# Inspired by Mahaloth, what can I do with a BA or MFA in Creative Writing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 23, 2001, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspired-by-mahaloth-what-can-i-do-with-a-ba-or-mfa-in-creative-writing/89036 "2001-10-23T05:22:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Daowajan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3bc359/32.png) [@Daowajan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daowajan)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspired-by-mahaloth-what-can-i-do-with-a-ba-or-mfa-in-creative-writing/89036/1 "2001-10-23T05:22:44Z")
Besides wait tables or teach? It’s pretty bleak, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspired-by-mahaloth-what-can-i-do-with-a-ba-or-mfa-in-creative-writing/89036/2 "2001-10-23T06:30:21Z")
I suppose that you could edit publications, and possibly teach, if you went about getting your teaching certification. A MFA would probably help with that. But, hey, writers starve, it’s a part of life (where’s my dinner?) Of course, I have yet to obtain any sort of degree, so I can’t really talk, can I? :o ---
**Author:** ![Gozu\_Tashoya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7993a0/32.png) [@Gozu\_Tashoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu_Tashoya)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 7:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspired-by-mahaloth-what-can-i-do-with-a-ba-or-mfa-in-creative-writing/89036/3 "2001-10-23T07:57:03Z")
You could always follow my example and go into web design… Seriously, get a “marketable” minor if at all possible. If not, like **Angel** said, you can always work as an editor somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Primaflora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Primaflora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Primaflora)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 9:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspired-by-mahaloth-what-can-i-do-with-a-ba-or-mfa-in-creative-writing/89036/4 "2001-10-23T09:13:15Z")
Nooooooooooooo, nooooooooo, noooooooooo. ::chant with me:: Writers are NOT editors! Not without learning how to edit. They’re two different disciplines! Be aware as well that most editors don’t edit fiction. Editing your own work is very different to editing for a publisher. primaflora who is an author and who is training to be an editor. ---
**Author:** ![11811](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/9d8465/32.png) [@11811](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/11811)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspired-by-mahaloth-what-can-i-do-with-a-ba-or-mfa-in-creative-writing/89036/5 "2001-10-23T11:27:07Z")
Embellish your resume. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspired-by-mahaloth-what-can-i-do-with-a-ba-or-mfa-in-creative-writing/89036/6 "2001-10-23T14:07:26Z")
I’ve said it before (just 10 minutes ago!). With brains you can go as far as you want in any field regardless of your major. My reply to **Mahaloth** is here and I don’t have time to retype it. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=94665](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=94665) ---
**Author:** ![slortar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@slortar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slortar)\ **Post date:** [October 23, 2001, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inspired-by-mahaloth-what-can-i-do-with-a-ba-or-mfa-in-creative-writing/89036/7 "2001-10-23T14:28:53Z")
I’m a web designer/computer guy and have a BS in Creative Writing (looong story…). I’d say with basic computer skills, there’s a fairly decent market for people who can write, so long as you’re patient and don’t mind working your way up to get more practical experience.