how can you learn creative writing

Tip 7: Practice Overcoming Writer’s Block

At some point in their writing journey, every writer has reached a point where writing doesn’t feel fun anymore.

There are lots of different causes for writer’s block. You might be unsure what to write, afraid of failing, or simply burned out from writing too much.

It’s important to find ways to overcome creative blocks, so you don’t end up putting down your pen for good.

One useful technique is to change your environment. If you normally write at home, try writing in a coffee shop or in your local library.

Another technique is to try a different activity for a while. Go for a walk, take a shower, do your dishes, or try another hobby. Before long, you’ll find yourself wanting to write again.

Perhaps the most underrated method is to simply take a break from writing. Give yourself permission to stop for a while—it’s always okay to take a step back.

Tip 8: Study Writing Craft

Many new writers falsely believe that writing can’t be taught; you’re either good at it or you’re not.

But the truth is that creative writing is a craft, just like woodworking, oil painting, or ballet. You wouldn’t expect anyone to be naturally good at ballet without years of training, so why is writing any different?

One way to learn new creative writing techniques is by reading craft books . Some great books to start with include On Writing by Stephen King, Story Genius by Lisa Cron, and The Creative Writer’s Handbook by Philip K. Jason.

These books can help you learn the basics of how to write well. For example, you can learn how to construct high-quality sentences, how to avoid passive voice, and how to use poetic devices.

The more you learn, the more powerful your writing will become.

Tip 9: Invent Your Own Process

When you’re just starting out as a writer, it can be tempting to copy someone else’s writing process.

Maybe you heard an interview with a bestselling author who said you have to outline a story before you draft it. Or maybe you found out your favorite author writes 1,000 words every day, and now you think you have to write 1,000 words every day too.

But it’s important to remember that no two writers have the exact same writing process. What works best for someone else might not work for you.

There’s no right or wrong way to be a creative writer. Your job is to find a writing process that makes you feel fulfilled, productive, and inspired—and if your favorite writers don’t write the same way, that’s perfectly okay.

Tip 10: Don’t Aim for Perfection

There’s a good chance your writing is never going to be perfect. Mine definitely isn’t!

Remember that writing is about the process, not the product. Even if the final product is never perfect, the process has helped you grow as a writer—and hopefully, it’s also been a lot of fun.

You should decide what your main goal for writing is. Maybe it’s writing stories you might be able to publish someday. Maybe it’s telling stories about characters you rarely see in existing stories. Maybe it’s simply a fun new hobby.

Whatever your goal is, remember that you’re already on your way to achieving it. You don’t need to aim for perfection in order to succeed.

There’s no secret to getting better at creative writing. The process is very simple—it just takes a lot of hard work.

All you have to do is follow this two-step process:

• Step 1: Write consistently
• Step 2: Ask for feedback on your writing

The first step is fairly self-explanatory. Whenever you’re learning a new skill, it’s important to practice it. The more you write, the more you’ll learn about how to be a successful creative writer.

The second step is the one that receives more pushback from writers because it requires a lot of courage and vulnerability, but it’s just as important as the first step.

If you don’t get feedback, you could write every day and still never improve. That’s because most people can’t spot the weaknesses in their own stories.

You can ask for feedback from your friends, family, or writing groups. They can help you see your work from a different perspective and identify areas for improvement.

As long as you write consistently and listen to the feedback on the work you’re producing, you’ll be able to create a positive cycle where you create better and better stories over time.

If you want to improve your creative writing skills, there are numerous resources you can use to find help.

One great method is to join a writing community where you can share your work and get feedback from other writers.

You can look for free critique groups online, on websites such as Scribophile and Critique Circle. Or you can start your own group with your friends.

You can also consider joining a local writing class or retreat. Many schools and community centers offer classes and workshops you can join.

Another option is to use creative writing tools. ProWritingAid can give you AI-powered suggestions about how to improve your prose and make your writing shine.

Good luck, and happy writing!

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Hannah Yang

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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What Is Creative Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 20 Examples)

Creative writing begins with a blank page and the courage to fill it with the stories only you can tell.

I face this intimidating blank page daily–and I have for the better part of 20+ years.

In this guide, you’ll learn all the ins and outs of creative writing with tons of examples.

What Is Creative Writing (Long Description)?

Creative Writing is the art of using words to express ideas and emotions in imaginative ways. It encompasses various forms including novels, poetry, and plays, focusing on narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes.

Table of Contents

Let’s expand on that definition a bit.

Creative writing is an art form that transcends traditional literature boundaries.

It includes professional, journalistic, academic, and technical writing. This type of writing emphasizes narrative craft, character development, and literary tropes. It also explores poetry and poetics traditions.

In essence, creative writing lets you express ideas and emotions uniquely and imaginatively.

It’s about the freedom to invent worlds, characters, and stories. These creations evoke a spectrum of emotions in readers.

Creative writing covers fiction, poetry, and everything in between.

It allows writers to express inner thoughts and feelings. Often, it reflects human experiences through a fabricated lens.

Types of Creative Writing

There are many types of creative writing that we need to explain.

Some of the most common types:

• Short stories
• Screenplays
• Flash fiction
• Creative Nonfiction

Short Stories (The Brief Escape)

Short stories are like narrative treasures.

They are compact but impactful, telling a full story within a limited word count. These tales often focus on a single character or a crucial moment.

Short stories are known for their brevity.

They deliver emotion and insight in a concise yet powerful package. This format is ideal for exploring diverse genres, themes, and characters. It leaves a lasting impression on readers.

Example: Emma discovers an old photo of her smiling grandmother. It’s a rarity. Through flashbacks, Emma learns about her grandmother’s wartime love story. She comes to understand her grandmother’s resilience and the value of joy.

Novels (The Long Journey)

Novels are extensive explorations of character, plot, and setting.

They span thousands of words, giving writers the space to create entire worlds. Novels can weave complex stories across various themes and timelines.

The length of a novel allows for deep narrative and character development.

Readers get an immersive experience.

Example: Across the Divide tells of two siblings separated in childhood. They grow up in different cultures. Their reunion highlights the strength of family bonds, despite distance and differences.

Poetry (The Soul’s Language)

Poetry expresses ideas and emotions through rhythm, sound, and word beauty.

It distills emotions and thoughts into verses. Poetry often uses metaphors, similes, and figurative language to reach the reader’s heart and mind.

Poetry ranges from structured forms, like sonnets, to free verse.

The latter breaks away from traditional formats for more expressive thought.

Example: Whispers of Dawn is a poem collection capturing morning’s quiet moments. “First Light” personifies dawn as a painter. It brings colors of hope and renewal to the world.

Plays (The Dramatic Dialogue)

Plays are meant for performance. They bring characters and conflicts to life through dialogue and action.

This format uniquely explores human relationships and societal issues.

Playwrights face the challenge of conveying setting, emotion, and plot through dialogue and directions.

Example: Echoes of Tomorrow is set in a dystopian future. Memories can be bought and sold. It follows siblings on a quest to retrieve their stolen memories. They learn the cost of living in a world where the past has a price.

Screenplays (Cinema’s Blueprint)

Screenplays outline narratives for films and TV shows.

They require an understanding of visual storytelling, pacing, and dialogue. Screenplays must fit film production constraints.

Example: The Last Light is a screenplay for a sci-fi film. Humanity’s survivors on a dying Earth seek a new planet. The story focuses on spacecraft Argo’s crew as they face mission challenges and internal dynamics.

Memoirs (The Personal Journey)

Memoirs provide insight into an author’s life, focusing on personal experiences and emotional journeys.

They differ from autobiographies by concentrating on specific themes or events.

Memoirs invite readers into the author’s world.

They share lessons learned and hardships overcome.

Example: Under the Mango Tree is a memoir by Maria Gomez. It shares her childhood memories in rural Colombia. The mango tree in their yard symbolizes home, growth, and nostalgia. Maria reflects on her journey to a new life in America.

Flash Fiction (The Quick Twist)

Flash fiction tells stories in under 1,000 words.

It’s about crafting compelling narratives concisely. Each word in flash fiction must count, often leading to a twist.

This format captures life’s vivid moments, delivering quick, impactful insights.

Example: The Last Message features an astronaut’s final Earth message as her spacecraft drifts away. In 500 words, it explores isolation, hope, and the desire to connect against all odds.

Creative Nonfiction (The Factual Tale)

Creative nonfiction combines factual accuracy with creative storytelling.

This genre covers real events, people, and places with a twist. It uses descriptive language and narrative arcs to make true stories engaging.

Creative nonfiction includes biographies, essays, and travelogues.

Example: Echoes of Everest follows the author’s Mount Everest climb. It mixes factual details with personal reflections and the history of past climbers. The narrative captures the climb’s beauty and challenges, offering an immersive experience.

Fantasy (The World Beyond)

Fantasy transports readers to magical and mythical worlds.

It explores themes like good vs. evil and heroism in unreal settings. Fantasy requires careful world-building to create believable yet fantastic realms.

Example: The Crystal of Azmar tells of a young girl destined to save her world from darkness. She learns she’s the last sorceress in a forgotten lineage. Her journey involves mastering powers, forming alliances, and uncovering ancient kingdom myths.

Science Fiction (The Future Imagined)

Science fiction delves into futuristic and scientific themes.

It questions the impact of advancements on society and individuals.

Science fiction ranges from speculative to hard sci-fi, focusing on plausible futures.

Example: When the Stars Whisper is set in a future where humanity communicates with distant galaxies. It centers on a scientist who finds an alien message. This discovery prompts a deep look at humanity’s universe role and interstellar communication.

Watch this great video that explores the question, “What is creative writing?” and “How to get started?”:

What Are the 5 Cs of Creative Writing?

The 5 Cs of creative writing are fundamental pillars.

They guide writers to produce compelling and impactful work. These principles—Clarity, Coherence, Conciseness, Creativity, and Consistency—help craft stories that engage and entertain.

They also resonate deeply with readers. Let’s explore each of these critical components.

Clarity makes your writing understandable and accessible.

It involves choosing the right words and constructing clear sentences. Your narrative should be easy to follow.

In creative writing, clarity means conveying complex ideas in a digestible and enjoyable way.

Coherence ensures your writing flows logically.

It’s crucial for maintaining the reader’s interest. Characters should develop believably, and plots should progress logically. This makes the narrative feel cohesive.

Conciseness

Conciseness is about expressing ideas succinctly.

It’s being economical with words and avoiding redundancy. This principle helps maintain pace and tension, engaging readers throughout the story.

Creativity is the heart of creative writing.

It allows writers to invent new worlds and create memorable characters. Creativity involves originality and imagination. It’s seeing the world in unique ways and sharing that vision.

Consistency

Consistency maintains a uniform tone, style, and voice.

It means being faithful to the world you’ve created. Characters should act true to their development. This builds trust with readers, making your story immersive and believable.

Is Creative Writing Easy?

Creative writing is both rewarding and challenging.

Crafting stories from your imagination involves more than just words on a page. It requires discipline and a deep understanding of language and narrative structure.

Exploring complex characters and themes is also key.

Refining and revising your work is crucial for developing your voice.

The ease of creative writing varies. Some find the freedom of expression liberating.

Others struggle with writer’s block or plot development challenges. However, practice and feedback make creative writing more fulfilling.

What Does a Creative Writer Do?

A creative writer weaves narratives that entertain, enlighten, and inspire.

Writers explore both the world they create and the emotions they wish to evoke. Their tasks are diverse, involving more than just writing.

Creative writers develop ideas, research, and plan their stories.

They create characters and outline plots with attention to detail. Drafting and revising their work is a significant part of their process. They strive for the 5 Cs of compelling writing.

Writers engage with the literary community, seeking feedback and participating in workshops.

They may navigate the publishing world with agents and editors.

Creative writers are storytellers, craftsmen, and artists. They bring narratives to life, enriching our lives and expanding our imaginations.

How to Get Started With Creative Writing?

Embarking on a creative writing journey can feel like standing at the edge of a vast and mysterious forest.

The path is not always clear, but the adventure is calling.

Here’s how to take your first steps into the world of creative writing:

• Find a time of day when your mind is most alert and creative.
• Create a comfortable writing space free from distractions.
• Use prompts to spark your imagination. They can be as simple as a word, a phrase, or an image.
• Try writing for 15-20 minutes on a prompt without editing yourself. Let the ideas flow freely.
• Reading is fuel for your writing. Explore various genres and styles.
• Pay attention to how your favorite authors construct their sentences, develop characters, and build their worlds.
• Don’t pressure yourself to write a novel right away. Begin with short stories or poems.
• Small projects can help you hone your skills and boost your confidence.
• Look for writing groups in your area or online. These communities offer support, feedback, and motivation.
• Participating in workshops or classes can also provide valuable insights into your writing.
• Understand that your first draft is just the beginning. Revising your work is where the real magic happens.
• Be open to feedback and willing to rework your pieces.
• Carry a notebook or digital recorder to jot down ideas, observations, and snippets of conversations.
• These notes can be gold mines for future writing projects.

Final Thoughts: What Is Creative Writing?

Creative writing is an invitation to explore the unknown, to give voice to the silenced, and to celebrate the human spirit in all its forms.

Check out these creative writing tools (that I highly recommend):

Read This Next:

• What Is a Prompt in Writing? (Ultimate Guide + 200 Examples)
• What Is A Personal Account In Writing? (47 Examples)
• How To Write A Fantasy Short Story (Ultimate Guide + Examples)
• How To Write A Fantasy Romance Novel [21 Tips + Examples)

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10 Best Creative Writing Courses for 2024: Craft Authentic Stories

Learn how to tell your story and engage your readers with great storytelling.

As a lifelong literature enthusiast, I decided to challenge myself in 2010 by participating in NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), which tasks participants with writing a 50,000-word draft within a month. Although I’ve only achieved this goal twice since then, the experience has been invaluable. I’ve connected with a wonderful community of writers, both online and in person.

Through my experience, I can confidently say that creative writing is a skill that can be developed and honed, just like any other. While traditionally associated with literature, creative writing is increasingly being recognized as a powerful tool in various forms of writing, from copywriting and storytelling to novels and poetry. It has the ability to captivate readers and elevate the impact of written expression.

