As an aspiring author, I've taken my fair share of online writing classes. But with thousands of options to choose from, which ones are actually worth your time (and money)? In this post, I look into 16 popular ones and compare them based on cost, format, time commitment, and course offerings. Let's dive in!
My top picks
If you’re drafting a novel and want structured guidance every step of the way, the three-month Reedsy course How to Write a Novel can’t be beat. You get 101 daily lessons you can take at your own pace, and most of the lessons include examples from well-known books to really show you how to put what you’ve learned into action.
For those on a tight budget who want craft instruction from an actual bestselling author, Brandon Sanderson’s video lectures provide college-level depth and practical advice. Meanwhile, for those who want shorter, more structured lessons from some of the biggest names in writing, BBC Maestro offers in-depth courses from experts such as Alan Moore and Malorie Blackman.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these, as well as the thirteen other classes I’d recommend checking out. First up, we’ve got courses that won’t break the bank.
Free writing classes
When I first started looking into free online courses, I’d notice that a lot of them were interesting enough, but they didn’t have the quality and expert insight I was looking for. Nowadays, we’re spoiled for choice! Here are the ones I think all writers should try, especially those who’re just starting out.
1. How to Craft a Killer Short Story (Reedsy Learning)
💲 Cost: Free
👨🏫 Format: Five-minute lessons sent to your inbox every morning
⏳ Time: Around 1 hour total
🔗 Link: Read more here
For several years now, Reedsy has been offering free 10-day writing courses designed by publishing professionals — such as Judy Goldschmidt (editor with NYT bestsellers on her list) and Dominic Wakeford (previous editor at HarperCollins and Hachette) — on a wide range of topics, from building a solid writing routine to turning up the heat in your romance stories.
This particular one on short stories is taught by Laura Mae Isaacman, an editor who’s worked with Joyce Carol Oates, T.C. Boyle, and Noam Chomsky, to name a few! What I like about this course is that it not only teaches you about the writing skills needed to compose a short story — you also get helpful tips to consider if you’re keen on submitting your work to short story magazines.
Like all of Reedsy’s free Learning courses, I love that this one can easily be slotted into your daily routine: in the morning before starting the work day, for example, or perhaps late at night before bed, if you’re a night owl like I am. While the lessons aren’t as in-depth as a full-length course, they’re perfect for anyone who’s just getting started or who’d like to focus on a particular story element or genre of writing.
2. Brandon Sanderson’s BYU lectures
💲 Cost: Free
👨🏫 Format: Recorded university lectures on YouTube, plus Q&A sessions
⏳ Time: 16 videos; around 17 hours total
🔗 Link: Read more here
If you’ve ever dreamt of sitting in on a college-level course taught by a renowned bestselling author, look no further. This lecture series is literally just a recording of Brandon Sanderson’s creative writing course that he teaches at BYU, but many writers claim it’s the best instruction they’ve ever received.
Sanderson covers topics ranging from weaving intricate plots to fleshing out a believable fantasy world. If you’re a big genre writer — and especially a writer of science fiction or fantasy — you won’t want to miss out.
3. OpenLearn: Start Writing Fiction: Characters and Stories (Open University)
💲 Cost: Free
👨🏫 Format: Self-paced text and video lessons, quizzes, and writing exercises
⏳ Time: Typically 8 weeks
🔗 Link: Read more here
Complete beginners who want a university-designed introduction to fiction should consider this course. It gives you access to interviews with established, award-winning authors like Louis de Bernières and Alex Garland, and plenty of exercises so that you actually sit down and write. Also, you get to take it at your own pace, which is definitely helpful for writers who've got to work around a day job (like me!).
4. Creative Writing Specialization (Wesleyan University on Coursera)
💲 Cost: Free for first-module preview; paid for full course access and certificate
👨🏫 Format: Video lectures, readings, quizzes, and assignments
⏳ Time: Typically 4 weeks
🔗 Link: Read more here
Coursera’s a popular MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) that offers a diverse range of class lengths, allowing you to choose anything from “two hours or less” to “1 to 4 years” for the truly committed. For those who want to develop their creative writing skills, Coursera has a free course offered by Wesleyan University that delves into key fiction and narrative techniques, such as character development.
However, keep in mind that “free” here comes with a caveat: Coursera retired its old free audit model in 2025, so instead of taking this entire five-module course without paying a single cent, you can preview the first module at no cost — and if you want access to the rest of the course and earn a certificate, you’ll have to pay around $45.
