Quick Answer
Best free: Sanderson’s BYU lectures. Best with feedback: Gotham Writers ($379+). A course only works if it includes feedback on YOUR writing.
There are basically two challenges with writing.
The first is knowledge.
I see new authors post stuff online like “I’ve decided to write a book, but I don’t write or read books… how do I get started?”
The common advice is to start writing; so first time authors just write a book with no guidance and end up with something they are very proud of but nobody enjoys reading. Luckily there are consistent, practical ways to improve your writing quickly; mostly just by avoiding all the common mistakes everybody makes left to their own devices.
Only a few authors (out of thousands) get to this level – the level of basic competency – through a combination of persistence, passion and patience.
The second is motivation.
I was *very* excited to *finally* finish a series this spring, but didn’t, which led to six months of apathy and procrastination. Maybe you know what I’m talking about.
Even (or especially) if you know what you’re doing, it doesn’t really get easier, and the middle of every book feels like an impossible mess that will never come together.
Most aspiring authors face two problems: they don’t know what they don’t know about writing craft, and they can’t push through the messy middle of a book alone. A good writing course fixes both. A bad one takes your money and gives you motivation quotes.
I’ve organized this guide by what you actually need, because “best creative writing course” depends entirely on where you are:
You need structure and craft fundamentals — not a $5,000 coaching program. Start with our step-by-step guide to writing your first book.
You need editing skills and accountability, not another lecture about “finding your voice.” Check out professional novel editing or self-editing courses below.
You need someone who knows the business. Our guide to the best writing software and apps is a good companion to any course.
Best Online Writing Courses at a Glance
| Course | Price | Best For | Feedback? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novel Writing Basics (Creativindie) | Free | Absolute beginners | No |
| Brandon Sanderson BYU Lectures | Free | Fantasy/sci-fi writers | No |
| Reedsy Learning | Free | Self-paced email courses | No |
| Wesleyan/Coursera Specialization | Free to audit | University-style instruction | Peer only |
| Bookcraft Academy (Creativindie) Best Value | $297 | First novel + measurable feedback | Yes — 3 scored reports |
| MasterClass | $120/yr | Inspiration from famous authors | No |
| Writing Mastery Academy (Jessica Brody) | $29/mo | Structure + revision method | Community |
| Gotham Writers | $379–$515 | Live workshops + real critique | Yes |
| The Novelry | $599–$4,995 | UK trad publishing path | Yes |
| The 90-Day MFA (Creativindie) Premium | $297/mo × 3 | Full program: draft → edit → publish | Yes — monthly reports + pro edit |
| UCLA Extension | $600–$800 | University prestige without MFA | Yes |
| Udemy | $12–$95 | Budget self-paced | No |
| Skillshare | $168/yr | Broad creative skills | No |
Should you buy an creative writing course?
Look: What most authors will do, is immediately hire an editor for thousands of dollars; and the editor will waste time with simple stuff like tenses and typos, and rarely fix the critical, core, story details that would make a big difference. Developmental editors are expensive and you *could* learn how to structure or self-edit your story by yourself, even though it will take time and effort.
So there’s not really a clear answer. Unless you’re still posting for feedback online, or signing up for expensive manuscript critique workshops or writing courses. Most of these will focus on the writing and not the story.
So they’ll either give you a false sense of confidence (my writing is GREAT!) or a false sense of incompetence (this sucks!) when most likely, neither is true.
Here’s what I can tell you (and I know from experience) – even if paying for a course feels uncomfortable, excessive, outlandish, even foolhardy (after all you *can* try to learn everything yourself, even though it’s nearly impossible to judge your own work) it forces you to be accountable, to show up and do the work, and practice in public. Writing is a very difficult skill to master, and you can shave years of struggle off your learning curve, if you can afford it. So you could argue it’s almost always better to invest in yourself.
