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The 10 Best Online Creative Writing Classes of 2023

Written by Mary Van Keuren

Updated: April 27, 2023

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The stereotype of the writer starving in their garret while waiting for inspiration to strike is far from the truth for today’s authors. Writers work in many fields, and the best of them get where they are through education and practice. A good writing course will feature a knowledgeable instructor, along with the opportunity to practice the skills they are teaching. To help you determine the best one for your own needs, we’ve sifted through the top options and reviewed the 10 best online writing courses below.

• Coursera — Creative Writing Specialization by Wesleyan University — Top Pick
• Udemy — Secret Sauce of Great Writing — Most Affordable
• MasterClass — Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television — Best for Multimedia Writing
• The Novelry — Writing for Children — Best for Children’s Literature
• Writer’s Digest University — Creative Writing 101 — Best for Beginners
• Bookfox — Two Weeks to Your Best Children’s Book — Best Editorial Support
• CreativeLive — Writing Your Story — Best for Memoir Writing
• Grammar Lion — A Grammar Refresher for All Writers & Editors — Best for Grammar Review
• LitReactor — Writing the Weird — Best Online Community
• Gotham Writers Workshop — Fiction Writing Level 1 — Best Supporting Materials

Our Ranking Criteria

The best online writing courses offer you the chance to take your natural writing skills and shape them into a form that will open the doors in your chosen field. Whether you want to pen tv sitcom scripts or write the next great American novel, the best online writing course for you will take you further than you would be able to go on your own, helping you develop professional-level skills that will allow you to obtain the job of your choice. We based our decisions for the best courses on the following criteria.

Basic Ranking Criteria

There’s no one factor that makes a writing course the best. Instead we looked at multiple aspects for each of 74 online classes and factored them all into our final ranking. In our first pass, we looked at basic ranking criteria:

Time to complete. Although it’s important to have the time you need to thoroughly understand what you’re learning, no one wants to spend more time in class than is necessary. Some of our chosen classes are self-paced, others take less than an hour to one year.

Prerequisites required. None of our finalists has any prerequisites, which means that anyone with a basic understanding of the English language can participate and learn. If you do have previous writing experience, all the better — but it’s not necessary.

Flexible schedule. All but two of our choices feature a flexible schedule. Your life is busy, and for most people it is difficult to have to sign into the course at a specific time. Eight of our chosen courses allow you to take the classes and do the work as you are able, at a time that’s convenient for you.

Certificate of completion. A certificate of completion is not standard for writing courses. However, if one is available, it is often a plus to add the certificate to your resume and LinkedIn profile.

Advanced Ranking Criteria

Once we reviewed results for the basic ranking criteria, we looked at more advanced features which are specific to the topics of the courses. Since many of our finalists have different focuses (such as children’s literature or creative writing), we were more concerned that they each covered their topic completely, rather than covering the same things as the other courses.

• The course thoroughly covers the material needed for an understanding of the topic.
• Instructors have solid credentials in the field they are teaching.
• The course includes materials that are appropriate to someone without skills or training in that area.
• The course includes opportunities for students to practice their writing skills.
• Instructors are personable and engaging.
• Alumni of the course are equipped to write at a beginning professional level.
• Graduates of the course have landed good jobs in their field.
• The course does not require software beyond a basic writing program such as Microsoft Word.
• Goals for the course are clear from the beginning.

10 Best Online Writing Courses Courses or Bootcamps

Coursera creative writing specialization by wesleyan university.

Intelligent Award: Top Pick

Coursera’s business model is somewhat different from many online education companies. It partners with established colleges and universities to offer classes at the higher-ed level. You don’t earn college credit for many courses, but can gain valuable certificates by completing specializations. The Creative Writing specialization consists of five courses that focus on three genres: short story, narrative essay, and memoir. Within those genres, you’ll learn about crafting characters and settings, writing descriptions, and developing your style, followed by a capstone class that will result in a completed story, essay or memoir. Throughout the specialization, you’ll have access to peer readers who can critique your work and suggest improvements. The course is taught by faculty at Wesleyan University who are published authors and trained in the creative writing process.

• Price: $49/month
• Time to complete: 3-6 months
• Prerequisites required: None
• Flexible schedule: Yes
• Includes verified certificate of completion: Yes

Who should take this course? This course is best for writers wishing to jumpstart or fire up their creative projects with college-level coursework.

Udemy Secret Sauce of Great Writing

Intelligent Award: Most Affordable

One of the better-known names in the online education industry, Udemy offers both paid and free courses, and, as of April 2021, had more than 40 million students. As you might imagine, an undertaking that vast will have a broad range of quality among its products. One of the company’s many courses on writing, The Secret Sauce of Great Writing stands out. Taught by former Wall Street Journal editor Shani Raja, the class focuses on what Raja believes are the four ingredients of good writing: simplicity, clarity, elegance, and evocativeness. Understanding and using these four ingredients, Raja says, will take your writing from the mundane to the inspiring. And at this price — it’s free! — and with a minimal time commitment (the course runs less than an hour), it is a great way to give your writing a boost and possibly learn some techniques that can enhance your output, whether you’re writing press releases or your autobiography.

• Price: Free
• Time to complete: 41 minutes
• Includes verified certificate of completion: No

Who should take this course? Anyone looking for a short, inspirational course at no cost.

MasterClass Shonda Rhimes Teaches Writing for Television

Intelligent Award: Best for Multimedia Writing

Our top pick from MasterClass is Shonda Rhimes MasterClass on writing for television, although there are a number of excellent options for writers, including courses taught by Neil Gaiman, David Sedaris, and Joyce Carol Oates. Rhimes packs a lot into her 30 lessons, including how to create a compelling character, script structure, and writing authentic dialogue. But she also takes it beyond writing instruction, discussing editing, breaking into the industry, and showrunning, among other TV-centric topics. Your annual membership to MasterClass also gives you access to a pdf workbook and the opportunity to download the classes and watch them offline. Rhimes is one of the biggest names in television today and an engaging speaker who seems to relish letting learners in on all the secrets that got her to where she is today.

• Price: $180 annual membership (access to 100+ classes)
• Time to complete: Self-paced

Who should take this course? Best for those with some script-writing experience, or anyone who wants to try their luck with the notoriously-difficult-to-break-into world of TV writing.

The Novelry Writing for Children

Intelligent Award: Best for Children’s Literature

The Novelry offers several programs for children’s writers, ranging from the Classic Course Box Set, which allows you to work through 45 lessons at your own speed for $365, up to The Book in a Year Plan, which guides you from planning, creating, and writing a children’s novel to publishing within a year (costs $1,999). The latter includes nine one-on-one sessions with a children’s fiction tutor to help you shape your creation — a valuable benefit for budding writers. An interactive platform allows you to ask questions or add comments online. Classes are 15-20 minutes in length, and the company recommends that you allow one hour a day for your writing. The platform keeps track of your progress and offers feedback as you go.

• Price: $365 to $1,999
• Time to complete. Self-paced; one year accessibility
• Prerequisites required . None
• Flexible schedule : Yes

Who should take this course? If you already have a great plan for a novel, the Book in a Year plan is ideal. If you’re still searching for an idea on which you can build a novel, try the Classic Course.

Writer’s Digest University Creative Writing 101

Intelligent Award: Best for Beginners

If you are at the very start of your writing career, you should consider checking out Writer’s Digest University. A venerable name in the writing world, Writer’s Digest has been publishing a magazine for writers since 1920, and it has the professional chops to offer solid, comprehensive courses to both beginners and experienced writers. Creative Writing 101 is geared toward those who have an idea and the urge to write, but are not sure where to begin. The classes lead you in shaping your protagonist and antagonist and fleshing out the plot of the story while addressing common writerly concerns such as determining point of view and how to motivate yourself to write. The 12 sessions are available for $579.99, which is a bit on the steep side for what you receive, but the quality of the courses is generally excellent.

• Price: $579.99
• Time to complete: 12 weeks

Who should take this course? Those who are at the beginning of their writing career without a strong sense of direction. It’s also good for established writers who would like a refresher on topics such as imagery and dialogue.

Bookfox Two Weeks to Your Best Children’s Book

Intelligent Award: Best Editorial Support

Bookfox is the brainchild of John Matthew Fox, a former college professor, editor, and writer, who well understands the ins and outs of the publishing world. His courses, which include Two Weeks to Your Best Children’s Book, are packed with information. They delve far beyond the actual writing process, and include how to generate book ideas, the revision process, and, perhaps most importantly, how to successfully publish your book. He also touches on topics including finding an illustrator and agent as well as what you should know if you decide to self-publish. Fox himself teaches each class. The self-paced children’s book class has 14 lessons, which take anywhere from two weeks up to one year. As a one-man operation, Bookfox doesn’t have the highly-polished look and feel of companies like MasterClass, but Fox’s knowledge base more than makes up for his website’s lack of bells and whistles.

• Price: $149
• Time to complete: Up to one year

Who should take this course? Anyone who wants comprehensive information on the editorial and publishing process.

CreativeLive Writing Your Story

Intelligent Award: Best for Memoir Writing

CreativeLive’s Memoir course, called “Writing Your Story,” is taught by celebrated novelist and memorist Joyce Maynard, who first came to public recognition following her account of her affair with J.D. Salinger, At Home in the World . She’s written several other books of an autobiographical nature along with 11 novels. Her teaching style is engaging and idiosyncratic, and involves numerous stories from her own life. If that piques your curiosity, you’ll find her course engaging and informative, with 26 lessons that range from 5-30 minutes long and discuss how to determine what to write, how to write it, and how to handle criticism and rejection. If you enjoy Maynard’s style of teaching, note that there are several other courses taught by her, including How to Write a Full-Length Memoir and How to Write a Personal Essay.

• Price: $11/month for pass that includes 1500+ classes; $89 if you purchase just this class
• Time to complete: Five hours, 19 minutes spread over 26 lessons

Who should take this course? A great option for anyone who wants to tell their own story.

Grammar Lion A Grammar Refresher for All Writers & Editors

Intelligent Award: Best for Grammar Review

Having a great story to tell is important, but unless you have the basic building blocks of writing, you won’t be able to tell it. This means paying attention to grammar, and it’s what the Grammar Lion Grammar Refresher course offers. Appropriate both for those who need to learn about grammar as well as accomplished writers looking for a review of basic material, the course starts out by identifying the parts of speech, reviews sentence structure, delves into verb forms, and discusses shifts in person, tense, and structure. One whole lesson is given to matters of clarity and logic, and course extras include helpful resources and a favorite books list. The instructor is Ellen Feld, an author, editor, and educator who has taught more than 44,000 students in her online grammar refresher courses. You can connect to Feld via a discussion forum or by private email. She also offers one-on-one editing services for an additional fee.

Who should take this course? Beginners who are learning grammar for the first time and experienced writers who need a refresh in the building blocks of language.

LitReactor Writing the Weird

Intelligent Award: Best Online Community

LitReactor’s courses are hip and decidedly off-center. Take, for example, the course Writing the Weird, taught by J.S. Breukelaar, a finalist for the Ladies of Horror Fiction award and author of Collision . Enrollment is limited to 16 students, who take a deep dive into surreal, fantastic, and otherwise bizarre literature to find and write the human elements that make a story stand out. The four week course is divided into four topics: humanity, structure, setting, and resolution. You’ll explore the work of writers from Kelly Link to Matt Bell, and discover how conventional narrative can be a starting point for delving into innovative and speculative fiction. Each week you’ll be given writing assignments that will be critiqued by Breukelaar and your classmates, and in the fourth and last week, you’ll develop a story from start to finish based on what you’ve learned. Depending on your job title, this class may be the least likely to get you a raise. But it just may be the most fun of all our finalists.

• Price: $350
• Time to complete: 4 weeks

Who should take this course? Anyone with a taste for the off-beat and a willingness to stretch themselves and think outside of the box.

Gotham Writers Workshop Fiction Writing Level 1

Intelligent Award: Best Supporting Materials

Gotham Writers Workshop has made a name for itself in the NYC region with in-person and Zoom classes, but it also offers well-regarded online classes. Level I classes, such as Fiction Writing I, max out with 16 students per class, so you are guaranteed personal attention from the instructor. Level II and III classes (which include the continuation of the Fiction Writing series), have a maximum of 14 students. You can access each class and do the accompanying exercises anytime during the week for the 10 week workshops. The online interface makes it easy to submit work and read critiques from instructors and fellow students. Lessons are text-based rather than video, and there is a wealth of accompanying materials, such as reading lists and podcasts, to help you extend your learning experience.

• Price: Registration fee: $25; Online: $409; Returning students: $379; One-on-one: $1,745
• Time to complete: 10 weeks
• Flexible schedule: Modified flex time, with work needing to be completed within a week

Who should take this course? Anyone who prefers text-based lessons; those who want to interact personally with their instructor and peers.

Online Course Comparison Chart

Tips for Succeeding in an Online Writing Course

1. consider the cost, how much do online writing classes cost.

Online writing courses are offered at a broad range of price points, our cheapest option is free, and the highest is nearly $2K. Generally, the more personal one-on-one time you have with an editor or your instructor, the more you’ll pay. LitReactor, for example, has a vibrant online community and regular feedback from your instructor, and costs $350 for the roughly four-week class.

Many of our choices are paid for in one lump sum when you sign up. A few, however, follow Coursera’s model of charging by the month or year. Also, keep in mind that some of our choices, such as MasterClass, give you access to all courses for the membership fee. So, if you have the time and interest, your $180 annual fee at MasterClass could net you literally dozens of courses in a range of topics.

Will my employer pay for me to take the course?

If you work in the communications industry, or in any industry that values good, clear writing skills, you may be able to have all or part of your writing course fees paid for by your employer, especially if you can show them how the course will benefit them. It’s worth asking your boss or your HR supervisor if they will help out with the cost.

2. Get your tech squared away

You shouldn’t need any special software or hardware to take an online writing course. You will need a good internet connection and a computer that is loaded with the most recent version of your chosen browser and system files. Most courses are formatted to work on both desktop computers and other devices, such as your tablet or smartphone.  One handy app if you use Google Chrome is the company’s Video Speed Controller , which allows you to speed up or slow down HTML5 video, as needed.

3. Use the right study resources

One resource that many writers swear by is a good style guide. There are several of these, and you can generally find out which style guide your company uses with a quick question to the marketing or communications department. Here are the most common:

• Associated Press Stylebook — now in its 55th edition, this is the granddaddy of them all. Used by journalists, it is also the favored choice for much web writing as well as some academia.
• The Chicago Manual of Style — a wealth of information, the 17th edition features chapters on grammar and usage, a glossary of problematic words, and extensive information on citing sources.
• Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association — in its 7th edition, this style guide is used extensively by researchers and those in science and health care.

Career Outlook for Creative Writing

The skills you learn in an online creative writing class can be applied to multiple careers and offer plenty of opportunities to share your ideas and perspectives. Few people are full-time authors. But the vast majority of professions, from legal work to health care, require those who can write clearly and concisely. According to the government’s Occupational Outlook Handbook , a full-time writer earns an average of $67,120 a year — but you can earn significantly more, depending on your job skills and professional area. Below are additional jobs related to creative writing:

Authors tell stories in a written medium. They may generate their own work based on their personal interests or areas of expertise, or they may work on commission for a third party. The writing process includes brainstorming, researching, outlining, drafting, and revising. Because authors typically work on contract, their salaries vary widely. As of May 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the median annual salary for writers and authors is $69,510 . Authors receive payment through a combination of advances, royalties , and net receipts or via a flat fee .

Screenwriter/Playwright

Screenwriters and playwrights use their creative writing talents to tell stories through performance-based mediums like TV, film, and live theater. These roles are often collaborative, with writers working as part of a team that includes directors, producers, actors, and designers. Screenwriters and playwrights must generate ideas, conduct research, outline, write, and rewrite. These jobs are often contractual, with salaries varying greatly. According to Salary.com, screenwriters earn a median annual salary of $67,501 .

Public relations specialist

Public relations specialists and publicists rely on strong written communication skills to produce press releases, articles, speeches, and more. These individuals use the narrative-crafting skills they learn in creative writing classes to tell stories for their clients, who can be organizations, brands, or products. BLS projects an 8% increase in public relations specialist jobs through 2031 and reports that the median annual wage is $62,800 .

