Welcome to the Writer's Journey!
"A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man."
-- Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces
Is this you?
A young writer sits at a desk, scribbling or tapping away, putting bold dreams to paper or keyboard while picturing the final draft of a Great American Novel, an editorial or blog picked up by several online magazines, or a how-to book in an area of expertise. This writer attacks the task with furious energy, words spilling across the page or racing across the screen, and feels full of joy imagining answers to these questions: What will people say when they read this story? Will they stay up all night reading it? What will I say to all my fans during my first interview? What will my Web site look like?
Or...is this you?
A young writer stares at the desk and the blank paper waiting there ominously
, almost as if it's mocking the writer. A sinking feeling takes over. The writer thinks that maybe working on the computer would make it easier and wanders into another room. But the horribly blank computer screen is too just as intimidating, and the writer gives it a very wide berth. The writer is afraid to cross that threshold, paper or screen, for fear of what might be discovered...could it be a lack of talent? Will there be too much sweat and struggle? Uncomfortable thoughts and emotions that suddenly arise? Or insufficient words that only stumble awkwardly along, falling so short of what was originally imagined in the mind's eye? 
Do you recognize yourself in either or both of these profiles?
The first profile represents those who love creative writing or essay writing or those who have a preference and skill for a very specific kind of writing (sports writing, screenplays, poetry, fanfiction, and so forth). These are the people who imagine themselves published one day. This person might very well hate certain types of writing and love others, but the point is, he or she feels fairly confident that s/he is good at some kind of writing.
The second profile represents those who shun writing and must face this independent study because they were told, "It will be good for you." This sort of person would only consider writing after enjoying a hundred other things he or she would rather be doing. The main question on this person's mind is What do I have to do to get this task finished?
Maybe you don't fit into either category, because you don't really hate or love writing, but you also haven't ever written anything that fires your blood, gets you talking fast, or propels you home to share with friends and family, "Read what I just wrote!" You may understand that this course of study is good for you and you'll do it because you know it certainly couldn't hurt. In other words, you're neutral -- you're "on the fence," as the saying goes, or "straddling the line." That's just fine. The goal of this course of study is to pique your interest in some way so that you approach writing with a new attitude.
What you will discover
Whether joy, fear, or duty brings you to this task, you will discover talents you do not know you have. Everyone has something to say and a unique way of saying it. Everyone can be passionate about writing and find a special purpose in expressing themselves with the written word. This Learn on Your Own course will help you begin or continue the vocation of writer.
Joseph Campbell wasn't joking when he wrote the quote that appears at the top of this page: if you dare to take up the challenge to improve your writing, a world of "supernatural
wonder" will open up for you. You will feel filled with "fabulous forces" once you realize your own power to communicate, and your writing will become a boon to all your readers.
This course of study is as interactive as possible, so often you are asked to take surveys, complete activities, and take quizzes. Remember that you can always "retry" until you get all the answers. Hint: if you read all the options carefully and make a serious attempt before you click your final answer, you may not have to retry! And don't worry about the final score that pops up to the right: again, you can try, try, and try again!
Click Here to Take a Survey: What's Good and Bad about Learning on the Computer?
Remember that you can click on the Survey title in order to hide it.
