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Start writing fiction
Course description
Course content, course reviews, course learning outcomes.
After studying this course, you should be able to:
- identify strengths and weaknesses as a writer of fiction
- demonstrate a general awareness of fiction writing
- discuss fiction using basic vocabulary.
First Published: 09/08/2012
Updated: 14/05/2018
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65 Best Free Creative Writing Classes in 2024
Showing 65 courses that match your search.
Blogging for Business
A free course teaching how to start and grow a blog past 100,000 visitors, focusing on content marketing strategies and effective blogging techniques.
Website: https://ahrefs.com/academy/
Categories: Free
Start date:
Open all year round
Prerequisites: No prerequisites
Legally Blogs
Blogging for New Bloggers
This free course teaches bloggers about legal requirements, compliance to avoid lawsuits, copyright protection, necessary legal pages, GDPR and CCPA compliance, and income tracking.
Website: https://school.bloggingfornewbloggers.com/
Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop
California Institute of the Arts
The course focuses on writing poetry through a variety of exercises, peer feedback, and discussions. It encourages students to explore their personal voice and develop their poetry skills.
Website: https://www.coursera.org/
How to Write a Novel
Your story matters. Unlock your potential with daily video lessons from bestselling ghostwriter Tom Bromley, and finish your first draft in just 3 months. Learn more →
Poetry Workshop
Green Street Poetry
The workshop fosters collaboration and provides a constructive environment for sharing, editing, and discussing poetry. Participants can bring a poem for critique or simply join the discussion.
Website: https://www.greenstreetpoetry.com/workshop
Duke Graduate School Scientific Writing Resource
Duke University
An online resource aimed at improving scientific writing skills, focusing on communication principles tailored for scientific literature. It includes lessons on sentence structure, cohesion, conciseness, and revision strategies.
Website: https://sites.duke.edu/scientificwriting/
Prerequisites: Intended for graduate-level science students.
College Writing 2.1x
In this course, English Language Learners will be introduced to academic writing, focusing on essay development, grammatical accuracy, and self-editing. The course includes reviews of grammar, crafting effective sentences and paragraphs, developing thesis statements, and participating in peer reviews.
Website: https://www.edx.org/course/how-to-write-an-essay
Tech Writing for Accessibility
Google Developers
This course teaches how to make documentation and websites more accessible, focusing on inclusive design principles, writing helpful alt text for diagrams, and checking color contrast. It includes hands-on exercises and class discussions.
Website: https://developers.google.com/tech-writing/accessibility
Technical Writing One
This course teaches the fundamentals of technical writing, focusing on clear documentation, active voice usage, sentence clarity, and audience identification. It includes pre-class and in-class components for comprehensive learning.
Website: https://developers.google.com/tech-writing/one
Technical Writing Two
The course covers intermediate topics in technical writing, including drafting strategies, self-editing techniques, document organization, and effective use of illustrations and sample code.
Website: https://developers.google.com/tech-writing/two
Poetry Club Meetup!
Miami Poetry Club
Bi-monthly no-cost community workshops focusing on creative writing and feedback sessions, designed to support writers of all levels.
Website: https://www.miamipoetryclub.org/
Niche Authority Hacker Course
HerPaperRoute
In this course, participants will learn how to brand themselves as authorities in their niche, with content tailored for both beginners and more experienced individuals, helping them establish a strong presence in their chosen field.
Website: https://herpaperroute.com/free-blogging-courses/
Learn How to Start a Blog and Create a Blogging Strategy for Your Business
Hubspot Academy
The course provides insights into starting and maintaining a blog, developing an effective blogging strategy, engaging an audience, and enhancing business visibility through blogging.
Website: https://academy.hubspot.com/
How to choose a free creative writing class
Looking to build your writing skillset, learn more about your genre, or finally finish that book you’ve been working on? You’re in the right place. That’s why we built this directory of the best creative writing courses.
However, creative writing classes aren’t one size fit all. If you’re planning to join a free writing class in particular, you’ll want to make sure that it matches what you’re seeking to learn about creative writing.
So make sure to consider the following questions when you’re researching free writing courses:
- Who is the instructor? How many years of experience do they have in creative writing?
- Is there something in particular you’d like to learn about creative writing? Does this course include it?
- How long is the course, and where is it taught?
- Are there any hidden fees advertised in this free creative writing class?
More free creative writing resources
Whether you’re a new or established author, there are always evergreen resources out there to how to get a headstart on writing a book.
Free online materials
- Creative Writing Prompts (resource)
- How to Self-Publish a Book (blog post)
- How to Publish a Novel (blog post)
- How to Edit a Book (blog post)
Recommended books
- For writers in the UK: Writers' & Artists' Yearbook
- For writers in the US: Writer’s Market 2020
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7 free online creative writing courses that you can enrol in right now
As a form of expression , a means to escape the reality, and a medium to communicate a larger ideology, the act of writing can serve different purposes. And no matter what your reason to put pen to paper, or keys to screen, these virtual lessons could help you develop the techniques you will require on your creative journey. Here, find out all the free online courses you can join to begin now.
Creative Writing Specialisation
Covering three major creative writing genres—short story, narrative essay and memoir—the course will help you master the techniques of putting your ideas on paper as clearly as possible. So if you’ve been meaning to work some engrossing features in your already existing plot, or better highlight the setting of your story, or simply articulate in a stronger fashion, let this lesson be on your shortlist. In case you’re just starting out, the course is equally rewarding.
Write Your First Novel
Have you been wanting to pen down your thoughts and weave them into a well-written novel? Go for this virtual course where you will learn an end-to-end approach to producing a work of fiction. Through a stepwise process that will culminate in your individual production of a 50,000-word book, the learning course will provide you all the important pointers right from the top.
Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest
Complete with video lectures, online readings, peer reviews and guest appearances from renowned authors, the course will offer an all-inclusive guide to creative writing for students and young aspirers. Apart from that, you will also explore the cultural significance of notable works , analyse the ways in which art and words interact, and become familiar with standard elements of a narrative, that include dialogue, point of view, theme, plot and so on.