Marketing copywriter

Marketing copywriters use their creative writing skills to describe and promote brands, products, services, and more. They write for a variety of print and digital platforms, including catalogs, commercials, social media, and more. Virtually every industry employs copywriters , including finance, retail, business consulting, and IT, making this an ideal career path for individuals with expertise in a field other than writing. The annual salary range for copywriters falls between $46,255 and $59,729 , according to Salary.com.

Blogger/Web content writer

Creative writers can use the internet to share and monetize their writing . Bloggers may be self-employed and run their own blog based on their interests or they may write for an outside company as a freelancer or salaried employee. Brainstorming, researching, writing, and editing are all common elements of a blogger’s job. They may also need to create photo or video content and promote the blog. The average salary for bloggers is $47,910 , according to Salary.com.

Educational requirements for careers in creative writing

Whether a job in the creative writing field will require a specific degree or formal training largely depends on the role or the employer. Nobody needs formal training or credentials to write a book, blog, movie script, play, etc. Individuals often teach themselves through the practice of writing. Still, formal training can be helpful if you want to familiarize yourself with storytelling techniques and principles and to learn more about the particular industry you want to join. For certain jobs, such as editor or journalist , a bachelor’s degree can open up more opportunities and increase earning potential.

Frequently Asked Questions About Writing Courses

Are there free online writing courses.

Yes. In fact, one of our ten best choices is Udemy, which offers a broad range of free courses. In general, however, the old adage about how you get what you pay for holds true — the best, most well-designed courses will usually have a cost attached to them.

How long is the average online writing course?

Online writing courses vary from less than an hour to up to a year. Since most offer a flexible schedule, you can do them when you have time available. Keep in mind that in addition to lectures you’ll be watching or reading, you may also have exercises to complete, which take additional time.

Are online writing courses worth it?

They can be. Like many things in life, you will get as much out of it as you put into it. If you are taking a course for personal enrichment, all our chosen courses should benefit you. If you’re looking for professional advancement, a course with a certificate of completion may be a good idea, so you can show the certificate to your boss when done.

What are the best online writing courses?

There are probably hundreds of online writing courses — we looked at nearly 75 for this review. The best online writing courses are the ones we’ve featured above. The best writing course for your needs will depend on what you are looking to get out of it. If you’re hoping to write a best-selling children’s book, for example, the best writing class might not be Shonda Rhimes’ MasterClass. You’d be better off choosing an option like The Novelry’s program or John Matthew Fox’s Bookfox.

Interested in a degree instead?

Learn more about online degrees, their start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.

Online Writing Classes to Put Your Learning to Practice

In our new monthly classes, you'll transform from aspiring to writer through deliberate practice.

Transforming from an aspiring writer to a published author takes practice. 

Specifically, it takes deliberate practice.

At The Write Practice, we believe that everyone  can become a published author and share their writing with the world through deliberate practice. But what is deliberate practice though? 

Deliberate practice has five components:

• Theory & Craft
• Practice (you must put the theory to practice)

If you focus on each of those five things, you'll become a better writer, finish your book, and accomplish your writing goals.

Through our Writing Classes, we want to help you learn the craft.

At The Write Practice, our mission is to create experiences that help you transform from aspiring writer to published author. 

That's why we're so excited about offering these monthly classes to help you do just that. When combined with our coaching programs like 100 Day Book  and 1 Year to Publish , we know that they will help you accomplish your writing goals.

Sign up now, or learn more below.

Current Class

Here's what's coming up in our class schedule

How to Write Like Louise Penny: A Still Life Book Study for Writers

by Joe Bunting

Louise Penny is one of the world's most successful living mystery writers, selling more than 10 million copies of her bestselling  Inspector Gamache  series. 

How do her books work  though? And in general, how do you write a mystery novel?

In this class, we're going to study Louise Penny's debut novel,  Still Life , which she published when she was 47 years old, and discuss the ways she tackles the mystery genre and even surpasses it.

Louise Penny is one of the world's most successful living mystery writers, selling more than 10 million copies of her bestselling Inspector Gamache series.  How do her books work though? And in general, how do you write a mystery novel? In this...

2024 Class Schedule

Find out what classes we have planned for the following year. Note: This schedule is subject to change.

Book Writing Tools Instructor : Bestselling author Joe Bunting

Characters Instructor : Sue Weems

Book Study:  Still Life by Louise Penny (mystery) Instructor: Bestselling author Joe Bunting

Dialogue Instructor : Jeff Elkins, the "Dialogue Doctor"

Book Sales Tactics Instructor: Jamie L. Biggs

Book Study: Deadly Education by Naomi Novik (fantasy) Instructor : Bestselling author Joe Bunting

Plot Type Mastery Instructor : Bestselling author Joe Bunting

Book Study: All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy (literary) Instructor : Bestselling author Joe Bunting

Point of View Instructor : TBD

Past Classes

All past classes may be purchased individually, and some are included with your classes membership.

Better Characters, Faster

Better Characters, Faster is a 2-part class designed to help you create your best characters. Whether you're tackling your first novel or diving into revisions, this workshop will help you create characters that readers fall in love with and want to follow till the...

Book Writing Software Class

There are certain tools that pro writers won't even start writing a book without, tools that make write, publishing, and even marketing their books so much easier. Now, in this new class from The Write Practice and bestselling author Joe Bunting, you'll learn how to...

Boys in the Boat: Book Study for Writers

The Boys in the Boat is one of the most successful historical nonfiction books of all time and was recently adapted into a blockbuster film by George Clooney. How does the book work though? And what can writers learn by studying this bestselling book?

Write from the Start: Novel Prep Essentials

Have an idea? Ready to write? Learn everything you need to get started the write way so you can actually finish your book.  By the end of this 3-part class taught by bestselling author and founder of The Write Practice, Joe Bunting, you will be ready to...

Plot Type Mastery

Do you know which of the 9 types of story you're writing? Do you know how plot type works with form to create stories that just work? Learn everything you need to understand what's really going on at the heart of your story. By the end of this class taught...

Membership Bonuses

You can sign up for individual classes, but when you sign up for a membership, you'll also get all of the following.

The Write Structure Course

Master book structure for fiction, memoir, and nonfiction and learn to write or edit your masterpiece.

Foundations of Publishing

How do you get published and become a professional author? In this extensive course, you'll learn exactly what it takes to become an author in the 21st century.

Book Writing Library

10+ hours of video lessons on the ins-and-outs of writing a great book.

There's more though. You'll also get:

Community access.

Build your writing team in a community of writers who want to help you succeed.

Get Feedback in Our Writing Workshop

Post your writing and get feedback from your fellow writers in our writing workshop.

Get Published in a Literary Magazine

You'll have exclusive submissions to our partner literary magazine, Short Fiction Break.

Join Our Writing Contests

Put your skills to the test in our regular writing contests.

Sign up for one class or join as a member and save 50 percent, plus get bonuses!

Single Class

• Class. Take one class.
• Feedback . Share your writing in the workshop.
• Existing Course Access . Get access to existing courses. An $838 value.
• A process. Unlimited rounds of 100 Day Book.
• Coaching . Get email coaching and accountability.
• Bonus : Publish your writing on Short Fiction Break
• Bonus : Writing contest entry

Classes Membership

• Class. Join all monthly classes.
• Feedback . Share your writing in the workshop and get feedback on your writing.
• Existing Course Access . Get access to existing courses like The Write Structure, Foundations in Publishing, and our Book Writing Library. An $838 value.
• A process. Unlimited rounds of 100 Day Book, our proven book writing program.
• Coaching . Get email coaching and accountability to help you finish your book.
• Bonus : Publish your writing on Short Fiction Break literary magazine

100 Day Book Membership

Frequently asked questions.

Have a question not covered above? Find it here or contact us .

I don't know if I can make it to the live lessons. Will they be recorded?

Yes! All the lessons will be recorded, so if you can't make it live, make sure to watch the recording.

Plus, if you sign up for a memberhsip, you'll have access to many past courses, including Foundations in Publishing and The Write Structure Course.

What if don't live in the United States?

This course is open to all authors and aspiring authors, whether in the United States, Europe, Australia, India, or elsewhere. If you want to write a book, this course is for you. Keep in mind that you'll gather live on Zoom several times a month with your mastermind cohort, and let us know in your application which of our available time slots works best for you.

When do the payments for the membership end?

This is a monthly membership that you can cancel at any time. As long as you're a member of this membership tier, you will continue to receive access to our monthly classes, our community and workshops, and past class recordings. If you'd like to end or downgrade your membership, just let us know at admin [at] thewritepractice [dot] com. 

Do the classes include individualized feedback?

The membership plan includes access to our writing workshops where you can receive feedback on your writing.

Our instructors always make an effort to connect with students, but they're not able to provide feedback. If you'd like coaching and feedback on your writing, please consider signing up for 100 Day Book , our book coaching program, or 1 Year to Publish , our writing mastermind. Thanks!

As a Classes Subscriber, how long do I have access to each class for?

For Classes Members, each class is available either live or as a recording for the month it is taught plus a few weeks' grace period. After that, the class will expire and go into our vault where it can be purchases individually.

Classes members will get a warning before a class expires.

There are a few classes that  don't  expire, including: Outline Your Book, Make Money as a Writer, Writing a Nonfiction Book, Self-Publishing, How to Get a Literary Agent, and Tools for Writers.

You Need to Learn the Craft. Let's Do It Together!

If you want to get published, there's no way around it. You have to learn the craft of writing. You also need to learn how the publishing industry works. Plus you need a team who can support you along the way.

At The Write Practice, we want to support you in every facet of the writing process, starting with learning the craft. 

Our unique, practical approach will help you put what you've learned to use immediately so you can start becoming a better right away.

Then, we'll give you the tools to get feedback and share your writing with the world.

Sign up for classes and let's get started transforming into a published author today. 

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Creative Writing Courses and Certifications

Learn Creative Writing, earn certificates with paid and free online courses from University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins, UC Irvine, UC Berkeley and other top universities around the world. Read reviews to decide if a class is right for you.

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Class Central's Top Creative Writing Courses

We've picked the best online courses to learn Creative Writing from the Class Central catalog.

Some courses are concise and get you up to speed in no time, others will be more comprehensive.

Creative Writing

Creative writing: the craft of plot, neil gaiman teaches the art of storytelling, complete creative writing - all genres - the full course, creative writing for all: a 10-day journaling challenge, relato corto de ficción: escribe desde tu experiencia personal, write your book: start strong and get it done, writing: the craft of story, creative writing: crafting personal essays with impact, start writing fiction.

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Learn the craft of plot in creative writing with Wesleyan University's 4-week course. Master narrative arc, pacing, and plot structure to captivate readers.

• 5 hours 50 minutes
• Free Online Course (Audit)

Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description

In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to the techniques that masters of fiction use to ground a story in a concrete world. From the most realist settings to the most fantastical, writers will learn how to describe the physical world in shar…

• 7 hours 25 minutes

Creative Writing: The Craft of Character

At the center of a good story are the characters in it. In this course aspiring writers will discover how to build and bring to life complex, vivid and unforgettable characters.

• 6 hours 23 minutes

Creative Writing: The Craft of Style

Hone your unique writing style with Wesleyan University's 4-week course. Learn the art of metaphor, imagery, and inventive word choice to enhance your stories.

• 7 hours 44 minutes

Wesleyan University's 26-week course covers three major creative writing genres, offering techniques for crafting plot, character, setting, and style. Includes a capstone project.

• 26 weeks, 1 hour a week
• Paid Course

I'm Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers. Learn about plot, wordbuilding, short stories, character, and publishing.

• Free Online Course

Learn to write engaging Fiction, Poetry, Drama, & Creative Non-Fiction and become the successful writer you want to be

• 12 hours 8 minutes

Writing a Book: Creative Writing Skills for Beginners

Writing a Book: Creative writing skills: Novel/Nonfiction book writing: Punctuation: Outlining: Fantasy world building

• 1 day 5 hours 53 minutes

Creative Writing: how to write a novel. The full course.

A full creative writing course: create engaging characters, use a 3 act narrative structure and write smart dialogues.

Creative Writing Bootcamp: Start a Brand New Story

Join best-selling author Myla Goldberg in a fun, energetic class to kickstart your writing. Learn to generate ideas, create vivid settings, empathetic villains, engaging dialogues, and develop characters.

• Free Trial Available

Creative Writing Project: Brainstorm Your Story

Kickstart your creative writing journey with this short course focused on brainstorming your story, distinguishing between plot and story, and developing a clear plan for your project.

Creative Personal Writing: Write the Real You

Learn to write from memory with Ashley C. Ford in this short course. Gain skills in self-reporting, recalling forgotten memories, and sharing your experiences. Suitable for all levels.

Creative Writing - Writer's Block Workbook Volume 2 Month 1

Five weeks' worth of keywords to create 100+ new pieces with tips to help your writing ongoing. Plus bonus content.

• 2 hours 21 minutes

Creative Writing - Writer's Block Workbook Volume 1 Month 1

Five weeks' worth of beginnings to create 100+ new pieces with tips to help your writing ongoing. Plus bonus content.

Creative Writing Project: Create a Character

Learn to create compelling characters for your novel, short story, or screenplay in less than an hour with this focused online course.

Never Stop Learning.

Get personalized course recommendations, track subjects and courses with reminders, and more.

NEW VIDEO COURSE

Learn How to Write a Novel, Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class.

Learn How to Write a Novel

Join Tom Bromley for a writing master class and finish your first draft in 3 months.

362 Best Creative Writing Classes in Online

Showing 362 courses that match your search.

8-week Writing Sprints: A Generative Class

Sackett Street Writers

Writing Sprints is an exercise-intensive course designed to “unstick” writers struggling to start or continue new projects, boosting writing productivity. The course relies heavily on writing exercises (for both fiction & nonfiction writers). This class is for writers of all levels looking for inspiration and motivation.

Website: https://sackettworkshop.com/writing/2024/03/05/8-week-wri...

Categories: Book, Fiction, and Nonfiction

Start date:

September, 2024

Prerequisites: A writing sample is recommended for this class.

The Secret Life of Scenes Workshop with David Biespiel

Attic Institute

Do you feel your writing gets bogged down in announcing, recounting, and summarizing? What you need is some scene-making medicine. Work with Attic Institute founder and two-time Oregon Book Award winner David Biespiel to learn the keys to explain less and dramatize more.

Website: https://atticinstitute.com/node/2830

Categories: Book, Fiction, Nonfiction, Screenplay, and Short Story

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Fall Virtual Workshop

Futurescapes

Futurescapes is an intensive, exclusive workshop, offering writers an unparalleled chance to work with top authors and agents in speculative fiction (science fiction, horror, fantasy, paranormal).

Website: https://futurescapes.ink/fall-workshop

Categories: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Book, and Fiction

October, 2024

Prerequisites: You may submit any original written work for your application.

How to Write a Novel

Your story matters. Unlock your potential with daily video lessons from bestselling ghostwriter Tom Bromley, and finish your first draft in just 3 months. Learn more →

The Poetry of Play

Writers.com

In this class, we’ll enjoy a rollicking good time by responding to poetry’s call to do just that. Students will read a wide variety of playful poetry, then experiment with in-class writing prompts designed to awaken freedom and enjoyment.

Website: https://writers.com/course/the-poetry-of-play

Categories: Poetry, Book, and Short Story

January, 2025

The Spirituality of Poetry

In this course, you’ll explore many poets whose work radiate with broad definitions of spirituality. Our weekly readings are designed to help center and balance you, as well as help you explore your own beliefs and approaches to a spiritual life.

Website: https://writers.com/course/the-spirituality-of-poetry

Categories: Poetry

Better Business Writing

Emory University

This interactive course aims to strengthen business writing skills, focusing on audience-centric writing and digital writing standards. Participants will learn to refine their writing style, with classes limited to 15.

Website: https://ece.emory.edu/areas-of-study/communication/better...

Categories: Business

August, 2024

Novel in Progress

In class, we will do exercises, discuss craft issues—characterization, the protagonist's desire, plot and outlining, endings—and read short scenes from each other's work, providing feedback in an environment that recognizes the specific challenges of the novel in progress.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/novel-in-progress-su24-02

Categories: Fiction and Book

Online Advanced Poetry (Bellamy)

The Writers Studio

Students at this level are writing poetry with an increased focus on creating an individual voice and an emotional atmosphere. Exercises using free verse and traditional, received forms (i.e. sonnet, villanelle, sestina, and pantoum) as well as meter and syllabics are suggested in order to strengthen a student’s technical skills.

Website: https://courses.writerstudio.com/courses/online-advanced-...

