Professional Writing Department

Doc Hensley answers frequently asked questions on why students should select Taylor's Professional Writing Program. Don't see an answer to YOUR question? Contact Doc Hensley today!

Q: What can the Taylor professional writing major provide for me that no other college writing program can match?

A: With a rotational offering of specialized seminars, PWR majors are taught by the leading Christian authors and editors in America. In recent semesters our adjunct faculty members have included Cecil Murphey (90 Minutes in Heaven), Jerry B. Jenkins (Left Behind), Holly G. Miller (editor of The Saturday Evening Post), Bill Myers (McGee and Me; Wally MacDougal), Bob Hostetler (coauthor with Josh McDowell of 14 books for teens), Lin Johnson (editor of Church Libraries and Christian Communicator), and award-winning novelists Steven James, Ann Tatlock, and Angela Hunt.

Q: Is the cost of attending Taylor for a bachelor’s degree in professional writing (PWR) worth the time and expense?

A: Yes, for at least five reasons:

1. You’ll have a bachelor of science degree from a 165-year-old university, thus making entrance into graduate school much easier.
2. You will be earning cash payments for the manuscripts you will be selling all during your four years of college.
3. Entry level jobs in the field of publishing range from $28,000 to $35,000 per year, plus benefits.
4. You will get real world experience by doing a 160-hour practicum working for a magazine, PR firm, literary agency, or book publishing house.
5. You will walk out the door with a full portfolio of published manuscripts, which will establish you immediately as a working, professional writer. No other colleges can guarantee all five of these benefits.

Q: Do Taylor PWR majors gain national fame even while still in college?

A: Yes! In the fall of 2011, for example, 14 PWR majors appeared on six TV talk shows and five radio talk shows, and then were featured in 10 major newspapers and magazines. (View excerpts of these recorded interviews.)

Q: Can Professional Writing majors at Taylor expect to land book contracts while still in college?

A: During the 2011 calendar year, 17 Taylor PWR students became authors, coauthors, or contributing authors of 25 published books. Amy Green’s two fantasy novels, Quest for the Scorpion’s Jewel and Escape from Riddler’s Pass, were published in June of 2011 by Warner Press when Amy was only 19 years old. She received a $2,200 advance, and she is now working on the next three novels in this series. Six students sold multiple chapters to the latest Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Matt Mimnaugh’s novel was released in February of 2011.

Q: What advantage is there to the fact that the Taylor University Professional Writing program has been in operation more than 15 years?

A: Graduates of the program are now in key positions with book publishing houses, newspapers, magazines, public relations firms, and literary agencies. They can provide practicums and internships for current Taylor students, as well as offer future jobs in various realms of publishing.

Q: What national mentoring opportunities are Taylor PWR majors exposed to?

A: In June 2011, Kara Hackett and Ryan Dennison won full scholarships (tuition, meals, lodging) to the five-day “Write to Publish” conference in Chicago, where they studied under and networked with more than 50 editors, agents, and publishers. In October, 2011, 16 PWR majors received scholarships to attend the “Indy Writers Conference” at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Indianapolis, where they spent the whole day networking with professional authors, publicists, literary agents, and publishing company executives. Additionally, six editors and three literary agents made guest speaking appearances in PWR writing classes at Taylor in the fall 2011 semester.