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Creative writing

Whether you enjoy writing sci-fi, fantasy or fiction, join our Creative Writing forum to meet others who love to write.

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Original poster

No self-discipline at all...Creative Writing Masters?

22 replies

mistressploppy · 13/01/2011 09:37

I've always toyed with wanting to write but I'm really bad at self-motivating! Is there any point in even trying?!

I'm in the very jammy position of being a SAHM of one and there's no need for me to return to work - ever, if I don't want to. So I was thinking of maybe doing a creative writing Masters...has anyone done one?

I never thought I'd be in the situation where I could do what I liked, and now I sort of am, I don't know what to do....

OP posts:

artifarti · 13/01/2011 12:00

Lucky you! I think if you have never written before then an MA could be a very expensive trial to find out if it's for you. I would start off with something a bit shorter and less intensive - local colleges often have courses, as does the OU. Or you could check out with someone like the Arvon Foundation who do long weekends. You could maybe start with a 10-12 week course and take it from there. That's how I got started three years ago and I've been writing ever since despite DS turning up in the middle! Also some MAs will only accept you if you can present a portfolio of writing (short stories, poems etc.) or relevant experience.

Good luck - I hope you get hooked.

jonicomelately · 13/01/2011 12:02

Where abouts are you OP? And why do you want to do it? For fun or to start a new career? What type of stuff would you like to write? Poetry, novels, drama?

mistresspollocky · 13/01/2011 14:01

Artifarti - good advice indeed, I will check out some short courses.

I'm in Winchester, Joni. I'd be doing it for fun with a secret wish for recognition and fame/glory

I'd like to write novels/short stories but am aware these are difficult genres (especially the short stories). I enjoy poetry but fear pretentiousness.

LadyGlencoraPalliser · 13/01/2011 14:53

I have done the OU creative writing course and it is excellent. You have to work in a variety of genres, you learn how to give and take constructive criticism, there are seminars where you can meet up and exchange ideas with your fellow students and the online forum is an absolute haven.
If you haven't guessed already, I thoroughly recommend it.

jonicomelately · 13/01/2011 17:14

I think there's a very highly rated department at Bournemouth University if that's any good to you.
The bad news is that you will have to be very self-disciplined, otherwise you may as well stay at home and burn five pound notes for entertainment. The good news however is that if you really want to do it the chances are you'll enjoy it and motivation won't be a problem at all

Andthatswhatshesaid · 13/01/2011 17:22

I did the Creative Writing OU course last year and I'm doing the advanced this year.

You do learn lots on the courses. There's a whole lot more to writing than just making it up!

Do you write already? If not, then it's probably best not to start with a long and expensive degree course!

Look on the web. There's an abundance of sites and writing communities, competitions and writing circles. Why not have a look at those first?

atswimtwolengths · 13/01/2011 18:00

I've got a Creative Writing MA. I don't think it was a particularly good course, so look around if you are thinking of taking one. I'm a teacher and I could tell that our teacher was always ill prepared for the class. There was no real structure to the course, either.

I wrote a book whilst on the course and submitted it to workshops - there are advantages and disadvantages to that. If those on it don't read the sort of thing you write, then their advice is often really ill-informed.

I was the only person (out of about 18) who finished the book. We had agents visit us (that was by far the best thing about the course) and one of them took on my book, though couldn't sell it. I'm writing another now and she's reading it as I'm writing it.

atswimtwolengths · 13/01/2011 18:02

I didn't really learn a lot from the classes, to be honest, but learned a lot by reading the books and by asking questions of visiting novelists and the agents.

There were a hell of a lot of people on the course who had a lot of first chapters - they still had them at the end.

Frizzbonce · 23/01/2011 22:30

mistresspollocky or is it mistressploppy , as artifarti says, you might prefer to dip your toe in the water by joining a good writing course - with a tutor who has professional experience, not just some airy fairy person who once self-published her crappy poems ten years ago - but if you have a good group, you will be expected to produce work and the simple discipline of having to write stuff to a deadline will be really good for your writing development.

I can recommend the Arvon course highly - I did the one on radio writing (they have tons of courses for all sorts of writing) and six months later I had my first commission for Radio 4. I also realised that you have to find the time to write - and with women - it's generally squeezed in between children and house and Other People's Needs.

The other thing about doing a degree (I also teach creative writing at the OU) is that the slant of it is slightly more academic. You do learn the craft of writing and that is very important, but for my students who want to write professionally - I always suggest they join a writers group where they will be expected to produce work on a regular basis.

The best advice I can give you is don't be too quick to 'get your work out there'. Many many writers spend loads of time trying to present their work to agents and publishers and not nearly enough time getting their work to a publishable standard.

atswimtwolengths · 23/01/2011 23:13

I'd really agree with your last point, Frizz. I think everyone is so infatuated (in a way) with their own work when it's first written, that it's hard to see mistakes. It's a good idea to show it to other writers as well as to readers, to get their opinion. In a way, the person who says "It's wonderful" (although flattering) isn't as useful as the person who makes constructive comments.

