Online Writing Courses Online Writing Courses Online Writing Courses

Online Writing Courses

Our online creative writing workshops are open to students from all over the world, from beginners to advanced writers. We offer a range of courses in fiction, non-fiction and poetry, and use a bespoke online classroom to offer the expert tuition and writerly camaraderie that have made our London courses so successful.

Our online writing courses: an overview

We’ve been running online courses since 2012, using pedagogical experts to bring the Faber Academy experience into a virtual format. Since our online courses began, a number of our online alumni have gone on to be published, including Joanna Cannon, the author of the bestselling The Trouble with Goats and Sheep, and Julie Ma, winner of Richard and Judy’s Search for a Bestseller with her novel, Happy Days.

Many of our online courses are designed to fit around your other commitments, with flexible writing hours and no regular set time you’ll need to be online (perfect for those in other timezones!). For those looking for something that replicates the London classroom more closely, we also offer online courses with live Zoom meetings – some one-day masterclasses, others much longer courses with weekly or monthly meetings.

Some of our online courses are selective, meaning you’ll need to apply, while others you can book a place on right away.

Who are these courses for?

Writers who can't attend in person

Join one of our online courses from anywhere in the world – all you need is an internet connection.

Writers looking for something flexible

Want a course that will fit in around an irregular work schedule, or an evening class that you can join while the kids are in bed without having to arrange childcare? There's a range of online classes that might suit you, from entirely self-paced to those with regular Zoom contact with your tutor and group.

Writers who prefer an online format

There are lots of reasons why some of us find an online course a safer space to share our creative endeavours, whether it's conducted via Zoom or using forums. The pandemic has proven to us all that it's possible to connect and engage with others virtually - if that works best for you, you're not alone.

Online Writing Courses (35)

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Crime, Novel Writing

Writing Crime

Take your writing to the next level, and develop both the technical skill and the narrative momentum to really get stuck into your crime novel.

Level

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Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

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Online

Length

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12 weeks

Tutors

Claire McGowan

Start Date

Monday 25 Mar 2024

£695
Book Now

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Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Writing YA

Spend three months in expert company, learning the key skills any YA writer requires.

Level

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Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

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Online

Length

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12 weeks

Tutors

Penny Joelson

Start Date

Monday 25 Mar 2024

£695
Book Now

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Image of a woman at large kitchen table, writing notes on a pad of paper with her laptop open in front of her.
Fiction Development

Masterclass: The Idea of Pace

One of a series of ten intensive, impactful masterclasses from Faber Academy's Director of Fiction.

Level

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Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

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Online

Length

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1-5 days

Tutors

Richard Skinner

Start Date

Monday 25 Mar 2024

£75
Book Now

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Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Getting Started: Beginners' Fiction

Everything you need to call yourself a writer – discipline, craft skills and a great group of people to work with – in one online writing course experience.

Level

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Starting out

What do these levels mean?

Location

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Online

Length

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12 weeks

Tutors

Ashley Hickson-Lovence

Start Date

Monday 01 Apr 2024

2 more start dates available

£395
Book Now

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Novel Writing

Memoir and Life Writing

How to write a life – let alone your own? Spend three months in expert company, asking and answering the questions that a memoirist needs to answer.

Level

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Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

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Online

Length

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12 weeks

Tutors

Miranda Doyle

Start Date

Thursday 04 Apr 2024

£850
Book Now

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Woman in yellow jumper writing with her laptop on her lap, late at night
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Finish Your Draft

Develop the tools, techniques and motivation to complete your draft within nine months.

Level

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Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

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Online

Length

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6 month +

Tutors

Natasha Bell

By Application

Start Date

Monday 08 Apr 2024

Application Deadline

Monday 25 Mar 2024

£1850
Apply

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Female novelist writing on her laptop
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Writing a Novel (Online)

A serious but flexible course for committed writers, with access to leading industry experts and round-the-clock support from our team.

