Weekly Writers: Polishing The Draft, Tip #5

Writing Courses

Writing courses can be wonderfully intense creative experiences. Some are residential, and may be a week long, or just a weekend. Others are local, and you attend the sessions for that day.

Look out for courses that give you one-to-one time with a tutor so you can discuss your work-in-progress. You can then hopefully get feedback on both your writing style by providing the opening chapter, and the overall story arc via the outline. Though note that residential courses can be as expensive as working with an editor, so weigh up the best use of your money, and look out for organisations that offer bursaries.

A writing conference can be another option, and may have more networking opportunities at the expense of writing opportunities.

If you’re thinking of going on any creative course, then identify where you are in your writing, and what you hope to get out of the course. Are you an unpublished author, and want to gain confidence, or learn the basics? Have you got a specific project you want to work on? Is there an area of weakness in your work that you want to strengthen? You can contact the tutors in advance if you have any questions. Everyone wants you to be on the course that’s best for you. Having said that, I have yet to go on any writing course that hasn’t had a broad range of ability within the group, and I’ve always seen improvement in my fellow writers. So everyone stands to gain, whether they treat the course as a “me-time” holiday, or as serious writing CPD.

My tips for attending courses:

• Prepare. Bring creative work or ideas with you, things that you want to write or edit in the time outside of the classes. Also note anything that’s asked of you before coming, or that you have to prepare for a tutorial. Then you’ll make best use of the time.

• Contribute to, but don’t hog, discussions.

• Be critically supportive. There’s no point saying flawed work is perfect; and no benefit from tearing into the work of others like a rabid dog. Learn how to start by identifying and praising good points, then suggesting ideas for improvement on the other areas. Or even just focus on what you liked. It’s a useful skill, and can also apply to any writing groups you join.

• Observe how the tutors do things, and learn from them.

• If it’s a residential course and you like to be fit then take running or walking shoes. Writing centres are often in lovely countryside. There’s nothing worse than getting there, realising there are nice places to explore, but not having the gear. Remember: you’ll be sat on your bottom nearly all day, so get out in the fresh air when you can.

• Attend the course expecting everyone to be your friend, and by the end of the course they will be.

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