Is having a college degree/college education necessary for a successful career as a freelance writer? My college degrees have been crucial for my writing career, but…
I know several very successful freelance writers who don’t have college degrees.
Let’s discuss…
How My College Degrees Helped My Freelance Writing Career
I’m a bit of a special case because my main freelance writing niche is creating test questions, lecture outlines, and other educational components for college-level textbooks and higher-education courses. It’s difficult to be successful in my niche if you don’t have at least a bachelor’s degree. In my case I have a varied educational background. From my resume/c.v. over at my Freelancing for Higher Education blog:
- Master of Arts, Political Science, University of California, Davis, June 1989. UC Regents Fellowship, 1987-1989. Fields: U.S. Government, International Relations, Comparative Politics, European History. 3.91 GPA.
- Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, University of California, Davis, June 1982. Highest Honors. 3.81 GPA.
- Associate of Science, Engineering, Shasta College, Redding, CA, June 1980. 3.62 GPA.
My degrees have allowed me to work on writing projects in many different disciplines in the social sciences, life sciences, and earth sciences.
I also spent a couple of years as a researcher in biochemistry and pharmacology labs at Lund University in Sweden and at Cornell University where I co-authored three papers in refereed scientific journals. They’re esoteric and geeky to most folks, but here they are:
Steven Simasko, John Soares, and Greg Weiland. “Two Components of Carbamylcholine-Induced Loss of Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Function in the Neuronal Cell Line PC12.” Molecular Pharmacology: Vol. 30, pp. 6-12, 1986.
Steven Simasko, John Soares, and Greg Weiland. “Structure-Activity Relationship of Substance P Inhibition of Carbamylcholine Stimulated 22-Na+ Flux in Neuronal (PC12) and Non-Neuronal (BC3H1) Cell Lines.” J. Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics: Vol. 235, No. 3, pp. 601-605, 1985.
Carl Borrebaeck, John Soares, and Bo Mattiasson. “Fractionation of Glycoproteins According to Lectin Affinity and Molecular Size Using a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography System with Sequentially Coupled Columns.” Journal of Chromatography: Vol. 284, pp. 187-192, 1984.
Using My College Education to Get a Book Publisher
My education and research publications also helped me get started as as writer. I used them to convince The Mountaineers Books to give me a contract for my first hiking guidebook. I had no professional writing experience, but I used my science/research background to convince them that I could get the facts straight and present all the relevant information people would need to get to the trailhead and safely navigate the hike.
Important Lessons from Graduate School
I also learned important work habits in grad school: namely how to work my ass off when I have to. Most anyone who has gone to grad school or law school or med school knows that there are times when you have to work 12 hours a day for many days on end. This doesn’t happen often with my freelance writing, but occasionally the projects do pile up and I have to work very hard. I can draw strength from those college days when I had to do the same, and I can find the courage and discipline to get the projects done.
However…
You Don’t Need a College Degree to Make Good Money in Freelance Writing
Two of my favorite freelance writers are very successful, and neither has a college degree. Top-notch blogger Anne Wayman discusses how she’s done just fine without a college degree in this post: “What About Writing Jobs That Want a Degree-Should I Apply Without One?” And Carol Tice not only makes a great living writing, but she’s also the founder of the highly successful membership site The Freelance Writers Den.
Some of the smartest and most interesting people I know have little or no formal education. They study on their own and are keen observers of people and the world at large, and many of them are quite successful in various fields.
Your Take?
What about you? Has college made a difference in your freelance writing career? Did you even go to college? What about other aspects of your various careers and your life in general — has college helped? Tell us in the comments, and feel free to list your degree(s).
Mike Paice says
Unless you write in a specialist or technical field, a college education isn’t really necessary – being able to write well and clearly is all that is needed.
I spent more than 30 years writing (amongst other things) letters, reports, business cases and speeches for the British government. This gave me huge experience of many formal writing skills. At the same time, I was researching and writing up my family history – developing a less formal style that engages the reader and brings the stories alive.
Many of our greatest authors had never set foot in a college and our literary heritage would be far less inspirational if they had never put pen to paper.