If you’re searching for the best online Creative Writing courses and resources, you’ve come to the right place. This Best Courses Guide (BCG) is built from Class Central’s catalog of over 300 Creative Writing courses and selected according to a methodology that you can check below.

Click on the shortcuts for more details:

What is Creative Writing?

Courses overview, why you should trust us, how we made our picks and tested them, here are our top picks.

Click on one to skip to the course details:

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Creative writing is a genre of writing that seeks to evoke emotions and feelings in its readers. It surpasses the limits of traditional forms of literature and emphasizes narrative craft, character development, and the use of literary tropes and poetic traditions. Creative writing finds application in various forms of writing, including screenplays, plays, novels, poems, and other written works. In this guide, I will delve into some of its most popular facets.

Enhancing resilience and creativity through writing

Research shows that the brains of professional writers work differently from those of novice writers. Moreover, creative writing has been found to boost resilience in students . If you want to enjoy the benefits of writing, it’s important to develop the habit of jotting down your thoughts and words. Doing so can help you overcome writer’s block.

Creative writing is so powerful that it’s used in prisons to give inmates a chance to express themselves in programs like PEN America . “By providing resources, mentorship, and audiences outside the walls, we help these writers to join and enrich the broader literary community.”

Creative writing is a skill that can be learned and practiced like any other. Techniques such as ABDCE structure, 1st or 3rd person point of view, “show don’t tell”, dialogues, and tropes can be easily learned through the online courses in this guide.

• Together, they account for over 1M enrollments
• Skillshare, with 2 courses, is the most featured provider
• The single most popular course has nearly 400k enrollments
• Three courses are entirely free or free-to-audit.

Best Fantasy And Short-Stories Writing Lessons For Beginners (Brandon Sanderson)

Besides being an awesome writer, Sanderson is an instructor with a very unique talent for keeping us engaged. He has also made available a full course in creative writing on YouTube , originally presented at Brigham Young University, which includes the most crucial tools for any beginner or even experienced writers. The course is comprehensive and rich in content, with great sound and video quality.

Each video discusses a specific tool or technique, so you can easily select the theme you want to explore next or watch it all in sequence. It’s up to you. I recommend you take your time, watch one video at a time and experiment with each concept, or even better, find a writing buddy or form a group to practice writing together.

What you’ll learn:

• Plot construction, character development, and engaging storytelling
• Techniques for crafting immersive worlds and believable viewpoints
• Insights into the publishing industry, tailored for emerging writers
• Strategies for writing compelling short stories and leveraging them for larger projects.

“Very informative! I’m a beginner writer looking to study writing for video games, and this class gave me a lot of helpful tools to start understanding how stories work/how to organize my ideas! Will definitely be returning to some of these lectures in the future for guidance 👍” – Paige Webster

Best University-level Creative Writing Course (Wesleyan University)

Creative Writing by Wesleyan University is a specialization for those looking for a way to improve their writing structure, scene and character creations and finding your style. Each course includes writing practice (for paying learners) and insightful interviews. It’s worth your time and effort if you are a disorganized writer like myself.

• Techniques for crafting a bracing story with memorable characters and an interesting setting
• How to employ a fresh descriptive style in your writing
• Skills for analyzing and constructively evaluating peer writing
• The ability to refine your writing, critique writing in general, and draw inspiration from existing literature
• The process of drafting, rewriting, and completing an original story in the genre of your choosing.

It should be noted that the peer-grading system often lacks depth. However, the assignments are well-crafted and can be easily evaluated with minimal effort, providing some insights from other participants in the form of feedback or inspiration from their submissions.

“Great information about plot and scene structure. The information about revision was entirely new to me – thank you! The exercises were good and difficult in a good way that helped me hone my writing.” – Laura B, Coursera learner

Best Course to Find Your Voice (Neil Gaiman)

Neil Gaiman is currently one the most prolific writers I know of: he’s written books , comics , movies and even TV shows . Even if you’re not a fan of his style, there is definitely something you can learn from him.

In Neil Gaiman Teaches The Art Of Storytelling you will discover Neil’s philosophy on what drives a story and learn to unlock new stories within yourself.

While MasterClass doesn’t sell single courses, a subscription provides access to their entire library, including other writing courses like Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing , Dan Brown Teaches Writing Thrillers , Malcolm Gladwell Teaches Writing , and James Patterson Teaches Writing . If you are considering the purchase, you should definitely enjoy the rest of their catalog.

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Discover and develop your unique writing voice
• Generate and develop original ideas
• Create dynamic, well-rounded characters that come to life on the page.

This course includes a 94-page workbook that includes assignments and supplemental material.

Best Practical Writing Course With Support (Trace Crawford)

I love it when a passionate teacher like Trace Crawford puts the effort into creating a comprehensive curriculum. COMPLETE Creative Writing – All Genres is a 12-hour course with 145 downloadable resources. In this course, you will learn how to write engaging fiction, poetry, drama, and creative non-fiction, helping you become the successful writer you want to be.

• The four genres of creative writing: fiction, poetry, drama, and creative non-fiction
• How to discover, refine, and share your unique writing voice
• A series of authentic writing assignments designed to target the skills you need to develop
• Writing techniques, literary devices, and specialized skills to enhance your writing
• Opportunities for publishing, podcasts, and how to create a professional creative writing portfolio
• Discover multiple public outlets to share your writing with others as you gain confidence and experience success in your writing ability.

This is a practical creative writing course that includes assignments reviewed by the instructor, though response time may vary.

“The short snippets of theory in combination with the short assignments suits my learning style. I don’t remember the last time I’ve written anything creative, but this course gave me the incentive to set some foundation and its actually quite enjoyable if you stick to it.” – Nikolaos-Stylianos Z., Udemy learner

Best Course to Overcome Writer’s Block: 10-Day Journaling Challenge (Emily Gould)

I couldn’t resist adding Creative Writing for All: A 10-Day Journaling Challenge to this guide. Emily Gould is a delightful instructor, and her approach to inviting you to participate in the challenge is impossible to decline. It’s the perfect course to overcome writer’s block, which is exactly what she proposes. In this 10-day creative writing challenge, filled with inspiring examples, observation prompts, and clever revision tricks, writers and enthusiasts will be able to express their creativity in a personal and artful way.

This course is the shortest one on the list, and it’s more about the challenge of keeping a journal. If you decide to subscribe to Skillshare, you can also enjoy their entire library of courses. In addition to the other two recommended courses on this list, you can also check out these other Skillshare courses: Writing Suspense: How to Write Stories That Thrill in Any Genre and The Writer’s Toolkit: 6 Steps to a Successful Writing Habit .

Best Course to Create Fiction From Personal Experience (Shaun Levin)

Shaun’s approach to writing in Short Story Writing: Create Fiction from Personal Experience is an unusual one. It draws from your personal experience to create a compelling fictional story. I can say from experience that this technique will help you write with more depth and authenticity. Every time we bring our own life to the story, it becomes alive, believable and relatable. In a way, all fictional stories are based on the author’s life.

This course will help you with techniques and a series of practical exercises to start writing your scenes from a more philosophical point of view, creating compelling stories. You’ll learn how to delve into your imagination to find everything you’ll need to become a prolific writer, no matter where you are.

By the end of the course, you will have a final project that will receive feedback from Shaun and other learners as well. Actually, if you want to check it out, in the course page on Domestika you can open the submitted projects and read the comments.

Shaun’s other courses: Creative Writing for Beginners: Bringing Your Story to Life .

“A practical course. Shaun Levin talks about theory but also demonstrates his process, which was invaluable. The exercises got my creative juices flowing. Thinking about doing his other course in the future.” – Maya Dicheva

Best Course to Make Writing Less Stressful with Best Practices (Jennie Nash)

If you struggle to start or get stuck in your writing, Write Your Book: Start Strong and Get It Done can help. With good advice and emotional support, you’ll learn techniques to make writing less stressful. The accompanying workbook guides you to think methodically by asking the right questions to keep you focused on your story and not chasing your own tail.

In this class, you’ll learn how to:

• Design every element of your novel or memoir, including the protagonist, plot, story structure and a project success plan
• Define your narrator’s voice
• Determine where your story begins and where it ends
• Decide what point you’re making about human nature
• Make sure you’re giving your ideal reader exactly what they want
• Gain the confidence you need to push past any doubts and finish your book.

This course is more of a masterclass, so there are no assignments included but it teaches good practices and provides a very useful workbook.

Best Course to Create A Compelling Story (Lisa Cron)

Writing: The Craft of Story is a series of well-produced lectures covering the basic building blocks of a story. Taught by author Lisa Cron, you will learn how to create compelling stories based on the way the brain responds to storytelling. This course emphasizes the importance of capturing the reader’s attention through techniques such as suspense, exploring the protagonist’s inner issues and dreams, specificity, and cause and effect. Upon completion of the quizzes, you will receive a certificate for your LinkedIn profile. Additionally, you can watch all the videos without subscribing to the course.

“Learning the fundamentals of crafting a story was and is a fascinating experience. And yes, I would highly recommend writing to anyone interested in learning how to express the communication of feeling.” – Nicole Gillard, LinkedIn learner.

Best Course to Write Personal Essays with Impact (Roxane Gay)

Discover the art of crafting powerful personal essays with best-selling author Roxane Gay in her course, Creative Writing: Crafting Personal Essays with Impact . Through her honest and thoughtful approach, Roxane will help you find your story, craft your truth, and write to make a difference.

This master class offers eight video lessons that are filled with practical guidance, actionable tactics, and example essays to guide you from the first idea to a final, publication-ready work.

You’ll learn how to:

• Find a specific purpose for telling your story
• Connect your work to larger conversations and timely themes
• Conduct crucial research to support your work
• Navigate personal memories to write your truth
• Write and revise your final work, and submit your work for publication.

Additionally, the class provides a downloadable worksheet to support your ongoing creative nonfiction writing practice, as well as links to additional resources.

If you enjoy creative nonfiction writing, you might consider this course that’s also on Skillshare: Creative Nonfiction: Write Truth with Style (Skillshare Original) by Susan Orlean

Best Course to Develop Your Ideas And Research for Characters (The Open University)

Start Writing Fiction explores the writing process, from journaling and idea development to reflection and editing. It features insights from established writers such as Louis de Bernières, Patricia Duncker, Alex Garland, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Tim Pears, Michèle Roberts, and Monique Roffey,  who share their approaches to research and turning events into plot. Led by Derek Neale, a novelist and short story writer, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of the writing rituals and techniques used by successful writers.

You’ll get to critique the work of other writers and receive feedback. This course is designed for individuals interested in starting or improving their fiction writing and does not require prior experience in the subject.

You’ll learn:

• Creation of characters in fiction
• Different sources and ways of presenting characters in stories
• Reading as a writer
• Writing practice including creativity, research, observation and editing
• Peer reviewing, workshops and the importance of feedback.

“This course takes learners through many aspects of writing such as developing characters, observing and describing details, finding inspiration, writing and editing. It includes some peer reviews which can be varying in quality. I was lucky enough to have some of my writing reviewed by a reviewer who gave very helpful and positive feedback.” – Pat Bowden

What’s Next

Scribophile is one of the largest online writing communities. You can get feedback on your writing and join writing groups. If you decide to join with a free plan, you need to collect points by reviewing other writers’ work before submitting your own work for review. They also developed some advanced tools for evaluating work and guidelines to make sure you give/receive feedback that is actually meaningful.

NaNoWriMo started out as a month-long challenge where you invite your friends and join other writers in your region, be it online in their forums or in person, to challenge yourself in writing your first draft. Nowadays, they run all-year round writing challenges (but November is still the biggest one in terms of participation). What is cool about it is you actually get to meet people in real life with various writing skills and backgrounds. I was able to make some great friends over the years and even met a few professional writers that decided to join our local group just to support us.

If you have any resources you would like to have added here, leave a comment below.

Class Central , a Tripadvisor for online education, has helped 60 million learners find their next course. We’ve been combing through online education for more than a decade to aggregate a catalog of 200,000 online courses and 200,000 reviews written by our users. And we’re online learners ourselves: combined, the Class Central team has completed over 400 online courses, including online degrees.

Trying to find “the best” can be daunting, even for those of us who live and breathe online courses. Here’s how I approached this task.

First, I combed through Class Central’s Catalog and the internet to find a variety of free and paid open courses, some with certificates. You don’t need to enroll in a university to learn about creative writing.

When choosing courses, I considered the following factors:

• Renowned Institutions : I looked for recognized institutions in creative writing
• Instructor experience : I sought instructors with extensive experience in creative writing and engaging presentation styles
• Popularity : I checked numbers of enrollments and views to find popular courses
• Course content : I examined courses that covered a range of topics and presentation styles, including the basics and more advanced topics. I watched some course videos to sample courses I hadn’t already taken
• Learner reviews : I read learner reviews (when available) to get a sense of the quality of each course, leveraging the Class Central database with its thousands of course ratings and reviews written by our users as well as available course provider reviews.

Then, I defined the scope for these recommendations. A creative writing course can cover various topics, so I chose top courses from a range of sub-fields.

Ultimately, I used a combination of data and my own judgment to make these picks. I’m confident these recommendations will be a reliable way to learn about creative writing.

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10 Essential Lessons You’ll Learn in a Creative Writing Workshop

by Melissa Donovan | Jul 11, 2023 | Creative Writing | 9 comments

What can you learn in a creative writing workshop?

When I look back over all my years of formal education, from preschool through college, only a few classes stand out as truly educational in a life-changing way.

In sixth grade, we did a section on space, which fascinated me. I retained a lot of what I learned. Later, I took astronomy and learned even more about the universe. A class on women writers exposed me to a whole world of literature I didn’t know existed. And two writing workshops (poetry and creative writing) put me on the path to becoming a professional writer.

The main difference between a regular class and a workshop is that a workshop is interactive. You work together with your fellow students, critiquing each other’s work, asking questions, and exchanging insights. Whatever you can learn from a single instructor is multiplied by all the knowledge and wisdom you gain by sharing ideas with a roomful of your peers.

