Creative Writing Career Course Institutions in India and Abroad

In common parlance, creative writing signifies the product of some in - born talent which has to be chiselled by learning writing skills due to ever changing usage of language and styles of writing. A good writer has to be a communicator, as writing is as much about the documentation of facts as it is about expression. This discerning ability to express onself whether in the field of literature, journalism or advertising is what makes a writer good or bad

The minimum eligibility to pursue a course in creative writing is 10+2. The minimum duration of the programme is one year, stretchable to a maximum of four years. In India, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) offers courses in creative writing, namely, Diploma in Creative Writing in English and Hindi. The IGNOU also runs courses such as PG certificate in radio writing and the PG Diploma in translation, through the distance education mode. The School of Humanities of IGNOU conducts all these courses. The PG Diploma course is divided into five parts, namely, general principles of writing, feature writing, short story writing, writing for media -radio and television and poetry writing

The student has to submit a project, which helps inn judging his/her ability to put into pratice what he or she has learnt. The programme is very exhaustive and only selected students join it. The students are taught to write book reviews, travel articles, interviews, writing for children as well as developing stories on their own. Attention is paid to train them in the contemporary styles of writing and language, which is important to keep pace with the modern trends and practices of publishing houses and the media organisations. An attempt is also being made to use multi - media techniques so that students could benefit from the latest technology in IT software

Creative writing, as such, can not be defined. However, the ability to write creatively is an 'inherent capacity' in an individual and one cannot be forced to write if one does not have the knack for it. But learning writing skills actually helps to understand the subtle nuances of writing. Moreover, in the present age many types of writing skills have emerged such as technical writing, writing for websites, writing for CDs, films and writing for television. This has made it mandatory for youngsters to get some knowledge of creative writing, even when they have the taken for it

The opportunities for person, who can write creatively exists in the fields of book publishing, print and electronic journalism, copywriting for advertising and other media, writing for periodicals and journals

The book publishing industry recruits people with an ability to write creatively, in a big way. Also, editors commission successful writers to contribute to their publications. Newspapers and magazines are always looking out for stringers with the right skills. Publishers float proposals for books, once they reslize that the writer can produce excellent manuscripts. The electronic media now provides opportunities that were unheard of a decade ago, Many talented writers earn their bread as teachers, work at ad agencies and take to skilled professions

Institutes

Indira Gandhi National Open University, Maidan Garhi, New Delhi - 110 068 (www.ignou.ac.in)
U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University 17, Maharshi Dayanand Marg (Thoruhill Road), Allahabad
E.mail : sanyal@ude.vsnl.net.in
Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan,K.G.Marg, New Delhi