The expression “horses for courses” comes to mind.
John Soares says
Well put Mike. What you share is key evidence that formal higher education isn’t necessary to succeed in most writing fields, including in government.
It’s really about how well you write and how well you deliver, which is a good approximation of the phrase “horses for courses.” (I looked it up.)
John Soares says
And as an aside, I really enjoyed the two BBC series “Yes Minister” and “Yes Prime Minister.” They were on during the same period I was getting my master’s in political science.
Harleena Singh@Freelance Writer says
Interesting topic John!
Those sure are some wonderful degrees under your belt! But you are absolutely right about not really needing such degrees in your freelance writing.
I had done my college degree in Commerce, though later switched to English! Even though I have done my Masters in English, but other than for writing content or working on my writing projects, it really doesn’t come in use. Yes, it may be an additional help for me, but even if it wasn’t, if you have been to a good school and are well conversant, you really don’t need an official degree, unless you are really going in for work as you do 🙂
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Carol Tice | Make a Living Writing says
Thanks for the mention, John!
I think people are way too hung up on degrees and not focused enough on getting out there and getting a load of writing and reporting experience. The latter is what you need. University connections might help you get that, or you might just go out and get it on your own. But that’s really the core curriculum…writing and writing and writing.
John Soares says
Carol, I’ve had several people tell me that they needed to get a degree in English before they could start writing fiction. I told them to just start writing fiction and keep working on the craft by studying good writers and the nuts and bolts of writing itself.
Of course, the same applies to freelance writers. Editors just want to know you’ll turn in high-quality work on time.
Carol Tice | Make a Living Writing says
Likewise — I hear from writers that they don’t think they’re qualified to write about X topic — say finance, because they only worked in a bank and weren’t a financial advisor or something. Writers don’t realize how even just a little familiarity with a topic can be all you need to set yourself apart as more knowledgeable. I’m glad I didn’t realize I needed to know more…I’ve made tens of thousands off my background as a legal secretary, and off the fact that my dad sold insurance, so I grew up around that industry and had a basic familiarity with it.
John Soares says
I actually started as an outdoors writer, and I started with a hiking guidebook from a major publisher. I wasn’t an expert in outdoors travel, but I knew enough to pick the best hikes and tell people how to get to the trail-head, do the hike, and get back to the car safely.
Allena Tapia says
I had a BA in English before I started freelancing, and that landed me some great full time editorial/writing jobs that my current/potential clients are often impressed by.
I began my MA in Professional Writing for MYSELF. I didn’t think it would bump up my career a LOT. I’ve since paused it, so I may never find out 🙂
I think that it helps with the “sort” sometimes- especially when so many journalists/publishing house employees flooded the market during the recession.
In addition, I also work in education, K-12 and post-secondary, and my clients often ask for a Bachelor’s in their postings.
Is it absolutely necessary? No.
John Soares says
I think that a degree in English definitely helps in getting editorial work, and I know that some potential clients will be impressed by a college degree, even if it’s not directly relevant to the proposed project.
I also work in education, and I wouldn’t get much work, if any, if I didn’t have at least a bachelor’s degree. My master’s degree and my teaching experience have made a big difference overall in my career.
Corinne says
interesting article. I do have a BA in English. I believe it has helped me land some jobs, merely because clients are specifically looking for a writer with a degree. But I don’t think it is necessary by any means. There are MANY stellar writers out there that do not have a college education.
John Soares says
I agree Corinne — many top-notch writers don’t have college educations. Also, many of the most educated and interesting people I know don’t have college degrees.
Cathy Miller says
Interesting discussion, John. That’s the thing about absolutes, there are none. 🙂 I used to tell my last corporate employer that he was an education snob. If someone had a bajillion degrees, he’d push them to the front of the line, no matter how qualified someone else was.
In my former life as a dental hygienist, I went the practical route and got an Associate Degree where I could be out practicing in 2 years vs. 4 years. I knew I didn’t want to teach, so why go 4 years? (that was my thinking at the time).
