I don't mind that she is honest. In fact that's the reason I am taking classes; so that I can receive professional feedback and improve. What I do have a problem with is that her feedback is disrespectful and vague. It doesn't help me at all. And it makes me think that maybe I suck so badly she can't even be bothered to give me something to work with. Also, my classmates always praise my writing and tell me they look forward to reading what I've written each week, so it's always shocking that she hates it so much. I'm starting to think it's because she's a literary writer and she just hates genre in general; one of her rules was NO fantasy, sci-fi, vampire or romance stories allowed. I don't write in one of those genres, I write suspense or mainstream. She likes when I write mainstream. She has a hissy-fit when I write suspense. I don't think I have learned THAT much in writing classes. Most of what I have learned in writing has come from reading piles and piles of writing books on my own and then applying the knowledge in my own writing. Also from the millions of hours of practice. I'm going into third year next September, where I can specialize in novel writing. So I'm hopeful I'll have a more positive experience.
(Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section but didn't know where else it could fit) Hello everyone. I recently discovered( think it was thanks to the adds on the top of the page)a career called creative writing from Stratford Career Institute. Now, what I liked about this institute, is that once you pay your scholarship (about $300.00) they send you all the books and materials you need to work and send them back and get your grades. That seemed attracting to me. Now, my concern is if anyone knows anything about it, if its good or not, as I don't want to spend 300.00 bucks on "bad" books and classes. Has anyone here taken or heard anything from Creative writing career from SCI? Is there any you've taken that you'd recommend? Thanks to everyone in advance.
If you want to take a class on writing, you're probably better off checking out a university or a community college that you are going with this place.
don't be seduced by fancy ads... this site can't control what ads appear, as they're chosen by the server, so some scams do make it through... this is one... see info here: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/249/RipOff0249176.htm and for more info on their scam factor: http://www.google.com/search?rls=ig&hl=en&q=is+stratford+career+institute+a+scam&aq=1&oq=is+stratford+car as noted above, you'd be much better off finding a course at a local school... if that's not doable, there are some good online courses available... one of the best, if not the best, is 'gotham': http://www.writingclasses.com/ and from now on, check out whatever you consider spending money on, with a google search, first...
Yeah, I'm gonna have to jump on the bandwagon. Unless it's funded by the government, schools and job training generally do not come cheap. And maia's right; if you found that link via this site, please know that this site has not had the best track record with it's advertisements. Took the liberty of checking out some links pertaining to the school for you, same as maia. The school is NOT accreditted. Many jobs require accreditation to land a job anywhere, and those that dont can find someone who does have a certificate or reputable credits easily. If you're looking for a good deal on higher education, I seriously recommend you try a community college. Most are flexible with time constraints, and, depending on how hard you work, you can graduate with transferable credits and the proper certification or diploma in a matter of months to two-four years, depending on how much you apply yourself. Best of luck. Kudos for asking around, although the answer may not be what you wanna hear. So many people get suckered in by these things.
LordKyle makes me laugh. Jack for the win. Those SCI people have actually been in the business of scamming people for a while now. Long time ago (early '90's if you must know) I signed up for one of their courses. They sent me a short stack of flimsy staple bound pamphlets, and the tests were 10 questions, yes or no answers. They assured me once I read all of that, and filled out the tests (there were 2 ) I would be mailed a certificate of veterinary assistant. I tried sending their stuff back for a refund, but they have been badgering my credit report and me since then for their 150 os so bucks they say I owe them. Some lessons are harder to learn than others, but I never sent another dubious school money for a course that does not exist.
Some classes and coursework may assist one in improving their writing. It all depends on the curriculum and instructor, but the bottom line is that one must work hard, spending many many hours studying, reading and writing to improve. The best measure of a good course to invest time and money in would be a personal reference from someone you know and respect--someone who has benefited directly from participation in the course one is considering. Another indicator of whether a course will help is the amount of time and effort the writer will put into doing what is asked and what it takes to succeed, and be willing to follow the suggestions made by the instructor and/or other participants, depending on the course structure. All things being equal, a course where the student(s) met face to face and interacted would be preferable to one that is online. But taking a course and then having a career in creative writing blossom is not likely to happen. Just my two cents. Terry
sad, but true!... show me even one truly good writer who got a successful career going after taking a writing course... most, if not all of the best, most successful writers the world has ever seen learned how to write on their own...