Looking for the best creative writing courses to finally write your book? I’ve spent over a decade studying writing craft (including a PhD in Literature), published multiple bestsellers, and tested dozens of programs. Here’s my honest breakdown of which online writing courses are actually worth your time and money — and which ones are overpriced inspiration with no real substance.
Let’s embark on a literary quest to discover the best online creative writing courses that can help to transform you from a scribbling rookie into a wordsmithing wizard.
Free Creative Writing Courses Worth Your Time
1. Novel Writing Basics (Creativindie) — Free Free
My free YouTube video series covering the fundamentals of writing a novel that doesn’t suck — story structure, character development, pacing, and the common mistakes that kill manuscripts. Based on my experience writing bestsellers and critiquing over 1,000 first chapters.
Most “free courses” are lead magnets with no real content. This one actually teaches you things. And yes, I’m listing my own stuff first on my own website — I built this guide because I genuinely believe it’ll help you find the right course, including mine if it’s the right fit.
If you’re brand new to writing, pair this with our complete guide to writing your first book for the full picture.
2. Brandon Sanderson’s BYU Lectures — Free Best Free
Full university-level lecture series on writing fantasy and science fiction, filmed at Brigham Young University. Sanderson releases new series regularly (2020, 2024, 2025, 2026 available). Covers plot, character, worldbuilding, magic systems, and the business of writing.
3. Reedsy Learning — Free
Short, structured email courses on writing and publishing, delivered over 10 days. Topics include “How to Write a Novel,” self-publishing, book marketing, and genre-specific craft. Particularly good for understanding the self-publishing landscape.
Cost: Free. reedsy.com/learning
4. Coursera: Creative Writing Specialization (Wesleyan) — Free to Audit
A four-course specialization from Wesleyan University covering character, setting, story, and a creative writing capstone. University-quality instruction for anyone.
Cost: Free to audit. $59/month or $399/year for Coursera Plus. coursera.org
Best Creative Writing Courses Under $500
5. Bookcraft Academy (Creativindie) — $297 Best Value
Everything I’ve learned writing bestsellers, earning a PhD in Literature, and editing thousands of manuscripts, packaged into a complete write-to-publish system. But the part that makes it different from every other course: 3 full beta reader reports included, so you can actually measure whether you’re getting better.
Here’s how it works: you learn the craft, write your book, then run it through our proprietary beta-reader scoring system. It scores your manuscript across five dimensions — pacing, character, plot logic, prose, emotion — and tells you exactly what’s weak and how to fix it. You fix it, score again, watch the numbers go up. That’s not “I feel like my writing improved.” That’s proof.
What’s inside:
- The 25-Chapter System — proprietary plot structure used by thousands of writers (templates for Scrivener, Word, Google Docs, Plottr)
- Writing Craft Deep Dive — scenes, conflict, tension, dialogue, pacing, backstory — the mistakes I see in 90% of manuscripts and how to fix them
- Advanced Editing Module — self-editing techniques that take a manuscript from “done” to “good”
- Commercial Nonfiction & Memoir — specific strategies for self-help, how-to, memoir, biography
- The Writer’s Life — making a career sustainable (not just a single book)
- 3 Beta Reader Reports — one per month, scored across 5 dimensions, with specific fix recommendations per chapter
- 201 Writing Mistakes Reference — the complete library at bookbutchers.com/writingtips
- BONUS: Novel Writing Basics (full standalone course)
- BONUS: Navigate Your Nonfiction (full standalone course)
- BONUS: Free writing tools at creativindie.com/apps
Most courses teach writing OR publishing. This covers both, with commercial craft at the center. And most courses give you lessons and say “good luck.” This one gives you lessons, tools that identify what’s wrong, education on why it’s wrong, and specific techniques to fix it. ProWritingAid can flag your adverbs. This teaches you why your chapter 12 is boring and how to restructure it.
