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Best Free Creative Writing Classes in 2023

Showing 90 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.


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: Free

Level: Beginner

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

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

Writing the Short

Young Screenwriters


This 6-module course is designed to help you go from no idea to a compelling, audience-ready, shootable short script in just 5 weeks . . . even if you have no screenwriting experience whatsoever.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: Est. 5 weeks (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://youngscreenwriters.teachable.com/p/writing-the-short


This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in improving their English skills in the sciences. In this course, you will explore some of the most innovative areas of scientific study, while expanding your vocabulary and language skills.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: Est. 35 hours (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

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

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Understanding Medical Studies, will provide you with the tools and skills you need to critically interpret medical studies, and determine for yourself the difference between good and bad science. The course covers study-design, research methods, and statistical interpretation.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: Est. 17 hours (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/medical-research


Funded by the NHS and the Manchester Wellbeing Fund and FREE to attend!

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Manchester

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: 10 sessions (2 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://writing-well.org/


Funded by the NHS and the Manchester Wellbeing Fund and FREE to attend!

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Manchester

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: 10 sessions (2 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: November, 2023

Website: https://writing-well.org/

Young Writer's Blueprint

Writing Blueprints


Young Writer's Blueprint covers: gathering ideas, ccreating characters and settings, writing short stories, writing longer works and poetry, and editing. There are also lots of writing prompts to spark the imagination and hone new skills. And, best of all, it's really fun! The course features downloadable videos and worksheets so children can work completely offline.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: 4 modules (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://writingblueprints.com/p/writing-course-ages-6-10

Free Travel Writing Course

Women on the Road


This course combines my own decades of news reporting with great travel writing practice. I’ll show you how to: find an ‘angle’ for your story, make your story irresistible to editors, double your income by including photographs with your stories, and more.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: 6 modules (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.women-on-the-road.com/free-travel-writing-cou...


For the last 15 years, The Oldie has held memoir writing courses which have been led by Rebecca de Saintonge of LifeLines Press. We have asked Rebecca to set out a full course to help you write your memoir, something for your children and grandchildren to cherish.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: Est. 4 months (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/memoir-personal-...


In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to perhaps the most elemental and often the most challenging element of story: plot. We will learn what keeps it moving, how it manipulates our feelings, expectations, and desires.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: Est. 2 hours (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.coursera.org/learn/craft-of-plot#about


This Specialization covers elements of three major creative writing genres: short story, narrative essay, and memoir. You will master the techniques that good writers use to compose a bracing story, populated with memorable characters in an interesting setting, written in a fresh descriptive style.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: Est. 6 months (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.coursera.org/specializations/creative-writing...

Modern & Contemporary American Poetry

University of Pennsylvania


ModPo is a FREE (no fee, no charge) fast-paced introduction to modern and contemporary U.S. poetry, with an emphasis on experimental verse. Participants (who need no prior experience with poetry) will learn how to read poems that are supposedly "difficult." We encounter and discuss the poems one at a time. It's much easier than it seems! Join us and try it!

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Free

Level: Beginner

Course length: Est. 93 hours (Self-paced)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: Free

Start date: Open all year round

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

How to choose a free creative writing class

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

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

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

  • Who is the instructor? How many years of experience do they have in creative writing?
  • Is there something in particular you’d like to learn about creative writing? Does this course include it?
  • How long is the course, and where is it taught?
  • Are there any hidden fees advertised in this free creative writing class?

More free creative writing resources

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

Free online materials

Recommended books

 

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