Categories: Book and Poetry

Teen Summer: Food for Thought & Character Development

Through craft lessons and writing prompts, students will have fun fleshing out their character and story ideas using food as inspiration and leave with delicious new drafts.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/teen-summer-food-for-thou...

Categories: Fiction, Short Story, Book, Nonfiction, Essay, and Poetry

Form and Composition

Writer's Digest University

Proper grammar, punctuation, and mechanics make your writing correct. In order to truly write well, you must also master the art of form and composition. From sentence structure to polishing your prose, this course will enhance your writing, no matter what type of writing you do.

Website: https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/form-and-c...

Categories: Book, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Short Story

Prerequisites: Up to 60,000 words of your novel or two drafts of up to 30,000 words each.

Fearless Writing

In this workshop we’ll look at several techniques you can you use to keep yourself in the creative flow and out of the trouble and misery fear always causes.

Website: https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/fearless-w...

Prerequisites: The Writer’s Compass: From Story Map to Finished Draft in 7 Stages is a required book.

8-week Fiction II/III (intermediate & advanced)

This Fiction Workshop is aimed at writers looking to create a regular practice and master the essentials and are looking for a community of peers ready to offer insightful, impartial feedback on works in progress. Class time is spent on in-depth discussion of student work, and analysis of published writing.

Website: https://sackettworkshop.com/writing/2023/12/29/8-week-fic...

Categories: Book

Prerequisites: A writing sample is required for this class.

So you’re looking for creative writing classes online

Why go to a class in person when you can simply take the creative writing class online, in the comfort of your home and at your own preferred pace? With the single click of a finger, you could have access to the best online writing courses in the world, and a breadth of knowledge that could help you master the art of writing.

This directory of the best online writing courses is meant to help you locate the right one for yourself.  We’ve included filters for price and genre so that you can quickly sort through the writing classes. And before you commit to any one writing class, consider the following questions:

• Who is the instructor?
• What is the price of the writing course?
• Is the writing course offered in person? Or are you certain you want to take the creative writing class course?
• How long could the course last?

Got any questions about finding the right writing class online for you? Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . Good luck!

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The 10 Best Online Creative Writing Courses (2023 Rankings)

Published on: 03/22/2023

By Fatima Mansoor

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With the best online creative writing courses, you can learn the techniques and skills you need to become a better writer.

Do you feel like your writing has hit a plateau?

Are you struggling to convey your ideas and bring your stories to life?

Are you tired of staring at a blank page?

It is normal for writers to feel stuck, discouraged, and doubt their writing skills.

In the past, the solution was to enroll in a creative writing class at your local college or join a writing group. But these options are often either expensive, time-consuming, or inconvenient — or all of the above.

These days, though, there are lots of great creative writing courses online that let you learn from some of the world’s top experts all from the comfort of your own home.

You can learn how to write compelling stories, craft convincing dialogue, create vivid characters, understand structure and pacing, and much more, while enjoying the flexibility, convenience, and affordability of online learning.

Whether you’re looking to become the next bestselling author or you just want to write for fun, these courses will give you the tools you need to take your writing to the next level.

We’ve reviewed and ranked the best online creative writing courses based on a number of key criteria, including content, instructor credentials and experience, price, student reviews, and more.

This guide is fully updated for 2023 to include the best current course options so you can make an informed decision for investing in your writing passion.

Disclosure:  Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost for you, we might get a commission if you click the link and purchase.

How We Chose the Best Online Courses for Creative Writing

With hundreds of online creative writing classes out there, we wanted to help people like you find the ones that are truly the best of the best.

We reviewed dozens of creative writing courses online, and ranked them based on the following criteria:

• Curriculum quality– We carefully reviewed the curriculum of each course to make sure it was up-to-date and comprehensive.
• Instructor reputation– We checked the background and reviews of the instructor to gauge whether or not they had the experience and expertise needed to teach a great creative writing course.
• Student reviews– In addition to forming our own opinions of these courses, we also looked carefully at the reviews and ratings left by other students to get a feel for what others had to say.
• Value– Finally, we compared the cost of each course to the quality of instruction to determine which ones had the best value for what was being offered.

After going through this in-depth process, we came up with a list of what we believe are the 10 very best online creative writing courses available today.

What are the Best Online Creative Writing Classes?

Here are our picks for the top creative writing courses online in 2023…

1. Creative Writing Bootcamp: Start a Brand New Story (Skillshare)

Skillshare offers a One-Month Free Trial . After that, a Skillshare subscription is around $165 per year for unlimited access to all courses. See our Skillshare review  for more info.

14 video lessons, 1 hour

This course is designed to help aspiring authors of all skill levels launch their creative writing careers. Myla Goldberg, a renowned author, teaches this course, covering everything from character and plot development to dialogue writing.

Students will participate in various interactive activities and writing prompts throughout the course to evaluate their current performance and navigate their way upwards. Each lesson builds on the previous one, guiding students through creating a completely new story from start to finish, from idea generation to writing captivating opening lines.

Students can take advantage of Myla’s guidance on overcoming writer’s block, her insights into the publishing industry, and how to get their work noticed by agents and publishers.

2. Creative Writing: Crafting Personal Essays with Impact (Skillshare)

Skillshare offers a One-Month Free Trial . After that, a Skillshare subscription is around $165 per year for unlimited access to all courses.

11 video lessons, 1+ hours

This course by Roxane Gray gives you the tools to tell your story with impact. It will help you craft compelling personal essays whether you’re looking for an introduction to essay writing or an experienced writer needing a refresher course.

You’ll learn how to brainstorm essay topics, structure your essays for maximum impact, and revise your work so it’s polished.

The course also emphasizes the importance of storytelling and using specific, vivid details to bring essays to life. It will give you useful strategies for engaging your target audience and making a lasting impression, whether you write for personal or professional reasons.

Overall this course comprises a step-by-step process for writing a personal essay that captures your unique personality. You’ll also develop the skills and self-assurance you need to keep writing and hone your craft.

3. The Creative Writer’s Toolkit: Writing a Character Study (Skillshare)

5 video lessons, about 30 minutes

If you’re looking for rigorous training related to character development, this course will be the right fit for you! It is taught by a famous Wattpad writer, Lindsey Summers, who provides a detailed guide in translating vague ideas into interesting characters.

Over the course of 5 insightful video lessons, Lindsey will discuss the core aspects of character development, such as using an archetype in the right context and using character flaws to drive the story.

Whether a novice or an aspiring author, you can sign up for this course to study character creation and upskill yourself to use unique approaches in different scenarios.

4. Teaching Writing For Television (Masterclass)

Plans starting at $15/month billed annually

30 video lessons, about 6.5 hours

Shonda Rhimes’ Masterclass course on writing pilot scripts is another empowering and informative course.

Rhimes has been working in television for over 20 years and has created some of the most popular shows on TV today, including How to Get Away With Murder, The Catch, Grey’s Anatomy, etc. Her experience working with writers of various genres qualifies her to teach you how to write a catchy pilot script.

The course covers everything from developing your idea into a pitch to writing your first draft.

Rhimes walks you through each step of the process, providing clear instructions and examples from her own experiences and those of other writers with whom she has collaborated over the years. All these real-life examples give you a good head start, shed light on common pitfalls, and accelerate your growth as compared to learning on your own. She also gives you time estimates for each section of your script so you can plan accordingly.

This course is ideal for anyone interested in learning more about writing television shows but is intimidated by the process or lacks access to an experienced professional who can provide feedback on their work.

5. Creative Non-Fiction Writing – You Can’t Make This Stuff Up! (Udemy)

Regularly priced at $19.99

27 lessons, 1 hour and 50 minutes

If you’re a writer who’s fond of writing biographies, history, and philosophy, this course will make you a pro at the non-fiction genre. Led by the mastermind of the non-fiction genre, Trace Crawford, this course will teach you the primary concepts of creative non-fiction writing.

You will learn to develop story plots, use literary devices to make content more impactful, and structure a narrative. Trace believes comprehending practical aspects of the non-fiction genre makes you an outstanding writer. Topics such as primary and secondary research and navigating ethical concerns when writing about people and events are all crucial to convey your work to the target audience.

Apart from the core concepts, this course includes skills such as pitching, submitting work to publishers, and using the right medium to create your brand in the market.

In essence, this course is an excellent opportunity to learn non-fiction writing, whether you want to pursue it as a side hustle or a profession.

6. Secret Sauce of Great Writing (Udemy)

Do you feel like your mediocre writing is holding you back? Look no further than the “Secret Sauce of Great Writing” course on Udemy by former Wall Street Journal editor Shani Raja!

Shani teaches you the insider secrets to great writing that only a seasoned professional could know. He discusses the four main ingredients of great writing: simplicity, clarity, elegance, and evocativeness. With his years of experience in the industry, Shani knows exactly what it takes to write content that hooks your readers.

You’ll also get the chance to brush up on some basics, such as sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, style, tone, and storytelling. With Shani’s guidance, you’ll become a pro at writing informational and commercial content.

7. Creative Writing Specialization (Coursera)

Included with 7,000+ other courses with Coursera Plus subscription ($59/mo).  Try Coursera Plus free for 7 days.

About 10.5 hours of video lessons

Are you a budding writer yearning for a community that values the art of creative writing and supports your journey of self-expression? This Creative Writing Specialization on Coursera is the perfect course for you.

You will learn different forms of creative writing, such as fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and screenwriting. What makes this program unique is the exceptional instructors who are experts in their fields and passionate writers.

The program’s peer review process enables participants to share their work with other writers and get regular feedback. Such interactive lessons foster a sense of belonging and the opportunity to grow no matter your proficiency level.

You’ll also learn how to create engaging stories that capture readers’ attention, write poetry, develop characters, develop intriguing dialogues, and write descriptive settings that readers can relate to.

The program’s main learning outcomes include gaining a deep understanding of the different genres of creative writing and developing the necessary skills to write effectively within each genre.

You’ll also learn practical tips on how to get published and build your portfolio.

Overall, this specialization on Coursera is more than just an online course; it’s a community of writers who understand the struggles and joys of creative expression.

Students have the option to audit the course for free. However, you’ll have to pay a fee if you want a certificate upon completing the class.

8. Writing Your Story (CreativeLive)

Plans starting around $13 per month

26 video lessons, 5+ hours

Another area of non-fiction writing is memoirs. Many people are willing to write about their personal experiences and memorable moments. This is where Joyce Maynard comes in and sheds light on the skills needed to write a profound memoir.

The primary motive of this course is to discuss the outline of memoirs and the right methodology to inculcate drama, relevance, and authenticity. Joyce teaches how to organize your writing and use sensory devices to make your memoirs engaging.

Overall, this course gives you all the knowledge needed to pen down your personal perspective. You’ll be able to write a memoir that strikes a chord with the audience and leaves a lasting impression.

9. Grammar Lion: A Grammar Refresher (Grammar Lion)

100+ lessons

Essentially, this course covers the fundamental English grammar lessons to enable budding writers to polish their language and avoid frequent mistakes. After all, a competent writer must be proficient in grammar.

Students will learn parts of speech, sentence structure, and punctuation. They will also learn how to compose sentences and paragraphs and rectify common grammar mistakes.

Apart from grammar, you will also improve your analytical and critical thinking abilities via various case studies, which can be useful in both academic and professional situations.

This is the perfect course for anyone wishing to enhance their communication and writing skills in general.

Overall, these lessons will provide the foundation necessary to write with clarity, precision, and assurance.

10. Creative Writing: How to Start a Writing Habit (Skillshare)

Skillshare offers a One-Month Free Trial . After that, the  Skillshare price is around $165 per year for unlimited access to all courses.

7 video lessons, about 11 minutes

Becoming a proficient, creative writer requires effort, determination, and guidance. If you are just getting on the bandwagon and looking for a well-defined roadmap, this course on Skillshare will be a worthwhile investment.

A renowned writing coach, Whitney Strong, offers actionable advice to help you hone your creative thinking skills and gives you direction to develop a writing habit.

Strong encourages students to maintain a notebook from the beginning of the course. In this way, one can establish a writing routine that fits their lifestyle and goals and learn techniques for writing down impactful ideas.

The abundance of practical advice by Strong makes this course stand out. She does not only focus on the methodology of writing engaging stories or dialogues but also emphasizes conceptual learning.

She discusses abstract concepts and provides students with specific writing exercises and prompts to help them overcome common writing obstacles and develop their writing voice. Whitney also shares her writing experiences, providing insights into the creative process and the challenges that all writers face.

The course is appropriate for writers of all levels, from novices looking to improve their skills to seasoned writers looking to establish a writing practice.

A Final Word on the Best Online Creative Writing Courses

With so many great online creative writing classes, it’s easier than ever to study from acclaimed authors, receive insightful comments, and interact with a community of professional writers who share your interests.

Remember, most of these course providers offer free trial periods, giving you a great chance to check out classes at no cost to see which ones you like best.

Have any questions about our guide to the best online creative writing courses? Leave a comment below to let us help.

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Creative Writing Courses: Best Online Classes for Writers

Hannah Yang

It’s great to be constantly learning and improving as a fiction writer. But going back to school to get a Master’s degree in fine arts just isn’t plausible for most writers. Luckily, there are a ton of great courses you can take online.

How do you know which ones are worth your time and money? We’ve got you covered. Here are some of the best online courses for fiction writers.

17 Best Online Creative Writing Courses

Creative writing courses: faqs, 1. prowritingaid academy.

Brilliant writers aren’t born, they’re made. Writing is a skill that can be developed, just like any other, and ProWritingAid’s brand new learning platform is here to help.

With a ProWritingAid Academy membership, you get a unique combination of:

• Self-paced courses
• Live monthly 30-day writing challenges with daily exercises
• Exclusive live training workshops
• Support, inspiration, and constructive feedback from a community of like-minded students and instructors

Here’s a peek at our course library!

2. The Novelry’s Online Writing Courses

Go from zero to finished novel in one year. The Novelry’s Book in a Year course is a year of complete guidance and support to write your novel and fulfill your ambition to become an author. In it, the team at The Novelry will lead you through the creation of a sound and appealing story idea, then onto writing the novel, then revising and editing your first draft. You will complete and hold in your hands a manuscript to professional standard ready to pitch to literary agents.

Looking for something else? The Novelry has dozens of courses about everything from writing children’s books to pitching to help you get started.

3. Jerry Jenkins’ Your Novel Blueprint

Are you overwhelmed by the prospect of writing a whole book? Jerry Jenkins’ Your Novel Blueprint is the course for you. Jerry has written 195 books and has made the New York Times’ Bestseller list 21 times!

His blueprint isn’t a formula, and it allows for your own style. But it covers everything from overcoming fear, to actually writing, to preparing your elevator pitch. The course is 58 modules long, and you get lifetime access. Plus, you can get access to a mastermind session with Jerry, an exclusive Facebook community, and video feedback on your story idea from the man himself, as well as the first ten pages of your manuscript critiqued by an author he trusts.

It’s pricey because it’s an investment in your career. But when you consider that an MFA costs over $30,000 and one college course might cost you $3,000, it doesn’t seem that bad. It rings in at $1,997. We think it’s totally worth it.

For a taster of Jerry’s expertise, watch the replay of Jerry’s webinar with ProWritingAid all about aggressive self-editing. You’ll pick up some great tips!

4. 100 Day Book by The Write Practice

100 Day Book is an online program that will guide you through the book-writing process. At the end of the 100-day program, you will have a finished book, and you will have internalized a process you can use again and again to write books in the future. Some of the unique features of this program: daily writing inspiration, encouraging feedback from the 100 Day Book community, a dedicated book mentor to help you problem-solve, and a $100 incentive if you meet your weekly deadlines and finish your book. Need we say more?

5. Mark Dawson’s Ads for Authors

Mark Dawson of Self Publishing Formula is a guru of self-publishing. He provides so many great resources to independent authors on everything about the business. It was hard to choose just one of his courses, so we picked the one on the most difficult subject: advertising.

Advertising books and using social media ads isn’t quite like advertising anything else, but Mark has it down to a science. You’ll learn how to actually advertise without breaking the bank and instead secure a good return on your investment.

It’s one of his pricier courses, but if you want to make a living off self-publishing, it’s worth every penny. It’s $849 and he offers monthly payment plans. This class only opens a few times a year, so you can sign up for the waiting list .

6. MasterClass

MasterClass is an amazing site full of classes on all sorts of subjects, taught by the greatest minds in their respective fields. There are several writing courses, and they are all taught by some of the biggest names in fiction.

