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DIRECTORY

52 Best Essay Creative Writing Classes in 2025

Showing 52 courses that match your search.

Memoir Incubator

GrubStreet

A year-long program focused on revising memoirs, understanding the memoir form, and insights into the publishing industry through guest speakers. Provides a supportive environment for writers of all backgrounds and experience levels.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/intensive/memoir-incubator-2025202...

Categories: Essay

Start date:

June, 2025

Price:

$8,955.00

Based in Boston

Level: Intermediate

Length: 12 months, meeting weekly for 3 hours each session.

Class size: 10

Prerequisites: At least 50 pages of a memoir draft and prior experience in a writing group or workshop.

Writing to Heal I

GrubStreet

The course allows exploration of writing as a healing tool through analysis of various texts and personal narrative development in a supportive environment. It emphasizes the transformative power of personal narratives.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/writing-to-heal-i-su25

Categories: Essay

Start date:

June, 2025

Price:

$395.00

Online course

Level: Any

Length: 6 weeks

Class size: 12

Prerequisites: Participants are required to bring a copy of 'Writing as a Way of Healing' by Louise DeSalvo to the first class.

The conference features workshops, panel discussions, master classes, pitch sessions, and a keynote address. Attendees can participate in a welcome reception and a Saturday banquet, meeting prominent writers and experts. The course runs from March 21 to March 23, 2025.

Website: https://cwa12.wildapricot.org/event-5669588

Categories: Essay

Start date:

March, 2025

Price:

$480.00

Based in Chicago

Level: Any

Length: 3 full days

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: Participants must be members of the Chicago Writers Association. Membership is available for $25/year.

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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

Categories: Essay

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

$169.00

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: Self-paced, est. 5 weeks

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

The course offers feedback on personal essay projects in a supportive environment, includes student workshops, discussions on the craft of personal essays, and writing prompts. Each participant submits two drafts of their essays for feedback.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/find-a-class/

Categories: Essay

Start date:

August, 2024

Price:

$560.00

Online course

Level: Intermediate

Length: 8 weeks (1 session per week)

Class size: 12 seats max

Prerequisites: Intermediate-level experience in essay writing recommended.

Writing Workshop

Minneapolis Writers' Workshop

In this course, participants will join a virtual writer’s critique and support group, with weekly meetings for feedback and critiques, as well as Open Read nights where non-members can present their work.

Website: https://minneapoliswritersworkshop.org/

Categories: Essay

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Based in Minneapolis

Level: Any

Length: Weekly meetings (2 hours each)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

This free course teaches essential skills for essay and report writing, including planning, structuring, drafting, and polishing. It emphasizes practical strategies for interpreting assignment questions and effectively presenting arguments.

Website: https://www.open.edu/openlearn/

Categories: Essay

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: Self-paced, est. 15 hours

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

This course emphasizes effective scientific writing through practical exercises and examples, covering topics like manuscript formatting, peer review, and writing for broader audiences.

Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/

Categories: Essay

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: Self-paced, est. 30 hours

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Getting Started with Essay Writing

University of California, Irvine

This course covers three types of academic essays: compare/contrast, cause/effect, and argument. It includes video lectures, readings, quizzes, and peer reviews, with a focus on enhancing writing skills for both intermediate and advanced learners.

Website: https://www.coursera.org/

Categories: Essay

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: Self-paced, est. 19 hours

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

This specialization includes five courses focusing on short story writing, character development, setting and description, style, and culminates with a capstone project. It's designed to help aspiring writers craft original stories.

Website: https://www.coursera.org/

Categories: Essay

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

Free

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: Est. 1 month (10 hours per week)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

The workshop focuses on members reading their work aloud for feedback, covering various genres including novels, short stories, and poetry. They aim to help members get published and welcome both beginners and experienced writers.

Website: http://www.manchester-writers.org.uk/

Categories: Essay

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

£2.00

Based in Manchester

Level: Any

Length: Weekly meetings (2 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

This seminar focuses on blending personal essay writing with comedic storytelling, exploring how to make personal experiences relatable through humor.

Website: https://austinbatcave.org/

Categories: Essay

Start date:

Open all year round

Price:

$10.00

Based in Austin

Level: Any

Length: Self-paced (On-demand)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

How to choose an essay writing class

Looking to build your writing skillset, learn more about your genre, or finally finish that essay you’ve been working on? You’re in the right place. That’s why we built this directory of the best writing courses.

However, creative writing classes aren’t one size fit all. If you’re planning to join an essay writing class in particular, you’ll want to make sure that it matches what you’re seeking to learn about essay writing.

So make sure to consider the following questions when you’re researching essay writing courses:

  • Who is the instructor? How many years of experience do they have in essay writing?
  • Is there something in particular you’d like to learn about essay writing? Does this course include it?
  • How long is the course, and where is it taught?
  • How much does the essay writing course cost? Does it fit into your budget?

More essay writing resources

Whether you’re a new or established author, there are always evergreen resources out there to how to get a headstart on essay writing. 

Free online materials

Recommended books

 

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