If You Want to Write:  Join a Class?

K Wordbird Bate  Writing Expert

     At least twice a year a new season of university, college and community classes may open up near you. If you believe you’ll enjoy a class, it is a good idea to plan ahead. You need to decide what you want, why, where to find it, and how to budget both time and money. Think through why you want a particular class or writing program, and what benefit it may have for you. Through my mistakes and great experiences, as a writer, a teacher, and a student, I offer these considerations:   

Reasons to take writing classes:

1. Important: You are expected to write on a regular basis.
2. An experienced, compassionate teacher expects you to write.
3. Fun, witty, interested and competitive fellow students expect you to write.
4. You’ll learn new writing tricks, tips and exercises.
5. You’ll make friends who care about writerly things, and language.
6. You may produce some great writing during the class.
7. You will raise your excitement and motivation.
8. You will feel more like a writer, as you haunt cafes and coffee houses.
9. You will demand more from yourself, since you paid for this class, or you want credits or a good grade.
10. Your compassionate teacher and witty classmates will make you aware of your bad writing habits. You will fix those, and emerge a much better writer.
11. You will build your credentials.  
12. It’s possible you will find a writing mentor, or a good writing group.
13. You have a one-to-one opportunity to ask questions or address specific issues.
14. You will be exposed to a wide range of other writers, their skills and their topics.

Reasons to avoid writing classes and programs:
      1. Sometimes they overstructure and over interpret writing.

      2. They may dwell on dead authors, or literature outside your interests.

      3. The occasional teacher is neither experienced nor compassionate.

      4. Sometimes, your peers mistake a snide ability to pick and criticize, as a sign of wit.

      5. You may lack a “thick skin.” You’ll take even fair criticism too personally.

      6. A bad experience can regiment, interpret, criticize or bore the creativity out of you.

      7. It is an expensive way to get yourself to write more often, if that is your only goal.

     Think about these, and ask around. Don’t take just any writing class or program. Be sure it is a good fit for you. There are more reasons to take a class, than not. But a poor fit can devastate your muse. I recommend you go meet the instructor if you plan to take a longer course. Also, be sure it is the correct level for you, not too advanced, nor too easy. 

There are many other ways to gain writing class benefits:  

-Attend free lectures at university, college and community venues.

-Attend weekend workshops by authors, playwrights, editors, and publishers.

-Listen to books on tape by published authors.  

-Volunteer for a writing, book or publishing event.  I volunteered for the Tennessee Williams Fest each year, for instance.

-Follow radio programs that feature books and authors.

-Attend a Writer’s Digest or other conference for writers. These are fun and packed with ideas and options.

-Read magazines for writers. They are filled with fun ideas and inspiration.

-Commit to a deadline so you’ll be terrified, harassed and pressured into writing. This isn’t such a bad idea. Deadlines can be incredibly motivating.

-Join on line sites, support groups, classes or programs.

-Watch movies about the lives of authors, and artists of other kinds.

     If you have other ideas, or specific places that work for you, let us know.

Let Yourself Bloom!

© Kimberly Bate

photo by Miss_Smile