Class Review

Thinking about taking a class this summer? There’s a whole slew of them to consider so why not? As I mentioned in a previous post, #2 to be exact, it’s a great way to make use of your time, when business is slow. The choice to take a class is easy, choosing which one to take is the hard part.

To help you along, here’s my breakdown of writing courses that you may want to consider signing up for this summer:

1. In person classes.

If you work at home, taking a course in person and offline may be the last thing you want to do. As a freelancer, maybe I’m just a bit too comfy in my PJ’s to step outside in the real world. But here’s what I learned. Taking a course at a community college or anywhere away from your desk is worth the discomfort of leaving your nest. Why? You get the benefit of meeting other writers and getting that eye-to-eye in person interaction is helpful for your career. Not just from networking, but really getting to know others in your field. An added benefit? It’s also a lot cheaper!

2. Online courses by small companies.

The next best thing. Why? Because web classes run by small businesses are not only cheaper, but you get more for your money. I’ve taken a ton of courses off and online. And here’s what I learned. Those courses taught by small one-woman operations are a lot more interactive. You get more. You pay less. What else could you want really? Often these teachers are freelance writers who are trying to make a living as writers as well, so they know first-hand what you’re going through. They also know how difficult it is to take a course, be a freelancer and do everything else you do, so they may be more forgiving with assignments. And they don’t charge as much because there are no big companies taking a percentage of their pay. From my experience and the experience of other writers, courses from smaller companies are also a lot more interactive. And when you’re starting out, getting feedback is SO important. If you don’t opt for a course that does so, I’d say you’re much better off reading a book instead.

3. Online courses by big companies.

I’m sure you’ve seen them advertised. Big companies (Writer’s Digest, MediaBistro, etc.) often have a whole load of courses to take on everything from fiction to copywriting. I’ve taken a few courses this way and while I do get something out of them, I’d recommend the first two options. Here’s why. If you’re a newbie writer wanting to get basic info on everything from querying and working with difficult clients, I’d suggest taking courses from small companies. They’re a lot more affordable and as I mentioned earlier, you get more for your money. If you’re looking for more specialty courses, you’re more likely to find them in the bigger companies. But be wary. They are a whole lot more expensive (in the $200 and above category) and a lot of them don’t offer you feedback or interaction with your fellow students and instructor. If you’re already a pretty good writer and/or you’re getting feedback from somewhere else, don’t mind shelling out a good wad of cash, then this could be a good fit. (There are a ton of great teachers that work for them. Since they pay more, they attract a good load of talented people.)

Overall, these are three great options for new writers. One thing’s for sure, no matter what class you register for, you’re bound to get something out of it. Just be aware of what you’re looking for and then set out to find the course that fits it.

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