Frequently Asked Questions: Writing Programs

Questions list (questions and answers below)

1. How do I know if a workshop is right for me and my skill level? What if I register and then discover it's too basic or too advanced for me?
2. Who's eligible to take your workshops?
3. My teenager loves to write. Will my daughter or son fit in?
4. I'm a professional in a non-writing field and am thinking about a career move that includes writing. What do I do first?
5. I have a quick question about my writing project. Who do I contact? And does it cost anything when I call?
6. Can you help me find an agent, publisher or producer?
7. Do you offer writing contests?
8. What is the Critique Service? What does it cost?
9. Can I get a writing coach to help me go from start to finish? (Somebody who can critique as I go and keep me on track.)
10. Are your programs available for college credit?
11. I'm a teacher. By participating in your programs, can I get "Clock Hours" for my licensing requirements?
12. What's a Continuing Education Unit (CEU)? Is it the same as credit?
13. If I can't drive to campus, what other workshops might I take?
14. If I drive to campus, what do I need to know about parking?
15. Do you have a map you can send me?
16. How long will it take me to get to Madison from Chicago? Or Minneapolis? Or Dallas?
17. I am coming from out of town. Where can I stay? Are there hotels near the campus?
Do you have other questions? Contact Christine DeSmet, cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-262-3447, mail: 21 N Park St., 7th Floor, Madison, WI 53715.

 

Questions and answers

1. How do I know if a workshop is right for me and my skill level? What if I register and then discover it's too basic or too advanced for me?

Those are common and important questions. We have a variety of programs, from basic, introductory one-day workshops, to advanced, ongoing tutoring services. Sometimes making the decision about what to register in can be tough. Please contact us if you aren't sure if a program is right for your needs. If a particular class isn't designed to meet your needs, we'll tell you. We want you to receive the best possible learning experience. If you sign up for a writing class and find out it's not appropriate and decide to leave during the class, we always find a way to resolve that to your satisfaction, whether it be credit toward another class or a full or partial refund, depending on the situation. Again, please give us a call. Contact Christine DeSmet, cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-262-3447.

2. Who's eligible to take your workshops?

Anybody with a commitment to learning or improving his or her writing. Unless they specifically state prerequisites or suggestions about who should attend, our workshops, classes, conferences, and critique services are open to everybody.

3. My teenager loves to write. Will my daughter or son fit in?

It depends on your son or daughter and his or her commitment to writing. We have younger writers join our conferences and workshops from time to time, and we welcome those eager writers. We suggest you call us beforehand to make sure the program won't be too advanced or too basic for your teenager. Contact Christine DeSmet, cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu, 608-262-3447.

4. I'm a professional in a non-writing field and am thinking about a career move that includes writing. What do I do first?

Many professionals from other fields call us for advice on this issue. You may also wonder if it would be beneficial to "try out" the writing field by attending a workshop or conference, and if so, which one. Contact Christine DeSmet, cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-262-3447.

5. I have a quick question about my writing project. Who do I contact? And does it cost anything when I call?

No cost for quick Q & A! We field questions daily. In general, call the person whose name is listed as the coordinator of the program or service of interest to you. After that, check out our biography information on this Web site. Each of us specializes in different types of writing or teaching. If you're still not sure, call or e-mail Christine DeSmet at cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu, 608-262-3447.

6. Can you help me find an agent, publisher or producer?

Yes, and no. We're not connected to any agency, book doctor, editing service, consultant, publisher or producer. As part of our educational mission we help you learn how to market your work, and thus reach an agent or publisher. If you attend our conferences where agents and publishers are speaking, we hope you make a point of talking with them. That's why they're here–to discover your fine writing. Over the years we've seen a lot of success stories come out of our conferences and workshops.

7. Do you offer writing contests?

Yes, with the annual Writers' Institute. It's open only to registrants attending that conference and is called the "Poem or Page Contest." You can enter fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. See details about the contest at the Writers' Institute web pages, or contact coordinator Christine DeSmet, cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu or call 608-262-3447.

