I believe you can learn more about novel writing by reading the best books by esteemed academics and award winning lecturers of creative writing.
It’s certainly the much cheaper option.
I believe you can learn more about novel writing by reading the best books by esteemed academics and award winning lecturers of creative writing.
It’s certainly the much cheaper option.
Last year I went to Brooklyn Book Festival and it was fantastic. Free to attend, including all authors' sessions, and I heard Patrick Ness, Lev Grossman, and Lois Lowry speak, among others. Was great to hear their answers to questions, and just feel plugged in to the book world.
Not sure I would pay to go to a workshop personally, but I would have in the past, before I got to the point I'm at now. I'd have no qualms encouraging others to do so if they felt they could get something out of it. Think that has to be the key - will you, personally, gain something?
So, yes - horses for courses.
I'm married to a Yorkshire man and have been taught not to spend money without good reason or good results. I like workshops but they depend on the quality of the provider and their techniques. Though the companionship and new acquaintances are a real asset, festivals are not for everyone. If you are short of cash DIY is best. Talent is more important than any of these and read, read, read anything you can get your hands on.
best of luck,
rosa.
I think it's horses for courses.
I've read a few how-to books and gleaned some useful insights from them but I've learned more from reading a wide variety of novels. I've also completed an MA and been to a couple of festivals. The main benefit to me from the MA was, to misquote Virginia Woolf, to give me room, space and, as it were, permission to write - all things that had been sadly lacking for a number of years, thanks to work and small children.
MAs, festivals and the like consist of so much more than just listening to people talk. Yes, the opportunity to meet industry professionals is invaluable (no-one aiming at publication should sniff at listening to an agent or editor explain what they're looking for and how they'd like it presented and, sometimes, what they think of your own query letter/synopsis/first chapter) but they are about so much more than that. It's camaraderie: the we're-all-in-it-together spirit that made it so enjoyable for me. Plus, there's discovering what works and why (or why not) for whom, trying new techniques, learning to critique and be critiqued etc.
Yes, all of this costs money and is beyond the reach of many. However local colleges offer workshops and short courses for much less. Many writing groups don't charge at all - mine doesn't. I love mine, and we have writers of varying experience from just starting out to multi-jurisdictional publishing contract. Everyone brings something different and everyone gains.
Anyway, I'm blathering but, really, IMO, if you've found what works for you, great. Keep going! :-)