Obviously, Apprentice thinks the AWAI course is valuable and I agree with him that whenever you enter a profession, you want to first focus on learning what others have done before you. Let me ask you this, Apprentice: if YOU had to pay the $450.00 for the course, would you still recommend it?

Regarding Kat's response, I have to admit I am puzzled. My whole point is that you have to study and learn and that it's silly not to avail yourself of resources and insights that can make you a better writer. My protest was against the attitude that some people seemed to feel that they didn't need to learn anything. But this is an unnecessarily difficult approach and as Apprentice stated above, takes a lot more time than learning from books and courses. And your comment about how when people first built bridges they didn't take courses they just did it--well, to that, I would have to say, perhaps you should study your history a little harder and not take potshots at people.

Leeannwriter: here is my response:

1. Several writers mentioned above that you don't need books or courses and I felt differently and wrote why I thought so. I also stated clearly that I had no idea if the AWAI course was valuable. If you read the posts above, several said something like "just do it" or "learn by doing". I feel you should learn from others AND practice. I respect and thank the people who before me took the trouble to write down their knowledge so that I can learn more quickly and efficiently what they had to learn by trial and error.

2. I didn't jump down anyone's collective throat. I stated that I had no idea if the AWAI course was worthwhile, more than once, but that I did know of several very valuable books you could learn from and I even listed some. My tone was respectful. I didn't criticize anyone for not wanting to buy this course because I am not sure I would myself buy it. After all, the only information I have on it is what I received in the mail and the testimony of Apprentice. Moreover, if you read my other posts, you will see that I try to state things postively and that I thank all those who respond with helpful information. I am going to have to dispute your characterization of my posts on this thread or any other. Please also note that I didn't attack anyone by name and I didn't take anyone's quotes out of context either. I merely stated I had a different view and gave my rationale for it.

3. I never said that ONLY reading books would make you a good writer. Instead, I wrote that you shouldn't discount the value of what books and courses can teach you, but that ultimately, the goal was to be a master of the ideas contained within the books so that you can use them skillfully in your craft. What I protested was the attitude that the best approach was to learn by doing ONLY. If you are going to argue with me about what I said, please represent my points fairly and in context.

4. If you examine what the "ancients" knew about the principles of engineering, I think you might come away impressed. To say that they just went out and built bridges without any knowledge of engineering just doesn't fit the facts. I am happy to see that you have degrees in both English and History, so let me ask you: don't you think that they are very helpful to you? My guess is that you draw from the knowledge you gained from your education on a daily basis. And that, partly anyway, is my point.

5. Regarding potshots--yes, I consider it a potshot because I never critized anyone specifically or by name and I didn't take their quotes out of context either or add commentary distorting the point--that's what I consider a potshot. Whenever I have posted, my goal is to be helpful and that was my original motivation in responding here. It was obvious to me that the person who began this thread was hoping for information on this particular course. Even though no one here had specific knowledge of the course, except Apprentice who joined the thread a little later, everyone seemed to be down on it and recommended just to "do it." That's why I responded and made suggestions as to a couple of books I found helpful in order to be of some service to the person who began the thread. I also disagree with the idea that everything is best learned by experience ONLY.

6. The person who orginated the topic asked if the AWAI course was valuable/worthwhile. No one had taken the course, but the consensis seemed to be that it was probably not worth it. They may be right, but they haven't taken the course or seen the material, so in reality, they don't actually know if it's good or not. The only one who has is Apprentice and he/she thinks it's quite valuable, at least for them. Personally, I feel uncomfortable denigrating the efforts of others until I have actual experience with it. What do I think? I too am uncertain about paying $450.00, as I have several copywriting and advertising books that are quite good and I am not sure if the AWAI is going to teach me a lot of new, insightful "tricks" or is just a rehash of the same thing you can get much cheaper elsewhere. Like everything I know about in life, some of it's excellent, some of it's mediocre, some of it's bad. That's all I said.

Ok, haakon, here goes:
Your long-winded post directed to me is unfair and a bunch of BS. (I think we all know what THAT stands for!) I'm not going to jump in and engage you on point after point.
For whatever reason, you're sold on American Writers and Artists Institute and most here are not. Find a new topic to discuss instead of beating this one to death - the thread first began more than a month ago.
You have no idea what I have and have not studied but I imagine it's more than you have. The ancients knew a great deal about engineering but it didn't come from a textbook but from hands on knowledge and effort. Stonehenge is an architectural marvel but no one knows quite how it was managed to be built centuries ago. There are many theories but no concrete proof of what methods were used.
Anyone can read every book on writing that there is but that won't make them a writer.
No matter how many books and courses and how-tos you or anyone else uses, the way to become a writer is very simple - WRITE.
If you choose to spend your hard earned dollars chasing after pipe dreams through some mail order course, then do it. I don't care. But don't presume to come into this Forum and tell writers - a good many (including Kat and myself) are published, working writers - that you have a new, improved method to become a writer which is better than just doing it.
If it works for you, cool. It doesn't for me.
Maybe you should spend your time and effort WRITING and LEARNING BY DOING instead of trying to thrust your opinions on others.
PS How much does American Writers and Artists Institute pay you to be their unofficial voice?

I refuse to engage in any more crap with you.

You're looking for a fight and you'll have to look elsewhere.