/lit/ - Literature

>>2105710
pretty much this, except no smartassery

because writing is a solitary process, the best way to learn how to write is to be an autodidact. college courses teach in a mass format that appeals to the majority (not the dan brown majority, the "literary" majority, but as we have learned from sturgeon, being on the side of any majority is likely to be a bad thing)

every college course I have ever read about, talked to people about, etc. is basically just

>forced to read western canon
>professor creates arbitrary meaning in the work and you must find it and elaborate on it, or get a bad grade. whether you agree or not, because the prof knows more than you, you're not allowed to disagree
>focus on literary theory and complete disregard for craft, which is the bane of 99% of would be authors
>reading day
>a bunch of 23 year old hipsters read their shitty self insert romances, people offer "critiques" full of shit
>nothing of value is gained, learned, or produced
>rinse and repeat

how many of the greats actually attended creative writing classes? truman capote didn't even graduate college

fiction is not something you learn by listening to some wise ass who has never produced a decent novel and gathering every thursday with your writing buddies like an alcoholics anonymous group

>>1300600
Stephen Crane portrays the crew's _____ journey, which comes to represent life and the idea that survival depends mainly on chance.

sounds good

Here goes, have yet to get anything.

http://amzn.com/w/1GIGRI7DHUGF8