Level

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Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

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Online

Length

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6 month +

Tutors

Sarah May

By Application

Start Date

Monday 08 Apr 2024

3 more start dates available

Application Deadline

Monday 25 Mar 2024

£2750
Apply

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Fiction Development, Short Story

Short Stories III: Deepening Your Practice

You’ve got to grips with the basics – now it’s time to make your short stories shine.

Level

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Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

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Online

Length

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12 weeks

Tutors

Lucy Caldwell

Start Date

Thursday 11 Apr 2024

£850
Book Now

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Details

Online Course Tutors

Our online writing course tutors are all published writers and seasoned teachers with plenty of experience teaching online.

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Claire McGowan

Claire McGowan is a writer of crime and literary fiction, and has also published women's fiction as Eva Woods. She was...

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Claire McGowan
Photo of Penny Joelson, Writing YA tutor at Faber Academy

Penny Joelson

Penny Joelson is a multi-award-winning author, currently working on a new Young Adult thriller. Among twelve published books...

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Penny Joelson
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Richard Skinner

Richard Skinner is a novelist, poet and critic. His most recent book, The Mirror, was described as ‘beautifully written...

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Richard Skinner
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Ashley Hickson-Lovence

Ashley Hickson-Lovence is a novelist and Creative Writing lecturer based in Norwich. While working as a secondary school English teacher...

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Ashley Hickson-Lovence
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Miranda Doyle

Miranda Doyle's family come from the tiny island of Coney in Sligo Bay. She grew up in Edinburgh alongside three brothers and...

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Miranda Doyle
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Natasha Bell

Natasha (she/her) is a cross-genre author and researcher. She's published two novels...

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Natasha Bell
sarah-may-tutor

Sarah May

Sarah May is the highly acclaimed author of seven novels, including The Nudist Colony, (shortlisted for the Guardian First Book Award...

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Sarah May
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Lucy Caldwell

Born in Belfast in 1981, Lucy Caldwell is the multi–award winning author of three novels, several stage plays and radio dramas...

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Lucy Caldwell

Absolutely brilliant writing course! I loved it. Intelligent, rich, well structured, elegantly crafted, catalytic and enjoyable.

Absolutely brilliant writing course! I loved it. Intelligent, rich, well structured, elegantly crafted, catalytic and enjoyable.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I improve my writing skills online?

Writing exercises and prompts are always a great way to try out new prose styles and techniques and explore and expand on your ideas. There are lots of these available for free online – we’ve got a bank of them here. Short courses are also a good way to test out your writing before committing to something longer.

Are online courses worth it? What's the difference between your online and in-person courses?

The short answer is: yes! Committing to your writing over the duration of a course, as well as learning from your tutor and your classmates, is always going to be valuable – whether that course takes place online or in-person doesn’t detract from that. Our online novel writing courses, for instance, particularly Writing a Novel, are closely modelled on their in-person counterparts, but with key differences that better suit the online format. What is important is figuring out which type of course is going to suit you best (if your circumstances mean that either online or in-person is an option). Some people will work well with the more flexible format an online course can allow, while others find they concentrate best when they’re physically in the room with their group. We’re always on hand to discuss the options available for your particular needs – get in touch if you’d like to have a chat.

Do you offer online poetry courses?

Yes, absolutely – our suite of poetry courses has recently been expanded and we’re really proud of it. We now offer a range of classes from those suitable for a total beginner up to advanced level workshops for those looking to start publishing their poems.

Can't find the right course?

Manuscript Assessment

Get comprehensive editorial feedback on your manuscript from our experienced readers – whether it’s still a work-in-progress or you’re preparing to submit to literary agents.

Find out more

Mentoring

We offer a range of mentoring options if you’d prefer to work one-on-one with an established writer to help you shape your project and realise your writing ambitions.

Find out more

Browse the Reading Room

From author interviews and writing tips to creative writing exercises and reading lists, we've got everything you need to get started – and to keep going.