The Before and After of Online Writing Classes

By Charity Tahmaseb

I made the mistake of wandering into one of those real-life writing classes, the sort where the instructor encourages everyone to free write for fifteen minutes. Lulled by the sense that no one would ever see these particular words, I babbled across the page.

After fifteen minutes, the instructor said, “Now, let’s share what we’ve written.”

I looked at the nonsense on my paper and put into practice that skill I hadn’t used since high school — my teacher invisibility shield.

There had to be a better way to take a writing class, one that didn’t involve lining up a babysitter, or obtaining a special parking permit, or driving during rush-hour traffic — or teacher invisibility shields. There is. Or at least, there’s another option for the busy and/or fearful: Online writing classes.

But how do you choose from the growing number of online learning opportunities? How do you know if what you’re getting is mediocre, a diamond in the rough, something questionable, or a gem?

As a veteran of several online writing classes and “hall monitor” for a few, I’ve put together the following before-and-after tips for online writing classes.

Before:

Before you click send and sign up for half a dozen classes, consider whether online classes are for you — and whether you’re for them. Take the following inventory of the class and of yourself.

Time: Sure, you may not be driving to class, but coursework will take time from your normal schedule. Do you have the time to do the reading, complete assignments, and possibly participate in chats? Depending on the class structure, you may need to read and critique work from other students as well.

Online learning: Do you enjoy communicating online? Can you self-start? Can you work in what is a fairly isolated environment, with delayed feedback? It’s far too easy to sit at the back of a virtual classroom and not participate. Also, given real-life schedules and time-zone differences, the instructor may not be available when you’re online. If you’re comfortable with independent learning, an online class may be for you.

Subject matter and style: Courses range from weeklong, question-and-answer sessions with subject matter experts to online/low-residency MFA programs. What are you looking for? A class on writing craft? The business side of publishing? Q&A with a forensic scientist? Or a writers’ workshop environment? Knowing what you want can help you narrow the field of possible choices and help you manage expectations.

Credentials: Is the instructor knowledgeable in the subject matter? Is the course sponsored by an organization that can provide technical support or respond to a complaint? Are they making promises they can’t keep? Be wary of any promises of publication. A writing class can introduce you to new writing tools and provide instruction on how to use them. It can’t promise anyone will buy what you build (write) with those tools.

A good fit: Sometimes cross-genre pollination can provide a fertile writing environment, and sometimes it leads to friction rather than good fiction. Read all available material provided for the course description. Ask for opinions from others who have taken the class. It’s a balancing act, keeping an open mind plus knowing what you want. A class focusing on romance when you want techniques for writing thrillers might frustrate you. On the other hand, a class outside your comfort zone might open up your writing and take it to a new level.

Cost: Is the cost appropriate for the venue? A question-and-answer session on Yahoo Groups should cost less than a ten-week writing workshop on an established site. Both may be worth the money, or not, but a sunk cost of $10 hurts less than one of $300.

After:

So, you filled in the form, sent your money, and now the instructor’s welcome message just landed in your inbox.

Now what?

Have fun. But first…

The fine print: Do your instructor, your classmates, and yourself a favor. Read the boring stuff. It may be no more than that a welcome message from the instructor or there may be a full-blown syllabus, but most online classes provide guidelines. Many of those questions that start, “This may be a stupid question, but...” are answered in a class overview, FAQ section, or somewhere on the course Web site. If you search, read, and still can’t find the answer, then go ahead and ask. No doubt someone else is searching for that same information.

Participation: Participate! Within the guidelines of the class, of course. Remember how it sounds to walk down the halls of an empty school? An online class has its own sound of silence. Having played monitor in a few online classes, I’m here to tell you that most instructors want your questions, comments, and observations. 

Oddly enough, course cost does not guarantee participation. Some writers wear their invisibility shield even in online courses, even after paying hundreds of dollars. Generally, if someone starts a conversation, others will join. If not, then chatting with the instructor may gain you a friend/mentor.

Communication: It’s odd that in a class on writing, online, written communication can cause trouble and hurt. But it can. In many classes, students exchange work for critique. There’s an art to both giving and accepting feedback, especially when you can’t see the other person’s face or hear her tone of voice. In most cases, giving the other person the benefit of the doubt will save time, aggravation, and everyone from a possible flame war.

If there is a problem, take it offline. Contact the instruction or the writing site administrative support via e-mail, not on a shared-class message board. What might be a simple misunderstanding can derail the entire class.

Remember your cyber classmates and instructor have real lives outside their virtual writing ones, and even a normally terrific instructor can have a bad day. Or maybe it’s your turn for feedback and no one’s commented on your piece yet. That silence isn’t the other class members groping for words to tell you how awful it is. They’re off line, dealing with real life. 

Coursework: It’s that timeworn adage: You get what you give. The same is true for any online class, but especially one with required and/or optional course work. In fact, by doing the optional class assignments and exercises, you may end up with extra feedback from the instructor and getting more for your money.

When all is said and done:

Keep it to yourself: For most online courses, you’re allowed to print/keep a copy of the course material for your own use (here’s where reading the guidelines comes in handy—be sure to double-check or ask if it isn’t spelled out). Remember, in most cases, the organization or instructor holds the copyright to the course material. Don’t share the lessons with your critique partners or writing group.

The Last Word:

Being a writer is like having homework every night for the rest of your life. — Lawrence Kasdan

No online writing class, just as no writing craft book, is the magic bullet, the key that will get you published. By doing your homework, before and during an online writing class, you may end up with a new friend, a mentor, or a sense of accomplishment. Chances are you’ll end up a better writer.

Charity Tahmaseb lives and writes in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and takes online writing classes as a way to make it through the long winters.

To e-mail this article to a friend, click here.

To archived Writer's Life articles, click here.

back to the top