Can Writing Really Be Taught?

Nowadays, there are countless courses available to writers.  From one-day courses to three-year PhDs, the places that offer creative writing courses is constantly growing.  Despite this, some cynics believe creative writing courses aren’t worth it because “you can’t learn creative writing”.  Author Hanif Kureishi famously dismissed creative writing courses as 'a waste of time', but can this really be true, especially as they continue to grow in popularity?

Andrew Motion, author, poet and professor of creative writing at Royal Holloway, University of London, wrote in The Guardian that ‘there was a time when creative writing courses were seen on a par with athletes taking steroids, as if it somehow gave them an unfair advantage. There was this idea that creative writing was something that had to take place in a garret. But aspiring dancers go to the Royal Ballet School, and actors to Rada—why should writing be any different?’

Although writing, literally writing down words, may be something we are all taught at a very young age, creative writing is different.  By 'creative writing', we mean writing in a way that will make readers keep turning the page, engage with an audience and convey a compelling message—that type of writing requires technique and skill. 

Creative writing, like any art, is a craft.  The craft has rules, and these rules have exceptions, and you need to learn them if you want to write well.  Musicians aren’t born reading music or knowing every note on their instrument.  They study, they practice, they learn from more experienced musicians, they listen to music.  Although there is an element of talent, and some will find that the discipline comes to them more naturally than it does to others, it is still a skill they have cultivated over time and the same applies to writers.  No one can create a voice for you, but you can most certainly learn technique and craft, which will, in turn, make your voice sing.

The rules of the craft are quite specific to creative writing.  As opposed to the more formal techniques of journalism or academic writing, creative writing focuses on elements such as the development of relatable and three-dimensional characters, convincing narrative, an exciting, well-thought out plot, and an indestructible structure, all of which must be combined with imagination and creativity.

The truth is that even the most experienced writers are still learning. They have and will continue to lean on the feedback of editors, agents, and publishers to hone their craft. Books and articles are edited and edited and edited before they are considered ready and publishable.

How do you know when you’re ‘ready’?

Publishing has changed—you can’t get a publisher without getting an agent, and you can’t get an agent without having a completely polished piece of work to send them. 

As a result, much of the learning now has to be done before you start knocking on doors; otherwise, you simply won’t stand a chance.  Your manuscript needs to be polished, free from holes, and have already stood up to scrutiny.  Ultimately, you need to already be very adept at the craft of writing before you can successfully pursue publication.

And honing your craft begins with critical reading.

Writers learn by example; in other words, by reading—but not just reading for pleasure (although this is also positively encouraged) but by reading critically. This involves taking the time to consider every word and sentence analytically and evaluating every minor decision the writer has made. 

Even though at school we are taught to read critically as readers, we are never taught to read critically as writers.  When studying literature, we may buy the ‘York Notes on Shakespeare’ or check Spark Notes for endless breakdowns to help us understand the context, narrative arc, or critical theory behind a work of literature, but we are never taught how to do this as a writer.  We are never taught how to read critically in such a way that informs our own writing.

By reading critically as a writer, you are better able to fluently judge someone else’s work, which in turn makes it easier to accurately judge your own; to recognise when you are writing well or at your best, and when you are missing the mark.  Learning and practicing critical reading is like equipping yourself with a scalpel, which enables you to carve your story with precision and purposefulness. It helps you cultivate the critical eye that agents and publishers use to assess your manuscript’s merit. Put simply, perfecting the art of critical reading allows you to view your manuscript through the eyes of those who will be evaluating its worth—an invaluable experience for aspiring authors and experienced authors alike.

What are the next steps?

Once we are feeling confident in our craft, we need a new first reader to give us feedback, to challenge us and push us to grow.  First readers can come in the form of teachers, classmates, beta readers, or manuscript assessors.

As we said earlier, your manuscript needs to be polished, free from plot holes, and have already stood up to scrutiny before it is publishable.  There are a number of freelance editorial services that you can use, most of which we have detailed in our ‘Different Types of Editing’ blog post, but one of the most effective ways of evaluating your novel is to have your manuscript assessed.

An experienced manuscript assessor will focus on the project in its entirety, considering the structure, flow, pace, narrative, and overall quality, including making sure that it is a novel publishers will want to publish. 

This comprehensive service involves your manuscript assessor providing you with a document summarising areas for concern and suggesting edits, so you can get your work in the best possible position to be sent out to agents and publishers.

A writer rarely gets their manuscript right the first time around, which is why your first readers are of critical importance to your novel’s progress. As the author Neil Gaiman said about going back over his writing and editing, “Things that are broken become very obvious suddenly.” 

The feedback stage of writing your book also allows you to develop your understanding of the editing process, which is a critical skill that you will be expected to utilise on an ongoing basis, even once you are signed with an agent or publisher.

Though many writers ask friends and family to read their manuscripts and provide feedback, which we would certainly encourage, this can’t substitute a professional, formal review. We find that even the most candid of family and friends have rose-tinted glasses, so we always advise writers to have someone experienced review their manuscript at some point during the editing stages.

In addition to all of the benefits of learning creative writing, taking part in creative writing courses, receiving a manuscript assessment, and participating in online forums allows you to become part of a community of writers, which we believe can be priceless. 

Actively engaging in the creative writing world can keep you energised socially and intellectually, and regularly participating in a creative environment with like-minded people will help you continue to develop your creative skills.

So, can writing really be taught?

Without a shadow of a doubt. If you’re in the process of writing a novel and would like professional feedback on your current draft, take a look at our manuscript assessment service and get in touch. We’d love to hear from you!