What You Can Learn from a Creative Writing Workshop

I only took one creative writing workshop, and I’m sure they are not all equal. At an accredited school, you can usually sit in on the first couple of sessions to see if a class or workshop is right for you before you commit. If you find a good workshop, you’ll reap the benefits:

1. Discover yourself and your path. One day, while sitting in creative writing workshop, I was overcome by the strangest sensation. The best way I can describe it is that I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. It was the moment I knew without a doubt that I would be a writer.

2. Find out what your writing strengths are. The best part about receiving critiques from your peers is that they tell you what you’re doing right, which is reassuring. When you know that your writing skills have a solid foundation, it’s easier to accept that you still have work to do.

3. Accept the weaknesses in your writing. No matter how good your writing is now, there are things you can do to improve it. When ten of your classmates agree that certain elements in your prose need touching up or that you need to hit the grammar books, all you can do is accept it and dig your heels in.

4. Learn to handle critiques of your work. The first few critiques might be a bit rough, but once you see how all the suggestions make your writing better, you’ll start looking forward to them. You’ll learn how to separate yourself from your work, and you’ll be able to not only handle but actually embrace (and look forward to) critiques. This will also prepare you for real-world critics and their reviews.

5. Help others improve their work. When other writers put your suggestions into action or express appreciation for your recommendations and then tell you that your feedback helped them improve their writing, it feels good, especially when the arrangement is reciprocal.

6. Meet people who share your passion. There’s nothing like sitting in a room surrounded by people who are just as excited about writing as you are. It’s not only inspiring, it’s comforting. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to meet like-minded people, some of whom may become lifelong friends, writing partners, or your future writing group.

7. Improve your writing. This, of course, is the main reason most people take a creative writing workshop. The ultimate goal is to become a better writer , and a workshop will definitely do the trick. You’ll also put a lot more effort into everything you write because you know it will be scrutinized, and this builds excellent writing habits .

8. Adopt new writing techniques. Between the instructor and your peers, you’ll discover all kinds of interesting new writing tools and techniques, often simply through the course of discussion as well as through observing everyone’s work.

9. Get access to a mentor. The person running the workshop should be knowledgeable and experienced in the world of writing. Maybe the instructor is a published author, or maybe it’s someone who’s worked as an agent, editor, or publisher. This access to a mentor is priceless. Take advantage of it!

10. Gain experience and get a lot of creative writing practice. This is one of the most valuable benefits of a creative writing workshop. When writers work on their own, they tend to procrastinate, get distracted, and generally don’t finish most of the projects they start. But in a workshop, you’re forced to get it done. This gives you lots of great experience and practice, and it also builds good writing habits.

Thinking About Taking a Creative Writing Workshop?

I definitely recommend taking a creative writing workshop if you can find a good one that suits your schedule, budget, and writing needs. If you’ve already taken a creative writing workshop or class, share your experiences by leaving a comment. Did you learn or gain anything? Would you do it again?

You have spoken along these lines before, Melissa, and this entry is, as all your posts, fascinating and carries a great deal of sense. However, and I know I am repeating myself, I am quite unable to allow others to trample over my work, however poor it is and however noble their (expressed) motives.

I cannot help but think of the vast number of ‘real’ writers, men and women who would not have entertained the thought that writing could be learned, like arithmetic, in a classroom.

I am a poor writer and have come to accept the fact I shall always be a poor writer; it is my belief that some things – like arithmetic – can be ‘brought to heel’ by sheer hatd work, while others, like music, painting and writing, will remain ever beyond the reach of some.

Further, I have seen very promising young tennis players taken up by organisations such as the LTA and coached, every shred of flair and originality brutally ‘ironed out’ of them, and my fear is that, for many of us, attending a writer’s workshop would be a similarly dulling experience.

I also realise, however, that there are those of a temperament to survive – and evn thrive in such conditions. Sadly, I am not one of them.

Again, my thanks for a fascinating and informative blog and may it go on to even greater success, but I think you should make it clear that not everyone who has pretensions of being a writer will see their dream come true.

I believe anyone can become a writer. It starts with believing in yourself. I would add that successful authors demonstrate a range of writing skills. Even a “poor writer” (which you are not) can eke out a career in writing. I’ve seen it done. The only way to be sure you will never succeed is to never try.

Writing can be intended for a wide audience but it’s reason for being is that the writer cannot bear not to write. Whether you are a Eudora Welty, basking in prayers se or an Ethel Jackson whose writing fills notebooks only she has seen, your work has much value

Our local university has leisure learning classes that are workshops. We not only get feedback on our work, but we also learn how to workshop a piece, looking parts of the writing process with a discerning eye. The instructors keep the focus on the work, not the author. It’s so helpful for all the reasons you mentioned, but also to learn how to look constructively at my own work before anyone else ever reads it. Being inspired by fellow writers talking about writing is my favorite part. I’m sorry that opsimath feels that way. Whose to say what’s poor writing or good writing? Of course, some is obvious, and the above comment isn’t bad writing. I found it to be well-crafted and conveyed what the author intended. Not everybody is Stephen King or F.Scott Fitzgerald, and there are some who would argue even they aren’t good writers. I had the fear that I would lose myself in critique, but even in that it’s a good exercise. One of my best lessons is that no matter what others said, it’s still my writing. I can choose to take their advice or not. Workshops are only helpful when the focus is on the work, though. It’s a criitique, not a criticism. I’ve been in bad ones and they can hurt more than help. I got out of them quick.

Yes! Everything you said is spot-on. Your experiences in workshop give all of us reason to feel optimistic about finding good writing workshops and the benefits that we’ll gain from them. Thanks so much for sharing your experience. I hope it inspires others to take the plunge and try workshopping for themselves.

You have talked thusly some time recently, Melissa, and this section is, as every one of your posts, interesting and conveys a lot of sense. On the other hand, and I know I am rehashing myself, I am very not able to permit others to trample over my work, however poor it is and however honorable their (communicated) thought processes.

I really want to think about the incomprehensible number of “genuine” essayists, men and ladies who might not have entertained the prospect that written work could be learned, similar to math, in a classroom.

I am a poor essayist and now acknowledge the actuality I should dependably be a poor author; it is my conviction that a few things – like math – can be ‘conveyed to heel’ by sheer hatd work, while others, similar to music, painting and composing, will remain ever past the compass of some.

Further, I have seen extremely encouraging youthful tennis players taken up by associations, for example, the LTA and instructed, each shred of energy and innovation mercilessly ‘resolved’ of them, and my trepidation is that, for a significant number of us, going to an author’s workshop would be an also dulling knowle

Hi Shamit. Receiving feedback and critiques is not the same as people trampling all over your work. A good critique is designed to make your writing better. If you want to be a better writer, you can certainly work toward that. It’s your choice. There are people who have a natural talent for writing. However, great writing requires a lot of different skills (grammar, storytelling, word-craft, etc.). Even the most talented writers will find some area of the craft where they need to learn skills they don’t possess. The idea that writing can’t be learned is simply not true, as evidenced by thousands upon thousands of people who worked hard to learn the craft and then became successful. The myth that talent is a requirement is an unfortunate one.

A writer is someone who writes. However, the object of writing is not necessarily to get published or make a living by writing. Read, for example, the notebooks of Thomas Edison. One of the best writers I knew was my grandmother, who maintained weekly correspondence with seven high school girlfriends for over 50 years.

That’s true, Ann. People write for many reasons and not only for professional purposes.

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Why learn creative writing? Truthfully, creative writing is one of the most misunderstood disciplines in the 21st century. When people think of a creative writing course, they often imagine a group of lofty, out-of-touch people who wear argyle sweater vests and have unproductive conversations about abstract concepts.

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth: the best writing classes remain engaged with the real world, and the skills gained in a creative writing course apply to nearly every facet of daily life.

If you’re wondering whether it’s worth picking up a course in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry, we have five reasons to learn creative writing. But first, let’s talk about what actually happens in a creative writing course.

The Basics of a Writing Workshop

Whether you’re enrolled in a poetry, fiction, or nonfiction writing class, you can expect the following writing process – at least in a quality writing course like the ones at Writers.com.

• Weekly prompts and writing exercises to sharpen the precision and necessity of each word you use.
• Constructive critiques from a community of writers who are each growing their writing skills alongside you.
• A creative space to explore new ideas, experiment with language, and arrange words in new and exciting ways.
• Focused writing instruction from a master of the craft.

The benefits of creative writing come from engaging with the course material, the writing prompts, and the other class members. These elements help you become a better writer, both in creative realms and in everyday life. How? No matter what form of writing, a creative writing class pushes you to connect ideas and create effective narratives using the best words – and that skill translates into real world success.

The Benefits of Creative Writing

1. why learn creative writing: improved self-expression.

Improving your writing skills leads to stronger communication. When you practice finding the right word in a story or poem, you engage the same parts of your brain that are active in everyday writing and speaking. A creative writing course subconsciously turns you into a more effective communicator.

The importance of precise language and self-advocacy translates well into both interpersonal relationships and working environments. Take it from this expert on how writing and self-advocacy results in career and leadership success.

2. Why Learn Creative Writing: Job Success

This brings us to our next point: great writing leads to job success. Of course, your boss probably isn’t expecting you to write emails in the form of a short story or a sonnet – though if they are expecting this, you have a pretty cool boss.

In reality, almost every job requires some sort of written work, whether that’s simple written communication or something more elaborate, like publishing data or marketing materials. In a creative writing class, you practice the style and grammar rules necessary for effective writing, both within the realms of literature and in career-related writing. Sharpening your writing and creativity skills might just land you your next promotion.

3. Why Learn Creative Writing: Improved Thinking Skills

Strong writing leads to strong thinking. No matter what type of writing you pursue, learning how to write is another form of learning how to think.

That might seem like a bold claim, so think about it this way. Without language, our thoughts wouldn’t have form. We might not need language to think “I’m hungry” or “I like cats,” but when it comes to more abstract concepts, language is key. How would you think about things like justice, revenge, or equality without the words to express them?

When you hone in on your ability to find choice, specific words, and when you work on the skills of effective storytelling and rhetoric , you improve your ability to think in general. Good writing yields great thinking!

4. Why Learn Creative Writing: Empathy

Reading and writing both rely on empathy, especially when it comes to being an effective workshop participant. When we read and write stories, we situate ourselves in the shoes of other people; when we read and write poetry, we let language navigate us through emotion.

The importance of creative writing relies on empathy. We practice empathy whenever we listen to another person’s life story, when someone tells us about their day, and when we sit down with a client or work partner. When we write, we practice the ability to listen as well as to speak, making us more effective communicators and more compassionate human beings.

5. Why Learn Creative Writing: It’s Fun!

In case you’re not convinced that a writing course is right for you, let’s clarify one more fact: creative writing is fun. Whether you’re in a fiction writing course, starting a memoir, crafting a poem, or writing for the silver screen, you’re creating new worlds and characters. In the sandbox of literature, you’re in control, and when you invest yourself into the craft of writing, something beautiful emerges.

The Importance of Creative Writing

Simply put, creative writing helps us preserve our humanity. What better medium to explore the human experience?

To learn creative writing, like any art form, requires compassion, contemplation, and curiosity. Writers preserve the world as they observe it in stories and poetry, and they imagine a better world by creating it in their works.

Through the decades, literature has explored society’s profound changes. Literary eons like the Naturalist movement and the Beat poets responded to the increase in Western Industrialization. Confessional poets like Virginia Woolf helped transform poetry into a medium for emotional exploration and excavation. And, genre movements like the cyberpunk writers of science fiction helped popularize the idea of an “information economy.”

Thus, the importance of creative writing lies in its ability to describe the world through an honest and unfiltered lens. Anyone who engages in creative writing, no matter the genre or style, helps us explore the human experience, share new ideas, and advocate for a better society. Whether you write your stories for yourself or share them with a wide audience, creative writing makes the world a better place.

Jobs for Creative Writers

Because creative writing isn’t a STEM discipline, many people don’t think that learning it will help their job prospects. Why learn creative writing if it doesn’t make any money?

In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Creative writing skills are much sought after on resumes, since both creativity and the ability to write are soft skills in decline. Additionally, if you’re considering a career change—or ready to start one!—these are some popular jobs for creative writers.

• Average Starting Salary: $51,000
• Demand: High
• Skills needed: creativity, grammar, timeliness

Copywriters help companies put their branding into words. A copywriter might write emails, blogs, website content, or ad copy that encompasses the company’s voice and purpose. Copywriting requires you to write in a mix of styles and forms, flexing your writing muscles in new and exciting ways.

Grant Writer

• Average Starting Salary: $50,000
• Skills needed: storytelling, research, argumentation

Nonprofits and research facilities rely on local and national grants to fund their projects. Grant writers help secure that funding, writing engaging grants that tell the organization’s story in an engaging, tailored, and convincing way. Creative writers will enjoy the opportunity to tell a meaningful story and create positive community change through this career.

Communications/Public Relations Specialist

• Skills needed: creativity, communications, social media

A communications specialist helps drive a company’s image through various social channels. They may help create a positive narrative for their company through blogs, journalist outreach, social media, and other public-facing avenues. Much like copywriting, a PR specialist helps weave an effective story for a company.

• Average Starting Salary: $55,000
• Demand: Medium/High
• Skills needed: creativity, storytelling, organization, self-reliance

The dream job for many writers is to write and sell books. Being a novelist is an admirable career choice—and also requires the most work. Not only do you have to write your stories, but you also have to market yourself in the literary industry and maintain a social presence so that publishers and readers actually read your work. It’s a tough business, but also incredibly rewarding!

Reasons to Learn Creative Writing: Finding a Writing Community

Finally, creative writing communities make the writing struggle worth it. The relationships you foster with other creative writers can last a lifetime, as no other group of people has the same appreciation for the written word. Creative writing communities create transformative experiences and encourage growth in your writing; if there’s one reason to study creative writing craft, it’s the friendships you make in the process.

You don’t need a class to start writing, but it’s never a waste of time to learn the tools of the trade. Creative writing requires the skills that can help you in everyday life, and a creative writing course can help.

