Fans of Interracial Romance discussion

Has anyone here taken any creative classes? If so, do feel like it helped you in any way? I'm asking because there's a free community class in my area, and I'm thinking about taking it. I'm still a little too shy to share what little bit I've written so far, so I didn't know if that would be a good way to help break through that barrier. Thanks.

i am curious about this too, just signed up for one but it has an underline of poetry...

Dana wrote: "i am curious about this too, just signed up for one but it has an underline of poetry..."

My hope is that it'll be a small class made up of all sorts of people. I'm considering signing up so I can get an opinion an very short story that I wrote, tweak it, and then post it in this folder for more feedback.

I have a master's degree in creative writing. I used to teach writing classes but it's been ages since I taught one. I actually prefer studying writing to teaching it. It's a difficult thing, teaching writing. I know what works for me and I have a hard time explaining my writing process to others. :)

I wish I could find good creative writing courses here in Stockholm. I took one a few years ago at a local community college but it left me feeling underwhelmed. The best creative writing courses I've taken (other than the ones I took in grad school) were courses offered by Writer's Digest Online and one through Gotham City Writers.

Kim wrote: "I have a master's degree in creative writing. I used to teach writing classes but it's been ages since I taught one. I actually prefer studying writing to teaching it. It's a difficult thing, teach..."

Thanks for the info. The community class that I was thinking about taking is no longer being offered. I was thinking of taking one as non-matriculated student somewhere, but I like the idea of doing it online.

Another good online writing course is Writer U. They have three levels...the Master and Elite levels are more expensive but the number of students is limited & they give very good feedback.
http://www.writeruniv.com/

I took a community college course twice for non-matriculated students and enjoyed them. I found them helpful in teaching me about some of the fundamentals of creative writing.

So I signed up for a creative writing workshop at a local community college. I'm not sure what to expect. Do you think I'll have to read what I've written so far in front of the class for feedback?

It depends on the courseplan. The first creative writing course I took, we spent the first few weeks doing free-writing exercises and learning the ropes. Our instructor asked us to volunteer to share our efforts but it wasn't mandatory.

Kim wrote: "It depends on the courseplan. The first creative writing course I took, we spent the first few weeks doing free-writing exercises and learning the ropes. Our instructor asked us to volunteer to sha..."

Thanks Kim. I'm hoping that the class I've signed up for is similar to that.

On the first day of class, your instructor should explain to you if there will be workshops--when you can share your writing with classmates for feedback without having to read it aloud--and if there will be sessions when you'll be asked to share it with everyone. Usually they ask from the very beginning if people are comfortable with sharing.

I'm glad you took the plunge. Keep us updated on how it goes.
The first time I had to share what I had written-was scary, but a good instructor can put you at ease. Plus, I hope you get pleasantly surprised and have a supportive group.
Good luck!

mrsbookmark wrote: "I'm glad you took the plunge. Keep us updated on how it goes.
The first time I had to share what I had written-was scary, but a good instructor can put you at ease. Plus, I hope you get pleasantly ..."


Thanks for the info and support ladies :)

Michelle, when is the first class? :)

I think it's the 18th. Luckily, the class only meets on the weekends. The idea of sharing anything that I've written is as scary as singing the national anthem at the super bowel, LOL!

It's always scary the first time. :) I remember sitting in a workshop and being so nervous when it was my turn to read my story aloud while everyone else was reading it silently. I wanted to cry. But I received such good feedback and everyone (with the exception of two people) was so supportive that I quickly got over the nervousness. Having a supportive teacher also helped. :)

I can't wait to see what it's like. I seriously need to get out of my comfort zone.

Man! I just realized l meant to write super bowl, not super bowel! LOL!

Hey Ladies! I just wanted to follow up with you about my creative writing class. First, the instructor is excellent! Second, everyone in the class except me are experienced writers, and one person is already published, so I'm extremely intimidated. I was tasked with writing a short story, and I'm still not done and it'll be 2 weeks this weekend. My instructor told me to just take my time, and do my best. One of classmates loaned me , and I bought . I don't know if they're the best resources for a newbie like me, but I'm looking forward to reading them and will hopefully have something to share with you all soon.

I am so excited for you. Don't be intimidated. You will be published:)

Another option if you're still shy about sharing your work. Find a local writers' group. Most will have regular workshops and you can simply talk to other writers. When you're ready to share your work, they'll be able to direct you to a critique group.

✿Michelle✿ wrote: "Hey Ladies! I just wanted to follow up with you about my creative writing class. First, the instructor is excellent! Second, everyone in the class except me are experienced writers, and one pers..."

I'm proud of you! It's exciting to make a leap of faith like that. Just remember they won't bite! And they won't laugh either, I'm sure. All knowledgable criticism is good criticism.

PS- I've seen the 123 Character Development Questions: A systematic way to develop phenomenal fictional characters. and I liked it.

Thanks so much for the support ladies! I really do appreciate it :)

Michelle, did your instructor recommend any short stories that you should read to help you get in the mood for writing a short story? When I was teaching, I always made sure my students read the short stories of Raymond Carver and Alice Munro--two masters of short fiction. And then I'd recommend that they check out slice of life stories by Ernest Hemingway. Hemingway was great at constructing short stories that pack a punch. Jennifer Weiner's short stories (in The Guy Not Taken) are also good slice of life stories. The more short fiction you read, the easier it becomes to figure out what kind of stories you want to write. One of my absolute favourite collections of short stories is Elbow Room by James Alan McPherson. I was having problems once with writing short fiction and then I read his stories and they kickstarted my writing.

Kim wrote: "Michelle, did your instructor recommend any short stories that you should read to help you get in the mood for writing a short story? When I was teaching, I always made sure my students read the sh..."

