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Creative Writing Classes Online

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Unleash your creativity and become a master storyteller with online creative writing classes. Discover the art of crafting compelling narratives, enhancing your writing skills, and unlocking your full imaginative potential.

32 classes have spots left

Creative Writing Weekly via Zoom

The Writing Studio @ Live Online via Zoom

Unleash your creativity and find your unique voice through the power of writing. Join a supportive community of writers as you explore the art of storytelling and unlock your hidden potential. Whether you're a seasoned writer or new to the craft, this class will guide you on an inspiring journey of self-expression and literary discovery.

(55) All levels 17 and older
$200

4 sessions

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Creative Writing Workshop - All Genre

Los Angeles Writers Group

Unleash your creativity and explore new genres in an online writing workshop. Unlock your potential with surprising prompts, craft discussions, and positive reinforcement from fellow writers. Join us from anywhere and start crafting pages you never thought possible.

(43) All levels 18 and older

Creative Writing 101: 6 Weeks (Online)

Gotham Writers Workshop @ Zoom Conference

Unleash your creativity and explore the world of creative writing with confidence in this immersive course. Dive into the power of observation, imagination, and language as you learn to craft compelling fiction and nonfiction narratives. Discover your unique voice and embark on a journey that will ignite your passion for storytelling.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$364

6 sessions

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Creative Writing 101: 6 Weeks (Self-Paced)

Gotham Writers Workshop

Unleash your creativity and explore the world of creative writing with confidence in this immersive course. Dive into the power of observation, imagination, and language as you learn to craft compelling fiction and nonfiction narratives. Discover your unique voice and embark on a journey that will ignite your passion for storytelling.

(745) All levels 18 and older
$364

2 sessions

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Songwriting Level 1: 10 Week Workshop (Online)

Gotham Writers Workshop @ Zoom Conference

Unleash the power of your music with Gotham Writers Workshop's Songwriting Level 1. Learn the time-tested elements of songwriting craft and how to market your work. Whether you love pop, rock, hip-hop, R&B, or country, this workshop will show you how to write unique, personal songs.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$464

10 sessions

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Creative Nonfiction 101 Level 1 (Self-Paced)

Gotham Writers Workshop

Discover the endless possibilities of nonfiction writing in this immersive course. From memoir to travel writing, you'll explore diverse styles and topics, honing your skills through writing exercises and assignments. Join us for a guided tour into the exciting world of creative nonfiction.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$364

2 sessions

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Creative Nonfiction 101 Level 1: 6 Weeks (Online)

Gotham Writers Workshop @ Zoom Conference

Discover the endless possibilities of nonfiction writing in this immersive course. From memoir to travel writing, you'll explore diverse styles and topics, honing your skills through writing exercises and assignments. Join us for a guided tour into the exciting world of creative nonfiction.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$364

6 sessions

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Saturday Creative Writing Workshop

The Writing Studio @ Live Online via Zoom

Unleash your creative potential and embark on a transformative writing journey in the peaceful atmosphere of The Writing Studio's inspiring workshop. Through meditation and constructive feedback, this Zoom-based class invites both experienced and beginning writers to explore the realms of memoir and fiction, while surprising themselves with the extraordinary material they produce.

(55) All levels 17 and older

Character Development Level 1 (Online)

Gotham Writers Workshop @ Zoom Conference

Discover the secrets of creating unforgettable characters in this cross-genre course at Gotham Writers Workshop. From Sherlock to Katniss, learn how to bring your characters to life with vivid dimensions and captivating traits. Unlock the magic of character development and leave a lasting impression on your readers or audience.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$200

2 sessions

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Finish that Novel!

Santa Monica College

Unlock your inner author and bring your unfinished manuscript or story idea to life in a supportive and professional environment. Get expert feedback, personal critiques, and a winning strategy for completing your novel to your satisfaction at Santa Monica College. Don't miss your chance to make your writing dreams a reality.

(513) All levels 18 and older
$108

6 sessions

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Memoir 101: Memoir Essentials with Erika Schickel

Writing Pad

Explore the art of transforming personal experiences into captivating narratives with memoirist Erika Schickel. Gain insights into crafting compelling emotional journeys, mastering vivid storytelling, and delving deep into your own narrative. Whether you're a seasoned writer or new to memoirs, uncover the secrets to bringing your story to life.

