Where to Find Great Writing Workshops

If you want to write a best-selling novel, start a freelance career, or simply gain support for that project you just can't seem to finish, a writing workshop may offer the encouragement you need. Like a book club, writing workshops require you to complete assignments and converse with peers about your progress. This can be intimidating -- and sometimes expensive in terms of time and money -- but if you make the commitment, you may be surprised at the results. Not only will you build a polished portfolio, you will create a network of writers like you.

Workshops are available on-line and in person, depending on where you live. Here are a few that may be worth your while:

1. Gotham Writers' Workshop -- Based in New York City, the Gotham Writers' Workshop offers classes both on-line and in New York. Six or ten week-long courses are available for all types of writing, including fiction, non-fiction, memoir, children's book, playwriting, humor, screen writing, and songwriting. Gotham also hosts one-day workshops on article writing, writing for documentary films, how to freelance, and how to get published, among others.

In-person classes are held once a week and cost $395 for ten weeks and $295 for six weeks. There is a discount for returning students. Each course has a limit of less than 20 participants (the actual capacity varies depending on the class). Each week, students meet with an instructor -- a writer in the course's topic field -- who facilitates discussion about writing and how to succeed in the industry. Students must participate in "The Booth," meaning that they each must give classmates copies of work for them to read during the week and critique. The reader must listen to all comments before responding -- no apologies allowed. The idea is that others will find strengths and weaknesses the writer may not see. This can be an intimidating process, but it can also be very helpful -- particularly if you have an instructor who is not only skilled in his or her field, but is also a good moderator.

On-line courses include much of the same format as the in-person classes, without the contact. Writers post comments on Blackboard, complete assignments in a notebook that only the instructor can see, and critique each other's work in an on-line version of "The Booth." On-line classes also cost $395 for ten weeks and and $295 for six weeks.

2. Mediabistro.com -- Mediabistro.com, an invaluable media job search engine, offers hundreds of on line and in-person writing courses on everything from writing "Chic Lit" novels to drafting the perfect pitch letter. In-person courses are available in New York, Los Angeles, San Fransisco, Seattle, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver and Indianapolis. Mediabistro.com also hosts seminars and panels on media-related topics. Course length and cost vary greatly by topic -- a 15-minute crash course on web writing, for example, costs $15, while an eight-week in-person course in New York costs $499.

Like Gotham Writer's Workshops, Mediabistro.com courses are taught by writers in the course topic field. Students have weekly assignments, and are required to share those assignments with classmates for critique. Those assignments must include pitch letters to specific magazines. Instructors often advise students to submit articles to fitting publications, from small newsletters to major newspapers. Medibistro.com prides itself on seeing its students in print, and some students actually see their bylines in popular media by the end of the course.

3. Artist's Way -- Based on the best-selling "spiritual path to higher creativity" handbook by Julia Cameron, Artist's Way workshops are available worldwide for aesthetes of all genres. The handbook itself is a 12-week course designed to shrug off inner critics and unleash creativity. Cameron encourages readers to write everyday, take themselves on "artist's dates" to places of inspiration, and to, overall, overcome inhibitions. Artists who have benefited from Cameron's philosophy often host seminars or weekend getaways to reinforce the book's messages. Official workshops are advertised at www.artistsway.com.

4. Writer's On Line Workshop -- Presented by Reader's Digest, these on-line workshops focus on fiction, grammar, non-fiction, life stories, poetry, composition, grammar and the business of writing. Classes are proctored by a seasoned instructor -- an acclaimed writer in the field -- who offers feedback on writing. The courses also include assignments and help establishing contacts in the industry. Work can be done at any time of day. The workshops last from six to fourteen weeks and cost $95 to $450, depending on topic and duration.

Check the classified section of your local newspaper, Craig's List, and local bookstores for other workshops in your area.

When shopping for writing courses, make sure to do your research. Read the profiles of the instructors and possibly some of their work so you can determine if their class will be a good fit for you. Also, ensure that the courses are backed by a reputable company and don't make sounds-too-good-to-be-true offers. A career in writing is challenging, rewarding and personal. Know your strengths and weaknesses and find a program that will help you grow.