MmeGuillotine · 24/01/2011 18:29

I'd definitely second the Arvon Course recommendation. I went on one last year and it was seriously one of the best, most magical weeks of my life! It really inspired me and I really think it has improved my writing SO much. It definitely made me a lot more confident.

I had my first book accepted for publication shortly after I returned - if I hadn't done the course, I wouldn't have been confident enough to even submit it.

atswimtwolengths · 24/01/2011 19:17

Which course did you do, MmeGuillotine?

MmeGuillotine · 24/01/2011 20:01

I can't remember the title but it was a writing fiction one at The Hurst taught by Jeremy Sheldon and Lana Citron. It was supposed to be taught by the writer of The Bad Mother's Handbook but she dropped out.

It was really good - the course itself had an emphasis on character development.

I er wrote about it here - madameguillotine.org.uk/2010/08/22/my-arvon-experience. :)

Frizzbonce · 24/01/2011 22:27

MmeGuillotine that's fantastic! I did hear of one legendary weekend on a fiction writing course that Irving Welsh was taking. Not much writing was done apparently but the Hebden Bridge Cottage was wrecked and everyone had colossal hangovers. I presume that wasn't the course you were on though - sounds like you actually did some work!

BaggedandTagged · 25/01/2011 05:05

I've done a couple with Gotham (NY based but do a lot of internet courses). Pretty good.

Frizzbonce · 25/01/2011 10:52

BaggedandTagged would you recommend any of the internet courses?

BaggedandTagged · 26/01/2011 04:12

I think Gotham is quite good. You can do a course on pretty much any type of writing you want- short stories, novels, plays, screen plays, feature writing etc.

The format is one online lecture a week, an exercise which is marked by the teacher, and 2/3 opportunities to present your work to the class for critique (teacher also comments on it).

There are Level I classes for complete beginners and Level II classes for more experienced writers.

The classes teach all the basics- voice, POV, show don't tell, plotting, description, dialogue etc.

There are 2 drawbacks- firstly, the commitment of your classmates determines the quality of the feedback you get-I did one class where nerly everyone was still participating by the end, another where only 7/16 made it to the end. Secondly, because it's NY based, the classes will be dominated by US based students so if you write very "British" stuff with a lot of cultural references/humour, it's sometimes hard to know if your writing is just bad, or they're not getting it.

strandednomore · 26/01/2011 11:26

MmeGuillotine - I was interested in reading your blog about the Arvon course as I am toying with the idea of doing one myself (I really need some help at the moment and had heard they were good). However I can't get the link to work!

Incidentally I was just having a look at your lovely blog and saw the entry about Ham in Coke. I have thought of doing Nigella's recipe myself, maybe I'll give it a go at Easter!

MmeGuillotine · 26/01/2011 15:40

Frizzbonce, haha, that sounds great! We heard rumours of really terrifying weeks with lots of boozing and fights and stuff.

One thing that I didn't put in my blog post is the um heady effect of spending a week with about a dozen other writers, without any external distractions and all that booze and sharing and talking about writing and being passionate. It's really intense and I bet Arvon affairs are rife!

Sorry about the link, strandednomore, I'll try that again for you! :)

madameguillotine.org.uk/2010/08/22/my-arvon-experience

Thank you! Ah, was that the Nigella Kitchen review? I'm vegetarian and still haven't figured out a suitable alternative to the ham! Let me know how it works out for you! :)

strandednomore · 26/01/2011 20:57

Thanks Mme the link worked that time, and gives me a really good idea of what the course would be like. I would love to do one but am terrified as I am just starting out really (with fiction writing) and would hate to be the one "duff" voice you talk about! Anyway I have seen one towards the end of the year which might work but I need to pursuade dh to take the time off to look after the dd's - although he is desperate to go on a paragliding holiday so we could be quid pro pro.

My other fear would be the amount of drinking. Since having the dd's I hardly drink at all and get pissed on two glasses of wine. Wouldn't want to make a total fool of myself!

MmeGuillotine · 26/01/2011 23:35

Oh I really wouldn't worry about being 'duffer'. There were total first timers on our course as well as a published writer and a bunch of us who had had a bit more experience. It was a real mixed bag and apparently most of their courses are like that.

Everyone was so lovely and supportive that even if you did, and I bet you wouldn't, wrote something not quite right, you'd never know it from anyone's reactions. ;)

Not that everyone went 'Oh that's just marvellous' either - people made really constructive and helpful comments.

There was a fair bit of drinking in the evening but not everyone drank a lot. There were a couple of us who were really into our GIN but most people had a few wines.

There's no bar there so someone with a car gets sent off to the nearest village a la Withnail to do booze runs. ;)

I hope you decide to do it - it's great fun and helped me SO much! I'm desperate to go again this year but don't know if I can fit it in. x

SelinaDoula · 17/03/2011 14:30

I've been offered a place on a writing MA in September. My baby will be about 6 weeks by then so should be interesting (we start with a residential weekend a bit like Arvon).
Selina

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