Should you take a writing course?

Something that I’m sure every writer has asked themselves at one point is if they should take a writing course. Whether they’re old, young, just picking up the craft, or have been at it for a few years. And hey, it’s a totally understandable; a little practice never hurt anybody and it’s always a good idea to be open to new writing techniques. Since I am a writer myself, I’m sure you’re wondering what my stance is on the subject. So, to the question of whether or not you should take a writing course, my answer is this:

Yes and no.

Allow me to explain.

When it comes to any type of course or class, the main objective is to learn something new that you can apply later on. Say you’re taking a cooking class. The entire point of going to a cooking class is for you to learn some new techniques that you can later use at home or for your professional career. Sure, you could watch a YouTube video or read a book about cooking but sometimes it’s best to learn with an instructor there to teach you and other students to learn with.

That, in theory, is the point of a writing course. You meet with other students to listen to an instructor, follow their…