More Questions Than Answers

[rachaelbenson@c]

Can anybody who's been published a few times answer a question for me? What do you think about taking writting classes online? Are they a good way to go? Or should I be in a class where the professor is physically there? The reason I ask is because my older sister who is a teacher knows that I'm trying to get into the writing business. Over the Easter Weekend she brought a catalog with community extension classes from UCLA. They're known for having a good writing program. They have classes that are specifically tailored to whatever kind of writing you want to do. I found a class that talked about children's books. It starts April 2nd and goes until June. The problem is, it's not cheap. The cost is $525. I know that's expensive but I looked at the description of the class and I really feel that it would be a great investment in my future. I tried to look for a cheaper class but UCLA is just plain expensive any way you look at it because It's a private University. I tried to look for writing classes that were closer to home but the semester at the college already started in February and It's almost the end of March. If I tried to join a class now I'd be lost.

The local community college here in Valencia has an English Class that's all about magazine writing this semester. Had I known about it sooner and had I taken the advice of many people around me I would have taken the class. I'm new to this writing thing but I thought I had a pretty good handle on it and "What do I need to take a class for?" I said to myself. "I can do this." After all. I've always been a good writer.

Even in school that was my strongest area. That was where my best grades were. I believe it comes from being in a wheelchair and have a disability.
In other words, since I can't dance, or play an instrument because I don't have the proper balance or hand dexterity and I can't draw ,etc, my creatvity has to come from somewhere else. Since I can't move physically that's where it comes from. Because I have more time than the average person since I can't move I get a lot more thinking time in. It's the creative gift God has given me. My first magazine article "Rachael The Miracle Child", was written without me taking a formal class. I learned by doing, so what the heck do I need a class for? Besides I was just tierd of school and didn't want to go back if it wasn't necessary. I'm a good student and I enjoy learning.

After I graduated from high school in 2002 I went right to college unlike most people I know who take a year off from school after high school. I finished my AA in Social Science and graduated as of June 1st 2oo7. What usually takes two years to complete took me five because instead of taking four or five classes at a time because that was the pace I could handle by myself without help. My mom was so tierd after high school that she said that she would help me a little bit in college like when I took a music class but that most of the homework had to be done between me and my aide during the day. That was better for both of us because although Mom means well she tends to take over a lot. Just because I'm a slower typer and I need help getting into bed she wanted to get to bed at a decent hour.


I started to read the book that Beverly told me about Writing for Children and Teenagers and I began to get overwhelmed at the amount of information. Then I realized that I was new at this writing thing and I really did need to take a class in order for some of the information to make sense.

As good as my writing is It's a whole other story when it comes to writting professionally. I really don't know what I'm doing. I need someone to take me by the hand and show me how to write a children's story, how to write a manuscript step by step. I'm an amatuer. Writting professionally is a whole lot different than writting for a school assignment. I can read all the books I have on writting until I'm blue in the face but It's not going to make sense until I apply it and I don't know how to apply it.

This time if I go back to school I'm not going for a degree I'm just going there to better develop a skill for the long run so it will be a lot more fun. Mother says if we are going to pay $525 we better make sure It's the right thing. I'm convinced it is the right thing but she isn't and I'm a little frustrated as I watch the clock tick to enroll in the class and April 2nd is just around the corner.

I would be in the classroom if I could but I don't drive and UCLA is a long ways from where I live. It's too hard to get a bus at the right time and It's a long distance for only a couple weeks to have someone drive me in the car. The thing is the people at UCLA really know what they're doing. The instructors have been published with some big publishers like the L.A. Times Newspaper and Health and Fitness Magazine. Some of the people that have wrote children's books have won the children's book award. They really know what they're doing. I think It's well worth it. My mom though is convinced that I'm already isolated enough and that I need to be a classroom with real people having conversations.There was a community extension class about children's books in my area but it was in February and it was only a one day seminar. I didn't notice it until it was too late nor did I realize I would need help.

I never thought writting would be easy but as I said earlier I thought I had a good handle on it. I didn't know I would come to this point. I really don't want to wait until the fall semester in August. I'm anxious to get going now. What do you think? Any ideas? The more I ponder it the more I get more questions than answers.

Am I meant for childrens books? Or should I just go back to the adult market and writting magazine articles? I seemed to be doing a lot better there thn the children's books. Then again maybe that's just because this whole writting thing is new terriotory for me. I'm trying to model my writting after Joni Earckson Tada's books. She's short and to the point. One thing is for sure. I'll figure it out but right now my head is going in circles. Pray for me!

Is this better everybody? Sorry about tha. When I finally finished typing it wasb8:30 at night and it was time for me and my mom to go to bed and I didn't have time to worry about the spacing. I just wanted to get it up there and turn off my computer. Plus you know how it is when you post something on this site. Even if you indent paragraphs when your typing it doesn't always show up that on the screen unless you physically press return twice. I'll try to watch that more carefully from now on.

