Other than when it was assigned, I've never written my instructor a letter - I always assumed she's off limits to talk to except for assignments or if I need an extension, which I haven't.  My instructor writes very little to me, even on my manuscripts - even though I said in my opening letter to critique away and that I wasn't a softy.  I'm nearing the end of the course (finishing up lesson 8 right now). 

I just spoke with another former student, who says she emails her professor back and forth a lot and they keep in touch, etc.  She really valued her instructor's advice and they've even shared market info/potential work since the course.  My instructor has given me some advice and feedback on critiques, but not nearly as in-depth as I expected.  And my instructor doesn't accept email.  My friend (the former student) has suggested I request to switch instructors.  Is that really necessary?  Is my student/instructor relationship typical?

Is this the right forum/thread to ask others about their experience with the Basic Course? 

I've always heard that you can either call the Institute or send an email to your instructor (if that's even an option for you). Most instructors are willing to help between assignments. They really are interested in helping you do well. Personally, I never did contact my instructor between assignments, but that's just me.

You can switch instructors if you aren't happy with the way things are going for you. I don't know the procedures, other than call the Institute and talk to someone about that.

Good luck!

Miranda,

I've taken the basic course, and two novel courses, each with a different instructor, and with each and every assignment, I wrote a letter to my instructor and received one back with the returned assignment.

The first 2 courses were by snail mail, the 3rd by email, but no matter which, I have a letter from every assignment from my instructors.

My letters always concerned my assignments, because I always had questions or comments to make about each one.  I also always included a brief paragraph about me, something personal.  My letters from my instructors also included something personal about them, every time, and then every one of my questions/comments were addressed.  AND...each instructor not only left comments on the assignment itself, but they also addressed the assignment in their letters to me, and in addition, added something about the next assignment.

I can't believe your instructor doesn't write a letter to you with each assignment !  Or that you don't send one of your own.  That's wild...how do you know what she/he thinks of your assignment, your writing, your ideas, what you want to do with this course, why you are in it, and so on?  I received as much help, information, guidence, and support from each of my instructors as I could possibly have wanted.

Well...let me amend all of the above..  My last instructor and I didn't really see eye to eye on my novel until almost the very end. My first two were wonderful, but she and I didn't click.  She had many comments to make, but many were not helpful at all.  Sometimes I felt that she didn't even read my work, because she would make comments on the assignment or in her letter that didn't even apply to what I had written.  But the point is...ALL of my instructors sent letters with each assignment, and I sent letters to them with each one. And on more than one occasion, I sent a letter either by snail or email in between assignments, and they were also always answered.

I don't know about other student/instructor relationships...am I the only one who had an on-going relationship with my instructors?

I always sent letters--long letters--full of questions about my previous assignment and the current one and marketing and writing in general, and we always chatted briefly about our lives outside of writing, too. My instructors have sent 2-4 page single-spaced letters back each time. I think I got/get more out of the letters than I do out of the comments made directly on my assignments, especially with my current instructor.

I don't email separately; these letters are attachments sent as part of each assignment.

I would send a short email with each assignment. I suppose I didn't do all I could have done to get more out of the course. I guess I am just that shy and backwards. Seriously. Unfortunately, I often realize this too late. My instructor did send letters to me, with more detailed explanation of her comments on the assignment. She also included some very personal stories about her own work, even telling me how badly she was criticized for a choice she made with one of her novels. Her comments to me were good. It was me, not my instructor, who should have done more throughout the course. I still learned a lot, but I think I could have learned more if I had asked more questions, sent emails between assignments, asked more questions here (you guys are awesome beyond words!), and took the initiative to be more involved with the course.

I think all the instructors are doing a wonderful job. Otherwise, the Institute wouldn't keep them around (and hardt would get the Zombie Bunny Army on them!).

I can't do email with my instructor.  So I haven't asked any questions.  But I think I will take your advice and write more to her each time!!  I sort of got the feeling I'd be "bothering" her for some odd reason.  But that's probably all in my own head! And what she's written to me has been mostly what to read next in the book, but you're right, I haven't been asking questions or writing my own stuff other than when it was assigned to do so.    I'm going to write a letter along with this assignment now!

Thanks!!

I'd say contact Student Services and talk to them about the situation. If you are getting on with your instructor otherwise is it really worth changing instructors for potentially 2 assignments?

Also when you send your assignment in, add a letter with the assignment. Let her know what you need to know. Just my 2c worth.

Yeah, I don't think I want to change instructors, but a friend suggested it and when she told me her experience, I was like...woah, it's not like that for me.  But I'm not, say, totally unhappy or something!  I will send a letter with this assignment!!

And don't be afraid to ask lots and lots of questions in your letter. Your instructor should answer them all in her response. At this point, you've gone through the bulk of the class, so it's a good point to ask a lot of questions. Did you send a letter as Assignment #3 and Assignment #6? I know the manual says to send one at those points (though many of my students don't.) If you missed that part of those assignments, the instructor could think you're one of the students who actually prefers less contact. I've had students who I basically beg to write me notes...but they just plain won't. So not every student actually wants much give and take. It's actually really going to help her in these last assignments when she knows you DO...and knows exactly what you're needing to know and what you're looking for.

Miranda,
my instructor doesnt accept email assignments, but maybe you could emal student services and have them forward a message to your instuctor. Ive done this a couple of times and gotten a good response. (for some reason I am stuck on assignment 8...)

I did email my instructor between lessons, but never received a reply until she returned the next lesson submitted.

I loved my first instructor, she was top-notch.  She used snail mail only and I changed to one who accepted emailed lessons. It didn't take me long to regret my decision.

I'm on assignment 8, too, and have always sent a letter with my submission (never between submissions), and my instructor has always seemed happy to recieve it and write back, though I did get the sense of what Jan said -- that not everyone writes so often, so the student-teacher interaction will always be different with each pairing.

Miranda, I also imagine she doesn't have much to say because you don't give her much to work with, in the sense that your manuscripts probably only have little spots here and there to tweak, and your writing doesn't have any systematic problems to be addressed.  So... no news is good news?

Basically, unless the emails you send between lessons contain things the instructor NEEDS to answer so that you can do the next assignment correctly, your instructor will always wait and include the info in the next instruction letter. It is no bother to your instructor to get emails/letters (we like them) but there is supposed to be a limit on how many in-between letters we send...so we try to save them for times you send in questions that really, really  need answered RIGHT NOW.

Now, sometimes if it's a really quick question, I'll (personally ) just have students email me directly. Then I can answer right away since it doesn't go through the Institute (as I don't get paid for those quick answers). Not every instructor has time to do that...but as webeditor, I answer questions via email ALL DAY LONG so it's really no big deal to do it for students too. But my day has that built into it...not every instructor can do that.