Creative Writing classes?

Question

I am a Business major, but always wanted to write for my occupation. If you are a writer, or consider yourself to be one, preferably concentrating in area of novels or short stories, please tell me if creative writing classes and workshops actually help with one's writing, or does being a good writer depend more on personal experience and passion? I am unsure of whether I should change my major to creative writing, or just take a few courses in it and rely on personal experience to guide me to better writing.

Answer 1

Great question!

Creative writing classes are very beneficial, and even fun. I was always a good writer, but I went back to college two years ago, and knew I needed to brush up on my writing skills. I took Creative Writing, and had a great teacher who taught me how to write descriptively, and with detail.

I would certainly take a course over a workshop,it lasts longer and you will get more feedback. If you have passion and personal experience, then you will be successful. You enjoy writing, and once you hone your skills, your experiences will really come to life.

Try something. There are plenty of places online where you can submit your work. I did, and to my surprise, was accepted into a writer's club, where I now have a mentor, who is a published mystery writer. The aim of the club is to have their writer's stories published, and there is no way you can fail if you heed your mentor's advice.

You can still be a business major, but also take writing. Writing is a talent, and you need to develop it, seeing how you have a love for it.

Answer 2

Having a story to tell is about personal experience and passion. Actually communicating the information in a way that people want to read requires study and practice. Even if you're an inherently good writer, a class will provide you with exercises to strengthen your skills. Workshops can also help you learn what is marketable (necessary information if you plan to make a living from this), and how to go about marketing your work. I've attended a couple of workshops, and according to some of the authors and publishers, don't quit your day job. There are tens of thousands of people who like to write stories, and only a few dozen who can actually make a living at it. Good luck, but have a plan.

Answer 3

Let me tackle your last question first. There is absolutely no way for personal experience on its own to guide you to better writing. I'm sorry to be so blunt, but it's true. Let's imagine it's not writing we're talking about, but piano. You don't expect personal experience to teach you how to play, do you? Of course not. The reason you don't is because you know better: there are all sorts of technical skills involved in playing piano, and you learn them quicker if you have a competent teacher to guide you through the process.

Writing is the same. There are a whole host of techniques you need to master in order to write well, and while they are not in and of themselves sufficient to make you a good writer, there's no way to get around learning them if you want to write.

Will creative writing classes help you? Probably. There's always the danger that you'll end up with a writing teacher who is either incompetent or uninterested in helping you. You might get the teacher who is so critical that he or she kills your desire to write. Or, equally damaging, you may have a writing teacher who thinks that everything you write is "just amazing," which is a polite way of ignoring you. Most teachers, however, will do their best to guide you through the process and will try to make your writing better.

My experience has been that, unless you are preposterously gifted, workshops and classes are the only way to learn how to write. Give it a shot. Good luck!

Answer 4

I am writing a novel right now. I have also taken a College Creative Writing class.

To answer your question, I believe it will help you. It focuses more on structures of stories as opposed to mechanics (grammar and spelling) than English Comp. course.

I highly recommend you take it! You will not regret it!

I am a junior at Southwestern Oklahoma State University. I am an Industrial Technology major.

Answer 5

Its all about the passion,experience,and research....even though its supposed to be creative writing..the correct details from a time will help your readers get more into it and using the passion and experience also helps them dive deeper because they may have gone through the same thing(s) in their life.I think writing is wonderful but you should probably take a few courses and still study your business...you'll never know maybe you'll need to know some business to sell your first book/novel^_^(hehe)

Answer 6

Writing classes can help; I haven't taken those, but my old teacher taught me how to write better, I consider that as writing classes I guess...You should try doing imagery while you are writing, it makes the reader understand your narrative better, b ut don't make it too dramatic.