(59) All levels 16 and older

Mystery Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop (Self-Paced)

Gotham Writers Workshop

Unleash your inner detective and learn the art of crafting captivating mysteries. Join us at Gotham Writers Workshop and uncover the secrets behind creating suspenseful plots, intriguing characters, and thrilling twists that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Develop your skills in the mystery genre and master the techniques needed to captivate any audience.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$464

2 sessions

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Fiction Writing Level 1 (Online)

Gotham Writers Workshop @ Zoom Conference

Unlock your imagination and learn the art of crafting captivating fiction stories in this immersive workshop. Discover the secrets of effective storytelling and gain valuable insights into the human experience. Join us and embark on a journey to bring your stories to life.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$464

10 sessions

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Novel II: Intermediate Novel Writing Workshop

Writing Pad

Take your novel to the next level with Gretchen McNeil, bestselling author of 13 Novels and Get Even (Netflix), in this exclusive online workshop. Get personalized feedback and custom exercises while being part of a tight-knit writing group. Make a significant dent in your novel and bring in your work for expert feedback.

(59) Intermediate 18 and older
$425

5 sessions

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Digital Picture Book Private (Ages 8-11)

Young Gates @ Interactive Live Online

Unleash your creativity and embark on an imaginative journey as you learn the art of designing and creating your interactive picture book. Young Gates presents a captivating workshop where you will master the process of concept designing, digital illustrations, book layouts, and more. Join us now and let your imagination run wild!

Beginner 8 - 11 years old
$250

5 sessions

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Fiction Writing Level 1 (Self-Paced)

Gotham Writers Workshop

Unlock your imagination and learn the art of crafting captivating fiction stories in this immersive workshop. Discover the secrets of effective storytelling and gain valuable insights into the human experience. Join us and embark on a journey to bring your stories to life.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$464

2 sessions

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Children’s Book Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop (Online)

Gotham Writers Workshop @ Zoom Conference

Embark on a magical journey through the world of children's books in this immersive workshop. Learn the secrets of captivating young readers and balancing imagination with professionalism. From picture books to YA novels, discover how to write stories that will enchant and inspire.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$464

10 sessions

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Poetry Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop (Self-Paced)

Gotham Writers Workshop

Unleash the power of poetry as you learn to pack a maximum punch with a minimum of words. Discover specialized techniques, demands, and forms of poetry, and master the art of writing exquisite verses that captivate the soul. Whether you write for publication or simply for yourself, this workshop will guide you toward creating poetry that resonates and inspires.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$464

2 sessions

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Online Level 1 Intro to Fiction and Poetry

The Writers Studio @ Google Meet

Unlock your most intimate and private stories through personal writing in this online workshop. Develop narrative and lyric voices to turn even the most difficult subject matter into inspiration for your fiction, poetry, and creative non-fiction. Broaden your sense of what is possible in your own work and receive constructive critiques from teachers and fellow students.

(7) Beginner 18 and older
$435

8 sessions

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Poetry Writing Level 1: 10-Week Workshop (Online)

Gotham Writers Workshop @ Zoom Conference

Unleash the power of poetry as you learn to pack a maximum punch with a minimum of words. Discover specialized techniques, demands, and forms of poetry, and master the art of writing exquisite verses that captivate the soul. Whether you write for publication or simply for yourself, this workshop will guide you toward creating poetry that resonates and inspires.

(745) Beginner 18 and older
$464

10 sessions

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Reviews for Creative Writing Classes Online

Creative Writing Classes Online are rated 4.4 stars based on 1,422 verified reviews from actual CourseHorse.com purchasers.

