Instant Expertise:
© Roxianne Moore
Whether you write fiction, nonfiction or poetry, one of the best ways to improve your writing skills or learn new ones is to teach a class. I know what you’re thinking. How am I supposed to teach something I don’t know? But as a writer, you need to know many subjects inside and out.
Believe it or not, you don’t have to be an expert with a Ph.D. and years of teaching experience to be a continuing education instructor. All you need is a basic knowledge of your topic and the desire to learn more about your field.
Preparing to teach a class helps you dust off old knowledge and catch up on new information. Whether you specialize in adult fiction, children's stories, service articles, or poems, you have something to teach a roomful of novices. And teaching a class identifies you as an expert. You can use teaching credentials in marketing materials, and supplement the school’s free publicity with press releases to increase visibility (and enrollment). You can set up your own website offering classes for a fee. I've seen prices ranging from free to $400 for an eight-week writing class. For polishing your skills and preparing a good, strong course though, nothing beats getting up in front of a class every week.
Signing up to teach for your local adult education department will:
- Help you recall everything you already know about your subject
- Give you incentive to study in depth
- Let you apply your own knowledge to someone else’s problems or concerns
Becoming an instructor for continuing or adult education programs is as simple as calling your local school district or community college and offering to teach.
But don’t call yet. A little preparation will make your acceptance as an instructor much more likely.
Step One: List What You Know
First of all, be prepared with a list of several courses you can teach, perhaps including beginning and advanced courses on the same subject. Begin by brainstorming for ten or fifteen minutes. What subjects do you know enough to teach? List topics you studied before starting out as a writer. Even if you never had any formal training, think of all the reading you’ve done, writing basics you’ve mastered, general knowledge you’ve accumulated over the years. After listing several possibilities, narrow down your potential offerings by answering two questions:
- What aspect of the topic do I want to concentrate on?
- What audience or age group do I want to target?
