Can Writing Be Taught?
Journalism and Technical Writing can be taught, but what about Creative Writing? I know many universities and colleges offer creative writing courses, as do some sixth-form colleges, but are they good value for money. Most importantly, can you find gainful employment as a writer of fiction when the course is finished and you are the proud owner of a shiny, new creative writing certificate.
The answer, or one of the answers to that question can be found somewhere in the publishing and fiction writing community; if you look hard enough, and are lucky enough to find someone whose ego will allow them to answer truthfully. Personally, I am not sure that an individual can be taught to write creatively. I will stick my neck on the block here, and say that I cannot think of one successful author of fiction who attributes his or her literary success to a creative writing course. Please correct me if I am wrong, and let me know via indiepubpro. I will show my appreciation and buy you a coffee.
I do appreciate the fact that less than ten percent of writers/authors worldwide actually make enough money from their writing to live on, so that leaves multitudes of scribes beavering away in the shadows for not much money. I also have it on good authority that the majority of students of creative writing courses find employment in the publishing and editing world, but not as writers. You can teach people the nuts and bolts of fiction writing, but you can’t teach the art of storytelling. In my opinion, you either have what it takes to bring magic out of thin air, or you don’t.
Similarly, if you teach creative writing or offer one of the many online courses, which proliferate the interweb, and you disagree with me, then please get in touch and tell me about your successful students. Again, a coffee of your choice could be yours. We at indiepubpro can never be accused of being a bunch of tight wads, that’s for sure.
One of my favourite writers is Stephen King. Before he became a full time writer he used to be a High School teacher, and he also taught creative writing at his local university. But some of his own writing rules would seem to contradict what is actually taught to creative writing students.
Two examples spring to mind. The first being the note book. Students are taught to have some way of keeping ideas when they appear, such as a notebook. He says that good ideas are the ones that stick around in your mind so you don’t need to write them down. They are always there until you use them. The second one is the plot. Mr King says that the plot is the last resort of a bad writer. Whether you agree with this literary genius, or not, is for the individual, but I reckon there will be a few writers out there who always meticulously plot their novels and have notebooks in every pocket and behind every cushion. What works for you as the individual is what matters. He also states that in his opinion creative writing cannot be taught. Writing is a self taught skill that is honed over time as your writing improves.
If you are not already, then become a voracious reader. Devour as many books as you can in as many genres as you can, and your subconscious will begin to store the writing patterns of numerous authors until your own unique style comes to fruition. In my humble opinion reading good literature as often as possible is better than any classroom.
Going back to the magic of creating a story out of thin air, which I mentioned earlier, cannot be taught in a classroom. Where the ideas come from to form a good story is anybody’s guess. Out of thin air, from the depths of our subconscious, or from Devine intervention, which I’ve heard mooted several times, nobody really knows. You either have that ability or you don’t. If you disagree with me, I would love to hear from you. SD
