I'm thinking about trying one soon...
Just wondering what your favourite was, and why?
I think I'd have to say Max Berry. He hasn't taught in a while but, but I generated A LOT of wriiting during and even after his course.
Craig Clevenger and Jack Ketchum were also great experiences!!
They've all been good in different ways, but Suzy Vitello's Dialogue course was amazing. I think it was a combination of the different styles of writing dialogue that she taught, her vibrant and engaging personality, the interaction she had with us students, and also, I seemed to take the class at the perfect stage of my writing progress that I needed it at.
I've learned something in every course I've taken and I've come out of each one with a new piece of writing to work on. If the subject catches your attention, odds are good that you are going to find it valuable. There are a lot of cool people taking classes and teaching classes. It's a great experience.
My two favorites have been the courses from John Skipp. The Choreography of Violence and Editing courses both helped me to hone my prose. I can't say enough good things about Skipp as an instructor. He is incredibly engaged and enthusiastic. He responds in detail, rolls with what the class needs, and is very supportive without losing sight of the power of a tough critique. He has presence--and his personality fills up the classroom. It's pretty awesome.
--Wendy
The Stephen Graham Jones class here at LR was excellent. The Ketchum class at The Cult was really good. The Max Barry class at The Cult was also really good, helped me write my first book. The Monica Drake class was good. I took TWO Clevenger classes at The Cult, and they were both amazing, different classes.
Really enjoyed Taylor's gammer course. Scraping up the cash now for the upcomming Clevenger class. At the same time cacking my pants a bit.
Stephen Graham Jones and Jack Ketchum were ones I'll never forget, but I think the Craig Clevenger class is essential for any genre of writer. Ones I've kicked myself for not taking yet are Joshua Mohr's and Jon Gingerich's short story workshop. I haven't had a bad experience with a class though, really.
I've heard these tales here and there of how great Max Barry's intensive one and since I'm reading one of his books now I keep on hoping that someday he'll have the time to do another, and hopefully at a moment when I magically have the spare cash.
I've taken three, Ecstatic States and Age of Immersion with Lidia Yuknavitch, and Tough Dames with Christa Faust. All three were phenomenal, but Ecstatic States was my favorite and where I saw the biggest change in my writing (it was also the first one I took).
Mike--I'm the class director, and if you've got any questions, or there's anything I can help with, feel free to shoot me a private message.
Otherwise, glad to see people saying nice things!
Max Barry's name is coming up a lot. Should I go after him?
I learned a lot in the Clevenger class. Things I had never even considered in my writing that are now some of the most important parts of character interaction in my writing.
The original Palahniuk class at the Cult website was probably the most life-changing, but all those essays are free now (well... free to paying members... so kind of free). I need to start saving money. I need more classes.
And I love Max Barry. He's fucking awesome.
http://litreactor.com/discuss/lets-talk-about-litreactors-online-class-program
Here is an open discussion started by Rob a while back where alot of people talk about what they would like to get out of classes and they comment on the classes they have taken. It should be helpful.
