SURVEY OF UNIVERSITY/TAFE WRITING COURSES - Individual universities which received responses
2009 - Barbara Flowers
What kind of writing do you do?
Can you add anything to this? - All of the above. I prefer fiction, though the returns are almost non-existent.
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes
Yes, I make a living, but only if I don't eat. My business is my only income, and that is not large. In general, writing skills are undervalued in the community - especially this regional community. There is, in general, disbelief and suspicion when dollar values are mooted.
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: In general, gave enough information to stimulate thought, direct study and encourage questions.
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: Many tutors had an excellent knowledge base and were well able to communicate that knowledge. Equally, there were some whose experience and doubtful expertise I found narrow, and a few whose grammar, punctuation skills and on a couple of occasions, knowledge of word use, was lacking (even allowing a normal leeway for the odd stuff-up)
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: Many excellent. The average drops if I remember the woman who wanted to talk about her boyfriend and their troubles, rather than the subject, the woman (again) who kept no records at all, the two males who could not clarify what the assignments meant - and the fellow I was tutoring (externally) who didn't tell me he was assessing my assignments.
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes As a writer - immerse yourself in writing to better know yourself, your limitations, the limitations you might exceed - to know where/what next. Creativity is not limited by what you know, it is enhanced. Even the understanding that the guys directing you are seated on cracked pedestals is grist for the writing mill.
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Can you add anything to this? - Novels, short stories, poetry, songs, occasional scripts
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes A little. It's not very profitable moneywise
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 3 = Good
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: I felt some of the lecture materials had been around for a long time
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 1 = poor,
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes I think distance writing courses are, by their very natures, limited. Given these restraints, I think the Deakin course is as good as can be expected.
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction Corporate
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 3 = Good
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Can you add anything to this? - Children's literature
Do you make a living as a writer? No but would like to one day
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 3 = Good
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction
Can you add anything to this? - I write poetry, short stories and have written book reviews and reports
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Journalism
Do you make a living as a writer? No Still completing studies but everything written and submitted for publication thus far has been published
. How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors?3 = Good
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes I didn't feel like I was learning skills, per se - rather I was having my 'world' opened up to that of the writer. I don't feel what was taught could make a 'writer' out of just anyone - but I did feel it gave those destined to write, the opportunities to tap into their potential.
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Journalism
Can you add anything to this? - I have worked as a journalist but would like to try fiction writing. I have dabbled in this on my own but felt I might benefit from some formal teaching in this particular discipline.
Do you make a living as a writer? No I teach journalism at various universities but do not make my living as such as a "writer" any more although I had been a full-time journalist for some 15 years prior to going into teaching. Teaching hours and holidays are more child-friendly.
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: Former Vogel winner Nigel Krauth is the lecturer. He is great.
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: Sally Breen is my tutor. She is also very good.
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 3 = Good
Can you add anything to your response?: Hard to say at this stage as I am yet to receive feedback for any major assessment items.
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
Did the course meet your requirements? In some respects yes The onus was left on the time-rich student to read the set and recommended texts. This worked to a point but more guidance and less emphasis on marks/more ungraded courses would have been helpful. I studied in both the Media and English departments and found this to be my main issues with the courses. A firmer hand and direction and freedom but in different proportions at the right times.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction Journalism Corporate
Can you add anything to this? - I have experimented with many forms of writing, inc. those above, screenwriting, poetry
Do you make a living as a writer? No
Ex-part time journalist/media officer now working full-time as a TV Captioner (so still a wordsmith) and writing fiction for teenagers (novel) and adults (shorter fiction, plans for novels later on).
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: They adequately inspired thought and passion to help me mould my intellectual awakening but more choice would have been better.
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 3 = Good,
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: I got by on the workshop and tutor feedback but would have rathered more of an insight into the process. Tutors seem to think that holding back and letting you figure things out for yourself is the way to teach, but I could have become a better writer faster if I had been 'spoon-fed' the basics a lot faster and a lot earlier on so I could get to the more complex theories of writing.
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes If they are a solely independent learner especially. If not, I would warn them that they may struggle at times. I did enjoy my time at uni, but would have liked more in the areas stated as well as a less rigid structure and more support.
Did the course meet your requirements? Yes
Poor supervision and poor handling of electronic media, especially of assignments sent by email remaining unread until the last minute, resulting in time wasted and confusion.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Can you add anything to this? - Poetry and prose narrative
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 3 = Good
Can you add anything to your response?: Some elements too academic and a duplication of any BA undergraduate course in literature, eg Freudian theory. Needed more hands on approach to cteative writing
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course?4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes part-time only
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course?3 = Good
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 2 = Adequate
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
Did the course meet your requirements? In some respects yes I was hoping for smaller lectures but they were HUUUUUUUUUUUUGE!
