Warning: That $150 creative writing workshop I paid for was a total waste

I signed up for an online workshop last month run by some author with a big following. Paid $150 for a 4 week course. We got a few generic prompts and her reading our first 500 words. No real feedback on structure or plot. I got more out of a free YouTube video. Has anyone else had luck with cheaper or free alternatives for writing workshops?

2 comments

2 Comments

irisross1d ago

My friend Jenna paid $200 for a similar workshop and got a PDF that looked like it was copy-pasted from a blog. She said the free critique threads on Writing Forums helped her way more than that class ever did.

riverwhite1d ago

Have you looked at the free resources from the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) site? Their forums and pep talks gave me more practical tips than any paid class. The local writing center near me also does cheap one-off sessions that actually focus on fixing real plot holes.