7 Top Online Creative Writing Courses for Beginners

Find online creative writing courses for beginners to develop your writing skills, learn useful techniques to improve your writing, and unlock your creativity.

Whether you’d like to write fiction, you’re an aspiring writer or you’d like a beginner-friendly course to kick-start your writing, an online creative writing course may help you.

If you’d like to start creative writing or find the best online writing courses for new writers, here are 7 top online creative writing courses for beginners (free and paid).
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1. Creative Writing For Beginners - Writing Creative Prose

"Creative Writing For Beginners is intended to provide new writers with a set of tools that can be used immediately to improve the prose they write to tell their story. Knowing how to write prose effectively with basic rules that are easy to implement fast is essential for great fiction! This course is designed to make your prose more effective, if you're writing a novel, for example."

As per Udemy's website, this online writing course covers:

• Creative writing enthusiasts who are beginners will learn how to apply basic rules and conventions to their creative writing.
• Beginner writers will Increase their ability to write fiction using better prose.

Access this course: Creative Writing for Beginners – Udemy

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2. Six-Week Beginners Creative Writing Course

For aspiring authors who have always wanted to write but don't know the best way to get started, or if you'd like a refresher to give your creativity a kick-start, try this beginners writing course from Creative Writing Ink.

• 6-week duration
• Specific start date with set number of places available
• Course is based in UK but can be accessed by students all over the world
• Course is for participants aged 18 and over
• The weekly course notes can be accessed at any time
• Weekly assignments are provided over the 6 weeks
• Tutors provide written feedback on each assignment
• The course is carried out through email correspondence
• Beginner level

"This course will explore the wonderful world of creative writing. With steady encouragement and guidance you will complete manageable weekly assignments with one to one feedback from your tutor. This could be the start of your first short story, or the collection of short stories that will become your first book. "
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• Access this course: Six-Week Beginners Creative Writing Course – Creative Writing Ink​

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3. Start Writing Fiction [Free] 

If you'd like to start writing but need guidance and the confidence to make a start, try this free online fiction writing course from OpenLearn via The Open University, where you can learn how to create characters, show the setting in your story, and about the different fiction categories. Ideal if you’re looking for free online creative writing courses for beginners.

• 12 hours of study
• Self-paced
• Course can be accessed at any time
• Beginner level

Reviews of this course:

"Incredibly useful tips and activities throughout. A range of activities so that it did not get repetitive and had me writing again after a year of nothing due to writer's block."

"I loved this course and found that it sparked me to start writing again, after a few years of being dormant in that area. I'm looking forward to my degree course starting in the autumn and this course helped me along the way."

"An excellent short course that included a great deal of useful information, practical work and guidance. Highly recommended to kick start your creative thinking and writing."
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• Access this course: Start Writing Fiction – Open Learn (via The Open University)

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4. An Approach to Creative Writing

If you're looking for a motivating and inspiring course led by professional writers who are experts in their field, check out this short creative writing course for beginners from the University of London. Learning outcomes on this writing course include how to structure, develop, and end a story; how to create characters and realistic dialogue; how to use points of view; how to make sure your writing is vivid and lucid; and more.
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• 10 weekly classes of 2 hours per week
• Course has specific start date
• This course is ideal preparation for the university's Short Story Writing and Novel Writing and Longer Works courses.
• Beginner level

"This popular course provides a firm footing in the fundamentals of creative writing. Learn from professionals how to develop a story and gain the confidence to write creatively."
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• Access this course: An Approach to Creative Writing – University of London

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5. Start to Write: Starting Out | Fiction

For a new writer wanting to develop good writing habits when writing fiction, or needing help to turn ideas into stories, or wanting to learn how to engage readers, this beginners' course from Faber Academy may be right for you.​

• Course has specific start date
• The course will take place live via Zoom
• You only need to take one day out of your schedule to take part in this online writing course
• Beginner level

"On this brand new, online version of our classic one-day Start to Write course, tutor Sarah May will take you through the fundamental skills and approaches to getting your writing life started."

If you want to know the key aspects to a great story, how to write a great opening, or tips and advice on what to take out as well as leave in, this beginner online writing course could be a great option for you.

• Access this course: Start to Write – Faber Academy
• If the above course date has passed, check out all Faber Acadmey's beginner courses here

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6. Online Creative Writing Course: Beginners 

Check out this interactive online creative writing course from City Academy for anyone new to writing. Learn how to craft and create ideas from exercises, games and prompts to get your creativity flowing.​ Master the art of storytelling through exploring plot, character and more writing techniques.

• Course has specific start date
• 5-week course of 2 hours per week
• Beginner level

"With a focus on fiction writing, you’ll gain transferable skills that compliment personal and professional growth."

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• Access this course: Online Creative Writing Course: Beginners – City Academy

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7. Storytelling 101: Character, Conflict, Context & Craft

Learn the 4 C's of storytelling on this online creative writing course for beginners: character, conflct, context, and craft. Discover the essentials of narrative storytelling from urban fantasy writer Daniel José Older, New York Times bestselling author of the Shadowshaper Cypher series, and Dactyl Hill Squad series, among others. This online beginner writing course is available from Skillshare.

• Self-paced
• Access at any time
• Beginner level

"This class is for creative writers (both aspiring and established), and everyone who wants a deeper understanding of what makes a great story so captivating. You'll leave this class armed with a tried-and-true framework for writing your own fictional short story, and inspired to put pen to paper."

• Access this course: Storytelling 101: Character, Conflict, Context & Craft – Skillshare

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Conclusion

If you want to start creative writing or progress your writing skills, a beginner-friendly writing course is an excellent place to start.
 
While you keep writing, learning, and developing, the results will soon show and you will see how much a difference practice and utilizing the information from a writing course can make.
 
Making the time to write each day, even for just a few minutes, and applying the techniques, advice, and tips from a writing class, you will see the improvements and your growth as a writer.

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