Your writing life starts here…
Start your story with NCW Academy, the home for creative writers.
Our creative writing courses, workshops and mentoring are delivered by award-winning tutors, authors and industry experts. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an experienced writer taking the next step in your career, we have a programme to provide structure and support for you to achieve your writing goals.
What we offer
Online tutored courses
Co-designed with the University of East Anglia, our tutored online courses offer high quality, flexible learning over 12 or 18 weeks. You’ll receive personalised feedback from your tutor each fortnight and join a community of like-minded writers from across the world.
Workshops
Led by experienced writers and industry, our workshops are one-off, focussed sessions of learning and sharing alongside other writers. We run workshops online and in-person from our home at Dragon Hall. Bursaries are available.
Mentoring
Writers of all kinds often face common challenges; from finding the time to write and tackling creative blockages to preparing manuscripts for publication. You don’t have to do it alone. Get one-to-one feedback and advice from an experienced mentor.
Live evening courses
Evening classes are designed to help writers access particular areas of knowledge and build specific skills over a short period of time. They include tutor presentations, informal group discussions and writing exercises. Choose to meet online or in person at Dragon Hall.
Online self-paced courses
We all have busy lives and it can be hard to find the time to learn new skills. That’s why our online, self-paced courses are designed to fit around your schedule – progress through at your own pace, with zero pressure. Sign up now and the course is yours forever.
Free writing resources
New to writing? Looking for a refresher or to develop your technique? Get started with our library of free digital resources, packed with useful advice, practical tips and short writing exercises.
National Centre for Writing has been supporting writers to develop their craft for 20 years.
NCW Academy offers a range of activities to suit writers at all stages and budgets: from free self-paced online learning through to a range of tutored 12-18 week introductory and intermediate courses. You can pay upfront, in instalments or apply for one of our bursary places.
Whether you are looking for an in-person or online experience, self-guided or tutored, we provide a welcoming, professional, and constructive community to help you take the next steps on your writing journey.
Our programme runs in Norwich, at our Literature House inside the historic Dragon Hall, and online, with options across evenings, daytime, and weekends alongside a range of self-paced programmes and free resources with no fixed term times or schedules.
I’m very new to writing, just building my skills and confidence, and feel like the course has brilliantly equipped and supported me in both areas.
Access free resource packs on character, structure, world building and more
Fill out a short form to access our catalogue of 12 free resource packs for writers at the early stages of their writing journey.
Each pack contains advice, practical tips and writing exercises delivered by established writers such as Jenny Offill, Geoff Dyer, Eimear McBride, Sarah Perry, Okechukwu Nzelu, Michel Faber and more.
Topics include method, character, plot, research, dialogue and structure.
Supported by Arts Council England.
Ready for your next challenge? Explore more ways to get involved
NCW is committed to supporting the development of new writers, offering talent development programmes for unpublished writers, free manuscript assessments, regional and national literary prizes, residencies and more. Explore how you can get involved now.
Got a question?
If you still have questions, get in touch with the learning team by email [email protected] or phone (+44) 01603 877177 between our working hours of 9am – 5pm BST, Monday to Friday.
Discover more from NCW