[jacks girl]

I need new glasses and there is no way I'm gonna try to read this with no spacing. Looks like one big blob LOL.

.

Jacks

[Rebecca]

I'll move this to the Writers' Lounge.

Rebecca

[DraperJC]

If 525 is a high number for you dollarwise, I would suggest spending 14.95 on a writing book at B&N. Do that a few times and write some more stuff. Then submit more articles or stories for publication. Then if you feel it's still the thing for you, look into classes or conferences in the $100-$200 range.

[Timber Wolf]

Well, I had to quit reading the 1st post. Could you insert some paragraph breaks into the text.

[Tarin]

I've never taken an on-line writing course, but I took one through the mail a long time ago. I can't say that learned a ton (which is not indicative of writing classes in general, just the particular course I chose to take), but it was great to get feedback from the instructor. At that point in my writing, it provided validation that "I can do this."

However, on-line classes are expensive - as you've discovered. Before you spend your money on something like this, I'd recommend you follow Draper's advice and bone up on some good writing manuals and maybe subscribe to Writer's Digest and The Writer.

[Tommie Lyn]

I took two online classes and both of them were quite affordable. One of them was offered by my local junior college -- until just recently, I had thought it to be of no value (it was focused on getting in touch with your creativity as a writer). Now, though, I'm just beginning to realize the enormous impact it had on my writing.

The other was "Show, Don't Tell," taught by a much-published author, with extensive feedback through email (and I believe I wouldn't be able to write effectively had I not taken it). I was delighted with it and thought it was the more valuable of the two.

Until, that is, Tarin started a thread on conscious and unconscious writing......

So, my experience with online classes has been very positive. But, I think you have to be VERY careful when choosing a class.

[PattyU]

I haven't taken any online writing classes, but I have checked them out. Most of the reputable classes are almost as expensive as the UCLA class. I learn well from books, but you may have a different learning style. Have you checked for grants or scholarships for people with disabilities? Here is a link to UCLA's Financial Aid Needs Based Scholarship page. http://www.fao.ucla.edu/uclascholarships/need_based.pdf

At least a couple of them were for students with disabilities. Look at the Maxine and Eugen Rosenfield Scholarship. The Steven Sackler Scholarship is for students with an illness or disability, but preference is given to cancer patients. The Frederick Waingrow Scholarship is for students interested in publishing and media. These were just with UCLA. I bet if you search Google, you can find more. Be careful, though. I believe that many scholarship sites are scams. Don't pay anyone to look for grants and scholarships.

[kriswrite]

Wow. First lesson: Use paragraphs! :)

Now, as to the class you mention...If I were going to spend that kind of money on classes about writing for children, I'd take them at The Institute for Children's Literature: http://www.writingforchildren.com/G3345/ This is an established place that's well thought of.

IF you are going to take a college course, make sure the instructor knows his or her stuff. Amazingly, they often don't. Check her credentials. Does she publish children's books often? Has she published any recently? Is she writing the sort of books you want to write? (Writing picture books is very different from writing young adult novels.) Have past students gone on to publish children's books?

If you're unsure whether or not you should be writing children's books, I'd first invest in some good books on the topic. That's a much cheaper way to explore the possibilities.

Kristina
www.KristinaSeleshanko.com

[lynnmosher]

Rachael, I ditto Kris. From needing paragraphs to the Institute. I did not read most of your post because it is too difficult.

I have taken and almost finished the Institute's course but am on an extension right now to finish the last assignment. It is a little more expensive but it is very good. You can finish it leisurely or quicly, depends on what you want to do.

[Lookin^Up]

I don't know what the standard is, but eight lines is plenty long for one paragraph. If any of mine gets longer than that, I look for places to indent or double-space (depending on the forum) where I change subjects, even slightly. Case in point:

Can anybody who's been published a few times answer a question for me? What do you think about taking writting classes online? Are they a good way to go? Or should I be in a class where the professor is physically there?

The reason I ask is because my older sister who is a teacher knows that I'm trying to get into the writing business. Over the Easter Weekend she brought a catalog with community extension classes from UCLA. They're known for having a good writing program. They have classes that are specifically tailored to whatever kind of writing you want to do.

I found a class that talked about children's books. It starts April 2nd and goes until June. The problem is, it's not cheap. The cost is $525. I know that's expensive but I looked at the description of the class and I really feel that it would be a great investment in my future.

I tried to look for a cheaper class but UCLA is just plain expensive any way you look at it because It's a private University. I tried to look for writing classes that were closer to home but the semester at the college already started in February and It's almost the end of March. If I tried to join a class now I'd be lost.

