Tell me why I should continue my online writing class

[Nikia]

I was a prolific fiction writer throughout my childhood and teen years. None of my pieces were sold, but some were published in community publications. Now, in my early thirties, I have decided to try writing again. To motivate myself to be serious about this pursuit, I enrolled in an online writing class. I paid almost $200 for the class and the instructor written textbook. If I were a teacher, I'd get continuing education credit for it. It is otherwise noncredit. It is taught by a writing professor at a major university.
I am a quarter of the way through the class, having done 3 of the 12 assignments, and am getting rather discouraged. I know that the professors comments are meant to be constructve criticism, but I feel like she is writing "You really suck at writing. Don't make me read anything else that you write until you get much better at this."
I work 45-50 hours a week and have a baby. Sometimes I wonder why I should bother.

[skygazer]

1. Criticism can be tough to take

However, no one improves at anything if the only feedback they're getting is "Wow, this is great!" I know it would be really nice to hear that all the time, but it's not constructive at all.

No one improves at anything if they don't do a lot of it, either. So while you might feel like your instructor is saying, "Don't make me read anything else until you get much better," you're not going to be better if you don't write and get that feedback.

At the same time, it sounds like you have a lot on your plate so it may not be the best time to do this. If it really is too much, there's no shame in dropping it and waiting until you have more time to devote to it. But if it's more discouragement than lack of time, I think sticking with it could be good.

You have money invested in the course. Why not get your money's worth by completing it? Sure, it's noncredit but that means that you don't have to sweat your grade too much and can simply do your best and get what you can out of it. Try to use the criticism to improve your writing - that's what it's for. Try not to see it as personal. Hard to do but if you really want to write, necessary. And use it to discipline yourself to write. I know for me, I have ten million ideas rolling around in my head all the time but I never get them set down unless I have to for a class.

Lastly, why should you bother? Because you want to write. :)

[Orrex]

4. That's an excellent reply from start to finish

:thumbsup:

[XemaSab]

2. I paid $600 for a grammar class

that I am getting a C in. I got 70% on the last assignment. I spent 5 hours on it, and it was 30 questions.

Lame.

[quakerboy]

3. Cause you want to know how it ends.

Also cause you already paid