[Riot]

just wondering if anyone has had any experience with open university courses with reference to creative writing courses. if the courses are worth the price and effort involved, or just a waste. been thinking about applying for it, next course doesn;t start until octomber.

any comments?

[Defiance]

I'm interested in the answer to this as well. Unfortunately I'm very self concious about any fantasy I write, and while all of my English teachers say I'm a fantastic writer, I've only ever let close friends read any fiction I write.

[Sinisdar Toste]

i'd say go for it no matter the cost. feedback, and especially peer feedback is nothing but helpful for any beginning writer. going outside of your comfort zone and getting some hopefully constructive criticism is an essential part of the writing process.

i took a creative writing course a year and a half ago and the input is still invaluable. when you're an amateur writer and you're not sure how your writing would be received by the reading public, creative writing classes are perfect for giving you a taste of the audience, and its fickle nature.

[Macros]

This interests me, do you have any idea on what the timescale/ time commitments would be for the course?

[Riot]

here's the link for what im looking at. there are higher versions from this as well, but thought would be best to start from the beginning:

http://www3.open.ac....course/a174.htm

[Macros]

looks interesting, provided im somewhere with internet access around that time I'd definately think about signing up for that

[Riot]

yeah, im edging that way too. want to challenge myself with it. should be good fun

[Riot]

yeah, im edging that way too. want to challenge myself with it. should be good fun

[Riot]

Part of the way through this course just now. am enjoying it. like how you are restricted at times to certain number of words, and how the course sets up ideas for you to conclude. finding that its firing up the old brain cells

[Macros]

how do is work with time scale perday and the like?

[Grimjust Bearegular]

Holy crap, £385! If I'm signing up for that I need to save up some money first, and be sure that I actually have time to do it....but it does sound quite interesting, and I did love the Creative Writing class I took at MTU...hmm.


I'd love to hear more about your experienec with this, Riot.

[Fist Gamet]

http://www3.open.ac....course/a215.htm

This is the course I am currently doing. I have to say that so far it has been excellent and I am learning a lot. The resource book is terrific and the online support is consistent and helpful. I would recommend this course as a very good way to understand the craft and skill of creation and writing and I have already written several small pieces of what I would consider my best writing.

[Macros]

how much time per week do you invest in the course, is there set times you have to be available also? (directed at Gamet)
I'm considering doing the level 1 version of your course in Feb as an experiment, its not too expensive and seems like a light load.

[Grimjust Bearegular]

They seem to offer that course to everyone except Norwegians

[Macros]

lie to them!

[Fist Gamet]

Macros, on 23 November 2010 - 09:54 PM, said:

how much time per week do you invest in the course, is there set times you have to be available also? (directed at Gamet)
I'm considering doing the level 1 version of your course in Feb as an experiment, its not too expensive and seems like a light load.

Essentially you get out of it what you put in. This one is all online although there are two actual study days you can go to if you like, but they are not compulsory. The workload is up to you as well, more or less. There is a thick workbook to read through and a ton of little writing activities in order to teach you the art and arm you with the skills but again, if you don't do them it won't affect your passing or not. With this, they lay it all out and it's up to you to get all you can from it. I have found most of the activities have really opened my eyes and mind and made me think about what I am writing, how and why, as well as teaching skills and techniques that really work and improve me as a writer. In addition, once the course is long over, you still have the book with a wealth of hints, tips and knowledge and you can repeat activities as often as you like.
Then I post activites online and others can comment, and the tutor does provide some very good and insightful feedback and critique.

In all it's not too time consuming and I am really enjoying it. It has generated ideas and confidence in me and I am now writing a contemporary Christmas story set in England in 1990 as well as a cop-thriller set in the USA in 1963. Loving it.

[Macros]

blegh, missed the reg for February and will miss 4 weeks of may reg, bastards

[Macros]

blegh, missed the reg for February and will miss 4 weeks of may reg, bastards

[Captain Petepants]

I did a short creative writing course with the OU a few years back, 'Start Writing Fiction" I believe.
Can't speak for whether it helped me technically, but I very much enjoyed it and it made me both write more than I had been, and think about what I was writing with regards to the rest of the group's reading and critiquing it.

Also it was very cheap.

If the longer courses are bigger, better versions of the short courses, then they will be worth the investment to anyone willing to put the hours in, I reckon.

.

[stone monkey]

Speaking of OU courses, this popped up on my FB feed...




Warning: Long Video is very long...

This post has been edited by stone monkey: 29 January 2011 - 12:01 PM