Angela W.’s Experience in Beginning Writer’s Workshop

Angela W.’s Experience in Beginning Writer’s Workshop

Having a formal education in Creative Writing, I always appreciate another writer’s passion… particularly when it comes from a new writer, or when it comes from someone who didn’t know they had the ability to tell a compelling story.

Angela W. recently completed Beginning Writer’s Workshop, and put some formalized training behind her preexisting passion for writing. We love her writer’s voice and enthusiasm in the Student Story she share with us below.

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“I enrolled in Creative Writing for Beginners on a whim. I am neither creative nor a writer but am compelled to write. Write what? I hadn’t a clue. Coffee shop regulars with their laptops looked so romantic, and I yearned to be them. The next J.K. Rowling – that would be me. Storyline, plot or idea for a book was nonexistent. The urge to write, however, was very much present.

With high hopes, I logged into the online classroom and began Lesson 1. The lesson hooked me from the first word. Easy-to-read short lessons, entertaining anecdotes, colorful little pictures when your mind started to wander, and thoughtful assignments – everything a dream class is made of. I learned much more than I anticipated, not only from the encouraging instructor but from an extensive world wide online community of students.

I am a stay at home mother to four lively children. Taking this class was a big risk. Would I find the time? Could I do it and manage the family? Would my writing be good enough? Would this even be fun? All of those questions were answered quickly with a resounding “Yes!” Admittedly, times of stress existed. When the kids demanded my attention, and I was in the writing zone, I may have yelled, “Please, stop! Mommy is doing her homework!” Rightfully confused, the children assumed I was on Pinterest or Facebook and couldn’t understand why there were homework assignments or why I wasn’t feeding them dinner. When a writer is in the zone…

I can call myself a writer despite having published nothing. Writing provides a satisfying relief to get the daydreams out of your head and on to paper. Writing begets writing and the desire to keep on writing. A word of advice: It is easier to write at home in the comfort of pajamas, whilst cleaning up the house, and managing children’s squabbles than writing in a coffee shop, drinking too much coffee and spending most of the time going back and forth to the bathroom. Despite this observation, the coffee shop dream is still with me. One day, I will coffee shop hop until I figure out proper ‘coffee shop writer’ etiquette. This class offered all of these incredibly unique findings and more!

Writing connects all of the ugly messes in life to the beauty life offers. If the need to write has bubbled up from the depths of your belly, but you’ve had no story to tell, this is the class for you. Everyone has a story; not everyone has the guts to write it. Have guts. Take this class.”

– Angela W.

Check out the course Angela took here!