A friend of mine brought to my attention this link:
http://planetalyx.livejournal.com/798640.html
This led me into a whole realm of learning about UCLA’s distance learning program for writers. The classes planetalyx talks about sound awesome, and a whole wealth of other classes of a similar bent also sounds awesome.
My entire talk of going to Clarion West started with a visit to my mom’s over the holidays and an offer to help pay for education. I’ve been leery of going back to school for a few years because I had no specific career goal. Without that, it seemed like a waste of time and money. I wanted to have a specific reason for going if I was going to go, especially when money was tight for so long.
Since I decided to focus on my writing and try to turn it into a career, I’ve been focusing on mostly just writing. It didn’t seem like a degree program would really help. And any time I spent in a classroom would take away from the time I have for writing. But there are plenty of workshops and stuff out there that seemed like they had promise. Hence: Clarion West.
But this also looks promising. I didn’t realize this stuff existed. Not sure how this fits into UCLA’s degree program, but I want to try and see what my options are at least. My concern about time commitment was based around having to go to night classes Monday through Friday. (No, I’m not quitting my day job any time soon.) Distance learning could provide the flexibility I would need to make it viable.
The immediate downside I see is that, even with it being a distance learning, it will be a time commitment. Something would have to go. Since most of the time I would have outside of work would be on the weekends, this would mean that I’d probably have to stop or at least curtail my other hobbies.
I could probably afford one class for one quarter pretty easily. It would disrupt debt reduction plans, but it’s doable. So now I need to decide whether or not I will be happier if I do this.
I haven’t really had a chance to reply to any of your recent posts. So I will take the opp here to say that I think it is awesome you have decided to try and make writing a career.
Remember that no matter what you decide, no education is ever wasted. I have a bachelors in Anthropology, a Masters in Interdisciplinary Technology focused on Information Security, and then the Associates in Massage therapy. I started and did not complete a certificate in Physical Security management and a certificate program in Special Effects and Digital Animation and a health and wellness certificate. And of course the Masters Degree in Oriental Medicine.
My point with all of that is it has given me broader knowledge that I use in a variety of ways and I feel it actually is giving me things to draw upon to write with. So no matter if it will make you happier, maybe it will give you tools, information, knowledge, and ideas to help you in a variety of ways.
Also with these classes….one way you can see them…is perhaps as a way to start a novel or take one off their ‘blocks’ as it were for your coursework. So it’s a way to dedicate time to your writing. NOt sure how these courses are designed, but I have seen it done that way before. So maybe.
If there is anything I can do to help, let me know. I promise any advice or feedback I give is yours to take or leave as you wish I will never be upset. :)