6. MasterClass (Writing Collection) — $120/year
Video courses from Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, James Patterson, Malcolm Gladwell, Dan Brown, and others. Each course has ~5 hours of high-production-value video. Unlimited access to all MasterClass courses (not just writing) for one annual fee.
What you don’t get: Any interaction, feedback, or structured curriculum. Nobody reads your writing. Nobody tells you what you’re doing wrong. You watch videos and feel inspired, and then you’re on your own.
Cost: $120/year (Standard), $240/year (Duo). masterclass.com
7. Jessica Brody’s Writing Mastery Academy — $29/month Best Subscription
A subscription-based library of 13+ courses built around the Save the Cat! story structure method. Includes Novel Fast Drafting, character development, genre craft, self-publishing modules, and monthly webinars.
Cost: $29/month. 30-day money-back guarantee. writingmastery.com
8. Gotham Writers Workshop — $379-$515 Best Live Workshop
Live, instructor-led writing workshops covering fiction, memoir, and multiple genres. The workshop format forces you to actually write and receive honest feedback — something no video course provides. Faculty are working writers who know craft and teach well.
Cost: $379-$515 + $25 fee. Groupon sometimes ~$129. writingclasses.com
9. Holly Lisle’s How to Think Sideways — ~$300
A comprehensive, career-oriented course covering idea generation, outlining, drafting, revision, and the business of writing. 29 lessons across 6 sections from an author with 30+ published novels. Includes the business side that most courses skip.
Cost: ~$25/month for 12 months. 14-day guarantee. Limited enrollment. hollyswritingclasses.com
10. Margie Lawson’s Writing Courses — $22-$120
Craft-focused lecture packets and live classes from developmental editor Margie Lawson. Her EDITS System (Emotion, Dialogue, Internalization, Tension, Setting) is legendary in the romance community. 14 self-study packets at $22 each cover topics like “Empowering Characters’ Emotions” and “Deep Editing.”
Cost: $22-$120. margielawson.com
11. Udemy Writing Courses — $12-$95
Best for: Budget writers wanting specific skills. Quality varies wildly — Udemy is the dollar store of online education. Buy during sales ($12-$15). Standouts: “Writing with Flair” by Shani Raja, “Ninja Writing.” No instructor interaction.
Cost: $12-$95 (frequently on sale). udemy.com
12. Skillshare — $168/year
Best for: Writers who also want adjacent skills (design, marketing, productivity). Writing courses alone are too inconsistent to justify the subscription. Worth it only if you’ll use it broadly. Pair with our guide to the best writing software and apps to build your complete toolkit.
Cost: $168/year or $32/month. 1-month free trial. skillshare.com
Best Premium Creative Writing Programs ($500+)
13. The 90-Day MFA (Creativindie) — $297/mo Premium Pick
Everything in Bookcraft Academy, plus the structure and accountability of a real graduate writing program — compressed into 90 days, focused on commercial craft (not literary theory), and designed to end with a publish-ready manuscript instead of a thesis nobody reads.
This is the DIY MFA alternative for writers who want real education, real feedback, and real results — at a fraction of the cost of a traditional program.
The 90-Day Structure:
- Month 1 — Foundations & First Draft: Story architecture (25-Chapter System), character, voice, POV. Weekly assignments + curated reading list. Goal: complete outline + 25,000 words.
- Month 2 — Revision & Self-Editing: Intensive craft lessons, 201 common writing mistakes, self-editing techniques, beta reader report to score your manuscript. Goal: complete revised draft with measurable improvement.
- Month 3 — Polish, Publish & Career: Professional editing pipeline, cover design + formatting guidance, marketing strategy, launch plan. Goal: publish-ready manuscript + career roadmap.
