Online Novel Writing Courses

Our online novel writing courses are here to support you, whether you have a novel idea you're burning to write, a work-in-progress you wish to move forward, or a completed manuscript to polish and refine.

You’ll get weekly instructor feedback on your work, ongoing collaboration with other novelists, and a supportive course structure that will help you set and meet your writing goals.

Learn from published novelists who have spent decades perfecting their craft and are dedicated to supporting you and your work.

Our online novel writing classes are filling fast. Find the right course for you today!

online novel writing courses

Upcoming Online Novel Writing Courses




May Courses

First Pages That Will Pull Agents In!

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May 31 | 6 Weeks | $395 | NEW!

Polish your opening pages in this novel intensive, where you'll make your first pages so perfect, your readers will need to know what comes next.

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June Courses

Finding Inspiration in Dreams

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June 7 | 4 Weeks | $295 | NEW!

Our dreams are fertile fields of inspiration, meaning, and creativity. Learn how to use your dreams as doorways to future writing.

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The Elements of Fiction

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June 7 | 8 Weeks | $495 | NEW!

Good fiction writing can feel like juggling as you balance all the different elements of storytelling. By the end of this course, you'll be an expert juggler.

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(Free Panel) Steps to Write and Sell Your Novel: a Discussion on Completing a Book and Attracting Literary Agents

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June 13 | 1-Day Free Panel Discussion | $0

Join published novelists and Writers.com instructors Elisa Bonnin, Donna Levin, and Troy Wilderson for a moderated conversation on the different stages of writing and finishing a work of fiction. Each instructor has been through the process themselves and have crafted courses on tackling specific hurdles when it comes to writing a book. The panelist will discuss strategies for getting started,…

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Get Back to That Book

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June 17 | 2 Single-Day Webinars | $195 | NEW!

For any number of reasons, the book we want to write gets waylaid. Get back to it in this motivational two part workshop.

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Battling the Blank Page: Writing the First Third of Your Novel

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June 21 | 10 Weeks | $595 | NEW!

If the blank page daunts you, conquer it in this comprehensive novel writing course, where you'll end with over 1/3 of a first draft written.

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Crafting the Poetry Novel for Young Adults

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June 21 | 8 Weeks | $495

Even if you’ve never written poetry before, you can begin the rewarding process of crafting a poetry novel for Young Adults. Is there a market for novels written in verse? Are they well received? Yes, there is, and yes, they are!

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July Courses

Starting to Write

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July 12 | 8 Weeks | $495

For those who want to kick start their writing into high gear.

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Write Your Picture Book!

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July 19 | 6 Weeks | $395

Picture books have changed greatly over the last few decades, and the market is wide open for fresh ideas. Join us in this six-week intensive where we’ll take that idea of yours and turn it into a manuscript!

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Plot Your Novel with the Three-Act Structure

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July 26 | 4 Weeks | $295 | NEW!

The 3 act structure gives us the scaffolding we can hang our stories off of. Come away from this class with a fully plotted novel and a plan to write it.

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Story Lab: The Story-Subplot Connection

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July 26 | 6 Weeks | $395 | NEW!

Subplots are key to maintaining narrative pace and tension in a story. Drive your story forward with this deep dive into the elements of good storytelling.

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August Courses

The Art of Storytelling

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August 2 | 8 Weeks | $495

It’s an age-old art form—storytelling—and you can learn the craft.

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Story Lab: Story Structure 101

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August 9 | 5 Weeks | $345 | NEW!

Structure is essential to great storytelling. Learn how to roadmap any story in this comprehensive story structure class.

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Essentials of Character Development: How to Create Characters that Move and Breathe and Can’t Stop Talking

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August 16 | 8 Weeks | $495

Bring your characters to life in this in-depth character development class with Gloria Kempton.

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Observing What’s Vivid in Prose and Poetry

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August 23 | 4 Weeks | $295

Learn how to spotlight beauty through fresh, vivid, and surprising language, in this four week mindfulness writing course.

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September Courses

Write Your Novel! The Workshop With Jack

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September 6 | 10 Weeks | $595

Get a good start on a novel in just ten weeks, or revise a novel you’ve already written. Free your imagination, move steadily ahead and count the pages!

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How to Firm Up the “Mushy Middle” of Any Story

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September 13 | 5 Weeks | $345

Ensure a strong middle throughline for any story. Say goodbye to the "mushy middle," and hello to stories that work.

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Discover Your Writing Niche

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September 27 | 8 Weeks | $495

Fiction or nonfiction? Article, short story, or how-to book? Do you want to write for children, teens, adults? There is a type of writing that is best suited for you, and the discovery process can be an adventure.

