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Creative Writing Courses/Worskhops - Can you have too many of them?
Whenever I get to hear about Creative Writing courses or workshops I feel I should sign up for them. I have done home study courses with the OCA, day workshops that cost a few pounds, whole day course which was quite expensive. I have done a whole term course at a local Adult Education Centre and a free six week course with the local library which I have to say was very good. This summer I did a six week course which I had misgivings about at first but I have to say it was one of the best I have attended, it covered plot, structure, voice, show and tell, character. I almost always enjoy them but I wonder how other Tbers feel, is there a time to call a halt or keep going?
Comments
The worry would be that if you do too much learning you won't do enough doing.
To paraphrase that old line, 'Those who can't do teach, those who can't teach learn and those who want to achieve just do it.'
Although writing is a craft which you can learn it is also an art form which cannot really be taught once you get past the basics. Reading a lot is probably the best teacher, and it's fine to imitate the masters at first until you find your own voice.
For myself, I tend to read books on the subject - it's easier to throw a book at the wall than it is a teacher!
This saying always sends me into a quandary as I feel like I have "been there done that" with all 3 areas - so where did you go from there ?
As FT says, perhaps it's not a case of being a linear thing at all. If we go on courses, teach a bit, learn a bit, do a bit perhaps we can mix and match as we feel at the time ... a bit like putting our life on "shuffle" rather than "loop"
(Hope this makes sense BD. I am bit too much "shuffled" at the minute ! )
I have done home study courses with the OCA, day workshops that cost a few pounds, whole day course which was quite expensive. I have done a whole term course at a local Adult Education Centre and a free six week course with the local library which I have to say was very good. This summer I did a six week course ..
That is a lot of courses. The question is - can any more be learned or is it time to put all that learning into practice? If Barbara was starting out, I would say yes, go on a course but this far advanced, does she need it or would the encouragement of a writing group be better???
Not only did it give the reason and support to try new genres, I improved in my own by about 1,000 times. I don't think you can ever stop learning as a writer as it is a craft which changes all the time, and you want to be on the leading edge, not the trailing one.
So my advice would be yes, take courses if you feel like it, but do ones which stretch you. You won't regret it.
Dwight, I thought you just pay for Arvon courses? They don't make you send work do they?
I do belong to a writing group, the members are very encouraging.