5. The Craft of Storytelling (University of Alaska Fairbanks on edX)
💲 Cost: Free to audit (time-limited); paid for certificate
👨🏫 Format: Video lectures, interactive exercises, discussion groups
⏳ Time: Typically 4 weeks
🔗 Link: Read more here
Another MOOC, edX began as a collaboration between Harvard and MIT, but these days it boasts classes from a wide variety of respected universities — and some of their courses even offer college credits. edX's writing courses in particular consist of short videos and interactive learning exercises, covering everything from novels to stand-up comedy to digital content.
The one I’d suggest taking first, “The Craft of Storytelling,” focuses on how you can captivate and entertain your reader through multiple techniques, such as setting the scene and building a strong arc. What stands out to me the most is that you don’t have to apply what you learn from it to writing only — as the course description suggests, storytelling is also important to anyone involved in social media and public speaking, two things I’d like to improve on myself.
If you’re looking for a place to discuss what you’ve learned, edX also offers online discussion groups for its classes. But it’s worth noting that while most edX classes have free audit tracks, they’re also time-limited: the clock starts the day you enroll and runs for a course's listed length (whether you log in or not!). After that, you'll have to pay to upgrade or wait for the next session, so I’d suggest holding off on signing up until you're ready to start. Still, edX is worth considering if you're on a tight budget.
6. Supercharge Your Writing (National Centre for Writing)
💲 Cost: Free
👨🏫 Format: Short videos, readings, and written exercises
⏳ Time: Self-paced; can be finished in a weekend
🔗 Link: Read more here
The National Centre for Writing is based in Norwich, England (a UNESCO City of Literature), but anyone around the world can access several of its free self-paced online courses, which include “How to Write Unreliable Narrators,” “Writing Science Fiction: World Building,” and “How to Write Young Adult Fiction: Characters and Conflicts,” among others.
If you’ve been struggling to incorporate writing into your daily routine, I’d recommend checking out “Supercharge Your Writing” first before signing up for the more craft-specific class. This course, designed by award-winning novelist Benjamin Johncock, will help you figure out how to reflect on your current habits, carve time out of your day to write, and increase your productivity.
Take into account, though, that some of the other free courses that the National Centre for Writing offers are effectively samplers; for example, the free sci-fi worldbuilding module is part one of a three-part series. My verdict? Still worth checking out, especially since they’re backed by an established literature development agency funded by Arts Council England. Then, if you feel particularly invested in one of them, consider paying for the other parts.
Subscription-style classes
As someone who loves the seemingly never-ending options that streaming services provide, I’ve become a fan of subscription platforms that feature a wealth of content centered on the craft of writing. While these mostly offer video libraries and don’t provide personalized feedback or in-depth assignments, I still think they’re worth looking into, especially if you want some helpful tips and motivation from an experienced professional.
7. MasterClass
💲 Cost: From $120/year (Standard) to $240/year (Premium)
👨🏫 Format: Self-paced video lessons with downloadable workbooks and occasional assignments
⏳ Time: Typically 2 to 5 hours per course
🔗 Link: Read more here
What better way to learn how to write a good book than by hearing from the greats themselves? MasterClass, which has been around since 2015, has over 20 classes on writing — each taught by a widely celebrated name in the industry. From James Patterson and Dan Brown to Margaret Atwood and Salman Rushdie, you’re bound to find an author you know and a topic of interest. While I’ll probably never meet writers like Joyce Carol Oates in real life, I can technically say I’ve learned about how to write a short story from her (albeit online)...
What makes MasterClass stand out compared to other platforms like Skillshare (more on that later) is production quality. With your annual subscription, you’ll consistently get cinematic and well-edited video lessons that are both anecdotal and motivational. Since you don’t get the opportunity to interact with any of the instructors, a MasterClass subscription is ideal for writers who aren’t looking for graded assignments or personalized feedback. Fine for writers who are just getting started, but less suited for writers who already know the basics.
8. BBC Maestro
💲 Cost: $89 for one-year access to a single course; $120 for a one-year subscription
👨🏫 Format: Self-paced video lessons with downloadable course notes and exercises
⏳ Time: Typically 5 to 6 hours per course
🔗 Link: Read more here
Similar to MasterClass, BBC Maestro offers high-quality video lessons featuring renowned figures from their respective fields. However, there are a few key differences between them.
