Writing Lessons from College

In 2024, I joined the Young Writer’s Workshop, an amazing platform and resource for young writers. One of the main pieces of advice they give for starting a writing career is to stay home from college and focus on writing. That way, you save money on a degree and have more time to work on getting published. This strategy will work well for some writers, but as a writer currently in college, I’ve been reflecting on how my time here has been working for my writing career. My hope is that this short article on the pros of college will help some young writer consider all their options.

Knowing how to write good characters is one of the most valuable skills a writer can have, and there’s no better way to learn it than by exposure to people. A college campus is a great place to find diverse people, since it hosts a variety of people with different interests and backgrounds. One day I’m being interviewed by my journalist friend, and the next I’m studying with my roommate in the architecture studio. This endless creative fodder helps me write better characters each day, and there are always details to save for later projects. Of course, people are everywhere; you don’t have to go to college to have new adventures, but it does help to have everyone in one place.

The other great thing about meeting people is that they can help you make connections. Networking is important in any career, and it’s especially easy in college, since you don’t even realize you’re doing it! Just thanks to my roommate, I’ve landed my first editing job and might intern for her mom’s publishing company, Behold Publications. On top of that, I’ve made connections with professors who I know will be an aid when I’m looking for my next step after college (two years goes by faster than you think!). I didn’t do anything special to get these connections either; I was just engaged during classes and stopped by their office hours when I could.

The awesome part is that these connections are already paying off. The reason I got my job at the Writing Center was because my advisor remembered I was interested when she needed a new tutor last minute. Now, I’m earning a little money while in college, and I have some experience to put on my resume. Never underestimate putting your best foot forward!

My last point isn’t specifically writing-related, but I’ve found it has been extremely useful to learn how to live without my parents but not quite on my own. I was always independent growing up, so I was never too concerned when it came to living on my own. But like many things, being out of the house has proved to be easier said than done. I grow more grateful for my roommates each day, especially for their company and our weekly meal prep. Learning to live with new people is an adventure in itself, and it is oddly empowering to be learning how to cook together. Like a little found family right out of a book. They’ve helped me realize that part of being independent is being able to accept help.

My friends, my professors, and all the people I meet in and out of class make for great teachers in writing and living. As a whole, my time in college has been nothing but fruitful for my writing. Whatever path you or a young writer you know chooses, I hope it will be just as fruitful.