Many aspiring writers hesitate to dip their toes in the waters of freelance writing because they don't have a degree. Do you really need a degree to become a successful writer? The answer is both yes and no.

If you want to be a writer, going to college can help but it isn't necessary. A master's degree isn't a must either.

Publishers won't accept your work only because you graduated from a prestigious university. Writing an excellent story is enough to convince them to give attention to your craft. They look at your credentials, but what they're going to be after is profit. If they see your work as something profitable, they'd be willing to give you a break.

Whether you need a degree or not to become a writer boils down to self-assessment. If you can master the skills necessary to become a writer without guidance from other people, a degree is something you shouldn't focus on getting, though you may still pursue it if budget and time permits. You only need to finish a typical four-year course if you think that you need a professor or someone to give you a structure.

A degree helps when pursuing a writing career, and there's no doubt about it. However, the most important things you need are something that you can't earn at Yale or Harvard. Aside from credentials, it would be best if you also had the right tools like a word counter website and the following things below:

The Willingness To Work Hard

Aside from studying in a university, becoming a writer in this digital age means reading hundreds of books or resources online, listening to webinars, and even consulting google from time to time. The information is now readily available, and you only need to work hard to find them out.

Practice on your own, set deadlines for yourself, research, and organize your outlines. Don't be afraid to write again after producing something that's complete crap. Nothing else can teach you better how to become a web content writer, book writer, or copywriter other than working hard to learn everything you need to know and to do it every single day.

Be Curious

What do you do when you hear something interesting? Do you ask questions to learn more about it? Do you ever wonder what caused it, and how will it impact society?

Curiosity is something that every writer should possess. They need to be ready to know, ask, and explore. They have to be willing to share what they found out to the rest of the world through their work. It's something that will take writers far.

The drive to understand and learn allows you to write attractive and fantastic stuff that nobody else would have thought to explore.

Apprenticeship Programs

Find someone willing to take you as an apprentice. Some publishing companies also take apprentices for their in-house writers. Apprenticeship programs are an excellent way to immerse yourself into the real world of writers. For a few months, you'll have the chance to learn how to write a book, create an eBook, ghostwrite, or write a copy.

An apprenticeship can help you improve and polish your vocabulary as well as fix awkward writing. It wouldn't only teach you writing skills but also practical skills like meeting and interviewing clients.

Yes, enrolling in an educational institution and taking journalism and other courses related to writing can help. Still, nothing compares to learning from an expert who does the work and lives the life you want. No doubt, it's the fastest and the most effective way to get to your destination and to reach your goal of becoming a full-time writer.

Courage To Stand Up Every Time You Fall

The only way to become a full-time freelance writer is to put everything out there and be willing to face rejection.

Chances are you'll hear 'no' many times, but that doesn't mean you have to lock up in your room and cry yourself to sleep afterward. It's all about continuing to push even if the competition is very high. It's all about the belief that there's something in you that the world has to see. You only have to be brave and confident.

Courage is everything for writers. Yes, you can finish a degree and start working for a company or write books in the comfort of your bedroom, but without the courage to reach out to publishers and clients, or to launch your blog, it's hard to achieve a successful writing career.

Conclusion

Having a diploma in high school, finishing a bacherlor's degree, obtaining a master's or a Ph.D. in Literature, Arts, or Language can help. Still, all of those things wouldn't take you far without the things mentioned and discussed above.

But if you have curiosity, courage, and the willingness to work hard, coupled with a degree, you can surely write your way to the destination you want in life.

If getting a degree is something on your mind, you can always take advantage of scholarship offerings. However, don't ever forget the essential ingredients of a successful writing career.