Reflective Statement - Core Value 9
In my time as a Writing Arts student, I have been exposed to many different graduate school options and post-graduate opportunities. Nearly one hundred percent of my knowledge of post-graduate and “real-world” options comes from just two courses: Professions in Writing Arts with Professor Laura Mangini and Editing the Literary Journal with Professor Amanda Frederick.
In the Professions in Writing Arts course, we discussed writing quality résumés, cover letters, query letters, and personal statements for graduate school applications. We had opportunities to get feedback and peer edit these important documents. Our class interacted online regularly, and this allowed our professor to share up-to-date information of graduate school fairs, application deadlines, and career fairs. Our class also started a new section on our website where we could share internship opportunities with each other throughout the semester.
The six week long class also covered different approaches to writing as a career. Freelance writing, online writing, editorial positions, copyediting, copywriting, higher education, and self-publishing were all covered. We were exposed to the resources required to reach publishing agents if we wanted to pitch our writing to a publishing company. We were shown a few options for programs that help writers self-publish their work. Although this one-credit class only met for six weeks, we were given opportunities to learn from guest speakers, published writers and experienced professionals every week. Each guest speaker was successful in a different way. Professor Mangini really showed our class that there is a “place” for every different kind of writer, and that writing presents the opportunity to share your unique interests and talents with the world, no matter how abstract or specific.
Most importantly, we were taught how to market ourselves and our talents in order to meet our career goals. Whether interested in freelance writing, journalism, magazine work, or writing for television, learning how to illuminate our talent and experience is imperative in a competitive, creative field. As a final assignment for Profession in Writing Arts, we had to link our social networking sites, resumes, and portfolios at one central website. We had opportunities to purchase our own domain names and make our personal websites as professional as possible. Completion of this assignment allows someone who searches our name on the internet to find all of our work and connections in one convenient place. After taking this course, I am confident that I can get my writing in to the right hands, and my creative endeavors off to a great start.
In the Professions in Writing Arts course, we discussed writing quality résumés, cover letters, query letters, and personal statements for graduate school applications. We had opportunities to get feedback and peer edit these important documents. Our class interacted online regularly, and this allowed our professor to share up-to-date information of graduate school fairs, application deadlines, and career fairs. Our class also started a new section on our website where we could share internship opportunities with each other throughout the semester.
The six week long class also covered different approaches to writing as a career. Freelance writing, online writing, editorial positions, copyediting, copywriting, higher education, and self-publishing were all covered. We were exposed to the resources required to reach publishing agents if we wanted to pitch our writing to a publishing company. We were shown a few options for programs that help writers self-publish their work. Although this one-credit class only met for six weeks, we were given opportunities to learn from guest speakers, published writers and experienced professionals every week. Each guest speaker was successful in a different way. Professor Mangini really showed our class that there is a “place” for every different kind of writer, and that writing presents the opportunity to share your unique interests and talents with the world, no matter how abstract or specific.
Most importantly, we were taught how to market ourselves and our talents in order to meet our career goals. Whether interested in freelance writing, journalism, magazine work, or writing for television, learning how to illuminate our talent and experience is imperative in a competitive, creative field. As a final assignment for Profession in Writing Arts, we had to link our social networking sites, resumes, and portfolios at one central website. We had opportunities to purchase our own domain names and make our personal websites as professional as possible. Completion of this assignment allows someone who searches our name on the internet to find all of our work and connections in one convenient place. After taking this course, I am confident that I can get my writing in to the right hands, and my creative endeavors off to a great start.