Writing Course
Pen & Paper
Cost: $20.00
This course is meant to be both educational and entertaining. There is no reason why learning can’t be a pleasant experience. Too often “learning” is boring – a chore. That is why many people don’t finish a course.
The purpose of this course is to help you understand the craft of writing fiction. There are different components to the course and all are designed to assist you on your journey as a writer.
Please note that this course is not laid out in the same manner as other online courses. Some Learning Management Systems (LMS) lock students into a particular course map. You can’t proceed onward from Lesson 1 until you complete it. You can’t skip from Lesson 1 to Lesson 21.
This course is designed to meet the needs of a variety of learners. There is more flexibility in the course layout. Everyone’s understanding of – and ability to – write fiction is different. Thus, feel free to skip to the sections where you feel as though you need the most help.
There are certain things that you should undertsand about writing and this course.
Understand
There are no accidents in writing or teaching.
Act
Pay close attention.
Understand
Being a writer means getting words on the page.
Act
Write.
Each page that you write is a building block. These blocks form the foundation of your story.
Understand
Language changes over time.
Act
Write the way you speak.
Good writing feels like a conversation – natural and relaxed.
Understand
Learning the craft of writing involves reading.
Act
Read the course materials.
Sometimes more than once. I read things over and over and over again. It is part of the study.
Course Details
Cost: $20.00
This one-time fee gives you lifetime access to the course (and subsequent updates to the course for as long as the course remains online).
Why pay thousands of dollars (or even hundreds of dollars) on a writing course?
Course Materials
The course materials are listed below.
- a printer (or some way to print the PDFs) and paper
- a pen or pencil
- a writing notebook (if you like to write using pen and paper) or a keyboard and computer
- a computer (or some way to access the digital materials), including headphones or a speaker to listen to the audio instruction
- Three books (for your library) to buy (optional)
A Word of Caution
Prior to purchasing this course, you should understand the following:
You should have a good command of the English language and a fundamental grasp of the mechanics of writing. This is not a course in grammar, punctuation, or spelling. Mistakes in spelling and grammar impede a reader’s ability to understand and appreciate your writing. Make sure that your writing is largely error free before taking this course.
You should know that this course is not going to teach you how to write a blockbuster bestseller that sells millions of copies and lands a movie deal which allows you to retire to a villa in the south of France. If that’s the case, then go buy a lottery ticket. It will take less time, be less expensive, and yield the same results. This is not a course on how to write a bestseller. Making such claims is a marketing ploy. I make no such claims. What is more, having a bestseller has more to do with marketing than writing. There are many bestsellers that aren’t worth the paper that they are printed on.
You should understand that writing is a craft. It takes time, patience, and practice. There are no short cuts. You should be willing to write. The more you practice the craft of writing, the better you will become. In this course, I will show you how I practice the craft of writing.
If you are going to take any of the courses or lessons offered here, then you should know what I consider to be good writing.
Certainly I have favorite authors. Just as musical tastes differ, so too, do literary tastes. Please note, that just because our tastes might differ does not mean that you cannot learn from what I have to teach.
I will list some of my favorite books, and it is incumbent upon you to review the items listed to see if you agree or disagree with my tastes.
Remember, there are different types of teachers, doctors, therapists, dentists, hair stylists. You have to find the right fit. Hopefully, the information that I provide will help you to decide if I am the right fit for you.