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underneath the stars
Feb. 17th, 2011 03:54 pmI'm currently enrolled in an excellent technical writing certification program. I actually already have a technical writing certificate, and though serviceable, it's very basic. The program I'm enrolled in runs the students through the wringer, turning us into skilled, accomplished publishing professionals.
It's an intense, exhausting, often frustrating, awesome program.
Actually, the program itself isn't frustrating, per se -- it's some of the software products we use that are frustrating. But software is like that. These frustrations teach patience and diligence, and encourage tenacity and innovation.
One of the cool extras that comes with the technical writing program is that what I learn in class applies to fiction writing. We discuss topics like reader-centered writing, communing with the reader, the creative act and how to foster that, how to edit, how to be better writers, and how to be business-minded, organized individuals who can plan.
Writing is a creative act. It's an art. But if you want to be a published author with any semblance of a career, it's also a business. And funnily enough, it's going to be my return to academia that will help me traverse some of these waters.
It's an intense, exhausting, often frustrating, awesome program.
Actually, the program itself isn't frustrating, per se -- it's some of the software products we use that are frustrating. But software is like that. These frustrations teach patience and diligence, and encourage tenacity and innovation.
One of the cool extras that comes with the technical writing program is that what I learn in class applies to fiction writing. We discuss topics like reader-centered writing, communing with the reader, the creative act and how to foster that, how to edit, how to be better writers, and how to be business-minded, organized individuals who can plan.
Writing is a creative act. It's an art. But if you want to be a published author with any semblance of a career, it's also a business. And funnily enough, it's going to be my return to academia that will help me traverse some of these waters.