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction Journalism
Can you add anything to this? - Blogging
Do you make a living as a writer? No On the way to living off blogging
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course?3 = Good
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 3 = Good
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Non-fiction Journalism
Can you add anything to this? - Lots of blogging, opinion pieces
Do you make a living as a writer? No I get paid for freelance stuff but it's not my main income
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: Lectures were often long, boring, big rambles of nothing. the huge rooms of 500+ people made it hard to concentrate. I often skipped a lot of them.
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: It depends on the subject. Some, like Persuasive Writing, were interesting in that the lectures were tons better than the tutorials. Some were OK. I was hoping for a more Dead Poets Society style atmosphere but didn't really get that.
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: It seemed that it was more about whether they liked the people in the story rather than anything to do with my writing. I was gutted when my characters - based on me - were marked down for not being "Realistic". It seems like my writing style was considered strong, but the stories I was telling weren't interesting enough or something. Not very consistent.
Would you recommend your course to others? No I was obsessed with writing ever since I was a toddler. I thought it would be the most natural thing to take up Creative Writing in university. BIG MISTAKE. Now my passion for it has died (I'm interested in other things now) and I'm not as beholden to being a writer at any cost. I found that I wrote as a form of therapy, of reaching out to people - and hated how I had to fit some publication's guidelines and make my work saleable. My work isn't for sale; it's for sharing and reflection. I'd rather write from the heart than from the wallet.
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction Journalism Corporate
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 2 = Adequate
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
Did the course meet your requirements? No It didn't offer enough on creative writing and had limited subjects to choose from.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction Corporate
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 3 = Good
Would you recommend your course to others? No
Did the course meet your requirements? Yes A big problem here in Australia is that writing courses generally don't support learning how to write by having proper literature survey courses. These courses should include both works from the English literary canon and current works, as well as covering the diversity of literary theory as may be applied to these works. I also think more genre studies would benefit many students, so long as the lecturers took it seriously.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes I regularly get paid as a writer. I also supplement my income with other work.
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? No I was a post-grad. My supervisors were from Media Arts (I was studying digital storytelling) and Social Research (it was a new PhD field and we had to borrow from other departments in order to get help in research methods). I was also a lecturer in the Professional Writing and Editing Department for RMIT and Victoria University in the Computer Game Development Department (that may not be the exact title these days). RMIT started having internal difficulties while I was still there, and I felt the quality of the course suffered. Of primary concern was how little financial support this department received, particularly in comparison with other courses and other courses of similar stature in the community such as fine art. This caused various unfortunate compromises to be made and many fine instructors to leave.
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction Journalism Corporate
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 1 = poor
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
Did the course meet your requirements? In some respects yes I've done two subjects and I'm considering whether to continue or switch to a postgraduate research degree in writing. I think it may offer more of the focus I'm looking for. I enjoy the course as a motivational tool, but I'm just not sure it's offering what I need.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction
Can you add anything to this? - I ultimately want to write fiction, for enjoyment, but I also want to enhance my non-fiction skills so that I have flexibility.
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: A little out of date.
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course?2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: The first tutor was fantastic, in the second subject, they had a lot less time to input into the particular subject.
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: This depended on the invididual tutor. The first topic had one of the best online tutors I've experienced, the second topic had no feedback on a major writing project, apart from a numerical score. In terms of what you get out of writing course, a numerical score on a written piece, is just very dissapointing and disheartening. Would you recommend your course to others? Yes I feel it's a very subjective experience. My first tutor was incredible in terms of the feedback and motivation provided to students. THe second topic has left me disenchanted. I think the course can be rewarding.
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction
Can you add anything to this? - Blend of both: As well, I am also interested in writing a family history, from a 'factional' aspect.
Do you make a living as a writer? No Not yet. Have just started seriously writing.
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction Journalism
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 1 = poor
Would you recommend your course to others? No
*****
Did the course meet your requirements? No I learned a little bit of useful stuff about journalistic writing which could be helpful later. I came out of my Certificate with the feeling I already had the wherewithal in place before I started it ($6000 later).
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction Journalism
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 1 = poor
Can you add anything to your response?: Embarrasingly bad in parts, pitched to a below undergraduate level.
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: One tutor was excellent, one was so-so, and one rarely put in an appearance. So my tick for ADEQUATE was purely for the tutor I respected.
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 1 = poor
Can you add anything to your response?: ditto
Would you recommend your course to others? No Not if they really wanted to improve their writing skills by the supervision of better writers. Although I intended to go through to complete a Masters I thought the quality of the lectures very poor, largely written by one person and VERY self-referential. So in the end I got out after the Certificate level. The extra money involved wasn't worth getting an MA I had no respect for.
