Matteo L. Cerilli reflects on his experience as a Professional & Creative Writing Double Major
Matteo L. Cerilli (he/him) is a speculative writer first, and many many things second. When he’s not at York University, he’s illustrating, or badly attempting to become a parkour master, or working at his campus queer service group, or memorizing an encyclopedia of fun facts to pepper into random conversations. He is the author of Lockjaw (Summer 2024, Tundra Books) and documents his writing on Twitter and Instagram.
I originally single majored in Professional Writing with intentions to work in the publishing sphere. I'd always been a writer, but wasn't sure if I could actually make a full-time career out of it (STEM parents + lifetime of anxiety = severe imposter syndrome about my art). I applied to minor in Creative Writing, but was asked to double major and figured I'd shoot my shot and see what came of it, if only because I thought that might also look good in applications to publishing houses.
Somewhere along the way I realized Creative Writing is my true passion, so my career goals are set on becoming a speculative author first with maybe a little editing work on the side. Still, I would highly recommend pairing Professional and Creative Writing. I genuinely wouldn’t be where I am without my Professional Writing courses.
Obviously classes like Substantive Editing were helpful for refining my work, but the main lesson I’ve taken from Professional Writing is an understanding of what turns a manuscript into a book—my book publishing classes have been invaluable here.
When I sold my debut novel and had to read the contract for the first time, I realized I actually understood about 80% of what was written and barely needed my agent's help. For anyone trying to publish without the guiding light of an agent, these classes really prime you to understand what’s going on behind the publisher’s closed doors. Had I not had these classes, I'd be constantly worried that something was happening without my knowledge or that the process was going too slow or what have you. Now, without bombarding my agent or my acquiring editor with questions, I know what's happening to my manuscript.
These courses also helped me realize how to self-publish... and so helped me realize I won't be doing that. It’s far too much personal time and work, but at least now I have a handle on what it would entail. When friends in my Creative Writing classes asked about self-publishing, I was able to explain the ins and outs.
Obviously classes like Substantive Editing were helpful for refining my work, but the main lesson I’ve taken from Professional Writing is an understanding of what turns a manuscript into a book—my book publishing classes have been invaluable here.
In addition, all my digital writing courses have been helpful for thinking about marketing my book. Nowadays authors are responsible for soooo much of their marketing. As a not-super-tech-savvy person, I think I might have been overwhelmed by that. But these classes have helped me understand how to hashtag and hyperlink and borrow elements from other book marketing campaigns. Plus I've made some great friends who are good at that stuff—that's another cool opportunity. I'm taking classes with the people who might be acquiring my books somewhere down the road.
I definitely think Creative Writing students should enrol the book publishing stream in Professional Writing, as well as any editing courses that Professional Writing offers. It's like... book theory. It’s all that grunt work going on in the background that we don't think about when we churn out a book. My Creative Writing professors have been amazing along my publication journey, but it was Leigh Nash in my 4th year Professional Writing publishing capstone who offered to help look over my contract and told me things to be wary of.
Publishing can feel very alienating. All those rejections can make it feel like it's just you and your agent against the world. Professional Writing helped me build a community of industry-savvy people. My Creative Writing professors remain near and dear to me for all the amazing help they gave me with my writing craft, but we're living in 2022 when an author has to also be an editor, and a marketing team, and a social media influencer, and their own legal advisor. I can thank Professional Writing for preparing me for that.
Professional Writing pairs well with many subjects! Contact us to learn more about taking Professional Writing as a double Major or Minor.