Margaret Atwood’s is one of the most popular. But you can also learn from crime writer James Patterson, young adult author Judy Blume, fantasy author Neil Gaiman, and TV writer Shonda Rhimes. That’s just a few of them! There are so many more.

You used to be able to purchase individual classes for $99. However, a membership is only $180 a year, and you get access to over 80 classes. Who knows? You might pick up an additional hobby like photography or cooking.

7. Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot

We get it. Money is tight, especially for us starving artists. But that doesn’t mean you can’t learn a ton about writing. Coursera is full of online classes, and The Craft of Plot is a great choice. This course is provided through Wesleyan University, and the reviews are amazing.

In about ten hours’ worth of video modules, you’ll learn everything you need to know about plot structure. This course will teach you how to craft a solid plot for your entire story, as well as structuring and writing powerful scenes.

This isn’t the only free course on Coursera. Wesleyan University offers many more options on different elements of fiction writing.

8. Grammar Lion: A Grammar Refresher

So it’s been a while since you were diagramming sentences and learning about predicates and clauses. Grammar doesn’t have to be a barrier to writing. Sure, there are great programs out there like ProWritingAid to help proofread. But you’ll make fewer mistakes if you actually understand the rules of grammar.

Grammar Lion offers several classes on grammar, including a couple of free ones. But if you need a refresher on all the rules of the English language, this is the course for you . There are explanations and quizzes, and it’s estimated to take twelve weeks to complete. Plus, you get a Grammar Guide—a real person who will answer any questions you have through email.

This course is a must-have for any writer who struggles with grammar. It’s normally $199, but at the time I wrote this article, there was a quarantine special for $79.

9. Curtis Brown Creative

Curtis Brown Creative offers a variety of courses to suit everyone. From writing crime novels, to writing your novel in three months, there are helpful options for every type of writer.

They launched in 2011 with the aim of finding talented writers and helping them to develop and publish their novels. The courses range in price from £125 to almost £2,000, depending on the the number of sessions offered.

10. Mark Dawson’s Self-Publishing 101

Self-Publishing 101 is an extensive course with everything you need to know from the moment you type THE END on your manuscript. It’s a straightforward, easy-to-follow guide that will take all the guesswork out of how to publish your book and to get your indie author career off to the best possible start. Suitable for beginner to intermediate levels, fiction and non-fiction.

11. Lauren Ranalli’s Think Beyond the Book

Marketing is one of the hardest parts of being an author. We’re creatives, not advertising experts! But it’s also necessary. Think Beyond the Book is the course that finally made me stop dreading marketing. Lauren Ranalli is an independent author who made $10,000 in the first three months of publication, and she didn’t even sell on Amazon!

Think Beyond the Book is a monthly membership at $34. That’s because it’s not just one set course. You will get access to all of the modules about different aspects of marketing your book, but Lauren offers new content every month.

The best part of Lauren’s courses is that she gives you specific action steps. The most relevant ones for me were when she broke down how to plan six months of social media content. I was able to plan out three posts a week for six months, and it only took me a couple of hours. I also learned how to establish my brand. Plus, Lauren is incredibly helpful in the exclusive Facebook group.

12. Build Your Author Platform by WritePublishSell

There is nothing worse than doing all the things to have a well-written, edited, fantastic book only to watch it sell only a handful of copies on launch day. The biggest reason for "failure to launch" for authors is not having an author platform—a fan base—that is ready to go when you launch. WritePublishSell’s program, Building Your Author Platform , teaches the steps to creating and growing that fan base.

13. C.S. Lakin’s Emotional Mastery for Fiction Writers

If we don’t succeed in making our readers feel something, we fail. If they don’t feel what we want them to feel, we fail. To be effective writers, we must master the emotional challenge of our stories. It won’t do to hope we will move our readers in some way. It won’t do to hope we get across our characters’ emotions. We have to become masters of emotion.

That’s where C.S. Lakin’s course, Emotional Mastery for Fiction Writers , comes in. Learn how to become an emotion master.

14. Creative Writing Specialization

Coursera’s Creative Writing Specialization covers elements of three major creative writing genres: short story, narrative essay, and memoir . In the course, you’ll master the techniques that good writers use to compose a bracing story, populated with memorable characters in an interesting setting, written in a fresh, descriptive style. You’ll also analyze and evaluate peer writing, as well as drafting and completing a substantial original story in the genre of your choosing. Check it out now!

15. Bookfox’s Two Weeks to Your Best Children’s Book

It seems like there are tons of courses about writing for young adults and adults. But what about those of us who want to write a children’s book?

Two Weeks to Your Best Children’s Book has you covered. This course includes 30 video lessons on everything from the writing process to copyright law. Plus, you can post questions, and the instructor, John Matthew Fox, will answer them personally.

It’s also much more affordable than many courses. It’s only $149, and there is a three-month payment plan option. If you want to break into writing children’s books, this is the class for you.

16. Pandemic University

Pandemic University is a pop-up writing school made for and by locked-down and quarantined writers. Pandemic University offers suites of short and affordable creative writing classes online. By taking their classes, you’re helping support artists who’ve suffered financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can purchase courses a la carte on varied topics ranging from demystifying the publishing process to how to write topical satire, to how to read like a writer.

Want to try Pandemic University for yourself? They’ve been generous enough to offer members of the ProWritingAid community 25 percent off using the code PROWA25.

17. Conquer Writer’s Block

What if you could sit down in front of the blank page every day feeling optimistic and full of ideas? What would writing a blog post, article, or book chapter consistently do for your career? What if you had a writing system that helped you achieve all this and so much more?

That’s what Bryan Collins of Become a Writer Today can help you do. His course, Conquer Writer’s Block , gives you the skills you need to conquer the blank page in front of you.

Here are our answers to some common questions about how to pick a creative writing course.

Creative Writing Classes for Adults: How to Choose One

With so many options to consider, you should make sure you’re choosing the best online writing courses for your own goals as a writer. You should ask yourself:

• Is there a specific skill you’d like to learn more about (e.g. plotting, character development, grammar, publishing, marketing, etc.)?
• Do you want a class with set meeting times, or a self-paced class where you can have a flexible schedule?
• Would you prefer a class with a lot of students or fewer students?
• Do you want to receive feedback on your own writing?
• Do you need an instructor who will be available to answer questions?
• How much money are you willing to invest in a writing course?

Knowing the answers to these questions will help you narrow down the list of options. After that, you can read reviews online and see what other students are saying about each course to help you decide which one best suits your needs.

Which Creative Writing Courses Are the Best for Beginners?

There are plenty of online creative writing courses for beginners. If you’re new to writing, ProWritingAid Academy is a fantastic place to start. You get access to writing lessons suitable for all levels, and you can work your way through them as you learn more.

You can also start with a free course on Coursera, like The Craft of Plot . Taking a free class can be a great starting point. Down the line, you can always choose a more advanced course to invest your money in.

Is a Creative Writing Course Worth It?

Creative writing classes are a great fast-track for improving your skills. They can help you hone specific aspects of your writing craft. They’re also a great way to meet other emerging writers so you can learn and grow together.

If you choose the right course for you, an online writing class can be well worth your time and money.

What are your favorite writing courses? Let us know in the comments.

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Hannah Yang is a speculative fiction writer who writes about all things strange and surreal. Her work has appeared in Analog Science Fiction, Apex Magazine, The Dark, and elsewhere, and two of her stories have been finalists for the Locus Award. Her favorite hobbies include watercolor painting, playing guitar, and rock climbing. You can follow her work on hannahyang.com, or subscribe to her newsletter for publication updates.

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TOP CREATIVE WRITING COURSES

• The MasterClass membership provides access to their comprehensive catalog of courses (currently 85+) which, as well as online writing classes, includes arts & entertainment, business, cookery, sports & gaming, and many more. These video lessons offer some of the best online writing courses available.
• Course material can be accessed at any time on all the usual devices – smartphone, PC, etc. – as well as Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and Roku streaming media players.
• The subscription to access all the online creative writing classes and lessons covering other topics on MasterClass comes with a 30-day guarantee.
• MasterClass membership can be cancelled at any time (partially unused membership periods are not refunded).
• Website: James Patterson Teaches Writing
• See more of the best writing classes available from established and successful authors , including Neil Gaiman, Margaret Attwood, Dan Brown, Judy Blume and David Baldacci.
• Discover Top Online Creative Writing Courses by Published Authors
• Find the Best Zoom Writing Classes
• Check Out the Best Free Creative Writing Courses

2. Online Creative Writing Course [FREE] ​– The Crafty Writer

• This course does not involve a free critique of your writing or feedback on the exercises.
• If you would like Fiona's professional opinion on your writing, you can contact her via the course link below for a quote.
• Website:  Creative Writing Course

3. Creative Writing Course Online: Opening Scenes – Skillshare

4. the basics of creative writing course – uk writers college ​.

• This online creative writing course comprises a 200-page manual with 40 writing assignments to complete where feedback is provided on each writing exercise.
• This course has a risk-free 100% money-back guarantee.
• Top students are invited to join their team of writers and editors-for-hire service.
• Learners can enroll at any time.
• Website:  The Basics of Creative Writing Course
• A full list of creative writing courses by UK Writers College can be found  here .

5. Wired for Story: How to Become a Story Genius – CreativeLive

• This online creative writing course comprises 17 video lessons, over 5 hours of class content, and exclusive bonus content.
• This course has a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
• Website:  Wired for Story: How to Become a Story Genius
• This class is part of a bundle  Write & Publish Your Memoir  and  NaNoWriMo Prep Week .

6. Screenwriting Short Course – MasterClass

7. Online Memoir Writing Course – CreativeLive

8. Write a Novel Outline from Scratch (Novel Writing Success) – Udemy

• There is a 30-day money-back guarantee with this course.
• This course comprises 8 sections, 45 lectures, and is 3 hours and 47 minutes in length.
• Participants can start at any time and complete at their own pace.
• Website:  Write a Novel Outline from Scratch (Novel Writing Success)
• See Udemy's full list of Creative Writing courses  here

9. Online Creative Writing Course – Creative Writing Ink​

• This course is run at specific times of the year and only a set amount of places are available.
• This online creative writing course takes six weeks.
• Website:  Online Intermediate Creative Writing Course

10. Writing a Novel – Faber Academy

• Creating ideas and planning
• Characterization
• Exploring your writing voice
• How to apply point of view and which is the best for telling your story
• Structure and plotting
• Essentials for dialogue
• Descriptive prose
• How to apply research to add realism to your story
• Scene setting together with techniques for pace and emphasis
• How to apply foreshadowing 
• How editing can tell your story more clearly
• This course also provides guidance on the publishing process and how to submit your novel to an agent
• Applications are assessed prior to enrollment into the course. (An example of your writing and an outline of your proposed novel are required.)
• A free place is available on this course via the Faber Academy Scholarship scheme. See the link below for more details.
• A commitment of 5-7 hours study is required each week to complete the tasks and the writing of your novel.
• This course starts on set dates during the year with a certain number of places available.
• Website:  Writing a Novel
• If you're in London, UK, and can attend classes on-site. Check out the timetable of this Writing a Novel course run in the daytime or evening   here
• If the application date for the above course has passed,  see all available Faber Academy's novel writing courses here 

11. How to Write a Novel: Writing the Draft – edX​

• This is a 6-week instructor-led scheduled course with a requirement of 4-6 hours per week study time.
• As an intermediate-level course, participants should be at the start of or in the process of writing a novel.
• Enrollment takes place at set times during the year.
• Website:  How to Write a Novel: Writing the Draft

12. How to Write More & Stay Happy ​– National Centre for Writing

• This course follows on from the free course  Supercharge your Productivity - How to Develop Good Writing Habits
• This course is self-paced and can be finished at any time.
• Website:  How to Write More & Stay Happy

13. Becoming a Successful Writer ​– Writers Online

• The course content is delivered via PDF file or you can receive the course material by post (postal charges will apply).
• Participants can enroll at any time and the course is self-paced (up to two years).
• This online writing course comes with a 21-day money-back guarantee.
• The cost of the course can be spread out on a monthly basis after paying an initial fee on sign-up.
• Website:  Becoming a Successful Writer
• See more writing courses provided by Writers Online  here

14. Starting to Write Your Novel – Curtis Brown Creative ​

• This writing course takes place at set times during the year over a six-week period.
• A new writing module is released each week once students enroll on to the course.
• This course is the first in a novel writing series. Further online writing courses by Curtis Brown Creative can be found  here
• Website:  Starting to Write Your Novel
• See  Testimonials  to see what students say about Curtis Brown Creative's writing courses.

15. Structure Your Story For Success ​– Creative Writing Now

• This course is taught by Nancy Strauss, who gained an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Michigan, where she has also taught creative and expository writing.
• The value of this course is guaranteed, but you can change your mind during the first 20 days and receive a refund.
• Feedback on the writing assignments is not included in this course, but teachers can answer general questions.
• Website:  Structure Your Story For Success

16. Online Course for Writing a Suspense Book – Skillshare

17. how to improve writing skills – bookfox, 18. start writing fiction [free] – open university.

• Study time is 12 hours
• Level 1 – Introductory
• Enroll at any time
• Website:  Start Writing Fiction
• More info:  Course Content
• Reviews:  Course Reviews

19. Writing Short Stories Online Course – Skillshare

20. children’s book writing course – bookfox, 21. the ninety day novel course ​– the novelry.

• You can choose which tutor to work with depending on their expertise, etc.
• This course can be worked around your schedule.
• “Happy writing guaranteed”.
• Website:  The Ninety Day Novel Course
• Reviews:  See The Novelry Reviews

22. Non-Fiction Writing Course Online – The Creative Penn

23. getting started in creative writing – university of oxford.

• This course is run at specific times of the year . Please see the links below to access more information on this course and application dates.
• Assignments are not graded but are marked either pass or fail.
• Website:  Getting Started in Creative Writing
• More info:  Course Content ​

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Top 12 Online Creative Writing Courses For 2024 [Self-Paced]

Edited by Vijay

We publish unbiased product and service reviews; our opinions are our own and are not influenced by our advertising partners. Learn more about how we review products and read our advertiser disclosures.

This tutorial compares and reviews the best Online Creative Writing Courses to help you learn creative writing via online courses:

Creative Writing courses have now become an essential part of any individual’s development. Be it a business plan, newsletter, content marketing, content writing, blog, screenplay, script, story, novel, poem, social media content, or an advertisement; writing plays a crucial part everywhere.

Freelance writing and Ghostwriting have also become pretty famous among people hoping for an independent income source or who want to follow their passion. Online writing courses offer an in-depth and self-paced education with relevant skills to perform any kind of writing job required or available.

Table of Contents:

Types of Writers and Writings

List of top online writing courses, #1) masterclass, #2) skillshare online creative writing classes, #3) wesleyan university creative writing specialization – coursera, #4) prowritingaid, #5) udemy’s complete creative writing course – all genres, #6) gotham writers online writing classes, #7) reedsy learning courses, #8) udemy creative writing courses, #9) edx creative writing courses, #10) futurelearn creative arts and media writing courses, #11) openlearn creative writing, #12) emory continuing education creative writing, #13) universal class, #14) writers.com online writing courses, #15) masterclass creative writing classes, #16) the novelry, faqs regarding writing courses, was this helpful, recommended reading, online creative writing courses.

Such courses comes in handy when professionals hope to increase some credentials on their resume. Sometimes a writing certificate or a skill may land you with a good promotion or a handsome salary. Freelance writers also hope to make an independent career by offering various writing services to their clients.

In this light, a writing course becomes fairly important and in the following listicle, we will review some top courses which will help you decide which courses are suitable for you to get started in writing careers. Some courses are paid and some are free, it depends on the learner whether to get a certificate or just the skill and knowledge.

• Authors : They write novels, stories, and short stories or even articles, columns, and essays.
• Ghostwriters : They write novels, articles, blogs, etc but they don’t take the credit for their work.
• Freelancers : Write articles, stories, blogs, etc, and are paid on an assignment basis.
• Content Writers : They write content for a specific product, topic, idea, or market. They can be paid on an assignment basis or salary basis.
• Copywriters : They write marketing campaigns, ad slogans, or publicity material for a product or a company.
• Script-writers : They write play scripts, film scripts, and ad scripts, basically they write for the visual medium.

The below graph shows  the number of writers and authors in the U.S. 2011-2019:

The graphs below show how the ‘gig-economy’ has grown in developed countries. People have chosen to be freelancers rather than working for some company. According to Freelancing in America report , we will soon reach the time when freelancers will contribute most to a country’s economy.

