Inspiration Clinic: Take a Class

You don’t have to have a college degree to be a freelance writer. You don’t even have to have a high school education, really, as long as you know your craft well. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t constantly work on improving yourself, and one of the best ways to do that is to take a class.

Can You Justify the Cost?

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Right now, it seems like everyone is short on cash. The good news is that you can apply for student loans pretty easily, even if your credit isn’t great, and the cost of classes may be a tax write-off. Your local community college probably isn’t as expensive as you may think, either. While a private college can cost $6000+ for just one class, most community colleges are just 10% of that cost – or even less. Do some research; you’ll be surprised at what you can afford.

Don’t forget to check out online classes as well. If you live in a rural area without many college choices or can’t find anything affordable in your area. Just be aware that not every online college is accredited or even legitimate. Check out the school before you give your money away.

Which Class to Take

Taking a class can really inspire you to branch on with your writing. Try to take something a little outside of your comfort zone. For example, as a freelancer, you probably already have pretty good nonfiction writing skills. So, instead of a nonfiction or journalism class, why not stretch your writing muscles a little and take a poetry class or a literature class?

The added bonus, of course, is that you can put whatever classes you take toward a deree, as long as you pass. It make take you ten years to get a degree ony taking a few classes at a time, but so what? It can’t hurt. Talk to an advisor at the school about your options as far as being a degree candidate goes, and be aware that community college courses don’t always transfer to other colleges.

Non-College Classes

Think a college course will be too much work for your busy schedule, consider looking for a class in your community. Business organizations, community groups, high schools, and many other places sponsor classes on computers, creative writing, and other topics. Even a cooking class, crafting class, rock climbing class, or something else that seems unrelated to freelancing can help inspire you. After all, after you take a class, you’re a little more qualified to write about that topic.

Get out there. Explore the world. Learn. And then come back here and leave a comment telling us all about your experiences!