I spent a little over 2 years as a hygienist before embarking on a corporate career. It bothered me that I didn’t have my bachelor’s degree so I went back to school and earned my Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. The good news was my employer at the time paid for it. Ah, the good ol’ days of employee benefits. 🙂
It was a great day when I graduated. Did I need it from a business perspective? Probably not. But, I needed it for me. Does it make a difference now in my own business? In the sense it makes me who I am, I would say yes.
I say do it for yourself first, and the rest is all gravy. 🙂 Great post, John.
John Soares says
Thanks for your input Cathy. There are some doors that are usually closed to those who don’t have the right degrees, and then there are some people, like your former boss, who are education snobs, which likely hurts their companies.
I think people should only go to college if they really want to. There’s a lot of debate about this right now, with some intelligent people like James Altucher arguing that fewer people should get a higher education.
Brian says
The only freelance writing work I do at this time, is rewriting the English of non-native English speakers. I mostly do this work for Chinese professors. If it wasn’t for a college professor mentioning this as a writing opportunity, I never would have tackled it. My degree was a ministry degree, not writing. But the teacher inspired me to do rewriting and it isn’t bad part-time work. I hope to turn it into more.
Anne Wayman says
Geeze, there I am… not having a degree hasn’t gotten in my way as far as I know… but I am a voracious reader of everything from bad fiction to esoteric philosophy and a whole bunch in between.
Thanks John.
John Soares says
That’s why I highlighted you and your post Anne. You’re a great example of being successful without having a college degree.
Sharon Hurley Hall says
I have degrees, but not in writing, so I’d say it’s not essential. My BA was great for improving my research skills and essay writing helped give me some early lessons in structure. But the most helpful was getting a healthy amount of OTJ training in my first journalism job. Good discussion, John.
John Soares says
College does help with developing research skills and the concept that deadlines have to be met, both of which are crucial in a successful writing career.
And your point about on-the-job training, like that of Carol’s above, is spot on for most types of writing. There are some fields — technical writing for engineers, for example — where a writer really would need detailed knowledge.
Margie says
It can help, but it’s definitely not mandatory. For me, having a degree in English opened doors and helped me break into staff jobs in publishing, which *did* require a degree. That experience gave me an insider’s view of how publishing works, how to work with editors, etc., and I’ve since networked with editors and former colleagues to get freelance work. Then I would use those clips to break into bigger pubs. I think if I hadn’t gone this route, it may have taken longer to figure some things out on my own.
That said, you can go an alternate route and learn how to be a successful freelancer from reading blogs and books by other writers. Or you can even take a class on basic journalism skills at a community college or online. Becoming a freelance writer is still going to have an educational aspect to it — it doesn’t necessary have to involve a bachelor’s degree.
John Soares says
Margie, I totally agree about the importance of education to the freelance writer, but in most cases it can be self-taught, as with Anne Wayman and Carol Tice mentioned in the post above.
Doc Sheldon says
Great topic, John! I know that many doors remain closed to those without a degree, at least until they have made a major impression on the right people. But some of the most engaging writers I know never set foot in a classroom after graduating high school.
Getting a foot in the door might present a challenge, but a good writer will write their way to success, one way or the other.
John Soares says
The good writers who market themselves well will rise to the top in most fields, regardless of education. Thanks for stopping by Doc!
Anne-Sophie says
I love this post as I am struggling with this very question at the moment. I don’t have a college degree in writing and I find it difficult to get my foot in the door of freelance writers. It is not easy to be taken seriously if you don’t have any credentials. I think that it is indeed much harder to get a job if you can’t say you have a degree in writing.
John Soares says
Anne-Sophie, I don’t think a college degree in writing is necessary to become a freelance writer; it certainly wasn’t for me.
Editors and businesses are looking for people to write what they need, when they need it. Your writing samples demonstrate that you write well far better than a degree in English or writing will.
Anne-Sophie says
Thanks for the encouragement, John.