  • Creative Writing Workshop - All Genre

    Reviewed by Colinda G. on 3/6/2023
    It was my first time ever trying to write. The exercises given where nice and fun to do even though English isn’t my first language. The host created a very positive and safe space to explore your own writing. I learned a lot and feel like exploring writing further.
  • Fiction Writing Level 1 (Online)

    Reviewed by Katie on 9/21/2022
    I highly recommend this course to anyone interested in writing a short story or novel. In my class there were about 15-20 students with varying interest areas and writing experience. The major highlights were the teacher and the critiques. Our teacher, Varud, had a thoughtful perspective and response to nearly every question someone from the class threw at him. Beyond his knowledge and experience, he was incredibly attentive, kind, patient and encouraging. The second big benefit of the class was the critique process, called the "Booth" submissions. Twice throughout the class, you'll submit your work to be critiqued by the rest of the class. Each week, you'll read your classmates works and provide a critique. Both parts of that process are incredibly valuable. If I had to nitpick about things that could've been better - cut the exercises you do with classmates throughout the class and shave about 30-60 minutes off class time. While I got a lot from my classmates when reading their work or listening to their opinions on my writing, the mini exercises peppered throughout class didn't add much for me. Overall, I highly recommend this class to anyone interested in writing fiction!
  • Creative Writing Workshop - All Genre

    Reviewed by Stacey C. on 1/9/2022
    Very enjoyable, inspiring, and helpful class with a wonderful instructor and great people!
  • Creative Writing Workshop - All Genre

    Reviewed by Jane W. on 10/31/2021
    This class was so much fun. Nicole is an insightful and encouraging coach. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone commencing a fiction project.
  • Creative Writing Weekly via Zoom

    Reviewed by RICK CHERTOFF on 9/23/2021
    Beyond learning skills I needed somebody who "gets" what I write, what I'm interested in, and Then gives the kind of feedback that "feeds" my desire to write. I have a life of my own stories I want to tell and Elana at the Writing Studio consistently, actually without fail, is ready to help me birth those stories.
  • Creative Writing Weekly via Zoom

    Reviewed by Sina on 9/16/2021
    I have been taking creative writing class with Elana for the past two years, both in person and on Zoom. I especially like that the class is on Zoom, because I can still benefit from receiving invaluable writing instructions and writing experiences that Elana provides, in the comfort of my own home. I highly recommend this class for those who are looking for a small class setting with personalized instruction and feedback, and looking to transform stories into works of art.
  • Creative Writing Weekly via Zoom

    Reviewed by Heather Sioux on 9/13/2021
    I came to Elana's class through a gift certificate my cousin had given me for my Birthday and I must say this is the most serendipitous birthday gift yet! I initially attended a one day workshop where I was able to begin cultivating my ability and discover my voice, and I enjoyed it so much I've continued with weekly sessions. It's been ten months now! Elana leads the classes with intention, kindness and mutual respect, throughout the course of our time tougher so far I feel I've been able to further hone my creativity and expression. I attend class via zoom from the east coast and although I have never met Elana or any of my writing cohort in person they have all become an important community to me during this pandemic. I'm so grateful to have met Elana and for my experiences in our weekly sessions! Elana thank you so much for your wisdom, commitment and light. I truly hope we can meet in person one day.
  • Creative Writing Weekly via Zoom

    Reviewed by Rochelle Caplan on 9/10/2021
    I have been taking creative writing lessons with Elana Golden from January 2020. Prior to the COVID epidemic I attended in-person classes and since the onset of the epidemic I have participated in weekly classes via Zoom. Irrespective of the venue, whether in-person or virtual, Elana's classes are excellent. The feedback she provides on my writing samples and on those of other students has helped me to begin to understand the nuts and bolts and do's and don'ts of writing a novel. Elana is devoted to her students' work and often comes up with additional thoughts and insights about their writing during the week after class and before the next lesson. I highly recommend these classes to anyone who wants to learn creative writing.
  • Creative Writing Weekly via Zoom

    Reviewed by Deborah Myers on 9/10/2021
    I have been participating in Elana’s classes, at first in person, now on zoom, for over a year and a half. To say I enjoy them is an understatement. She creates an environment that allows and encourages you to write deeply from your heart. The three hours each week I spend with Elana and the others in the group are a time of exploration and self-knowing I would not experience were I writing on my own. She teaches technique organically, and gives you the insight to see your writing more deeply as it and you evolve. Classes with Elana have become a priority activity in my week that I cherish.
  • Creative Writing Weekly via Zoom

    Anonymous review on 9/10/2021
    I have been attending Elana's class now for two years. I started in her cozy living room and since the pandemic have been attending via Zoom. Elana is a great instructor. She is nurturing yet knows how to gently push her students to put their best work on paper. The weekly sessions are both relaxing and rejuvenating. Elana addresses each student with helpful constructive feedback and encourages positivity from the rest of the group. I've stuck around as long as I have because Elana makes my work feel worth it.