What’s included that no other program offers:
- Full Bookcraft Academy course content ($297 value)
- Monthly beta reader reports — scored manuscript analysis with specific fix recommendations
- Professional editing pipeline for your completed manuscript
- 201 Writing Mistakes applied to YOUR manuscript
- Curated MFA reading curriculum — craft lessons from the world’s best literature
- Certificate of Completion
- Career support: marketing pipeline, publishing strategy, sustainability plan
| Traditional MFA | Online Programs | The 90-Day MFA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | $30,000–$60,000 | $2,000–$10,000 | $891 |
| Duration | 2 years | 6–12 months | 90 days |
| Commercial focus | No (literary) | Varies | Yes — books that sell |
| Manuscript feedback | Workshop critique | Assessment only | Scored reports + full edit |
| Publishing guidance | No | Agent submission | Self-pub + trad path |
| End result | Thesis | Finished novel (maybe) | Published book + career plan |
The MFA Alternative — Real Education, Real Results
90 days. Structured program. Scored feedback. Professional editing. Certificate. $891 total — less than a single semester of any MFA program in the country.
14. The Novelry — $599-$4,995
Tiers:
- The Big Idea ($599): 30 lessons, 1 coaching session
- The Big Write ($1,895): 100 lessons, 6 coaching sessions
- The Big Edit ($1,595): 52 lessons, 2 editorial sessions
- The Finished Novel Course ($4,995): All three + manuscript assessment
Cost: $599-$4,995. 7-day guarantee. thenovelry.com
15. Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild — $49/month
Best for: Christian and inspirational fiction writers. Jenkins (200+ books, Left Behind series) is generous with his time. Direct Q&A and monthly live workshops. Strong for its niche, off-target for other genres. Be aware of the $1 trial that auto-converts.
Cost: $49/month or $970/year. jerryjenkins.com
16. Story Grid (Shawn Coyne) — $84-$197/month
Best for: Analytically-minded writers who want a systematic, almost mathematical approach to structure. The methodology is genuinely powerful. The problems: “takes forever to get to the point,” “spreadsheet-intensive,” and genre coverage is uneven (strongest for thriller). Certification runs $7,600+ over 3 years.
Cost: $84-$197/month or $799-$1,997/year. storygrid.com
17. UCLA Extension Writers’ Program — $600-$800/course
Best for: Writers who want university prestige without a full MFA. The gold standard for non-degree writing education. 400+ courses per year, consistently high instruction quality. Expensive — full certificates exceed $14,000.
Cost: ~$600-$800/course. Certificates $4,320-$14,556. writers.uclaextension.edu
18. Curtis Brown Creative — from $40
Best for: UK writers targeting trad publishing. The agency connection (Curtis Brown is a top literary agency) gives students a potential path to representation. Ranges from $40 bootcamps to ~$4,000 year-long mentorships. Quality instruction, UK-focused.
Cost: $40-$4,000. curtisbrowncreative.co.uk
More Writing Courses Worth Knowing About
19. Writer’s Digest University — ~$580
Best for: Writers who trust institutional credibility. Writer’s Digest has been the biggest name in writing education for over 100 years — they’ve outlasted every trend, every platform shift, every “writing is dead” panic. Their 12-week instructor-led workshops cover fiction, nonfiction, poetry, freelancing, and genre-specific craft with actual published authors teaching.
The quality is consistently solid (not spectacular, not bad — reliably good). Where they shine: genre-specific workshops (mystery, romance, sci-fi) taught by people who actually publish in those genres. Where they don’t: the self-paced courses feel dated compared to newer platforms.
Cost: ~$580/workshop. Bundles available. writersdigest.com
20. The Open University — Start Writing Fiction — Free
Best for: Complete beginners in the UK (or anyone who wants a gentle, structured introduction). The Open University is a legitimate UK institution with decades of distance-learning expertise. Their free “Start Writing Fiction” course walks you through character, plot, setting, and voice across 8 weeks at roughly 3 hours/week.
The pacing is deliberately slow — this is designed for people who have never written fiction before and need permission to start. If you already have a draft, you’ll find it too basic. If you’ve been thinking about writing for years but never started, this is the nudge.
