text: to be a writer or publisher, what should one study in university/college?   the joke i have with a co-worker is anything but an english major.  english majors tend to learn the rules without learning the art of the language.  that major tends to attract some of the meanest, pickiest people around.  that said, if you do end up as an english major, just have fun.  you go to college to learn to think.  thinking is different than writing.  writing is a creative process that comes before thought.  so, the first thing i'd do is write.  then fit in college after that.  study what interests you.  if you're going to be a writer, you're going to create your own income from publishing, right?  grisham studied law with the intent to be a writer.  others have done the same.  i'm not saying grisham's the greatest author, but he's developed his interests.    good writers tend to be good readers.  they have curious minds and have developed a sense of rythm in their writing.  music, literature, liberal arts all come to mind as good seed beds for your mind.    you might enjoy grabbing a great books list from somewhere (like columbia) and reading through that.  it'll get you grounded in many classical things to write about.    as far as publishing, that's another story.  you'd want a business background for that.  publishing is just a business with a lot of self confidence.  they've created high beariers to entry to increase their salaries and their sales.    good luck with all that.  enjoy what you do, whatever that is.