Write A Feature Length Screenplay for Film or Television
Whether your point of interest is serious dramas, romantic comedies or thrillers , the free virtual course will zoom in on every aspect of screenplay writing so you’re able to pursue the genre you want. Following in a well-structured process, you will have produced a pitch-ready script by the time the four-week programme is over. Along with learning how to create a basic idea and write loglines, you will be studying the Three Act Story Arc, and much more.
Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself Specialisation
Here, four published memoirists and essayists let you in on the tricks and tools of writing about yourself. Be prepared for professional tips, prompts, reading challenges and exercises among other interactive activities. Unlike many other courses where you will be producing a large body of work at the completion of the programme, here, you will be constructing a portfolio of work to use as valuable components later.
Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop
These lessons support the school of thought that poetry isn’t just a means of expression. Rather, using it for just that, is like “using the internet just for email”. If you too are willing to think beyond that, and take up the art to bring about a change in people’s thought and ideologies, the course is for you. Learn to use the several tools of poetic composition, study the works of contemporary poets and, of course, try your own hand at the skill.
Transmedia Storytelling: Narrative worlds, emerging technologies, and global audiences
In a world that believes in not just up-skilling, but also cross-skilling, this transmedia course serves to be an extremely well-rounded one. The description on the website states, “Transmedia storytelling is the practice of designing , sharing, and participating in a cohesive story experience across multiple traditional and digital delivery platforms - for entertainment, advertising and marketing, or social change.” So learn to develop expansive narratives and optimise your writing for mobile devices, social media communities, virtual and augmented realities and more.
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Creative Writing Courses and Certifications
Learn Creative Writing, earn certificates with paid and free online courses from Harvard, Stanford, University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins and other top universities around the world. Read reviews to decide if a class is right for you.
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We've picked the best online courses to learn Creative Writing from the Class Central catalog.
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Creative Writing
Creative writing: the craft of plot, neil gaiman teaches the art of storytelling, complete creative writing - all genres - the full course, creative writing for all: a 10-day journaling challenge, relato corto de ficción: escribe desde tu experiencia personal, write your book: start strong and get it done, writing: the craft of story, creative writing: crafting personal essays with impact, start writing fiction.
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Discover the art of crafting compelling plots, from structure and scene-building to character development and revision techniques. Enhance your storytelling skills and bring your narratives to life.
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Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description
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Creative Writing: The Craft of Character
At the center of a good story are the characters in it. In this course aspiring writers will discover how to build and bring to life complex, vivid and unforgettable characters.
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Creative Writing: The Craft of Style
Enhance your writing style through metaphor, imagery, and word choice. Learn revision techniques to create compelling stories and polished prose.
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I'm Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers. Learn about plot, wordbuilding, short stories, character, and publishing.
- Free Online Course
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Writing a Book: Creative writing skills: Novel/Nonfiction book writing: Punctuation: Outlining: Fantasy world building
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Learn How To Write Well With 2024‘s Top 12 Best Free Online Writing Courses For Beginners
Do you want to learn how to write an essay, book, poem, or article, but you are not sure exactly where to begin? Perhaps you want to write a killer blog post without completely relying on Grammarly ?
Well, this is the guide for you!
In this guide, I have rounded up some of the best free online writing classes that are great for beginners and all skill levels. This means that you can learn at your own pace without paying a single dime for quality online courses while learning the writing process!
While each of the below creative writing courses is slightly different from one another, each delivers great insights on how to become a master of the craft and even a freelance writer! Let’s begin on your road to a bestseller!
Table of Contents
Top 12 Best Free Online Writing Courses For Beginners 2024!
1. crafting personal essays with impact (skillshare).
Have you got a masterpiece in your mind but are not sure how to portray it on paper? Well, this is your course!
Your instructor for this class is a best-selling author and editor Roxanne Gay who has written for major publications such as the New York Times, Dexter and Marvel. Being an editor as well, she can guide you away from common pitfalls that could weaken your work.
In the one hour of on-demand video training, you will cover topics like choosing your key thoughts, researching the subject, writing your first draft, how to rewrite and edit yourself, and how to get published.
This course will also inspire you, giving you the tools to transform your thoughts into a readable personal essay. Take yourself seriously and give your ideas a real voice. Being hosted on Skillshare, users can this course for free on a 1-month free trial.
Overall, a well-rounded course that is ideal for beginners!
- 1 hour on-demand video
- Taught by successful writer
- Includes editor insights
- Downloadable resources including FAQs
- Class projects
Activate FREE Skillshare Trial
2. Create Successful Writing Habits (Skillshare)
Next up on my list is a great course that aims to teach you some of the fundamentals of engaging and impactful writing. From learning these skills and habits, you will be able to apply them to fiction, non-fiction, poetry , copywriting, creative nonfiction, and the list goes on!
To give you tools and teach you how to use them, best-selling author and screenwriter Simon Van Booy will show you 6 essential steps to becoming a great writer.
The steps are 1, make your space, 2, find your medium, 3, read inspiring works, 4, set your conditions, 5, stick to a routine, and 6, sketch to stay inspired. What these 6 things all mean and how they apply to your writing is what the 38 minutes of on-demand video will teach.
This is a great course for anyone aspiring to be a writer as well as established writers wishing to hone their skills to a higher quality level. Being hosted in Skillshare, this course is completely free!
- Beginner level
- 38 minutes on demand video
- Established and successful writer is instructor
- 15,000 students enrolled
- Online community to join
3. Writing for Online Engagement (Skillshare)
Moving on is another great course for beginners that is taught by Rebecca Sky in this 1 ¼ hour class on fiction writing in a digital age. Rebecca is an author of YA fiction and has also written for companies including Paramount, Sony, Microsoft, Lay’s, and Kraft.
Some of the core modules included in this course are writing skills, plot details, finding an audience, marketing, creative strategies, and more!
So if your goal is to become a successful author of fiction and maybe even to publish your own stories yourself, this instruction concerning online engagement is a great class to take. It’s not just for beginners either, any level of writer wanting to better their skills can also take a lot from this class.
Overall, an interesting course for those looking to publish online via a blog or news website.
• All levels • 1 hour 8 minutes • Published author teacher • Focused on fiction writers • Covers self publishing and promotion • 8,000 students enrolled
4. Writing Articles (LinkedIn Learning/ Lynda)
Up next is a great masterclass from LinkedIn Learning (previously Lynda) that helps you to write accurate, engaging and interesting articles for businesses. While this course is more intermediate, it is still a great resource for complete beginners also.