8. What is the Critique Service? What does it cost?

Editors, producers and agents tell you all the time to have your work critiqued before you send it off. We'll give you those experienced "fresh eyes" that can help you find things that might cause somebody to reject the project. We also help writers after they've collected a few rejections and then don't know where to begin with revisions. We look at all kinds of fiction and nonfiction projects, and provide written comments. Please call us first about the project. Our prices vary according to the project and the time it requires of us. Our rates are competitive. For details, call coordinator Christine DeSmet at 608-262-3447, or e-mail her at cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu.

9. Can I get a writing coach to help me go from start to finish? (Somebody who can critique as I go and keep me on track.)

You bet. We do a lot of that. We work with many writers over the course of a month, six months, a year or two years. Contact Christine DeSmet for advice on how this service works and how to get started. cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-262-3447.

10. Are your programs available for college credit?

Some of our continuing education programs offer UW credit. For example, we offer credit with our week-long Write-by-the-Lake Writer's Workshop & Retreat in June, and with the week-long School of the Arts program in Rhinelander in July. New credit opportunities are always in our mix of programs. Also check out the descriptions for the writing courses through Learning Innovations and you'll find opportunities for correspondence study for credit. A great place to start with your credit questions is with Christine DeSmet at cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu, 608-262-3447.

11. I'm a teacher. By participating in your programs, can I fulfill my licensing requirements?

Our programs are approved for teachers by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. You may always ask our Registration office at the Pyle Center for a transcript of your attendance. There is a small fee for transcripts.

12. What's a Continuing Education Unit (CEU)? Is it the same as credit?

No, it's not the same as college credit. The CEU is a nationally-recognized way of recording your participation in noncredit continuing education. You develop a transcript with us. If an employer or a college advisor asks for your record of education, you can call our Transcripts Office at the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., 608-262-1951 and have a transcript sent to you. There may be a small fee for that service.

13. If I can't drive to campus, what other workshops might I take?

You have a lot of choices. Take a look at our online courses, for example, on this Web site. In addition, writing courses through correspondence instruction are offered directly through our Department or with UW Learning Innovations. These courses can be taken through the mail or other means, and you work at your own pace. Contact Christine DeSmet at cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu, 608-262-3447.

14. If I drive to campus, what do I need to know about parking?

Parking is convenient. Most adult students use the Campus Parking Facility (ramp) with entrances on the 400 blocks of both North Lake Street and North Frances Street. It's only a couple of blocks away from our classroom buildings and half a block from State Street. The parking facility uses an attendant so you don't have to worry about plugging meters. It'll cost you about $9 for a day and $2-3 all day on weekends. Be aware that this ramp can get crowded if it's an evening or Saturday with a UW special event such as basketball or hockey at the nearby Kohl Center. We advise driving in a little earlier on those evenings to avoid the line. You can also buy a permit through the registration office (ask when you register) for the surface lot next to the Memorial Union, 800 Langdon St., and for the additional parking under Helen C. White Hall, 600 N. Park Street. Permits are approximately $9. Please ask about parking at the time you register for classes held at that location. For parking questions in general, call The Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St., 608-262-1122.

15. Do you have a map you can send me?

For maps and driving directions, call 608-262-1122 or go to http:conferencing.uwex.edu/location_directions.cfm

16. How long will it take me to get to Madison from Chicago? Or Minneapolis? Or Dallas?

In general, it takes 2 hours from the northern suburbs of Chicago. A little longer from downtown Chicago. It's a fast drive on the Interstate through beautiful, rolling farm fields. No toll roads in Wisconsin. We're 90 minutes from Milwaukee, 2 hours from the Platteville/Dubuque area, 3 hours from the Quad Cities, about 4-1/2 hours from Minneapolis, and about 15 hours from Dallas, Texas, and... Paris will take much longer, Paris, France, that is. Not Texas. Call a writer friend and share the drive!

17. Where can I stay? Are there hotels near the campus?

One of our classroom buildings, Lowell Center, 610 Langdon St., 608-265-2621, also has nice lodging rooms at reasonable rates. There are several other hotels next to campus or within walking distance. Most nearby hotels have free shuttles to campus. Our brochures usually list the hotels, but always feel free to call Registration 608-262-2451 or 608-262-2451, and ask for suggestions.

Do you have other questions?

Contact Christine DeSmet, cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu or 608-262-3447, mail: 21 N Park St., 7th Floor, Madison, WI 53715.