Ask ten great authors how they get into the zone and you’ll get ten different answers. Scottsdale’s own Diana Gabaldon, author of the series that’s become a global-phenomenon, Outlander, says this:
“I don’t plot the books out ahead of time, I don’t plan them. I don’t begin at the beginning and end at the end. I don’t work with an outline and I don’t work in a straight line.”
Others will tell you that without an outline or storyboard you’ll end up re-writing your piece three times, and then tossing it altogether.
One line you’ll probably hear a lot is “write what you know.” That’s what Arizona’s late, great, one-and-only cowboy poet Baxter Black said his high school English teacher advised him to do – after flunking him.
You’ll get tons of advice on writing from a million places. At the end of the day, you just have to average it all out and see what works best for you. The quality of the guidance you get can be hugely important, as borne out by the fact that many of the most successful poets and authors start out by earning a college degree. This could begin with a BA or Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), laying a solid foundation for a more advanced MA or Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing down the road.
Earning a degree in creative writing exposes you to expert guidance and a lot of opportunities to test your material out on a smart readership of fellow students. Professors are often published writers themselves with decades of experience in both the artistic and business side of the field, and your fellow students will be just as intrigued by the artistry of writing as you are. That’s some good company to be keeping.
Cowboy Poets and Time-Traveling Victorian-Era Nurses
Arizona is home to movers and shakers in the literary world. They’ve done it, and so can you.
Brenda Hillman’s fellowships include a Guggenheim and one from the National Endowment for the Arts. Her awards shelf has a William Carlos Williams Prize and a Los Angeles Times Book Prize, both for poetry.
Originally from Tucson, this accomplished poet has published more books than you can count on your hands, her most recent being, In a Few Minutes Until Later. Years after earning her MFA she has since decided to return the favor: she currently chairs the poetry department at her college and has been known to teach at writing conferences.
Diana Gabaldon is an author who was born, and currently resides in, Scottsdale, though she was raised in Flagstaff. She’s the person behind the internationally-bestselling series that’s been published in 38 languages and sold in 114 countries: Outlander. The historical fantasy series is still going strong, with the tenth installment still forthcoming, and its adaptation to television is continuing into season six.
Baxter Black has been described by the New York Times as the country’s best-known cowboy poet. The fact that he was also a vet for decades in rural Cochise County tempts a humorous comparison with James Herriot.
What is cowboy poetry? Black says its a way of communicating to keep from getting bored when you’re out on the trail, something that’s shared between guys who seldom pick up a book. In addition to poetry Black had a weekly column that appeared in over 100 newspapers over a 40-year span.
These Arizona writers aren’t getting any younger, and are eager to pass on the torch to the next worthy writers of tomorrow. Whether its cowboy poetry or sci-fi, this could be you if you take an active role in preparing your career for success.
Arizona’s Creative Writing Classes, Courses, and Workshops Can Prepare You for a Creative Writing Degree
Experience is vitally important in developing your writing skills. Fortunately opportunity abounds throughout Arizona.
If you live in the Phoenix area then check out the Phoenix Writers Club. They offer supportive critique groups for writers of all genres and levels at monthly meetings. They also feature author speaking events and will soon celebrate their 100th anniversary.
If scripts are your thing you’ll want to learn more about the Phoenix Screenwriters Association. What began as a small writers group meetup a few decades ago has quickly grown into the most preeminent screenwriting group in Arizona. With the straightforward goal of improving the art of screenwriting, this organization offers classes, workshops, seminars, and community events where you can network with industry professionals and rub elbows with fellow creatives.
Every year the Tucson Poetry Festival draws headlining poets and poetry enthusiasts to a weekend filled with workshops, open mics, fun, and plenty of opportunities for networking with publishers.
The Flagstaff Writers Connection is a hub of resources for area writers. It organizes writing classes, critique groups, workshops, meetups, and pub club meetings (that’s publishing club). If you live near Flagstaff and you’re interested in writing resources, this is the place to check out.
Once you develop something worthy of print, there’s the Sonora Review. It’s a literary journal, and it holds the distinction of being one of the oldest student-run journals of its kind in the nation. Creative writing MFA students from the University of Arizona have the final say in whether your work gets published, but they welcome submissions from anyone. Consider this outlet if you want to submit previously unpublished work in fiction, poetry, and non-fiction.
Brick Cave Media in Mesa publishes a variety of styles and always respects good work. It’s found its best genres to be in poetry, fantasy, and science fiction.
EpiphanyMill Publishing strives to print high-quality stories, billing itself as the premier publisher of literary fiction in Arizona.
Penmore Press in Tucson publishes non-fiction, mystery, thrillers, horror, and many types of other fiction. It’s currently accepting fiction and non-fiction submissions between 75,000 and 150,000 words.
Writing Colleges in Arizona Offering Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Creative Writing Provide a Path to Becoming a Writer
If Arizona offers a great opportunity to gain experience in writing groups, then it provides exceptional opportunities for earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in creative writing.
Don’t limit yourself to hobby writing. Break through the writer’s glass ceiling and give your career and craft every opportunity to succeed with a degree in creative writing.
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in Arizona
Arizona State University
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
Accreditation: HLC
Degree: Bachelor – BA
Public School
- English-Creative Writing
Northern Arizona University
Accreditation: HLC
Degree: Bachelor – BA
Public School
- English-Creative Writing
University of Arizona
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Accreditation: HLC
Degree: Bachelor – BA
Public School
- Creative Writing
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing in Arizona
Arizona State University
COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES
Accreditation: HLC
Degree: Master – MFA
Public School
- Creative Writing
University of Arizona
COLLEGE OF SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Accreditation: HLC
Degree: Master – MFA
Public School
- Creative Writing