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156 Best Fiction Creative Writing Classes in 2025

Showing 156 courses that match your search.

Great Beginnings: How Your Books Opening Can Make All the Difference

GrubStreet

The course focuses on crafting compelling opening lines and paragraphs for novels, memoirs, and non-fiction. It involves analyzing acclaimed examples and provides feedback on participants' own work.

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

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

May, 2025

Price:

$55.00

Online course

Level: Any

Length: 1 session (2 hours)

Class size: 50 seats max

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Developing Video Game Narratives

UCLA Extension

The course teaches plotting and executing branching narratives for video games, writing in different interactive genres, and building a portfolio. It focuses on understanding non-linear storytelling and developing a vocabulary for interactive fiction.

Website: https://www.uclaextension.edu/

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

April, 2025

Price:

$720.00

Online course

Level: Intermediate

Length: 10 weeks

Class size: 15

Novel Incubator 2025-2026

GrubStreet

This course provides a supportive and accelerated dive into novel writing with a small group of ten writers. It includes manuscript revision, knowledge strengthening about the novel form, and introductions to the publishing world through guest speakers.

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

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

June, 2025

Price:

$8,955.00

Based in Boston

Level: Any

Length: 12 months

Class size: 10 seats max

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Advanced Fiction Workshop

GrubStreet

This intensive workshop is designed for serious writers looking to polish or complete short fiction pieces. The course includes peer workshops and in-depth discussions of craft elements such as dialogue, point of view, and voice.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

June, 2025

Price:

$770.00

Online course

Level: Advanced

Length: 10 weeks, 1 session per week

Class size: 9 seats max

Prerequisites: Students must have taken previous fiction workshops at GrubStreet or elsewhere.

The Clarion Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers' Workshop

University of California, San Diego

An intensive six-week summer workshop focused on writing fantasy and science fiction short stories, featuring critiques, lectures, and mentorship from distinguished faculty.

Website: http://clarion.ucsd.edu/

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

June, 2025

Price:

$6,000.00

Based in San Diego

Level: Intermediate

Length: 6 weeks; June 29 – August 9, 2025

Class size: 18 students max

Prerequisites: Applicants must submit two short stories with their application.

Writing the Mystery Novel

Writer's Digest University

The course allows participants to create a new mystery or refine an existing story with feedback from a published author. It includes six sessions covering various aspects of mystery writing, including genre discussion, setting, character development, plotting, clue planting, and manuscript submission.

Website: https://writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/writing-the-...

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

May, 2025

Price:

$330.00

Online course

Level: Beginner

Length: 6 weeks

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: None

Clarion West Flash Fiction Group

Clarion West

The course includes writing and submitting a flash fiction story each week, learning various critique methods, and receiving guidance in a supportive environment. Participants engage in small writing groups, weekly video lectures by Brian Evenson, and have opportunities for critiques of their work.

Website: https://clarion-west-online.teachable.com/p/2025-ffg

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

June, 2025

Price:

$66.00

Online course

Level: Intermediate

Length: 4 weeks, 4 stories

Class size: 8

Script Analysis for Theatre Writers

Play Penn

This course focuses on understanding scripts, character development, and thematic exploration. Encourages critical analysis and peer feedback.

Website: https://www.playpenn.org/class-registration/?eid=11987

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

March, 2025

Price:

$200.00

Online course

Level: Intermediate

Length: 4 sessions, each lasting 2 hours.

Class size: 10 participants maximum.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Writing the Thriller Novel

Writer's Digest University

A six-week course focusing on structural elements that create successful thrillers, building conflict and suspense, with in-depth lectures and personalized feedback.

Website: https://writersdigestuniversity.mykajabi.com/writing-the-...

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

March, 2025

Price:

$399.00

Online course

Level: Intermediate

Length: 6 weeks, 6 sessions

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

The First Fifty Pages: Fiction Intensive

Literary Arts

Participants develop ideas into long stories or the first 50 pages of a novel, focusing on character, plot, and narrative structure. Includes thoughtful feedback and a one-on-one meeting with the instructor.

Website: https://literary-arts.org/event/the-first-fifty-pages-fic...

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

April, 2025

Price:

$620.00

Online course

Level: Intermediate

Length: 12 weeks, 12 sessions

Class size: Limited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Character Building: How to Breathe Life into Your Characters

Kansas City Public Library

This course focuses on bringing characters to life through dialogue, description, and action. Participants will read expert examples and write their own scenes.

Website: https://kclibrary.org/calendar/character-building-how-bre...

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

April, 2025

Price:

Free

Based in Kansas City

Level: Beginner

Length: 1 session (2 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

The Magic of Poetry

Kansas City Public Library

This course explores the intricate nature of poetry, emphasizing subconsciousness, intuition, and emotion. Participants will read works by poets such as Arthur Rimbaud and Mary Oliver.

Website: https://kclibrary.org/calendar/magic-poetry-2

Categories: Fiction

Start date:

April, 2025

Price:

Free

Based in Kansas City

Level: Any

Length: 1 session (2 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

How to choose a fiction writing class

Looking to build your writing skillset, learn more about your genre, or finally finish that fiction book 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 a fiction writing class in particular, you’ll want to make sure that it matches what you’re seeking to learn about fiction writing.

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

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

More fiction writing resources

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

Free online materials

Recommended books

 

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