NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) is over for 2018 but there are still some amazing resources out there for winners and participants alike to use. For those who are familiar with NaNoWriMo, they offer pretty amazing sponsor offers each year both for November and for Camp NaNoWriMo which takes place in both April and July. If you want to read a bit more about NaNoWriMo you can do so here. Anyway, one of those offers was one free course with CreativeLive.
CreativeLive is a resourced for the creators of the world. It offers courses and other tools to help those imaginative, innovative and creative people succeed in their dreams. Classes are held live 24/7 and there are also courses that can be purchased. And let me tell you that CreativeLive has a lot to offer when it comes to courses, from Adobe to photography to writing and even embroidery! Their workshops are to provide support with a “fresh approach to education.” Some of the classes are free, the ones that are live and on the air but other courses come at an expense for viewers. The classes are taught by professionals in their respective fields in front of real people. The site is user-friendly. The font is easy to read and you can search pretty much anything you may want to know.
As for the class I chose, “Wired for Story: How To Become A Story Genius,” it has truly impacted the way I think about my work. I thought that I was doing well when it came to backstory and crafting the worldview of my protagonist but the instructor, Lisa Cron (who has had a long history in the publishing industry) helped me to understand what I could do to make first drafts so well-written that they look like third drafts. Do you know how much time and effort I could have saved if I’d discovered her tips sooner?! Or how much paper? (As I am an old crone who writes by hand….) And now, the work in progress I have thanks to last month’s escapade into the amazing insanity that is NaNoWriMo, I can play her hints, tips and suggestions forward. Hopefully, by doing this my first draft won’t be complete garbage (as first drafts often are). So, I can honestly say that the classes are useful and I do intend on looking into more courses once I have the time.
Going back to the classes in general, you can get reminders of upcoming classes that are soon to be airing. This is nice if you see a class you want to attend that you couldn’t find in your initial search or if you just want to save a few bucks by attending the live class.
Photo Courtesy of CreativeLive.com
The big question is: it worth the price? While attending the courses can get pretty steep (the class I got for free would have cost $100 otherwise), I do think checking out the website for yourself is worth it. Why? Because you could just attend one of the live classes to determine how you like the site. Or you can just as easily check out the free guides they offer or maybe even their blog. The staff at CreativeLive claim to be champions of creativity and I can see that in the honest effort they put into providing services for the makers and dreamers out there. Prices vary depending upon the course you choose so a quick look wouldn’t hurt. And if you participated in NaNoWriMo but never got a chance to look into the sponsor offers, well here is a bonus for you!
Oh, and for those living in San Francisco or Seattle, if you volunteer to be a part of their studio audience, you gain access to that course forever. You go, Glen CoCo!
How do you improve your writing? What resources are our favorite? And if you are interested in me posting a resource list, let me know! Be sure to follow me on Instagram for more bookish content @Chyina_Powell and to share this blog with your fellow word nerds!
Happy writing!
Chyina
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