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60 Best Essay Creative Writing Classes in 2023

Showing writing courses curated by Reedsy.

Location

This directory of creative writing courses will help you find the right class for you. Simply filter by genre, price, and location to find the writing class that best fits your needs.

Best of luck! If you run a writing course and would like to get in touch with us about your class, contact us here.


This eight-week, exercise-intensive course by Melissa Ximena Golebiowski aims to boost writing productivity and inspire writers of all levels. Featuring weekly video meet-ups, it focuses on generating new work in fiction and nonfiction, with feedback from instructors and peers. The course, beginning November 9, 2023, welcomes writers working in all genres and at any skill level.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Class size: 10

Price: $550.00

Start date: January, 2024

Website: https://sackettworkshop.com/writing/2023/09/26/8-wk-writi...


This 3-hour seminar focuses on the brief essay form as an ideal medium for experimenting and taking risks with material. Participants will examine the mechanics of several published flash essays that creatively utilize form and style, discussing how these unique approaches enhance the conveyed truths. The course includes generative exercises to apply these techniques to the participants' own material, aiming to shape flash essays that surprise, challenge, and delight readers.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Boston

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Course length: 1 (3 hours)

Class size: 12

Price: $85.00

Start date: October, 2023

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/flash-essays-inve...


This 3-hour seminar focuses on the brief essay form as an ideal medium for experimenting and taking risks with material. Participants will examine the mechanics of several published flash essays that creatively utilize form and style, discussing how these unique approaches enhance the conveyed truths. The course includes generative exercises to apply these techniques to the participants' own material, aiming to shape flash essays that surprise, challenge, and delight readers.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Boston

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Class size: 12

Price: $85.00

Start date: October, 2023

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/flash-essays-inve...

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Drop-In Creative Writing Workshop

SF Creative Writing Institute


Join this writer's workshop for expert feedback on your work, prompts for new writing, and a chance to engage in a constructive critique environment. You'll produce and share short new writing based on a developmental prompt, leaving the workshop with fresh material and perspectives.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: San Francisco

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Class size: Limited

Price: $40.00

Start date: October, 2023

Website: https://sfwriting.institute/events/drop-in-writing-worksh...

Drop-In Creative Writing Workshop

SF Creative Writing Institute


This workshop provides a space for writers to receive feedback on their work, generate new writing based on prompts, and engage in serious critique of prepared pieces. It is suitable for those working on poetry, fiction, and memoir.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: San Francisco

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Class size: Limited

Price: $40.00

Start date: October, 2023

Website: https://sfwriting.institute/events/drop-in-writing-worksh...


Conducted by Wendy Noonan from October 27-29, this three-session online course via Zoom delves into the use of lyrical techniques to express grief. It's tailored for writers interested in creating stories and poetry about grief, using a mix of lyricism, discursiveness, fragmentation, and silence. The course encourages extensive writing, catalyzed through reading, conversation, and varied prompts and exercises.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Portland

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Class size: Unlimited

Price: $135.00

Start date: October, 2023

Website: https://literary-arts.org/event/grief-and-the-lyric-essay/


This course is designed for both new and experienced writers, focusing on creative writing exercises to construct characters, settings, dialogue, and imagery. It also includes discussions on the writing process and the analysis of short pieces by various authors.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Class size: 12

Price: $355.00

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/jumpstart-your-wr...


Taught by Perrin Kerns, this workshop focuses on the lyric essay, a form that combines various fragments like memories, research, and poetry. Participants will write fragments in response to prompts and braid them into essays, with the goal of creating at least one lyric essay by the end of the workshop.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Portland

Categories: Essay

Level: Beginner

Class size: Limited

Price: $195.00

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://literary-arts.org/event/the-lyric-essay-braiding-...

6 Weeks, 3 Essays

GrubStreet


This course encourages writers to produce three essay drafts over six weeks, focusing on different themes or craft elements each week. It includes writing and sharing drafts, formal workshopping, and studying examples from renowned authors. Students will also practice writing and receiving editorial letters.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Boston

Categories: Essay

Level: Intermediate

Class size: 12

Price: $385.00

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/6-weeks-3-essays-8/


Investigate the connection between objects and memory in this class, where everyday items become rich material for writing across genres. Through reading and discussion, explore how tangible objects in poetry, fiction, and memoir can be laden with meaning.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Houston

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Course length: 1 (3 hours)

Class size: 15

Price: $70.00

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://www.writespacehouston.org/creative-writing.html


This workshop, led by Alissa Hattman, is dedicated to short-form creative writing, including flash fiction, short essays, and prose poems. It emphasizes the deliberate economy of language and encourages experimentation in a supportive environment.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Portland

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Course length: 5 (2 hours)

Class size: 14

Price: $283.00

Start date: November, 2023

Website: http://atticinstitute.com/node/2807

6 Weeks, 6 Essays

GrubStreet


This course offers an opportunity to craft personal essays, drawing inspiration from various published works. It emphasizes experimenting with different styles and forms, enhancing storytelling skills through weekly assignments and feedback.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Boston

Categories: Essay

Level: Any

Class size: 12

Price: $385.00

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/6-weeks-6-essays-51/

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

 

Save courses to shortlist them

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