At Writers.com, we believe that creative writing can transform both individual lives and the world at large. See the importance of creative writing for yourself: check out what makes our creative writing courses different , then take a look at our upcoming course calendar today.

Sean Glatch

Would like to apply for a course to write a novel.

I’d be happy to help! Please email [email protected] with any questions, and we’ll find the right course for your writing.

[…] Sean. “Why Learn Creative Writing.” writers.com. June 7, 2020. https://writers.com/why-learn-creative-writing . Accessed November 7, […]

[…] And last of all it’s fun! I hope to live my life doing the things I love, with like-minded creative people who I love. I have many exciting things upcoming as I continue with the process of completing my first novel, Les Année Folles, such as publishing to my first magazine, journal, and working on the millions of short story ideas I have stored in my head. Stay tuned! References: Glatch, S. (2020, June 7). WHY LEARN CREATIVE WRITING? Retrieved from Writers.com: https://writers.com/why-learn-creative-writing […]

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How to Learn Creative Writing

Last Updated: October 21, 2021 References

This article was co-authored by Melessa Sargent . Melessa Sargent is the President of Scriptwriters Network, a non-profit organization that brings in entertainment professionals to teach the art and business of script writing for TV, features and new media. The Network serves its members by providing educational programming, developing access and opportunity through alliances with industry professionals, and furthering the cause and quality of writing in the entertainment industry. Under Melessa's leadership, SWN has won numbers awards including the Los Angeles Award from 2014 through 2021, and the Innovation & Excellence award in 2020. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 50,656 times.

Creative writing is any form of writing intended for entertainment, although it may also inform or persuade. It encompasses fiction, poetry, song lyrics, scripts, biographies, and anything that combines these elements. Although creative writing is an innate skill, it can be taught, and its techniques must be learned in order to develop as a writer. There are a number of ways to learn creative writing; the steps below cover some of these ways.

• To determine where to start, consider what interests you most. If you enjoy a particular genre of fiction, such as science fiction, and imagine how you would write the story differently, you may want to begin by learning to write in that genre. If you find yourself paying particular attention to the choice of words in your favorite songs, you may want to learn how to write song lyrics.
• You may also wish to tackle a smaller project within the form of writing that interests you most, such as a short story or novella instead of an epic trilogy, or a few good songs instead of a concept album, for example.

• College campuses. Many colleges and universities offer the opportunity to major or minor in creative writing as part of a fine arts degree, or as an elective class for credits to count toward a degree in something else. These classes are usually taught by tenured or adjunct professors, with classes lasting an entire semester.
• Community colleges. Many community colleges offer a variety of non-credit, continuing education classes for those who want to learn new things. Writing classes are often among their most popular offerings. Some community college writing classes may last a full semester, while others run only a few weeks. These classes may be taught by professors at the college or by experienced writers in the community.
• Seminars. These are short, one- or two-day classes that may be held at a community center, a civic organization, a writer's retreat, or at a convention devoted to a particular genre. These classes are usually taught by experienced writers.
• Online. Online creative writing classes may be offered by four-year or community colleges as an outreach program or by organizations geared solely to teaching writing online. Some classes may be offered for free, while others have charges ranging from nominal to substantial.

• General how-to books teach the basics of creative writing. These books may include techniques on how to stimulate your creativity, provide suggestions on how to structure your writing time, or offer advice on dealing with agents and publishers.
• Technique-specific how-to books teach particular writing methods that can be applied across a number of writing genres. Dwight Swain's "Techniques of the Selling Writer," for example, teaches how to structure stories to build tension.
• Genre-specific how-to books teach how to write in a specific genre, such as mysteries, science fiction, or romance.
• Genre-specific reference books provide information that writers need to know to create realistic settings for their stories in that genre. There are books covering life in the Middle Ages for historical fiction and fantasy writers, books on forensics for mystery writers, and books of age-appropriate words for children's book writers.

• Most writing workshops will require you to have a piece of writing to share with the other writers attending the workshop.

• You can find writers' groups in your area by using an Internet search engine or through Meetup.com.

• If you write fiction, one way to practice is to take part in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWiMo), held informally during the month of November. The goal is to start and finish a writing a novel during those 30 days.

Expert Q&A

• As you learn more about how to write, you'll find yourself looking at published writing with a more critical eye to see how other writers apply a given technique to bring their stories to life. When you do this, read as widely in your chosen area as you can to expose yourself to a number of different styles to help you develop your own individual style. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• Be aware that some online writing programs are not on the up-and-up. This is usually not a problem with programs affiliated with a recognized institution of higher education but may be with a private organization. If you're not familiar with the organization behind a writing program, take the time to investigate that organization before committing your time and money. Thanks Helpful 6 Not Helpful 1

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Melessa Sargent. Professional Writer. Expert Interview. 14 August 2019.
• http://www.dailywritingtips.com/creative-writing-101/
• http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2013/jan/18/what-creative-writing-course-taught-me
• http://www.writersbureau.com/
• http://learn.utoronto.ca/courses-programs/creative-writing
• http://www.ed.ac.uk/studying/postgraduate/degrees?id=770&cw_xml=details.php
• Rodney Ruff, Omaha, NE; experienced writer and editor

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Creative Writing Classes: Are They Really Worth It?

The rumors are true. You can become a successful author without a degree in creative writing .

In fact, it’s even possible to learn the craft on the cheap, scraping together insight from free articles, library books, and fellow writers. You don’t have to take a formal writing course at all .

So why do creative writing classes even exist?

Loads of reasons, actually. 

For one thing, many aspiring writers learn best in a structured classroom or workshop setting with personal attention from an instructor. 

Creative writing courses also provide opportunities to form relationships with other writers and even find a mentor. They often require you to share your writing and provide feedback on your classmates’ work, both of which teach you how to think more analytically about the craft and embrace constructive criticism .

You don’t even have to be an aspiring author to reap the benefits of these classes. 

You could be a college student looking to boost your communication skills. Or a senior hoping to share their story with future generations. Or a person who’s just looking for a fun hobby.

There are plenty of reasons to pursue formal instruction in writing. The trick is determining whether a class can help you meet your current goals and, if so, which course is right for you.

You and I are going to think through that together. We’ll talk about what you can learn in these courses, key considerations when choosing your class, and how to get the most out of it. 

You’ll even leave with some tips for overcoming the biggest challenges of writing workshops… like the part where you have to share your hot mess of a first draft with a room full of semi-strangers.

First, we need to get clear on what creative writing even is.

What Counts as Creative Writing?

Creative writing is a ridiculously broad term that can mean a lot of things. It basically covers all forms of writing that are creative, personal, and expressive rather than informative and objective.

Creative writing uses literary devices like metaphor and symbolism to create an emotional experience for the reader. In non-creative writing, factual clarity is the primary goal, which often means using direct language and avoiding emotion or bias.

For example, a novel is creative writing. A newspaper article is not.

A poem is creative writing. The user manual for your new smart toilet is not.

If you’re looking at a class that promises to teach you “creative writing,” take a close look at the description to make sure it fits your actual goals. That course could be covering any one of—or even all of—these things:

Forms of Creative Writing

There are three primary forms of creative writing. Each one has approximately half a billion sub-forms and genres , which is why it’s a good idea to be specific in your search for creative writing classes.

Here are the three main forms of creative writing:

Fiction - Any narrative that isn’t true or is even partially made up falls under the category of fiction. This includes novels, novellas , and short stories as well as scripted fiction like plays, screenplays, and teleplays.

Creative nonfiction - This includes anything that’s true but expressed creatively through the biased perspective of the author. In this category, you’ll find things like memoirs , personal essays, travel writing, nature writing, and literary journalism.  

Poetry - Poetry has so many subgenres it’s borderline impossible to define. Generally speaking, it’s an expression of abstract ideas or emotions, often using evocative sensory details and unconventional sentence structures. It may or may not have a deliberate rhythm, it may or may not rhyme, and it might even tell a true or made-up story, stepping its bold little foot into the territory of narrative essays or fiction.

Where to Find Creative Writing Classes

Once you know which specific creative writing skills you’d like to develop, how do you find the class that’s right for you?

Turns out, there are a ton of places to look. 

If you want to take an in-person course, you can see what the local community college has to offer. You might also be able to find creative writing classes at a local community center or attend a workshop hosted by a writers’ group.

There are also absolute buckets of online writing courses. Browse the options available on sites like Coursera , Udemy , MasterClass , and Gotham Writers Workshop . Or Google exactly what you’re looking for and see what comes up.

You’ll discover that you have a ton of options. The next challenge is narrowing them down.

How to Choose the Right Creative Writing Class

Once you realize just how many creative writing courses are out there, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. How are you supposed to know which one is right for you?

Start by asking yourself these seven easy-peasy questions:

1. What Do You Want to Write?

Do you want to write fiction? Nonfiction? Poetry?

Whichever one it is, are you able to narrow your preferences down even further? 

Let’s say you know you want to study fiction writing. Is it because you dream of being a novelist? Because you have a great screenplay idea? Or maybe you want to be a novelist, but you’d like to learn the fundamentals by writing a short story first.

Don’t be afraid to get even more specific. For example, if you’d love to learn how to write fantasy , see what fantasy writing courses are out there. 

You may find options that are too specific for where you are in your journey. If you’re still not clear on how to craft a character arc or create unforgettable characters , it might not be time to worry about developing magic systems . 

But maybe a class on fantasy story development will be more beneficial than a more generic fiction writing class.

On that note, if you want to focus on genre fiction (like fantasy, sci-fi , romance , horror … that kind of stuff), make sure you take a genre-friendly class. Some creative writing classes—especially in academia—focus on literary fiction and get a little snooty about the commercial stuff.

2. What are Your Goals?

Think about why you want to take a creative writing class in the first place. What do you hope to get out of this?

Common motivations include:

• Exploring creative writing as a hobby
• Building the skills necessary to become a successful author
• Unwinding and having fun through self-expression
• Leaving a legacy
• Learning how to write books that sell
• Becoming more involved in the writing community
• Sharpening specific creative writing skills, like character development or prose

Based on your goal, which writing courses are likely to help you the most?

Most class descriptions provide a breakdown of the objectives for the class, indicate what kind of assignments or major project you’ll complete, and lay out the topics you’ll cover. For many online courses, you can even read reviews from past students.

All this information can give you a clear indication of what the class can (or cannot) do to help you on your journey.    

3. Do You Want to Learn Online or in Person?

If you prefer online writing courses, you’ll have way more options to choose from. You can also learn from the comfort of your own home and enjoy the opportunity to connect with writers from all over the country… maybe even all over the world.

Depending on the way the class is set up, you might also have a flexible schedule. Some online courses feature pre-recorded video lectures and exercises you can do on your own time. The downside is that you can’t easily connect with your fellow learners and may not get feedback on your work.

Other online creative writing classes have live sessions and assignments with real deadlines, so there’s less flexibility but you can still enjoy the ease of a twenty-foot commute.

In-person classes are great because they help you build relationships with fellow writers in your community (or close enough). They also promote a deeper, more focused commitment. Not only do you have to block out the time and show up, you also physically remove yourself from the distractions of your personal life.

There are pros and cons to both options. Only you can decide what makes sense for you.

4. What Skill Level Does This Course Demand?

If you already have some knowledge of writing fundamentals, you’ll be bored senseless in a class that teaches you what symbolism is and how to use dialogue tags .

You’ll also be miserable in a class that’s way over your head.

Once again, the course description should help you deduce whether this course will be tough enough to advance your writing skills without being so challenging that you can’t keep up. When in doubt, email the instructor and ask if their class is right for someone of your experience level.

5. What Do You Know About the Instructor?

Is the instructor published or working professionally in your area of study? What are their strengths as a teacher? Does this seem like the right person to help you reach your writing goals?

Whenever possible check out reviews or ask previous students what they say about their class and teaching style. Just because an instructor gets great work out of their students, that doesn’t automatically mean they’re the best guide for everyone.

If your only objective is to have fun exploring a new hobby, you probably don’t need the “look to your left, look to your right, only one of you will survive this class” instructor.

6. What Do You Know About the Other Students?

You don’t need to get your hands on the class roster. I just mean, what do you know about the type of people who typically take this particular writing course?

What are their goals? How advanced are their creative writing skills? Are they creative writing majors in a competitive academic environment? Newbies who are just trying to get a sense of what the writing world is like? Aspiring indie authors eager to encourage one another?

Also, how many of them are there? Whether you’re hoping for more focused guidance from the instructor or kiiiiinda wanna blend into the crowd, class size is something to consider. 

7. How Much Does It Cost?

Depending on how extensive they are or where you find them, creative writing courses can cost anywhere from a little to a whole, whole lot. Before you get attached to any specific class, search your soul (and your bank account) and decide how much you’re ready to invest in building your writing skills.

The right answer is whatever answer is right for you .

What to Expect in a Creative Writing Course

Okay. You’ve enrolled, you bought a new notebook, you’ve got your four-color pen… now what? What can you expect from your creative writing course? 

Seeing as how this grand world of ours is full of so many different types of creative writing and different writing classes and different writing instructors, I can’t give you a super specific answer.

But I’ll do my best to provide a general overview of what you might experience in a very typical writing class.

What You’ll Learn

I know I seem pretty obsessed with course descriptions at this point, but that really is the best place to look if you want to know what topics your instructor will cover.

Other than that, here are some concepts that are commonly covered in the following creative writing classes:

In a standard fiction writing class, you’ll likely go over all the essential building blocks of a story. That includes plot structure , character development , conflict , setting , and theme .

You might also have an opportunity to dive into the prose itself, working to perfect more detailed skills like dialogue , scene description , and pacing .

If you study any form of script writing (playwriting, screenwriting, or teleplay writing), you may also learn formatting rules and how to write action, especially if it’s a beginner class.

You’ll have a lot of writing assignments. Some creative writing classes are structured to help you complete a project, in which case your assignments might build towards writing a script, novel, novella, short story, or children’s book.

You can probably expect a lot of reading assignments, too, as your instructor will want you to see how published authors have mastered the skills you’re learning.

Creative Nonfiction

In this type of course, you’ll most likely learn how to find the narrative arc in a true story, zero in on a theme, and tell a compelling tale without abandoning reality. 