Here is the list of popular online writing courses:

• Masterclass
• SkillShare Online Creative Writing Classes
• Wesleyan University Creative Writing Specialization – Coursera
• ProWritingAid
• Udemy’s Complete Creative Writing Course – All Genres
• Gotham Writers Online Writing Classes
• Reedsy Learning Courses
• Udemy Creative Writing Courses
• edX Creative Writing Courses
• FutureLearn Creative Arts and Media Writing Courses
• OpenLearn Creative Writing
• Emory Continuing Education Creative Writing
• Universal Class
• Writers.com Online Writing Courses
• Masterclass Creative Writing Classes

Comparing Best Online Creative Writing Courses

Let us review the courses enlisted in this tutorial with their pros, cons and other useful information.

Best for  Learning writing for blogs, novels, screenplays, etc.

When it comes to creative writing classes, Masterclass is a different beast altogether. You’ll find bite-sized video lessons on creative writing being offered by the masters of writing themselves. You’ll find creative writing lessons created and thought by the likes of R.L. Stine, Margaret Atwood, Billy Collins, and many more.

The platform covers all sorts of creative writing verticals. Whether it is screenwriting, poetry, or composing a novel, there is a class here for whatever writing skill you wish to master. You’ll learn everything from structuring your ideas to turning your passion for writing into a profitable business.

Suggested Reading => A Complete Review of MasterClass to Know All about it

Duration:  10 Minutes on average Type:  Online Video Lectures Schedule:  Flexible Pricing:  Individual Plan: 15/month, Duo Plan: $20/month, Family: $23/month (billed annually)

• Access more than 180 classes with one-time payment
• Flexible pricing
• Lessons thought by established writers
• Learn at your own pace.
• No certification

Best for short-term writing skills like essays, short stories, copywriting, content writing, blogging.

SkillShare is the Netflix of the entrepreneur world. This platform is a New York baby and was built 10 years ago.

First of all, it is not made for educational purposes, neither its courses are certified. All the courses are skill-based i.e. entrepreneurs, creators, etc share their relevant skills, which made them who they are rather than sharing boring theoretical renaissance nostalgia.

It is a great place to grow for people who are looking to enhance their independent qualities and want to be self-sustained in the future.

Duration: Depends on the number of video lessons. Type: Online video lectures. Schedule: Self-paced. Pricing: $19 (monthly) and $99 (yearly)

• Real-world skills.
• Self-paced and interesting course material, in other words, learners can gain ‘Skill and Chill’
• Gives a free trial before learners take a subscription.
• Has many free courses that do not require a paid subscription.
• Reviewers have said that not all teachers are great.
• No certification, so learners can only use the skills to enhance their abilities and not officially show them off.
• Too many ads on the free courses which become irritating.

Best for Authors, Essayists, Bloggers.

Coursera remains one of the best choices when we are looking for an academic treat for our brains. It is not only beneficial for knowledge-hungry enthusiasts but also for professionals who want a raise or a promotion. Wesleyan University’s creative writing course provides a beginner-level effort in the world of creative writing.

There is no screening for admissions, and anyone can try their hands. Despite being free, the instructors of this course are professional writers and professors. The course is self-paced and supports individual freedom of schedule.

Schedule: Self-paced. Type: Online video lectures and online assignments. Duration: Each course is 4 weeks long. Pricing: This is a free writing course.

• Absolutely free.
• No screening.
• At the end of several assignments, the course sponsors grant various discounts and offer on their products.
• Write-bros provide 80% off on their memberships and also 30% off on the writing software ‘Scrivener’.
• The online writing community Scribophile offers a 30% discount on their memberships.
• The course is at a beginner’s level, so if you’ve already studied creative writing at College, this course mightn’t come in handy.
• Due to no screening, the assignments are also judged at a superficial level and an in-depth critique is not offered.

Best for editing capabilities with a grammar checker and style editor.

ProWritingAid is a grammar checker and style editor. It contains various capabilities like in-depth reports that will strengthen your writing skills. It offers eBooks to help you with novel writing, developing skills, building your profile, etc. It also has an eBook for editing tips. These books are available to download for free.

Its content is divided into topic-focused chapters. These books will also provide references for investigating the topics. It offers free access to its growing collection of books & resources.

Schedule: Self-paced Type: EBooks

Pricing: ProWritingAid is available with three pricing plans, Monthly Subscription ($20 per month), Yearly Subscription ($79), and Lifetime ($399 one-time payment).

• ProWritingAid’s eBook on the novel-writing training plan helps you shape your ideas.
• Its eBook on editing tips is by professional writers. This gives you the 20 most important writing tips and techniques.
• It offers one more eBook on “3 Steps to Success” that will help you with developing your skills, creating content that resonates, and building your profile.
• ProWritingAid contains functions for eliminating embarrassing errors, finding the right words, in-depth reports, etc.
• No such cons to mention.

Best for Aspiring Novelists, Essayists, Bloggers, Content Writers, etc.

If you wish to sharpen your skills as creative writers in all sorts of genres, then this course from Udemy was tailor-made for people like you. The course covers 4 crucial genres of creative writing, which are poetry, drama, fiction, and creative non-fiction. The course was designed to make your writing as engaging as possible so it can connect with your audience.

There are over 43 video lessons covered in the course. Each lesson includes a quick writing assignment, a practical project application, and a lesson that covers a particular area of course content. You are provided with notes, graphics, assignment sheets, and more to make your learning process simple and hassle-free.

Schedule: Self-Paced Type: Online Video Lessons Duration: 12 Hours Pricing: $19.99

• Covers core aspects of all 4 genres of creative writing.
• Pay only one time and get lifetime access to the course.
• Can be accessed via mobile and desktop devices.
• Certification is rewarded by the end of the course.
• Reasonable price
• Better assessment techniques other than written assignments and quizzes could have made the course even more compelling.

Best for Content writers, Copywriters, Authors, Fiction/Non-Fiction writers, etc.

If you’ve ever been to New York City or even seen the city featured in films, you’ll recognize the ‘Gotham Box’. Gotham Writing Classes were started by Jeff and David, two enterprising and independent individuals, in 1993. It became pretty famous in New York city for students, professionals, or just learners all around.

In 1997, they started their online course and since then they’ve never fallen short of admissions. Gotham offers almost every kind of genre course; from creative writing to fiction, from article writing to non-fiction, it has everything included. The crowd is generously kept less so that each individual is given due attention.

Schedule: Self-paced with a real-time interaction per week. Type: Online video lectures with once-a-week Zoom interactive class. Duration: 10-week workshops and 6-week classes. Pricing: $300-$400/ workshop

• Available both online and offline.
• It is a fairly reputed institution.
• It also organizes free events all around the year.
• Costly- each course is $300-$400/ workshop.
• The online courses are not real-time. Although there is once a week live session.
• After you’ve finished, the institution takes no guarantee of a job offer.

Further Reading => Most Popular Screenwriting Courses of the Year

Best for beginners in any field of writing.

Reedsy has beautifully designed a snap-shot tutorial for every kind of writer. Reedsy offers a smart and free 10 day tutorial on various topics (as we choose). This 10 day tutorial is mailed to us page-by-page, which helps in time management and also ensures that the learners do not simply mug-up the topics.

The course is not institutionally curated, so generalized courses like ‘Creative writing 101’ or ‘Fiction 101’ might not be found here. Examples of some courses are: ‘How to find your target audience’ or ‘How to write a suspense novel’ .

Duration and Schedule: Self-paced. Type: Provides reading material through mails. Pricing: Free writing course

• Highly time-effective.
• Builds up a daily routine of learning something new.
• Offers just a sneak peek into the world of writing.
• Only to develop an interest in the particular genre and not to gain proficiency from it.

Best for almost every genre of writing.

Udemy, like Coursera, offers a variety of online courses on streams of subjects. The difference is that at Udemy, individuals can themselves create courses, but at Coursera, they accept only institutionalized learning. So, if you’re looking for a change in your writing schedule, or are bored of ‘Creative Writing 101s’, you should absolutely try Udemy .

It will offer you a fresh perspective of people working in the same field as you. It’ll also generate a sense of being a part of a writer’s community. At Udemy, you are in for the kind of ‘Pink Floyd’ self-paced and rebellious education. You might also learn different ways in which writers sustain themselves.

Suggested reading =>> 70+ Best Udemy Courses

Schedule: Self-paced. Type: Online video lectures and assignments. Duration: Depends on the number of video lessons. Pricing: $5-$177

• Self-paced, independent learning.
• Varied individual perspectives.
• Real-time experienced teachers.
• The fee is low (for now).
• No job guarantee.
• Sometimes the teachers might not be as professional as we think.
• Many courses, so the selection of a good course becomes difficult.

Best for full-time students in writing.

edX, like Udemy and Coursera, is an elaborate learning platform. The catch is that edX is not just a platform but the whole institution (or many institutions together). edX provides different types of courses on different streams of interest and from multiple institutions.

Universities like Berkeley, Cambridge, Washington, etc have teamed up with edX and they now offer full-time online courses up to the level of a Master’s program. For the general fee, learners can get their degrees online.

edX also offers Micro-graduate, Micro-postgraduate, or certificate programs to learners and students who wish to do introductory courses before joining full-time degrees.

Duration: Varies with the type of course. Type: Online video lectures and assignments. Schedule: Self-paced. Pricing: Depends on the course.

• Effective for people who want to continue their education while working.
• The courses are ‘fool-proof’ because they are provided by reputed institutions.
• edX offers a great chance to learners who want to study in good institutions but cannot afford travel and accommodation along with the course fee.
• Students lack a harmonious university environment.
• Some courses are of high cost and some are even higher.
• The professors cannot take live sessions daily and so real-time learning is missing.

Best for Beginners, Copywriters, Content Writers.

FutureLearn is another online platform that provides micro-credential courses. These courses become essential while applying for multi-disciplinary jobs or positions. It is natively British and most of the courses provided are run/managed by different facilitators, which may or may not belong to the institution maintaining the course. The different courses provide a well-served buffet for a learner.

There are three kinds of subscription schemes:

• Free; with limited course material benefits
• Certification for a specific course (involves fee)
• Unlimited; which provides subscription with certification on all FutureLearn courses for a year.

There are mixed reviews on the functioning of the courses, some learners loved it while others have complained about subscription shams and certification problems.

Schedule: Self-Paced. Type: Online video lectures and assignments. Duration: Depends on the specific course. Pricing: $279 for an unlimited subscription.

• Free learning on most of the courses.
• Self-paced learning from home.
• Provides clear basic concepts for beginners.
• Less practical experience.
• Some users have complained about shams.
• Some users have complained about below-par learning material.

Best for Beginners, especially for lifelong learners.

OpenLearn is run by The Open University, which is again natively British. It is an open learning initiative that aims to provide free education to all. Almost all OpenLearn courses are free, and after the course, the learners are provided with an official completion badge.

Some courses which pertain to, say, a Bachelorette or a Masters Degree are fee-based and at the successful completion of such courses, you are officially provided with the specific degree from The Open University (which might or might not be valid in the learners country concerning the credit system).

All the degrees hold the same standards as the degree of any other reputed British University, and so they maintain the class.

Schedule: Self-paced Type: Online video lectures. Duration: Lifelong. Pricing: Free online writing course

• Life-long learning material.
• ‘Earn while you learn’ where learners can gain recognition after course completions.
• A social platform for universal education.
• Most courses are highly basic.
• Since there is no subscription-based certification for the free courses, a learner cannot officially claim the course on their CVs.

Best for students or professionals choosing to be full-time writers.

The ECE runs as a branch of Emory University itself. ECE certificate programs are based on non-credit systems, i.e. a sum total of hours and assignments are required for completion of a course and not a divided sum of hours distributed among sub-courses (as happens in the for-credit system).

Students having an ECE certificate are not labeled matriculated under Emory University but the courses are nevertheless accredited to Emory University. It is a venture for professionals seeking snap-skills to develop their CVs and also promote personal growth.

ECE offers a well-framed creative writing certificate course which may be helpful to professionals or freelancers trying to gain some extra income or make a shift in their careers.

Duration: 6-months or annual sessions. Type: Online video lectures and assignments. Schedule: Self-paced. Pricing: $425/course

• A reputed university skill-certificate.
• Well experienced instructors.
• Does not offer much variety.
• High fees($425) per elective course.

Best for all genres of writing .

There are more than 500 writing courses available at UniversalClass. From grammar basics to solid business-plan-writing, Universal class offers you a great deal of variety if you’re looking for polishing your basics or becoming a full-time writer. Similar to other MOOCs, these courses also stand on a subscription basis.

These also offer you a monthly, yearly, bi-yearly, and even a tri-yearly subscription. Although the subscription is somewhat costlier than other MOOCs($189)/yr, Groupon and other libraries offer premium coupons and offers which reduce the pricing to even $89. For some customers, the subscription has been free due to multiple coupons.

Schedule: Self-paced Type: Online video lectures. Duration: Depends on the number of video lessons. Pricing: $189/yr

• The content material and variety are huge, so the learner can get almost any genre of course.
• Like every other MOOC, this is also self-paced.
• All the courses are certified.
• The subscription fee is higher than other MOOCs.
• Some users have complained about not understanding the course material.
• Some users have complained about the lack of generosity among customer care.

Best for professional full-time writers of any genre.

Gen Z might not be familiar with Writers.com as it has very fewer ads running throughout the Internet, but that’s just because it doesn’t need that many! Writers.com has been a pioneer in online learning platforms and especially online writing classes. It is basically a full-blown writing school accessible 24/7.

The unique quality of Writers.com is that it offers even private classes for an individual learner or even a group of friends, which is not the case with other MOOCs. Started in 1995,Writers.com has great reviews with its learners. The instructors even offer genuine feedback and critique on your written work.

Basically, the aim is to bring talented writers out of the boring and cyclical content and make the learner enthusiastic about their chosen field.

Schedule: Self-paced with interactive real-time sessions. Type: Online video lectures and Zoom interactive sessions. Duration: 5 weeks to 10 weeks. Pricing: $200-$500.

• Instructors offer passionate and genuine feedback and analysis.
• Mostly has positive reviews.
• The platform only concerns itself with writing and teaching the art of writing, so that makes it special.
• The courses are heavy in terms of a subscription fee (ranging from $200-$500)

Best for authors, poets, and professional writers.

Salman Rushdie, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, David Mamet, R.L. Stine, these are the common names you’d find at the Masterclass reception. The masterclass is probably the most famous online learning portal, offering courses and classes on many subjects by World-famous personalities of their respective fields.

The aim is to bring out the philosophy and techniques used by World-class professionals when they are trying to build their masterpieces. There are assignments and course materials available.

The best thing is that Masterclass is not affiliated with any institution or University and so the course material is prepared and taught by the magnanimous instructor himself/herself. The only disadvantage is that it’s too costly.

Schedule: Self-paced. Type: Online video lectures and course materials. Duration: Depends on the number of video lessons. Pricing: $15/month and $180/year.

• Learning from world-famous instructors, who are almost legendary in their respective fields.
• The courses are sharp and crisp, there is no ‘throwing-around’.
• The courses are filled with practical examples which makes it very easy for the learner to understand.
• The Subscription fee for the monthly subscription is too high compared to other MOOCs. Although individual rates of courses vary from instructor to instructor.

Best for beginners as well as experienced writers.

The Novelry is a writing school that offers original and effective courses. The courses are created by an award-winning author. The lessons will be inspiring and there will be a friendly community of fellow writers.

It provides one-on-one tutoring sessions. Various courses are available with The Novelry such as The Book in a Year, The Big Edit, Children’s Fiction, etc. These courses are open to all. The lessons will be deposited into The Novelry’s library daily once you sign up.

Schedule: Self-paced. Type: One-on-One Session or Access to the course. Duration: They offer access to the course for a year. You can also try the small monthly subscription.

Pricing: The Novelry offers various courses and the prices are The Big Idea ($149), The Classic Course ($365), The Ninety Day Novel® ($425 for 3 months), and The Editing Courses ($485).

• The Novelry offers self-paced courses hence you can set your own schedule.
• It allows to choose your preferred author tutor for one-on-one sessions.
• The course will start immediately after you sign up.
• It supports all currencies and is available worldwide.
• It offers access to the entire course only with limited courses like The Big Edit.

What to study to become a writer?

