Those Who Can, Write. Those Who Can't, Teach...

Or in the case of my Fiction Writing teacher, force your opinions upon the students and tell them that any genre other than the one you like sucks, that any attempt to write in the genre they like is to copy the works of others and every character they create is a stereotype and complete copy of a character already in existence.

**Sigh** So, why, after all the courses I've taken and the fact that I have been told by a published author that my work is good, am I taking a class from an idiot who does not know what he's talking about? Because of a degree I want so badly that I need the credits this class will give me. Is the degree worth it? Guess that depends on who you ask.

The point is, when and if you become a published author and someone asks you to teach a class, do not force your opinions upon your students. Each writer has their own style, their own voice, that for anyone, even a teacher, to tell them that they are wrong does the writing community as a whole, an injustice.

And what I have to say to this teacher of mine is, my voice will be heard. My characters will come to life through my voice. My characters and my stories are mine, not some stereotyped copy of someone else's, nor created from putting together little things from other people to make up a story of my own.

I am curious though, exactly what qualifies this man to teach the class and what his publications are? Has he even published at all? Or even better, who did this same thing to him in the past that he now thinks this is the only way to deal with other writers?

Of course, he's probably upset with me because I questioned him and some of the things he's said about the fantasy genre. But then, that's me. I have to question people like that.