Because I don't have enough to do in my life

[lrdrandallslady]

I've been pondering the idea of taking a Creative Writing class and wondering how many of my fanfiction writing friends have taken one and if you have what you thought of it.  Did you enjoy the class?  Find it useful in regards organization, plot and character development and all those other things course descriptions promise to help with?  What

Comments

[chaoticgood0405]

I took a writing class called short fiction (I think) this fall. It was offered through the adult extension part of the public school system. I had no expectations, so I can't say I was disappointed, but I wouldn't do it again. It was nice because it got me writing on a schedule, but the teacher we had was a last minute fill-in for the normal guy and I just didn't learn much. And more feedback would have been nice.

If the program is through a university, it may well be worth it. The time commitment is whatever you want it to be. Some weeks I put a ton of effort into the assignments. A couple weeks I started it at noon on the day of class.

I think you should do it if the program has a decent reputation and fits into your schedule. The worst that can happen is you find out it's not your thing.

[lrdrandallslady]

I was looking at a couple of online offerings since I don't think I would be able to squeeze in going to a physical location every week. If it's online, I can read lectures during my lunch breaks or while waiting for a kid to finish after school sports. Unfortunately, they tend to be on the pricey side (Gotham Writers Workshop was $300 for 6 weeks!), so that's another huge factor.

Thanks for the input.

[chaoticgood0405]

Oooo something online could be fun. At least it seems like people may be a little more honest in their concrit if they aren't doing it face to face. $300 sounds like a lot to me, but that could just be because I'm feeling stingy right now ;P

I thought the assigned readings for the class I took were excellent. You may want to look to see what writing output is expected--like if there are weekly assignments or one big thing due at the end, or some combination. That may give you a better idea of how much time it could eat up.

[lrdrandallslady]

$300 always sounds like a lot, even when I'm NOT feeling stingy :D.

I think I might poke around LJ at Sensei's suggestion. See if there are any groups around here that do writing workshops.

[salomesensei]

I was a creative writing undergraduate major, and I loved it. I had great teachers who encouraged creativity and we wrote and read and workshopped each other's fics and it was grand.

Then I took one graduate course at another school and it was horrible. Teacher's pets, pretentiousness, competitiveness. Yuck.

Then I took one more that was good again during my PhD program in Literary Studies.

Finally, I created a writing workshop group about 5 years ago for some friends. That was the most fun. We brought food and ate and drank and shared what we were working on aloud. And we had monthly little challenges to inspire us. Just wonderful and I got several publications out of it.

So. I think if you are really busy, an informal writer's group might be better than an actual course. Newspapers and local zines often feature notices for groups.

Hope this is helpful. :)

[lrdrandallslady]

The informal writing group sounds like a fabulous idea. I just wish I wasn't so painfully shy when it comes to my work. (I have a certainly love of the moderate level of anonymity that comes with fanfic and the web. I would be taking the class at the college where I work, but I know the teacher having worked for the English Dept. once upon a time, and that would just be... weird... for me. ^_^) With my personality, I think I need structure and direction. I'm a "show me how, give me an assignment, and send me on my way" kinda gal. I love constructive criticism and feedback. I think that's what I'm craving the most.

[salomesensei]

I understand the tensions you're talking about. Hm. There are some writers workshop groups on LJ, I believe, that have challenges and prompts and such. Wonder if they would work.

[lrdrandallslady]

Now that's a thought. I will look into that. Thanks!

[lrdrandallslady]

YAY for cheerleaders! Thanks, hon. I'm still researching what's out there, but I think online is the way to go for me, since I can take my laptop with me to all those kid things. Or at the very least, a notebook. The little bit that I looked today, the Gotham Writer's Workshop seems to have a nice setup, complete with instructor feedback, and forums for student/peer feedback.

[crystalcrest]

I think you should definitely give it a try. I can say from experience that it is a very enriching and beneficial experience

[lrdrandallslady]

Please do NOT apologize for the long response! I asked for feedback and this was very helpful. Sounds like you really loved your experiences. I never thought to look at our library for workshops. I'll have to see if one of the larger branches offer such things. I do crave concrit and you see it so rarely in the fanfic world.

What's with people and poking me?? Have you been hanging out with Possessed and LC Rose lately? ;P

[crystalcrest]

Alright then, I'll be taking back my apology, if you don't mind. lol. Yes, loved it to pieces

[lrdrandallslady]

Poke worthy, huh? Like memory foam, I just keep springing back to be poked again :P. Actually, you may have gathered from my little stint back into dokuga_contest that poking is rather effective on me. I rarely back down from a challenge. We'll have to see about the classes tho. That's a completely different animal from drabbles.

I did check out your comm and I have to say, I love the concept of it. I've joined as a watcher for now because I'm trying to put my InuYasha stuff tot he side for the moment and focus on my stagnant Rurouni Kenshin fics. But one never knows when inspiration will strike and I'm always looking to write for IY characters other than SessKag. ^_^

LC and Possessed are definitely worth getting to know. I actually met LC through a review of one of her stories, where I offered concrit, if you can believe it!

[missgoalie75]

I took a reading and writing fiction course in high school that was rather generic - each unit was a different element of fiction (dialogue, plot, description, etc.) and we'd read a short story that showed a good example of the element then we'd write our own short story. It was fun, but I wish we critiqued more and did more writing beyond the unit assignments. But I think it's a really great experience anyway to do a creative writing course - I say go for it - you only live once!

[lrdrandallslady]

Thanks for the input. I think I just may take a class, though I'm now thinking that I'll probably wait until this summer when I'm not quite so busy with kid stuff and can devote a little more of my attention to it.