The abstract but fit answer would be- The World, but if the learner is interested in formal education, he/she can opt for a degree course. Nowadays, many universities provide online degrees, and some are listed in this article too. Although if one doesn’t want to pursue a formal course, there are many free and certificate courses available to study and enhance one’s knowledge and skill.

Are writing courses worth it?

Every course and the instructor shares something that’ll come in handy in one’s development as a writer. It is up to the learner to grasp and practice the skills.

How do I start a writing career?

You should contact the publishing houses if you’ve already written a manuscript. If you’re just starting and need a platform to write then try blogging sites like WordPress etc which let you host your blog. If you already have a good writing portfolio, you can even contact companies that hire content writers or copywriters. Last but not the least, pitch your portfolio to a company and offer to work for them as a freelancer.

How to write better?

The answer is only practice. Write daily. Build a schedule and take out at least 4 hours from your routine to write. Start a blog or write anything, but- WRITE!

How to improve English language skills?

You can find almost all basic English language courses on the Internet, for free. Practice your skills with such courses and try to read something daily that will build your vocabulary.

There is an enormous number of courses available to learn the art of writing online, but it depends on the level and comfort of the learner to choose the appropriate course. If one is just a beginner, then one should first opt for some free online creative writing courses, possibly on Coursera or Reedsy. These courses could give the learner a heads-up on what’s going to come next.

Once the beginner studies some free basic courses, they should then try out writing and analyzing their own mistakes and difficulties. Once the problems or gaps are known, it is easy to decide on the type, of course, one wants to opt for.

For people who’ve already done some writing and are looking to build a parallel career based on their writing skills or are trying to strengthen their CVs; certificate courses might come in very handy. By giving the specified amount, one can self-pace themselves towards their credits and earn a major certificate. Most MOOCs can help with this.

For writers who want more personal experiences, feedback, critique, etc should opt for Gotham Writer’s Workshop, Writer’s.com, and if you have some good money saved even Masterclass is a great option.

Our Research:

• Total possible alternatives for online courses on creative writing researched: 27
• Total shortlisted online courses on creative writing: 12
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Online tutored courses, start your story…, study an online tutored creative writing course with national centre for writing and university of east anglia.

Looking for a high quality, in-depth writing course that fits around your busy schedule? Want to develop the technical skills and routine to achieve your writing goals? Searching for a welcoming and supportive community of writers?

Our flexible, online creative writing courses are designed in partnership with the prestigious creative writing school at the University of East Anglia and delivered by award-winning tutors and industry experts.

Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced writer taking the next step in your career, we’re here to offer a structured period of learning and development.

Our practical and carefully supported writing courses are aimed at developing work-in-progress, honing your writing skills and boosting your confidence.

Alongside regular critique and meaningful feedback from your tutor, these longer-form courses, conveniently delivered online, offer a chance to share work with your writing peers and build your identity as a writer. 

They also provide a unique opportunity for you to receive personalised, one-to-one feedback on your writing each fortnight. 

Browse our upcoming courses below, or read on to learn more about why an NCW course may be perfect for you.

Browse our upcoming online tutored courses

Beginner courses — 12 weeks

How to Write Fiction (Beginner)

Learn the tools and techniques for writing compelling fiction with an online creative writing course designed for new writers and anyone wanting to write more regularly.

Monday 23 September

Creative Non-Fiction: An Introduction (Beginner)

Explore biography, reportage, nature writing and more on this 12-week online creative non-fiction course, designed in partnership with UEA.

Kickstart Your Poetry (Beginner)

Join us on a journey into the transformative world of writing poetry on this 12-week online course, designed in partnership with UEA.

Screenwriting: An Introduction (Beginner)

This course is an all-encompassing introduction to screenwriting and is designed for writers who are just starting to explore television drama and film scripts.

How to Write Historical Fiction (Beginner)

This online creative writing course will help you with the essentials of how to write historical fiction – narrative structure, characterisation, setting, timing, point of view and voice.

How to Write Romantic Fiction (Beginner)

This course is an all-encompassing introduction to romantic fiction and is designed for writers who are just starting to explore writing romance novels.

An Introduction to Crime Writing (Beginner)

Join Femi Kayode for an online beginners’ crime writing course that will teach you how to write a crime novel.

Intermediate/Advanced courses — 8 weeks

Write the Perfect Opening to Your Novel

A strong opening is the essential spark that will grab the attention of readers, agents and editors. Find out how to get your first few pages right with Okechukwu Nzelu.

Monday 24 June

Intermediate courses — 18 weeks

Crime Fiction: The Next Chapter (Intermediate)

Join expert tutor Julia Crouch for an 18-week in-depth online creative writing course which will will lead you through the elements of writing a crime fiction novel.

Memoir: The Next Chapter (Intermediate)

Join Jenn Ashworth for an 18-week in-depth online memoir writing course, designed in partnership with UEA.

Develop Your Fiction (Intermediate)

This intermediate course builds on the expertise acquired at an introductory level, providing more depth and a wider range of reading and approaches to fiction.

Develop Your Creative Non-Fiction: Landscape & Place (Intermediate)

Join Dan Richards for an 18-week in-depth online creative non-fiction course, designed in partnership with UEA.

Why study with National Centre for Writing?

National Centre for Writing has been supporting writers to develop their craft for over 25 years. Our online tutored courses are developed in partnership with University of East Anglia, home to the prestigious School of Literature, Drama and Creative Writing , which boasts award-winning alumni including Kazuo Ishiguro, Ian McEwan and Anne Enright. Our course tutors are all published writers, many of whom have studied or taught at UEA themselves.

While there are many online courses available to you across the world, ours are unique in offering:

• One-to-one feedback on up to six assignments, directly from your course tutor
• A tailored learning experience with 15 students maximum
• Flexibility to progress through the course anywhere, any time
• Support and structure to develop a writing routine
• Skills and knowledge to improve the craft of writing
• Confidence in your ability as a writer
• Opportunity to join our NCW Alumni , an international network of like-minded writers and translators

How do courses work?

We have partnered with digital learning platform  Teachable  to host our self-paced courses. The platform is accessible across a range of devices, simple to use, and does not require any specialist equipment.

We want to make sure that you get the most out of our tutored online courses and feel confident that you’re choosing the right course. Each course contains a mixture of teaching content, reading to prompt discussion, writing exercises for you to hone your skills, and group and one-to-one feedback.

Click to read more about how they are structured and what equipment you may need.

Success stories

‘I enjoyed the way the course was set up. Two weeks is the right length of time for each module; even working full time, it was manageable and it encouraged me to be focussed and disciplined in writing.’

— Shona Lowe

‘The tutor was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and approachable. Her feedback was always pertinent and helped me to grow as a writer. She often made very helpful suggestions for relevant books to read and ways to develop my writing.’

— Jilly Shipway

‘The encouraging constructive feedback, and the next steps in the second Zoom meeting, gave me more confidence than anything else I’ve done in learning creative writing.’

— Barry Norton

‘Making up stories had felt like an indulgence before, the course gave it validity. It looked after me as I went through the scary process of exposing my creativity to others and taking in feedback, so that I gained a more realistic understanding of my skills and the confidence to develop further.’

— Sarah Barton

The way the courses were structured made it possible for me to do them along with my work and other commitments. I found the feedback very encouraging and for the first time I started to think of myself as a writer. Now I am doing a creative writing MA at Manchester Metropolitan University which I wouldn’t have considered if I hadn’t done the courses with National Centre for Writing.

Meet the tutors

Our online tutored writing courses are designed and delivered by award-winning tutors and industry experts. All are published writers, and many have studied or taught at the University of East Anglia.

NCW Academy Bursary Programme

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to tell stories, whatever their background. Each year, we offer free places on selected courses and workshops to writers who otherwise could not afford to attend. Please find details of any current bursaries on individual workshop and course listings. Find out how to apply below.

Academy alumna Fiona Gell shares her experience writing memoir Spring Tides

Tutor Melissa Fu: ‘What I’ve learned from teaching writing’

Megan Bradbury ‘s action plan for aspiring writers

Five tips for keeping your readers gripped

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If you still have questions, get in touch with the learning team by email [email protected] or phone (+44) 01603 877177 between our working hours of 9am – 5pm BST, Monday to Friday. We’re here to help!

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Creative writing workshops can take your writing to the next level. The chance to experiment with your writing in a community is invaluable, and getting live feedback on your work will propel you through your writing career. But with so many online writing workshops out there, how can you tell which ones are worth taking?

There are plenty of writing workshops where writers get less than what they bargained for. Finding the right group of writers to workshop with is a slow process—no different than dating or finding a therapist. Where can you find the best online writing workshops for you?

Consider this your go-to guide for navigating the internet of online creative writing workshops. We’ll talk about different workshopping models and how they might work for you, and we’ll also look at how to get the most from your fiction, nonfiction, and poetry writing workshops.

But first, we ought to define this particularly nebulous aspect of creative writing education. What is a creative writing workshop?

Looking for the best online writing workshops?

If you’re looking for the best online writing workshops, look no further. Writers.com has been running online creative writing workshops since 1995. View our upcoming calendar to view the best writing workshops for you!

You can also navigate our courses by category:

• Short Story
• Personal Essay
• Lifestyle and Wellness
• Single-Day Zoom Sessions

What is a Writing Workshop?

People use the phrase “writing workshop” differently in different contexts, although it’s a rather vague term that writers use inconsistently. Here are some common ways you might see the term used:

• Online , a workshop is a complete writing course, including both lecture materials and opportunities for feedback from fellow students.
• In universities and MFA programs , a workshop is the aspect of a writing workshop where students give feedback to one another to improve their writing overall.
• At some online writing schools , a workshop is specifically a single-day Zoom-based workshop.

That said, “writing workshop” is a rather nebulous term that has a lot of applications. A workshop is any space where writers come to grow as writers. In short, a writing workshop is an open-ended term that describes different styles of creative writing education.

What is a writing workshop? An open-ended term that describes different styles of creative writing education.

For the purposes of this article, we are addressing multi-week online writing classes, as well as single-day webinars that have a workshopping component. Basically, we’re looking at any type of online learning space where students share their work, receive feedback, build new craft skills, and engage with a writing community.

Here’s what online writing workshops might look like, as well as tips for finding the best ones!

12 Things to Look For In the Best Online Creative Writing Workshops

Are you thinking about enrolling in a creative writing workshop? The best online writing workshops have these 12 things in common:

1. The Best Online Writing Workshops Have Well Respected Teachers

At most online writing schools, the instructor is the person who sets the syllabus, writes the workshop, and gives feedback to students. As a result, a good writing teacher makes all the difference in online writing workshops.

You want to be excited to learn from an instructor.

In addition to being a great writer and teacher, a great workshop instructor will be community-oriented, empathetic, and capable of tailoring their teaching to your writing needs.

Before you enroll in a writing workshop, do some research on the writer teaching it. Most professional writers and teachers will have a website, where you can peruse their work, degrees, and teaching history.

Some questions you might ask:

• Does the instructor have a terminal degree? (M.A., M.F.A., Ph.D., etc.)
• What do prior students say about this instructor?
• Does the instructor have a significant publication history?

On terminal degrees—they’re not necessary for running good creative writing workshops. But, they do indicate a certain level of craft training and teaching experience. Many terminal degree programs require students to learn how to teach creative writing. While you don’t need an M.F.A or Ph.D. to publish or teach writing, they certainly help.

Most importantly: are you excited about this instructor’s work? Do you like it? Do you connect with it? You want to be excited to learn from an instructor. They’re not just teaching craft, they’re teaching you their approach to crafting good writing.

2. The Best Online Writing Workshops Have a Clear Description

Enrolling in creative writing workshops involves a certain level of trust. If you haven’t taken a class with the organization before, you might not know how they run their classes or what you’ll get out of working with them. Writing programs should honor their side of the bargain by telling you exactly what you’ll get from their writing workshops.

Writing programs should honor their side of the bargain by telling you exactly what you’ll get from their writing workshops.

The descriptions for online writing workshops should tell you the following:

• What will you learn and write during the workshop?
• Who’s teaching the workshop, and what have they accomplished?
• How will your time be spent while taking the workshop?
• Who is this for? At what stage of your writing should you be in?

It helps to know what you’re looking for from your workshop. If you have certain goals in mind or ways you want to grow as a writer, be clear about these goals, and don’t spend money on workshops that simply won’t fit your needs. (That said, it can also be fun to enroll in random workshops and learn new writing skills—you’d be surprised what you’ll learn from a class that has nothing to do with your projects.)

If the description of the writing workshop aligns with your goals and needs, it should be a good fit. And, if you’re on the fence, it never hurts to ask the program administrators before you enroll. They’ll be glad to hear from you!

3. The Best Online Writing Workshops Prioritize the Student

Creative writing workshops place your experience front and center. The goal of a workshop is to expand your learning, work, and writing journey. If a writing course doesn’t promise to uplift your writing life, why would you take it?

If a writing course doesn’t promise to uplift your writing life, why would you take it?

A good writing school will acknowledge the risk involved in taking an adult writing workshop. Since online schools can’t confer college credit, and since you probably haven’t interacted with the workshop instructor before, you’re spending your time and money on a program that you haven’t used before.

So, why wouldn’t that school prioritize you ? You want to be confident that your writing, your creativity, and your time will be valued, otherwise you’re wasting your money on an experience you hardly learned from.

Check to see if the program itself has a student promise before you enroll in their writing workshops. If it doesn’t seem like the school will center your learning and growth as a writer, don’t take the risk—there are plenty of other schools to choose from.

4. The Best Online Writing Workshops Give Constructive Feedback

The feedback you receive in creative writing workshops will often prove the most valuable aspect of the course. Because most workshops are run by writers with Masters or Doctoral degrees, they’ve spent a fair amount of time giving and receiving feedback in competitive and community settings. As a result, they know a ton about the craft skills that make for good literature, and they know how to transmit those skills to their students.

Most importantly, a good writing instructor will tell you what you’re doing well in your writing.

The feedback you receive in online writing workshops will vary by the scope of the workshops and the backgrounds of the instructors. You might receive feedback on:

• Where the writing is effective
• Word choice that isn’t clear to the reader
• Ideas that can be expanded or shortened
• Sentences that are too long or too short
• Corrections in spelling and grammar
• Opportunities to improve the writing structure
• Feedback related to the elements of fiction , nonfiction, or poetry

Most importantly, a good writing instructor will tell you what you’re doing well in your writing. When you write a really great simile , have well developed characters , or find a moment of deep insight, your instructor will highlight this.

While it’s good to know what needs to be improved, writers can’t begin to improve until they also know what works in their poems and stories. This is how you build a foundation for good writing: start with what works, and sculpt from there. Writing workshops are the best spaces to build this foundation!

5. The Best Online Writing Workshops Focus on Craft

The best online writing workshops are centered around the craft of writing. Unlike English and composition classes, which focus on grammar, literacy, and the mechanics of language, creative writing workshops look at using these mechanics to write compelling, effective stories. And, in a writing workshop, you don’t just use the rules, you get to break them!

In a writing workshop, you don’t just use the rules, you get to break them.

The craft elements you focus on will vary based on the kind of course you’re in. If you’re taking poetry writing workshops, for example, you’ll focus on employing effective literary devices and studying different forms of poetry .

Likewise, in novel writing workshops, you might study elements like plot , point of view , and the art of storytelling .

Good writing workshops will break down great literature into the components that make it great, allowing you to read like a writer and employ these craft skills in your own work. And, learning the craft of creative writing helps you with everyday tasks, like sending emails or expanding your vocabulary.

6. The Best Online Writing Workshops Respect Your Creativity

The workshop is a space of unfettered creativity. Writers get to share their ideas, their experiences, and their creative, collaborative minds in the same space, making workshops the place to experiment with ideas. Of course, this is only possible if the workshop respects your creative authority.

We don’t “earn” the title of “writer,” we simply are writers, and a good writing course will uphold your integrity and creative vision, no matter where you are in your writing journey.

What does respect for your creative authority mean? It means that no one judges, criticizes, or condemns you for your writing and ideas. The best writing workshops will:

• Help you explore your ideas, rather than impose ideas upon you.
• Teach you the ropes of writing craft without telling you what to write.
• Show you what you’re already doing well in your work.
• Point out opportunities where the writing can be expanded, restructured, or clarified—in ways that help you carry out your creative vision.

