The Professional Identity and Creative Writers

Powell Burke

Date of Award

2007

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Social Sciences

First Advisor

Brain, David

Keywords

Professionalization, Identity, Writers

Area of Concentration

Sociology

Abstract

This study investigated the professional identity of creative writers. Nine participants, members of a writing collaborative in Southwest Florida, participated in semi-structured interviews and responded to survey items, either in-person or via email. The semi-structured interviews concentrated on participants' definitions of a professional as it applies to creative writers, and how participants evaluate occupational success for professional create writers (including themselves). Participants were also asked about their own success as creative writers, their background in the occupation, and the challenges and rewards they have experienced. It was found that the most important component of being a professional creative writer is being paid for writing work; however, most participants amended this definition to include actions that reflect intent and attempt to be paid for writing work, such as earning advanced degrees, experience with journalism, and submitting work to literary journals. The idea of success was also predicated on being paid for writing, or engaging in activities that could possibly lead to future payment, such as publication in prestigious institutions. Most participants reported some level of pleasure with their success so far in the creative writing field, but did not believe that actual satisfaction was truly possible, or even necessarily desirable.

Rights

This bibliographic record is available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication. The New College of Florida, as creator of this bibliographic record, has waived all rights to it worldwide under copyright law, including all related and neighboring rights, to the extent allowed by law.

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