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Fiction Writing Made Easy

#110: Is A Writing Course Really Worth it For Beginners?

Fiction Writing Made Easy

Savannah Gilbo

Education, Fiction, Writing Tips, Arts, Bestseller, Writing, How To, Author, Writing Community, Books, Novel, How To Write Fiction, Writing Fiction, Writer, How To Write A Book

4.91.5K Ratings

🗓️ 26 September 2023

⏱️ 12 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In today’s episode, I’m sharing my thoughts on writing courses—including 5 things that make a fiction writing course worth your time and money. Here’s a preview of what’s included:

[02:15] A good writing course should provide you with more than just “tactics and templates.” It should move you beyond just learning and get you into action.
[04:45] A good writing course should provide you with a community of like-minded writers who share similar goals and access to a mentor who can support you.
[08:05] A good writing course should feel like a “HECK YES!” And if it doesn't, then it's probably a heck no—and that's okay! Trust your gut on this decision.
[09:15] My two cents re: the question, "Can you learn to write a book from all the free resources online and/or in craft books?" (Spoiler alert: YES, you can!)

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Links mentioned in this episode:

Join the LIVE 5-Day Unlock Your Story Challenge here! Let me help you develop the 4 foundational elements of a working story idea—a plot that hooks interest, a protagonist with a compelling goal, conflict with high stakes, and a theme with heart—for only $47! 

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Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Real quick, my five-day live challenge called Unlock Your Story is about to begin.

0:04.7

We're about to shut down enrollment and get started on September 28th,

0:08.5

so I wanted to give you one last chance to head over to SavannahGilbo.com forward slash

0:13.3

challenge to save your seat before your chance is gone. If writing a novel has been a dream of yours

0:18.0

for a while or something on your to-do list that you'd really like to check off,

0:22.2

then join me inside the Unlock Your Story Challenge, where I'll help you develop the four

0:26.4

foundational elements of a working story idea. A plot that hooks interest at protagonists

0:30.8

with a compelling goal, conflict with high stakes, and a theme with heart in just five days.

0:35.6

It's only $47 to join, but the doors are closing very, very soon. You can either

0:40.2

head to savannagilbo.com forward slash challenge to sign up, or you can find me on Instagram

0:45.1

at savanna.gilbo and send me a DM with the word challenge. If you DM me the word challenge,

0:50.1

I will send you a link with all the details you need to join. Hope to see you there.

0:54.4

This is an especially valuable thing to consider. If you're thinking about enrolling in a self-study

0:59.4

program, which is what most writing courses are. And that's because having a community allows you

1:04.4

to ask questions about any lessons you don't fully understand, post your homework for peer review,

1:09.9

get advice on what you're writing, or just connect with other writers who get you. And having

1:14.4

these people to turn to in times of frustration, stress, and success can be worth the money spent

1:20.0

to join the course alone. Welcome to the Fiction Writing Made Easy Podcast. My name is

1:25.9

savannagilbo, and I'm here to help you write a story that works. I want to prove to you that

1:30.5

writing a novel doesn't have to be overwhelming. So each week, I'll bring you a brand new episode

1:35.5

with simple, actionable, and step-by-step strategies that you can implement in your writing right

1:40.5

away. So whether you're brand new to writing or more of a seasoned author looking to improve your

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