Instructor Tom Geller is a writer of technology-centered articles and a trainer for communication skills in the workplace. His class is just under an hour and covers all the basics you need to know to get started.
This course starts out by showing you how to find assignments, then moves on to the research needed for informative articles. From there, he shares the best way to conduct an interview for an article, and then how to wrap it all up. With all LinkedIn Learning course, there is a certificate of completion available once completed.
Like Skillshare, LinkedIn Learning provides a free trial so you can take this course for no charge whatsoever! To learn more, check out my LinkedIn Learning Vs Lynda guide .
- Focuses on industry and business article writing
- Professional writer trainer
- Exercise files
- Certificate of completion
Visit Linkedin.com
5. Creative Writing for All: A 10-Day Journaling Challenge (Skillshare)
One of the worst things any writer may have to deal with is writer’s block. Luckily, this class will show you how to take the offensive against that problem, making sure it never happens in the first place.
Author and editor Emily Gould leads this short series of lessons that guides you into a mindset of creativity. If you commit to writing for 10 minutes for 10 days in a row, you will be able to put her ideas into practice which makes this an incredibly actionable course.
While this course isn’t for everyone, it may be ideal for those in the early stages of writing who are hitting writing blocks.
- Published author and working editor as trainer
- Class project
- Downloadable resources
- 19,000 students enrolled
6. English Writing Skills (Alison)
Expressing yourself clearly is vital for engaging people with your writing. If you don’t communicate the idea well, the article, story, or advertisement is not going to do the job you wanted it to do.
There’s more to writing than just knowing what words to use and how to punctuate properly. There are also certain styles of writing that lend themselves to be better for one purpose or another. You write one way for suspense fiction another way for comedy. Instructions and informative articles use different styles than poetry or inspirational pieces.
The course takes about 3 hours, has assessments, and a certificate of completion is available. Over 124,000 students have taken this class. The instructors are all professionals in their fields and are certified to be trainers on the Alison online learning platform. When deciding on what free online writing course for beginners to take, this is a good one to examine.
- Beginner to intermediate level
- Course assessments
- Professional instructors
- 124,000 students enrolled
- Certificate of completion available
Visit Alison.com
7. Secret Sauce of Great Writing (Udemy)
What makes for good BBQ? “The secret’s in the sauce!” The secret sauce of great writing is found in this 42-minute course detailing the four ingredients of elite writing. Those ingredients are simplicity, clarity, elegance, and evocativeness. Put those into practice and your writing will certainly benefit.
The instructor Shani Raja is a former editor for the Wall Street Journal. He includes writing exercises in with the lesson instruction. It’s 45 minutes of on demand video and online resources are included. You can dive deeper with our journalism course reviews as well.
The techniques and methods of good writing taught in this class work when writing business compositions, personal blogs, fiction, or poetry and prose. These same methods are also effective for editing your own work before turning it over to a publication or editor.
- Intermediate level
- 45 minutes of on demand video instruction
- Includes writing exercises
- 126,000 students
Visit Udemy.com
8. How to Write Stories That Thrill in Any Genre (Skillshare)
Award-winning novel, short story, and Marvel writer Benjamin Percy is a master of writing thriller and suspense fiction.
The instruction in this intermediate level class is designed for writers of fiction but it holds up as good practice for any type of writing. If you want your readers to hang on to every word and be eager for more, you’ll want to pay attention to the tips and tricks taught in this course. There is no better way to learn novel writing!
Some of the things discussed are developing a workable plot, controlling what the reader knows, building believable character development, and blending emotional content with the suspense narrative.
- 1 hour 16 minutes
- Award winning author teacher
- Thriller and suspense genre
- Online resources
9. Writing with Impact (LinkedIn Learning)
The purpose of this course is to show you how to write with purpose for whatever the subject, genre, or audience is. A concept taught in the lessons is that there is no such thing a generic good writing. What you are doing, you have to target your audience.
Grammar and sentence structure are important, but there are subtle nuances that you will learn to identify and implement after finishing this instruction. You’ll learn the goals “write short, write clear, and write right.”
You will learn how to make long paragraphs easier to read and how to effectively make use of shorter paragraphs and efficient word choice.
The instructors is Tom Geller, an established professional and certified for being a trainer at LinkedIn Learning. With this course, you get extra resources, chapter quizzes, and a certificate of completion.
- 1 hour on demand video
- Qualifies for continuing education units
- Chapter quizzes
- Professional author instructor
10. Essay Essentials: Improve Your Academic Writing (Udemy)
Academic writing is a different type of writing than many of us are used to. There are some specific rules that need to be followed for most essays.
In this writing workshop, you’ll learn techniques useful for either high school or collegiate level essay writing. Included in the training are writing exercises, chapter quizzes, and a downloadable essay guide. You will also learn about using the resources in your classroom or school library, what it means to achieve effective revising, and how to properly edit. Concepts concerning paragraphs for introduction, conclusions, and the body of the essay are discussed as well.
The trainer is Andrew Sippie, an English composition teacher and tutor. He has a specialization in teaching in classrooms and online for several years as a college professor, bringing his skills and experience (and Masters Degree) to the Udemy online learning platform.
- Beginner level (self-paced)
- Taught by college professor
- Concentrates on academic essays
11. Writing Ad Copy (LinkedIn Learning)
Advertising is one of the hardest genres of writing. It seems so simple, just tell what it is or does in a few short words. But which words? What part of the product or concept to highlight? That’s vitally important information to dispense.
Ad copy is not limited to the printed page, but also as commercial scripts. As for printed words, media varies from blogs to emails to social media. This class helps you find the best way to get your ideas across in the best way possible.
Michael Duquet is the instructor for this course. He is a marketing director for online activity for a software company and has years of ad copy writing experience.
- 1 hour 7 minutes
- Specific information for advertising writing
- Marketing director is the trainer
12. Business Communication – Fundamentals of Business Writing (Alison)
Business to business (B2B) is big business. Effective business communication is vital for successful companies.
It’s also important to communicate well within your own workplace. Resumes, cover letters, and reports are also required to be as good as possible if they are to be useful and effective.
Even filling out a job application needs good writing skills if you want your application to make it to the right pile of papers.