In some classes, you might also explore ethical issues surrounding nonfiction writing or dive into advanced topics like incorporating research and blending personal stories with societal issues.

As for assignments, it’s the same deal as if you were learning fiction. You’ll probably read work by the greats, do some writing of your own, and end the class with at least one good personal essay or the beginnings of a great memoir.  

In a poetry class, you can expect to cover different poetic forms (haiku, sonnet, all that jazz) and learn a truckload of literary devices. You’ll probably dive into elements like meter, rhyme, and rhythm.

Try not to be too shocked when I tell you that you’ll also write poems—like, a ton of poems—and read even more. 

Class Structure

As for the way the class is structured, your course will land somewhere on the lecture-to-workshop spectrum. Allow me to explain.

In some creative writing classes, you mostly listen to the teacher teach, do some assigned reading, and turn your writing assignments in to be graded or critiqued by the instructor.

Actually, there are online creative writing classes where you don’t even do that much. 

MasterClass courses, for example, are completely self-directed, with pre-recorded video lectures and workbooks you go through on your own. You don’t share your work with the instructor because the instructors are people like Margaret Atwood, and Margaret Atwood is very busy doing other things.

On the other end of the spectrum are writing workshops, where there’s a lot less teaching and loads more writing. In this scenario, you and your fellow students spend most of your class time sharing and providing feedback on one another’s work.

Then, of course, there are creative writing courses that land somewhere between the two, with a little sharing, a little lecturing, and hopefully a lot of learning.

Specialized Creative Writing Courses

Another thing you might notice on your quest to find creative writing classes is that some of these courses get very specific. There are plenty of advanced skills you can learn to take your writing to the next level, boost your qualifications in a specific area, or improve your odds of making a living off your words.

Let’s take a quick look at the kind of specialized classes you might find as you search for creative writing courses. 

By Skill 

Rather than learning the basics of a particular form of writing, you can take classes that invite you to focus on a single skill or element.

You might learn how to craft a compelling plot, develop characters with psychological and emotional depth, or write for a specific audience .

You can also find a course that will help you develop non-writing skills that will still make you a better writer, like developmental or copy editing .

As I mentioned before, it may be worth looking for creative writing classes that are specific to your genre. Each genre comes with its own tropes, conventions, and reader expectations. You can embrace or subvert them, but you can’t do either if you don’t know them.

You might find more generalized courses like “How to Write Mysteries” or more specific ones like “How to Build Romantic Tension.” 

The Business

Then there are the courses that focus less on the craft of creative writing and more on the business of it .

If you hope to publish traditionally , you might look for classes on writing query letters , creating book proposals, or navigating the publishing industry as a whole.

If you plan to self-publish , you can find courses on writing to market , developing a marketing plan , the entire self-publishing process , or any of the other six thousand things indie authors have to think about.

This kind of education can be extremely helpful if you hope to make a living from your words.

Seizing the Opportunity to Build a Community

Writers need other writers. Your peers can inspire you to stay on course, share resources and opportunities, and possibly even connect you with gatekeepers when you’re ready to publish. 

Most importantly, they understand the journey you’re on. That might not seem like a big deal now, but you’ll see the benefit of it when you’re standing there in your salsa-stained sweatshirt, trying to explain to your helplessly confused spouse that you’re freaking out because your protagonist derailed your entire third act by making a choice that wasn’t in the outline .

Yeah. Writing gets weird. Your people can help you get through the weirdness, and writing courses present great opportunities for finding your community.

Here’s how to make it happen:

Connecting With Classmates

The tricks for making friends in a creative writing class are the same as in any other context. Make friendly conversation before and after class and during breaks. Share ideas or resources that might be helpful.

Focus on connecting with people you’d genuinely like to be friends with. The relationships that help you the most in the long term will always be the ones that start from a real connection.

Also keep in mind that a creative writing class is a vulnerable place, especially if it’s a workshop where everyone is sharing early drafts.

When you offer feedback to your fellow writers, be kind and constructive. On the flip side, notice which of your classmates know how to be helpful without scoffing at your efforts. That combination of positive and enriching is absolutely essential for a long-term writer friendship.

Staying Connected

The next challenge is staying in touch with these people after the course ends. There are many ways to do this.

Tell the person or people you want to stay in touch with that you want to stay in touch with them. Swap phone numbers or email addresses if you haven’t already.

You could also invite someone to meet up for lunch or coffee in the near future.

You could arrange to be critique partners for one another on your current project. Or simply agree to be accountability partners, checking in with each other once a week to see how things are going.

If you really clicked with your classmates, you might consider creating a writers’ group. This happened with an online essay writing class I took once. We continued sharing personal essays and giving feedback for about a year after the course ended.

If all of these options overwhelm you, start small. Become social media chums. Engage with their content. As you become more comfortable, send them a private message asking how their latest work in progress is going. Build the relationship actively but gradually.

Common Obstacles 

I promised to go over some of the trickier or more intimidating aspects of creative writing courses. These are the little obstacles that crop up when you’re suddenly in a position of having to share your work or craft masterful writing on someone else’s schedule.

It can be overwhelming, but it’s all survivable. And, as is the case with most overwhelming things, these challenges will build character and better prepare you for a writing career, if that’s what you’re after. 

Writer’s Block

Writer’s block is that thing where all your creative gears seem to come to a grinding halt. You can’t think of a single story idea or figure out what happens next or even write one coherent sentence.

It’s a frustrating problem that gets even tougher when you have to have ten pages ready to share with the class by Friday. 

So how do you get past it?

The best move is to first identify what’s really going on. Your imagination might be frozen because you’re afraid your story will suck. Or maybe you can’t quiet your inner critic or you’ve got a lot going on in your life and your brain can’t handle another job right now.

You can find a ton of exercises to work through these issues in this article . In the meantime, one of the best ways to get through writer’s block is to simply let it be bad. Let yourself write garbage, if that’s how it has to be. You can fix it once it’s on the page.

Fear of Feedback

Not exactly stoked to have a bunch of people you just met tell you what’s wrong with your story? None of us are, my friend. 

Nevertheless, receiving constructive criticism is crucial for improving your skills. Plus, if you plan to build a writing career, you’ll be receiving loads of feedback on your work for the rest of your life. Creative writing classes can help you ease into this jarring scenario so you can be a real pro about it when you receive notes from agents, editors, and readers.

We actually have a guide on managing this fear, too, so I’ll just give you the short version for now:

Focus on becoming a better writer rather than proving that you’re a good one.

You might already be fantastic. But you can always be better, and if that’s your goal, you’ll be able to appreciate feedback for the gift that it is.

Meeting Deadlines

Creative writing almost always takes longer than we think it should. In fact, the more you learn, the longer you’ll probably spend on your assignments. 

I recommend scheduling your writing time in advance. Block out writing sessions and stick to them.

Not only does this help you prioritize your writing rather than leaving it to the last minute, it also trains your brain to enter the creative zone when your official writing time rolls around. That helps you get the work done faster.

You can find more tips on creating an effective writing schedule here , advice for building a writing habit here , and tricks for writing faster here .

Keep Learning Beyond Creative Writing Classes

You won’t learn all the creative writing skills you need in a single class. You won’t even learn them in a single lifetime. 

Great writers pursue education continuously. But that doesn’t mean you have to spend all your walkin’ around money on online writing classes. 

You also learn the craft by reading the authors you admire, studying the way they structure their stories and shape their prose.

You learn by sharing your work with critique partners for feedback and by examining their work—an exercise that trains you to think more analytically about what makes a great story great.

You can read books and articles on writing. You can attend conferences and seminars and literary events.

And you can hang out with us here at Dabble.

We’ve got loads of free articles and other resources in DabbleU . We’ve got a free ebook that walks you through the entire process of writing a novel. We’ve got a free newsletter that delivers hot tips right to your inbox.

All of this is available to you even if you don’t use our super rad, all-in-one writing tool .

And if you do ?

So glad you asked. Premium Dabble subscribers also get access to a bonus, information-packed newsletter and exclusive workshops. (You can get a sneak peek of one here .)

Not a Dabbler yet, but always been a little curious? Click this link for a free trial. That gets you access to all Premium features for two weeks. You don’t even have to enter a credit card!

Consider it a free education.

Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.

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Read. learn. create..

What's the defining line between sci-fi and fantasy? There's actually a lot more to it than magic versus technology.

Does science fiction alone feel too limiting for your vast imagination? Do you feel like your fantasy world could use a dash of futuristic technology?

Prose describes how you write your book, and it can be challenging to get right. So, in this article, we cover what makes good prose.

10 Hobbies That Help You Raise Your IQ

Jul 30, 2024

​​Engaging in Physical Exercise

Regular physical exercise improves blood flow to the brain, enhances mood, and boosts cognitive functions.

Regular writing, including journaling or creative writing, helps improve articulation, critical thinking, and mental clarity.

​Solving Puzzles​

Engaging in puzzles like crosswords, Sudoku, and jigsaw puzzles helps improve problem-solving skills, memory, and critical thinking.

​Playing Video Games​

Certain video games improve hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and strategic thinking, contributing to cognitive development.

​​Practicing Meditation​

Meditation enhances concentration, reduces stress, and improves overall mental well-being, which can positively impact cognitive abilities.

​Learning New Languages

Acquiring a new language improves cognitive abilities, enhances memory, and develops multitasking skills.

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Regular reading improves vocabulary, enhances knowledge, stimulates mental activity, and increases comprehension skills.

​​Playing Chess

Chess requires strategic thinking, problem-solving, and foresight, which help in enhancing cognitive functions and IQ.

​​Playing Musical Instruments

Learning and playing a musical instrument can enhance cognitive abilities, improve memory, and boost coordination.

​Learning New Skills

Constantly challenging your brain with new skills, whether it's cooking, painting, or coding, keeps the mind sharp and increases intelligence.

Thanks For Reading!

Next: 10 Reasons Why an MBA is the Perfect Next Step for Engineers

More From Forbes

25 writing tips for business owners and content marketers: part 5.

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Here we go, content creators! It's time to learn a few ways to finesse and get more from your ... [+] content.

Welcome back, content creators and wordsmiths. Ready to take your writing from good to great? In this fifth and final installment of my writing tips series, I’ll discuss advanced techniques that separate the pros from the amateurs.

If you missed any of the first four parts, you can find them here:

• Part 1 —includes tips on varying sentence length, using active voice, and tapping the power of specificity.
• Part 2 —talks about simplifying complex topics, using analogies, injecting emotion, creating compelling headlines, and using the power of social proof.
• Part 3 explores the visual side of content creation, from formatting for skimmability to strategically using whitespace, fonts, and colors.
• Part 4 —covers the art of empathetic writing, showing instead of telling, and creating a shared narrative with your reader.

As you work through this final installment, consider your content a rough diamond. You've mined and shaped it, but now it's time for the finishing touches to make it truly shine. That's what these tips are all about—the polish that turns your words into brilliant content.

In this article, discover:

• Why self-editing is your secret weapon (and how to wield it like a pro).
• The surprising power of criticism (yes, you read that right).
• The tools and partnerships that can elevate your writing quality.
• How to make your content work harder through clever repurposing.
• The art of keeping your best pieces fresh and relevant, year after year.

Let's dive in.

Tip 21: Self-editing—your secret weapon

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The more you edit yourself, the better a writer you'll become.

Isn’t “self-editing” just reading a draft several times? Yes… but there’s more. Think of self-editing as a content personal trainer. It whips your words into shape, trimming the fat and building muscle where it counts. The work is not always comfortable, but the results? They're worth every moment you spend scrutinizing your work.

Here's what self-editing does for your content:

• Clarifies your message—is your main point shining through or hiding behind fluff?
• Strengthens your language—are your verbs doing heavy lifting or napping on the job?
• Improves your flow—does your content run smoothly from point to point or stumble over awkward transitions?
• Trims the fat—can you say more with less? In writing, less is often more.

My best advice is not to rush to publish the next time you finish a draft. Take a break, whether for hours or days, then return with fresh eyes and give your work the edit your brilliant ideas deserve.

Here are a few ways to self-edit:

• Read the content aloud—you’ll hear awkward transitions and areas that don’t make sense.
• Read the content backwards—this is a pro proofreader’s tip for when 100% accuracy is a must.
• Create a reverse outline—use your finished draft to create an outline to see the structure of your work and find areas that need help.

Tip 22: Embrace constructive feedback

Not all criticism is helpful. But you have to invite it and listen to it to begin to discern.

Have you ever hit 'publish,' beaming with pride, only to receive... criticism? Ouch. Your first instinct might be to defend your work or dismiss the feedback. But criticism could be your greatest ally in content creation.

Think of constructive feedback as a GPS for your writing. It helps you avoid traffic jams, discover more scenic routes, and reach your destination more pleasantly and efficiently. When you open yourself to input from others, you can tap into fresh perspectives and ideas.

Embracing feedback can help you:

• Identify blind spots—like angles you hadn't considered and areas not as clear as you thought.
• Spark new ideas—a reader's question could lead to your next great piece of content.
• Strengthen your skills—constructive criticism is a chance to improve your writing.

Here's a practical tip: The next time you receive feedback, resist the urge to respond right away. Instead, take a deep breath, sleep on it if you can, and then approach the feedback with curiosity.

Ask yourself:

• Is the feedback coming from a place of genuine helpfulness, or is it just negativity?
• Is it in line with your goals and values, or does it pull you in a different direction?
• Can you use it to improve your work, or is it just a matter of personal preference?

The goal isn't to please everyone—it's to create the best content you can. And sometimes, a fresh perspective is just what you need to take your writing from good to great.

Tip 23: Use writing tools, apps, and partners

It's hard to make excuses about typos with so many tools, apps, and partners all around.

Every writer needs tools and support. Bring your skills and ideas to the table and use the right tools and partners to help you create something remarkable.

Let's start with the tools. Writing apps like Grammarly and Hemingway help you create clear, readable content. Grammarly has free and paid versions; I use the paid version every day. It helps me catch grammar and spelling errors and suggests style improvements. It's a great first-line defense against the little mistakes that undermine your message.

