Creative Writing Classes: Not Just for the Creative

Samantha Moriarty

I started taking creative writing classes at Illinois because my mentor, who was a senior when I was a freshman, said her biggest regret was not taking more writing classes at school. She was the reason I decided to go into advertising, so I took her advice and enrolled in a short story class, a poetry class, and now am currently enrolled in a creative nonfiction class and a narrative writing class. These classes have benefitted me in helping me to break outside of my comfort zone and learn that no idea is a bad idea.

Although I want to go into the account side at an advertising agency, I will need to understand the people I want to work with in the future—the creatives. My creative writing classes have helped me to gain confidence in myself as a creative person. This confidence is largely due to the small class size and teachers who take an interest in their students. Students are able to excel because all stories are work-shopped by the other students and then discussed during class. Seeing the work of others allows one to realize that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses.

The best parts of my creative writing classes were the stories I heard and the people I was able to meet. A large part of advertising, and many other industries for that matter, is working with different personalities. Creative writing classes have some of the most diverse people you will meet. You get to learn so much about the people in your class because it is a very open environment and usually the types of stories they are writing reflect largely on who they are as a person.

 I also believe that having a creative hobby is very important to the advertising industry because you have to find outlets to keep yourself evolving. It also helps with strategic thinking–how to create stories that are not just entertaining for yourself but rather are relatable to people who have different experiences than you. I would highly suggest taking a creative writing class during your time at Illinois because you will experience a completely unique form of learning and classroom dynamic. I can say with confidence that I am friends with all of my creative writing teachers and they have invested time and interest into developing me as a writer and a creative mind.