Cost: Free. open.edu
21. LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda.com) — $29.99/month
Best for: Professional writers, content creators, and anyone whose employer pays for LinkedIn Learning (check — many companies include it). The writing courses are taught by published authors and cover creative writing, copywriting, business writing, screenwriting, and content strategy.
The production quality is consistently high (professional studios, good audio, clear structure). The creative writing selection is thinner than dedicated platforms — maybe 30-40 relevant courses vs. hundreds at Skillshare or Udemy. But what’s there is polished and well-taught. Jessica Brody’s story structure course on LinkedIn Learning is excellent.
Cost: $29.99/month or $239.88/year. Often free through employers and libraries. linkedin.com/learning
22. Writers.com — $315-$630
Best for: Small-group workshops with genuine instructor feedback. Writers.com has been running online writing workshops since 1995 — before most of the internet figured out e-commerce. Class sizes are capped at 12-15 students, and every student gets personalized written feedback from the instructor on their submitted work.
The catalog covers fiction, poetry, memoir, and creative nonfiction with both introductory and advanced workshops. Some instructors are exceptional; a few are merely competent. The community is warm and supportive — less competitive than Gotham, more engaged than Udemy.
Cost: $315-$630/workshop (8-10 weeks). writers.com
23. Ninja Writers — $25-$75/month
Best for: Writers who need accountability and community more than instruction. Shaunta Grimes built Ninja Writers around a year-long Academy path with 100+ courses, weekly writing challenges, and a membership community that actually engages (not a ghost town like most writing forums).
The emphasis is on consistency — showing up, writing regularly, finishing drafts. The craft instruction is solid but not as deep as dedicated courses. Think of it as a gym membership for writers: the value is in the routine, not any single workout.
Cost: $25-$75/month depending on tier. ninjawriters.org
24. Savvy Authors — $50/year
Best for: Romance and genre fiction writers on a tight budget. Savvy Authors runs rotating online workshops (usually 2-4 weeks each) taught by published authors and industry professionals. The annual membership fee is absurdly cheap for what you get — access to dozens of workshops per year, a forum community, and occasional pitch events with agents.
The romance/genre focus is a feature, not a limitation. If you write romance, mystery, sci-fi, or fantasy, the instructors actually understand your market. The workshops rotate, so the catalog changes monthly.
Cost: $50/year. savvyauthors.com
25. The Writers Studio Online — $450-$575
Best for: Serious literary fiction writers who want rigorous workshop-style instruction rooted in the Philip Schultz method. The Writers Studio started as a brick-and-mortar institution in NYC and expanded online. Their approach centers on “generating” (producing raw material through structured exercises) before revising — the opposite of most courses that jump straight to critique.
Small cohorts (8-12 students), intensive feedback, and a multi-level progression from Level I through advanced workshops. The literary focus means this is not the place for genre fiction or commercial writing — they care about language, voice, and artistic ambition.
Cost: $450-$575/workshop (10 weeks). writerstudio.com
26. FutureLearn — Various Writing Courses — Free to $244/year
Best for: International learners and anyone who wants university-backed courses without university prices. FutureLearn partners with institutions like the University of East Anglia (home of the most famous UK creative writing program), Open University, and others. Courses include “Start Writing Fiction,” “How to Read a Novel,” “How to Make a Poem,” and genre-specific offerings.
Free access lets you take the course but not keep access after it ends. Unlimited access ($244/year) lets you revisit and earn certificates. The UEA courses carry genuine academic credibility in UK literary circles.
Cost: Free (limited access) or $244/year (unlimited). futurelearn.com
27. Australian Writers’ Centre — $150-$800 AUD
Best for: Australian and New Zealand writers (or anyone in compatible time zones for live sessions). The AWC runs one of the most comprehensive online writing course catalogs in the southern hemisphere — fiction, nonfiction, children’s/YA, poetry, screenwriting, and business-of-writing courses taught by published Australian authors.
