It’s no surprise that most reputable writing programs now offer an option to pursue your degree online. But did you know that the choice between a traditional and online degree is every bit as important as the choice of school? An online writing degree offers many benefits over and above the oft-touted convenience and financial savings. Check out these six additional benefits of earning your writing degree online.

More time writing, less time talking about writing. Earning your writing degree online helps you focus your energy on the writing itself. When you’re in the middle of a third draft, it’s easier to ignore an email than it is to turn down an invitation to chitchat with your workshop partner over coffee.

Sharpen your skills every step of the way. Unlike traditional classrooms, every aspect of your degree incorporates writing. You’ll be practicing your writing skills 100% of the time, whether you’re engaging in online discussion, sending an email to the professor, or critiquing another student’s writing.

Join the global writing community. Online writing degrees attract students from all over the world. Imagine networking with writers from Iceland, Peru and Japan… all in one workshop! In this economy, many writers are re-locating to more affordable countries. Your online writing degree may open doors you didn’t know existed.

Enhance your online degree with local interaction. Worried about missing out on real-life connections with other writers? Don’t be. Instead, scour your hometown for readings at cafes or universities, organize get-togethers with local writers and soak in the literary scene at independent bookstores.

Relax and be yourself. Emily Dickinson was so reticent that the bulk of her work was only read after her death. Imagine if she’d had access to an online writing program! Online writing courses typically engender lively and candid discussion among students. In cyberspace, shyness is no obstacle.

Master the ropes of online writing. Blogs, websites and online journals are excellent opportunities for writers to earn a living. Earning your writing degree online will familiarize you with the ins-and-outs of writing for the web. Once you graduate, you’ll have an edge over writers who only submit to print venues.

These six benefits – and many others – are enjoyed by the hundreds of writers who enroll in online writing programs each year. Only you can decide whether an online writing degree is the best option for you, so choose wisely. Earning an online writing degree could be one of the best decisions of your writing life.