• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • College Loans
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • College Loans
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise

You are here: Home / Life / Academics / The English Major’s Dilemma: To Write or Not to Write

The English Major’s Dilemma: To Write or Not to Write

June 3, 2016 //  by Lizzette Esquivel//  Leave a Comment

Shares7Facebook7Tweet

It’s summer vacation and you’re sitting at the dinning table at a family reunion. Aunt Becky sits across from you asks what your major is. You reply, “English.” You already know what’s coming next—“So what are you going to do with that when you graduate?” To which you respond with gusto, “Write, Aunt Becky. I want to be a writer.” Let’s be honest: Not too many people will understand your passion, and they’re going to have an even harder time imagining your success. This is the English major’s dilemma. Can we actually make a career out of writing? According to two renowned professors at the University of Florida, the answer is yes.

1. Write because you love it

love-of-writing
wordpress.com

English majors constantly write. It comes naturally because it’s our passion (alongside reading of course). Don’t let it feel like an obligation or requirement. Professor, Associate Chair and Undergraduate Coordinator of the UF English Department Stephanie A. Smith recounted what two other writers told her. “[A] writer never gives up because they can’t live without writing. If you can live without it, you aren’t really a writer.” University of Florida Professor Dr. Sidney Homan provides an equally inspiring sentiment. “I love to write because, for me, it’s like putting paint on a canvas, but—to beat the metaphor into the ground—the paint here is not just an inanimate material but something I love, respect, relish when speaking, something alive.”

2. Slow and steady wins the race

mywritingblog.com
mywritingblog.com

As a young and developing writer, sometimes it feels hard to contain your eagerness. Both Dr. Smith and Dr. Homan, however, drive home that it’s important to pace yourself. Although it might take extra time and help, the editing process is essential. Dr. Homan said his wife takes charge with much of his editing and admitted that lending his work to another pair of eyes (and hands) isn’t always an easy task. “[S]he took the opening chapter in my book Beckett’s Theatres…cut it from 150 pages to about 40, with my screaming with each word she took out, as if someone were pulling skin from my chest. But when the book came out, reviewers (who otherwise had mixed opinions about my work) all commended ‘the economy’ of that chapter on Godot,” said Dr. Homan.

3. Discipline, discipline, discipline

tumblr.com
tumblr.com

Do you ever have a hard time finishing up a piece? Do you find yourself with random paragraphs scattered about your laptop and journal? Admit it or not, you’ve got a discipline problem. Dr. Smith said that daily writing practices and setting her own deadlines help her to overcome this challenge. Dr. Homan offered some advice from his past. “I learned from an old high school coach to set a date when a project would be finished. If, say, half the time was up and you had only finished a quarter of the project, then you forced yourself, ‘punished’ yourself, by having to do the final three-quarters in the other half of the time remaining.  You soon learned to pace yourself so you wouldn’t get rushed like this.” If you ever want to make in the real world as a writer, you have to get comfortable making deadlines at the drop of a hat. Better to start now than after you missed your first deadline—and then lose your first job.

4. Don’t fall in love with your voice

i love myself giphy
giphy.com

We put our blood, sweat and tears into our writing; the last thing we want is to hear is that we failed. The truth is, though, constructive criticism drives progress and development. Dr. Homan acknowledged sensitivity to criticism as one of the most challenging aspects of creativity. “[K]eeping my integrity as a writer while taking criticism from readers and editors…makes an improvement, while holding my ground at other times [is also necessary]… [G]etting rejected, the essay or book turned down and learning how to live with that [are the most frustrating parts],” said Dr. Homan.

5. When discouraged, get back up

Ive-fallen-I-cant-get-up
pinterest.com

While some people offer constructive criticism that fuels your fire, there will always be jerks out there that will put you down for the sake of it. Dr. Smith recalled those who discouraged her choice to write. “My brothers, my father, my colleagues in the academy. I just don’t listen to them. It took awhile but I just tune negativity out,” said Dr, Smith. Initially it may be difficult to tune out the white noise, but learn to sift through the constructive and deconstructive critics. Someone’s negative remark shouldn’t end your writing. Smith’s final advice to aspiring writers? “Be open, be flexible, and remember that persuasive argumentative skills can change a person’s mind, get your foot in a door, or even open doors. If you are passionate about your work, then stick to it because those who give up on what they love will die inside.”

Shares7Facebook7Tweet

Filed Under: Academics Writers

About Lizzette Esquivel

Lizzette is a junior transfer attending the University of Florida and is originally from Los Angeles. She loves the hustle and bustle of big cities, coffee, art, books and collecting mugs along with other random items.

You May Also Like

this puppy does not know how to stay awake

9 Sure-Fire Ways to Stay Awake in Class

planner organizing productivity in college

Turn the Toxic Culture of Productivity into a Positive One

10 Apps Every College Student Needs in Their Life

Ohio State General Education Classes Graduation Cap

Top 10 Gen Eds at Ohio State Guaranteed to Change Your Life

CM’s Guide to the English Major

twitter

10 Tips for Creating a Professional Twitter Account

10 Research Tips to Save You Some Time (and Sanity)

university of florida survival pugh hall

10 Ways to Survive Your First Semester at the University of Florida

finals week university of mary washington campus

How to Have A Most Excellent Finals Week at UMW

How Taking A Class Outside My Major Helped Me Find Myself

course selection

What I Learned While Stressing About Course Selection

Medical Physician Health Stethoscope Doctor

5 Steps to Getting that Med School Acceptance Letter

5 English Courses Cooler than Gator Football

dropping out

I Almost Dropped Out

study smarter writing

My Freshman Year Anti-Anxiety Experiment

10 Things to Say to an English Major That’ll Set Them Off

10 Tips for Stressed Students In Academically-Competitive Environments

student studying

10 Ways to Study Like A Boss and Ace that Next Exam

Find College Professors Who Care And Actually Get to Know Them

I Absolutely Hated My First Major, So I Had to Get Out of It

Do We Need Safe Spaces in Schools?

Man-Bun Saves the Day—And Other Group Project Related Things

girl in a Tulane hoodie sitting on the sign that says "Tulane University" outside Tulane's Gibson Hall

10 Audacious Student Leaders Who Embody the Quintessential Tulane Student

girl lying face down on bed

15 Irritating Pet Peeves Only College Students Can Understand

Previous Post: « Your Master Guide on Going Back to School
Next Post: 10 Penn State Gen-Eds You’ll Actually Enjoy »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

728

10 College Students in Chicago Chasing Their Passions

422

The 6 Commandments for Sliding into a Girl’s DM like… an Average College Dude

340

10 Steps To The Perfect Galentine’s Day

unsplash-logoThomas Kelley
143

Adjusting to College After Working At Disney World

quidditch team bu
118

I Play a Fake Sport. Now It’s My Whole Reality.

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise

Copyright © 2019 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.