Their flagship “Write Your Novel” program is a 6-month structured course with instructor feedback. They also run the “So You Want To Be A Writer” podcast (one of the longest-running writing podcasts globally) and host regular pitch events with Australian publishers.
Cost: $150-$800 AUD per course. writerscentre.com.au
28. CreativeWritingNow — Free
Best for: Complete beginners who want to test the waters without spending anything. CreativeWritingNow offers free email-based creative writing courses that deliver lessons to your inbox over several weeks. Topics include fiction fundamentals, poetry, memoir, and genre-specific introductions.
The instruction is basic but clear. Each lesson includes a writing exercise, which is the real value — you actually write, not just read about writing. No community, no feedback, no bells and whistles. Just you, your inbox, and a writing prompt.
Cost: Free. creative-writing-now.com
Bonus: The Book Fox
John Fox runs several focused writing courses on specific techniques:
Is an MFA in creative writing worth it?
Short answer: almost never.
I say this as someone with a PhD in Literature and ten years of academic study. Traditional MFA programs are designed for literary fiction — they emphasize artistic expression, experimental technique, and the literary canon. Almost none teach commercial fiction craft, book marketing, or the business of publishing.
The numbers are brutal: 95% of traditionally published books lose money. An MFA won’t change those odds. What it will do is cost you $20,000-$55,000 and two years of your life.
An MFA is worth it if:
- You specifically want to teach creative writing at a university (most positions require one)
- You’re independently wealthy and want the experience for its own sake
- You get into a fully-funded program with a stipend
For everyone else, the combination of self-study, targeted courses, and actual writing practice will serve you better. The outsiders who are selling books and building careers as indie authors have learned more about what makes writing work than most MFA graduates ever will.
MFA’s in creative writing, will mostly focus on creativity and expression and literary fiction. They won’t teach you the basics on writing and selling commercial fiction (and virtually all bestsellers are commercial, even the literary ones).
My PhD in literature hasn’t actually helped much; I still had to learn the craft of writing from scratch, it’s a hugely messy process for everyone and there *are shortcuts* to make it easier, as long as you’re intending to learn how to write books that sell (are read and enjoyed by actual readers happy to pay for them). If that is not your goal, and you *only* want to break rules, express yourself and maybe get lucky… very little will assist you because you can just do it that way instead of learning anything.
But since, even most traditionally published books don’t ever earn money (seriously, we have a ton of data on this) the chance that your book somehow will, is a lottery ticket, and you should absolutely not invest a ton of time into publishing books; if you want to learn how to WRITE better though, guidance can help… though I have mountains of free resources on this site to help you.
Myself, I’m a little more drawn to the outsiders who are selling tons of books self-published, and have had to do everything the hard way. I’m more drawn to indie authors who are using hacks and formulas to write books readers love and boost online conversions rather than count on favorable bookstore placement. That’s what I’m trying to do, with moderate success.
Marketing and publishing books is something else entirely, but I do have resources for that you can find in the above menu, including some free books and high-level marketing videos for authors.
Want the MFA experience without the MFA debt?
The 90-Day MFA gives you the structure, rigor, and editorial feedback of a graduate program — focused on commercial craft, at 1/30th the cost, in 1/8th the time. $891 total. 90 days. Published book at the end, not a thesis.
My recommendation: Start with a course to build your craft foundation. Then workshop your pages once you have them. Doing it in reverse — workshopping before you understand craft — is why so many workshop-goers spin in circles for years.
Writing course or writing workshop?
An online course is usually self-paced; you pay to access information and hopefully when you go through it, you’ll learn. But it’s hard to actually implement writing advice. Personally, the things I need are probably the same things I would avoid: accountability; weekly checkins or zoom meetings; assignments and deadlines; the social aspect of writing among peers.