Amelia Ramstead says
I’m actually the person who originally wrote to Anne about that question. I was so glad she answered it — it really gave me the confidence to step up! Since that time I’ve picked up a lucrative contract in which my years of experience in a particular industry beat out several people with Bachelors degrees, and I’ve had an article published in a magazine (and contracted for several more and possibly a full-time staff position with the magazine). Not bad for someone who is really just getting started in this gig. You don’t need a college degree. You need the willingness to ask the questions, the ability to accept that everyone (even those who HAVE the degree) can improve, and the drive to find people who will answer your questions. A good editor who’s willing to take a chance on you is also nice! I find that making a habit of reading blogs like yours and Anne’s is a great way to learn and keeps me constantly considering new ideas.
John Soares says
Thanks for sharing your story Amelia, and for reading the blog!
And you are so right that everyone needs to improve. We all do. I do. Anne does. Continual improvement is what helps us rise to the top.
Cristina (hypopnea chick) says
Hi John,
I think this is a very interesting topic you have here. I love to write and I love to read but due to lack of finances, I was not able to get my college degree. I’ve always wanted to come back but since having a family and all I just couldn’t find the time. I’d like to think that the lack of a degree shouldn’t stop anyone who has the passion to write. Like you, I also know a couple of freelance writers who are doing quite well without a college degree. However, I think that a degree is still an advantage in today’s competitive market especially where I’m from so a lot of people still want to make sure they have it.
– Cristina
Mike Paice says
Without intending to offend anyone here, I would like to suggest that for the younger writers their degree is still able to open doors for them but for the more senior people (like me) a degree is, perhaps, less significant. In fact, since my hair has turned grey and a lot of it fallen out, nobody asks about my education anymore – my career and experience seem to be of more interest to them. I would still advise any young person to obtain the best education they can but if they are not the academic type not to worry – after all, I know more highly successful entrepreneurs who dropped out of college than who stayed the distance and gained their degree.
The joy of writing is that you are learning all the time and I think that most writers recognise (as Amelia wrote) that they can always improve their art and aim to do so. It is also one of the few jobs in the world that justifies spending a lot of time enjoying eclectic reading lists – which is where Anne Wayman and I clearly have something in common.
John – I’m so glad that you enjoyed “Yes Minister” etc. Despite wanting always to use language in my writing that anyone can understand, I still thoroughly enjoy (and almost envy) Sir Humphrey’s masterful command of bureaucrat-speak.
John Soares says
Mike, I’m a strong proponent of young people going to college, but only when they are truly motivated to do so. I taught college for several years and dealt with many people age 18-21 who didn’t really want to be there and were just spinning their wheels. Usually the parents were paying and also providing money for food and shelter, so there was no strong incentive to excel at school, or to get a job for that matter.
And I loved Sir Humphrey and the actor who played the role, Sir Nigel Hawthorne.
Jim Jenks says
Having an education definitely helps but not 100% necessary to be successful. As long as your driven I think anyone can learn to write, with time and practice. It also depends on what your writing. Do something that you know and can love to write about.
Leslie says
Not only don’t I have a college degree, I don’t have a single day of college and barely graduated high school. (Not because I was unintelligent, only maladjusted.) This intimidated me when I first started my writing career, which by the way, I started in my fifties. But to this day, no-one has ever asked me about a degree and my business is thriving. Don’t let lack of a degree stand in your way — if you can write, you can be a successful writer. (Unless of course, you are still maladjusted, LOL)
John Soares says
Leslie, I’m glad your career worked out well and that you didn’t need a formal education for it. I think that’s the case for many freelance writers — their clients just want high-quality work.
In some writing fields, though, having the right education can crucial for getting hired. Engineering comes to mind…
Pinar Tarhan says
I have a BA in Business and a second BA in Advertising. I used my Business degree to get one of my fist paid gigs in business writing, so it does depend on what you want to write about. Sometimes it is wise to emphasize related degrees/work experience when you don’t have any clips, or you don’t have related ones. It can also be used to strengthen your queries. But my degrees also helped with my blog writing, my perception and they gave me ideas for fiction writing. So I guess if I had to go back and do it all over again, I’d still get the degrees:)
John Soares says
Sounds like you’ve made good use of your education.
I often mention my education when I’m querying new editors, but that’s due in large part to my specific field — writing for higher education companies.