This class will give you the ability to write clear, concise, and efficient words for your workplace writing endeavors.
- Course assessment
- 46,000 students enrolled
Final Thoughts
I’m a writer. (But I really want to direct.) Writing seems to come naturally for some people. Even if doesn’t, free online writing courses for learners can train you to write well. If you are already a good writer, these same courses will help you do a better job.
To learn more, check out my guide on the top online proofreading courses !
More goes into writing than merely being talkative. These free online writing courses for beginners will show you how to create a narrative and how to engage people’s interests. You could be writing ad copy for an online store, a term paper for school, a short story for publication, a business proposal for your job, or an inspirational poem for someone you love.
All of those situations and more can be tricky to get right. It doesn’t have to be hard, though. Writing can be fun and profitable. These classes provide the valuable training you need to be able to communicate with skill and panache.
My name is Lewis Keegan and I am the writer and editor of SkillScouter.com. I'm extremely passionate about online education and what it can do for those to better their lives. I spend most of my time blogging, hiking, and drinking coffee. I also have a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Teaching.
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These free online creative writing courses will teach you how to craft original and self-expressive writing. Creative writing encourages writers to exercise their creative minds and use their imaginations. It helps improve memory function and promote greater feelings of happiness among other benefits. It is also a great way to jumpstart a career in creative writing or improve an existing one.... …Read More These free online creative writing courses will teach you how to craft original and self-expressive writing. Creative writing encourages writers to exercise their creative minds and use their imaginations. It helps improve memory function and promote greater feelings of happiness among other benefits. It is also a great way to jumpstart a career in creative writing or improve an existing one. Read Less
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Stanford Continuing Studies' online creative writing courses make it easy to take courses taught by instructors from Stanford’s writing community. Thanks to the flexibility of the online format, these courses can be taken anywhere, anytime—a plus for students who lead busy lives or for whom regular travel to the Stanford campus is not possible. These courses are open to all adults, and we encourage all levels of writers to enroll.
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- Bodleian Libraries
- Oxford LibGuides
- Creative Writing
- Free Online Resources
Creative Writing: Free Online Resources
Introduction.
In addition to resources the Bodleian Libraries purchases, there are a number of alternative free online resources to support the study of Creative Writing. If you have any suggestions to help us expand this page, please contact [email protected].
Free online resources
- Open Educational Resources (OERs)
- Websites of useful organisations
- Audio resources
OERs are any type of teaching and/or learning materials that are freely available in the public domain, published under open licenses. Those listed below are applicable to the study of philosophy.
- Future Learn A diverse selection of courses from leading universities and cultural institutions from around the world. Includes several courses relating to Creative Writing.
- MERLOT The MERLOT system provides access to curated online learning and support materials and content creation tools, led by an international community of educators, learners and researchers.
- open.conted The gateway to Open Educational Resources and other freely available resources created or selected by tutors of the University of Oxford Department for Continuing Education.
- Open Culture An aggregator of free, downloadable courses from the world's leading universities, including many courses relating to Creative Writing.
- Open Learn Free online courses and resources provided by the Open University. Covers many subjects, including Creative Writing.
- The Oxford Centre for Life-Writing The Centre is committed to outreach, collaboration, and fostering research into life-writing. It promotes a lively, cross-disciplinary dialogue on the full range of life-writing, including biography, memoir and social media forms, through a busy programme of events, including lunch talks, performances, panel discussions, seminars and full-day workshops.
- The Poetry Society Membership organisation providing events, publications, competitions and education to support poets and poetry audiences. The Society supports small local groups around the country called "Stanzas".
- BBC Writers Room Training, advice and opportunities for script writers. Includes the Script Library, where you can read BBC film, TV and radio scripts in full.
- Oxford Playhouse residencies Oxford's local theatre supports playwrights through two residencies: the Playhouse Playmaker programme for playwrights at any stage of their career, and The Plot for later career playwrights.
- Writing Lives: biography and beyond Interviews with leading biographers, writers, and scholars about life writing in all its forms.
- Oxford Writers House Talks A series of talks exploring writing mediums, methods, interests, and approaches, produced by the Faculty of English Language and Literature at Oxford University.
- Writers in Dialogue Peter D. McDonald, Professor of English and Related Literature in the Faculty of English and Fellow of St Hugh's College, talks to contemporary writers about their work.
- BBC Writers Room Podcast Writers of popular BBC shows answer listeners' questions
The Poetry Archive exists to help make poetry accessible, relevant and enjoyable to a wide audience. It came into being as a result of a meeting, in a recording studio, between Andrew Motion, soon after he became U.K. Poet Laureate in 1999, and the recording producer, Richard Carrington. They agreed about how enjoyable and illuminating it is to hear poets reading their work and about how regrettable it was that, even in the recent past, many important poets had not been properly recorded.
The Archive is a not-for-profit organisation with charitable status. It is run by a small staff, supported by a distinguished board of trustees and a panel of specialist advisers. We depend for our existence on funding from public bodies, charitable trusts and generous individuals. The money we earn from sales of Poetry Archive CDs goes towards making more recordings.
- LibriVox Public domain audiobooks, including both fiction and non-fiction.
We accept no responsibility for the content of these external websites, which may have their own terms and conditions.
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- Last Updated: Jun 20, 2024 4:42 PM
- URL: https://libguides.bodleian.ox.ac.uk/creative-writing
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Start Writing Today With These 4 Free Online Courses for Beginners
Outstanding writing skills are an asset to anyone looking to write a book, take the next step in their writing career, produce an award-winning web article, or get the freedom to work from anywhere.
However, online course , you’ll need to hone your skills before tapping away at your keyboard.
Thanks to revolutions in the educational landscape, there are many free online courses to help you polish your skills and become a better writer.
Today, you’ll learn about these 4 outstanding free online writing courses for beginners:
- Writing With Impact (LinkedIn Learning)
- Secret Sauce of Great Writing (Udemy)
- The Writer’s Toolkit (Skillshare)
- Start Writing Fiction (Future Learn)
1: Writing With Impact (LinkedIn Learning)
The Writing With Impact course offers you the opportunity to learn how to craft engaging, powerful, and persuasive content. It’s also a great refresher for writers looking to stay up to date on the latest skills.