A good writing workshop would give you critical feedback on YOUR writing, which some writing courses do offer – from an expert in your genre or type of writing. But it’s also super useful to learn how to critique other people’s work as well; often the best way to get better is to read bad writing and identify things to avoid, but you may need someone to point out to you exactly why something isn’t working. Guided group feedback can be great… unless it’s a bunch of amateur writers giving each other advice and criticism (they’ll often focus on the wrong things, or be too defensive, or focus on their passion projects – “being creative” – without learning how and why to make something objectively good… and yes there definitely is such as thing as good writing and bad writing).
| Course | Workshop | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | Self-paced video/text | Live group sessions |
| Feedback | Usually none | Instructor + peer critique |
| Cost | $50–$500 one-time | $300–$500 per session |
| Best for | Learning skills on your schedule | Practicing with accountability |
| Limitation | Nobody reads your work | Expensive, limited scope |
That said, courses tend to be cheap, a few hundred dollars, and workshops can be expensive, unless it’s just a one day workshop (more like a presentation or webinar) without ongoing coaching and feedback. But if you were to hire a real “writing coach” to read your whole book, you’d probably have to pay about as much as you’d expect to pay for developmental editing, unless they are just an accountability coach to help you finish your work, and not someone who is going to help you make it better – those can be different things.
FAQ About Online Creative Writing Courses
Are online creative writing courses worth it?
Yes — if you pick the right one. A $29/month subscription like Jessica Brody’s Writing Mastery Academy can teach more about story structure than a semester of college. Free options like Brandon Sanderson’s lectures or Reedsy Learning give you a real foundation for zero cost. What’s NOT worth it: paying $5,000+ for inspiration without feedback.
How do I choose the right creative writing course?
Start with your goal. Writing your first novel? Look for structure and fundamentals (Bookcraft Academy, Holly Lisle, or Writing Mastery Academy). Want live feedback? Gotham Writers. Want the full path to a published book with measurable improvement? The 90-Day MFA. Need help getting started? Read our step-by-step guide to writing a book first.
Can I learn creative writing online for free?
Absolutely. Brandon Sanderson’s YouTube lectures, Reedsy Learning’s email courses, Coursera’s Wesleyan specialization (free audit), and our own Novel Writing Basics series are all legitimately useful free options.
Do creative writing courses provide certificates?
Some do (Coursera, UCLA Extension, Writer’s Digest). But in publishing, nobody cares about certificates. What matters is the quality of your manuscript. An agent will never ask where you studied — they’ll ask to see your pages.
What’s better: a writing course or reading lots of books?
Both. Reading teaches you what good writing looks like. A course teaches you why it works and how to do it yourself. The best approach: read widely while studying craft.
What software do I need for a writing course?
Most courses work with any word processor. For a detailed comparison of tools, see our guide to the 45 best book writing software and apps.
Things to Watch Out for When Choosing an Online Writing Course
- Quality of the Course Content: Make sure the course covers all the key areas you want to learn about.
- Instructor’s Reputation: Look at the instructor’s background, qualifications, and student reviews.
- Course Duration and Flexibility: Check if the course duration fits into your schedule and if you can learn at your own pace.
- Price vs. Value: Just because a course is expensive doesn’t mean it’s the best. Likewise, a cheap course isn’t necessarily low quality. Look at what the course offers and decide if it’s worth the investment.
- Certification: If you need proof of learning, ensure the course offers a certificate upon completion.
- Interactive Elements: Courses with interactive elements like quizzes, assignments, and forums can enhance your learning experience.
- Real-life Applications: Look for courses that allow you to apply what you learn to real-life scenarios, like writing a short story or a blog post.
Green Flags & Red Flags When Choosing a Course
✓ Green Flags
- Instructor has actually published books
- Clear curriculum with specific outcomes
- Feedback on YOUR writing (not just theory)
- Student testimonials with verifiable results
- Money-back guarantee or free trial
- Honest about what it covers and doesn’t
✗ Red Flags
- “Become a bestselling author in 30 days!”
