creative writing courses for beginners

Online Class: Creative Writing for Beginners

• 32 Exams & Assignments
• 5,889 Students have taken this course
• 14 Hours average time

Course Description

Unleash Your Inner Wordsmith: A Journey into the Heart of Creative Writing

In a world punctuated by visual and auditory marvels, the eloquence of words remains timeless. Just as an artist delicately strokes the canvas and a sculptor molds life into clay, a writer weaves dreams and realities on the blank slate of paper. And in this digital age, the dance of fingers over a keyboard becomes a symphony of creativity. Our comprehensive course is a sanctuary for both budding and seasoned writers, serving as the compass to navigate the boundless seas of creative writing.

Why This Course Resonates:

Diverse Palette : Dive deep into the myriad realms of fiction, poetry, screenplays, and immersive nonfiction.

Foundations & Flourishes : Whether you're penning your first word or your thousandth page, master the basics and nuances that make your writing resonate.

A World of Forms : Understand the quintessence of diverse writing styles, from captivating memoirs and revealing biographies to incisive articles for newspapers and dynamic blogs.

Break the Shackles : Battle and conquer the daunting demon of writer's block, ensuring your creativity flows unhindered.

From Creation to Celebration : Not only nurture your creation but also learn the art of showcasing it to the world, understanding the avenues to get your masterpiece recognized and published.

Course Highlights:

15 Engaging Lessons : Each lesson, a stepping stone, builds upon the last, ensuring a holistic grasp of creative writing.

Hands-On Exercises : Post-lesson exercises designed to solidify your understanding and hone your skills.

Innovative Assignments : Fuel your creativity with tailored writing assignments that ignite inspiration and set your imagination aflame.

This course isn't just an introduction; it's an odyssey into the enchanting universe of creative writing. It celebrates the spirit of expression, empowering even the greenest novices to seamlessly translate their thoughts into words. So, whether you're scribbling in hidden notebooks or longing to ink your thoughts for the first time, this course promises to be the wind beneath your literary wings.

Join us, and be astounded by the symphony of words you can orchestrate. Embark on this journey, and etch your own legacy in the annals of creative writing!

Course Motivation

There are 15 lessons in this course. Each lesson is broken down in order to address a form of creative writing, and to explore the tools and mechanics that pertain to it. After each lesson, you will find exercises. These are simply a way to gauge what you have learned and help you reinforce what was covered in the lesson. The exercises are mandatory, and they are what you will be graded on for this course.

• Fiction  . Of course, fiction is the most recognized form of creative writing since the stories begin in your imagination.
• Journals and diaries  .  Most people don't think of this as creative writing, but keeping a journal or diary (for personal or family history reasons) is just as much creative writing as any other form.
• Blogs  .  Let's face it. Blogs have changed the way we read the news and also given us insight into the things that interest us and the lives of those people who interest us.
• Articles  . Articles may contain facts, but creativity is put into constructing and writing them in a way that will interest the reader.
• Screenplays  .  What's the funniest movie you ever watched? Did you ever think about the writer who created the screenplay?
• Nonfiction  . It's the same as it is with articles. The facts inside a nonfiction book or story may be true, but a lot of creativity goes into making it fun and interesting to read. It's a safe bet that you've never read a nonfiction book that put you to sleep.  
• Memoirs  .  Whether you're writing your own or someone else's, this is another form of creative writing.
• Poetry  .  Poems are probably one of the most artistic forms of creative writing, because of the imagery they evoke when written well.

It's a great thing if your goal is to become a published writer, or even a well-read blogger or journalist. But that should not be your only reason for writing. The writing world is highly competitive, and it's extremely critical. Even the best-known, most popular authors papered their walls with rejection slips, or lived as an unknown for  years  before they rose to popularity. That said, anyone who starts creative writing simply because they think their writing is so different or special that everyone will instantly fall in love with their words is headed for heartbreak.  It's a long road to that point, and it's filled with potholes.

The real value of creative writing lies in the enjoyment you get from it, as well as the enjoyment the people closest to you will get from it. You can publish you own blog and only have 20 people who read it faithfully.Guess what? That makes you successful if you enjoy writing it, and those that read it (no matter how many or how few) enjoy it as well.  

Creative writing is our escape from our worlds. It's also a way to document the things that go on around us. Even a short story you write, then cram into a drawer, will have value to those who read it years from now. It will tell them a story about you, the things that were on your mind, and the world around you at that time. Think of the classic books from writers such as Ernest Hemingway and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Think of nonfiction biographies like that of Ann Frank.  Even if your work is never widely read or published, it will have value to those who read it now – and even more value later as a historical account. 