While MasterClass has over 200 classes across every category, Maestro has around 50. Fewer options to choose from, yes, but Maestro’s courses are more structured, and they’re also notably longer on average than MasterClass’s (typically 5 to 6 hours long, compared to MasterClass’s 2 to 5 hours per course). So if you’d prefer a course that has engaging exercises and is designed with a syllabus in mind, BBC Maestro is the one to go for.
9. Skillshare
💲 Cost: Around $168/year (billed annually), with a free trial
👨🏫 Format: Self-paced, project-based video classes
⏳ Time: Typically 30 minutes to 2 hours per course
🔗 Link: Read more here
While Skillshare offers some celebrity-hosted courses — such as personal essay writing with Roxane Gay — the bulk of their classes are led by lesser-known experts ready to share their knowledge with a hungry audience. Quality can be a hit or miss because of that, but what sets Skillshare apart from MasterClass and BBC Maestro is the option to work on a course-long project and share it for peer feedback.
Skillshare’s short format makes it ideal for writers who don't have a ton of free time to commit to a long course. But that comes at a cost, since shorter courses often mean less depth when it comes to story elements such as structure, character, and voice. The good news is that Skillshare offers a free trial (note: the length varies depending on where you sign up), so you can test the waters before fully committing.
10. Udemy
💲 Cost: Individual courses usually $10 to $20 on sale (list price up to $199.99), with lifetime access. Optional Personal Plan subscription from around $13 to $35 per month
👨🏫 Format: Self-paced video lectures from independent instructors, usually with downloadable resources, quizzes, and a Q&A board
⏳ Time: Typically around 3 to 6 hours per course
🔗 Link: Read more here
Founded in 2010, Udemy was created to provide an alternative to in-person, university learning (definitely ahead of their time in that respect!). Their primary audience is made up of both professionals and students — some of their courses even offer Professional Development Units (PDUs) you can use towards external technical certifications.
If you’re an indie author (or hoping to become one), Udemy could be worth your while. It’s got thousands of writing courses, and several of them tap into niches that celebrity platforms don’t dive into, such as KDP and self-publishing. Similar to Skillshare, however, the quality of courses isn’t consistent, so you might have to wade through a few options before finding one that suits you.
Premium writing classes
Finally, let’s look at online classes that require more investment (both time and money). These may be a little pricier than the others in this post, but you definitely get what you pay for — if you’re fully committed to improving your craft and getting your work out there, give these courses a try.
11. How to Write a Novel (Reedsy)
💲 Cost: $1,399 one-time payment for lifetime access
👨🏫 Format: 101 daily video lessons with writing exercises, weekly live masterclasses, and an exclusive peer community
⏳ Time: 3 months (101 days) at one lesson per day
🔗 Link: Read more here
With expert guidance from novelist and ghostwriter Tom Bromley — plus a supportive writerly community around you — this class will help you write the first draft of your novel in just three months. It’s designed for writers of all levels, backgrounds, and genres, so no matter your experience or writing ability, this course will help you harness your creativity and actually finish writing a novel. The lessons include examples from well-known traditionally published books, which is especially helpful for all learners out there who prefer clearly seeing how to put what you’re taught into action.
As someone who took this course from start to finish, I can confidently say that it helped me finish writing a first draft in the promised amount of time. The weekly office hours that Reedsy’s Professor of Writing, Noah Charney, holds every Monday were particularly helpful and enlightening — I was able to ask him questions about my book and even share short passages for him to comment on! Now that my manuscript is in the revision stage, I’ve been going through my favorite lessons to ensure that everything Tom discusses, from “secret sauce” ingredients (movement, change, peril, etc.) to the rule of three, is touched on in my writing.
As you work through 101 days of daily lessons (the course is self-paced though, so you don’t have to go through one lesson per day if your schedule doesn’t allow!), you can use Reedsy’s members’ hub to meet other authors in your genre, exchange feedback, and discuss each lesson. To support and inspire you, each week of the course brings a live webinar that features a deep dive into a craft topic or guidance from an experienced writing coach, as well as interviews with successful authors who’ll share their best advice with you.
And bonus: with this course, you get a free, 12-month membership to Reedsy Learning!
12. Gotham Writers Workshop
💲 Cost: Typically $185 to $554 per course, plus a $25 registration fee per term
👨🏫 Format: Asynchronous, text-based classes with weekly lessons and exercises, or live classes over Zoom
⏳ Time: One-day intensives, or 6- and 10-week classes with new material released weekly
🔗 Link: Read more here
The largest adult-education writing school in the U.S., Gotham Writers has been helping budding authors hone their skills since 1993. Based in New York City, they offer in-person classes as well as a variety of online options for students all over the globe.
