Self-paced online courses

First Steps in Short Form Poetry

Super-short forms of writing give us the gift of concision; the ability to drive straight to the beating heart of something.

How to be a Confident Poet

That’s the theory. In reality, it can be a challenge to think of yourself as a poet, no matter how far through you are in your writing career. Anna Cathenka has been on that same journey to find her confidence as a writer and, in this course, shares what she’s learned to give you self-belief in your work.

How to Create Suspense in Fiction

In this course, you’ll learn how to keep your readers on the edge of their seat, no matter what genre your novel is.

How to Write More and Stay Happy

Building on our free Supercharge Your Writing course, writer and tutor Ben Johncock reveals more tips and tricks for writing more, writing faster and staying healthy as a writer. Packed with exercises, this course will help you push past writer’s block, identify bad habits and use technology responsibly.

How to Write Real People in Memoir

How do you write about someone you know? This course unpicks the thorny questions around truth, memory, and narrative.

How to Write True Crime

Learn the tools and techniques needed to write a compelling true crime novel, article, or script for a podcast or documentary.

How to Write Unreliable Narrators

How do you create a narrator your reader can’t trust? In this course, you’ll look at the ways in which an unreliable narrator can add intrigue, suspense, and drama into your narrative, and you’ll experiment with creating your own unreliable narrators.

How to Write Young Adult Fiction: Characters and Conflicts

Discover tools and techniques to help you create compelling characters and plot your YA Novel.

Self-paced

Know Your Publishing Options

The world of publishing can be confusing and intimidating. This course is your map to navigating the different paths to publication, from the traditional Big 5 to the DIY ethos of self-publishing. Along the way you’ll find out about the emerging possibilities of social and online publishing and learn how to identify and avoid the scams.

Mentoring For Writers

Writers of all kinds often face common challenges; from finding the time to write and tackling creative blockages to preparing manuscripts for publication.

1st January 2023

New Ways with Short Form Poetry

There are new poetic forms, trends and traditions being created all the time. Aki Schilz, editor and poet, has been at the forefront of super-short form poetic trends and is here to guide you through the latest in super-short poetry.

Supercharge Your Writing

We want to help you be a writer. This free course is packed full of advice to help you examine your habits and figure out how you can increase your productivity. It’s also been designed to not take up much of your time – in just one weekend you’ll be able to revitalise your writing.

Writing Characters for Middle-Grade Fiction

Join award-winning children’s author Mitch Johnson as he guides you through the techniques and art of creating characters that will appeal to middle-grade readers.

Writing Science Fiction Bundle

This huge bundle includes all three Writing Science Fiction courses, taught by Ian Nettleton: World Building, Characters & Point of View and Plotting & Endings.

Writing Science Fiction: Characters & Point of View

Science fiction is known for its incredible world-building, brain-melting ideas and imaginative technology. But a story doesn’t come to life without engaging characters, no matter the genre, and this course is designed to help you infuse your sci-fi stories with memorable characters.

Writing Science Fiction: Plotting & Endings

Discover how to plot a story, from its beginnings through to redrafting and its end, with tutor Ian Nettleton.

Writing Science Fiction: World Building

Start building your science fiction world in this free course, hosted by Ian Nettleton. All stories need good settings but science fiction has its own unique and particular needs, whether you’re writing in the past, an alternative present or the far future. This course guides you through classic sci-fi settings and explores ways to craft your own.