How to Become a Writer in Georgia with a BFA, MFA or Similar Creative Writing Degree

Every published author will tell you there’s no prescriptive path towards becoming a writer and unlocking your inner creativity.

Savannah-native Flannery O’Conner, widely known for her short stories in the Southern Gothic style which won her the US National Book Award for Fiction, bemused that most people think they know what a story is, “until they sit down to write one.”

The art of creative writing has a unique meaning for each person. For some it’s a process of self-discovery. For others it’s the opposite: escapism. Or it could be something entirely different: observational, or cathartic.

In whatever way you choose to develop your writing talents, you’ll find it helpful to cross pollinate your thoughts with like-minded creatives.

The Atlanta Writers Club (AWC) has roots stretching back over 100 years and is a prime example of a well-established organization that strives to support local writers, foster quality craftsmanship, and promote reading in general. The AWC is the group behind the twice-a-year Atlanta Writers Conference where members can gain feedback on their work from established literary artists and publishers.

Naturally the AWC also hosts an annual writing contest, serves as a hub for writers looking to establish groups online and in the Atlanta metro area, and publishes a monthly newsletter.

Workshops, events, and building a general community of camaraderie among writers are all on the menu at the Georgia Writers Association (GWA), a non-profit organization open to all aspiring writers and based in Kennesaw. GWA was founded in 1994 by a poet, a prize-winning author, and a literary agent. It provides resources for writers at all stages of development with the goal of promoting diverse works and authors.

These are just some of the writing groups meeting in any of a dozen cities at any given time throughout Georgia. You can also stay connected to your local literary scene through circulars like the Sand Hills literary magazine.

Printed every spring and published by Augusta University, submissions are accepted for creative non-fiction, creative fiction, and poetry. Sand Hills is proud to be a place where submissions from new writers are published alongside those from established award-winning authors.

Local literary journals are also recruiting grounds for professionals looking for new talent. Peachtree  Publishers, University of Georgia Press, and Top Shelf Productions are all publishing houses based in Atlanta.

Writing Colleges in Georgia Offering Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing Provide a Path to Becoming a Writer

Creative writers are stereotypically disorganized, pictured near a writing desk in the middle of the night, flanked by cats, next to a coffee cup and binders overflowing with scrap-paper notes. And even though the popular image of a writer at work doesn’t hold true for everyone, there’s no denying that a formal education in creative writing does help to bring order to chaos.

Years of writing groups, active reading, open mic nights, and offering up favorite lines with your buddies over a glass can all be tied together with professional residencies and academic discipline. There’s ultimately a difference between lifelong hobby writers and those who cross the Rubicon to the world of professional storytellers.

There’s no time like the present to up the professional ante and find the creative writing BFA or MFA program that’s right for you!