Most importantly, this is true no matter how “new” you are to creative writing workshops . Whether you’ve submitted the first poem you’ve ever written or your thousandth, you deserve the same level of respect as everyone else in the room. We don’t “earn” the title of “writer,” we simply are writers, and a good writing course will uphold your integrity and creative vision, no matter where you are in your writing journey.

In a writing workshop, you may encounter many different ideas, but you also encounter the freedom to accept or reject those ideas. It’s your writing. You get the final say!

7. The Best Online Writing Workshops Create Community

What is a writing workshop without community? Writing can be a lonely practice, but a writing community makes all the difference. The best creative writing workshops foster a sense of community. In fact, many writers have come away from our courses with friends and writing partnerships that last for years and years!

A writing community can give you the motivation to create, the license to experiment, and the potential to learn even more about the craft of writing.

A writing community can give you the motivation to create, the license to experiment, and the potential to learn even more about the craft of writing. Because we all have very different literary backgrounds, we all have studied different authors and elements of the writing craft. When we write in a community, we naturally share what we’ve learned with one another, creating a culture of growth and inspiration.

Additionally, a strong writing community creates valuable feedback. When you write alongside people who know and enjoy your work, it is much easier to give and receive feedback, especially when these writers know what you’re trying to accomplish.

Many well-known authors throughout history have been a part of valuable writing communities, such as The Beat Poets, Stratford-on-Odeon, and these famous writing groups . Writing doesn’t happen in a vacuum, and when you enroll in community-oriented online writing workshops, you foster the kinds of relationships and connections that can sustain your literary career.

8. The Best Online Writing Workshops Motivate You to Write

Because writing is often solitary, it can be hard to motivate yourself to get work done. Taking online writing workshops pushes you to put words on the page.

Sometimes, the biggest barrier is beginning, but creative writing workshops will spark your writing practice.

For one thing, these classes cost money, and when you’re spending money to write and learn about writing, you’re more likely to actually write and learn about writing.

But, it’s not just the monetary transaction that motivates writers in adult writing workshops. Your course might provide you with:

• Creative writing prompts
• Daily journaling assignments
• Helpful revisions
• Inspirational readings
• Ideas to combat writer’s block
• Different approaches to writing

Some writing workshops are even designed to motivate you, such as our class Write Your Novel! The Workshop With Jack . Sometimes, the biggest barrier is beginning, but creative writing workshops will spark your writing practice.

9. The Best Online Writing Workshops Jumpstart a Writing Habit

Because writing workshops require you to submit work every week, students will have to set up a consistent writing practice in order to meet these deadlines. Not only does this prepare you for your life as a published author (where deadlines are less flexible), but this also helps you master a key aspect of the writing life: a consistent writing habit.

To make the most of creative writing workshops, try to find time to write every day.

Writing every day isn’t just good advice, it’s essential to building a writing life. Writers who want to build careers out of their work, or at the very least publish books some day, will have to dedicate time every day to their work. When you engage with language each day, you build the skills necessary to write good books, and you also keep yourself creatively motivated. This is true especially for the days that are hardest to write on.

Of course, most of us lead very busy lives. How do we steal time as artists? Here are some ideas:

• Write with your morning coffee.
• Keep a journal on your phone during work and lunch breaks.
• Write on your commute to and from work. If you’re driving, keep an audio journal, where you write by speaking into your phone’s recorder.
• Write on your phone while running on the treadmill.
• Put pen to paper while taking a bath.
• Journal for 15 minutes before you go to bed.

These ideas won’t work for everyone, and it all depends on your schedule and lifestyle. Nonetheless, to make the most of creative writing workshops, try to find time to write every day. It’s best to write at the same time every day, but if your schedule doesn’t allow this, sneak time wherever you can. Balancing a career, a family, and a writing life isn’t easy, but when the work calls, you’ll find time to answer!

10. The Best Online Writing Workshops Broaden Your Literary Horizons

As writers, it’s important for us to know our literary history. Now, this doesn’t mean you need to read every piece of classic literature to start writing—in fact, many books published in the 19th century could never be published today.

If you want to publish your own work some day, it’s important to know what else is being published today.

But it does mean knowing the craft skills that went into both classic and contemporary books. It especially means having a sense of the contemporary literary zeitgeist. If you want to publish your own work some day, it’s important to know what else is being published today.

The best creative writing workshops broaden your literary horizons. When you read classic literature, you get a sense of the foundations of contemporary writing, and the ways that writers before us expanded the possibilities of literature as a whole. When you read contemporary literature, you get a sense of today’s publishing landscape and what people are looking for in the writings of today.

(If you plan to publish books by querying literary agents , reading contemporary work is crucial, because you need to have good comps in your query letter . Comps are books that have been published recently and are similar, in some ways, to your own.)

Now, this doesn’t mean you need to write like other authors. In fact, far from it. It’s better that you learn to write like yourself , because your most valuable asset as a writer is your voice. But, when you expand your literary horizons, you engage with literature and make decisions on what you do and don’t want to do in your work.

What do you like to read? What do you want to never read again? The more you read, the more you hone your own voice as a writer. Great writing workshops introduce you to literature that provokes these kinds of questions.

11. The Best Online Writing Workshops Provide a Creative Outlet

One of the best reasons to take online writing workshops is that they give you an outlet for feelings and creativity.

Writing workshops are a great supplement to a healthy writer’s life.

This is the result of the various reasons listed above for taking writing classes. By building community, creating a writing practice, and engaging with literature, you inevitably nourish your creativity. In doing so, you nurture a healthy space to explore your ideas and emotions—an essential aspect of any writer’s life.

Now, even the best online writing workshops can’t replace the benefits of therapy. We’re not saying you should ditch your therapist for a Writers.com class. But we are saying that writing workshops are a great supplement to a healthy writer’s life, because they create safe spaces for you to experiment with your work and explore your emotions freely on the page.

This is true even for writers of genre fiction or persona poetry. It’s true for participants in fiction writing workshops and memoir writing workshops. We gravitate to writing in part for its emotional release, and a great online class in creative writing will nurture this release. Between the prompts, community, and writing habits that a creative writing workshop fosters, you’re sure to come away from your workshop with renewed emotional health.

12. The Best Online Writing Workshops Provide Next Steps

The best creative writing workshops are the beginning of your writing life, not the end. When your workshop ends, you should come away with new ideas for writing, new publication opportunities to pursue, and new friends and mentors to nurture your writing journey.

The best creative writing workshops are the beginning of your writing life, not the end.

Throughout the workshop, you’ll find new opportunities for continuous growth. You might find a list of literary journals to submit to, new readings to stimulate your writing, further creative writing workshops to attend, or simply the emails and social media accounts of students you really enjoyed working with.

If you’re ready to move on to the next level of your writing, your instructor will provide you with next steps. And, if you want to learn more outside of the classroom, contact the instructor about this. We’re always excited by writers who want to keep learning and learning!

The Best Online Writing Workshops

Of course, we’re partial to our own workshops at Writers.com . Since 1995 we’ve offered the best fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and book writing workshops around the internet, inspiring thousands of writers to embark on their writing journeys, find their voices, and get published.

We offer both single-day webinars and multi-week workshops in all genres, and also offer opportunities for private coaching with our instructors. If you’re looking for the best, you’ve already found it. Drop us a line if you have any questions!

Check out our full schedule of upcoming classes here.

In addition to Writers.com, here are some online writing workshops that we’ve found offer fantastic creative writing education:

• Loft Literary
• Brooklyn Poets
• Creative Nonfiction

In Creative Writing Workshops…

You get to find great literature, meet fellow scribblers, build a writing habit, and, most importantly, take your writing journey to the next level. Why wait? Enroll in an online writing workshop today!

Sean Glatch

Thanks for the information it’s really enlightening

So glad I found this writing site. I have more exploring to do. I’m sure I will be back.

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Good with Words: Writing and Editing Specialization

Writing. Editing. Persuasion. Learn the mechanics and strategy of effective communication.

Taught in English

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Instructor: Patrick Barry

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Specialization - 4 course series

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No previous experience needed

What you'll learn

Creative ways to use syntax

Techniques for adding nuance to your sentences and slogans

Tips to help you punctuate and paragraph like a professional

Habits needed to complete both short-term and long-term projects

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• Time management

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Perhaps the most important thing students and professionals of all kinds can do to improve their effectiveness is embrace the following advice: become good with words.

This series of courses targets the writing side of that recommendation. The skills it focuses on include everything from how to arrange a complex set of information in a reader-friendly way, to how to give and receive high-quality feedback, to how to consistently hit deadlines.

Part of Professor Barry’s proceeds from this course will be donated to the COVID-19 relief efforts of Ozone House Opens in a new tab , a shelter for homeless youth in Southeastern Michigan where he regularly conducts job-training workshops. These proceeds come from purchases of the version of the course that earns you a certificate. The course remains free for anyone who is simply auditing.

Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order

Learn how the words you choose can change the decisions people make

Use syntax strategically

Write with originality and produce sentences that nobody else can write

Arrange a complex set of information in a reader-friendly way

Writing and Editing: Structure and Organization

Learn how structure can be used to generate content

Place corresponding ideas in corresponding forms

Add nuance to your writing by using anadiplosis

Identify and assess when to use sentences with varying lengths

Writing and Editing: Drafting

Understand and reflect on the cost of perfectionism in writing

Conduct a “pre-mortem” before starting a writing draft

Identify summaries and scenes

Apply the “nothing else” and “need to know” principles

Writing and Editing: Revising

Learn how to become a better reader of your own writing

Apply the E-D-I-T framework

Identify uselessly accurate information

Create multiple ways to communicate the same data

The mission of the University of Michigan is to serve the people of Michigan and the world through preeminence in creating, communicating, preserving and applying knowledge, art, and academic values, and in developing leaders and citizens who will challenge the present and enrich the future.

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Is this course really 100% online do i need to attend any classes in person.

This course is completely online, so there’s no need to show up to a classroom in person. You can access your lectures, readings and assignments anytime and anywhere via the web or your mobile device.

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Winter 2025 Undergraduate Course Descriptions

Jwst 201 jewish law.

Professor Lawrence Kaplan Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Full course description

Description: This course will serve as a general introduction to the nature and history of Jewish Law. Among the topics to be addressed are: Narrative and Law, Religion, and Morality; Redemption of Hostages; Medical Ethics (End of life Issues and Issues of Consent); and AID (Artificial Insemination from Donor). Other issues will be discussed depending on time and will be chosen in consultation with the students. While secondary material will be assigned for background, the focus will be on the close reading of selected Jewish legal texts from the Mishnah and Talmud as well as such post-Talmudic texts as Maimonides’ great code of Jewish Law, the Mishneh Torah , and a variety of both medieval and modern responsa (judicial opinions). A key goal will be to acquire a “feel” for characteristic modes of halakhic (Jewish legal) thinking and reasoning, precisely through immersing oneself in the primary sources. A special feature of this course will be its havruta style: that is, for part of some classes, students will study and prepare the primary texts in havrutot (small groups).

Evaluation: 10%: Class Attendance and Participation 20%: Take Home Mid-Term 30%: Eight to ten-page analysis of a primary text or important secondary discussion 40%: Three Hour Take-Home Final

JWST  220 D1&2 Introductory Hebrew

Instructor Lea Fima  | Instructor Dr. Rina Michaeli Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 | *Please note this is a yearlong course Times and locations for these courses

Description:  The objective is to master basic communication in Modern Hebrew language. Students will develop the four language skills of understanding, speaking, reading and writing through the acquisition of basic structures of the language, i.e., grammar, syntax, vocabulary, as well as idiomatic expressions, in order to be able to communicate in Modern Hebrew orally and in writing. Communicative activities, oral practice, written exercises and compositions will be assigned regularly, in order to help integrate skills and reinforce learning. In addition, because the acquisition of a modern language also entails awareness of the culture of its linguistic community, the students will become aware of cultural elements associated with the language. 

Texts:  Shlomit Chayat et al.  Hebrew from Scratch , Part I

Evaluation: 60% 4 class tests 15% Essays 20% Oral presentation 5% Class participation

JWST 225 Literature and Society

Religion and state in israel.

Instructor Brendan Szendro Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description:  How does Israel’s unique institutional structure impact the practice of religion? In this course, we will examine the interplay between religion and state in an Israeli context. Starting with the “Status Quo” agreement between religious and secular authorities, we will examine how the issue of religion is one of the key factors preventing a fixed constitutional regime in Israel. We will further explore how the fraught relationship between the two forces has shaped the practice of religion not only amongst the state’s Jewish majority, but its diverse religious minority population as well.

JWST 252 Interdisciplinary Lectures

Judaism and disability.

Instructor Emilie Amar Zifkin Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description: This course explores theoretical approaches to disability in a Jewish Studies framework, from the Bible to the present. We will consider disability in its broadest sense, and will discuss physical impairment, sensory, and cognitive disorders. Every class involves engagement with primary sources: we will read texts from the Torah to recent rabbinic rulings on questions of accessibility. These sources are supplemented by secondary readings selected to contextualize and problematize the primary sources, spurring questions and opening new avenues for research. Drawing on readings, class discussion, and student work, we explore how Jewish history and practice have responded to disability across time, space, and denomination; and the many roles which people with disabilities have played and continue to play in Judaism and Jewish identity.

JWST 282 Introductory Yiddish 2

Instructor Zoë Belk Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description:  The second part of the introduction to the millennium-old language of Ashkenazic Jews. This course will continue covering the fundamentals of Yiddish grammar and vocabulary and will include further practice in speaking, reading, and writing. The course materials draw on Yiddish literature, songs, and films, allowing students to combine the acquisition of practical language skills with an exploration of Yiddish culture—from its beginnings in medieval Germany through its past and present in Central and Eastern Europe, the Americas, Israel, and all over the world. An important component of the course is the opportunity students will have to pursue Yiddish-related artistic or research projects (individually or in small groups), combining exploration of Yiddish with creative writing, translation, acting, filmmaking, religion, anthropology, history, painting, and journalism, to name just some of the options. While this course is the direct continuation of JWST 281 Introductory Yiddish 1, it may also be taken independently by students with adequate prior knowledge. With any questions, please email the instructor.

Texts:  Course Pack; online resources.

Evaluation:   Attendance and homework; in-class quizzes; final project; final exam

JWST 320 D1&2 Intermediate Hebrew

Instructor Dr. Rina Michaeli Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 | *Please note this is a yearlong course Times and locations for these courses

Description:  The objective is to master communication in Modern Hebrew language. Students will develop the four language skills of understanding, speaking, reading and writing through the acquisition of basic structures of the language, i.e., grammar, syntax, vocabulary, as well as idiomatic expressions, in order to be able to communicate in Modern Hebrew orally and in writing. Communicative activities, oral practice, written exercises and article analysis will be assigned in order to help integrate skills and reinforce learning. In addition, because the acquisition of a modern language also entails awareness of the culture of its linguistic community, the students will become aware of cultural elements associated with the language and the diversity of the Israeli society.

Texts:  Shlomit Chayat et al. Hebrew from Scratch, Part I + CD

Evaluation:   48% - 4 class tests (6%, 10%, 14%, 18%) 12% - Quizzes 12% - 2 in-class essays 10% - Compositions 10% - Oral presentation ​8% - Class participation

JWST 330 Topics in the Hebrew Bible

Priest, prophet, king: leadership in i and ii samuel.

Instructor Dr. Deborah Abecassis Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description: In this course, we will study in depth the biblical books of I and II Samuel. We will explore matters of content, theme and style as well as questions regarding historical and cultural context, linguistic features, and authorship. We will pay special attention to the figures of Samuel, Saul and David as they emerge in the biblical narratives, and in later rabbinic midrashim, medieval commentaries, modern biblical scholarship, and even art and literature.

All texts will be examined in translation.

Texts: Hebrew Bible in English translation. Other primary texts and secondary readings will be available on MyCourses or on reserve in the library.

Evaluation: Written assignment, research paper, two in-class evaluations.

JWST 337 Jewish Philosophy and Thought 1

Ethics in medieval islamic and jewish philosophy.

Professor Carlos Fraenkel Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description: In this course we will focus on three topics: (i) the moral and political conditions that medieval Muslim and Jewish philosophers argued must be in place to enable us to live a happy and flourishing life; (ii) the tools they offer to comfort us when bad things happen and make us suffer; (iii) how they interpreted Islam and Judaism as guides to the best life and as resources for consolation.