Hemingway is all about improving your writing's readability. It highlights complex sentences, passive voice, and other readability issues, pushing you to make your writing as clear and punchy as possible.

Partners are another key ingredient for great content. Although writing is often a solitary pursuit, the best content happens through collaboration and external input. That's where editing and content coaching come in.

When you work with an editor or writing coach like me, you get a second set of eyes on your work, plus a fresh, well-trained mind that can spot opportunities for improvement, suggest new approaches, and help you develop your unique writing voice. It's like having a personal trainer for your writing skills—someone to push, guide, and celebrate your progress.

Of course, not every piece needs the full editorial treatment. But that extra level of professional polish can make all the difference for your most important work—your cornerstone content, thought leadership pieces, and the messages you really want to land.

And partnership doesn't have to mean a long-term commitment. Even a one-time edit or coaching session can make a difference. The key is finding the level of support that fits your budget and goals.

Tip 24: Repurpose your content for maximum mileage

Turn one piece of content into many in the same way that an atom splits.

Content repurposing, or content atomization, is the art of turning one piece of content into several to reach new audiences. It's about working smarter, not harder, and getting the most juice out of every piece you create.

Imagine, for example, that you've written a stellar blog post. You've researched the topic, created a compelling narrative, and packed the post with insights. That's great! But why stop there? With a little creative thinking, that one blog post could become:

• A series of social media posts, each highlighting a key takeaway.
• An infographic that visually represents your main points.
• A video script for a YouTube tutorial or explainer.
• A podcast episode or audio version for on-the-go listening.
• A chapter in an ebook or a section of a whitepaper.

Each new format allows you to reach new people, cater to different learning styles, and reinforce your message across multiple touchpoints. And because you're starting from a solid foundation, repurposing will be much quicker and easier than creating something from scratch.

The benefits of repurposing go beyond efficiency. It can also help you:

• Boost SEO—more content means more opportunities to target keywords, earn backlinks, and improve your search engine rankings.
• Reinforce your message—repetition is key to learning and retention. When you present ideas in multiple ways, you help your audience internalize and remember key points.
• Show off your versatility—repurposing helps you communicate across media and adapt to different contexts, positioning you as a multifaceted, adaptable content creator.

Of course, repurposing doesn't mean simply copying and pasting your content into a new format. You have to tailor each piece to the medium and audience, which might mean:

• Adjusting the length and pacing to suit the format.
• Modifying the language and tone to match the platform.
• Adding or removing elements to fit the context.
• Updating examples or references to keep the content fresh and relevant.

The key is to view your original content as a starting point, not an endpoint. With each repurposing, you can refine, expand, and enhance your ideas.

Tip 25: Refresh your content regularly for lasting impact

Refresh your best content regularly to get more mileage from it.

Content refreshing is the practice of periodically revisiting and updating your content to keep it accurate, engaging, and optimized for search engines and readers. It keeps your best content your best, no matter how much time passes.

Consider your cornerstone content—the pieces that define your brand, showcase your expertise, and attract the most traffic. You want to keep those pieces in prime condition. Experts recommend refreshing this type of content at least every six months. But what does that refreshing process look like?

It could mean:

• Adding a new video or multimedia element to improve the reader’s experience.
• Updating statistics, examples, or case studies to reflect the latest data and trends.
• Revising the call-to-action or download offer to match current marketing goals.
• Fixing links that don’t work, outdated references, or broken buttons.
• Optimizing the title, headers, and meta descriptions for SEO.

Regular updates signal to search engines and readers that your content is current, credible, and worthy of attention. They keep your piece in the spotlight, attracting new readers and keeping the interest of returning ones.

Regular updates can also help you:

• Improve your search rankings—search engines favor fresh, relevant content. Updating regularly increases your chances of ranking higher in search results.
• Boost engagement—new elements, updated information, and refreshed CTAs give readers new reasons to engage, whether it's their first time or fifth.
• Extend the content lifespan—refreshing helps your best pieces stay relevant and valuable for longer so you can get the most return on your content investment.
• Identify new opportunities—in updating, you might discover new angles to explore, gaps to fill, or reader needs to address. Each refresh is a chance to make your content even better.

Of course, not every piece needs a full overhaul every six months. The frequency and depth of your refreshes will depend on factors like:

• The nature of your industry (fast-moving fields might require more frequent updates).
• The type of content (news-based pieces might need more regular attention than evergreen how-tos).
• The piece's performance (high-traffic, high-converting content should be a refreshing priority).

Don't let your best pieces gather digital dust. Give them the regular refresh they need to shine.

What’s next? The journey to content mastery continues

Keep learning, keep growing, and keep on working toward content mastery!

Congratulations. You—and I—just made it through this five-part series on writing tips for business owners and content marketers! From the fundamentals of great writing to advanced techniques for optimization and repurposing, you now have a solid toolkit for creating content that informs, engages, and inspires.

But as you likely know, the journey to content mastery is ongoing. There's always more to learn, new strategies to try, and other ways to refine your craft. The most successful content creators embrace this continual learning and growth.

I invite you to follow me on Forbes to continue your journey. As a regular contributor here, I'm constantly sharing new insights, tips, and strategies for content creation and marketing. By following me, you'll get practical, actionable advice to help you keep leveling up your content.

I also invite you to sign up for my Beyond Copy newsletter for even more in-depth guidance. I share my most detailed tutorials, behind-the-scenes insights, and exclusive resources here. It's your VIP pass to ongoing content education and inspiration.

And remember, you don't have to go on this content journey alone. Whether you need a skilled writer to create compelling pieces, an eagle-eyed editor to refine your work, a strategic consultant to guide your content planning, or a coach to develop your skills, I can help .

Thank you for joining me on this journey. It's been a pleasure sharing these tips and techniques with you. Now, go forth and create content that matters, content that moves, content that makes a difference.

Your readers are waiting.

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Book Marketing for Self-Publishing Authors

Home / Book Publishing / How to Write a Book Description That Captivates Readers (And Sell Books!)

How to Write a Book Description That Captivates Readers (And Sell Books!)

A book description is one of the most important tools in a book marketer's arsenal. Your back cover description, also known as the book blurb, is essential for selling your book. It is a key factor in driving book sales, along with the book cover and title.

A bad book description will make your book look unprofessional and will likely lose you sales.

Many authors have improved their book descriptions and seen a significant increase in sales.

Follow some of the tips in this article, and you could end up with a book description that leaves your book flying off of the metaphorical shelves.

• The role that a book description plays
• How to write nonfiction book descriptions
• How to write fiction book descriptions
• General advice for creating the perfect book description

By the way, I have an in-depth book description formula that you can download for free. Check it out here .

Table of contents

• What is a Book Description?
• Examples of Nonfiction Hooks
• Examples of Scannable Nonfiction Blurbs
• Examples of the List of Benefits
• Step 4 : Use Trigger Words
• Examples of CTAs for Nonfiction
• Putting it All Together
• Examples of First-Sentence Hooks in Fiction
• Examples of Simple Layout for Fiction
• Examples of the Mic-drop Moment
• Examples of Comparison Points in Fiction
• Examples of Fiction CTAs
• Amazon Description Requirements
• General Tips and Advice
• Should You Hire Someone to Write Your Blurb for You?
• Final Thoughts on How to Write a Dynamic Book Description

A book description, often referred to as a back cover description, is a pitch to the reader about why they should buy your book.

If you ask most people what a book description is, they will tell you that it is a summary of your book, usually appearing on the back of the book and on the Amazon landing page.

Just one problem exists. That’s not what a book description is.

Yes, a book description appears on the back of your book, and on the sales page, but it should not be a summary of your book.

Your book blurb is a sales tool.

This is entirely different from a summary of your book. A summary will tell you what happens in the book. Sales copy will tell you why it matters.

Sales copy focuses on intriguing the reader. After reading your book blurb, the reader should be interested in learning more, preferably enough to buy the book.

That is why you should not think of your book description as a summary of your plot, but as a sales tool.

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Why Are Book Descriptions Important?

I’ve already mentioned a few of these, but let me sum up all the reasons why book descriptions are important.

• They get readers interested in your book
• They can lead to increased sales of your book
• They are part of your book’s first impressions, along with the book cover and title
• They provide a reason someone should buy your book.

Generally speaking, when you have a good blurb, your sales will do well, and if you have a bad blurb, sales will decline.

Selling a book involves many factors like the cover, title, and content, but none of these can guarantee success. If someone does one of them poorly, it can guarantee the failure of a book.

A book description is no exception. Get it wrong, and you could be looking at zero sales. Crafting a winning book description is crucial as it captivates potential readers and can be used for promotion in multiple places.

So let’s dive into how you can write amazing book blurbs.

How to Write Nonfiction Book Descriptions

A nonfiction book blurb should answer all three of these questions:

• Who is this for
• What does it solve
• What results come from it

This is the basic formula for a nonfiction book. You want to show the problem and demonstrate how your book will provide the solutions to that problem.

Additionally, you want to make sure that the reader feels like you are talking to them directly. That is why it is important to use words like “you” when describing your ideal reader’s problems and solutions.

Lastly, a nonfiction blurb should be scannable. By this I mean that your paragraphs should not be overflowing with details and descriptions, but should be quick, succinct, and flow well.

With that basic knowledge in mind, here are the steps to craft your nonfiction book description. For further inspiration and guidance, you can refer to some of the best book description examples available.

Step 1 : Craft the First Sentence Hook

In the first sentence, you need to draw them in and let them know who this is for and what benefit they will get.

Some first sentences just focus on one or two of those. Regardless, you need to make sure you hook them or else they won't click to read the rest.

Here are some of my favorite openings to various nonfiction books:

From The Miracle Morning for Writers

“Need to find more time to write–without sacrificing the important things? Looking to consistently discover great book ideas? Wish you could generate a steady income from your words…or increase what you already make?” 

From 15 Secrets Successful People Know About Time Management

“Double Your Productivity Without Feeling Overworked and Overwhelmed.”

From Habit Stacking

“Master Your Goals, Improve Your Life, or Overcome a Major Obstacle — One Small Habit at a Time”

Step 2 : The Scannable Middle 

As I've already mentioned, people scan nonfiction book descriptions.

Therefore, call their eyes to the most important spots or phrases by either using larger font, bolding or underlining, shorter paragraphs, as well as bullet points.

But be careful, because overuse can look unprofessional and dilute the rest.

Here are some examples of good scannable middles:

From Dopamine Detox :

Reclaim your focus in 48 hours or less .

Do you keep procrastinating? Do you feel restless and unable to focus on your work? Do you have trouble getting excited about major goals?

If so, you might need a dopamine detox.

In today's world where distractions are everywhere, the ability to focus has become more and more difficult to achieve. We constantly stimulate ourselves, feel restless, often without knowing why.

When the time comes to work, we suddenly find an excess of other things to do. Instead of working toward our goals, we go for a walk, grab a coffee, or check our emails. Everything seems like a great idea—everything except the very things we should be doing.

Do you recognize yourself in the above situation?

If so, don't worry. You're simply overstimulated.

Try a Dopamine Detox to reduce stimulation and improve focus in just 48 hours . This will allow you to focus on your most important tasks.

More specifically, in Dopamine Detox you'll discover:

• what dopamine is and how it works
• the main benefits of completing a dopamine detox
• 3 simple steps to implement a successful detox in the next 48 hours
• practical exercises to eliminate distractions and boost your focus
• simple tools and techniques to avoid overstimulation and help you stay focused, and much more.

Dopamine Detox is your must-read, must-follow guide to help you remove distractions so you can finally work on your goals with ease. If you like easy-to-understand strategies, practical exercises, and no-nonsense teaching, you will love this book.

From Fool Proof Dictation :

250 exercise prompts alone worth every penny!

Fool Proof Dictation can help anyone learn to dictate fiction proficiently and fluently. How?

• By taking the fear and mystery out of dictation.
• By providing exercises designed to nurture and connect parts of the brain used during dictation.
• By offering specific tips to remove the discomfort that causes most writers to abandon dictation.

Fool Proof Dictation is the only ebook of its kind, focusing primarily on the mental process of dictation . It’s a self-paced training system that streamlines the dictation process . There are warm-ups, practical exercises, and an easy to follow routine for dictating your scenes .

Fool Proof Dictation serves both absolute beginners and writers who’ve tried dictation but grew discouraged, eventually giving it up. This system offers an ease-of-use that will surprise everyone with how effective and gratifying dictation can be!

This ebook details the method I use when I dictate fiction. It also explains all the exercises I’ve used over time to train my brain for effective dictation. On top of that, it includes enough prompts to keep those exercises working for months!

Step 3 : List the Benefits

Use lists; they really help.

When you write them, don't just say what they are. Instead, add a translation of how that benefits them.

For example, instead of saying “four methods of reading faster,” you add “so you can finish your books faster.”

Here are a few examples from other nonfiction books that do this job well:

From How to Be an Imperfectionist :

What You'll Discover

• The lesser known, but most damaging form of perfectionism almost every person has
• A simple-to-apply technique to have unshakable confidence
• Why perfectionism hurts performance, and the rare exception where it helps
• Detailed and customized solutions for these five subsets of perfectionism: need for approval, rumination, unrealistic expectations, concern over mistakes, and doubts about actions
• Fun illustrations with a powerful message to begin each chapter
• …and much more!

From How to Be a Bawse:

• Let Go of FOMO (Fear of Missing Out): Temptation will try to steer you away from your goals. FOMO is just a test of your priorities, a test that a bawse is ready to pass.
• Be Nice to People: Treat niceness like an item on your daily to-do list. People will go out of their way to help and support you because you make them feel good.
• Schedule Inspiration: Lack of motivation isn’t permanent or a sign of weakness. Expect it and proactively schedule time to be creative.
• Be the Dumbest: Challenge yourself by surrounding yourself with people who know more than you do. It’s a vital way to learn and improve.

