Do you dream of telling imaginative stories, researching and reporting current events and celebrities, critiquing film; video games; and other pop culture media, penning scripts for screenplays and shows, traveling the world and sharing your experiences, or engaging followers through social media? If you answered yes to any of these, a career in writing could be perfect for you! Did you know that you can kickstart your writing career right now while you’re at Eastern Florida State College?
Whether you’re dual-enrolled or in your first semester, it’s never too early to begin! Here are eight ways you can use your time at EFSC to kickstart your writing career:
1. Take Writing-Related Classes as Part of Your Degree
You may have already enrolled in Composition I and II. But did you know that EFSC offers many other classes for aspiring writers? These are just a few examples:
- Creative Writing I and II
- Technical Writing
- Writing for Mass Communications
- Writing for Electronic Media
- Survey of British Literature I and II
- Appreciation of the Motion Picture I and II
- Special Themes in Literature
- Theatre Appreciation
Taking classes like these will enhance your current writing skills, as well as connect you with other aspiring writers and instructors (who are most likely published authors themselves). Meet with your Academic Advisor to determine which writing courses are right for your schedule and interests.
2. Participate in Writing Contests
The only thing more impressive than being a published writer is being an award-winning, published writer! Fortunately, EFSC offers many opportunities for writers of any experience level to go for the gold, including:
- Poetry Slams
- Short Story and Essay Contests
- Speech Competitions
Check EFSC’s events calendar and flyers (for those of you on campus) to be notified of any upcoming writing contests.
3. Visit the Writing Center
Did you know that each EFSC Campus has a Writing Center staffed by experts in grammar, style, and every single stage of the writing process? Writing Tutors can help you brainstorm, edit, and finalize a:
- Story, poem, or screenplay
- Scholarship essay
- Class assignment
- Article for publication
- Piece for a competition
Even if you consider yourself a skilled writer, scheduling a meeting with a Writing Tutor can provide you with valuable feedback. Having someone else review your work is a standard practice in published writing and will only improve the final draft. Writing Tutors are currently available both virtually (on a drop-in basis) and on-campus (by appointment only).
4. Attend Writing Webinars
Having strong editing skills will take your writing even further. Strong editing begins with a strong knowledge of grammar. Whether your grade is depending on it or you want to impress your readers with a polished final draft, the Writing Center offers webinars and workshops throughout the semester designed to help you succeed. Some of the topics include:
- Academic style, citation, and formatting
- Use of commas
- Voice and tone
- Thesis statements
Check the events calendar on the EFSC website to see what’s coming up next.
5. Join a Student Club or Organization
Not only are most clubs at EFSC 100% free to join, but they’ll also give you an amazing opportunity to put your writing skills into practice. EFSC currently has a couple of active writing clubs; however, most any club you join — whether related to video games, aerospace, religion, or a specific cause — can give you plenty of writing opportunities, such as:
- Drafting speeches or presentations for new inductees
- Creating marketing and advertising for the club
- Composing proposals, campaigns, and event documents
- Writing posts for social media
Each campus features unique Student Clubs and Organizations, so be sure to check the full list for ones that will interest you most. Remember: Clubs are an amazing way to network with other students who share your interests, including writing!
6. Volunteer Through the Center for Service-Learning
Want to add writing experience to your resume? The Center for Service-Learning and Civic Engagement, located on all four campuses, can help you find local, non-profit organizations to volunteer with based on your interest in writing. Many of these organizations accept volunteers for:
- Marketing and social media writing
- Online blog and news writing
- Letter and email writing
- Press release writing
- Grant writing
These tasks are also ideal for students seeking remote or virtual volunteer opportunities. Get in touch with the Center for Service-Learning to see what is currently available. Best of all, any volunteering you do through them goes on your academic transcript for the world to see!
7. Visit a Campus Library
Good writers write as much as they read. Whatever you’re interested in, the EFSC Libraries have a wealth of literature available to you for free! Our super-helpful team of librarians can track down books based on your favorite subjects, authors, and genres. You can even text, email, or chat online with a librarian for recommendations. All you have to do is ask!
8. Connect with the Career Center
Located on all four campuses, the Career Center is your free, one-stop shop for all career-related writing needs, such as:
- Creating a writing portfolio or LinkedIn account
- Getting your career-related writing questions
answered - Choosing the right major for your writing career
- Exploring the field of writing in detail
- Finding entry-level jobs, internships, and
shadowing opportunities in the writing field - Building a writing resume and cover letter
- Discovering which career in the writing field is
the best fit for your personality and interests
Contact the Career Center Coordinator on the campus closest to you to schedule a virtual appointment.
No matter what your dream career in writing may be, EFSC can push you closer to your goals. Take advantage of every campus resource available to you to kickstart your writing career. You’ll be surprised what writing accomplishments you achieve before you graduate!
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