You’ll not only learn how to craft better sentences and paragraphs but also how to structure your writing for maximum impact. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to write short, clear, and purposeful pieces.
Your instructor for this one-hour on-demand course, Tom Geller (writer, journalist, and communications consultant), will cover key topics including:
- Meaning of writing with impact
- Learning about your readers
- Understanding how people read
- How to write short and clear sentences and paragraphs
The course includes supplemental reading resources and chapter quizzes to help you learn more effectively, enjoyably, and efficiently. Upon completion, you will receive a shareable certificate.
Besides learning how to Write With Impact on LinkedIn’s official website, you can also study offline with the LinkedIn Learning app for Android or iOS.
2: Secret Sauce of Great Writing (Udemy)
You’ve probably spent time in front of a screen, punching out some words, and realized no one would read them.
If this is the case, then the Secret Sauce of Great Writing is the course for you!
The course is designed to teach you how to write your message such that it captures the attention of your reader from the very first sentence.
You’ll discover how other authors use the 4 components of excellent writing (simplicity, clarity, elegance, and evocativeness) to craft compelling copies.
Renowned journalism tutor, Shani Raja , will guide you through the course. The ex-Wall Street Journal senior editor has taught hundreds of thousands of students how to make their writing sparkle.
The course is structured into 9 topics, covering distinct components of outstanding writing:
- The secret sauce of flair
- The four crucial ingredients
- How I discovered the sauce
- The power of simplicity
- Clarity exercises
- The power of elegance
- Elegance exercise
- The power of evocativeness
- Evocativeness exercises
This self-paced course uses learning techniques such as direct messages from the instructor and continuous writing exercises to ensure active participation.
★★★★★ I liked that a lot ! The instructor did a perfect job in explaining and giving real-world examples. I liked that a lot. Joseph W. Learner
All you need to enroll is a laptop and internet connection. After finishing the course, you’ll receive a certificate of completion.
3: The Writer’s Toolkit (Skillshare)
If you’re struggling to write well because of bad habits (such as not reading, lack of a writing plan, not receiving constructive criticism well), this course will assist you in developing successful writing habits .
Simon Van Booy, best-selling and award-winning author, will walk you through the six critical stages to developing an effective writing routine:
- Make your own pace
- Find your medium
- Read inspiring works
- Set your conditions
- Stick to a routine
- Sketch to stay inspired
The table below lists some of Van Booy’s best books:
Pobble’s Way | 2010 |
Gertie Milk and the Keeper of Lost Things | 2017 |
Why We Need Love | 2010 |
The City of Windy Trees | 2009 |
The Sadness of Beautiful Things: Stories | 2018 |
Apart from video lessons, you’ll be assigned a project in which you’ll have to employ at least one of the above steps in your writing.
You can enroll for this course by visiting the Skillshare website or downloading the Skillshare app on your Android or iOS phone.
4: Start Writing Fiction (FutureLearn)
Anyone who thinks fiction writing can’t be taught is mistaken.
While there are no definitive rules to follow for fiction writing, many widely-used techniques can help you kick-start your writing journey, improve your writing, or craft an amazing story .
In this course, you’ll learn from established fiction writers such as Monique Roffey, Louis de Bernières, Michèle Roberts, Patricia Duncker, Abdulrazak Gurnah, Alex Garland, and Tim Pears.
The course covers:
- How to read as a writer
- Character creation in fiction
- Character sources for different stories
- How to present characters in stories
- Writing practice (observation, research, creativity, and editing)
- Workshops ad peer-reviewing
This self-paced course lets you explore a writer’s notebook, learn how to develop unique writing ideas through research and observation, and get inspired to write.
★★★★★ Great course ! This course was fantastic. It was informative, challenging, and inspiring, I’m so glad I did it. Janice M. Verified Learner, USA
Get Started…
We all want to hone our writing skills, master our craft and succeed in our writing careers.
However, many of us don’t want to go back to school and pursue an MFA in creative writing.
Thankfully, there are many free online courses that teach you how to write effectively and market your work, all from the comfort of your home.
Whether you’re a novice writer or just need to brush up on your craft, these courses will help you get the most out of your writing.
Here are some other free online courses for beginners in 2022:
- Writing For Online Engagement (Skillshare)
- Writing with Flair (LinkedIn)
- Writing What You Know (The Open University)
- Creating Content that People Love to Read (Skillshare)
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- Online Courses /
7 Best Online Creative Writing Degree
- Updated on
- Aug 31, 2024
Creative writing is a craft that allows individuals to give voice to their thoughts and emotions and serves many objectives and purposes. In this blog, the candidates will get to learn the objectives of creative writing and its purposes. Creative writing is a dynamic and versatile discipline that has enchanted both writers and readers for generations. In this blog, students will focus on the purpose of creative writing that will turn aid students in understanding why a writer writes and the importance of the relationship between author and reader.
This Blog Includes:
Online english creative writing ba, creative writing ba (hons) (online), bsc in english and writing – creative writing, creative writing and teaching diploma, creative writing specialisation, the foundations of fiction (writing mastery).
Online Creative Writing Degrees by Southern Creative Writing Degrees | In this course the candidates will get to learn skills such as writing and editing techniques, literary analysis and critical thinking |
Online English Creative Writing BA by UCF Online | Through this course the candidates will become an expert communicator with a deep appreciation of fiction, poetry and non-fiction prose |
Creative Writing BA (Hons) (Online) by Falmouth University | This course will prepare the candidates to join the global creative writing marketplace, equipped with specialist knowledge, an adaptable skill set, and a clear vision of their place within the market. |
BSc in English and Writing – Creative Writing by Liberty University | Candidates will get a flexible and affordable education. The duration of this course is 8 weeks with certification |
Creative Writing and Teaching Diploma by Udemy | This course is specially designed for aspiring writers, educators, and anyone interested in nurturing creative expression and teaching the art of writing |
The Foundations of Fiction (Writing Mastery) by Udemy | They will get to master the 6 universal foundations that make up all great fiction, write vibrant, riveting dialogue that will breathe life into your scenes |
Creative Writing Specialisation by Coursera | This course will teach the candidates about short story writing, fiction writing, creativity, copy editing. |
Check the Best Online Content Writing Courses
Top 7 Online Creative Writing Degree
Check below the list of the top 7 online creative writing degree:
Online Creative Writing Degrees
Southern New Hampshire University offers this complete Online Creative Writing Degrees. This is one of the most-demand programs; for more information, read below:
In this course the candidates will get to learn skills such as writing and editing techniques, literary analysis and critical thinking, application of storytelling elements, literary form, genre, structure and style, use of genre conventions and techniques, professional portfolio building.
