Up For Discussion

Anton provided this link to an article in the New Yorker discussing the merits of creative writing courses. It's a long article, but worth the read,I think. (Thanks, Anton)

It seems to be centred on mainstream literary fiction, and it seems to argue against itself with the evidence it presents, but it does touch on some home truths, the main one being that creativity can not be taught but it can be encouraged, and this is what I think creative writing courses at all levels are endeavouring to do.

I'm becoming a little disillusioned with my course because I'm not learning a great deal and it's not inspiring me to write more or better. This may have something to do with not fully trusting some of those teaching me.

When I do modules on screen writing, or writing articles - things I'm not naturally lured towards, then I focus more because I'm learning new things. When I'm doing modules on writing short stories or on writing the novel, I'm not learning so much because I've learned much of it over my growth as a writer over the last three years or so. That's not to say I learn nothing, but I do have to sift through a lot of chaff to get to the good stuff.

So does this make writing courses not worth the Latin inscribed parchment you get from them?

I think that depends on where you're at in your writing journey and what you're aiming to get out of the experience.

Creative writing courses will not make you a writer. They will give you tools to add to your writing toolbox, some you will keep, some you will adapt to your own needs, and others you will discard, but at least you will learn of their existence and be able to make decisions about them.

They can give you a sense of community in a profession which is mostly a solo affair, and writers need each other, but a blog like this one or joining a writing group does the same thing - and probably does it better.

It can prod you into producing work. This isn't always quality work due to the time constraints placed on you, but it does give ideas you can work on outside the course framework. Of course your time is so taken up with doing assignments and reading, you have seriously reduced time to follow up on those ideas, and by the time you do, often the spark of inspiration has died and you tend to discard those once flaming gems.

The dream of writing for a living is dying. I'm becoming, sadly, more in tune with the idea of writing only because I want to. I've always wanted to, I just wanted my cake and to eat it as well. Now I'm happy enough to get my work published and track my career as it moves through better quality markets which may one day equal better pay, but it will 'probably' never be enough to live on. Still, a nice bonus occasionally is a good thing.

So do I think creative writing courses are a good thing?

For new writers, for people who, like I did back in 2006, suddenly decided to start writing, then doing a six or twelve month writing course could put you on the right path, but I would suggest doing an English class at that point would be more beneficial.

When you get to the point of submitting work to market, then it may be useful, but then putting the butt in the chair and writing is as useful if not more so. Finding writers who are better than you and who are willing to share their wisdom, help you learn, and pass honest judgement on your work, is infinitely more useful.

As you progress into more focused work in the longer courses such as the four year one I'm currently doing, you will dedicate more time producing a single work which is a good thing, but then with everything you've done with other writers outside the course structure, you'd be doing this anyway and with a better base of opinions to offer guidance rather than a single mentor who you have been paired with - someone you didn't pick and who you still have to learn to trust.

If you're doing the course for the other modules to expand your knowledge across all possible writing careers, then you're diluting your creative juices and this is not a good thing. Decide on what you want to do and put your energies into that.

Creative writing courses may teach you some technical parts of the writing process. They may encourage you to produce work and move forward with your art, but they cannot teach you to be creative.

My advice is to take an English course as early in life as possible and become good at using the words you intend to be creative with, and then get out and experience life. Take note of the world around you and encourage your inner child to make up scenarios about the things you see.

And then write - a lot. Read a lot as well. Seek out writers who are better than you. Your goal is to learn from them and eventually surpass them, unless they are just as focused and then you should all rise together. Critique other people's work and get your own done as often as you can.

Spend some time as a member of Critters (or similar large critique group) where you will read a lot of work. You need to read the good and the bad. You need to be able to pick the difference at ten paces so you won't make the same mistakes - or at least be less likely to :c)

Unless a specific job you're aiming at requires you to have that Latin coated piece of dried and pressed wood, then don't bother. There are better ways - in my opinion (and experience).

What do you think?