1.
I don't remember ever coming across a
correspondence course that called itself a workshop,
but that, effectively is what most of them are.
Assignments are set, either a few or many, either
general or very specific. (EG - 'write a story' or
'write a crime story in third person with a twist in
the tale set in a city with a river beginning with 'Q'
and a protagonist called Eddie who has a drink
problem').
2.
But notice where the apostrophe is placed in
'writers' this time. Correspondence courses are
usually one-to-one affairs. The student writes, the
tutor comments. Usually you'll be given details about
the tutor before you start the course - books,
articles, poems published and where, nobel prizes
won, etc. If such details are not provided, be
wary.
3.
But remember that such details are not a
failsafe guide to the effectiveness of a tutor. Those
that can also often teach, but sometimes not that
well. And teaching at a distance is a distinctly
different proposition to teaching face-to-face. If in
doubt, there's no real alternative to going ahead with
a couple of assignments and seeing how the two of you
'gel'. Personalities can come through surprisingly
clearly through the to-and-fro of writing and
commentary. If you try this approach and are not
happy, ask to be transferred to another tutor. One
advantage of distance study is that there's not much
chance you'll bump into your ex-tutor in some college
corridor.
4.
In fact you aren't likely to come into contact
with any correspondence tutor except by mail. So
remember that feedback on your work will not be the
instantaneous feedback of a class. A report usually
takes an average of between one and two weeks to drop
through your door. But...
5.
Some correspondence schools have begun to offer
email courses, so response time comes down.
6.
A distinct 'pro' of correspondence study is
that there's no chance of getting sidetracked by the
social aspects of physical workshops.
7.
An equally distinct 'con' is that those same
aspects often provide motivation and discipline for the
student (EG - 'my next meeting is
tonight\tomorrow\in-three-and-a-half-minutes and I
haven't written anything... I'D BETTER START!).
Deadlines can be great motivators, and even if the
chapter\scene\poem scribbled at 2am on the kitchen
table or on the bus on the way to the class needs
drastic redrafting, at least you have written. So...
8.
Decide if you can provide that discipline for
yourself. Some distance study courses allow you to
continue for as long as you need to finish all the
assignments. Others have a cut-off point, which is a
kind of deadline but not nearly as effective as that
provided by a physical workshop. If you can generate
this kind of discipline, the kind that can shoehorn
regular time and space for writing into your life
without the useful pressure of regular workshop
meetings, then it could be that this is the kind of
course for you.
((END.))