Level | All Levels |
Duration | 8 weeks |
Fees | $30 |
Certification | Yes |
Website: https://www.snhu.edu/online-degrees/bachelors/creative-writing
This Online English Creative Writing BA is offered by University of Central Florida. This is one of the most-demand programs; for more information, read below:
Through this course the candidates will become an expert communicator with a deep appreciation of fiction, poetry and non-fiction prose. The students will also get ready for a career in a variety of fields, including law, teaching, editing, publishing, consulting and more.
Level | All Levels |
Duration | – |
Fees | $179.19 per credit hour |
Certification | Yes |
Website: https://www.ucf.edu/online/degree/english-creative-writing-b-a/
This Creative Writing BA (Hons) (Online) is offered by Falmouth University. This is one of the most-demand programs; for more information, read below:
This course will prepare the candidates to join the global creative writing marketplace, equipped with specialist knowledge, an adaptable skill set, and a clear vision of their place within the market. Students will get to experiment with form and prompts, embrace the art of reading as a writer and also learn how to connect with a vast range of audiences.
Level | All Levels |
Duration | 2 years/ 3 years |
Fees | – |
Certification | Yes |
Website: https://www.falmouth.ac.uk/study/online/undergraduate/creative-writing
This BSc in English and Writing – Creative Writing course is offered by Liberty University. This is one of the most-demand programs for more information, read below:
Candidates will get a flexible and affordable education. The duration of this course is 8 weeks with certification. This courses strongly focuses on providing them with the skills they will need for success, critical thinking, technical writing, literary analysis and methods of research.
Level | All Levels |
Duration | 8 weeks |
Fees | – |
Certification | Yes |
Website: https://www.liberty.edu/online/arts-and-sciences/bachelors/english-and-writing/creative-writing/
This Creative Writing and Teaching Diploma course is offered by Udemy. This is one of the most-demand programs; for more information, read below:
This course is specially designed for aspiring writers, educators, and anyone interested in nurturing creative expression and teaching the art of writing. This course will equip you with the knowledge, techniques, and resources needed to excel. The candidates will also get to download for free the self care journaling workbook, descriptive creative writing skills, narrative creative writing skills, landscapes visual creative writing skills.
Level | All Levels |
Duration | 1.5 hours |
Fees | Rs 499 |
Certification | Yes |
Website: https://www.udemy.com/course/creative-writing-and-teaching-diploma/
10 Best Online Business Writing Courses to Apply in 2024
This Creative Writing Specialisation course is offered by Coursera. This is one of the most-demand programs; for more information, read below:
This course will teach the candidates about short story writing, fiction writing, creativity, copy editing. They will learn in demand skills from university and industry experts, master a subject or tool with hands on projects, develop a deep understanding of key concepts, earn a valuable career certificate.
Level | All Levels |
Duration | 1 month |
Fees | Free Level |
Certification | Yes |
Website: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/creative-writing
The Foundations of Fiction (Writing Mastery) is offered by Udemy. This is one of the most-demand programs for more information, read below:
They will get to master the 6 universal foundations that make up all great fiction, write vibrant, riveting dialogue that will breathe life into your scenes. They will get to compose intricate, scintillating prose that will pull readers in from the first word, create complex, realistic characters who will jump right off the page.
Level | All Levels |
Duration | |
Fees | Rs 3099 |
Certification | Yes |
Website: https://www.udemy.com/course/the-foundations-of-fiction-writing-mastery/
5+ Best Online BSC Courses
The purpose of creative writing is to entertain and share human experience like love or loss. In creative writing, people usually express themselves, to persuade a reader or inform the readers and to create a literary work.
The 5 C’s of creative writing are clarity, cogency, conventionality, completeness, concision, tensions and relative importance.
There are basically four types of creative writing such as fiction, creative non-fiction, scriptwriting, poetry. Each type has its own features and conventions. Most of the creative writing revolves around certain characters, plot, setting or theme.
Related Articles:
Hope this blog provides you with all the important details, for more information about such courses, visit our online courses page .
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An enthusiastic content writer with a total experience of almost 2.7 years. Dedicated to help students with study abroad.
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- Postgraduate
Novel Writing MA (Online Distance Learning)
Search the website.
Writing a novel is on most bucket lists, but very few people make their dream a reality. Our fully flexible online MA enables you to develop your novel at your own pace, at times to suit your lifestyle, from anywhere in the world
Register your interest
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Viewing course details for 2025 year of entry
- Course overview
About your course
- Teaching and learning
Facilities and support
Entry requirements.
- Fees and funding
- Related courses
Why study the Novel Writing Online Distance Learning MA at Middlesex University?
You’ll be supported throughout by acclaimed novelists, who are experienced creative writing lecturers with valuable industry links.
Our practical and contemporary approach to novel writing ensures you are able to hone your writing skills and develop your book while also identifying gaps in the market and how to approach agents and publishers.
Through our online campus you can access the support of our experts, while interacting with others on the course, at a time to suit you, and you complete the course in one year (full-time). From idea generation, to developing character and plot, to pitching your novel to publishers, this MA equips you to master your novel.
Course highlights
- Our teaching team are all experienced creative writing lecturers as well as being novelists – they include novelist, critic and TV director/producer Dr Adam Lively and fantasy novelist/critic Dr Adam Dalton
- You’ll be learning with state-of-the-art distance learning tools and 24-hour web support through our innovative online platform
- Creative writing at Middlesex has strong links with the publishing industry, including hosting the annual North London Story Festival , which has included appearances by writers such as former poet laureate Carol-Anne Duffy, novelist David Nicholls and Booker Prize shortlisted author Stephen Kelman
- Get free access to the resources, learning materials and software
This course is subject to review.
What will you study on the Novel Writing MA?
