1) Find ways to treat yourself like a writer. (build confidence and craft)
2) Find situations where others will treat you like a writer. (build connections and community)
And for Today's Treat we are going to deal with something that meets both of these needs within myself...Writing Class!
I have been enrolled in a Writing Class since last Fall and I have to say, it has become such a wonderful part of who I am as a writer. I truly feel that the writing class I am taking at Gotham Writer's Workshop in NYC fulfills the 4c's for me fairly well (confidence, craft, connections and community).
I highly recommend joining a writing class. If you cannot find one in your own area, you can enroll in an online class like those taught at Gotham Writers Workshop (www.writingclasses.com).
Also, seek out classes that allow you the opportunity to receive individual critiques on your own work in addition to lessons about the craft.
If cost is a problem, calculate how much a class is per session. For example, a $400 semester for 10 weeks of classes comes out to $40/week. What can you trim from your weekly spending to make this happen? Eating lunch out everyday? Try packing instead. Morning Coffee? Brew at home. The savings will add up...and with a writing class in your routine, your confidence, craft, community and connections will be on the rise! :)
Who has a writing class Success Story to share?
Ah. Finally I'm able to access the comment box!
ReplyDeleteI recommend the online/homestudy class in writing picture books (which can be applied to other genres) Just Write for Kids. It's billed as an 8 week course, but one can do it according to one's own schedule. http://www.justwriteforkids.com
Great suggestion, Beth. :) Besides being able to move at your own pace, what would you say is the best part about this class? What sets it apart in your mind?
DeleteEmma Walton Hamilton, who teaches the class, has a warm, engaging style that carries through to her course material. The weekly segments of the class arrive by email, and include teaching material, and worksheets to practice the topics discussed that week. It's a very thorough overview of all that goes into the writing of a picture book, and by the end of the course, one has a draft that is well on its way.
DeleteThere isn't a lot of interaction (which suited me at the time), but there is a website where people who are taking the class can give their progress reports, feedback and questions, and Emma responds -- I found her responses to me were helpful, enthusiastic and encouraging.
One can start the class at any time, it's not dependent on a schedule or having a certain number of people in the class, unlike face-to-face classes. When I felt I needed two weeks on one topic, I could easily take the time I needed. Likewise, when I completed one week before the week was up, I could go on to the next week.
Hope that helps!
LOVE YOUR POST! you always have such good ideas and just enough to start the conversation going!!!!! ......I have not checked into these so I cannot recommend them, I just now found this link, and thought I would share. (I am going to try the UTAH classes. ) http://education-portal.com/articles/10_Universities_Offering_Free_Writing_Courses_Online.html
ReplyDeleteI'm doing a Gotham class too! I'm actually in a TV writing class, because in a few weeks I'm going to be teaching a TV class to my high school students. I'm really loving it and definitely planning to take more classes with them. I'm finding that the structure is really helping me, and I'm looking forward to critiques from my classmates.
ReplyDeleteThanks for such a great post! I've been looking for a class, but have been unable to find one in my area. Very glad to have the pointers to online classes. Looking forward to more fabulous posts!
ReplyDeleteLiving in a rural area makes getting to classes less easy. Not impossible, but it takes travel as well as time and money. So when I can't get to "regulation" classes I "homeschool". My writing "classes" include:
ReplyDelete1. spending some dedicated "class time" each week to work through a book on the writing craft, or something like "The Artists Way" - that focuses my attention on writing and helps me learn something. Most recently, Kate Messner's awesome book, "Real Revision";
2. attending monthly SCBWI "shoptalk" sessions; and
3. attending 1 or 2 SCBWI conferences each year (last fall we had a PictureBook Boot Camp)