The local community college here in Valencia has an English Class that's all about magazine writing this semester. Had I known about it sooner and had I taken the advice of many people around me I would have taken the class. I'm new to this writing thing but I thought I had a pretty good handle on it and "What do I need to take a class for?" I said to myself. "I can do this." After all I've alwaysbeen a good writer. Even in school that was my strongest area. That was where my best grades were. I believe it comes from being in a wheelchair and have a disability.

In other words, since I can't dance, or play an instrument because I don't have the proper balance or hand dexterity and I can't draw ,etc, my creatvity has to come from somewhere else. Since I can't move physically that's where it comes from. Because I have more time than the average person since I can't move I get a lot more thinking time in. It's the creative gift God has given me.

My first magazine article "Rachael The Miracle Child", was written without me taking a formal class. I learned by doing, so what the heck do I need a class for? Besides I was just tierd of school and didn't want to go back if it wasn't necessary. I'm a good student and I enjoy learning.

After I graduated from high school in 2002 I went right to college unlike most people I know who take a year off from school after high school. I finished my AA in Social Science and graduated as of June 1st 2oo7. What usually takes two years to complete took me five because instead of taking four or five classes at a time because that was the pace I could handle by myself without help.

My mom was so tierd after high school that she said that she would help me a little bit in college like when I took a music class but that most of the homework had to be done between me and my aide during the day. That was better for both of us because although Mom means well she tends to take over a lo just because I'm a slower typer and I need help getting into bed she wanted to get to bed at a decent hour.

I started to read the book that Beverly told me about Writing for Children and Teenagers and I began to get overwhelmed at the amount of information. Then I realized that I was new at this writing thing and I really did need to take a class in order for some of the information to make sense.

As good as my writing is It's a whole other story when it comes to writting professionally. I really don't know what I'm doing. I need someone to take me by the hand and show me how to write a children's story, how to write a manuscript step by step. I'm an amatuer. Writting professionally is a whole lot different than writting for a school assignment. I can read all the books I have on writting until I'm blue in the face but It's not going to make sense until I apply it and I don't know how to apply it.

This time if I go back to school I'm not going for a degree I'm just going there to better develop a skill for the long run so it will be a lot more fun. Mother says if we are going to pay $525 we better make sure It's the right thing. I'm convinced it is the right thing but she isn't and I'm a little frustrated as I watch the clock tick to enroll in the class and April 2nd is just around the corner. I would be in the classroom if I could but I don't drive and UCLA is a long ways from where I live. It's too hard to get a bus at the right time and It's a long distance for only a couple weeks to have someone drive me in the car.

The thing is the people at UCLA really know what they're doing. The instructors have been published with some big publishers like the L.A. Times Newspaper and Health and Fitness Magazine. Some of the people that have wrote children's books have won the children's book award. They really know what they're doing. I think It's well worth it.

My mom though is convinced that I'm already isolated enough and that I need to be a classroom with real people having conversations.There was a community extension class about children's books in my area but it was in February and it was only a one day seminar. I didn't notice it until it was too late nor did I realize I would need help. I never thought writting would be easy but as I said earlier I thought I had a good handle on it. I didn't know I would come to this point. I really don't want to wait until the fall semester in August. I'm anxious to get going now.

What do you think? Any ideas? The more I ponder it the more I get more questions than answers. Am I meant for childrens books? Or should Ijust go back to the adult market and writting magazine articles? I seemed to be doing a lot better there thn the children's books.

Then again maybe that just because this whole writting thing is new terriotory for me. I'm trying to model my writting after Joni Earckson Tada's books. She short and to the point. One thing is for sure. I'll figure it out but right now my head is going in circles.

"Be short and to the point" is very good advice. Spell-checking, self-editing, and organizing your thoughts will go a long way to that end. I can usually tell something about a person's personality by the way they write, and I'm guessing that you're a bright and intelligent person who is also a fast talker--who usually baffles slower minds like mine. That kind of person can usually get down to children's level and tell a story that would fascinate them.

I'm no expert on children's stories, but I did take one correspondence course with Long Ridge Writer's Group back in 1994-95, which helped me write more concisely. As I recall, that course was close to $1,000, paid in installments. A physical class would be a problem for you, being in a wheelchair, so I can understand your reluctance there. My best suggeston is to pray about it, look into different options, as you evidently have already been doing.

God bless you in whatever you decide to do.

[tneeley]

Rachel,

If you haven't already, you might look at Marlene Bagnull's Write His Answer book and her at home writing workshops. I am presently taking one of the workshops and reading the book and they are very reasonable and I am enjoying them ($34 for the workshop and the book was around $15, I think). WriteHisAnswer.com is the site.

Good luck.

