The Writers Bureau

[bluetonium]

Anyone here ever used this company? Basically they offer distance courses for all types of writing, and how to sell your work. About £200 for the course and they reckon you will make your money back by selling articles fairly quickly.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.writersbureau.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">www.writersbureau.com</a>

Toying between this and night school, all I want to do really is set myself aside some time to write and see if I enjoy it or have a knack for it, with a bit of guidance, so would be interetsed to hear if anyone has had any experiences with either and would recommend a certain path?

 

[PistonBlue]

Anyone here ever used this company? Basically they offer distance courses for all types of writing, and how to sell your work. About £200 for the course and they reckon you will make your money back by selling articles fairly quickly.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.writersbureau.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.writersbureau.com</a>

Toying between this and night school, all I want to do really is set myself aside some time to write and see if I enjoy it or have a knack for it, with a bit of guidance, so would be interetsed to hear if anyone has had any experiences with either and would recommend a certain path?

Have you thought about the Open University? They do lots of short courses to give you a taste of studying with them.

 

[bluetonium]

Might be an idea, thanks. Will have a look also at what they offer. Depends on the price also, as I'm unsure as to my ability and commitment levels I don't want to spend too much on what is at this stage only a hobby.

 

[PistonBlue]

Might be an idea, thanks. Will have a look also at what they offer. Depends on the price also, as I'm unsure as to my ability and commitment levels I don't want to spend too much on what is at this stage only a hobby.

The OU course for you is probably A174 Start Writing Fiction.

<a class="postlink" href="http://www.open.ac.uk/start-writing/index.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.open.ac.uk/start-writing/index.html</a>

 

[KentBlue]

I started one a few years back but gave up after a while. They kept trying to force me to write romantic fiction as apparently the genre is more popular than other types of fiction (Mills and Boon garbage!).

I tried to explain that I wouldn't be happy doing this but they were insistent.

So it came to an end.

 

[bluetonium]

I started one a few years back but gave up after a while. They kept trying to force me to write romantic fiction as apparently the genre is more popular than other types of fiction (Mills and Boon garbage!).

I tried to explain that I wouldn't be happy doing this but they were insistent.

So it came to an end.

Who was that with? OU or Writers Bureau? As I say, my aim isn't to write for money, not initially anyway, so if they had that attitude I would probably drop it too.

 

[pieface]

Save the two hundred and go on the "writers forum" for free advice and help
what subjects do you want to write about?

 

[KentBlue]

Who was that with? OU or Writers Bureau? As I say, my aim isn't to write for money, not initially anyway, so if they had that attitude I would probably drop it too.

It was with the Writers Bureau, but it was a few years ago. They might have changed now and not so determined to fit square pegs, etc. My next door neighbour also started the same course at about the same time as me and found the same thing.

You might find a free local Writer's Circle or something similar near where you live. As always, check around before committing yourself.
It's what I would do.

 

[bluetonium]

That's probably a better idea, thanks for the tips. I think I'll be aiming to write sci-fi/fantasy and horror types primarily, I guess the key is actually sitting down and doing it and seeing what flows. I just had the impression or hope that doing a course would actually make me do that, and give me some reassurances over the quality of what I write.

 

[hackneyslim]

You might like to read Stephen King's book 'On Writing'.

Read, read, read. Write, write, write.

Best of luck.

lulu.com for when you're finished.