If you’re interested in any sort of career in writing, you may be thinking about applying to writing schools. However, sorting through your options in order to find the best writing schools can be a struggle. There are a number of options to choose from, and you might not know which are geared towards helping their clients, and which are geared towards just making more money.
When considering different writing schools you may wish to apply to, look for the following traits.
1. Published Professors
This is very important. If the people teaching you how to write haven’t been published, odds are good that they don’t actually possess strong writing skills. By the time they are far enough in their careers to be considered for teaching positions, they should have been published multiple times. You can’t learn how to write from a teacher who isn’t talented enough to have reached this essential milestone yet. On top of that, when the professors have published works available, you can read them on your own to get a better sense of their skill and style.
2. References
When looking at the website for a writing school, you may be too focused on looking into the application process, costs, and academic programs, overlooking a major element in the process – references and testimonials. If a school actually delivers on its advertised promises, then former clients will be happy to share their kind words and reviews. The school, too, will want to share these reviews on their website to attract more clients. At the very least, they’ll want to share testimonials from former clients if you request them.
On the other hand, if they’re not willing to provide you with any references, that’s probably because they don’t actually do right by their students. As such, you should strive to avoid them.
3. Certifications
Look at the certifications available for writing schools in your area. Ideally, the school, you have chosen to study at, will have all the proper qualifications for this type of education. You may need to email the school to confirm that they are accredited, but it’s worth taking this extra step. You don’t want to select a school merely because they have made a large number of claims that they couldn’t actually back up.
4. Strong Website Content
Many people overlook this detail, but you shouldn’t. If the content of the school’s website is grammatically strong, then you can be certain that they truly value effective writing. On the other hand, if you find that the writing on the website contains numerous errors, you may wish to look elsewhere for your writing education needs. If they don’t value strong writing on their own website, there’s good reason to believe that they don’t truly hold anyone to high standards, whether they are students or instructors.
Finding a writing school doesn’t need to be a difficult task. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be sure to find the right program for you.