You're old.

They say if you stop learning, you get old. I'm going to stay a baby forever.

Aug 24, 2022

I went into teaching because I didn’t want to leave school. I wanted to stay in college forever, so I did. As a college professor, I could continue with scholarly pursuits (read and learn all the time and say I was working) and surround myself with other like-minded people. Some friends thought I’d lost my mind when I quit one discipline and pursued another. “Why do that?” They asked.

Why not? I had an idea, and it wouldn’t go away.

It takes love and commitment to bring an idea from your imagination to book form. In fact, it takes courage to step out of your comfort zone and risk failing. But you might as well say you’re ready to die if you lose your passion for learning and trying something new.

I believe buried in our DNA is a creative gene that demands we use the innovative part of our brain, which could take many forms. Whether learning to play the guitar, decorating your house, growing a garden, investing in the stock market, or writing, you need to start somewhere. I returned to school, but not a bricks-and-mortar one. These are some places that assisted me with the written word:

The Writers Studio Online Program - Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Philip Schultz founded and directed the Writers Studio. The Writers Studio uses a unique method of persona writing. Students post exercises weekly based on the instructor’s assignments, inspired by short stories by well-known authors. They expect students to write critiques of their peer’s work too. Instructors also provide each student with written weekly critiques. Depending on your selected course, online classes use a chat or video format. Classes start at level one, regardless. You’re wrong if you think this will be too easy for you. The class totally intimidated me. It never felt like a beginner’s course. If you want to learn to write better, this is a top-notch place for instruction. The instructor, Lorraine Babb, and the other students inspired me. 8 weeks, $435.00 for Level 1.

Stanford Continuing Studies - They offer writing courses (and other subjects too) both spring and fall. I enrolled in All Writing is Rewriting, presented by Author Antoine Wilson. The course was deep and engaging. The instructor broke down the revision process each week, concentrating on a different aspect or approach to the revision process. We read a classic short story, critiqued our peer’s work, and received critiques from the instructor each week. This was another class where the students took the class seriously, turning in impressive reads that didn’t seem like beginner’s prose. 10 weeks, $955.00. They also offer a two-year novel writing certificate.

Catapult - They offer a variety of writing courses, including self-guided, no meeting and video chat, online and in class. They have everything from translation courses to preparing and sending query submissions to writing for Graphic Novels and Comic Books. I selected Fiction Workshop: Learn to Write Great Fiction in Your Own Voice, taught by Simon Van Booy, video chat-based. The class focused on building a writing practice, addressed techniques to “unearth” ideas, and gave ways to balance writing with daily life, “as writers rarely work under ideal conditions.” Boy is that the truth! The class contained both beginners and more advanced writers. Everyone had their writing workshopped at least twice, and there were writing and editing assignments outside class. I loved the variety of writing in the class, everything from paranormal romance to literary. The instructor made himself available for phone consultations, too, if needed. 8 weeks, $495.00.

BookFox - John Fox, owner, and chief instructor, offers eight courses at the present time. I’ve completed three: How to Write a Splendid Sentence, The Triangle Method of Character Creation, and The Ultimate Guide to Creating Dialogue. These courses are not live but complete, clever, and to the point. He has short quizzes at the end of each section to check your understanding, and there are PDF files you can print with notes and homework assignments. He’s an engaging instructor, and I enjoyed the courses where he appears on screen the most. I always looked forward to the book-related T-shirts he wore. There is also an online community should you want to discuss course content with other students. Cost: $297.00 yearly or $25.00 monthly or pay by the course.

Writing Mastery Academy - Jessica Brody, an author of Save the Cat and a bestselling author of twenty novels, founded WMA. She offers eleven courses, and I’ve taken a few. This one is a lecture format program with no interaction from other students unless you sign on to chat in the community forum or sign up for a critique buddy (exciting idea!) I love that there are a ton of hand-outs that you can print. Some of my favorite courses: Develop Blockbuster Ideas that Sell and The Complete Novel Revision Course; believe me, this course is thorough. There’s also an app for your phone to listen and watch on the go. Jessica adds content continuously, so it’s doubtful you’ll ever get through everything she offers. What I really appreciate about Jessica is her authenticity and her sense of humor. Jessica doesn’t shy away from discussing how she first failed in trying to become a published author, so you can avoid some of the same mistakes she made early on before she became a success. Love it when she sings! Cost: $160.00 a year, or $30.00 monthly.

Sue Brown Moore - She calls herself a story consultant. She is that, but she’s also an outstanding teacher. At some point, I took an online workshop with her called 5-Deep-Dive Questions for a Bangin’ First Draft. I’ve used the worksheet from that class to shape my stories ever since. It’s strengthened my work and saved me time. You can also purchase self-study courses through her webpage: How to Build Breakthrough Backstories, Building Better Character Driven Plots, and Using Action Verbs. Precise instruction that’s economically priced. Cost $21.00 - $27.00. She’s also offering her Bangin’ First Draft workshop again through From the Heart Romance Writers on October 28. $30.00 for non-members, $15.00 if you join.

I would love to hear from you. What places have you found beneficial to your writing? Don’t be shy. Whether it be a YouTube video, a friend, or courses through RWA or other organizations, I’d love to for you to share it.

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