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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be unsure about taking this online course?

19 replies

AlpacaMyBag · 30/03/2015 16:53

NB I have no affiliation with the class. This is a genuine AIBU.

Been umming and erring about it for a few days. A class I'm interested in offers your money back if you complete all the assignments (the course runners want to get some good testimonials) and I've read enough things by them online over the years to know that they are definitely genuine.

The reason I'm not sure is because if for some reason I decide the course isn't useful for me, it's quite a big time commitment just to be sure I get my money back. And I'm pretty short on time.

250 squid is quite a lot of money. I have no doubt about getting a refund, but it would be a lot of work if the class is a waste of time for me. What do you think? Should I do it, or not?

OP posts:
AlpacaMyBag · 30/03/2015 17:31

Anyone? Or am I just not making any sense?

OP posts:
ItsAllKickingOffPru · 30/03/2015 17:39

I'd be unsure about any organisation that asks for money and then gives it back, however reputable I'd found it to be in the past.

Purely on the lot of work issue but not sure if it's going to be a benefit I'd not take the class.

AlpacaMyBag · 30/03/2015 19:23

Ah, their reasons are well-explained, I'm not at all worried on that score.

I just can't decide whether to commit to that amount of work. Yet th accountability could be really good for me. Am wavering.

Anyone else want to weigh in?

It's this class: usefulwritingcourses.com/courses/pitch-clinic/

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 30/03/2015 19:27

If it sounds too good to be true . . .

FabULouse · 30/03/2015 19:32

This reply has been deleted

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AlpacaMyBag · 30/03/2015 19:34

What do you mean? That I wouldn't really learn anything useful?

I'm not too worried about the money side of things, more that it would be a good chance to get more pitches out there as they always seem to get sidelined after all my other work. But maybe I don't have time for a course anyway.

OP posts:
Andrewofgg · 30/03/2015 19:36

No, that the money back won't be honoured. On some pretext or another.

AlpacaMyBag · 30/03/2015 19:37

Haven't you heard of "face-paced" Fab? Grin

Ooh I think this is having a reverse-psychology effect!

But I could buy two a lot of Boden dresses for £250.

OP posts:
VanitasVanitatum · 30/03/2015 19:37

Yeah the typo is not a good sign.. I dont think learning something new is ever a bad thing, if you think you would learn.

AlpacaMyBag · 30/03/2015 19:39

Oh, ISWYM. But honestly I'm not in the least bit concerned about that. Have known/known about the 2 organizers for many years online and am not concerned about their integrity. Honestly.

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AlpacaMyBag · 30/03/2015 19:39

Sorry that was.to.Andrew.

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Andrewofgg · 30/03/2015 19:41

If you know them well enough - and can afford to be wrong - good luck!

LIZS · 30/03/2015 19:42

I'd be for dubious , not least because it is aimed at the U.S. market. Haven't you already missed the start date anyway?

weeblueberry · 30/03/2015 19:45

I suspect you could get a lot of information that's on the course, for free on writing forums and websites. I write and so come across quite a lot of these places online and lots of them have resources for selling your work.

Personally my rule is that I wouldn't pay more than £50 for an online course unless I was going to get a (genuine) accreditation at the end of it.

AlpacaMyBag · 30/03/2015 19:46

Agree absolutely that you should only ever bet what you can afford to lose.

LIZS I'm not in the UK and mostly write for the US/international market anyway. Signups are still open.

OP posts:
AlpacaMyBag · 30/03/2015 19:47

Sorry for so many posts. Wee, agree about the info. The main appeal is the coaching and feedback, which would be really useful.

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florascotia · 30/03/2015 20:49

Their advice may be quite good, but does the paying market they claim to be training you for really exist? An awful lot of magazines these days expect 'advertorial' or publicity-based feature material for free. I know professional writers - serious prize-winning, many years experience - but even they find themselves increasingly being asked to write for free, for national and international publications. Often, they say no, and stick to a few trusted publishers who still will pay them. But they also know that there are other people out there willing to write for nothing or next to nothing, seriously distorting the market.

Another point; it's one thing to bandy the name of a well-known publication around, but are these writers ready to tell course members what they actually earn, regularly, year on year? A dollar per word, which one of them qoutes, sounds a lot, but honestly it isn't. To write a 500-word piece, unless you know the subject well, could easily require a whole day of research (on your phone bill) and possibly more; then perhaps another few hours or so for writing and checking. From that, you need to deduct around 30% costs - heating, lighting, computer purchase, computer upgrades, accountancy, phone, broadband, stationery, postage. For say 2 days total, that equals just over £100 net per day...And you won't, unless you are well known and pretty good, get fresh commissions every day. Over a week, it's probably below the Uk national minimum wage.

Another thing I have noticed is that writers who are not making enough from writing often start running courses. I know nothing about the people on the website you link to and am making no comment about them, but, as a general point, if writers are so good, I would want to ask, why aren't they making serious money from concentrating on writing full-time?

PeppermintCrayon · 31/03/2015 09:47

You'd be better off doing an NUJ course - they have pitching ones.

cestlavielife · 31/03/2015 09:57

it's american so unless you are in America then find something uk focused .

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