This course is divided into five modules taken over three terms (if studied full time) which take you through the full process of writing a novel. While exploring in depth such key techniques of fiction as plotting, narrative voice, characterisation and background research, each module is also designed to be flexible and to allow you to bring your own writing interests and projects to the assignments, extending the boundaries of your current practice through self-reflection, research, analysis, and creative exploration.
Here is a brief overview of what you will study each year
Writing as a Novelist (30 Credits) - Compulsory
This module explores key writing techniques such as narrative, setting and characterisation, with reference to literary examples and the different methods used by writers in the creative process. This is an opportunity for you to explore the scenes and characters of your planned novel or develop a variety of ideas and approaches if you have not decided on the content of your story.
Reading as a Novelist (30 Credits) - Compulsory
Building on the 'Reading as a Writer' concept (most famously explored in Francine Prose's book), this module explores how published writers handle the technical and ethical problems which are likely to present themselves in your writing. Through a combination of weekly 'practical criticism' exercises and an online 'book group' you will develop the analytical skills to improve your own writing and the problem-solving techniques to overcome any obstacles in your approach.
Research: Writing, Markets, Audiences (30 Credits) - Compulsory
This module explores the methods fiction-writers employ to research elements of their stories, as well as investigating the reasons why research is necessary – to provide authenticity, to avoid error, to create verisimilitude, and even to get inspiration. You will also learn about researching the possible markets, audiences and publishing outlets for your creative work.
Developing and Publishing the Novel (30 Credits) - Compulsory
This module moves on from the 'portfolio' focus of earlier modules to deal with the challenges of working on a specific novel. Through a series of writing exercises you will begin to evolve characters, explore themes and refine settings for your planned novel. This is an opportunity for you to begin the sustained prose narrative that is expected in the following dissertation.
Major Project (60 Credits) - Compulsory
Your final dissertation is an opportunity for you to take all the knowledge and skills you have acquired in the preceding modules and apply them to 20,000 words of an original novel with a synopsis for sending to an agent or publisher and an accompanying critical commentary.
To find out more, please download the Novel Writing MA (Online Distance Learning) course specification (PDF) .
Sign up now to receive more information about studying at Middlesex University London.
You'll be taught by an experienced teaching team with a wide range of expertise and professional experience.
How we'll teach you
Coursework and assessments.
How is the MA Novel Writing taught?
This course is an online distance learning programme, so all teaching and learning is done online.
You will meet, work and study with your fellow course participants and tutors in a virtual space which provides you with the flexibility to learn at your own pace, in your own time. Our Virtual Learning Environment encourages you to share your writing, interact, question, and participate with others on your course, ensuring you never feel as if you are studying in isolation.
You will learn through
- Carefully structured modules that take students through key aspects of novel-writing
- Tailored writing exercises, with accompanying feedback from tutors and fellow students
- Guided reading and interactive discussion and analysis
- One-to-one online tutorials on individual projects
- Extensive online support materials – e-books, videos.
Where will I study?
This course will be taught online.
Assessment is on the basis of creative work, including a 15,000-word final submission, along with reflection on the writing process in the form of discussion posts, on-line learning journals and critical commentaries.
Our Sheppard Library provides a wide range of resources and support to help you to succeed in your studies.
Over 1,000 study spaces including rooms for group study and over 500 computers available.
We have one of London's biggest and best university campuses with everything you need in one place.
Student support.
We offer lots of support to help you while you're studying including financial advice, wellbeing, mental health, and disability support.
Additional needs
We'll support you if you have additional needs such as sensory impairment or dyslexia. And if you want to find out whether Middlesex is the right place for you before you apply, get in touch with our Disability and Dyslexia team .
Our specialist teams will support your mental health. We have free individual counselling sessions, workshops, support groups and useful guides.
Work while you study
Our Middlesex Unitemps branch will help you find work that fits around uni and your other commitments. We have hundreds of student jobs on campus that pay the London Living Wage and above. Visit the Middlesex Unitemps page.
North London campus
Our north London campus is 23 minutes away by underground train, travelling from London Kings Cross.
- International
- How to apply
Qualifications
We normally require a second class honours degree 2:2 or above, or equivalent qualification (a writer has to have something to write about!). We will also accept individuals with a minimum of three years' work experience,
Those without formal qualifications will need to demonstrate relevant writing experience and the ability to study at postgraduate level.
2,000 word submission
To be accepted to study on the Novel Writing MA, we are particularly looking for writing promise, ambition and dedication. All applicants are required to submit 2,000 words of recently written work as part of their application. This should be as a Word document. It is likely to be creative writing in prose form, e.g. an excerpt from a short story or novel, or it could be an essay or piece of creative non-fiction, for example.
We accept the equivalent recognised overseas qualifications for a 2:2 degree or above, or equivalent qualification (a writer has to have something to write about!). We will also accept individuals with a minimum of three years' work experience. Those without formal qualifications will need to demonstrate relevant writing experience and the ability to study at postgraduate level.
To find out more about the qualifications we accept, visit the your country support page . If you are unsure about the suitability of your qualifications or would like help with your application, please contact your nearest regional office for support.
We are particularly looking for writing promise, ambition and dedication. All applicants are required to submit 2,000 words of recently written work as part of their application. This should be as a Word document. It is likely to be creative writing in prose form, e.g. an excerpt from a short story or novel, or it could be an essay or piece of creative non-fiction, for example.
English language
You must have competence in English language to study with us. IELTS must have minimum 6.5 overall with 6.5 in Reading, Listening and Speaking and a minimum 7.0 in Written component for 202410. We also normally require Grade C GCSE or an equivalent qualification.
If you don't meet our minimum English language requirements, we offer an intensive Pre-sessional English course .
Applications for postgraduate study should be made directly to the university. Please visit our postgraduate application page for further information and to apply.
The fees below are for the 2025/26 academic year.
UK 1 / International students 2
Full-time students: £8,600
As an undergraduate alumnus continuing postgraduate studies at Middlesex, you are eligible for an alumni award worth 20% off your fees.
Fees disclaimers
1. UK fees: The university reserves the right to increase postgraduate tuition fees in line with changes to legislation, regulation and any government guidance or decisions. The tuition fees for part-time UK study are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
2. International fees: Tuition fees are subject to annual review and we reserve the right to increase the fees each academic year by no more than the level of inflation.
Any annual increase in tuition fees as provided for above will be notified to students at the earliest opportunity in advance of the academic year to which any applicable inflationary rise may apply.
