Well, it’s Sunday night and I’m working on … homework.
Yep, it’s for another writing class I’m taking this month from Laurie Schnebly Campbell.
It’s an online class, where we participate through Yahoo groups. We read the lecture and do our “homework” within a pretty wide window — at least 36 hours — so it’s very flexible for working folk like me. (And I can catch up a little on the weekends.)
This one’s called “Plotting Via Motivation.” I took it to learn new ways to plot a little quicker and in a slightly more organized fashion than I currently do.
I’ve taken other classes from Laurie Schnebly Campbell — a great one on using enneagrams to build characters (she wrote a book about them) and one on writing query letters. She’s an excellent teacher. She gives personal feedback each time you turn in your homework, making you feel as though — even in a class of more than 100 — she’s helping you out specifically. And she’s funny and positive. I always learn a lot.
I also found out that one of my romance-writing idols, Jenny Crusie, is planning to offer writing classes. Hers will be presented with award-winning romance writer Anne Stuart and will be called The Writewell Academy. So far they’re planning on making them only $10 each, but they are only lectures, no feedback.
Wheeeee!
Do you take online classes for writing or other hobbies or skills? (I also love paper-crafting classes!)
This past year I took two 0nline Writing Classes through Mediabistro: Travel Writing Boot camp and then Food Writing Boot Camp. They both went at quite a pace, but I found the courses to be invaluable. A list of further reading, peer critique, instructor feedback, ideas for topics, anecdotes from the field, suggestions for getting around obstacles, and more that was shared via chat. All helpful.
I love the convenience of online courses and will likely enroll again. I do wonder what an online course centered more around a hobby would be like…
Let us know how your class is going…