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Best Playwriting Creative Writing Classes in 2023

Showing 15 writing courses curated by Reedsy.

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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.


It’s often said that you can make a bad movie with a good screenplay, but you can’t make a good movie with a bad screenplay. At the New York Film Academy’s Screenwriting School we take that to heart. Get training from a top screenwriting school without commuting or leaving your home.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Any

Class size: Limited

Price: $2,000.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.nyfa.edu/online-screenwriting/workshops/15-we...

Playwriting: Introduction

University of Toronto


Learn the basics of writing for the stage and connect with a community of like-minded writers in this introductory course in our playwriting stream. Working with a produced playwright, you'll learn important theatrical elements, including structure, character, dialogue and environment.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Toronto

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Beginner

Course length: 8 sessions (2.5 hours)

Class size: Limited

Price: $649.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://learn.utoronto.ca/programs-courses/courses/2825-p...


This class is built on the idea that all plays are adaptations; story comes first. Bring one or two pieces of material you’d like to adapt, along with a description of their dramatic action in one sentence, then an expanded description in one paragraph.

Prerequisites: You must have written and completed at least 1 full-length play.

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Beginner

Course length: 10 sessions (3 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: $575.00

Start date: September, 2023

Website: https://www.hbstudio.org/classes/playwriting/adapting-sto...

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From first-time writers to experienced playwrights who want to go back to the basics and/or expand their creative processes. The goal of this class is to explore what plays might be and how we might write them. And to have fun.

Prerequisites: Registration prerequisite.

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Any

Course length: 10 sessions (3 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: $525.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.hbstudio.org/classes/playwriting/playwriting-1/

Character and Behavior

Dramatists Guild Institute


Write the next Sister Aloysius, Troy Maxson, Willy Loman, or Blanche DuBois! The goal of this class is to introduce participants to creative ways to think about character behavior and specific, unique dialogue.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Any

Course length: 10 sessions (5 hours)

Class size: 10

Price: $500.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.dginstitute.org/fall-2022/character-and-behavior

Television Writing

Primary Stages


Writing for television has the potential to be not only artistically satisfying, but lucrative as well—just ask Aaron Sorkin from "The Newsroom." This class is your opportunity to learn the structure and language of television writing so you can work to join the ranks of these distinguished playwrights-turned-television writers.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Beginner

Course length: 7 sessions (2 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: $460.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://primarystages.org/espa/writing/television-writing


If you're just stepping into the world of playwriting, welcome! In this 5-week class, you will build a toolbox of the fundamentals, so your first play (and each play you write after that!) can be built on a strong foundation. The goal is to get a comprehensive overview of the possibilities within playwriting.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Beginner

Course length: 5 sessions (3 hours)

Class size: Unlimited

Price: $440.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://primarystages.org/espa/writing/online-fundamental...

Playwriting I

Gotham Writers


Nothing beats the intensity of actors sharing the same air as the audience. But a play will not soar in performance unless it’s great on the page. Here you’ll learn how to write for the stage and how to market your work. Whether you seek to write one-acts or full-lengths or musicals, we’ll show you how to write plays that draw the big applause.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: New York

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Beginner

Course length: 10 sessions (3 hours)

Class size: Limited

Price: $419.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://wp.writingclasses.com/courses/playwriting-i/


This hands-on class is designed to ready scripts for production by taking a close look at effective writing.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Beginner

Course length: 6 sessions (3 hours)

Class size: Limited

Price: $360.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.playpenn.org/developing-solo-show/


Ethics and Fundamentals of Playwriting provides an introduction or refresher for those serious about beginning or improving their scriptwriting skills, with added conversations built-in that help each playwright answer the questions, ‘Why am I doing this? What impact am I trying to make?’

Prerequisites: A strong creative writing background is preferred.

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Intermediate

Course length: 8 sessions (2 hours)

Class size: Limited

Price: $320.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://www.playpenn.org/ethics-and-fundamentals/#1505311...


Let's start a new play in the new year! This is the class for you if you: have an idea you're ready to explore on the page, need accountability and deadlines to help you prioritize your project, have some playwriting experience under their belt, and want to surprise yourself while writing.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Beginner

Course length: 6 sessions (2 hours)

Class size: Limited

Price: $175.00

Start date: Open all year round

Website: https://pwcenter.org/event/online-workshop-draft-zero-A%2...


Revision is not a virtue. It is a tactic. And all evidence suggests that the revision of a work of art is the thing that makes it last. This frank and hands-on master class will convince you that you do not need a flash of inspiration to make your play better.

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Location: Online

Categories: Playwriting

Level: Any

Course length: 2 sessions (2 hours)

Class size: Limited

Price: $150.00

Start date: June, 2023

Website: https://pwcenter.org/event/workshop-intensive-strategic-s...

How to choose a playwriting writing class

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

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

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

More playwriting resources

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

Free online materials

Recommended books

 

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