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We’ll carefully manage any future changes to courses, or the support and other services available to you, if these are necessary because of things like changes to government health and safety advice, or any changes to the law.
Any decisions will be taken in line with both external advice and the University’s Regulations which include information on this.
Our priority will always be to maintain academic standards and quality so that your learning outcomes are not affected by any adjustments that we may have to make.
At all times we’ll aim to keep you well informed of how we may need to respond to changing circumstances, and about support that we’ll provide to you.
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Free Creative Writing Courses. Creative writing courses are amazing because they can be applied to just about anything you want to write, from memoirs to novels…even nonfiction! These classes teach you the basic skills you need to write fluidly, fluently, and with style—essential no matter what your genre or field.
Exploring Virginia... This free course introduces Virginia Woolf's last novel... Learn more to access more details of Exploring Virginia Woolf's Between the Acts. Free course. 6 hours. Level: 2 Intermediate. This resource is part of the University Ready hub. Find more resources like this on the hub homepage.
2. Creative writing: The craft of plot (Wesleyan University) This short course can be completed in one day and is one of five modules in Wesleyan University's Creative Writing offerings. In this ...
In summary, here are 10 of our most popular creative writing courses. Creative Writing: Wesleyan University. Write Your First Novel: Michigan State University. The Art of Storytelling: IESE Business School. The Strategy of Content Marketing: University of California, Davis. Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop: California Institute of the Arts.
Free Creative Writing Courses. Start Writing Fiction The Open University via FutureLearn Get started with your own fiction writing, focusing on the central skill of creating characters, with this hands-on course. ... Online learning specialist, still learning after 200+ online courses completed since 2012. Class Central customer support and ...
Website: Free Online Screenwriting Course . 6. Creative Writing Course - The Crafty Writer. This is a free online creative writing course from The Crafty Writer and run by Fiona Veitch Smith, who is an author, freelance journalist, editor, playwright, screenwriter and writing teacher.
This free course, Start writing fiction, will give you an insight into how authors create their characters and setting s. You will also be able to look at the different genre s for fiction. If you identify as being from a Black background, you could be eligible to study our MA in Creative Writing for free.
For writers in the US: Writer's Market 2020. Reedsy is more than just a blog. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book. A comprehensive directory of 65 free writing classes in 2024, vetted by the team at Reedsy. Filter for the perfect writing course by genre, location, and more!
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So learn to develop expansive narratives and optimise your writing for mobile devices, social media communities, virtual and augmented realities and more. Enrol here. Also read: 6 free online history courses to take while you're self-quarantined from Harvard University and more. 6 free online music courses you can enrol in while you self-isolate
Learn Creative Writing, earn certificates with paid and free online courses from Harvard, Stanford, University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins and other top universities around the world. Read reviews to decide if a class is right for you.
In summary, here are 10 of our most popular creative writing courses. Creative Writing: Wesleyan University. Write Your First Novel: Michigan State University. Good with Words: Writing and Editing: University of Michigan. The Art of Storytelling: IESE Business School.
This course teaches you how to use your creativity to think a little outside the box and put a unique twist on things. Creative writing has many genres and subgenres and a set of established rules and practices that can help writers develop their own distinctive voices. We introduce you to these elements to help you get started with writing.
Brought to you by Tom Bromley. Tom Bromley is an author, editor, ghostwriter, and creative writing tutor. He is Reedsy's Head of Learning and the creator of their upcoming 101-day How To Write A Novel course. He has written and co-written a dozen books under his own name and ghostwritten a dozen more, including prize-winners and international bestsellers.
Anyone can take an online class, watch video lessons, create projects, and even teach a class themselves. Browse. Learning Paths. Cancel. BETA ... Online Creative Writing Classes. Find what fascinates you as you explore these Creative Writing classes. Start for Free. Scripts & Screenwriting; Fiction; Creative Nonfiction; Poetry; Sort by: Most ...
Creative writing courses delivered straight to your inbox. Whether you're a new writer or a published author, there's no such thing as a writer who can't learn something new about their craft. Reedsy Learning's online writing courses make it easy for anyone, regardless of skill level, to improve their craft, build better routines, and ...
3. Writing for Online Engagement (Skillshare) Moving on is another great course for beginners that is taught by Rebecca Sky in this 1 ¼ hour class on fiction writing in a digital age. Rebecca is an author of YA fiction and has also written for companies including Paramount, Sony, Microsoft, Lay's, and Kraft.
Start Writing Fiction. Credit: Open University. The Open University Start Writing Fiction course is a free creative writing course online. The program is meant for those who want to learn the strategies for writing fiction. The curriculum includes topics such as character development, setting, and genre.
Best Creative Writing Courses. These free online creative writing courses will teach you how to craft original and self-expressive writing. Creative writing encourages writers to exercise their creative minds and use their imaginations. It helps improve memory function and promote greater feelings of happiness among other benefits.
Stanford Continuing Studies' online creative writing courses make it easy to take courses taught by instructors from Stanford's writing community. Thanks to the flexibility of the online format, these courses can be taken anywhere, anytime—a plus for students who lead busy lives or for whom regular travel to the Stanford campus is not possible.
Creative Writing: Free Online Resources. In addition to resources the Bodleian Libraries purchases, there are a number of alternative free online resources to support the study of Creative Writing. If you have any suggestions to help us expand this page, please contact [email protected].
Thanks to revolutions in the educational landscape, there are many free online courses to help you polish your skills and become a better writer. Today, you'll learn about these 4 outstanding free online writing courses for beginners: Writing With Impact (LinkedIn Learning) Secret Sauce of Great Writing (Udemy) The Writer's Toolkit (Skillshare)
Check the Best Online Content Writing Courses. Top 7 Online Creative Writing Degree. Check below the list of the top 7 online creative writing degree: Online Creative Writing Degrees. Southern New Hampshire University offers this complete Online Creative Writing Degrees. This is one of the most-demand programs; for more information, read below:
Course highlights Our teaching team are all experienced creative writing lecturers as well as being novelists - they include novelist, critic and TV director/producer Dr Adam Lively and fantasy novelist/critic Dr Adam Dalton You'll be learning with state-of-the-art distance learning tools and 24-hour web support through our innovative ...