- Celebrity instructor who can’t teach
- No refund policy
- Vague “find your voice” with no craft content
- Required subscription to access paid content
- Zero student work examples or results
So there you have it, fellow wordsmiths – a laundry list of the best online writing courses to suit every style, genre, and level. Whether you’re a novice writer looking to pen your first masterpiece, or a seasoned scribe looking to sharpen your quill, there’s a course out there for you. So what are you waiting for? It’s time to dive in, start learning, and let your story unfold! Remember, every great writer was once an amateur who didn’t quit. Keep writing, keep dreaming!
The Bottom Line
You don’t need thousands of dollars to learn to write well. You DO need to invest time in craft, and the right course compresses years of trial-and-error into months.
Start free (Novel Writing Basics, Sanderson, Reedsy). Add Jessica Brody ($29/mo) or Margie Lawson ($22/packet) when ready.
Bookcraft Academy ($297) — the only course that includes 3 scored beta reader reports so you can measure your improvement. Gotham Writers ($379+) for the best live workshop.
The 90-Day MFA ($297/mo × 3) — structured program, scored feedback, professional editing, certificate. MFA rigor at 1/30th the cost.
Every great writer was once a beginner who decided to learn. The question isn’t whether a writing course is worth it — it’s whether you’re ready to do the work.
Derek Murphy has a PhD in Literature, is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, and has spent over a decade helping authors write, publish, and sell books through Creativindie. When he’s not critiquing manuscripts or building writing tools, he’s probably in a castle somewhere with cats.
4 Comments
The best courses I ever took, and the only ones I recommend, are the courses by Holly Lisle ( https://hollyswritingclasses.com). Not only are they very comprehensive, they are also fun. And the community that comes with the courses is the best place on the internet for writers. Seriously.
First of all, Guerilla Publishing course was the first writing course I took. It helped me to write several books. I still follow you to this day because I like what you do.
I’ve been a student of Mark Dawson for his SPF class. Add in few Story Grid classes, Your Plot Dot I got for a book that I’ll be editing next. I’ve done the Master classes by James Patterson and Dan Brown and learned a lot from both of them, Nick Stephenson’s Your First 10K readers course (still working on that 10K readers), and an intensive with Margie Lawson and Donald Maass. Margies are polishing and Don was all about emotions, character, setting ,and the senses.
Those all are extremely great classes that taught me to write well. But the one that has given me what I really needed is Writing Mastery Academy by Jessica Brody of Save the Cat Writes a Novel. I needed help in how to edit in an organized way that would be from developmental to polishing. Saying look at the story doesn’t help a lot when you don’t have a way of knowing what to look for. I signed up for her academy just for the revision course. It gives you a step by step method to look at your story, your scenes, characters, plot, conflict, tension, motivations, stakes, and a whole lot more–the basic stuff you need to make a book good. While you gave me the template to use to write, she gave me the template to edit. Margie and Donald Maass gave me the polishing things that I need to look at in the last stages of editing. Each one of the classes mentioned above have added to what I’ve learned.
PS Those are just the big classes. I’ve taken a lot more and read a lot of books (two of yours) that have added to everything.
Well, personally, I like targeted craft courses. For my money, I really love the short courses offered by Savvy Authors. They have a range of different courses that target everything from basic storytelling to very niche courses. I just finished one that focused specifically on hiding red herrings and other misdirections in a mystery. This is NOT an advertisement for them because I am not an affiliate or anything like that. I really do just like them. For a more robust set of courses for writers across the spectrum, I belong to Ninja Writers. Again, not an affiliate, just a paying member of both sites.
Literally any of Holly Lisle’s many classes/courses. I personally am a student in all of her big classes, and I own almost all of her smaller courses as well. Not to mention signing up for an account on her website earns you a free course on writing flash fiction and access to the forum where all of her students can ask questions, chat, brainstorm, etc. I wouldn’t be anywhere close to where I am now in my writing without her and the folks I’ve met in the forum.
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