But more than anything, as we said before, the true value of creative writing is the enjoyment that you get from it. 

• Completely Online
• 6 Months to Complete
• 24/7 Availability
• Start Anytime
• PC & Mac Compatible
• Android & iOS Friendly
• Accredited CEUs

Course Lessons

Lesson 1: Introduction to Creative Writing

Lesson 2: Exploring Creative Writing

Lesson 3: secrets of creative writing, lesson 4: elements of short story and fiction writing, lesson 5: dialogue, lesson 6: point of view, lesson 7: writing nonfiction, lesson 8: writing poetry, lesson 9: writing articles, blogs, and journalistic pieces, lesson 10: writing dramas, scripts, and screenplays, lesson 11: the importance of editing, lesson 12: overcoming writer's block, lesson 13: unlocking your creativity, lesson 14: resources for writers, lesson 15: publishing your writing, learning outcomes.

• Describe the creative writing process.
• Define elements of short story and fiction writing.
• Demonstrate dialogue.
• Demonstrate point of view.
• Demonstrate writing nonfiction.
• Demonstrate writing poetry.
• Demonstrate writing articles, blogs, and journalistic pieces.
• Demonstrate writing dramas, scripts, and screenplays.
• Describe the importance of editing.
• Describe techniques overcoming writer's block.
• Recognize new ways to unlock your creativity.
• Describe ways to publish your writing.
• Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.

Additional Course Information

• Document Your Lifelong Learning Achievements
• Earn an Official Certificate Documenting Course Hours and CEUs
• Verify Your Certificate with a Unique Serial Number Online
• View and Share Your Certificate Online or Download/Print as PDF
• Display Your Certificate on Your Resume and Promote Your Achievements Using Social Media

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Student testimonials.

• "I have a B.A. in Creative Writing and let me tell you, this course was both incredibly helpful and very fun. I have honestly learned more from this course than most of my college classes. The assignments were engaging and immensely helpful. I went in thinking this course would be a refresher for me, but I am genuinely blown away by just how much I have learned." -- Kaitlyn W.
• "This course was helpful for me. I learned a considerable amount about writing in general as well as gaining insight into the creative aspect. I thoroughly enjoyed every assignment, in particular, that they were assessed, marked, and issued with comments. The turnaround time for the assessments provided was exceptional. I was encouraged by the regularly updated grading and having a report card for reference. The course content provided me with what I was wanting and more. Recommending your course will be a pleasure for me and I will take on another in the, not too distant future. Many Thanks." -- Peter P.
• "I found this course very helpful. I learnt a lot about the different types of writing and which forms/genres I hope to pursue. The writing prompt exercises were especially helpful, as they are a good practice to keep yourself writing when you can't think of any original ideas yourself." -- Lisa K.
• "I really enjoyed this course! I have loved writing my whole life, but I still learned a lot about different writing techniques and styles. I loved receiving the positive feedback from my tutor too. I found some of the writing assignments appropriately challenging and they forced me to put into action what I was being taught...Thank you for all of the work that went into creating this course!" -- Michaela D.
• "It really helped with positive feedback from the instructor and her quick response to my assignments." -- Deborah D.
• "Thank you so much, I feel like I've gained a lot from this course. I definitely consider it a great starting point for me to build upon and hone my craft further. Thank you, and you'll most likely see me in another writing course soon." -- Michele C.
• "I really enjoyed doing this course and the help and advice from the instructor." -- Tammy P.
• "The instructor was very fair and very timely in getting my assignments/exams back." -- Mary lee S.
• "The instructor is a blessing and was so encouraging." -- Daphne B.
• "The instructor was extremely prompt in grading assignments and provided valuable feedback." -- Randy E.

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362 Best Creative Writing Classes in Online

Showing 362 courses that match your search.

8-week Writing Sprints: A Generative Class

Sackett Street Writers

Writing Sprints is an exercise-intensive course designed to “unstick” writers struggling to start or continue new projects, boosting writing productivity. The course relies heavily on writing exercises (for both fiction & nonfiction writers). This class is for writers of all levels looking for inspiration and motivation.

Website: https://sackettworkshop.com/writing/2024/03/05/8-week-wri...

Categories: Book, Fiction, and Nonfiction

Start date:

September, 2024

Prerequisites: A writing sample is recommended for this class.