From How to Be The Girl Who Gets the Guy :

• How to let go of clingy, insecure behaviour that sends men looking for an escape route.
• How to attain the kind of confidence men love.
• How to be Independent without being masculine.
• What to do when a man tells you he’s not looking for a serious relationship.
• When and how to use the “No Contact” rule.
• Tips to keep you date night ready at all times.
• Why bending over backward trying to please every man you date never works.
• Ways to use your femininity to your advantage, even if you’re not the feminine type.
• How to maintain a little mystery in your life.
• Why Financial Independence is key to your happiness.
• What to Do When he pulls.
• How to handle being stuck in relationship limbo.
• What to do when a man stops calling.
• Social Media Do’s and Don’ts.
• The benefits of dating multiple men.
• How to stop playing hard to get and start being hard to get.

This is the icing on the cake. Trigger words are words or phrases that are proven to have a bigger impact in marketing.

So, once you've got your description written, go through a list of power words to find some that work for your description. Some examples of these include:

I have a full list of these trigger words that you can download for free here .

Step 5 : Close with the CTA

Our studies found that when you end your book description with a statement to buy now, it increased conversion rates by 3.7%. So, remind shoppers to take action now and buy.

Here are a few good examples of calls to action in nonfiction book blurbs:

From Happier Human :

“Pick up your copy today by clicking the BUY NOW button at the top of this page!”

From The Science of Getting Started :

“GET OFF YOUR BUTT and just get started by clicking the BUY NOW BUTTON at the top right of this page!”

From How to Train a Puppy :

“Download now to create an amazing bond with your puppy!

Scroll to the top of the page and select the buy now button.”

When you put all of this advice together, you end up with a nonfiction blurb that looks something like this:

Write a powerful hook that either discusses how, what, and/or results in reading this book.

Follow it up with a great couple of sentences to keep them reading and if you didn't use one of the three in the top sentence, then use it here.

Write scannable sentences that are power statements

Be sure to go through your sentences and your lists and make sure to bold, underline, and in some cases italicize appropriately, so as to direct their eyes to what you want them to actually read.

In this completely comprehensive guide, you'll learn:

• Something new they'll learn plus a benefit
• Something else with a trigger word plus the benefit
• A change in their life because of what they learned

Another great list is what this guide or book includes:

• Come up with a list of things you can include
• Best when written like they are bonuses
• Upgrades like case studies or certain data?

Now comes time for the strong call to action. So, make your last sentence count, and drive them for that sale like I do below.

Start living the best life possible, and pick up your copy by clicking the BUY NOW button at the top before the price changes.

How to Write Fiction Book Descriptions

When it comes to writing fiction book descriptions, the advice is a little different.

First, do not give away too many details about the story. This is not a book report, and it should not explain the story.

Second, you want to raise the stakes. Impress upon your reader the magnitude of the story. The larger the stakes, the more the reader will want to know what happens.

And unlike nonfiction, you want to minimize bold, italics, lists or gimmicks. Instead you should use short paragraphs and plain text whenever possible.

With that basic advice in mind, here is my step-by-step process to write amazing fiction book descriptions:

Step 1 : Craft the First-Sentence Hook

This is the most important sentence of your entire book description because it will be the deciding factor as to whether or not a shopper will read the rest.

Because of this, I actually spend 80% of my time thinking about this one sentence. It should be catchy and draw them in.

Here are a few examples of some really great hooks in fiction books:

From The Dare :

“Have you ever had one of those really bad days at work?

You know, one where your hot boss catches you photocopying your backside in his office?

No? Just me then?”

From Tell Me I’m Wrong :

“What if you discovered your husband was a serial killer?”

From Protecting What’s Mine :

“If you can’t stand the heat, don’t fall for a firefighter…”

Step 2 : A Simple Layout for the Middle

Fiction book descriptions are clean and rarely use bold font or headings. Generally, you can make the first sentence bold and perhaps parts of the final Call To Action, but that’s about it.

Also, you should keep the paragraphs short and to the point. Research shows that readers are less likely to read the book description if you use large paragraphs.

Here are some book descriptions that have a nice simple layout:

From The Emperor’s Wolves :

Multiple races carefully navigate the City of Elantra under the Dragon Emperor’s wing. His Imperial Wolves are executioners, the smallest group to serve in the Halls of Law. The populace calls them assassins.

Every wolf candidate must consent to a full examination by the Tha’alani, one of the most feared and distrusted races in Elantra for their ability to read minds. Most candidates don’t finish their job interviews.

Severn Handred, the newest potential recruit, is determined to face and pass this final test—even if by doing so he’s exposing secrets he has never shared.

When an interrogation uncovers the connections to a two-decade-old series of murders of the Tha’alani, the Wolves are commanded to hunt. Severn’s first job will be joining the chase. From the High Halls to the Tha’alani quarter, from the Oracles to the Emperor, secrets are uncovered, tensions are raised and justice just might be done…if Severn can survive.

From Unsouled :

Sacred artists follow a thousand Paths to power, using their souls to control the forces of the natural world.

Lindon is Unsouled, forbidden to learn the sacred arts of his clan.

When faced with a looming fate he cannot ignore, he must rise beyond anything he's ever known…and forge his own Path.

Step 3 : The Mic-drop Moment

Your last sentence of the book description section should be powerful and encapsulate the plight of the story and the struggle your antagonist faces.

Here are some mic drop moments that are absolutely perfect:

From Three Mages and a Margarita :

“It turns out this place isn't a bar. It's a guild. And the three cocky guys I drenched with a margarita during my trial? Yeah, they were mages. Either I'm exactly the kind of takes-no-shit bartender this guild needs, or there's a good reason no one else wants to work here.

“So what's a broke girl to do? Take the job, of course—with a pay raise.”

From The Girl in the Ice :

“The last investigation Erika led went badly wrong… resulting in the death of her husband.”

From The Vault :

“With ambiguous loyalties, clashing agendas and danger beyond measure, these two men will struggle to form a team. But in a battle as unequal as this, the unexpected might be the best strategy that they have.”

Step 4 : Add Comparison Points 

Especially if you’re a newer author, it is best to help the shopper know what kind of book this is by relating it to books, specific genres, or authors the shopper would know. 

This helps build credibility and lets the reader know that if they liked those things, then they’ll probably like your book.

Check out these examples for some great comparison points:

From The Cleaner :

“If you like Lee Child's Jack Reacher, Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp, and Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne, you won't be able to put down the compulsively addictive John Milton series.”

From A Mother’s Secret :

Full of twists and turns, this is perfect for fans of I Invited Her In and The Mother-in-Law.

‘More chilling than Gone Girl and twistier than The Girl on the Train, this emotional, raw, dark family drama keeps you guessing until the end’ JANE GREEN, author of The Friends We Keep

From American Dirt :

“Already being hailed as “a Grapes of Wrath for our times” and “a new American classic”, Jeanine Cummins' American Dirt is a rare exploration into the inner hearts of people willing to sacrifice everything for a glimmer of hope.”

Step 5 : Close with a CTA

Here are some examples of good calls to action for a fiction book:

From BBQ With a Side of No Apologies : 

“Go up and click Read Now or Buy Now to find out what happens when James reminds everyone why they should fear the Granite Ghost.”

From Superdreadnought:

“Don't miss out on the action of Superdreadnought 5 and Superdreadnought 6! Both included in this fantastic boxed set!”

From Enemy Territory :

“Buy Enemy Territory to journey into a strange new world today!”

Once you have all these together, your book description should look something like this:

Write a hook that best catches them off guard and lures them into reading the rest of the book description.

Follow the hook with the story setting paragraph. This helps to establish the time, settings, and genre style. Sometimes we include the main character, but most times that's best for the next paragraph.

Enter the protagonist and their part in the story. Make your reader relate to them and their plight. Explain to the shopper who the main character is, why they are important to the story, and why the reader should follow their journey.

This paragraph is best for raising the stakes. Crank up the intensity on why this story matters. Think like a movie trailer in the words they use, and less like a book report. Use power statements and impress upon the reader the magnitude of the struggle.

This is the mic drop statement to conclude your description and leave them wanting more. It must be powerful and provocative.

This is where you can put a comparative statement. You can say things like if you like [enter show, movie, book, genre term] then you'll love [title of your book] . This is also where you can mention your status as an author in this genre and your awards.

Here is your call to action: Will Scarlett find love again, or will she face a life of loneliness? Click the BUY NOW button at the top and enter Scarlett's world today.

In addition to the general advice above, it's important to be conscious of Amazon's description guidelines so that you don't do anything they won't approve of.

Generally, Amazon does not accept any of the following:

• Anything pornographic, obscene, or offensive
• Direct reference to phone numbers, mailing addresses, email addresses, or website URLs
• Reviews, quotes, or testimonials (many people get away with this, but I advise against it to be safe)
• Requests for reviews from your readers
• Advertisements or promotional material
• Time sensitive information such as dates of a promotional tour or lecture
• Pricing information
• Referencing other websites to place orders
• Spoiler information
• An overabundance of keywords

While Amazon is not always able to police everything on this list, if your book blurb contains any of them, you are running the risk of having your book delisted.

For that reason, I generally recommend you adhere to Amazon's guidelines at all times.

In addition to everything I've talked about so far, there are a few pieces of advice that I would add. A lot of these didn't quite fit in the structure above, so I am including them here:

• Be succinct: copywriting is a different art from writing a book. When writing copy, you want to make every single word count. Trim everything that doesn't contribute so you can say what you need to say in as few words as possible.
• Get the right POV: in most cases, you will be using third person point of view (POV) for your blurb. However many nonfiction books will use second person POV, and certain genres of fiction may even use first person. Examine other blurbs in your genre to be certain which POV is most common.
• Use keywords: while you should avoid over-stuffing your blurb with keywords, it never hurts to include a few terms or phrases that people are likely to use in their Amazon searches.
• Write as the publisher: it is important to remember that your blurb is not a summary of your book. It is a sales tool. Act as if you are a publishing company, not the author, when writing your book description.
• Find good examples: my best advice, if you are having trouble writing your blurb, is to find other books in your genre that have done well. Specifically look for independently-published books (because traditionally-published books are often lazy with their book descriptions) that are selling well. Then examine the structure of each sentence and the role that it fills. Model your book description after those examples.

That last tip is how I got started writing my own book descriptions, and it has made a huge difference in the quality of my blurbs. I learned a lot from running through those exercises.

Need Help with Your Keywords?

Take my full featured video course on how to select the best keywords and categories for your book.

This is a personal decision that you will have to make. If you don't like writing your own book description or don't have the time to learn how to do it, you can hire someone to write it for you. This can be a good choice.

However, book descriptions can be costly, sometimes exceeding $200 for a high-quality one.

I suggest looking at popular indie books in your genre and trying to write like them. It can help improve your writing.

However, if you are finding that sales are stagnating and you don’t know what to do to fix them, it could be the blurb. Perhaps hiring a professional to fix that blurb for you will be the key.

I hope that all was helpful for you. I looked for great examples of each step in the process, for fiction and nonfiction, that you can use to guide your book description.

As with all forms of writing, your book description is something that will take practice. That is why I recommend writing several versions of your book description every time, then picking the best parts of each.

In addition, examining other best-selling blurbs will greatly help you hone your craft and understand what works and what doesn't.

If you need help, download our free Book Description Formula and use the Book Description Generator to get started!

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL 25 TEAM BUILDER DEEP DIVE

Create your own dream team with team builder in ea sports college football ‘25..

Hey College Football Fans, welcome back to the Campus Huddle! We have one last topic prior to the worldwide launch of EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 tonight. Did you think that we forgot about Team Builder?

The most important thing to know is Team Builder for College Football 25 will arrive later TONIGHT on web! Before we let you in to create your dream team, let's see what is in store for you.

BUILDING TEAM BUILDER

When the Team Builder tool was unveiled back in 2009, millions of fans were able to bring their custom creations to the field. Now, with the release of EA SPORTS™ College Football 25 we’re thrilled to be able to bring back this feature which was beloved by so many.

When the return of our College Football 25 was confirmed, it became clear that fans wanted Team Builder to return as well. One of the first things we did as a team was figure out what it would take to bring the feature back, and to improve upon what we had already built. 

We met with creators, spent hours rewatching many different Team Builder videos, read blogs and wish lists, and even hired people from within the community to help design and build Team Builder. One of the first people brought back onto the team was Senior Engineer Chris Markuck, who was one of the original architects of Team Builder in 2009. When Chris got word that Team Builder was coming back, it was an easy decision for him to return to EA and lead the charge of bringing one of the community’s favorite features back. 

Our approach to Team Builder centered around three core pillars. First it was about creating a Deep Creation Suite where our players felt a strong sense of ownership and were empowered to create and customize their schools more than ever before. Our second pillar was Discover & Share , which was about making it easy to discover great content and content creators, as well as providing the ability to share your creations with others. Finally, our third pillar was about Elevating Creators where we wanted to celebrate creators for their creative accomplishments.

With our three core pillars in mind, let’s dive into the details where we will outline how you can create teams using the Team Builder website and import them into your Dynasty.

ACCESSING THE WEBSITE

To access the website, you’ll need to create or use your EA Account information to log in. After that, you’ll utilize the College Football URL to access Team Builder for College Football 25.

This main screen is where we showcase and elevate all the work done by our most devoted fans. You’ll be able to see the top downloaded and highest-rated teams by members of the community. We’ve also made it easier to search for existing content. In addition, our filters allow you to sort by uniform provider or by state. Think you’ve got what it takes to make it to the top of the list?

CREATING A BRAND AND IDENTITY

After selecting “Start Creating,” the first thing you’ll be tasked with is creating your school’s identity and brand. This is where you’ll get to define the basics of your program, like its name, nickname, logos, uniform provider, and team colors. 

For logos, you will be able to add a primary, secondary, and tertiary logo. Your primary logo is what will be used throughout the in-game UI in Dynasty mode. Your secondary and tertiary logos will be able to be added to your uniform and field. As a part of your logo creation, you will be able to upload your own logos or choose from one of our recolorable generic logos.

In College Football 25’s Team Builder you will be able to select Nike, Adidas, or Under Armour as your uniform provider. This will impact the equipment your players wear, the name and number fonts you can choose from, as well as what jersey and pant stitch pattern your team uses. For example, if you select Nike you will be able to choose from the Vapor Fusion and Vapor Untouchable jersey stitch patterns. The stitch pattern you select will change which stripe patterns that are available and compatible with that stitching.

