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Yesterday I picked up the latest issue of Writers Digest. I've been reading this magazine off and on since I was about 18, but kind of with the attitude like some people have with reading Martha Stewart Living magazine. "Sure, sure, I'll make this complicated souffle with 25 ingredients! I'll do it!" I'd rip articles out and then proceed to forget about them.
Since I'm taking my writing a lot more seriously these days, I'm paying close attention (the current issue has a great article about the YA market) and in the back of the magazine I saw an ad in the back for Writers Digest University. They offer a wide variety of online courses, and there are a few that I'm considering. One to brush up on my form and structure, and another specific YA novel course.
Have any of you taken an online course before to help improve your writing? If so, which course was it, and how did you like it?
I also have a follow-up question: Have you invested money into your writing career by going to conferences or retreats? Did you feel it was worth the investment?
As always, I appreciate any insight that my fellow authors (aspiring and published!) can offer!
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Great question! I've been considering the YA novel course, but I'd like to know if anyone has ever taken it before. I am going to my first week-long conference in June: the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers workshop (in Sandy, Utah). I can't wait!
ReplyDeleteI am considering going to a conference in Seattle this summer but I'm actually a shy person without my computer in front of me so I'm not sure I'd like to go. I have taken rhetorical and technical writing courses online that went to my degree. I found that I got little feedback, but that could just be the school.
ReplyDeleteI have taken UCLA Extension writing courses (online) and also went to a 3 day conference on the business of writing... and I will be going to SCBWI LA in July.
ReplyDeleteThe conference was helpful in that I learned a lot, but I didn't really meet anyone there that I formed lasting connections with. I'm still waiting to see if it will pay off in the end.
The writing courses were helpful because of deadlines, and I did meet some cool people who I still talk to every now and again. The downside was some of the classes I took had not very helpful critique partners (some were downright poisonous to the class), and the teacher was not very good.
So my experience is that the effectiveness of the class depends almost entirely on the teacher and the other people in it - which sucks because there is no way to judge that before you take the class.
I've had some bad experiences but I still keep thinking about taking other courses. If nothing else, they help you feel like you're not alone in the writing process.
I could go on and on but this is getting long enough! Maybe I will write a blog post about this in the near future.
Elizabeth, please do write a blog post about your experiences! Thanks for the insightful comment.
ReplyDeleteConferences are so worth it. You should attend when you have polished your query, your novel and your pitch. Being able to meet an agent face to face is well worth it. I also took a critique course and class at the Writer's Center. I joined organizations and got involed. By doing so, I met many mentors that have made the writing experience less daunting.
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