Diversification

I love this question Jonathan. I would suggest that yes, when we're writing to someone else's standards and within their rules and regulations, we'd have to question who the author really is. We write more freely and from the heart when we write for ourselves, but when publication comes into the picture we have to 'fit in' with the agents' or publishers' requirements.

I agree with Lorraine ... this is a product.

On the other hand, a lot of people need and want the feedback about their writing.

All ways have their positives and negatives. I guess the only right way is the way that an individual feels is right for them.

:)

This is a paid-for course - it's an ad for a product. There are many such products out there, but their hook is that they have editors from Random House on hand to help you. That's going to give the impression that you could then get close to a major publishing house and who knows? - a contract. There are three sessions where your questions will be answered by a Random House editor, but if you want detailed written feedback you have to pay £99 extra. Ergo, the feedback you get during the course isn't detailed - and not the sort you may be expecting or hoping for.

It's important for the writer - novice or otherwise - thinking of purchasing this course to realise its limitations upfront. It is just another course, with no promises made; if you can't write, you won't progress.

Publishers, like any other business, are diversifying. They aren't necessarily grooming new talent for their own lines, although if they spot it they may well be in with the first shout.

One upside of this is that RH has a good, established name, and a physical address; there are courses out there run online by anonymous people, with no guarantees that they are in any way qualified to teach. There are many unscrupulous people, and even well-meaning ones, who will cash in on your dreams, and you have absolutely no come-back if they turn out to be less than claimed.

Jonathan, excellent question.

I don't believe publishers are qualified to be teaching prospective writers. I, also believe that it won't end with a mass of similarity because there are a vast amount of opinions for each aspect of novel writing according the genre. Publishers’ editors are good at pointing out errors and weaknesses in a manuscript, but how many of them are successful novelists? Editors should have a firm grasp of the aspects of the novel, and the art and craft of novel writing, but that doesn't make them or the vast majority of authors, expert teachers.

With all the advice on offer nowadays it can be confusing for would-be authors like myself. There's the danger of listening to many contrasting opinions and being pulled from pillar to post. You only have to look at the contrast of opinions when a question is raised on this site. Whose advice should the would-be author take? Also, there's the well-meaning advice from family, friends and so called experts that leave us would-be authors exasperated.

The would-be author has to decide the best way to proceed according the genre of his/her novel. I believe the best way to learn is to read as much about your genre as possible from award winning authors. Also, soak yourself in the best literature and you'll learn more than if you attended a day lecture or a week’s course in creative writing. Most of them are hot air, lack content and are a complete waste of time and money.

However, there are some excellent books on creative writing by authors like, Sol Stein, a best-selling author and award winning lecturer on creative writing at American universities, Barnaby Conrad and Oakley Hall.