I do know of one writer who managed to write his two most successful books thanks to a writing class. The task he was given was to write a story working in a certain colour, which he picked out of a hat. The colour he got was pink, which he had serious doubts about until he found out that there was a kind of jade that is pink. That story eventually turned into a novel called The Jade Peony. Later, he wrote another novel making use of the same characters and settings, but different events.
Hey all, I'm going to be working towards a degree in writing part-time, and I'd like to hear any opinion on the differences between majoring in English or creative writing. Any help would be appreciated. Regards, Greene
Degrees in English Literature usually focus on critical response to literature, based on different theories, different genres, different periods/styles, and in some cases, individual titles/authors. Degrees in English Language focus on linguistics and the study of language (obviously). Degrees in Creative Writing focus on the creation of works, different theories on narrative, style, form, but not to the extent that English Literature degrees look at theories, and, obviously, there is emphasis on the practicalities of the theories. Basically you learn how fiction is constructed, what things are and why they work in the context of creating your own work.
Given a choice, I would go with a degree in English. I believe that one doesn't need a degree in creative writing to be a great writer. And you can do a lot of things with a degree in English.
Most universities will allow you to take both courses in Creative Writing and English Literature - they're different disciplines, but both usually fall under the umbrella of the Bachelor of Arts degree (or equivalent).
I'm currently working towards a degree in Writing/Communication. My school lumps the two together. I chose that over English, because it has classes like Advance Rhetoric and Grammar, Journalism, PR Writing, Business and Technical Writing, Documentary Film, Creative Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, etc. The English degree focuses on different forms of literature such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Ancient and Modern American and British Literature, etc. We take several literature classes in writing, and they take some of the literature. They overlap a great deal, so either way you get quite a bit of both. The writing degree does focus more on the application than the study of works, plus in my program I get more than just writing. One piece of advice my school gives to all English and Writing majors is to at least minor in an unrelated field. This gives "expertise," which equals either a back up option or something to actually write about with knowledge. Just because it seems like writing is kind of limited, don't forget that it has plenty of options too. Just about any job requires some sort of writing, and good skills will really help you. It is harder to get hired, though, and it's very important to build your resume and portfolio as soon as possible. Experience in any sort of writing job really makes you more marketable if you're looking for a full-time position. I would also like to add that a Creative Writing degree is different from a Writing degree. Creative Writing focuses solely on just what the name says. A Writing degree can include many different forms. I agree with thirdwind. You don't need a degree to be a good writer; however, you will learn a great deal more that will teach you important skills. Plus, your assignments can be used in a portfolio. It doesn't just have to be about having the degree. The knowledge is important, too.
Writing and communication are emphasized in most college programs these days. The business world is suffering from too many high end workers who are unable to communicate their ideas in an organized, coherent manner. A couple of economic realities: 1. Most writers are wage slaves churning out articles, ad copy, newsletters, and so on. There aren't many writers making big incomes, and many have to work a primary job to keep food on the table. 2. College is expensive. To make it an investment rather than a black hole for your money, you need to earn enough afterward that you would not have made withhout the degree. Therefore, why not consider a degree that will put you in a lucrative career? Very few readers will care if a creative writer (fiction, poetry, playwright, script writer) has a degree, but if you have another career you enjoy , you can write on the side. That sounds like a lot. But many dedicated people work a demanding job and take on college at the same time. If you can do that, you could commit that same time and effort into writing on the side. So choose a college program for earning potential, in a career you could be happy in. Then you can write for love rather than for a paycheck, and you'll probably be a better writer that way.
I don't think a major in English is what anyone would consider "a degree in writing." Look at the courses for that major to see what I mean. You'll be doing a lot of writing in many college classes.
You don't need a degree in English or writing to be a good writer. If there is enough of a focus in journalism, or the business end of publishing, and you would be interested in working at a newspaper or publisher, I say go for it. If think you'd be a good teacher, study whatever the heck you want. But Cogito has the right idea. These days, education is as much about employability as it is everything it always has been. If you're going to get a degree in something, you have to think about how you are going to use it.
Considering that the good grades in English GCSEs in England are reserved for a few individuals, I wouldn't say it's that important What's more important is rhetoric and grammar, as someone else said.
I personally would go for a degree in Psychology, with a minor in English. If you are aiming to write fiction, then a working knowledge of the human condition is amazingly helpful for that. Knowing how crazy people are can really help you write great characters with great story arcs and growth. And the minor in English to help you be a better writer overall. and PS with a degree in psychology you can get other jobs while you are writing...like a school councilor or a social worker, and that way you have a day job while you write.