When selecting your team colors, you can utilize the eyedropper tool to set the team colors from your primary logo. For more advanced users, you can customize each color’s hue, saturation, brightness, Hex, or RGB value. We’ve also provided all existing school team colors under Presets.

In an age where teams are constantly trying to expand and modernize their uniform suite, we wanted to give users the ability to reflect that in their work. To give users the ultimate amount of customization, we’ve expanded the amount of uniform presets you can have to 5 total. If you’re counting socks, that means your team can have up to 5 helmets, 5 jerseys, 5 pants, and 5 socks or 625 uniform combinations, giving you the ability to showcase new looks on the field each game.

Before we go into how you can customize the various uniform parts, let’s orient you to the preview area. This is where you can navigate the camera to rotate the parts of the uniform you are editing. In the center of the screen, is the preview area, utilizing the mouse button you can scroll around the assets horizontally or vertically. Or zoom in and out using the scroll wheel. There are auto preset camera controls that you can select that will auto focus to various angles for you to view your creations. Test around as you desire.

Once in the editor, the helmet is the first part of the uniform that you can customize. Start by choosing your base color and then choose your reflectiveness. For the helmet reflectiveness, you can choose from matte, shiny, or chrome. In addition to customizing the base helmet shell reflectiveness, in the accessories section you can change the color and reflectiveness of the facemask, chinstrap strap and cup, front bumper, and back bumper.

Once you’ve customized the base helmet shell, it’s time to start decorating it with logos and stripes. Begin by choosing your helmet stripe from one of our available presets and customize its color. If you’d like to add helmet numbers you can do that too. We’ve added four preset placement options (front, back, left side, and right side), but you can also use the advanced placement editor to customize the size, position, and spacing to place them anywhere on the helmet.

Now let’s talk about where the fun really begins with custom layers.

CUSTOM LAYERS

No modern uniform editor would be complete without the ability to incorporate custom designs and logos. So we’re giving users the ability to add custom layers onto each element of the uniform. Under “Custom Layers'' for helmets, for example, you’re able to add up to 7 custom layers on the helmet, each having their own unique properties and placement options on the helmet. For each layer, you will have the ability to choose from one of our existing assets or upload your own image. You can then customize the finish of that layer choosing between shiny, matte, satin, or chrome.

Adjusting the logo once it’s on the helmet is easy. You can adjust the dimensions, flip or rotate it, and place it in the exact spot you want. This is the same functionality for both titles. You will even be able to customize the reflectiveness of every single logo!

Customizing the Jersey represents a big area of opportunity. For College, you’ll have the ability to select from Adidas, Nike, or Under Armour, to better represent the wide variety of uniforms used at the FBS level and beyond.

Based on your apparel brand that you selected, you’ll have a specific set of Jersey stitch patterns, or chassis, available for you to start with. Once you select the stitch pattern, you’ll then have that provider’s real-life stripes, designs, cuffs, collars, and fonts available to you. Note that certain chassis go with specific stripe patterns and designs.

For college, the design team has worked closely with all 3 providers with authenticity in mind. And if we’re missing something? Don’t worry. We’re working closely with each company to release additional post-launch content throughout the year to give users more ways to create the perfect look. 

There’s still room for customization if you’d like to add your own personal touch. Don’t forget you can still add layers on the jersey asset. So if you want to put your team name on the front of the jersey or have a unique design running down the sides of your jersey, it’s all available to you. Just make sure to save so you don’t lose your work!

PANTS/SOCKS

After you’ve completed the perfect jersey, it’s time to work on the pants. You’ll have plenty of stripes to choose from, as decided by the provider. You still have the ability to add layers to your pants, as well as set the color of the accessories.

For the socks, you’ll be able to set the color on the “Oversock”, the color of the “Base/Undersock '' and the Brand color on the sock on the collegiate site. And just like that, you’ve completed your first uniform set! But you’ve still got more work to do.

GOTTA HAVE ALTERNATIVES

Creating an alternate uniform is easy. Let’s say you want to create a set that’s the same as your away uniform but with different colors. When you’re creating one of the uniform elements like helmets or jerseys, select the Preview Uniform option in the right-hand corner.

When you’re creating one of the uniform elements like helmets or jerseys, select the Preview Uniform option in the right-hand corner.

Then, click the plus sign and select Duplicate from “Away” to pull over all the existing designs, and name the new uniform. Then you can close preview, select the new alternate at the top, and get to editing!

YOUR OWN HOME FIELD

Now that your team is swagged out with the perfect uniform suite, it’s time to create the perfect home stadium. You’ll have 8 components of your stadium that you can set: Stadium, Crowd, Surface, Logos, Endzone, Numbers, Sidelines, and Benches. Each component has unique properties that you can set. 

Start by choosing from one of the existing 134 team stadiums and rename it to be your own. With your stadium set, it’s time to customize your crowd. You can set the primary and secondary color your crowd wears on gameday. Want everyone to do a white out every Saturday? Set both your primary and secondary crowd colors to white. You can also adjust the percentage of the crowd that wears each color by adjusting the slider. 

Once your stadium and crowd are locked in, it’s time to customize your field. Start by selecting whether your field is grass or turf, as well as its color. You can choose a natural field color or go crazy with any color you can think of. Next add logos to your field. We’ve added preset locations at midfield and the 25/20 yard-lines for you to quickly create your field. With that being said, if you want to go deeper with customization you can add up to 5 custom layers and place those logos anywhere on the field. For your endzones, you can choose from one of the existing endzone designs and recolor it or you can build your own custom endzone with custom layers. 

With your base field in place, put the finishing touches on it by customizing your field number font, the number position , the number frequency (every 10 yards or every 5 yards), the arrow position (top, center, or bottom), whether a G appears at the goal line, and the number color and outline. Additionally, you can color the 20 and 50 yard lines, as well as the goal line. Lastly, customize your field sidelines and bench areas. Both options allow you to choose from one of our existing recolorable templates.

PROGRAM/FRANCHISE

The last piece is the players. On the last tab, you’ll have the opportunity to modify the players that will play for you on the field.

On the College Football 25 side, you’ll be able to set your playbooks and select from 7 generic roster types that you can further adjust to fit your playing style. You want to adjust your starting running back to be a 5 '5, 350-lb bowling ball? Or how about a pair of 6’8 receivers on the outside. Go for it.

Once you are satisfied with your creation, you are ready to submit and publish your team. Hit the submit button and this will take you to a Preview Screen where an overview is presented for approval. After you review all your uniforms and team data, you will publish the team that you can jump over to the console and import into your College Dynasties!

DOWNLOAD CENTER

Now it’s time for you to explore our download center, are you looking to download your friends or favorite creators' custom teams? How about looking to share your custom team? Head over to the Create and Share section in the main menu and select the Download Center . This is where you will be able to begin exploring!

Once you're in, you can browse through a diverse array of content. At the very top is featured content. This is content that we have handpicked to showcase the great work of creators. This will be updated periodically to ensure we are always keeping the download center fresh, while also giving creators the ability to showcase their incredible work.

Once you find the school that you feel suits you best all you will need to do is just download it directly to your console. And don't worry, we've made it super easy to keep the community safe and enjoyable, you can report any offensive content you come across and even preview items before downloading.

If you’re hunting for something specific, just press the Triangle/Y  button on your controller. This will open up a powerful search tool where you can look for content by keywords, usernames, content types, and more. It's all about making sure you find exactly what you’re looking for.

IMPORTING YOUR TEAM INTO DYNASTY MODE

As we talked about in the Dynasty Deep Dive , importing a Team Builder team into Dynasty is available only in a private cloud Dynasty. You will be able to import up to 16 teams per Dynasty. When you’re starting a new league, only the commissioner has the ability to import custom teams and this can happen exclusively at the beginning of the season and will not be possible at any other point.

When importing a team, you have the option whether or not you want to replace the team’s roster. This allows you to maintain the existing team’s roster and only change their uniforms and field. Regardless of whether or not you replace the roster, your Team Builder team will inherit some of the characteristics of the team it’s replacing. This includes their rivalries, their coaching staff (unless you decide to bring in a new coach), their My School grades, and their team records. Be sure to keep this in mind when you are deciding who to replace.

A NOTE FROM US

When developing Team Builder, our goal was to give fans the freedom to bring their creativity to life and share their passion and designs with the community. In order to facilitate this, we knew that we had to offer you the ability to bring your creations to life with deep customization while building an experience that matched what we set up to do.  

This goal meant we needed to lean into a more robust tool set for a web-based solution that gave fans as much freedom for creation and customization as we could build.

Since this Team Builder experience will be new not only for you but our team as well, we want to ask for your feedback. Since this is a new journey, we are inviting you, the community, to share your feedback with us in our official College Football 25 Community Forum so we can hear your thoughts on the experience for creators and fans of those creations. We will use that space and our other channels to keep you informed of changes, enhancements and quality-improvements we will be making throughout the year. We would love your feedback and input as our team  continues to evolve Team Builder throughout the season.

TIME TO BUILD YOUR TEAM

Now, all that’s left is to take them to glory. We are so proud that we could bring this beloved feature back to you and we can't tell you enough how excited we are to see what creations you all will put together to make this feel like it is your game. Well, it is time to put our pens down and get to creating our own teams as well! Are you ready?

 - Team Builder Developer Team

College Football 25 launches worldwide on July 19th, 2024. Pre-order the Deluxe Edition* or the EA SPORTS™ MVP Bundle** and play 3 days early. Conditions and restrictions apply. See disclaimers for details. Stay in the conversation by following us on Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , YouTube , and Answers HQ .

Score the MVP Bundle*** to make game day every day, and get both Madden NFL 25 (when Early Access goes live on 8/13) and College Football 25 with bonus pre-order content.

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Science, Social Studies classes can help young English-learning students learn to read and write in English

For Immediate Release

A new study finds that science and social studies classes may also help young students learn English, even when those classes include difficult and technical vocabulary.

The study, which observed first- and second-grade students in 30 elementary schools in North Carolina, encouraged teachers to keep their English-learning students in class during science and social studies lessons. Science and social studies textbooks in those grades are often relatively technical and difficult for students, so traditional teaching methods in North Carolina encourage teachers to remove English-learning students from those content classes to focus on their language skills instead.

By creating a 10-week literacy program – known as a Tier 1 intervention – which kept English-learners in science and social studies classes, researchers found that those students saw improvements in their ability to write argumentative essays and use new academic vocabulary. The study highlights the importance of giving English-learners access to academic content, said Jackie Relyea, corresponding author of the study and assistant professor of literacy education at North Carolina State University.

“This study shows how important it is to provide equitable opportunities for English-learners to build knowledge in science and history, and to apply that knowledge through informational texts alongside their peers,” Relyea said. “What we found was that when English-learners have access to content-rich literacy instruction, they develop content knowledge as well as language, reading comprehension, and writing skills.”

The program used methods like interactive read-alouds, collaborative research and concept mapping to build students’ vocabulary and understanding of complex topics. Concept mapping refers to using diagrams or similar visual aids to depict connections between ideas.

Significantly, the study found that English-learners had similar levels of improvement in science and social studies vocabulary and argumentative writing as their English-proficient classmates across the 10-week program. Notably, the intervention did not lead to negative results elsewhere, which supports the idea that English-learning students can attend more complex classes without falling behind. This further suggests that content-rich literacy instruction may help narrow the achievement gap between English-learners and their peers.

The intervention also modified classes to cover individual subjects for longer. That way, Relyea said, English-learners could get comfortable with a subject early on and then continue to get value from that knowledge later.

“One thing we noticed is the importance of using coherent text sets that focus on a single topic. In more traditional literacy instruction, our study found that topics tended to change quickly and there wasn’t always a consistent throughline that the students could grab on to,” she said. “By focusing on similar subjects for longer, kids can dig deeper and develop more in-depth knowledge. It may be challenging at first, but when students encounter the same new words day after day, they become familiar with them and expand their vocabulary network. Staying on a thematic unit for longer periods also helps them become experts in the subject matter, which greatly enhances their vocabulary and comprehension skills.”

The study challenges widely held assumptions about English-learners’ academic capabilities, and highlights their readiness to engage with complex subject material despite their developing English proficiency. Relyea said that further research into incorporating small-group supplemental instruction could be valuable, potentially enhancing the effectiveness of the program even further.

-pitchford-

Note to Editors: The study abstract follows.

“Effects of Tier 1 Content Literacy Intervention on Early-Grade English-learners’ Reading and Writing: Exploring the Mediating Roles of Domain-Specific Vocabulary and Oral Language Proficiency”

Authors: Jackie E. Relyea, NC State University; James S. Kim, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Patrick Rich, American Institutes for Research; Jill Fitzgerald, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Published: July 19, 2024

DOI: 10.1037/edu0000882

Abstract : This exploratory follow-up study to a randomized controlled trial examined (a) the differential impact of classroom-based (Tier 1) content literacy intervention on reading and argumentative writing outcomes among Grades 1 and 2 English-learners (ELs; n = 1,236) and their English- proficient peers (EPs; n = 4,161) and (b) the mechanisms determining how the intervention yielded effects on ELs. The study was conducted across 30 elementary schools in an urban U.S. school district. The 10-week intervention, comprised of 20 lessons in science and social studies thematic units, was delivered by classroom teachers. The core components were designed to build students’ content and vocabulary knowledge through informational texts and concept mapping and to transfer their schema to argumentative writing and research collaboration. Results show that while the intervention did not significantly improve reading proficiency (effect size [ES] = .01 for ELs and ES = -.02 for EPs) and basic literacy skills (ES = .04 for ELs and ES = -.02 for EPs), it significantly bolstered argumentative writing in science (ES = .25 for ELs and ES = .24 for EPs) and social studies (ES = .42 for ELs and ES = .44 for EPs). The treatment effect on reading proficiency among ELs was fully mediated by their improved domain-specific vocabulary knowledge and English oral proficiency. A significant indirect effect on social studies argumentative writing through domain-specific vocabulary knowledge was also evident. These findings corroborate the effectiveness of the content literacy intervention, providing insights into for whom and how the intervention was effective.

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