Your Creative Writing Class Application Checklist
Advice for putting together a successful application
Joining an intensive class can be a big step in committing to a writing life. Here are some things to think about when it comes to signing up for a writing class, and/or putting together an application that accurately reflects who you are as a writer:
1. Timing
Consider not just the timing of the class such as meeting times and schedule, but also the timing of taking this class in relation to your writing path and career.
Why is now the time for you to join a dedicated writing community? What have you been trying to do on your own, but hasn’t been working out? What do you know you can achieve if you get this burst of support and inspiration at this key moment?
2. Alignment
Are you the right writer for the course offering? Is it basic, intermediate, or advanced? What kind of work will you complete in the class, or what will you learn?
Try to pay attention to the workload of the class itself, where you’re at in your writing journey, and what the outcomes of the class will be.
Here’s an example of a live writing class, with feedback, where the goal is to produce 100 pages.
If you feel that it’s time for you to generate new work and meet new writers who are working at the same pace and intensity as you, then it’s time to apply for a course with this kind of intensity.
Here’s an example of an asynchronous class, where the goal is to learn a new skill and apply it to your work at our own pace.
If you’re feeling like you need new ideas on how to structure and improve your writing, and you don’t want the pressure of eyes on your work right away, this could be a great option to move your writing forward.
3. Goals
Being in touch with your writing goals is always going to help you make decisions, and gain access to resources, in your career. Sometimes, you may feel that it’s important for you to finish writing a book. At other times, you might want to focus on honing a specific skill set that will serve you for years to come.
When filling out the goals section of an application, share both big goals and short-term goals. Do you want to write multiple books? Do you have a complex collection of essays?
In the short-term, are you just trying to get more work done? Do you benefit from deadlines and community? Are you trying to improve your craft or discipline in your writing habit?
Reference any notes you jotted down for Timing & Alignment. Why now? If you can express why it’s the right time for you to make this leap in your writing life, it’s easier for the evaluator of your application to see that you belong in this class.
4. Writing Sample
The writing sample is always the most important part of a creative writing application. That being said, the most dangerous thing you can do in your application is agonize and worry about it too much. It’s easy to put too much pressure on yourself and end up not applying for an opportunity at all.
Instead, as you’re looking over the work you have to submit, look at it as a snapshot of who you are as a writer right now, without attaching harsh critiques to the quality. The end goal of any creative writing application is to paint an accurate portrait of what you’re doing right now.
That means that when choosing what to submit for your writing sample, try to look for a section of writing that most accurately represents what you’re working on at the moment. Look for an excerpt that is dealing with the tricky questions currently on your mind, attempting the form and prose that is most interesting to you right now, and exploring a topic that has been holding your attention.
When you submit a sample that captures your current obsessions, you’re giving the evaluator the best chance possible to understand who you are as a writer.
The only surefire way to not succeed at your next writing goal is to never apply for anything. No matter what you do, the only important piece of advice is this — apply! See what happens!
And if you’re ready to join a class with me, then use this checklist on the next session of Radical Collapse!