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Writing Autobiographical Fiction

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September 27 | 8 Weeks | $495

Learn to depart from "what really happened," and write compelling fiction from your own life experiences.

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October Courses

Write Your Novel in 12 Weeks!

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October 4 | 12 Weeks | $695

In this generative novel writing course, we'll go from writing a strong beginning to writing "The End" on your novel's first draft.

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Mastering the Elements of Fiction

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October 11 | 10 Weeks | $595

In this course, you’ll work with the basic elements of fiction--the fundamentals that drive the story and determine the quality of the work.

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Dread and Desire: Gothic Fiction Techniques to Lure and Horrify Your Readers

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October 18 | 6 Weeks | $395

This Halloween, learn how to write eerie, haunting moods in this comprehensive course on Gothic writing techniques.

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Plot Your Novel

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October 25 | 8 Weeks | $495

Over eight weeks, you'll develop a solid basis in the fictional elements—protagonist, setting, secondary characters, point of view, plot, and theme—while you develop the outline of your novel. You'll receive feedback at all stages from your fellow writers and your instructor.

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November Courses

Getting Started Marketing Your Work

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November 15 | 4 Weeks | $295

Solve the mystery of marketing and get your work out there in front of readers in this 4-week online class taught by Instructor Gloria Kempton.

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December Courses

Accessing Your Writer’s Voice

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December 6 | 3 Weeks | $245

Voice: What is it and how do you find yours? Instructor Gloria Kempton offers feedback on assignments in this 3-week online class.

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Unscheduled Courses

These online writing classes don’t currently have a next session on our calendar, but will soon. If you see a course you’re interested in, use the “I’m Interested” button to let us know, and we’ll follow up with you when the course is on our calendar next.

Want to reach us or our instructors with questions about our online writing courses? Contact us at writers@writers.com, or visit the contact form.

(Live Workshop) Get Clear on Your Story and Voice

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Single-Day Webinar | $115

What is your story about? What is your voice? Whether you write poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, hone your writing in this 3 hour workshop.

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(Live Workshop) Writing Beginnings and Endings

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Single-Day Webinar | $115

How do you write a story that's compelling to start and satisfying to finish? Sarah Aronson explains in this comprehensive one-day workshop.

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*Private Class | Accessing Your Writer’s Voice

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January 1 | 3 Weeks | $345

Voice: What is it and how do you find yours? Instructor Gloria Kempton offers feedback on assignments in this 3-week online class.

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*Private Class | Create Story Characters Using the Enneagram

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January 1 | 10 to 14 weeks | $695

In-depth character development using an ancient personality study of human motivation--the Enneagram.

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*Private Class | Discover Your Writing Niche

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January 1 | 8 Weeks | $595

Fiction or nonfiction? Article, short story, or how-to book? Do you want to write for children, teens, adults? There is a type of writing that is best suited for you, and the discovery process can be an adventure.

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*Private Class | Embodied Writing: Improve Your Writing with Full-Body Creativity

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January 1 | 6 to 10 Weeks | $495 | NEW!

Have a grand time with specific physical exercises that honor your health, generate imaginative ideas, explore deeply and make your creative writing entertaining.

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*Private Class | Embodied Writing: Somatic Practices to Improve Your Work

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January 1 | 6 to 10 Weeks | $495

Have a grand time with specific physical exercises that honor your health, generate imaginative ideas, explore deeply and make your creative writing entertaining.

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*Private Class | Essentials of Character Development: How to Create Characters that Move and Breathe and Can’t Stop Talking

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January 1 | 8 Weeks | $595

Bring your characters to life in this in-depth character development class with Gloria Kempton.

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*Private Class | Getting Started Marketing Your Work

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January 1 | 4 Weeks | $395

Solve the mystery of marketing and get your work out there in front of readers in this 4-week online class taught by Instructor Gloria Kempton.

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*Private Class | Introduction to Writing Genre Fiction

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January 1 | 10 to 14 Weeks | $695

Take the whirlwind tour! Learn the conventions of eight major fiction genres, try them out, and figure out your niche.

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*Private Class | Shadow Writing

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January 1 | 8 to 12 Weeks | $595

Your unconscious can drive your writing or block it. Gloria Kempton will guide you in coaxing your shadow out of hiding.

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*Private Class | Starting to Write

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January 1 | 8 Weeks | $595

For those who want to kick start their writing into high gear.

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*Private Class | Story Lab: Writing Loglines That Sell

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January 1 | 2 Single-Day Webinars | $295

Your logline helps you query agents, market your book, and figure out the story itself. Hone your logline and set your book up for success in this two-part private Zoom workshop.

