I went on Prodigy, an early Internet company, in 1992, I started a subject heading called “Ask Lary Crews” and posted a portion of my resume to offer my advice about writing. To my amazement, I got an average of 4,000 questions over an 18 month period.
When Prodigy raised their prices, I tried America Online in June 1993 and instantly fell in love with the superior graphics, the lack of ads, and the easy to navigate system. Again, I opened my Ask Lary Crews folder and started doing my volunteer work.
A month later, America Online hired me to teach two online writing classes called, “Writing the Novel," which I did from 1993-2000.
The 8-week course Writing the Novel covered what you need to know to draft a good publishable novel. The class met virtually but in real time, two hours each week. As a teacher, I taught live courses and I read their work and commented and, in general, held their hands.
I provided a 20-chapter textbook exclusively to students, as well as access to live question and answer conferences, scores of files including proposals, timelines, character biographies, and recommended books and agents. In addition, a private message board was offered.
For those who wish to pursue their literary potential even further an 8 week follow-up course “Advanced Writing the Novel” was available.
When I stopped teaching in the winter of 2000, America Online told me that I had taught 4,125 students in twenty-six different states over my seven years of Writing the Novel.
Of course, the best thing about teaching on America Online was when an LA English teacher, named Lori, took my course. She became my teaching assistant. I still lived in Sarasota, Florida.
After emailing each other every day for a year we met and, six months later, got married.
(Our 25th Anniversary is December 13, 2023)