The Secret Life of Scenes Workshop with David Biespiel

Attic Institute

Do you feel your writing gets bogged down in announcing, recounting, and summarizing? What you need is some scene-making medicine. Work with Attic Institute founder and two-time Oregon Book Award winner David Biespiel to learn the keys to explain less and dramatize more.

Website: https://atticinstitute.com/node/2830

Categories: Book, Fiction, Nonfiction, Screenplay, and Short Story

Prerequisites: No prerequisites

Fall Virtual Workshop

Futurescapes

Futurescapes is an intensive, exclusive workshop, offering writers an unparalleled chance to work with top authors and agents in speculative fiction (science fiction, horror, fantasy, paranormal).

Website: https://futurescapes.ink/fall-workshop

Categories: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Book, and Fiction

October, 2024

Prerequisites: You may submit any original written work for your application.

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The Poetry of Play

Writers.com

In this class, we’ll enjoy a rollicking good time by responding to poetry’s call to do just that. Students will read a wide variety of playful poetry, then experiment with in-class writing prompts designed to awaken freedom and enjoyment.

Website: https://writers.com/course/the-poetry-of-play

Categories: Poetry, Book, and Short Story

January, 2025

The Spirituality of Poetry

In this course, you’ll explore many poets whose work radiate with broad definitions of spirituality. Our weekly readings are designed to help center and balance you, as well as help you explore your own beliefs and approaches to a spiritual life.

Website: https://writers.com/course/the-spirituality-of-poetry

Categories: Poetry

Better Business Writing

Emory University

This interactive course aims to strengthen business writing skills, focusing on audience-centric writing and digital writing standards. Participants will learn to refine their writing style, with classes limited to 15.

Website: https://ece.emory.edu/areas-of-study/communication/better...

Categories: Business

August, 2024

Novel in Progress

In class, we will do exercises, discuss craft issues—characterization, the protagonist's desire, plot and outlining, endings—and read short scenes from each other's work, providing feedback in an environment that recognizes the specific challenges of the novel in progress.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/novel-in-progress-su24-02

Categories: Fiction and Book

Online Advanced Poetry (Bellamy)

The Writers Studio

Students at this level are writing poetry with an increased focus on creating an individual voice and an emotional atmosphere. Exercises using free verse and traditional, received forms (i.e. sonnet, villanelle, sestina, and pantoum) as well as meter and syllabics are suggested in order to strengthen a student’s technical skills.

Website: https://courses.writerstudio.com/courses/online-advanced-...

Categories: Book and Poetry

Teen Summer: Food for Thought & Character Development

Through craft lessons and writing prompts, students will have fun fleshing out their character and story ideas using food as inspiration and leave with delicious new drafts.

Website: https://grubstreet.org/workshop/teen-summer-food-for-thou...

Categories: Fiction, Short Story, Book, Nonfiction, Essay, and Poetry

Form and Composition

Writer's Digest University

Proper grammar, punctuation, and mechanics make your writing correct. In order to truly write well, you must also master the art of form and composition. From sentence structure to polishing your prose, this course will enhance your writing, no matter what type of writing you do.

Website: https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/form-and-c...

Categories: Book, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Short Story

Prerequisites: Up to 60,000 words of your novel or two drafts of up to 30,000 words each.

Fearless Writing

In this workshop we’ll look at several techniques you can you use to keep yourself in the creative flow and out of the trouble and misery fear always causes.

Website: https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/fearless-w...

Prerequisites: The Writer’s Compass: From Story Map to Finished Draft in 7 Stages is a required book.

8-week Fiction II/III (intermediate & advanced)

This Fiction Workshop is aimed at writers looking to create a regular practice and master the essentials and are looking for a community of peers ready to offer insightful, impartial feedback on works in progress. Class time is spent on in-depth discussion of student work, and analysis of published writing.

Website: https://sackettworkshop.com/writing/2023/12/29/8-week-fic...

Categories: Book

Prerequisites: A writing sample is required for this class.

So you’re looking for creative writing classes online

Why go to a class in person when you can simply take the creative writing class online, in the comfort of your home and at your own preferred pace? With the single click of a finger, you could have access to the best online writing courses in the world, and a breadth of knowledge that could help you master the art of writing.

This directory of the best online writing courses is meant to help you locate the right one for yourself.  We’ve included filters for price and genre so that you can quickly sort through the writing classes. And before you commit to any one writing class, consider the following questions:

• Who is the instructor?
• What is the price of the writing course?
• Is the writing course offered in person? Or are you certain you want to take the creative writing class course?
• How long could the course last?

Got any questions about finding the right writing class online for you? Feel free to reach out to us at [email protected] . Good luck!

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