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RANT 'O THE WEEK: by WritersCollege.com Director Steve Morrill
Not a rant this week. I'd like to hear from you about your writing in these financially-troubled times. Now, almost all writers do it part-time or as a hobby. Very few rely upon writing for any serious income. Nevertheless, your time spent writing is time you could be doing other things. The money you spend on writing—including classes here at WritersCollege.com—is money you could be spending on other things.
In a downturned economy, with a writing school that most would consider a "discretionary expense" or one you need not incur, the popular wisdom is that student registrations should dry up. I have not seen that happening. It occurs to me that, in tough times like these, people might actually be more likely to turn to writing and learning more about writing. I have two theories, not mutually exclusive:
Writing is, after all, a relatively cheap hobby or art form, making it a good choice in penny-pinching times.
Wrting is a way to generate some extra income (if you know what you're doing, and we teach that here). So perhaps people are wanting to diversify and put the time they have on their hands to better use.
I do not know the answer to this. I would like to hear from more writers. I'd like to hear from you. Tell me what sorts of writing you are doing these days and if the economy has anything to do with those choices. Email me at Director@WritersCollege.com
SCHOOL
NEWS:Two new courses to announce!
Flash Fiction, by Erin McKnight.
Are you ready to plunge into the pool of flash fiction? Be prepared to hold your breath! Although the water appears shallow, the emotional impact of this writing form boasts depths rivaling the high seas of longer fiction.
Flash fiction, when crafted with care, works within the boundaries of the genre and on the periphery of traditional storytelling. In the world of flash, a compelling story can be told in fewer than a hundred words!
Experienced writers looking to fine-tune their skills in brevity and control, and aspiring writers interested in experimenting with this cutting-edge mode, will have the opportunity to explore this in-demand form of writing during the workshop.
Web Presence for Writers by Laura Wright.
Develop a basic knowledge of the internet, how it functions, how web sites are made, and the steps necessary to build your own web site. Learn how easy it is to have your web presence!
This course will walk you through the process of buying your domain, finding a hosting company, and publishing a web site you create. The easy-going format ensures that even the most non-technical participants can own and operate their own domains.
Price increase. Remember, sign up between now and the end of the year to beat the price increase. Students already signed up for courses, even if those courses do not start until after the price increase, pay the current prices. You may register now, in other words, for a course that you wish to start in January. I'll extend this offer only to the month of January, 2009.
On January 1 of 2009 I plan to increase prices. I realize that in a downturned economy this is hardly the time to do this, but my fine teachers have been waiting a looong time for a raise and they deserve it. And we're 'way underpriced as it is.
Prices will increase from the present $25/week (i.e. a four-week course costs $100) to $30 per week. So prices would increase as follows:
Course Length
Current Prices
New Prices
4-week course
standard course $100
extended version* $125
standard course $120
extended version* $150
6-week course
standard course $150
extended version*$188
standard course $180
extended version* $225
8-week course
standard course $200
extended version* $250
standard course $240
extended version* $300
* Extended courses merely have twice as many weeks to do the lessons and homework. There's no extra material offered but our students are busy adults with real lives too, and so we make available the option.
Are you ready to plunge into the pool of flash fiction? Be prepared to hold your breath! Although the water appears shallow, the emotional impact of this writing form boasts depths rivaling the high seas of longer fiction.
Develop a basic knowledge of the internet, how it functions, how web sites are made, and the steps necessary to build your own web site. Learn how easy it is to have your web presence!
Something
not working in your fiction or nonfiction? Here's your
chance to examine the seven most common problems that
keep a manuscript from being publishable.
Short
fiction is unlike longer fiction in more ways than
length. This course will help you understand the
basic structure of the short story, how to develop
your own style when writing one, and the importance
and process of revision.
COOL WEB SITE: MediaBistro's Fishbowl is one of the web sites I check daily for news about the publishing world. New York-centric and edgy.
WHO's
DOING WHAT: Send me your news.
Stephen Morrill, WritersCollege.com's Maximum Leader, collaborated on a new ebook, 100 Florida freebies & cheapies, which he is selling as an experiment in self-publishing. It's available at his Florida-travel web site www.VacationFunFlorida.com
If you're tired of reading about Steve's stuff, send us some News We Can Use.
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The
above might be printed. I usually use names. If
you wish something different, or want a web site mentioned,
tell me.
