Becoming A Becoming A WriterWriter

By: Eric HerreraBy: Eric Herrera

Top 5 CollegesTop 5 Colleges CUNY Hunter CollegeCUNY Hunter College Creative Writing and English & Literature Creative Writing and English & Literature

MajorsMajors Location: Location: 695 Park Avenue New York, NY 10021695 Park Avenue New York, NY 10021 SAT Average Score: SAT Average Score: SAT Critical Reading: 510-SAT Critical Reading: 510-

610610 SAT Math: 520-620SAT Math: 520-620 GPA: GPA: 3.03.0 Tuition: Tuition: In state tuition $4,999In state tuition $4,999

CUNY Baruch CollegeCUNY Baruch College Creative Writing and English Language & Creative Writing and English Language &

Literature MajorsLiterature Majors Location:Location: 1 Bernard Baruch Way New York, NY 1 Bernard Baruch Way New York, NY

10010-558510010-5585 SAT Average Score:SAT Average Score: SAT Critical Reading: 490- SAT Critical Reading: 490-

590. SAT Math 560-670590. SAT Math 560-670 GPA: GPA: 3.03.0 Tuition: Tuition: In state tuitionIn state tuition $ $4,9704,970

*Hunter College

CUNY Brooklyn CollegeCUNY Brooklyn College Journalism and Film Production/CinematographyJournalism and Film Production/Cinematography Location: Location: 2900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11210-28892900 Bedford Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11210-2889 SAT Average Score: SAT Average Score: SAT Critical Reading: 470- 580. SAT Math: 510-610SAT Critical Reading: 470- 580. SAT Math: 510-610 GPA: GPA: 3.25- 3.493.25- 3.49 Tuition: Tuition: In state tuition $5,054In state tuition $5,054

CUNY Queens CollegeCUNY Queens College English Language & Literature MajorEnglish Language & Literature Major Location:Location: 65-30 Kissena Boulevard Flushing, NY 11367- 1597 65-30 Kissena Boulevard Flushing, NY 11367- 1597 SAT Average Score: SAT Average Score: SAT Critical Reading: 490-550SAT Critical Reading: 490-550 SAT Math: 490-580SAT Math: 490-580 SAT Writing: 490- 550SAT Writing: 490- 550 GPA: GPA: 3.25- 3.493.25- 3.49 Tuition: Tuition: In state tuition $ 5,077In state tuition $ 5,077

New York University New York University English Language & Literature and Film Production/CinematographyEnglish Language & Literature and Film Production/Cinematography Location: Location: 70 Washington Square South New York, NY 1001270 Washington Square South New York, NY 10012 SAT Average Score: SAT Average Score: SAT Critical Reading: 610-710 SAT Critical Reading: 610-710 SAT Math: 600-720SAT Math: 600-720 SAT Writing: 620-710SAT Writing: 620-710 ACT Composite: 27-31ACT Composite: 27-31 GPA: GPA: 3.5-3.743.5-3.74 Tuition: Tuition: In state tuition $40,082In state tuition $40,082

Training, Qualifications, Training, Qualifications, and Advancementand Advancement

Many writers end up teaching at Many writers end up teaching at colleges.colleges.

Due to this a writer most likely needs Due to this a writer most likely needs a Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) , a Master a Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) , a Master of Arts Degree (M.F.A.), and to be of Arts Degree (M.F.A.), and to be extremely secure a PhD (rarely extremely secure a PhD (rarely known as Doctor of Philosophy.)known as Doctor of Philosophy.)

Even if a writer does not end up Even if a writer does not end up teaching, the knowledge gained from teaching, the knowledge gained from these degrees only makes a person a these degrees only makes a person a better writer.better writer.

Nature of the WorkNature of the Work As a writer, the work pretty much follows you As a writer, the work pretty much follows you

around. It is more than likely that everyday a around. It is more than likely that everyday a writer will take a seat and write! Ideas are writer will take a seat and write! Ideas are constantly coming into a writer’s head and it constantly coming into a writer’s head and it must be written down immediately to keep it must be written down immediately to keep it vivid. vivid.

The responsibilities that a writer has to take on The responsibilities that a writer has to take on are simple: focus and perseverance. A writer are simple: focus and perseverance. A writer must have clearly labeled in his/her head what must have clearly labeled in his/her head what it is they want to write about. Also the writer it is they want to write about. Also the writer must be dedicated to have long, endless nights must be dedicated to have long, endless nights if he/she writes for a newspaper.if he/she writes for a newspaper.

Personal TraitsPersonal Traits A distinguishing trait of being a writer A distinguishing trait of being a writer

is perseverance. As I mentioned is perseverance. As I mentioned before, it means sitting down every day before, it means sitting down every day to write. Even if what it written doesn’t to write. Even if what it written doesn’t get published, “Practice makes get published, “Practice makes perfect.”perfect.”