Did the course meet your requirements? No Writing cannot be taught at Uni
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 1 = poor
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 1 = poor
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 1 = poor
Would you recommend your course to others? No
*****
Did the course meet your requirements? No Subject program not sufficiently flexible to allow me to focus on the sort of writing I am interested in. Too much about tv and advertising.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction Can you add anything to this? - Short pieces. Not for audiovisual or advertisement media, so found compulsory sections of course relating to these irrelevant and difficult.
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 1 = poor
Can you add anything to your response?: Depended on the subject: some good, some barely existent, requiring too much time to find own materials.
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 1 = poor
Can you add anything to your response?: Quality of online tutorials and discussion depended on particular tutor. Requirements for online participation not always clear. Online forums became overloaded with trivia and poorly organised (depending on tutor), requiring too much time to negotiate.
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 1 = poor
Can you add anything to your response?: Again, depended on particular tutor.
Would you recommend your course to others? No Maybe, depending on what they want.
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
. What kind of writing do you do? Non-fiction Journalism Corporate
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: tutors have CURRENT real world experience as writers
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
Did the course meet your requirements? No Did not complete it - deferred
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 1 = poor
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 1 = poor
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 1 = poor
Would you recommend your course to others? No As an external course there is no feedback and is more geared towards reading then writing.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
Did the course meet your requirements? In some respects yes The course was very corporate writing based - not a lot of room for creative writing in the curriculum
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 3 = Good
Can you add anything to your response?: On of my tutor's had no experience in the arts or creative writing - she ran the course.
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 3 = Good
Can you add anything to your response?: All bar the former mentioned lecturer, provided constructive feedback. This particular lecturer would give one word or single sentence comments - no suggestions on improvement
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes The lecturer knows her stuff - but isn't a great people person
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 1 = poor
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 1 = poor
Would you recommend your course to others? No
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course?
Can you add anything to your response?: n/a - workshops only, no lectures
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: Lecturers go above and beyond.
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: Dr Armanno gives very detailed, considered and insightful feedback.
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes Have done so already and will continue to do so.
*****
Did the course meet your requirements? In some respects yes Venero Armanno as a tutor was very disparaging on the subject and disheartening to students.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 2= Poor
Would you recommend your course to others? No
*****
Did the course meet your requirements? Yes Extended myself as a writer, exposed me to more writers I should have been reading and more styles of writing, enabled me to meet other writers face to face, allowed me to complete a full length project, teacher was outstanding and gave me confidence as a writer which I did not have before.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction
Can you add anything to this? - Short stories, essays, memoir, book reviews.
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes But with the knowledge that they won't have the teacher I had!
*****
What kind of writing do you do?
Can you add anything to this? - Nothing that gets published, although as an educator I'd consider myself a corporate writer who needs to write a variety of documents for a numebr of audiences
Do you make a living as a writer? No See above
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 3 = Good
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 3 = Good
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes I loved it and would like to do more!
UNIVERSITY OF THE SUNSHINE COAST
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Can you add anything to this? - one published novel
Do you make a living as a writer? No nurse
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: Once my lecturer said to me, 'this is too good, your husband must have written it!' which was fairly annoying.
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes I learnt a lot during the production workshop, working one on one with a tutor to produce a large body of words. Lots of practical stuff.
*****
Did the course meet your requirements? Yes It has challenged and extended my writing abilities in ways I would not have thought possible.
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: Materials are first-class. Most of the time the lecturers are professional, and usually always enlightening.
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: Great tutors. Have real passion about writing and sharing their love of it with the students.
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent C
an you add anything to your response?: Very detailed feedback, including consultations, etc.
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 1 = poor
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 3 = Good
Can you add anything to your response?: Some tutors excellent, others not very satisfactory at all. Head of School proves somewhat inaccessible
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 2 = Adequate
Can you add anything to your response?: As above, quality of feedback is varied depending on individual lecturers
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes As a creative writing course per se it has been disappointing, as a means of informing my own writing it has been stimulating
*****
UNIVERSITY OF
TECHNOLOGY SYDNEY
[by an oversight/technological glitch this University didn't appear in my original
survey construction - hence part of the response below]
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Non-fiction
Do you make a living as a writer? Yes
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: the UTS writing course is the oldest and most established in Australia, ( 20 years) it has 7 full time lecturers plus sundries as required. I can't believe you have missed it on your initial list of surveyed universities. I think it is a failing of your survey!!
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: experienced, dedicated department. I CANNOT believe you missed it in your initial list of universities!!!!!!
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 4 = Excellent
Can you add anything to your response?: excellent, a robust community of writers in Australia's biggest city. I cannot believe you failed to include UTS on your list of institutions!!
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes
*****
What kind of writing do you do? Fiction Can you add anything to this? - Writing for screen and stage
Do you make a living as a writer? No
How would you rate the lecture materials in your course? 2 = Adequate
How would you rate the tutorials and tutor input in your course? 1 = poor
How would you rate the quality of feedback you received from your tutors? 1 = poor
Would you recommend your course to others? Yes