Some excellent writers have never taken a formal Creative Writing Courses. They write because they love the activity of writing. However, as with all endeavors, there's always room for improvement. While you may have developed confidence along the way, thoughts lurk in the back of your mind, urging you to take the next step in developing better writing skills.

You know your strengths and weaknesses, but may shy away from a formal Creative Writing Courses simply because you feel that writing class may be too generalized and possibly a waste of time and money. Finding that just-right Creative Writing Courses might prove difficult enough to put you off the idea for good. Writers do tend to be independent-minded people! Does this sound like you?

This article is written for you, with a plan to help you develop your own personal Creative Writing Courses. Each of the elements are designed to let you focus on different aspects of the creative writing process. Pick and choose whatever strikes your fancy on any given day. After thoroughly exploring each area, assign yourself a final paper, consisting of a short story.

Before beginning your personal Creative Writing Courses, there are two books I'd highly recommend for your reference library. The first is 'The Rhetoric of Fiction', by Wayne C. Booth, a classic text in rhetoric. The second is 'Ourselves Among Others', a compilation of essays and fiction from multi-cultural perspectives, published by Bedford Press, a subsidiary of St. Martin's. This book is an excellent resource for developing critical thinking skills. With a bit of searching, you should be able to locate both through a used book store.

Now, on to the exercises of your Creative Writing Courses. Again, address each in whatever order suits you. Work at your own pace, but once begun, complete one  lesson before moving on to another.

1.You've heard the adage, 'show, don't tell'. This is an essential component of writing which draws your reader into the story. This is a facet of writing that many writers find difficult. Your goal in this lesson of your Creative Writing Courses is to let your descriptions form imagery of settings and characters which allow the reader to gain a subtle, but distinct impression of the place or person you're describing. You want to avoid simple, unequivocal descriptions. This detracts from your reader's interest. For example, compare these two descriptions:

a. ìThe night was dark and stormy. Mary hurried towards the red brick church just ahead, hoping to reach the doors before the rain ensued in earnest.î

b. ìMary had always been fearful of lightning storms. The heavy black clouds, viewed from her window, only served to increase her anxiety, conjuring up all those suppressed fears. Nonetheless, she desperately needed to speak with the priest tonight. Gathering all the courage she could muster, she donned her raincoat and hurried into the night, hoping God would protect her on the short, but frightening journey to the church.î

You can see that the second example is far more provocative. Why is Mary afraid of lightning storms? Her fears are overcome only through her intense need to speak to the priest. Her need must be great and of a spiritual nature that only this priest can allay. Your reader has gained a fuller picture and now has questions the first description did not evoke. You've created suspense and a desire to read on, whereas the first description was flat and unprovocative, eliciting a ho-hum response, at best.

2.Our second lesson in your Creative Writing Courses involves developing your characters. Each character must be introduced with enough information to allow your reader to readily perceive that individual's identity when next encountered. You want to practice descriptions of characters that give physical and emotional characteristics, as well as hinting at motivations that drive that character. This exercise builds on the show, don't tell. Your initial introduction should give enough information to make the character distinct, while leaving your reader with questions as to how the character fits into your story. For example, continuing our story of Mary, you might move into the priest's description. What is he doing now, inside the church? Describe his surroundings, his physical appearance, his thoughts at the moment. As appropriate, you might make some correlations between him and Mary. Is he kindly and compassionate, or perhaps a bit on the gruff side, frustrated by feeling unable or even unwilling to address Mary's concerns? This leads your reader further into the suspense, with even more questions to be answered.

3.Writing effective dialogue is yet another dimension to your Creative Writing Courses. Your dialogue, as well as the voice of your characters, must match up. For example, is the priest in question a humble and compassionate man? This character might well greet Mary with, ìHello, Mary, I was hoping you would come. I've been worried. Sit down. Let's get that wet coat off.î If the priest is the gruffer sort, a man of few words, let your dialogue reflect that characteristic. ìMary. Hang up that coat. Good. We need to talk.î You can see each bit of dialogue paints a different picture of your character, both leaving questions that leave your reader curious, wanting to know more.

Each of these lessons in your personal creative writing course interact. When you can integrate each element in a seamless, consistent style, all of your writing is improved.

When you've mastered these three lessons, written a short story and have a final draft, go online and submit your work to some of the writer's critique groups. You'll gain some valuable insights from other, more experienced writers. Seldom will you encounter someone with purely critical remarks or put-downs. Objectively analyze the feedback you receive. At this point, you'll be much better equipped to choose a formal Creative Writing Courses that will best serve your further development as a writer.