An essay specifically asks to describe an intellectual interest not necessarily related to one’s major that one wishes to pursue or continue as a college student. I am an avid writer and poet, have gotten published in literary magazines and all, so I was thinking of writing about creative writing, but now I’m second-guessing if creative writing is considered an intellectual pursuit? I write mostly research/history essays and analyses, short stories, creative non-fiction, and poetry.
Yes! That is totally an intellectual pursuit. I think it’s a great topic that will add depth to your application. Being published is not small potatoes 
Plus, you’re a creative writer so you’ll write the essay well! Win/win.
Ah, thanks so much! I was just about to submit and then started freaking out that I misinterpreted the prompt.
Definitely!
Thank you!
Definitely! For my Common App my “place” that I picked to write about was wherever my writing took me. I got a handwritten response on my acceptance letter that said it demonstrated that I have a “high level of maturity that sets [me] apart from others [my] age.”