High School Never Ends

Taking A Creative Writing Course

Going back into a classroom as an adult was an odd experience. As a 40-something woman, it’s been a minute since I’ve been inside an educational institute. Given that schools have rarely held happy memories for me, thanks to years of bullying and struggles, in part due to undiagnosed autism, I was apprehensive. However, the desire to be creative won out, and I even persuaded my husband to come with me. Strength in numbers and all that.

The course is being run by our Adult Learning Centre, which is part of the council’s services and attached to our library. I had always associated Adult Learning with courses like GCSE Maths and English or basic IT skills, but it’s way more than that. The courses include those which would be useful for a specific career: including safeguarding, food hygiene, and TA training, as well as some about drama, writing, and even gel nails.

I saw the advert for this course on social media and I highly recommend checking out what your local council offers. Course topics, lengths and times vary. If you fancy learning something new but are worried about the cost, they are a great way to learn or improve a skill and meet new people, all without a cost.

The first day, I was incredibly anxious, but I needn’t have worried. The class is small, only ten of us in total, and taught by two writers who have spent the past three years perfecting the course based on student feedback. The classroom was relaxed from the start, with breaks built into the timetable and the ability to leave at any time without needing to put your hand up and ask if you can go to the toilet.

Almost immediately my creativity was sparked again, and I was desperate to learn how to get all my ideas out of my brain and into something which would become a novel.

Note: I’ll be focusing on my experience with odd references to the course material. For those interested, the course content is based on Fast-Track To Short Story Writing Success By Hackney and Jones. This course handbook also includes a workbook which we have a separate copy of and are filling out week by week.