: Re: Do online writing classes really help? Almost all online writing workshops/classes/programs websites have scores of testimonials from students. It is very difficult to understand whether these really

@XinRu607

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Short answer: online writing workshops can be helpful, if you're careful to chose a good one, and if your level of writing and professionalism is in the same rough vicinity as the course. Additionally, almost any workshop has the immediate bonuses of A) encouraging you to write regularly, and B) getting some feedback on your work (though it might not necessarily be helpful feedback). Those are nice bonuses, but often easy to find elsewhere.

Let me expand on those.

Obviously you want a good workshop. You're quite right about testimonials being unreliable - they could be outright fakes, or lacking context, or from people whose opinion you wouldn't respect. So how do you find a good one?

Look for recommendations (or condmenations) on other websites.
See if the site seems professionally managed and designed; basically if it seems respectable.
Read the terms and rules, and consider whether the format and process of the workshop seem appealing, reasonable, and/or helpful.
If it's a program costing money, consider that the more it costs - the more discussion and recognition of it you should, in theory, be able to find about it elsewhere.

(Personally, I've had a very good experience with Critters.)

Let's talk about appropriate level.

You want criticism that's better (more knowledgable; more professional) than what you could get by passing your writing around among your friends. So: not amateurs, and not even writers who know significantly less about writing and critiquing than you do.
If critiquing peers' work is a major component, you want to be in the right league to be able to give helpful criticism. So: jumping in with writers you see as way, way better than you might be problematic.
Consider, when choosing, how ready you are to deal with criticism. Some places (e.g. Critters) make a point of being very gentle, polite, and constructive. A lot of professionals, though, will prefer not to expend effort in couching their criticism kindly or elaborately. They'll assume you can receive criticism professionally and (relatively) objectively; they won't explain every reference they make. They may seem curt, dismissive or even brutal. Professional criticism can be flabbergastingly helpful - but only if you're really ready to take criticism so harsh it hurts; otherwise it may only get you needlessly upset or depressed.

Finally, the bonuses - the very framework of a steady stream of feedback is, for many people, an encouraging, helpful one. This means the group doesn't have to teach you how to write (although it might); it may be enough that it encourages you to put more effort and polish into your writing. And writing is, of course, the best way to learn how to write. So this should be a serious consideration. On the other hand, a workshop can require a lot of effort, and possibly wading through a lot of unhelpful commentary and uninteresting manuscripts. Feedback and persistence can be had elsewhere; workshops are very good sources for them, but hardly exclusive ones.

Oh, and one last important note - one significant bonus you can get from workshops is to hone your own critiquing skills. That's a huge benefit, because it lets you see for yourself what works well and doesn't, and gives you lots of experience editing and suggesting revisions - all of which applies wonderfully to your own work forever after.

I hope these are helpful considerations in deciding whether a workshop can be helpful to you, and which one. Best of luck!

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