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Writing education options: Editor's Notes #393
June 14, 2023
Hello,

Unprovided with original learning,
unformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition,
I resolved to write a book.

—Edward Gibbon


In this issue:

1. Writing education options
2. Tickled my funny bone
3. Interesting Web site
4. Writing prompt

1.Writing education options
What writing education options can I use to better my writing? I wondered about that, and many clients and subscribers have wondered, too. Maybe this is something you have asked yourself about. Here is a brief list of ways to further your writing education, roughly organized from simple/lower level to complex/masters degree and ending with one option you will learn about only here.
  • Join a local or online writing group. Writing groups often offer peer help where each member gives critiques to other members. Other groups have a recognized leader who gives critiques. Everyone expects to benefit from the comments on all the writing.

    Groups can be open or closed. Closed groups allow new members to join only at specified times, believing that trust between members makes the sharing more valuable.

    Before you join a group, find out as much about it as you can. Some groups focus on a specific genre. If you are a sci-fi writer and you find yourself in a group that focuses on immigrant stories, you may gain some help, but you are also likely to find many comments irrelevant.

    Usually, these groups are free or low cost. Their value can be uneven.

  • Attend local workshops, seminars, or courses. These are usually offered by local writers. They can last from an hour or two to a semester or a year. The expectations of the presenter and the participants can vary. It is best if things are laid out clearly before writers sign up.

    The cost here is usually higher than the cost for a writing group. Because the presenter is usually local, you should be able to find out the level of expertise of the presenter both as a writer, editor, or publisher as well as an instructor.

  • Sign up for a college writing course. Such courses could be either for credit or noncredit. The instructor is someone from the publishing industry with a proven track record. Some colleges offer a variety of courses that focus on different aspects of writing. This option will likely be more expensive than a local workshop or seminar although the noncredit courses or courses that are audited, meaning the instructor does not grade the students’ work, can cost less.

  • Enrol in an MFA (Master of Fine Arts) writing program. A series of courses with a variety of instructors aims to improve the writing of the students. Because the program is over a longer period of time, writers can look forward to improved writing and a deeper understanding of writing and the larger publishing industry.

  • Use the educative edit from the suite of editing options I offer. The educative edit uses your own writing to tackle your recurring troublesome writing habits. We work together until you are satisfied that you understand what your problems are and how to fix them. The focus is on you and your writing. With the most obvious problems dealt with, you go on with confidence to improved writing for life, which makes your writing stand out from the crowd and makes subsequent editing less expensive because there is less work for the editor to do to take your project to the next level. When you submit a writing sample for a sample edit, the sample edit is an educative edit. https://https://www.writershelper.com/sample-edit.html

Serious writers are life-long learners who continually improve their writing. Which option would work best for you in your circumstances?

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2.Tickled my funny bone
When fish are in schools, they sometimes take debate.

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3. Interesting Web site
Which areas do you want to improve? This list may help you to focus.
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/writing-process/

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4. Writing prompt
School is ending for the year. Report cards are going out telling parents how their children have done. Write your own report card on your writing. What do you do well? What would you like to improve?

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Link on LinkedIn https://ca.linkedin.com/in/audreyowen (Email me first so I know how you know me.)

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