[rachaelbenson@c]

Tina Thanks for your help. My mom saw the prices and she was intrigued. There are a couple workshops I'd like to try but because the price is so cheap and they only give a very brief descripyion of the workshops my mother wants me to try just one to start out and then if I like it and it helpful we will try the other two. The first one I'm going to try is Personal Experience Short Stories And Articles. That's what I was orginally aiming to do before I started work on "the Hunt for heaven" anyway. I'm glad to see a workshop specially geared toward that. I haven't tried it yet but I will. It sounds like the people that founded this ministry really know what they're doing. I look foward to getting started on this workshop. Thanks again and God Bless! I woll get published because I'm determined but It's in God's timing not my timing!

[tneeley]

Rachel

I don't think you will be disappointed. I just finished the first workshop of the Put Your Best Foot Forward Series and I bought Marlene's Writing Daily Devotionals tape. I couldn't be more pleased. I've turned in my assignment and am waiting to hear back from it. As soon as money allows, I'll order the next workshop and another tape probably.

You've already got a good understanding of who's in charge and it's certainly not us! I am believing that whether I am ever technically "published" or not, He will put what I write where He wants it to be at the time He ordains it. I just want to be available. I am looking forward to learning the craft.

We'll just learn together with this wonderful grouip at christianwriters.com and cheer one another one. Keep me posted!

[michaelsnyder]

Rachel,

I doubt I'll add anything that's not already been covered. But I do have a couple of thoughts.

I've never taken an online course but I know folks who have and the reviews have been mixed. My take on that is this: with the right attitude about it, I'm sure you'll learn something. So if you have the time and money, I'd research them and pull the trigger.

What 'worked' for me (I know, the jury's still out on how WELL it may have worked or not!) was what someone mentioned earlier about books on writing. I read 32 such books my first 18 months of trying to learn this thing called writing. And I almost always have one handy now.

I don't have the time or the money to take 'formal' training from a university. But I do think there is great merit in reading the best books you can get your hands on, coupled with reading the best books-on-writing you can get your hands on, then sitting down and writing every day.

There's a lot of success stories out there that mirror that approach. Hope that helps a little.

Mike

[GTafuro]

Okay, how about I ask you a question - How do you best learn? There are several ways to learn how to write that don't involve formal classes. If a class is the best thing for you, I recommend it. If you learn from reading I could suggest several books. If you learn by osmosis (as I do) I can recommend some great ways to immerse yourself in great writing and speech.

Let me know!

[AnnieJ]

Okay, how about I ask you a question - How do you best learn? !


That's a great question. We do learn differently so why spend money on something that may not reach you effectively?


I learn far more from writer's bbs (from writers and industry pros actually) than I would from a 'class' because they are more interactive and not limited to one point of view/experience/style.

If I were starting out now I'd probably do what I did years ago ;) - find groups of writers - they are everywhere, IRW and on line. Share, talk, critique. Get a few books - I started at the library then bought the ones I found most helpful. If you are writing for the Christian market I would urge you to look into ACFW.com - the BEST use of your money for putting you in touch with great resources. I'd see what else is out there for your subgenre.

Dive in a do before you spend a dime. You really need to learn about your own ability and get some basics down before you know where you need the most help. Write, write write.

No one can 'teach' you to success. No one can give you the key. What one writer touts as the way to get published will be nothing like the way hundreds of other writers have done it. You will be better served finding an organization that can give you advice and guidance rather than trusting one writing course to provide.

You have to create your own way and that never stops being true - the path is rarely easy no matter how far along you've gotten.

annie jones- The Barefoot Believers - out now

[rachaelbenson@c]

Thanks Mike!

[rachaelbenson@c]

I'm a good writer but it seems that the main thing I need help with is not being so wordy. I get really excited and passionate about something and I get carried away. Before you kmow I've gone off on a tanget without meaning to and I start to confuse myself and I don't know how to continue on with a story because I get lost. That's what happened with my last article "Let the Little Children Come To Me". A lot of times I've written more then one story in one article and not even realized it because I've looked at it for too long. It take someone else to tell me what happened before I realiize it. I need to learn to get to the point. To say what only pertains to that particular topic and contain the other thoughts in my head and save them for another time. It's obvious that I need someone who' has been in the writing industry a lot longer then I have to show me how to do it. It sounds like that's what the Personal Experience and Short Stories and Articles course is all about.
As for how I learn, It's hard to say. It depends on what the subject is but I'm mosatly a visual learner. So far with the books I've gotten on writting at the library I seem to start out okay but then I get overwhelmed by too much information the further I go into the book the more confused. That's when I realize that this stuff isn't going to make sense until I actually apply it. I need someone to show me how to apply it I've checked out these people and I really believe they really know what they're doing. If anyone has anymore ideas let me know. If I do take the course I'd like to send for it this weekend. It really feels like God is leading me this way. I'm glad to find such reasonable prices. I love the name of the minstry.
In Him,
Rachael
P.S. Tina thanks again for your help.