Can I become a good writer if I don't have an English degree. I'm doing a PhD in artificial intelligence and I have some ideas that I haven't seen explored in any form of art. Is it even worthwhile to think about writing a sci-fi book, or is there no hope of coming up with anything decent unless I dedicate my life to literature?
No, stop asking stupid shit. How would you know what to write and how without having someone with tons of experience in that field teach you at college? The only author who didn't have a degree in literature was Homer, but he didn't even exist
That tan line. My rock gets cock hard every time.
>>7757889
Nobody will read you. Do it for yourself in your spare time, if you enjoy it, isn't that all that matters?
>>7757889
write. if you have ideas, put them to paper. you don't need permission from a college. just do it. read who you like and emulate them if there's a particular style you want to achieve. monkey see monkey do.
>>7757907
This might be the worst post I've ever read. Well done.
It depends on your concept of 'good writer'.
>>7757904
2/5
>>7757889
>I'm doing a PhD in artificial intelligence
Is this a meme? Of all the PhDs I've seen people on the internet claim to be doing, AI is definitely the one I see most frequently. Also, its having nothing to do with the topic at hand other than to show OP did not have an English degree (which anyone would take his word for anyway) supports my theory of memeocity.
>>7757924
>has read most of the top 100
>still thinks the martian is anything but shit
Something is off here
>>>/adv/
why do spergs keep posting that image.
>>7757938
"something decent". I haven't read the actual book, but I loved the movie. Not that it matters, I liked HP more that Dostoevsky utterly shitty Crime and Punishment
>>7757924
How can you do that if the first book in my top 100 is my yet unpublished novel
>>7757965
>I liked HP more that Dostoevsky utterly shitty Crime and Punishment
Oh please, please be bait
>>7757889
all those books are shit
>>7757924
Strong bait
>>7757992
Duh, she's shitting them out
>>7757992
>Alice
>shit
OFF WITH HIS HEAD
>>7757987
Man can't even have personal opinion here. Crime and Punishment was horrible. Nothing interesting happens and I don't agree with most of his ideas.
Notes from the Underground is his best work imho.
>>7758010
ahahahahahahahahhahahahaah
...
oh you're serious
ahahahahahahahaahahaha
lmao@ this thread
>>7757966
and how is Mr. Berrycone fairing these days?
>>7758072
I always forget if it's Gregory or Gary, too.
I have entered this thread only because I'd like to fuck that girl
>>7757889
this is a retarded question, seriously throws doubt on the legitimacy of your PhD claim. That said, statistically, your chances of being a good writer are actually higher if you don't have a degree in English
>>7758072
Gregory Berrycone is a minor character in an absurdist novella, not a novel. Learn your memes m8
>>7757889
Is this a serious question? Of course you can become a good writer without actually studying literature.
>>7757889
Countless great authors never studied literature at university level. It may even help you.
In the 18th and 19th century, plenty of authors were military men. Gene Wolf was a goddam engineer and designed some Pringles shit for Christ's sake, he's now regarded as the best living science fiction author.
All you need to do is read a bunch of books on the craft, then forget all about it and write.
Do read Orson Scot Card's book on "how to write fantasy and science fiction".
>>7758119
>your chances of being a good writer are actually higher if you don't have a degree in English
This, because idiots who studied literature tend to write in riddles, puzzles, and references only, and never actually learn to write a story.
You end up with pretentious shit nobody wants to read.
Read this, King's book on the craft remains one of the best for aspiring authors. It's the sheer basics.
This one is also excellent, from the other side of things. The examples are made up to prove their point.
>>7757924
>I was thinking of the guy who wrote The Martian. He is also a programmer and he wrote something decent.
You had me up until this
>>7758183
>>7758178
>>7758173
Thanks anon
>>7758080
my secret shame
>>7758235
I have that picture saved too
Dostoevsky was an engineer, and Sabato had a PhD in physics
Dostoevsky was a STEMlord
>>7758302
"no" he wasn't, you fucking retard.
>>7758173
>In the 18th and 19th century
In those days (rich) people learned Latin in pre uni education, it's hardly the same.
>amy tan
what a fuckin meme author
>>7758302
And Tolstoy dropped out of college to join the war
>>7757889
>is there no hope of coming up with anything decent unless I dedicate my life to literature?
kek just write what you want to write m8... do you think the teenagers who write light novels about giant robots and fairies had a degree in literature? as if! yet some of their books were revered and sold more than the average book written by the graduates who worked their ass out their whole lives studying literature and what not.
>>7757889
You have to learn how to write. College isn't necessary but it helps if you're going to the right school.
Scifi is packed with writers who have good ideas and no writing skills whatsoever. You're going to suck ass at first -- join a writing group, grill each other, read about how to write and why.
Focus on characterization as well. A lot of scifi and fantasy suffers from having a kind of cool world and excruciatingly bland characters.
If you have the grit it takes to be a good writer then you'll have your book. Commercial success is a totally different story, however.
Here's a list of books that discuss writing:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/41688863-butte?utf8=%E2%9C%93&shelf=refining-my-sonicxronpaul-fanfics&title=butte&sort=num_ratings&order=d
Get to it OP
Who is this semen demon? Source?
>>7758312
He was lol
>>7759120
That'd be hot to know.
>>7757992
waiting for barbarians is decent tho
>>7758010
>I don't agree with most of his ideas
???
>>7757889
Those are some fucking awful books
>>7759965
Indeed it would be.