On the Muslim side we will read the short treatise On the Art of Dispelling Sorrow by al-Kindî (ca. 800-870 CE) and the Selected Aphorisms by al-Fârâbî (ca. 870-950). The Art of Dispelling Sorrow is an intriguing Muslim contribution to the genre of philosophical consolation; the Aphorisms are one of the most influential statements of moral and political philosophy in the tradition of Plato and Aristotle in medieval Islamic thought.

On the Jewish side we will focus on Maimonides (1138-1204), the most famous medieval Jewish Aristotelian who was a keen student of Greek and Arabic philosophy and was especially fond of al-Fârâbî. We will look at how Maimonides incorporates the moral theory of the philosophers into a Jewish ethics. Like Greek and Muslim philosophers, Maimonides argues that the best life is one that is both virtuous and happy. But the best guide to such a life, he contends, is the Torah , the Law of Moses, whose prescriptions embody the practical wisdom we need to flourish. Contemplation, the theoretical grasp of the natural order, which the philosophers take to be the pinnacle of virtue and happiness, is for Maimonides at the same time the fulfillment of the commandment to love God. Finally we will examine Maimonides' discussion of the Biblical Job to learn how he proposes to deal with human suffering from a philosophical and Jewish angle.

At the end of the class we will have familiarized ourselves with core themes in medieval Islamic and Jewish ethics: from virtue and happiness to contemplation and consolation.

Course Materials:

• Al-Kindî, On the Art of Dispelling Sorrow
• Al-Fârâbî, Selected Aphorisms
• Maimonides, Eight Chapters
• Maimonides, Ethical Writings of Maimonides
• Maimonides, Guide of the Perplexed (excerpts)

Evaluation: Active course participation: 10% Presentation: 15% Short paper: 20% Presentation of final paper project: 15% Final comparative paper on a core theme in medieval Islamic and Jewish ethics: 40%

JWST 340 D1&2 Advanced Hebrew

Instructor Lea Fima Fall 2024 and Winter 2025 | *Please note this is a yearlong course Times and locations for these courses

Description: The objective is to communicate on familiar topics in Modern Hebrew language. Students will develop the four language skills of understanding, speaking, reading and writing through the acquisition of the advanced structures of the language, i.e., grammar, syntax, vocabulary, as well as idiomatic expressions, in order to be able to communicate in Modern Hebrew orally and in writing. Communicative activities, oral practice, written exercises and compositions will be assigned regularly, in order to help integrate skills and reinforce learning. In addition, because the acquisition of a modern language also entails awareness of the culture of its linguistic community, the students will become aware of cultural elements associated with the language.

Texts: Edna Amir Coffin. Lessons in Modern Hebrew: Level II (2) Publisher: University of Michigan Press

Recommended Text: Hebrew Dictionary (Oxford, Eng-Heb, Heb-Eng Dictionary, Kernerman – Lonnie Kahn)

Evaluation: 48% - 4 class tests (6%, 10%, 14%, 18%) 12% - Quizzes 12% - 2 in-class essays 14% - Compositions 10% - Oral presentation 4% - Class participation

JWST 346 Modern Jewish Studies

The twentieth century: transnational jewish history.

Professor Ula Madej-Krupitski Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description: Looking beyond the borders of empires and nation states, this course aims to study the experience of Jews in Europe, vis-à-vis those residing in the Middle East, North and South America, as well as Australia. While studying the key developments of the twentieth century, arguably the most transformative period in Jewish history, this course will pay particular attention to patterns of social and cultural exchange(s) between European Jews and their coreligionists elsewhere, along with the themes of migration, diasporas, memory, and material culture.

• John Efron, et. al., The Jews: A History 3 rd edition
• Ava F. Kahn and Adam Mendelsohn ed., Transnational Traditions: New Perspectives on American Jewish History, 2014 (selections)
• Course Reader

Evaluation: Attendance and participation 15% Weekly reading responses 50% In class presentation 35%

JWST 348 Modern Jewish Studies

Zion before and after the isms: a literary perspective.

Professor Yael Halevi-Wise Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description: Before Zionism there were liturgical, poetic, mythical and sometimes political longings to return a dispersed Jewry to its ancient homeland. The modern Jewish movement for national autoemancipation was led by figures such as Theodor Hertzl, H.N. Bialik, Ahad Ha’am and others who defined themselves first and foremost as professional writers – journalists, poets, essayists, playwrights. This course will explore modern Zionism through influential literary productions by these and other authors. We will put their literary work in dialogue with their political pamphleteering; and we will use these comparisons to assess the tensions between cultural pressures and personal priorities in those days compared to tensions, pressures and priorities that we observe today.

• Benjamin Disraeli’s The Wondrous Tale of Alroy (1833)
• Theodor Hertzl’s Der Judenstaad (1896)
• Theodor Hertzl’s Altneuland (1902)
• Sholem Aleichem’s, “ Ferbengt aheym ” (1918)
• S. Y. Agnon’s Only Yesterday (1945)
• Ilana Pardes’s The Biography of Ancient Israel (2002) Other key literary texts and essays

Evaluation: Short papers; oral presentations; attendance and discussion.

JWST 351 Modern Jewish Literature

Jewish biography.

Instructor Dr. Emily Kopley Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description: In the 1960s, Shmuel Leiter, Professor of Hebrew Literature at the Jewish Theological Seminary, lamented the lack of Jewish biographies. He blamed this lack on a historical esteem of modesty and antipathy to hero worship. Today, Leiter might not lament. In 2006, Yale University Press launched the book series Jewish Lives, which now includes sixty-eight titles. This series is one of many projects, in various media, concerned with telling the life stories of Jewish people.

But Leiter’s concern and its redress raise many questions. What is meant by “Jewish biography”? Was Leiter right that works fitting this description were few? Was he right about the cause? What are the origins of the biographical tradition in Jewish literature? What about the autobiographical? What are the reasons for the evident growth in Jewish biography in the last sixty years? Whose lives are receiving more, or less, attention? What impact can a biography have?

Then there are questions that pertain to all biography. What is the relation of form to content? How can chronology be balanced with pattern and recursion? How does the biographer’s relation to the subject shape the telling? How can life stories be told about challenging subjects, such as those who are not obviously, or only, heroic, or for whom sources are limited?

To consider these questions, we will read among various genres (e.g. children’s books, obituaries, full-length biographies) and about figures from many places and times.

All texts will be in English.

Format: Lecture and discussion.

Evaluation: Two written assignments, oral presentation, class preparation and participation.

JWST 359 Topics in Jewish Philosophy 2

Martin buber and franz rosenzweig.

Description: Martin Buber (1878-1965) and Franz Rosenzweig (1886-1929) were perhaps the two leading Jewish philosophers of the first half of the twentieth century as well as among the leading religious existentialist philosophers of their day. In this course we will read extensive selections from their writings, ranging from their shorter essays to their major works, in particular Buber’s I and Thou and (sections from) Rosenzweig’s Star of Redemption . In addition to seeking to determine their general religious/philosophical stances, we will focus on such issues as their readings and evaluations of the Bible, their attitudes toward Judaism and Jewish Law, and their views of other religions, particularly Christianity. In all instances, we will take notice of the similarities and differences between these two great figures.

Evaluation: Class participation: 10% Paper on Buber: 30% Paper on Rosenzweig: 30% Review of scholarly work on either Buber and Rosenzweig (or on both of them together): 30%

JWST 367 Learning Hebrew through Israeli Cinema

Instructor Lea Fima Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description: This course offers an opportunity to watch films from different periods of Israeli cinema spanning 1948 to the present. Conducted primarily in Hebrew with some assignments in English, students in this course will be invited to engage with the social, political, psychological and aesthetic dimensions of Israeli films. (This is primarily a language class and advanced Hebrew is required to enrol in this course; if you are unsure about your level of Hebrew please consult with the instructor.)

Texts: Hebrew Dictionary

Evaluation: 40% - Essay (1500 words min.) 10% - 2 Take-home compositions (300 words each) 30% - 2 In-class essays (300 words each) 10% - Text preparation assignments (to be marked at random) 10% - Class participation

JWST 371 Jews and the City

Urban jewish life in eastern europe: warsaw, vilnius, mukachevo (munkatch) and moscow.

Description: Focusing on four locales, this course will survey social, cultural, and political Jewish history across the region during the 1920s and 1930s. This time, marked by profound contradictions, contained growing economic and political distress, yet concurrently, an incredible resourcefulness and vitality. We will interrogate the internal developments within various Jewish communities, studying the diversity of Jewish religious, linguistic, cultural, political, and secular expressions. Through film, Jewish press across four languages: Yiddish, Polish, Hebrew and Russian (translated), advertisements, autobiographies of Jewish adolescents, selections from cookbooks, and literary sources, we will further consider everyday life in large Jewish metropolises, vis-à-vis the realities of shtetlekh (small towns). Throughout this course, we will also examine the economic and social conditions, as well as various increasing pressures that Jewish citizens were experiencing from society at large, namely rampant nationalism and antisemitism.

• Ezra Mendelsohn, The Jews of East Central Europe, Between the World Wars, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1983.
• Zvi Gitelman, A Century of Ambivalence: The Jews of Russia and the Soviet Union, 1881 to the Present, Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001.

Evaluation: Attendance and participation: 15% Primary source analysis (3-4 pg.): 25% Research essay: 30% Final exam: 30%

JWST 382 Jews, Judaism and Social Justice

Professor Eric Caplan Winter 2025 Times and locations for these courses

Description: An exploration of how diverse voices in the Jewish community have responded to important recent and contemporary social and political challenges including poverty, the Civil Rights movement, Black Lives Matter, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the environmental crisis, and immigration.

Texts will include:

• Achad Ha’am, “Priest and Prophet.” (1893)
• Emma Goldman, “The Joys of Touring.” (1908)
• Abraham Joshua Heschel, “Interview with Carl Stern.” (1972)
• Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz, “Diasporism, Feminism and Coalition” (1998)
• Batya Ungar-Sargon, “Why Do Jews Keep Tearing Down Black Leaders?” (2019)
• Kate Rosenblatt, Lila Corwin Berman, and Ronit Stahl, “How Jewish Academia Created a #MeToo Disaster” (2018)
• Peter Beinart, “Yavne: A Jewish Case for Equality in Israel-Palestine” (2020)
• Everett and Mary Gendler, “Teaching Shalom in the Shadow of Tibet: Nonviolent Resistance for National Survival” (1998)
• Sandra Lawson, “I’m a Black Rabbi. I’ve Never Been in a Jewish Space Where I Wasn’t Questioned” (2021)
• Mirele Goldsmith, “Stop Now! Shmita and Climate Change” (2015)
• Joy Ladin, “Reading Between the Angels: How Torah Speaks to Transgender Jews” (2012)
• Jill Jacobs, “How to tell when criticism of Israel is actually antisemitism” (20218/2024)

Evaluation: 2 Papers 65% Reading responses/Perusalls/in-class presentation 25% Participation 10%

Department and University Information

Department of jewish studies.

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Best Websites for Teaching & Learning Writing

Our favorite free and paid writing resources across the web!

Writing is one of the most important skills students can learn in school. Writing skills are linked to reading skills and to overall academic achievement. Luckily, there are loads of interesting and engaging websites to help make writing instruction fun. To help you get started, here’s a list of the best writing websites for teaching and learning.

With 9 million members and 800,000 participating K-12 classrooms, Storybird  is the world’s largest language arts program. With Storybird, students can create short, visual stories on their own or with friends. In addition, this writing curriculum is aligned with Common Core standards and offers over 600 lessons, quizzes, and writing prompts created by seasoned educators and authors.

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Writing A-Z

With thousands of downloadable and projectable resources for writing instruction, as well as a collection of interactive online writing tools, Writing A-Z helps teachers meet the needs of every student at every learning level. In addition, teachers can track students’ progress, making individualized instruction a snap.

Story Jumper

StoryJumper is a free storybook creation site for students in grades 1-8. Students create their own original stories, then add their own artwork or access images from StoryJumper’s library. Kids can write alone, collaborate with classmates or even connect with students around the world. In addition, the site includes teacher guides, writing projects, templates, and more.

Cost: Free, Prices vary for printed books

Features an expansive, curated collection of story-starts created by renowned authors such as Jeff Kinney (Diary of a Wimpy Kid) and Jeff Bruel (Bad Kitty). Students read the first chapter of a story, then write, edit and revise the next chapter themselves online. As a class project, teachers can assign all students the same story starter. Once all the stories are written, students can anonymously read other entries and peer assess and vote for the best version of the story.

Cost: $12.99 per book

Write About

An authentic classroom writing community and publishing platform built by teachers for teachers. Access units and lessons, free choice and creative writing tips, journaling lessons, quick writes, and more for students K-12.

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Storium.edu

This innovative, collaborative writing game revolves around digital story cards that represent different aspects of storytelling and character development. Along with visual cues, the cards serve as writing prompts, helping students figure out what to write next at each step of the game. Students take turns playing story cards and adding to the story. Paragraph by paragraph, they collaboratively write their own original story simply by playing the game.

Elementari integrates coding into writing as students create and publish simple interactive and animated digital stories. Using the online platform, students write and code, share, and remix interactive stories using professional illustrations and sounds. Teachers can monitor progress and offer personalized feedback to help students grow as writers.

Access 1000+ writing assignments and prompts organized by collection, genre, or grade level with Writable. Scaffold instruction and motivate your students to become purposeful, proficient writers. Also available: Skills activities, graphic organizers, quick writes, response to reading, and much more

Magnetic Poetry

Just like the fridge magnets we all know and love, this tool offers a selection of words and screen space for students to create their own poetry. They can request more words, start over and even share their poetry electronically. Magnetic Poetry is a perfect choice as a writing station or an option during creative play.

Make Beliefs Comix

Students of all ages love creating their own worlds through comic strips. MakeBeliefs Comix provides story ideas and comic starters as well as a gallery of comics for inspiration. Students choose from a wide cast of characters with different looks and moods and then write the words and thoughts for them. Also featured on this site: videos, writing tools, lesson plans, a special needs section, and an ideas exchange.

Read, Write, Think

Sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English, this site offers high-quality, standards-aligned education materials for students K-12. Featuring hundreds of lesson plans, calendar resources, printouts, and interactive tools such as story maps, plot diagrams, timelines, and more.

PicLits is an e-learning website that utilizes photography and keywords to improve students’ literacy skills with an emphasis on interactive, visual learning. Inspired by an image, students create a caption, sentence, story, paragraph, poem, or even a quotation to capture the essence, story, and/or meaning of that image.

iWrite offers free online creative writing and illustration activities for kids in grades 1-8. In addition, they help writers take advantage of innovative online writing clubs, camps, workshops, and publishing opportunities. iWrite TV offers videos on topics like brainstorming, genre and theme, setting and description. and more.

Grammarly for Education

Grammarly helps students polish up their communication skills. A great student writing aid, it allows students to check their writing for typos, commonly confusing words, tricky sentence structure, and more. And Grammarly has hundreds of informative blogs such as H ow to Write a Research Paper, How to Write a Poem, and Grammar Tips.

Cost: Free basic plan, Subscription Education options.

StoryboardThat

StoryboardThat is an easy drag-and-drop creation platform with cross-curricular applications for writers K-12. With over 3,000 lesson plans and activities , teachers can create materials and lessons for their classes which will help students can take ownership of their voice and learning.

Grammar Girl

One of Writer’s Digest’s 101 best websites, Mignon Fogarty offers “Quick and Dirty Tips” with blogs and videos such as Top Ten Grammar Myths and Can You Start a Sentence with And to help students become the best writers possible.

NaNoWritMo Young Writers Program

NaNoWritMo’s Young Writers Program supports young writers and K-12 educators as they participate in National Novel Writing Month each November and offers smaller writing challenges year-round. Kids can track their word-count goal for the month and draft their novel right on the site. Plus, they can get support from published authors and an international community of fellow novelists.

Power Poetry

The largest online poetry community in the world and a safe, creative, free place for teen poets and teachers. Chock full of resources, there are lesson plans, classroom activity guides, and printable worksheets to help you in the classroom.

Poetry Foundation Teen Section

The Poetry Foundation offers a variety of articles, videos and podcasts to help teens in all aspects of poetry. You’ll find tips on understanding and writing poems along with featured poems by famous poets. The Poetry Foundation also has a Children Section as well as a Teacher Section.

Time4Writing

Free writing resources for students K-12 in seven main categories. Each category includes a selection of fun writing games, instructional videos, printable writing worksheets, and other writing tools. This site also offers online courses with writing instruction by certified teachers.

Cost: Free resources, Fees for online courses

What are your favorite writing websites for the classroom? Share in the comments below!

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