creative writing courses online free

creative writing courses online free

The Benefits of Taking Creative Writing Courses Online for Free

1. Introduction

The course runs on a two-week cycle. One week, your tutor will discuss a particular aspect of the craft of creative writing in the context of his or her own work, leading to an assignment due the following week. The tutor will provide written feedback on the assignment to help you understand what you have done well and what you could develop further. This supportive and personalised approach to learning is the hallmark of our course. You will also be set creative exercises to develop your ideas and hone your writing style. In the second week, each tutor will discuss the progress of your work in a half-hour one-to-one tutorial. The tutorial will take place in a location convenient to both you and the tutor, usually in a public place such as a library, café or on the phone, which can allow you to see the working habits of an established author and gain valuable insights into your own writing. The tutorial is a great opportunity to ask your tutor questions about your writing and their experience as a writer.

Creative writing can take many forms, from fantasy to science fiction, poetry to mystery. If you have always wanted to write but are not sure where to start, or if you have been writing for years and need some fresh inspiration, this is the course for you. On this online course, established writers – including Louis de Bernières, Patricia Duncker, Alex Garland, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Tim Pears, Michèle Roberts and Monique Roffey, will show you how. These distinguished authors will guide you through the process of writing creative fiction and poetry, exploring crucial questions about the nature of character, setting, plot and voice. You will learn how to make your creative writing more effective, discover the best way to express your ideas, and develop your own powerful voice.

2. Advantages of Online Creative Writing Courses

Quality feedback. Last but not least, a large advantage of online writing courses is the effectiveness of quality feedback. With growing numbers in on-campus classes, teachers simply do not have the time to give individual feedback to students on their writing. Online courses provide the opportunity for a smaller student/teacher ratio. With such tools as file sharing and email, good feedback can be given to enhance the learning experience. File sharing provides a quick way to share documents with the teacher and other students. This provides an array of feedback in a diverse manner. This will also help with feedback between the students.

Networking opportunities. As much as some people would hate to admit it, a great deal of life is about who you know and the connections you have. It is essential for an aspiring writer to establish connections in the industry, and what better way than from your own home? Online courses will give the student the opportunity to improve their technical skills while connecting with others using chat rooms, email, and even Skype.

Improvement of technological skills: With the ever-growing focus on technology, online writing courses concentrate on teaching the technical skills of writing. Many courses will give an in-depth explanation of how certain software works in order to utilize it to the best of your ability. At the rate technology is growing, writers must have a good understanding of technology because that is what their writing will be about.

Increased opportunities. The convenience of online learning means that those who would otherwise be unable to participate in an on-campus creative writing course can now do so. Whether you possess a full-time job, a family to take care of, or other responsibilities that are keeping you from scheduling on-campus classes, online courses provide the opportunity to learn at your own pace and in your own time frame.

3. How to Find Free Creative Writing Courses Online

Lastly, there are now several educational portals that provide entrance into comprehensive collections of online creative writing courses where potential students can browse offerings, connect with instructors and other students, and even join in on interactive writing exercises. Becoming a member of such communities might be the best way to seek out the perfect course as information can be readily exchanged. EHow.com provides similar information and is more geared towards those who might not even know what creative writing is.

There are many sources for finding courses online, most importantly being Google, the most popular search engine in the world. Although the searches can yield numerous random results, it is possible to narrow down relevant information quickly by specifying one’s searches. Other methods of surfing the web for course options include visiting individual writing and education websites, as well as general interest sites that are known to have a strong emphasis on writing, education, and/or literature.

Researching available offerings is an important first step for finding the ideal online creative writing course. This includes considering individual course content, the background and expertise of the instructor, user testimonials, length and time commitment, and new upcoming classes. For those that are unsure of whether creative writing is right for them, many courses offer free trials and introductory classes without the commitment of enrolling in a full course.

4. Tips for Making the Most of Online Learning

Firstly, you need to plan your study routine. A study timetable is the best way to plan and organise your study time. Failing to prepare an effective study schedule can result in a feeling of being overwhelmed due to the amount of work to be done and large amounts of procrastination followed by bursts of binge studying. For each hour of class time plan to set aside at least 1-2 hours to study the content from the class and to prepare for upcoming assessments. Setting regular times each week is good way to get into a routine. This will enable you to plan other activities around your study and avoid time conflicts. It is important to stick to your timetable; don’t be tempted to go watch TV and leave your work for later. Take care not to overdo it! It can be very easy to burn yourself out by studying too many hours. This can lead to a lack of motivation and a diminished quality of work. Remember that having a good balance between study and leisure is the key to successful distance education.

Online learning can be done successfully by virtually anyone so long as they are disciplined and prepared to work consistently. It is easy to fall behind with distance education, remember there are no physical classes to attend and no lectures to sit through. This can result in feelings of isolation and procrastination. These are the three most important tips to remember when studying online.

5. Conclusion

Creative writing can have a positive impact on mental health and emotional wellness. Writing is a way to express oneself in a creative way, and the benefits are widely known. Writing is a way to document life events, process emotions, and find a sense of self. Writing about emotional events has been found to improve memory and overall mental health. Not only does creative writing help emotions, it can also help resolve issues. By writing about an event, emotions, or problem with clarity and description, it can help to understand it better (Scott, 1). This can lead to a greater level of understanding and personal growth. Taking time to write some fiction or poetry can improve creativity and imagination, help to see the world in a new way, and increase brain function. One easy exercise is to search online for a word from a list and write a few paragraphs on it, or to write a poem on a subject, or to write a children’s story. Writing fiction is a way to create a world with its own rules and reality, and helps with cause and effect and understanding connections between events. According to Linda Seger, “Fiction is one of the best ways to understand and explore truth” (1). A higher level of understanding leads to solving issues more effectively, whether it is a social or personal problem.