Another distinguishing trait of being a Another distinguishing trait of being a writer is endless learning. Whenever a writer is endless learning. Whenever a new idea comes to mind, a writer must new idea comes to mind, a writer must have knowledge of what he/she is have knowledge of what he/she is writing about for it to be factual writing about for it to be factual (unless the writing piece is a fictional (unless the writing piece is a fictional piece.)piece.)

Trends/OutlookTrends/Outlook There is a new development that I came to There is a new development that I came to

realize on my own. The competition to become realize on my own. The competition to become a writer now is fierce. People are constantly a writer now is fierce. People are constantly writing and spreading their ideals into the writing and spreading their ideals into the world. world.

Another trend I realized is that critics will have Another trend I realized is that critics will have no mercy on my writing. So much has already no mercy on my writing. So much has already been written that anything recent can usually been written that anything recent can usually be compared to something written before. be compared to something written before. Writing has to be unusual and spontaneous, and Writing has to be unusual and spontaneous, and a bad review can damage an author’s career.a bad review can damage an author’s career.

Job AvailabilityJob Availability Job opportunities for writing are everywhere. Job opportunities for writing are everywhere.

It simply takes initiative in order to find the It simply takes initiative in order to find the ideal place. The most common places are: in ideal place. The most common places are: in small businesses, such as a brochure, and small businesses, such as a brochure, and pitching an article to a weak newspaper. pitching an article to a weak newspaper. Then you can work up from there.Then you can work up from there.

To start I would enjoy writing for a local To start I would enjoy writing for a local newspaper, magazine, anything to get my newspaper, magazine, anything to get my speech and writing published.speech and writing published.

As I progress I would like to write a novel. I As I progress I would like to write a novel. I would like to have that novel published to the would like to have that novel published to the world which takes much dedication.world which takes much dedication.

*Simple titles that grasp the reader’s attention.

Earning PotentialEarning Potential

During the summer of 2008, salaried writers During the summer of 2008, salaried writers and authors made an average of $53,070. The and authors made an average of $53,070. The lowest 10% earned less than $28,090 while lowest 10% earned less than $28,090 while the highest 10% made more than $95,490. the highest 10% made more than $95,490.

Freelance writers earn their money from Freelance writers earn their money from articles, books and rarely television and movie articles, books and rarely television and movie scripts. scripts.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, writers had an average hourly wage of $31.04. writers had an average hourly wage of $31.04. The yearly wage for writers averaged out to The yearly wage for writers averaged out to $64,560.$64,560.

Related OccupationsRelated Occupations The major for writing is a wide subject.The major for writing is a wide subject. A close career for writing is editing. Editors are A close career for writing is editing. Editors are

essential to a writing piece, such as a novel. The essential to a writing piece, such as a novel. The editor fixes all grammatical mistakes, punctuation, editor fixes all grammatical mistakes, punctuation, etc.etc.

Another close career is publishing. The publisher is Another close career is publishing. The publisher is the bridge between an author being unknown, to the bridge between an author being unknown, to being known. The publisher gets the actual text to being known. The publisher gets the actual text to the people. It’s not much of a waste because the the people. It’s not much of a waste because the publisher often gets a lot of the rights to the writing publisher often gets a lot of the rights to the writing and a large portion of how much money the novel and a large portion of how much money the novel makes.makes.

A final career related to writing is journalism, which A final career related to writing is journalism, which is more directed to reporting trends to a wide is more directed to reporting trends to a wide audience. Also journalism has a focus on the culture audience. Also journalism has a focus on the culture of society such as arts.of society such as arts.

Challenges/DrawbacksChallenges/Drawbacks There is one main challenge that I fear terribly. There is one main challenge that I fear terribly.

I fear that my writing may not appeal to I fear that my writing may not appeal to others. Just because I enjoy my writing, doesn’t others. Just because I enjoy my writing, doesn’t mean the world will. If my writing is socially mean the world will. If my writing is socially rejected, investing into a book will result more rejected, investing into a book will result more than the actual profit.than the actual profit.

Another challenge I didn’t notice much was the Another challenge I didn’t notice much was the dedication needed. A writer has to be ready at dedication needed. A writer has to be ready at all times in case of a sudden spark. And once all times in case of a sudden spark. And once started on that spark, a writer must continue started on that spark, a writer must continue on until the point is established. A writer has on until the point is established. A writer has to be ready to spend endless nights writing to be ready to spend endless nights writing parts to a novel, or simply brainstorming. This parts to a novel, or simply brainstorming. This requires patience as well.requires patience as well.

This is a good example to display the constraints on creativity. Writers write about what they feel is right in their eyes.

This comic shows that writing is inspired by anything…even if it is last minute panic.

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Education_needed_to_become_a_writerEducation_needed_to_become_a_writer