No, he didn't give me any short stories to read. But that's a good idea though. I'm going to look into some of those authors that you mentioned tonight. I'm definitely having problems writing this short story. It should only be a 1 1/2 pages per his instructions.

I'm on the bus on way to work, but as soon as I'm at the office I'll post a list of good short story collections and anthologies.

Some good collections and anthologies:

- The Complete Short Stories of Ernest Hemingway
- Leafstorm and Other Stories by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
- Drinking Coffee Elsewhere by ZZ Packer
- The Best American Short Stories (any edition, but 2007 edition edited by Stephen King is my favorite)
- Hue and Cry by James Alan McPherson
- The Love Object: Selected Stories of Edna O'Brien
- Girls' Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank (a novel written as connected short stories)
- Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self by Danielle Evans
- All Aunt Hagar's Children by Edward Jones
-What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver

That should be a good starting point for analyzing different types of short fiction... :)

Thanks Kim!!!!!!

You're very welcome, Michelle. :) If I think of any others for the list, I'll post them. :) In the mean time, just think about how you can find inspiration for a story anywhere. One of the first short stories I ever wrote was inspired by a conversation I overheard on the New Jersey transit train while en route to NYC: a young woman trying to get her married love to realise there was no future for them since he didn't want to leave his wife and she didn't want to be caught up in the turmoil their relationship was causing everyone around them.

You inspired me Michelle.

I signed up for an online class next month. I want to save up and see if I can do a real world class within the next year.

I did finish one novella that I edited and submitted, so I can say I accomplished one writing goal for the year.

Online creative writing classes can be great. I have taken a few with Writers Digests, Savvy Authors and Jordan Rosenfeld and all of them were a great help. :)

mrsbookmark wrote: "You inspired me Michelle.

I signed up for an online class next month. I want to save up and see if I can do a real world class within the next year.

I did finish one novella that I edited and s..."



That's great! I hope you're able to take it soon. I had to make some sacrifices because I really wanted to take this class- so I know what you mean about saving. I may look into an online class or community workshop next.

Thanks so much Kim! I was actually inspired to put the story I was trying to write on hold so I could focus on another story that I was inspired to right just by people watching and making up stories about them in my head.

That's awesome! :) One of my favourite things is people-watching and coming up with stories. Did a little of that in Copenhagen this weekend. :)

Michelle, what's the latest with your creative writing course? How's it coming along? :)

So far so good. I'm having fun playing around with my short story. My instructor is extremely patient and inspiring. i've decided to take my short stort about a spinster going out for the first time in a long time and try to make it into some sort of gothic tale, I don't how long it'll be. i'm enjoying this class so much that I'm looking into other classes to take after this one ends. I wish I could take more classes with this same professor.

maybe I'll look into an online class.

please forgive the typos. you know how it is when you're sneaking on the phone at work, LOL!

✿Michelle✿ wrote: "So far so good. I'm having fun playing around with my short story. My instructor is extremely patient and inspiring. i've decided to take my short stort about a spinster going out for the firs..."

Nice to hear! I have been wondering. I hope you're having fun.

i am having fun. I'd like to spend more time writing but due to work, and the classes for my masters degree, i have to limit myself for right now. but after the first story submission, I feel my shyness lessening.

What was your first story about? :)

Kim wrote: "What was your first story about? :)"

My story is about a woman that presents as a spinster but really isn't. Just stuck in a rut. As the story progresses, she gets out of her rut. At first, it became a quick erotic tale, but then I realized there's so much work that could be done to flesh out the characters that I'd like to make so much more than an erotic short. The problem is, there are at least five different directions for the story to go in my mind and I find myself doing research to set up scenes. Then, I scratch that scene, and start thinking of something else- and then find myself getting nowhere. It's fun, but I don't know how you professional authors do it. I keep thinking I just need to lock myself in one weekend or get a job like Jack Nicholson had in the Shining so I can narrow down my idea and focus, LOL!

Have you tried writing down five things you want to happen in the story? Just think about different things that could happen to your character. And think about if there is one particular thing that could change her or change her life. :)

Writers Digest has some wonderful classes and books, as already mentioned. In addition, Savvyauthors.com also has some inexpensive writing classes taught by experienced authors. Just an FYI.

Kim & Dahlia, thanks for the savvyauthors rec. I have been looking for an inexpensive class that'll help get me writing the novel for the plot I have.

Georgie wrote: "Kim & Dahlia, thanks for the savvyauthors rec. I have been looking for an inexpensive class that'll help get me writing the novel for the plot I have."

I'd echo the recommendations for Savvy. I've taken several courses there and found value in almost every one.

Holly Lisle's How to Think Sideways is a fantastic course, but it's around $350, I think. She does take monthly payments drafted from a #cc. I've always found her courses to be worth every penny.

I've done one of Holly Lisle's books which were amazing. Savvy authors can be good too...recommend Jodi Henley who does course there from time to time. Also Writer U. Courses are more expensive that savvy but the feedback is excellent.

Thanks for the suggestions ladies. I think I'll look into the savvyauthors site too.

I'm taking a course on deepening characterization. It's through Savvy Authors. :)

Kim wrote: "I'm taking a course on deepening characterization. It's through Savvy Authors. :)"

That sounds interesting. I went on the website, and they offer some pretty interesting classes. Would you recommend any one in particular to a newbie?

✿Michelle✿ wrote: "Kim wrote: "I'm taking a course on deepening characterization. It's through Savvy Authors. :)"

That sounds interesting. I went on the website, and they offer some pretty interesting classes. Wou..."
I saw that Nalini Singh is doing a chat at Savvy. That looks interesting.