Friday, June 29, 2012

I'm going back to school...



Well, technically I guess I'm not going back to school. But I have signed up for three online courses this summer. One has already started, and I've played hookey from it all week to hang out at the beach with my kids. Shhhh!  But next week, I'll buckle down and catch up. I Promise.

So what courses have I enrolled in?
1) Writing and Researching Regencies
2) Writing and Researching Historical Fiction 
3) Writing Regency Set Novels. 

I guess you already picked up on the theme of the courses. Why am I doing this? Well, for the last few years, my entire focus has been on getting published in category fiction. I love contemporary romance and I can't imagine not writing it.  And my goal is to always write contemporary romance.  But I do have another secret passion-historical romance. I always thought it would be kind of fun to write a historical...except where would I start?  I stumbled upon a few websites that offer some in-depth historical romance writing/researching courses. They are offered online, are a reasonable price, give you access to intructors who will answer any questions you have, will give you assignments (I know, I know, I'm already behind), and offer a plethora of resources.

So why do this now? I've got my hands full already, do I really need to add something else?  Maybe not.  But then I thought, when else am I going to do this? There will always be a thousand things going on, and sometimes you just have to make the time to do the things you really want to do.  I also think I've discovered that I'm one of those people who thrives on a little bit crazy. You know, when things are running smoothly and there's no sirens going off, I kind of lose momentum. But when it feels like my plate is so full and everything is spilling off and the plate is in danger of breaking, that's when I kick it into high gear. 

I also think it's a positive, constructive environment...I'm surrounded by other writers and the instructors are romance authors (who write contemporary as well as historical). I also know that if I weren't enrolled in these classes, I'd never just sit down and start researching regency England. I also think that pursuing anything in your field can only help you. I don't for one second think that I'm going to be diving into writing that Regency romance book anytime soon, but I do think that I'll probably be able to apply some of what I've learned to what I'm writing now. And I think it will get the creativity flowing, so when I'm daydreaming I might start doing a little Regency daydreaming...

Now, I guess I'd better get back to reality...heading home from the beach today...and back to class!

So that's it...how about you?  Have you ever taken any writing courses?  Plan on taking any?

6 comments:

  1. Great post, Victoria! I have never taken a writing class in my life but this sounds like fun and it's nice that the schedule is so, um...flexible, shall we say? LOL. Might have to see what other courses are being offered:-)

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    1. Thanks, Olivia...ha yes, the schedule really did appeal to me. I'll let you know how it goes once I catch up! :-)

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  2. Good for you for being so ambitious!!! That's wonderful. I too love writing contemporaries but have a secret longing to write historicals. In fact, I have an unfinished, but plotted out highlander ms somewhere in my files. I haven't looked at it in forever. I hope your dreams come true and you write both contemporary and historical. Boy that'll really keep your plate full. *G*

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    1. Ooooh a highlander manuscript?? Hmm...now that I'm aware of this, you know I'll pester you to finish it don't you? ;-)

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  3. Wow, I'm impressed! I took writing seminars in college and loved them, mostly because they gave me an excuse to write something fun (vs. term papers). I've read some amazing historicals, but I'm completely intimidated by the thought of writing one, so I can see where a class would be helpful to break down those barriers. You'll have to share some tips!

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    1. Hi, Natalie! I will definitely share tips, as soon as I um...catch up on the lessons I missed :-) I know, writing a historical is very intimidating to me too, so I'm excited to see if I'll gather up the nerve once the classes are finished.

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