free online creative writing courses

free online creative writing courses

The Importance of Free Online Creative Writing Courses

1. Introduction

The CCWC essay “The Importance of Free Online Creative Writing Courses” has been moved here. This was originally posted at the CCWC. Because the page isn’t really mobile phone friendly, I’ll be transferring this to this blog. It’s actually convenient because it fits so well here. So while I didn’t write this, I’m posting it. Enjoy the thoughts of Joseph Ben-David. In The Importance of Free Online Creative Writing Courses, you will learn many things on your quest to master the art and craft of creative writing. First of all, counsel is always good, and the proposed advice in many of the articles can be greatly beneficial to you. Someone out there has taken much time and effort to compile ways to help other writers, and in your quest to become a better writer you should always give yourself the chance to learn from others. Next, some of the suggested exercises can be quite helpful in developing your skills. Often times when learning to write, you must analyze and imitate solid writing techniques before you can develop your own style. And finally, this resource is perfect for those who thrive and learn through independent study. If you’re the kind of person who will do best by reading and then trying, this is the place for you.

2. Benefits of Free Online Creative Writing Courses

Provides a supportive environment for creative thought: Writing is an art form and when it comes to art, attempting to learn it within the constraints of institutional learning can be counter-intuitive. Because art is about freedom of expression, rigid guidelines on what and how students should write can be damaging to a student’s ego and confidence. Many would-be writers have been discouraged by such things as failing grades and critical words. Free courses offer an opportunity to learn and express writing in a way that is not only free from judgement and grades, but also the stress of financial investment. At the Australian Writer’s Centre students are encouraged to practice creativity via a ‘no pressure, just praise’ atmosphere. Sue says, “Courses without the pressure of assessment are often more conducive to fostering creativity because students are taking risks, trying new things and thinking outside the box.” This is very true and such courses are an excellent way to introduce or reintroduce creativity back into one’s life.

Enables wider engagement: Online courses are an available means of learning for a wide range of individuals. Those who work during the day, or are homebound, or live in remote areas, or have both a disability and serious illness can benefit from the opportunity to take one or more courses that might not be otherwise available to them. Students can participate in online courses at the times that best suit them. This is also the case in terms of location, one can take an online writing course no matter where they are – at home, the library or a friend’s house. And with no travel costs involved. People from different cultures and language groups are also given an opportunity to share in the rich educational resource that is the English language. Free courses have the potential to engage wide and diverse audiences. This is especially important because it is often those who have the most discriminations about them that could benefit the most from the self-empowerment that learning brings.

3. Course Selection and Structure

Changes in employment or family circumstances can also have a significant impact on available writing time and lead to discontinuation of a paid course. Free courses are of benefit to people on low income. A decent writer may have the potential to be published given the contact and advice from a professional writer, but if they are struggling financially and spend all their money on paid courses, books, etc., the trade-off between free and paid courses will essentially mean the difference between failure and success in their writing. Free courses are the solution for anyone who is time-poor or cash-poor. Time-poor individuals may simply want to do a few tutorials on the weekend or overload and do a lot of exercises at once in the holiday period. Even if they can’t meet next week’s deadline, they can still participate in the actual tuition at their own pace. Free courses are a cost-effective way to test if the course benefits are worth the time. After searching for days, I was unable to find a free vs paid comparison where the course content was actually detailed, rather than just a statement along the lines of “It’s pretty much the same, you’re just missing out on feedback.” A major selling point of any course is how the learning material is delivered to the student. Writing involves a lot of reading and comprehension, so this can vary greatly between individuals.

Course selection has a large impact on the students’ participation or engagement in a course. Given that most free courses are accessible to anybody, some people may enroll with no real intention of completing the course. They may do a couple of example exercises, fail to hand them in for feedback, or disappear for weeks at a time and remember that they are even enrolled. These types of people would not benefit from paying for a course. Paid courses have lower rates of course completion compared to free courses. So although it might be satisfying for a tutor to have people paying for premium service, money doesn’t necessarily increase motivation. Paid students can become consumed with thoughts of getting their money’s worth, and this can lead to increased anxiety and procrastination about their writing.

The process of identifying and enrolling in online courses is so rapid and easy compared to traditional universities and colleges. Before enrolling in a course, you must have a look at your background and skills: Do you have basic knowledge related to the course? What are your expectations from the course? For instance, you may want to know the structure of a story before you write it. It can take hold of the readers by striking emotional chords, use dynamic and robust characters, or perhaps a tender and poignant set of circumstances that will endear the reader. This person would look for creative writing courses that include a section using the underlying processes deeply rooted in human psychology to get a desired emotional response. Also, set goals that you would like to achieve once you have completed the course. It can be refining your grammar, becoming a more rounded versatile writer, fitting writing into a busy lifestyle, or even completing a novel. By identifying your expectations and goals, you are more likely to find a course more suited to your wants and needs and not waste time and money on something you have little interest in.

4. Tips for Maximizing Learning Experience

Remember that often the most important factor influencing whether you found the last class beneficial is solely based on your engagement and effort at the time. So do what you can to make the class/learning experience as enjoyable and beneficial as possible! Do your best to ensure your class is a positive experience by using the course to explore an interest you have or try out writing in a genre you are hoping to specialize in. You will be more likely to complete the course, and receive higher quality feedback from your peers and the tutor, if you have written something you were keen to write and improve. Make sure you understand what is expected from you in terms of time and commitment. If you can only spare 3 hours a week to study and do assignments, don’t choose a course that says “spend at least 6 hours a week going through the lessons and doing the exercises”. Regularly review your writing and the course materials. A common mistake is to stop halfway through a course, taking a break from writing for the rest of the week, and then picking it up again the day before the next lesson becomes available. You will get more out of the course if you break the lessons down into smaller chunks, covering only the amount you are willing to review and write about in one sitting. And try not to lose momentum! Always aim to go beyond the lesson requirements keeping ahead of the class.

5. Conclusion

In conclusion, the creative writing student at the very least will benefit from the feedback received in a MOOC. He or she will be exposed to fresh ideas from classmates across the globe. Additionally, a community college student planning to transfer to a four-year university may be able to skip the introductory course required by the university after taking a similar course from a MOOC. Finally, a fledgling writer who has never been published may be encouraged after receiving positive feedback on one of his stories. Perhaps more important than all these benefits, is the actual democratization of education. All over the world, individuals with a great desire to learn now have the means to do so. No longer is anyone with an internet connection relegated to learning from the “school of hard knocks.” This shift is best articulated by the MOOC model. Due to the enormous scalability of MOOCs the cost per student is greatly reduced. This is a step in the right direction on making education more accessible. Currently, MOOCs are still in their infancy. The quality of writing courses offered has yet to truly be determined. My experiences in Coursera’s fantasy and science fiction writing workshop were a mixed bag. I found the lectures to be excellent and intimate, however, discussion of student stories for peer review lacked substantial activity. Additionally, there is not yet a sticking point that MOOCs will be viable in the long run as a successful business model, “When MOOCs first burst onto the scene, many saw the upheaval in higher education and thought that traditional universities were going to be utterly disrupted and replaced by online versions of the University of Phoenix. That seems not to be happening,” (Pappano) High drop out rates and quality of courses have been of some concern.