Me and my friend are aspiring writers who had a question we were

you don't need a degree to write a book.

proof:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5756485/1/Wabloo-Swabloo

>>8076098
If there's one thing you don't need to write a book, it's degree.

>>8076927
This. Degrees are just endorsements of your ability to, essentially, read what you're supposed to and produce essays.
There's no reason you can't survey american literature without actually taking Survey of American Literature
Just work smart. Read a bunch of the good stuff, write often
>inb4 someone says class discussions are better than the alternative

>>8076098
Doesn't this seem like an obtuse question to you. A talented degree-less writer would create a better work than a uninspired, bad writer with a degree.

There may be some merit for a talented writer to study a degree, though

The ONLY thing one needs to do is read a lot of books. Also, think about your question in the context of any other talent. Most famous musicians don't have a music degree.

>>8077070
That's a good point that you brought up, anon. I'm an aid in the English department and I hear people who want to become authors raise this concern.

Simple answer is this: when it comes to writing, factor in the fact that a lot of the classic authors read a shit ton and took something away from that to mold their craft.

If you're writing and you don't take some valuable new craft for u our writing, you're not doing it right