Writing courses

I also am considering the Writers Bureau Course, so if anyone has taken the plunge and is willing to recommend it, please do! I'm also unsure about whether it's a good option, but I already work full-time so a distance learning course is my only real option-can anyone recommend any other good distance learning courses?

I enrolled on the Writer's Bureau a few years ago - thanks to Labour's now-defunct Individual Learning Accounts. I didn't stick with it for long - as David says, the course is useful if you want to make money from writing. That does mean a lot of letters to Woman's Own (the star letter wins about £20). I don't want to put it down, the course does get more interesting later on and the tutor feedback is helpful. It just made me realise that I'm not that bothered whether I make money out of writing. I'd rather put my energies into writing stuff that means something to me personally. I've heard that the Open College of the Arts (affiliated to the OU) do good writing courses, for example. That's distance learning too, but it might be useful to actually go to a local writers' workshop and get inspired by other people. It all depends on the mix - good teachers, bright students. But while they might stimulate you into greater creativity, I don't know of any course that will guarantee you instant publication. My feeling is that no one can teach you to write, but the support can be invaluable when you're starting out. [%sig%]

I think the best way to improve your writing is probably to read stuff by people who are good at writing (or read stuff by people who are bad at writing and consider why it is you can't be arsed to carry on reading). I don't think courses like The Writer's Bureau would make you any better or worse at writing but they might improve your chance of making money from whatever talents you have. I don't know about MAs but I think degree courses in Creative Writing are often a very bad idea as they encourage people to write novels before they've had any experiences in their lives worth writing about.

I'm enjoying the London School of Journalism's short story course. They do a number of different courses, see www.lsj.org.

If you're after some sort of structure to motivate your writing, a supportive writing community, constant feedback and introductions to publishers and agents then a good MA is worth the cost. I'm in my first year at Glasgow Uni (2 yr MA, part time) and I can definitely recommend it - lots of individual attention, good teaching, generally a high standard of work. But there are loads of courses out there and some must be better than others, so I'd choose carefully. Look at their list of former students, speak to some of them if possible, check out the tutors etc. Find out how hard it is to get in - the more applicants a course has the better its reputation - though that doesn't always translate to great teaching I suppose. Basically, they cost a lot and you want to get your money's worth. I'm now working part-time so I have enough time to make the most of these two years, so have suddenly become tremendously poor - but I still think it's worth it! [%sig%]

The MA in Creative Writing at the University of East Anglia is on of the longest running (if not THE longest running) and most respected in the country - I believe it's still going strong.

I am also considering the course by The Writers Bureau, and have the same concerns as you. I would rather not pay for and commit to a long-term MA as I am already a Masters graduate in my own specialism. I also work part-time and have a young family, but have been writing most of my life in some form or another. I would like something that geared me up for publication asap. Did you choose to do the course - I would be interested to know.