How important is a background in writing for someone with big dreams in the industry? My first reaction to this question is that many new authors use this as an excuse to give up. ‘Oh it’s so hard, I’m not a good writer/ I didn’t have enough opportunities growing up. You don’t understand, I’d be better if I just had this experience…’ My answer to these statements? Most people aren’t just handed opportunities to chase their dreams. They fight tooth and nail for every advantage they can find. They give up their comfort, they risk so much in the pursuit of their goals. So if you feel those excuses, then this blog post probably isn’t for you, go wait for an opportunity to fall in your lap, but just know, you’ll probably be waiting a long time. That being said, if you want to see what it really means to develop your writing background, keep reading. 

While having a background in writing is obviously important, people who don’t have this background handed to them can still develop it on their own. These are what I call my “independent studies.” No, you don’t have to spend thousands of dollars on classes or get a degree. Though I definitely tried this route, I soon found out that it isn’t about how much money you spend to learn. What matters is the quality of your lessons along with the ability to match your learning style.

I spent over $50,000 on a college degree that didn’t teach me anything. Sure I have the piece of paper, but no one’s going to ask me why I chose that online community college over another. While that piece of paper may or may not help me get regular jobs, showing I can commit to something, I don’t give it much credit or care. I learned more just writing my first 5 books than I did studying Shakespeare’s ethics. 

Then of course I tried to go the specialized courses route. I even won a $9,000 scholarship when I was accepted into the program. I thought it was the perfect solution, that this new program would teach me everything I needed to finally become a “successful” author. But I still had to pay another $10,000 out of pocket to show my commitment. At first it was so cool, with everything I wanted. Structure. A plan. Community. Accountability. But I soon realized my mistake. The program was not as flexible as they led me to believe. When life happened, I lost my job and ended up homeless for several weeks, there was no grace. Instead, I was shamed live in front of my peers and received several emails of disappointment from instructors. 

Long story short, I was asked to leave the program. It was quite the hit to my confidence. I felt like a complete failure who would never amount to anything. But it took that rock bottom that forced me to dig my nails into the dirt and drag myself out of that place. I determined that if I couldn’t become a great author with an opportunity, then I would become the best author I could in spite of those who never did believe in me. 

I feel like we all need to reach this breaking point. Where we’ve been only half interested in pursuing our dreams. Then we realize that the only way to succeed is to fully commit to our writing. If you are not there yet, that’s okay, you can still find ways to learn. Listen to a youtube writing lecture here and there. But know that if you are not committed whole heartedly, you will not be able to attain your ultimate goals. 

With this information, do I recommend college, or other writing programs to authors? Yes and no. My personal belief is that college is too expensive and not worth the price. BUT if you are able to get significant scholarships, and you are committed to learning the most out of your program, then yes it is a great option. As for other programs, I’m not a fan of them mostly because they do not give you as much of an advantage in your emergency backup career options as a college degree might. That being said, even college degrees don’t guarantee a decent job. And if you are committed to being a full time author, do whatever job pays the bills while you pursue your dream.

What is one thing I would recommend to you? Referring back to the concept of “independent study” you don’t need someone to teach you something you’re fully capable of learning on your own. How did I learn to do maintenance on my own car? Did I go to a mechanic trade school? Did I even pay someone to show me how to do it in person? NO. I got my car’s maintenance manual and I read it. Then I went to my car and watched YouTube videos. I asked my car obsessed friends questions. 

So don’t sell yourself short. You can learn something without a class or program. Experience is the best teacher, if only you’re willing to put in the work and learn. There are millions of free writing craft videos and free writing exercises online. Go to your library, find a free writing critique group or even start your own. Build your knowledge on your own. Don’t wait for someone to hold your hand and show you. Because the reality is you learn more when you teach yourself. 

Looking for a good starting spot? Storyteller’s Odyssey magazine is a FREE resource for scifi authors to learn the basics of science and how they can tweak them for plausible science fiction stories. Searching for community while you write your first novel? Check out Storyteller’s Odyssey’s events page to join the 2026 Jack Frost Love Story Challenge. It’s free to enter and you could even win over $1000 worth of prizes. If your wondering where a good place to start your independent study is, try Brandon Sanderson’s lecture series on YouTube, also free. Whatever you decide just make the choice to fully commit to your writing career. Do not allow the world to tell you that you need this or that kind of background. Because you are enough, just the way you are.

NO AI was used in the writing of this blog post.