You have been looking to enroll in a professional writing course but can’t find the best one amidst the sea of courses available online. Here is a useful guide to finding the best one for you.
The way to finding the best-suited professional writing course is to give deep consideration to the following four elements.
1. The Course Content
You want to begin by choosing the right course by identifying the skill you want to acquire. While this sounds simple and straightforward, it requires a thorough assessment of how you already write and a basic understanding of the range of writing styles out there.
Commonly, writing courses fall into one of two categories.
1. Writing mechanics: courses that teach a particular writing skill, such as effectively marketing your writing services.
2. Writing projects: courses that teach how to construct a specific project, such as writing a web page or writing a resume.
2. The Course Description
Writing courses are aplenty. From creative writing to technical writing, there are a host of genres to learn. Therefore, you must pay attention to the description of the course in question. The description will provide specific objectives of the professional writing course and clearly state what you can expect to learn from the course. At this step, you can compare what you want to learn with the course description. If they match, you can consider taking the course.
3. The Course Venue
Live courses and online courses each come backed with advantages and drawbacks.
Live courses
An offline or live course gives you immediate access to the instructor, allowing you to ask questions and receive instant feedback. Often a live course comprises a small class size, which makes discussions and peers critique easy. One drawback of live writing classes, however, is inconvenience. Attending the class in person or at a particular time may not always be possible
Online courses
From one-time webinars to a series of in-depth lectures, online courses come in a wide range. Online professional writing courses are either strictly scheduled or are self-paced.
One major advantage of online courses is accessibility. All you need is a device with proper system requirements, and you are ready to take the course. A potential drawback is an isolation. You may not feel connected with your instructor or classmates. If you work well independently, however, online professional writing courses are a good bet for you. You also get the flexibility to take the class after work hours, before work hours, on the weekends, or when the kids are in bed.
4. The Course Format
Check whether the course is in a passive format or interactive format.
In a passive format, information about writing is simply presented to you in a manner that allows you to read or listen. Think of a lecture, e-book, video, or series of helpful web pages. Such a format can prove helpful if you want to learn about a particular subject. However, if you wish to acquire a new skill, this option may not necessarily be a good choice.
An interactive format, on the other hand, guides you in addition to presenting information about writing. Interactive courses are backed with practice questions, quizzes, and the likes. Interactive professional writing courses take a practical approach to teaching. Some interactive formats go a step further offering instructor feedback, peer feedback, or even definitive grades and certification for credit.
To sum it up, identify what you wish to gain from a writing course. Analyze the course content, venue, and format wisely, and you will align with the best professional writing course. With these four fundamental elements in place, looking for a suitable professional writing course will become easy.