With several free events per term and opportunities to receive instructor and peer feedback, Gotham Writers emulates the university feel wherever possible. Its classes may be particularly useful for authors who want to narrow in on a particular aspect of the craft, like character development or writing dialogue — and they even offer one-on-one classes for those who prefer a highly personalized experience.
13. Writer's Digest University
💲 Cost: Typically $150 to $900 per course
👨🏫 Format: Written lectures, weekly assignments, live webinars, and self-paced workshops
⏳ Time: From one-week intensives to 16-week coaching courses, with new sessions released weekly (most running 4 to 12 weeks)
🔗 Link: Read more here
Run by Writer's Digest, these "University" courses are aimed at students with a wide range of skill levels and career goals. You can browse classes based on format, type of writing (e.g., fiction vs nonfiction), or the craft skills you're aiming to improve. Each instructor-led course offers access to a discussion group, as well as personalized feedback. The timeline offerings are pretty flexible, ranging from self-paced courses to intensive three- or four-day "boot camps" for those who really want to get their writing on track fast.
14. UCLA Extension Writers' Program
💲 Cost: Around $300 to $895 per course, with the nine-month master classes at about $4,000
👨🏫 Format: Instructor-led workshops capped at 15 students, available as self-scheduled online courses, live Zoom classes, or in-person classes in Los Angeles
⏳ Time: Most courses run 10 weeks, with shorter 4 to 6-week options and nine-month conservatories and master classes
🔗 Link: Read more here
If you love being spoiled for choice, look no further. UCLA offers around 400 courses a year across fiction, memoir, genre, and screenwriting, so it’s very likely you’ll find a course that piques your interest. Select Extension courses notably carry academic credit too, so they can count towards certificates and even other programs — perfect for writers who want tangible proof they’ve completed a course from a well-known institution.
One thing worth pointing out: the courses have fixed start dates, so they’re not flexible enough for writers who want to go at their own pace. You might also find yourself disappointed if you end up getting waitlisted, since the popular courses that offer instructor-led workshops only accept up to 15 students.
15. Curtis Brown Creative
💲 Cost: Typically around $54 to $310 for short courses. About $2,570 for their online flagship course
👨🏫 Format: Video lessons from published authors with weekly exercises and a private student forum. The three-month flagship course adds a group of 15 writers, one-on-one tutorials, and masterclasses with Curtis Brown agents
⏳ Time: Short courses typically run 4 to 6 weeks at around four hours per week; the flagship course runs three months
🔗 Link: Read more here
Most people trying to break into traditional publishing have probably heard of Curtis Brown, a leading literary and talent agency. But did you know that they also have a creative writing school? Since 2011, Curtis Brown has been offering a variety of short courses, from a 30-Day Writing Bootcamp to deep dive classes on dialogue, character development, and more.
Writers who are after detailed feedback should look into its flagship three-month novel course — you’ll get notes on your synopsis/pitch and two group workshops on 3,000-word extracts. But unlike most of the other courses on this list, this one is highly selective: not everyone who applies with a writing sample gets a spot, so I’d suggest looking elsewhere first. Only apply if you’re fully ready to commit to this (and able to shell out $2,570!).
16. Stanford Continuing Studies
💲 Cost: Around $1,040 per 10-week course; the two-year Novel Writing Certificate totals about $7,700
👨🏫 Format: Live weekly classes (online or on campus) with instructor and peer feedback
⏳ Time: Typically 10 weeks, with some shorter courses
🔗 Link: Read more here
If your budget has no limit and you want both teaching and feedback of a university-level caliber, check out Stanford’s writing courses. The instructors are mostly working authors, and many of them are former Stegner Fellows to boot!
Similar to UCLA’s courses, Stanford’s most popular ones (like Writing Character-Driven Fiction) fill up quickly, so you’d likely need to be on your computer ready to register on the day enrollment starts. Feedback volume is capped as well, so if you’re taking one of the novel workshops, for example, you’ll only be able to submit up to 5,000 words.
But with over 100 writing courses to choose from, quality instructor feedback, and a dedicated small cohort per class, a Stanford writing course might just be what you need to finally become the author you’ve always wanted to be.
The courses listed above all cover different writers’ needs, so if you’ve got the time and budget, I’d encourage you to try several of them to find out what works best for you. Whether you want to finally finish your manuscript, get feedback from fellow writers, or spend nothing and fill your weekend with learning about a new genre, there’s a course out there for you. Good luck, and happy writing!
