When Madison Betts ’23 first started at Drexel in 2018, she thought environmental science was her future. She’d always been interested in STEM subjects, so it was a surprise to her when, after a year in the program, she found herself gravitating toward the writing aspect of her major. Betts shifted her focus from environmental science to environmental studies, with the thought that writing about science might be a better path for her—until the COVID-19 pandemic threw a curveball.

Suddenly, with more down time, Betts became an avid reader, immersing herself into fictional worlds and loving every minute of it. After trying creative writing for herself, she discovered her passion for the craft and ultimately switched to an English major.

“I felt like I could be a better participant in our society and have more to contribute to whatever field of work I went into if I was able to hone those reading and writing skills,” Betts said.

The initial switch was daunting. Not only was Betts in a whole new major, but it was also her first term as an online student, due to the pandemic. However, despite not being in a physical classroom, she was still able to participate in lively discussions, presentations and activities. According to her, the professors in the English program at Drexel are “unbelievable” and were able to pivot their curriculum to meld well with Zoom, without being detrimental to the learning experience.

While creative writing was not offered as a major, Betts quickly learned that the English program’s concentration in writing was malleable to her goals and interests as a writer. She was able to take courses on topics such as fiction writing, modern grammar, global Anglophone literature and Jane Austen.

“There was such a wide range of classes offered and every year there would be more,” Betts smiled. “There were the foundational courses, which challenged me to expand upon my writing from a technical point of view, but then there were courses that explored the creative point of view. Classes like World Books in Translation gave me amazing opportunities to read authors who I'd never heard of, and it really expanded my idea of what a story could be.”

Perhaps even more beneficial was Betts’ ability to participate in workshops right from the beginning—something that is often unique to dedicated creative writing programs. In courses such as Writing Your Novel, Betts was able to put her work in front of her peers and receive invaluable written and verbal feedback.

“During those workshops, it was just about you and your work. The entire class read your story as their homework, and then they spent the class period solely discussing your writing. It was eye-opening to see what critique can and should look like,” Betts recalled. “In a way, it takes a village to get a book published. Writing is independent work, but everyone can benefit from a community. My work changes constantly based on what other people see in it.”

In addition to giving Betts a thick skin—something necessary for the industry—and the confidence to keep writing, these workshops helped her become a better active reader. On days when she wasn’t listening to feedback on her work, she was workshopping her classmates’ stories, which spanned genres from fantasy and sci-fi to historical and literary fiction. Creative writing workshops aren’t about “I like this” or “I hate that.” They are meant to be a constructive space where students give their feedback with supporting evidence. If a part of a story is confusing, or if a particular craft element is working well, readers must explain why so that the author can understand what to keep doing, and what to improve.

When it came time for her senior project, Betts considered her options. She could have gone the literary analysis route, studying someone else’s work. Or she could have turned in a creative portfolio and received feedback on her work. But Betts had a dream of being published, and what she really wanted to do was use her senior project as a stepping stone in her career as an author. With the support of professors Kathleen Volk Miller and Scott Stein, Betts wrote a proposal for an alternate senior project in which she would submit a fantasy book proposal and the first three chapters of her novel. The project, titled Writing a World: The Creation of a Novel, was a successful culmination of everything Betts learned in the English program and focused on her book, Etched in Bone.

After graduating, Betts had a feeling that she wasn’t finished with school. “As a writer, you’re constantly changing and growing. Education is such a great avenue to expand how you write and how you read.”

Drexel’s MFA in Creative Writing program was alluring for several reasons. First, it is low-residency, allowing Betts to continue working while learning. Second, the curriculum not only included electives such as World Building and Fantasy Writing, but also focused greatly on the publishing industry. She came away from her initial discussion with the program director, Nomi Eve, feeling inspired.

“The writing opportunities alone were worthwhile, and Drexel had a huge appeal to me because I’ve built a great community here,” Betts added.

Now, two years later, Betts is about to enter her second year as an MFA student and feels that her English degree served as a solid foundation for what she’s learning in the graduate program. She’s also found that her undergrad community—both professors and peers—has been “a source of unwavering support, guidance and wisdom that has made all the difference.”

When she started the program, she had high expectations about connecting with her cohort, learning from professors, and diving into new mentorship opportunities. Betts was thrilled to learn that those expectations would be exceeded. While her professors and mentors have helped strengthen her skillset, motivated her to finish her manuscript and challenged her in other areas of writing such as flash fiction and poetry, her favorite part of the program is her cohort.

“I feel extremely lucky to be surrounded by exceptionally talented writers who are such wonderful people. I’m biased, but I couldn’t have asked for a kinder, more supportive group to go on this journey with,” Betts said. “Writing can be an isolating venture; however, I’m now part of a community that I know will be lifelong. I can’t wait to see all the amazing things we accomplish.”

So what’s next for Madison Betts? Her goal is to write as much of her young adult fantasy novel—Sun Under Sea—as she can and take full advantage of the MFA program’s packet exchanges, where mentors provide in-depth feedback on packets of their students’ writing. By the time she graduates, she wants to have most of her manuscript finished so she can use her new knowledge of the publishing industry to begin her own journey to being published.

When asked about advice for students who may be interested in pursuing an English BA to Creative Writing MFA path, Betts reiterated the importance of building a community and encouraged students to “make sure you try your best, be yourself and soak up as much as you can. You’ll gain incredible mentors, lifelong friends and a network that will bolster you beyond graduation.”

Learn more about the BA in English program.

Learn more about the MFA in Creative Writing program.