HELP!!! - Writers Forum

Anonymous · 04-09-2003, 03:48 PM

I am enrlling in Long Ridge Writers Group. Has anyone ever heard of it? Is it worth it?

Spudley · 04-10-2003, 04:46 PM

I haven't heard of Long Ridge, but you made me curious, so I did a quick lookup on Google.

The Google search returned a suprisingly large number of results, which implies to me that a lot of people certainly thought it was worth mentioning. I checked a few of the pages, and although I didn't learn much, I didn't find anything unfriendly towards them, which I take as a good sign.

I'm still not sure though - what is Long Ridge? Some sort of correspondence writing course?

Anonymous · 04-11-2003, 02:29 PM

Yeah, exactly that. They are supposed to be picky w/ their admittance. Kinda makes me wonder. But the damage is done. I have paid the first payment so i'm in for good now!

Spudley · 04-12-2003, 05:24 PM

I did a correspondence writing course once, quite a few years ago now. It was a different course, so I can't comment specifically on Long Ridge, but if it helps I can tell you what my experience was like...

Firstly, I didn't finish the course. This was because I emigrated when I was about three-quarters-way through, not because there was anything wrong with the course, but it does mean that I ended up without having achieved the holy grail of writing courses, which is to have published something by the time you finish.

That is the real aim of most writing courses - to get the student published. For them, it's their big selling point, and for the student, it's the chance to recoup some or all of the course costs, and to get the first crucial foothold in the market.

Despite not finishing, I did learn quite a bit from my course. But if I'm pushed, I think what really made it worth the money was the motivation it gave me. Having the coursework to send in was suprisingly motivational, and that definitely helped me with my writing, and with my confidence when it came to submitting work to publishers.

In any case, I wish you all the best with your course. Perhaps you should write an article about the experience when you've finished?

ps - just a thought - it might be an interesting excersise once you've done a bit of the course to submit some of your coursework to Lit.org, and see what the residents here think of it... see if their opinions differ from your tutor's. (of course, your tutor is probably better qualified to judge it than anyone here, but it might be interesting nonetheless).

Anonymous · 04-12-2003, 07:33 PM

Thank You honey!!! Thanks for the input. I am nervous about it because I am a mommy & anything that isn't my kids makes me nervous , if that makes any sence. I am already a member of writing.com. I have a portfolio there. Not much in it, but if you wanna check it out it is
http://writing.com/authors/courtenay

Anonymous · 04-16-2003, 10:49 AM

I know of this Long Ridge writers group. I applied and was accepted as well, though didn't bother paying because it seemed infintile and a waste of money. Let me know how it turns out.

~The Lord

Anonymous · 04-16-2003, 03:35 PM

Well...infantike..that is encouraging. I should get my materials in a few weeks.

Anonymous · 04-22-2003, 03:51 PM

I got my first shipment & assignment. Wish me luck!

Anonymous · 05-04-2003, 12:11 PM

I took a Long Ridge Writers course several years ago and had a very positive experience overall. The concept is to choose a subject and write a short story which is then submitted to a published author contracted by Long Ridge to work with their students much like an English teacher. Your author will critique the story and send it back with suggestions to make it better. You keep doing this until you have a piece suitable for publication and have completed the entire course. You can even earn 7 credit hours to apply towards an undergraduate degree.

Anonymous · 05-16-2003, 09:03 PM

Hiya! I recently received the information on the Long Ridge Writers Group, even though I didn't send off any information for it. I'm wanting to break into the publishing world, and since they came to me, I am kinda nervous about sending off for them. Can it really be considered towards an undergrad degree?? That'd be so useful right now..

melissa · 06-18-2003, 12:02 AM

Hi there

I just wanted to let you know that you have nothing to worry about. The Long Ridge Writers Group is a wonderful investment. I have been enrolled since November of 2002 and I am very pleased with course so far. I am currently on a leave of absence from the course for 3 months, which this group allows you to do. I have a 1-1/2 year old daughter, and I am also enrolled in Continuing Adult Education course so that I can get my grade 12. I have already learnt a lot and I have a great instructor. Doing this course is like getting one on one attention from your english teacher, it's awesome!!!

Anonymous · 06-18-2003, 04:03 AM

I took a writing workshop almost a year ago. The instructor has had several published novels with a few on NYT bestseller list and book of the month main selection under pen name of Julia Fenton. Anyways, my writing was well received by him......to the point he said he hadn't seen any better writing in any workshop he had ever taught.
Was this his first workshop to teach? I don't know but it didn't appear that way.......Anyways, he insisted that I write something and I've yet to decide what.
I enrolled in Long Ridge just for the prompting it will give me to be writing something. I race stock cars among other things and am extremely busy so it was a form of "self discipline" for me to enroll. Besides, I'll complete the course for sure because they will refund every penny if your aren't satisfied with results after completing it.
I just today received back my first assignment and the instructor gave me plenty of feedback, most of which I agreed with and appreciated.
I hope your experience is a good one. Maybe those of us that are taking the course can occassionally give updates as to how it's going for each of us............ Keith

Anonymous · 06-23-2003, 03:41 PM

I finished Assignments 1 and 2. I really feel like I have grown in these two assignments and am loving it so far. The Book that they sent me has been great!!!