As I work toward my bachelor’s degree as a writer, I have decided that I want to minor in anthropology. I’ve always had an interest in archaeology, and anthropology greatly piques my interest. An author should always be open to trying new things for inspiration.
I’m not interested in anthropology because of Ancient Aliens or other random pseudoscience. In reality, my interests go quite a bit deeper than just learning about various civilizations.
The only thing I’m kicking myself for today is how late I started my education. I’ll be 50 this year, which means I might be in my 70s by the time I finish with a PhD, especially if I continue as a part-time student.
Why Minor in Anthropology as a Writer?
I am a firm believer in education in all forms. Well, proper education, anyway. There are some things out there that just aren’t worth learning, such as 99% of anything backed by a creationist.
Nonetheless, continued education in various fields can provide quite a bit for a writer. This is especially true if you want to focus on a specific niche or genre. For instance, space sci-fi writers might benefit greatly from attending science courses or taking classes along the lines of astrophysics.
I’m not saying that you have to become an astrophysicist to write sci-fi based in space. However, those kinds of classes would help you add realism to your work, which could result in a better connection with your audience.
In my case, it’s anthropology.
Very Interested in Anthropology
I’ve been interested in archaeology since watching Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Of course, I know that it was just a movie and not indicative of the actual work by archaeologists. However, it sparked an interest in me to learn about ancient cultures.
I find it interesting to see how cultures have advanced over the years, and how they have adapted to living without the wonders we have today. Keep in mind that not everyone had a smartphone in their pocket to answer all of their questions.
Even in modern times, I find it interesting to follow how humanity has developed over the past 40 years. Probably because I lived through it and have seen a lot of things kids take for granted nowadays.
Story Ideas Galore!
I have an interest in writing books about unsolved ancient mysteries. While the stories themselves are fiction, it’s the truth behind the research that helps bring them to life. It’s fun to play around with the past in such a way while exploring the what-if part of life.
Am I afraid that I’ll add to the pseudoscience beliefs out in the world? Not really. It’s blatantly obvious that my books are written for entertainment purposes only. If you’re creating a belief structure around something I wrote, I feel both a bit honored and frightened. Seek help.
In any case, studying anthropology opens the doors to a slew of ideas for future stories and books. And a lot of what I’m learning can also influence the fantasy stories I tell. I mean, what better way to create realistic world-building than by being an anthropologist?
Understanding Cultures for Realism
Speaking of realism, that’s perhaps one of the biggest influences you want as a writer from studying other subjects. Knowing how things work opens the doors to developing an immersive experience that makes readers feel like they were there.
For example, going over the evidence of how Egyptians actually built the pyramids could give you ideas in your fantasy novel about how ancient elves or orcs built their religious monuments. Or, maybe studying the ancient Clovis culture can give you ideas about creating a similar society.
For me, studying ancient Mayan development is used to help develop a long-lost culture in the Witcham Series. You’ll have to read Fury to identify which one.
There are all kinds of courses in college that will influence your stories for the better.
Debating On Building a New Website
As I continue working through the anthropology courses at CU, I am heavily debating exploring it as a writer. Not just for the story ideas I am getting, but to build a blog to help dispute the claims of pseudoarchaeologists just looking to make a buck.
Yeah, because what I need is yet another blog on my plate.
Of course, I can do the same thing with it as I did with WriterSanctuary. In the beginning, this blog was meant as a way to describe my progress while working with Textbroker and to practice writing. I didn’t have a set schedule for content, and only wrote when I thought I had something important to share.
If I do build a new website focusing on real anthropology, it’ll be further down the road. I have a lot of things I want to accomplish in the near future, and I just don’t have the time to add yet another project.
Unless I work on it during the writing sprints…
Using What I Learn As I Go
As I am already a writer and published author, I am using everything I learn in school almost immediately, including anthropology. Whether it’s working with clients or writing a blog post, I am making a bit of money with my education before I even have a degree.
That’s one of the reasons why I was debating creating an anthropology blog. I might be able to make a few bucks on ad revenue and merch sales.
The bottom line is that I am in a position where I can make my education work for me right from the beginning. Over time, what I create using what I’ve learned may even cover tuition, reducing the need to take out loans.
To attend part-time classes at the University of Colorado, you need roughly an extra $28 per day, not including extras such as buying books and lab fees. If you use what you learn immediately on platforms like YouTube or even TikTok, you might be able to cover the tuition.
I say “might” because there are a lot of variables at play in making money online. First of all, you need to be working on something that other people would like to learn. Or, be highly entertaining in some way.
In the case of WriterSanctuary, I am sharing everything I learn as I work toward my bachelor’s degree. I don’t make a lot of money at it, mostly because so many people are jumping on the AI slop bandwagon. But I do what I can to help people become real writers.
The point is that you don’t have to wait to have your degree in hand to start using those talents today. And because of the ever-expanding nature of the Internet, you can study virtually anything and find an audience.
What Inspires You to Write?
Essentially, I am using anthropology to inspire new stories as a writer while fulfilling a childhood dream. I might not walk around with a fedora and a whip, but I would love to study ancient people and their lifestyles.
Never underestimate the value of a good education. It can do more for you than just a simple piece of paper you hang on the wall. It can lead you down a variety of paths, both as a writer and as a scholar. And what you learn could greatly impact your books and blogs for the better.
Even if you don’t plan on getting a degree, taking college or online courses could change your life in profound ways.
What kind of things inspire you to write stories and blog posts?
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