Things You'll Need:
- Journals And Magazines
- Office Supplies
- Dictionaries
- Thesauri
- Notebooks
- File Folders
- Computers
- Laser Printers
- Rhyming Dictionaries
- Internet Access
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Step 1
Look for a course that will focus on your goal. Classes range in subject from writing poetry and fiction to crafting the Great American Novel, naming characters, honing business communications, marketing your work and even writing children's books.
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Step 2
Check out the syllabus for the course to make sure you can fulfill the time requirements. Take into consideration class time, reading, writing and extracurricular activities.
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Step 3
Pay attention to the credentials of the person teaching the course. Look for someone with the experience you would like to have, whether that is a published author, a poet or a successful technical writer.
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Step 4
Complete all assignments on time as you go through the course. In most cases, procrastination does not lead people to produce their best work.
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Step 5
Take advantage of opportunities to get feedback on your writing. Many online writing courses offer students the opportunity to post their work, share assignments via e-mail, receive one-to-one advice from the instructor, join writers' groups and even correspond with potential editors.
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Step 6
Practice what you learn. Go the extra mile and write something else based on your class assignments to help you better understand the methods and techniques.
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Step 7
Print all the notes, assignments, tips, techniques and even critiques for future reference. This way, even after the course is over, you can easily refer to your notes when struggling through a situation covered in the course.
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Step 8
Start writing.