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*Private Class | The Anti-Hero’s Journey for Storytellers

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January 1 | 8 to 12 Weeks | $695

Throughout her writing career, Gloria Kempton has met many anti-heroes. In this course, you’ll receive feedback on your story antagonists.

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*Private Class | The Art of Storytelling

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January 1 | 8 Weeks | $595

It’s an age-old art form—storytelling—and you can learn the craft.

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*Private Class | The Hero’s Journey For Storytellers

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January 1 | 10 Weeks | $695

Structure your story and give it meaning with Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey.

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*Private Class | The Micro-obstacles/Flow Technique

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January 1 | 3 to 7 Weeks | $345

Create new work with fresh language, universal themes, sustained mystery and memorable characters. Stimulate your imagination.

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*Private Class | Using Bullet Journaling to Achieve Writing Goals

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January 1 | 3 to 7 weeks | $295

Looking to keep your writing goals organized? Make it happen in our bullet journaling course. Learn the art of the BuJo with Rudri Patel!

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Anatomy of a Premise Line: How to Use Story and Premise Development for Writing Success

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5 Weeks | $345

The premise line is the only reliable tool that can tell you, BEFORE you start writing, whether or not your story will “work.” In this class participants will learn how to master the process of premise line development—the essential first step in any book or screenplay’s development process.

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Beyond Formula: Writing Love Scenes With Spirit, Passion, Grit And Character Truth

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5 Weeks | $345

Write about love beyond trite sentiment and shallow fictions. Work down to the real thing: deep, powerful, destructive, exalted, fundamental.

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Boost Your Imagination and Reap the Literary Rewards

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4 Weeks | $295

It happens to all of us: life gets in the way and our creativity falters. Get back on track with this four-week creativity boosting class!

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Crafting a Story or Novel Chapter Using Forward-Moving Tension

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5 Weeks | $345

How do writers tell stories with tension, action, and emotion? Learn how to write forward-moving tension in this 5 week fiction course.

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Crafting the Poetry Novel: Advanced Workshop

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5 weeks | $345

Want to make headway on your poetry novel? This workshop offers the structure and resources to get it done, with instructor Kelly Bingham.

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Crafting the Romance Novel

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4 Weeks | $295

More than happily ever after. Writing a romance novel is about more than just telling the story of how two characters meet, fall in love, and ride off into the sunset of happily ever after. A romance novel follows the same structure as powerful novels in other genres and employs the building blocks of great…

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De Novo: How to Build Your Own Fantasy or Sci-Fi World

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6 Weeks | $395

Create captivating worlds in this comprehensive worldbuilding course. You'll come away with fantastic settings that make your stories mesmerizing, believable, and real.

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Deepening and Organizing Our Stories: Memoir/Creative Nonfiction and Autobiographical Fiction

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10 Weeks | $595

For writers of memoir, creative nonfiction and fiction, with some experience. Particularly helpful to writers in the midst of a longer work.

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Drafty in Here: Write Your Novella in Ten Weeks

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10 Weeks | $595

Write the entire first draft of a novella-length story, with plenty of feedback from stage to stage, and finish with a plan for revising toward a publishable manuscript.

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Embodied Writing: Improve Your Writing with Full-Body Creativity

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6 Weeks | $395

Have a grand time with specific physical exercises that honor your health, generate imaginative ideas, explore deeply and make your creative writing entertaining.

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Embodied Writing: Somatic Practices to Improve Your Work

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6 Weeks | $395

Have a grand time with specific physical exercises that honor your health, generate imaginative ideas, explore deeply and make your creative writing entertaining.

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Finding the Real Story: Essential Elements of Story in Fiction and Memoir

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10 Weeks | $595

Address the larger issues of writing story through a look at the essential elements of narrative in fiction and memoir.

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Finish Your Manuscript: Next-Level Picture Book Mentorship

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6 Weeks | $415

During this six week program, you will work closely one-on-one with Kelly to finalize, refine, and polish your picture book into a manuscript ready to submit for publication or representation.

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Free Panel Discussion: Romance Reader to Writer

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1-Day Free Panel Discussion | $0

Join us for a free Zoom panel discussion with three industry experts in the field of Romance writing!

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Get It Done: Create the Scaffolding to Start (and Finish) a Writing Project

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2 Single-Day Webinars | $195 | NEW!

Get your butt in the chair, your mind roaming freely, and your creative juices flowing in this motivational, all-genres writing class.

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Get That Novel Finished! Tools and Inspiration to Complete Your First Draft

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10 Weeks | $595

Finishing a novel requires guts, dedication, and stamina. When you find yourself struggling, our 10-week course with Donna Levin will help!

