In real time, we’ve witnessed the decline of writing proficiency and mastery of the English language.

The average cost of higher education has exponentially increased and pursuing an English or creative writing degree is highly discouraged due to its perceived lack of value. Writing careers are not seen as viable as those in STEM or entrepreneurship.

Alongside this trend, the push for artificial intelligence has led to every platform encouraging you to copy and paste whatever ChatGPT spits out, undermining the importance of strong writing skills.

But it’s not all doom and gloom. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the popularity of online learning and online degrees exploded. This growth has persisted as people continue to work from home or on hybrid schedules that grant them the flexibility to further invest in themselves by upskilling. 

Simultaneously, as the use of generative AI increases, so have the number of people who realize how and where it falls short. Artificial intelligence lacks creativity and empathy, two crucial aspects that shape and influence the craft of writing. Companies are beginning to recognize humanity and individuality as necessary differentiators with long-term return on investments.

We should see this as reassuring: even with the rapid development and adoption of new technology, a degree in creative writing, creative writing programs, or an online creative writing course have inherent value and demand, regardless of your career goals.

Still, pursuing an English degree isn’t an accessible option for many. Completing a writing degree online, however, allows writers to overcome many of the time and financial constraints traditional MFA degree programs often pose.

As people rediscover creative writing as a skill and strength, they look to online writing programs that are budget-friendly and fit into their busy schedules. Many of these courses offer more opportunities for personalized feedback and more up-to-date digital writing and editing tools. 

With an ever changing market, the desire for continuous learning and improvement goes a long way. The enrollment in online writing classes is no exception and on a broader scale, illustrates the longevity of human creativity.

The Importance of Accessibility and Community

Opportunities to develop and practice your craft should not break the bank. There are many writers who seek graduate level instruction and the connections that come with it, but unfortunately cannot afford it.

What people often don’t consider when pursuing a traditional degree is that learning tends to be terminal, meaning it typically stops once you obtain your official piece of paper.

When it comes to writing, learning should look more like an ongoing journey with constant exploration. Finding and strengthening your voice and style of writing is a lifelong process that will evolve as you do. This relates to specific genres from nonfiction to fiction to poetry, which respectively encompasses a plethora of different subgenres and forms of writing.

While this may seem daunting, there’s no need to embark on this journey alone. The value of community and mentorship cannot be understated. Together, mentors and fellow students provide guidance and support to one another. Feedback is crucial when you’re flexing your writing skills because you’re learning how to effectively reach an audience.

The community aspect is lost for MFA students post-graduation. This is a shame when it’s not so much the degree that is important, but the cycle of feedback and networking opportunities these programs offer. This then raises the question of whether the traditional MFA model is as ideal as it once was, especially when it’s a significant financial investment.

Introducing PocketMFA: More Than an Online Writing Course

Departing from the traditional academic model is PocketMFA, a digital community of over 200 writers and counting from all backgrounds. PocketMFA’s core program consists of intensive, flexible, affordable, and welcoming twelve-week cohorts that provide a learning experience comparable to that of a semester at a MFA program.

PocketMFA students join a diverse online environment of writers and are matched with a mentor of their choice who is an expert in their craft and has numerous publications under their belt. This access to exclusive support, mentorship, networking, and bi-annual residencies is provided to students for a lifetime. That’s right; that means even after they’ve completed their cohort and into the future.

What’s even better is that this lifetime access to personalized mentorship and regularly updated list of resources comes at a fraction of the cost of a Master’s degree in 2024 ($59,684) at just $3297.

Founder and director of PocketMFA, Joshua Roark, had this to say about PocketMFA’s innovative approach:

“One of our fundamental beliefs is in the concept of lifelong learning. We reject the notion of alumni–that learning is ‘terminal.’ Instead, we wish to emphasize that learning as a writer is an ongoing journey. That’s why all our features are available to PocketMFA writers for life, ensuring that writers can progress at their own pace and access support whenever they need it.”

As writers navigate their careers, families, and more, they make PocketMFA work for them by creating their own unique learning contract. Your PocketMFA experience is built with a schedule and workload based on your availability. 

Students 

• receive graduate level education during direct instruction seminars, 
• benefit from constructive feedback during peer workshops, 
• work toward their goals of becoming a published writer through our Writing Life residency, 
• develop lifelong relationships with other working writers through our online PocketMFA community, 
• and unlock post-cohort opportunities through our Working Writer services.

Take the writer quiz today to see how PocketMFA can support your commitment to creative writing and lifelong learning. Join the thousands of writers who’ve applied and view the latest application deadline and start date for our next cohort.