Discover the Best Creative Writing Classes Online

Have you ever had a great idea for a novel or a screenplay that could make you a million dollars—if only you could write it in the first place? Writing is a mysterious process to those whose literary efforts since college haven’t extended beyond text messages and business emails, but learning to string words together is very much like learning to string steps together when learning to walk. There are, of course, mechanics to writing that novel or screenplay that you have to know, but they can be learned, and there are classes and workshops aplenty that can help you unleash your writerly creativity. You may not necessarily be able to sell that novel or screenplay for a million dollars, but you certainly can learn to write it.

Why You Should Learn Creative Writing Online

Self-expression is a wonderful thing, and the ability to express yourself in written words can be a wonderful and freeing experience. People journal for precisely this reason, but creative writing can have the same effect on its practitioners. You get to make up worlds of your own, fill them with characters of your own design, and tell stories about them. Although, unless you’re really lucky, writing fiction is a hobby more than a career, that’s no reason not to take pen in hand and flex a little literary muscle.

Although Simon & Schuster might not buy your first novel (or Netflix pick up your first screenplay), you can easily publish your work on your own today. Things like Kindle Direct Publishing, Amazon Publishing, and just putting your short stories on your own website (or even your Facebook page) make it possible for your work to reach an audience. The entire nature of a vanity press has been entirely transformed since Proust was obliged to cover the substantial publication costs of Swann’s Way. Your work no longer has to sit in your bottom drawer, totally ignored by the world until it’s discovered after your death, and you achieve posthumous fame.

Another reason for taking a creative writing class would be simply to improve your writing. You don’t need to worry about plot or characters when writing for business, but the fact is that the more you write, the better you get at it. The better you write for work, the better you’re going to look. As a bonus, your storytelling skills developed by writing fiction can even come in handy when you’re called upon to create “story”-based presentations.

Virtual Creative Writing Classes 

Although there are in-person live creative writing classes to be found in most major cities, the fall of the cards is such that an extensive selection of online creative writing classes is available. Nothing could be simpler than taking an online class: fire up your computer, kick off your shoes, log onto Zoom, and Bob’s your uncle. The advantages in terms of convenience are considerable and make it easy to pick up new skills. Creative writing is a hobby that’s very easily learned across the internet: if you want to learn, say, weaving online, you’re going to have to get a loom and thread before you can get started. All you need for creative writing is the computer you already have with which to go online and maybe a pad of paper and some sharpened pencils. With that very modest equipment, you’ll be all set to begin an adventure into the realms of your own imagination.

Among the virtual options at your very real fingertips is a very good place to begin, How to Write a Novel. Given by Santa Monica College’s Community Education division, the eight-session class teaches aspiring novelists how to create a coherent plot, sympathetic characters, and effective conflict that will keep readers engaged. Classroom reviews of students’ work are done in a highly supportive environment. Participants will emerge from the program with a completed outline and possibly even a first chapter to show for their efforts.

If you’ve already started on a masterpiece of narrative fiction and either got stuck or lost interest, Santa Monica College’s online program also offers a class called Finish that Novel! In seven sessions, the course points students towards completing their unfinished efforts.

Participants get a chance to offer their work for (strictly supportive) critique and have the option of staying for 30 minutes after class for a more extended review of what they’ve written.

If that idea you can’t get out of your head is for a screenplay rather than for a novel, you might consider Write Your Screenplay. Offered by Jacob Krueger Studio in New York, the four-session workshop brings students to an approach to screenwriting very different from that taught in most film schools. The idea is to develop an idea from the inside rather than imposing external rules on your ideas. In-class writing exercises form a large part of the curriculum, which also includes feedback from your fellow aspiring screenwriters and even advice on how to avoid procrastination and find the discipline required to make writing a regular part of your life.

