Someone's laughing all the way the Bank...

[erastes]

I just discovered that one of the most prestigious writing courses was offered at the University of East Anglia, it was founded by Malcolm Bradbury in 1970 apparantly, and competition is fierce. (It's an MA (Master of Arts) in Creative Writing)

So I thought - well, why not? So I trot over to the UEA website and have a look, and it seems promising - it consists of one workshop a week, (do-able, possibly work would give me an day off) over two Semesters. And I think... Hmmmm. That sounds good.

As usual with most educatory brochures they are incomprehensible so I give the nice lady a ring at UEA and ask her to confirm the course. "Yes, one workshop on a Tuesday"

Me: Oh OK. Can't see the fee anywhere...

Her: Same fee as all courses at the UEA.

Me: (fainted) ...(weak voice) what.... £3,138?

Her: Yes. And it'll be going up next year, it'll probably be £4,000.

Me: ........ Oh.. Ok. Thanks....

Well, I'm sorry about that, but world famous and presitigious you might be, MA in Creative Writing, but who the FUCK can afford that? Unless you are a wealthy person who doesn't work, or a housewife with a nice husband.

Let's work that out shall we? *calculates*

That's approximately £25 an HOUR. You could probably get a private tutor for less. You can't tell me that 24 (number of students) times £4K = *£96,000* is the real cost of a yearly course.

*cries* I really wanted to do it, too.

Hey - I've got an idea. I'll promise to write more Snucius - say two Snuciuses every week, and you send me money? email to imnotcassieclaire@ripyouoff.co.uk

*removes tongue from cheek*

Comments

Sadly...

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

... that's a pretty standard fee. A course in Germany I know of offers to teach you "all kinds of writing", runs over three years and comes out at somewhere around 4k Euro. And churns out *shit* writers by the hundreds. Can't mention the name, they call it libel, I call it trigger-happy lawyers.

Re: Sadly...

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

In America, you'd pay maybe four thousand dollars to attend the prestigious Clarion Workshop, which is basically a six-week summer course, taught by the big names in the field, in writing various aspects of science fiction and fantasy.

If you just wanted to take a creative writing course for adults at one of the local colleges in my home town, you'd pay about 150 to 300 dollars, depending on the course and whether or not you were a resident of the town. That's not cheap either, but it's a hell of a lot better than four thousand.

Re: Sadly...

[rwday.livejournal.com]

Clarion 2006 costs were $1320 fees and about $1200 housing, so even with food, I think that would be less than $4000.

I don't think most of the local creative writing classes are worth the money, frankly, as they're (in my experience at least) mostly taught by people who make a living teaching creative writing, not actually WRITING.

Re: Sadly...

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

You're forgetting transportation to get there and back. I think that, added to the fees, housing and food, would probably bring the Clarion costs to around $4000.

I don't think most of the local creative writing classes are worth the money, frankly, as they're (in my experience at least) mostly taught by people who make a living teaching creative writing, not actually WRITING.

Agreed in spades.

Re: Sadly...

[rwday.livejournal.com]

Oh, right, if you fly. I drive routinely to Ohio to visit my father and Michigan is just another few hours beyond, so I would drive it, crashing at his house for the night, so my total transportation costs would probably be $300 or less.

Those creative writign classes remind me of all those 'how to write' books written by people who have only written 'how to write' books. Big Effing Rip-offs.

Re: Sadly...

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

I don't think most of the local creative writing classes are worth the money, frankly, as they're (in my experience at least) mostly taught by people who make a living teaching creative writing, not actually WRITING.

Well, yes and no. I started a small creative writing business with a few friends. Most of us have literature degrees, and/or have read insane amounts of fiction. We are published, as reviewers, screenplay writers, novelists and poets. We do not make a living out of writing (small print runs, genre writing that does not pay a year's rent, or free publishign because nobody pays for poetry or reviews) - but even so, we know a lot about writing, and teachign writing is a different skill set to writing. Many writers are hermits. Good teachers only have to spot problems in a text, and help the writer realize stuff about her/himself. Most of us have been there, we believe there are shortcuts to some of the painful experiences (like vanity press) and we believe we can help.

Living off either? Very difficult. I'm glad I have a career. Still, I love teaching.

Re: Sadly...

[rwday.livejournal.com]

Um. I said 'most' and 'in my experience'. Of course there are good small creative writing classes. I am a former English teacher, though, and I have to say that a lot of the pedagogical techniques I was encouraged to use are NOT good practice for writing if you want to be published (for example, encouraging 'said bookisms')

I've known more than a few established pro writers who failed creative writing classes at various points in their lives. Your business sounds great, but I would suggest for people who don't have access to something like that, a writing group can go a long way towards helping beginning writers avoid painful experiences and it doesn't usually cost much.

Re: Sadly...

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Hm.... I am not convinced about the quality of adult education workshops. I've seen a few, and they are dumbed down to accomodate pensioners writing about how the world should be. Nothing against that, but real tuition does not happen, in my experience, in these courses. But that's me, the elitist bitch. :)

Re: Sadly...

[gehayi.livejournal.com]

I've taken a few adult ed workshops (in creative writing and in other subjects), and I agree with you 150%.

Re: Sadly...

[erastes.livejournal.com]

yes, but is that 4k euro a year?? for TWO semesters, six hours a week?

or over the 3 years?

I'm shocked.

Re: Sadly...

[vashtan.livejournal.com]

Over the three years. Course is done through letters. Youget "personal" coaching. I know for a fact that that academy has very strict guidelines for the coaches. In essence, they are not allowed to make you feel bad about your writing, not establish personal contact (like, phone or meeting) and you get massively penalized if you break the rules. Bastards. I read some of their "assessments" of one of my writing pupils. If those bitches had been honest with her, she could have saved 5 years of stupid mistakes that kept her from publishing. What a waste of space and money.

(Yes, the other person is my other LJ)