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Graphic Novel Writing Bootcamp

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Single-Day Webinar | $149

Put pen to graphing paper in this workshop on crafting the graphic novel. By the end of the Zoom call, you'll have an 8 page graphic short story that's ready to illustrate.

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How to Write Character-Driven Stories

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6 Weeks | $395

Characters don't just drive the story, they are the story. Learn how to craft character-centered fiction and give life to the people on your page.

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How to Write Great Stories

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6 Weeks | $395

Learn how to combine character, setting, plot, and other elements of fiction to write powerful, compelling stories.

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Humor Is The New Black!

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4 Weeks | $295

Ready to add a splash of fun to your writing life? Join us for a four-week humor writing class. We’ll read. We’ll laugh. We’ll write. We’ll experiment.

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I’ve Drunk Your Poisoned Nectar: Writing with the Goddess

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8 Weeks | $495

Dig deep into the rich mythology of South Asian goddesses to find new inspiration for your work in this generative, open-genre writing class.

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In Your Own Words: Transforming Life Into Memoir and Fiction

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8 Weeks | $495

Learn how to draw inspiration and material from your life experiences or those of people you know, or want to know, to craft compelling, publishable memoirs, personal essays, autobiographical novels and short stories, and/or narrative poetry.

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Intro to Fiction Writing

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8 Weeks | $495

What makes a good fiction story? Learn how to write compelling stories in this eight-week intro to fiction course, with Donna Levin.

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Introduction to Writing Genre Fiction

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10 Weeks | $595

Take the whirlwind tour! Learn the conventions of eight major fiction genres, try them out, and figure out your niche.

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Kickstart Your Novel

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6 Weeks | $395

Writing a novel requires planning, strategy, and an understanding of the fundamentals of fiction. Get the guidance you need to start your novel the right way.

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Let It Rip: The Art of Writing Fiery Prose

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6 Weeks | $395

Only 2 seats left!

You'll write prose that gets folks so hot and bothered they won't be able to put it down, even if it isn't about sex.

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Make Your Prose Sing

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Single-Day Webinar | $115

Enrich your prose with techniques from poetry. Bring paper and pens; leave with a better ear and lots of ideas about how to make your prose sing.

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Manuscript Review for Children’s Writers: Summer Edition

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5 Weeks | $345

Instructor Sarah Aronson welcomes all writers who are working on manuscripts for kids and teens. This advanced workshop will focus entirely on the participants' own work in progress.

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Manuscript Workshop: Writing For Young Readers

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8 Weeks | $495

Author Denise Santomauro leads this intermediate/advanced workshop on writing for children. It offers support, structure and detailed feedback on manuscripts.

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Overcome Writing Anxiety: Boost Your Storytelling Confidence in Four Short Weeks!

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4 Weeks | $295

"Who are you to want to write?" Someone great, that's who! Politely ask Mr. or Ms. Fear to step aside while you sign up for this fun, freeing and functional adventure.

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Rapid Story Development: A Master Plan for Building Stories That Work

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10 Weeks | $595

Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.

In this 10 week story writing class, Jeff Lyons pairs the Enneagram with story development techniques to revolutionize your writing practice.

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Revision Strategies for Novels

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2 1-Day Workshops | $199

You've finished your novel. Now what? Develop in-depth revision strategies for your book in this two-part workshop series.

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Roads Into Writing: Opening New Terrain In Your Work

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6 Weeks | $395

Write like mad, read brilliant books & deepen your craft while exploring new paths to inspiration. With novelist and poet Anya Achtenberg, .

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Scene Study: Strengthen Your Writing with Compelling Scenes

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5 Weeks | $345

Only 2 seats left!

Great stories are constructed with great scenes. Immerse your reader in your stories by learning the ropes of scene development.

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Suspense Sells! Power Up Your Writing With Conflict, Tension and Emotion

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4 Weeks | $295

Inject suspense into your stories to keep readers turning pages. For writers of all kinds of fiction: thrillers, mysteries, romance, humor, literary and memoir. A four week class with Giulietta Nardone.

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Techwashed!: Writing with AI, Data, and Surveillance

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2 Saturday Workshops | $205

Raise a mirror against society's relationship to technology in this two part workshop series where we will learn how to write about tech.

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Ten Steps to Creating Interesting, In-Depth Characters

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Single-Day Webinar | $115

How do you write about people convincingly? Empower your character development in this workshop filled with exercises and character discussion.

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The Cabin In The (Virtual) Woods: Writing Horror Comedy

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4 Weeks | $295 | NEW!

The line between horror and comedy is a lot thinner than you think. In this class, make your readers laugh in one sentence and cower in the next.

