Best Fiction Creative Writing Classes in 2023

Learn something new every week! Taught by experienced authors and publishing professionals, Reedsy Learning's free online writing courses and publishing classes have been prepared with your busy life in mind. Over a few minutes each day, you will join thousands of authors in learning how to write better, publish smarter, and sell more books.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Fiction

Level: Beginner

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://blog.reedsy.com/learning/

Writing Sprints is an exercise-intensive course designed to “unstick” writers struggling to start or continue new projects, boosting writing productivity. The course relies heavily on writing exercises (for both fiction & nonfiction writers). Students will produce a ton of new work in this class, and receive feedback on that work from the instructor and his or her classmates.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: 10

Price: $550.00

Start date: June, 2023

Website: https://sackettworkshop.com/writing/2022/11/05/8-week-onl...

Writing Sprints is an exercise-intensive course designed to “unstick” writers struggling to start or continue new projects, boosting writing productivity. The course relies heavily on writing exercises (for both fiction & nonfiction writers). Students will produce a ton of new work in this class, and receive feedback on that work from the instructor and his or her classmates.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: New York

Categories: Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: 10

Price: $600.00

Start date: May, 2023

Website: https://sackettworkshop.com/writing/2023/01/04/8-wk-in-pe...

Over the course of the next year, we’ll write seriously, we’ll read like scholars, we’ll meet best selling authors, luminaries in publishing, and distinguished booksellers and local literary agents. But most importantly, we’ll develop the resources and relationships to move ahead with a writing life once the course is finished.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Minneapolis

Categories: Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: Limited

Price: $7,500.00

Start date: February, 2023

Website: https://loft.org/novel-writing-project-specifics

The Professional Certificate in Creative Writing is designed to provide you with the skills necessary to write in a variety of creative writing genres. You will learn core creative writing skills and choose from a selection of electives.

Prerequisites: You must take several courses within program to qualify for certificate.

Location: San Diego

Categories: Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: Limited

Price: $3,510.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://extendedstudies.ucsd.edu/courses-and-programs/cre...

As we tailor every course personally to the particular writer, each creative writing course is tailored explicitly to you and what you want to write and achieve. However, we base all the courses on the same underlying course structure: 1 one-hour introductory session; 8 one-hour tutorial sessions; and 6 months between the introductory session and the final tutorial session.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: London

Categories: Fiction

Level: Any

Class size: Private

Price: £2,100.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.inkacademy.co.uk/creative-writing-course/

Fiction writing can be a transformative experience for both author and reader. In this class, during our week together, we will focus on practical elements of craft, on writing exercises that nurture those qualities that bend us toward more powerful, transformative writing, read brilliant examples of others and critique your own stories.

Prerequisites: Students are asked to email everyone a short story or novel excerpt.

Location: Seattle

Categories: Fiction

Level: Beginner

Class size: Limited

Price: $1,450.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.glenworkshop-store.com/index.php?dispatch=pro...

The course will introduce you to tutors and current students and offer opportunities to develop your own writing – and reading – in a lively and supportive environment. The programme will include a choice of in-person or online masterclass workshops, seminars and talks, delivered by practising writers and critics, with input from special guests.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Manchester

Categories: Fiction

Level: Beginner

Course length: 2 days (Full day)

Class size: Limited

Price: £250.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/english/courses/short/creative/#sum...

This course is divided into two parts. In the first, we’ll examine how to smooth out your prose, using seamless transitions and managing the pace of unfolding events. In part two, we’ll cover how to structure a novel in five focuses.

Prerequisites: Experienced writers who are finishing (or currently working on) a publishable work.

Location: Seattle

Categories: Fiction

Level: Advanced

Course length: 9 sessions (3 hours)

Class size: Limited

Price: $799.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.pce.uw.edu/courses/fiction-writing-the-novel

We’ll begin by covering the basics: forging strong opening sentences, distinguishing telling from showing, eliminating weak language and producing clean prose. We’ll discover how imitating admired writers can help you recognize and enhance the quality of your own narrative voice. Finally, you’ll hone the important skills of editing and rewriting to refine your work.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Seattle

Categories: Fiction

Level: Beginner

Course length: 9 sessions (3 hours)

Class size: Limited

Price: $679.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.pce.uw.edu/courses/the-art-of-writing

Follow the Story will explore the genres of fiction and nonfiction. The eight-week course will introduce you to a wonderfully diverse mix of writing–personal essays, memoirs, profiles, travel stories, short light pieces and short stories.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Seattle

Categories: Fiction

Level: Intermediate

Course length: 8 sessions (2 hours)

Class size: 15

Price: $675.00

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://www.thewritersworkshop.net/classes/seattle-writin...

We will study key elements of craft including, but not limited to, creating narrative drive and tension, writing scenes vs. exposition, integrating research, developing character, dealing with "truth" and memory. The class will pay close attention to structure; we’ll consider several classic and not-so-classic structures.

Prerequisites: Students must have begun at least 3 chapters of a full-length memoir or 3 personal essays.

Location: Online

Categories: Fiction

Level: Intermediate

Course length: 10 sessions (3 hours)

Class size: 13

Price: $660.00

Start date: December, 2023

Website: https://grubstreet.org/findaclass/class/memoir-in-progres...