Staying sharp, one writing course at a time.

One of the things I love most about being a freelance journalist and copywriter is that there’s always something new to learn. Whether I’m working with a client in a new industry – hello, heavy construction equipment! – or have said ‘yes’ to a new-to-me type of writing project, I enjoy the challenge of pushing beyond my comfort zone.

And let’s be real – no matter where you are in your writing journey, there’s always room for improvement.

That’s why, after 18 years in the writing business, I signed up for a travel writing course through Gotham Writers. The 10-week program is one of many online writing classes on offer, but since I love to travel – and hope to do more of it in future – this seemed like a good place to start.

The format was self-paced, meaning you could read the weekly lectures and complete the corresponding assignments on your own time. Each student had two opportunities to upload work to The Booth for feedback from the class – before the instructor weighed in.

I really enjoyed the opportunity to read my classmates’ work, and to have them read mine. Criticism was constructive, respectful, and given from a place of compassion and support. The weekly lecture notes were full of great information and links to writing examples to aspire to. And I loved the challenge of writing a weekly travel story to the assigned deadline, even if I slacked off during the final few weeks due to an unexpected avalanche of paid writing gigs. (Good problem to have!)

The course gave me the opportunity to experiment with my writing style, to put myself in the story (for a change), to flex my descriptive muscles (brevity is key in most of my content creation work) and to get valuable feedback from the instructor and a group of peers.

In fact, I liked the experience so much that I decided to sign up for a second course in food writing – starting today – and to launch a travel blog – coming soon.

So, what’s the moral of this story?

If you want to be a writer, start writing and keep at it. And if you’ve been writing for a while, don't stop looking for opportunities to grow your craft. 

 Nicole Laidler is a freelance reporter, copywriter and content creator, serving clients in London, Toronto and throughout Southwestern Ontario. She helps people grow their success, one word at a time.