Main focus of review: writing
| Why I purchased this: I wanted to learn from experts on writing. |
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| I learned about Masterclass from their YouTube ads. This educational-content product offers an app and provides lessons from big-name experts in a variety of fields. James Patterson and David Mamet stand out as my favorites to listen to, but then again, so do David Baldacci, R.L. Stine, Shonda Rhimes, and Margaret Atwood, among others. Each has a distinct voice and offers unique anecdotes and perspectives on writing that make their class all the more engaging. They give tips on plotting, research, and character development—and Patterson makes a good case for outlining. Their videos alone, in my opinion, are worth the one-year price. A click of the search button leads to a list of categories: Culinary Arts; Film & TV; Music & Entertainment; Writing; Sports & Games; Design, Photography, & Fashion; Business, Politics, and Society; Science & Technology, and Lifestyle. (Under the “Music and Entertainment” category, Steve Martin offers helpful and enjoyable insight on comedy writing.) I keep hoping for more “Science & Technology,” as I figure lessons in this category might inspire ideas for new stories, plus the subject interests me. If I wanted to be more intellectually well-rounded, I’d make a point of watching all of the videos, which I haven’t come close to doing, but it’s a goal nevertheless. Although MasterClass continually adds new content, I’d like to see more about writing, and I’d like to see the content added more often–classes on story plotting, how to write nonfiction, editing, story dos and don’ts, insight from experts in the publishing industry, including insight on author platforms and book marketing. This would guarantee my resubscribing for a third year. *A good resource for plotting is Jessica Brody’s Save the Cat! Writes a Novel–see my review here. |
| The difference between YouTube and MasterClass: MasterClass ensures you’re watching quality videos of experts in a variety of fields. |
| Ways writers can use MasterClass: Research, Inspiration, Education, Insight on writing from famous authors, Entertainment. Ways anyone can use MasterClass: Education, Entertainment, Inspiration |
| Worth it? For writers, yes, at least one year. In general, its value depends on whether the content interests and/or helps you (duh, obviously). I recommend you visit MasterClass to see what they offer. If you’re interested, consider taking advantage of their 30-day guarantee. As of the writing of this review, they offer “85+” classes at $15./mo, “billed annually (meaning: $180.00 per year). *Other than being a paying customer of MasterClass (at the time I wrote this), I have no affiliation with this business. |