The Writers Studio in New York proposes an Online Level 1 Intro to Fiction class. Based on the school’s underlying concept of Persona Writing, the class encourages students to cast off their inhibitions by assuming the styles of various professional authors and, through this process, refine their own individual voices. Feedback is delivered by the teacher in writing to the students, a detail often overlooked in creative writing classes. There is also an optional additional session each week during which the teacher discusses literary technique via Google Meets.

If your ambitions are on a smaller scale, Writing Pad has Short Story 1: Short Story Writing Workshop on tap for those who wish to learn to write a good, solid piece of short fiction. If not the most commercial of forms, the short story makes an excellent learning experience for any writer. The course combines in-class writing exercises and talks about writerly craft, and by the end of five three-hour sessions, students will have a polished short story in their hands and have received practical advice on how to get it published.

Webcast live from the Flatiron Building in Manhattan is something altogether different, a class in Meditative Writing. This is a technique that weds guided meditation to the creative process and has participants using meditation as a means of developing characters by simulated experience rather than by rational thought, resulting (the method presumes) in more adventurous writing. The class is suitable for writers in all genres at all levels of development.

Private Online Group Creative Writing Classes

Managers are always looking for a great new team-building event that’s actually fun and that achieves its goal of bringing team members together. Why not try a creative writing workshop? Guided writing exercises can dip into participants’ creative sides, help them to realize the pleasure of writing, and maybe come away with the beginnings of a short story.

CourseHorse can arrange for creative writing classes for private groups online for all your team members, wherever they may be located. This type of event is particularly felicitous for organizations whose teams are scattered to the remote four winds and has the further advantage of requiring no special equipment. Use the contact form on the CourseHorse website to obtain further particulars or to plan your event.

CourseHorse has a whole world of further online group classes that can help teams bond and give them a few hours’ fun in the process. If you’re not sure about the creative writing class, perhaps you’d be interested in putting your team’s literary capabilities to use in a different way: the Virtual Team-Building Improv Workshop has participants interact in creative (and, yes, funny) ways while painlessly trying on new listening and collaboration strategies.

Booking your next group event through CourseHorse has many advantages, including your not needing a finalized headcount at the time of booking. There is also an extremely forgiving cancellation policy, and you’ll have the event fulfillment team at your disposal to answer questions and take care of details until the minute the event begins. You’re also not locked into using Zoom for virtual events: multiple platforms are supported, giving you the choice of how the event is delivered to your team.

Online vs. In-Person Creative Writing Classes

Choosing between a live in-person and a live online class can be the source of some perplexity. On one level, nothing can take the place of a live in-person class. Unless you were in school during the COVID Years, live in-person is the way you learned growing up, and it’s the way your brain was taught to learn. Live classrooms are familiar settings, and you’re likely to absorb more there than in any other environment. Having to sit up and pay attention means you’ll get the most out of the class, and nothing can replace direct face-to-face contact with a human teacher.

The live online course, on the other hand, offers a degree of convenience that simply is not to be found in an old-fashioned brick-and-mortar classroom. There’s no commute to school to worry about, and you can follow the online class from the most comfortable and familiar of surroundings. Moreover, people who have had their fill of traditional learning environments and who dread the idea of sitting in a conventional classroom ever again will find that online classes are tailor-made for them. The final choice depends ultimately on your personal learning style, as well as, of course, the availability of live in-person classes in your vicinity. If you like being in groups, by all means, go for the in-person class; if you prefer your own company, perhaps online learning is right for you.

Can I Learn Creative Writing for Free Online?

YouTube is awash with videos with tips for creative writers. Some of these video tutorials contain useful information, exercises, and tips and tricks that can help you as a writer. Can these, in the aggregate, make a fluent writer out of you? Probably not. While they can help put you on the right path, the impossibility of feedback from a canned tutorial is highly problematic when it comes to learning something like creative writing, especially for beginners who have yet to develop the means to evaluate their own work. Thus, if you’re serious about writing, you’ll need to do more than dabble in YouTube videos and seek out a class in which you and your work can receive the kinds of human attention they both require and deserve.

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