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The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

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10 Weeks | $595

Create fantastical worlds with mythical beings in this comprehensive introduction to fantasy and science fiction.

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The First Fifty Pages of the Novel

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10 Weeks | $595

Only 1 seat left!

The first 50 pages sets up plot, characters, and voice, and it lays the groundwork for your book's overall structure and success. Receive critical, supportive feedback on your book's start from novelist Sandra Novack.

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The Five Ws (and One H) of Drafting Middle Grade and Young Adult Novels

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8 Weeks | $495

Asking yourself these six questions will give you the scaffolding for your next young adult or middle grade novel.

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The Hero’s Journey For Storytellers

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10 Weeks | $595

Structure your story and give it meaning with Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey.

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The Micro-obstacles/Flow Technique

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3 Weeks | $245

Create new work with fresh language, universal themes, sustained mystery and memorable characters. Stimulate your imagination.

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The Next Fifty Pages of the Novel

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10 Weeks | $595

Only 3 seats left!

So now that you have your opening novel pages, what next? Get detailed, constructive feedback on your work-in-progress, wherever you're at in writing it.

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Turn Up the Heat: How to Write Good Sex

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2 Single-Day Webinars | $195

How do you write sex scenes that are both erotic and realistic? Make your reader's heart race in this webinar on writing good sex.

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Untie the Tropes: Write In-Depth YA Protagonists

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5 Weeks | $345

Do you want to write YA, but you're terrified of teenagers? Learn how to write authentic teen characters without tropes in this generative YA course.

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What to Do When Your Characters Fall in Love: Writing Romance in Any Genre

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5 Weeks | $345

Relationships are an important feature of fiction—and not just romances! If your non-romance work has love involved, learn the ropes in this 5 week course, open to writers of all genres.

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Write Your Children’s Book!

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8 Weeks | $495

If you’re looking for accountability, support, enthusiasm, feedback, and a chance to make progress on your Children's Book or YA story, then this is the place for you.

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Write Your Novel: The Art of the Outline

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8 Weeks | $495 | NEW!

Structure and start your novel in this comprehensive class. You'll come away with a skeleton for your story and at least 20 pages written.

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Writing Cross Genre

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1-Day Free Panel Discussion | $0

On March 9th at 10 AM, Writers.com instructor Nicole Hardy will lead a workshop on writing cross genre at independent publisher Chin Music Press. Using Chin Music Press’s title, A Commonplace Book Of Pie by Kate Lebo, Nicole will demonstrate how poets can write nonfiction, novelists can tackle screenplays, graphic novelist can compose short stories, or any combination of writing in a…

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Writing for Kids: Entering the World of Children’s Literature

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Single-Day Webinar | $115

Learn the fundamentals of writing for children in this one day workshop, and write the kinds of stories that kids simply can't put down.

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Writing Magical Fiction

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2 Single-Day Webinars | $295 | NEW!

In this workshop series, you won't just write using magic in fiction—you'll harness the magic that only fiction can make.

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Writing Short Stories with the Empathic Approach

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8 weeks | $495

Great fiction brings deeper understanding. Foster a greater sense of connection and supercharge your stories in this empathy-driven fiction class.

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Writing Spontaneously: How to Let Your Stories Surprise You

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Single-Day Webinar | $115

Some of the best stories don't follow a specific plot structure; they develop organically. Learn how to hone spontaneity in your fiction writing and come away surprised by your work.

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Writing the Absurd

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8 Weeks | $495

If you turn on to the absurd in life—to the ironic, edgy, bizarre, and grotesque—this is the course for you. Learn the key techniques of writing absurdist fiction, dark fiction, and satire.

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Writing with Consistency and Courage

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Single-Day Webinar | $115

What makes a successful writer? It's not talent, craft, or even the right connections—it's consistency and courage.

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Writing with Tarot

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8 Weeks | $495

Jump-start your creative juices, and explore a world of divination, symbolism, and imagery right at your fingertips: learn short story and novel writing through Tarot.

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Unscheduled Online Novel Writing Classes

Browse our full novel offerings below. Let us know which novel writing courses you're interested in, and we'll contact you with dates when we're ready to put them on our calendar.

Articles on Novel Writing

Why Take an Online Novel Writing Course with Writers.com?

  • We welcome writers of all backgrounds and experience levels, and we are here for one reason: to support you on your writing journey.
  • Small groups keep our online novel writing classes lively and intimate.
  • Work through your weekly written lectures, course materials, and writing assignments at your own pace.
  • Share and discuss your work with classmates in a supportive class environment.
  • Your course instructor will offer you direct, personal feedback and suggestions on every assignment you submit.