Did you ever participate in a writing class?
By Porcospino
@Porcospino (31366)
Denmark
November 15, 2010 2:47pm CST
Some years ago I participated in a writing class. Our teacher gave us some assignments and we wrote some poems and some short stories. One day our teacher asked us to bring stories or poems that we had been working on for a while and hadn't been able to finish.
The next day when we arrived our teacher divided us into groups. In the groups we read our stories or poems aloud and afterwards the other members told us about their ideas, thoughts or suggestions. I had a story where I was feeling stuck and I didn't know how to continue and it was nice to get some new input. I have thought about joining a writing class again one day.
Did you ever participate in a writing class? Online or in a classroom? Did you find it useful, inspiring etc or did you get disappointed? If you haven't tried it, would you like to try it or do you prefer to work on your own?
4 people like this
9 responses
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
16 Nov 10
I was an active participant in writing classes in high school. It was here i became introduced to the wonderful world of writing and what it could do for me. I don't know what my life would be without the passion for writing and expression.2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
17 Nov 10
My high school didn't offer writing classes, but it would have been interesting, because I share your passion for writing 
I started writing when I was a child, but I didn't get the chance to take writing classes till I was an adult. I hope I am going to move to another part of the country soon, and I would like to take some writing classes there...
I started writing when I was a child, but I didn't get the chance to take writing classes till I was an adult. I hope I am going to move to another part of the country soon, and I would like to take some writing classes there...
@nangisha (3496)
• Indonesia
16 Nov 10
Hi Porcospino!.
I never participating in any writing class because I never heart about it in our country. Most famous writers here learn to write by them self not a certain class.
I enjoying reading something I want to write about what I think in mind into something but its usually ti straight forward and will not to interested to reads. I think if we wanna to writers we must very creative mind.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
17 Nov 10
I didn't know that writing classes weren't common in your country. In my country the first "real" school for writers was started in the 90's, but in the past there were no Danish books are writing or classes and the writers only had one option - to learn everything on their own. Now the situation is different and many schools offer writing classes.
@gunagohan (3414)
• India
16 Nov 10
We have English as a Subject throughout the school and in the first semester in college and every time we will have writing as a part of the subject and we write many stories and not particularly poems because we are not trained in this regard.
In non-detailed sessions we are supposed to write our thinkings ideas and similar things.
We are awarded marks for those writings and they are part of the academic sessions!!
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
16 Nov 10
It was interesting to read the description of the school, because it is different from the schools in my country. We don't really get the chance to write stories in the English lessons. Most of the time we just have to translate sentences from our local language to English, and we are usually not able to write a story on our own or express our thoughts or opinions. I think it would be nice to get less translations or more assignments where we can choose our topics or write a story.
@ivanmarginal (675)
• Indonesia
16 Nov 10
Yes, I'm a student of English and I got three semesters on writing. It is fun actually. I love writing and there I find my place. The lecturer was also so nice. He urged me to write for newspaper. I did, and successfully make tens articles in local newspapers. I can't stop writing anything on my mind. If I stop, I'll be sick, lol...
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
16 Nov 10
It is great to hear that you had a nice lecturer who encouraged you to write for the newspaper 
I also love writing and I decided to take the writing class to learn new things and improve my writing and at the same time I was interested in meeting other people who also love to write. My teacher was also very nice and I got lots of new inspiration.
I also love writing and I decided to take the writing class to learn new things and improve my writing and at the same time I was interested in meeting other people who also love to write. My teacher was also very nice and I got lots of new inspiration.
@calajane (1003)
• Poland
16 Nov 10
I think that attending a writing class or having a regular writing group that can help with all the things you just described is an amazing experience and it really helps you to become a better writer.
Unfortunately, I never participated in writing classes, but I do have something that I could propbably call a writing group. There's only three of us, but we sometimes meet and brainstorm story ideas and stuff like that.
To be perfectly honest I am somewhat wary of online writing groups and writing classes, because the online community is sometimes very cruel and has a weird idea of what exactly constructive criticism is. Or maybe I just had bad experiences with online feedback.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
17 Nov 10
I like the idea of a writing group, it think it would be a nice way to share things, get ideas, inspiration etc. Most of my friends don't share my passion for writing, but I have think it would be nice meet some people who share my interest.
I can relate to the things you wrote about online writing groups. I have received some pretty nasty comments sometimes. I like constructive criticism, but some people just don't know what that word means. On the other hand I have also receieved some very helpful comments and advice online and I appreciate that.
1 person likes this
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
16 Nov 10
I never participate or sign up any writing class myself. Except in college, I did take a couple of writing classes, and my grade wasn't that great either. I wish that someday I can hone my writing skill much better than right now. Honestly, my writing is pretty sucks, and I should need more time to practice on it.
@saqi78 (1402)
• Malaysia
16 Nov 10
I participated in one scientific writing class and it was really helpful for me in report writing and technical writing. The professors were really experienced one, having lots of papers on their names and even some of them were authors of the book.
The whole sessions last for one week and I really gained a lot of knowledge and information from them.
Beside this, there was a class during my graduation for research methodology and there was one chapter included in that course too.
Have a nice day a head...:)
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
17 Nov 10
It sounds like your scientific writing class was a very possible experience and that is great. It is nice to have a professor who is very experienced, because we can learn a lot of them. When I took a writing class my teacher was also very experienced. She had been a writer for many years and some of the assignments that she gave us gave me new inspiration and helped me think in a different way.
I also wish you a nice day
