Selecting Classes

"Just 'cause she dances go-go, that don't make her a ho, no..."-Wyclef Jean, Perfect Gentleman

Alright, admittedly this post is only of interest to anyone in college and looking to improve their writing---but as that's probably a majority of the people reading this, I'm going to post it anyway.

When it comes to writing in college and selecting classes I have two major pieces of advice.

1.) Don't put too much emphasis on creative writing classes and workshops. They can be of great help, or they can be the most frustrating experiences ever, and it will be difficult to tell ahead of time which they'll be. By all means take them, but be aware going in that they may be awful, and realize that there may be other classes out there that will improve your writing more. Writing can't be taught, it can be only be learned, and classes that purport to teach it to you may actually not be the best place to learn it.

2.) Take a wide breadth of courses. This matters especially for those of you writing fantasy or sci-fi, but I really think it applies to everyone. There is nothing you don't need to know as an author. Everything from art history to chemistry to sociology to economics can be used in your writing---but only if you know it. So learn as much as you can. Aim to be a jack of all trades rather than master one. How to work this in with a major of some kind is up to you, but that's my advice.

More later this week on why writing can't be taught and why people who think it can probably shouldn't be teaching it.