond their specialization.
Writing skills are essential in most graduate programs. Professionals in any field with good writing skills have the opportunity to market themselves through professional articles, books, and technical writing. Being a good writer/editor, moreover, will often get you a job, and it is often the difference between being promoted and not. Even if it isn’t one’s primary occupation, good writing skills often advance one in a profession. A doctor who writes may become a leading medical authority; a businessman who writes may become renown as a consultant.
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