Does anyone know of any good (and free or cheap) writing courses?

[LadyTabitha]

I'd like to give my stories more of a professional "polish", to increase the enjoyment of my readers and to add to my chances of eventually being in print. Problem being, I don't have the money to sign up for one of the $400.00 + dollar courses on creative writing that I've seen locally. So my question is thus: does anyone know of perhaps some good writing tips or writing courses that I might pursue online?

I truly would like to grow and develop my writing, but until I manage to land some decent employment and start saving like mad, I hope someone can point me to some that are either free to all for improvement or perhaps just a few pointers that might help.

Thanks to all in advance!

 

[KillerMuffin]

My advice to you:

No such thing as a cheap writing course.

1) Find a writer's group. We have one here that's kinda... fizzly right now (my fault). If you can't find one in your area, then make one!

2) Write every day. Get a journal, use the word processor, write it on the back of bills, but write at least a paragraph every day. If you can't think of anything to write, then write about what your space looks like, or what you're thinking of. It gets you used to thinking in terms of the written word regularly.

3) Take a notebook and plop your butt down on a bench or food court table in the mall. Watch the people and make notations. Not necessarily stories or sentences, but watch them and make observations. How they interact, what they seem to be feeling, what they might be doing, how they dress. Then you can use it for fodder for stories, journal entries, or just character sketches.

For my journal, I write a one page character sketch every day. It's a few paragraphs that gives a reader a picture of a character without a full story. There is not backstory, no history, no nothing, just a snippet of a character's life. It's helped a lot.

Try www.writersdigest.com

 

[Whispersecret]

Something that has helped my writing immensely is to edit and critique other people's work. I learn a lot about what doesn't work (no offense to those whose work I've critiqued) and am better able to see those same flaws in my own writing.

Another thing: READ good stuff. There is nothing like reading good writing to both inspire you and help you internalize the rules of the written word.

 

[Weird Harold]

Online Writing Labs and "Writing Centers"

http://www.tc.cc.va.us/writcent/

[blockquote]"Writing Center consultants are members of the English faculty at the Virginia Beach Campus of Tidewater Community College."[/blockquote]

This is TCC's Writing Center website. It's run by the English Department on TCC and has many good articles on how to write and how to avoid common pitfalls.


http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

This is Purdue University's Online Writing Lab. Like the TCU site, it is a university run self-help site for creative writing.

Searching for "writing center" or "Online Writing Lab" will turn up a couple hundred other similar sites both free university sites and commercial sites purporting to teach you creative writing for a fee.


I haven't explored all of the links at either of these sites, but there may be links leading to a "distance learning class" in creative writing among them.

KillerMuffin, Lady Tabitha and WhisperSecret all gave you some good advice as well. The only way to learn to write well, is to write badly and then edit at least three times -- preferably with at least one other set of eyes involved.

One thought on that other set of eyes: "The best possible editor is a nit-picking, anal-retentive, English Major with a grudge against you." If at least one of your editor's comments doesn't raise your blood pressure, they didn't look close enough.

 

[Sateema Lunasi]

groups, courses

So right. No such thing as a cheap writing course, but personally I find most of them rip offs anyway. I am one of the people who have been suckered into taking a $300 writing course online and it did absolutely NOTHING to help my writing.

I am in a Yahoo club that Mary Monnoraj runs. I can get you the addy for that if you request. I can't remember it right now. That is helping a bit, good critique and honest help...and it is free.

A book called How To Write Good Romances has helped me greatly as well. It looks like a silly book, but it is great to help with character development and plot.

Also, I recently bought on Amazon.com, a writer's workbook called The Romance Writer's Handbook, by LaFlorya Gauthier, which comes in a crappy packaging, but has useful worksheets and tools in it to help you.

The book, How To Publish & Promote Online (by MJ Rose and Angela Adair Hoy) is good to help with the basics of the marketing part of writing.

It's probably just my opinion alone, but I would rexccomend staying away from any writing course that is expensive at all. Some might help, but I certainly have only had bad experiences and dissapointing results with them. I find that most are out to make money, simply, not to help writers. Once again though, I could be wrong.

Anyway, I wish you great luck and that is what I can offer to help. I will see if I can find that Monnoraj Yahoo club addy for you.

 

[LadyTabitha]

Great advice. I figured there weren't any cheap writing courses out there, but then one could always dream, can't she? LOL. Anyhow, thanks for the ideas, I'll be sure to try them.

And when I win the lottery or become Ms. "Big Time Erotica Writer Lady" (snorts in laughter) I'll be the first one to start a FREE Writer's resource center online!!! Yeah....that's the ticket......

Thanks again!!!!!!!!