Online Writing Courses
Bring your stories to life from wherever you are with City Lit’s online writing courses. Whether you're looking to sharpen your skills, explore new genres, or develop a writing routine that works for you, our flexible online courses are designed to fit around your schedule and support your creative growth.
Led by professional writers and experienced tutors, our online courses cover everything from fiction and poetry to memoir, screenwriting, and more. With live interactive sessions, group discussion, and personalised feedback, you’ll get the same high-quality guidance and encouragement as you would in the classroom — all from the comfort of your own home.
Perfect for all levels, our online writing courses create a welcoming and collaborative environment where you can connect with fellow writers, experiment with new ideas, and build your confidence. Whether you’re starting your first story or editing your fifth, there’s a course to help you take the next step.
Explore our online writing courses today and discover the freedom to write, wherever you are.
- Masterclass: fiction (a one-term intensive workshop)
Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 2 other dates)Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Jonathan BarnesThis intensive fiction workshop is open by selective application to a maximum of ten fiction writers working at the advanced and professional levels. You will receive rigorous constructive feedback on your novel or short story as you develop it with a view to publication, and participate in detailed tutor-led discussions on advanced elements of fictional craft.Full fee £399.00 Senior fee £399.00 Concession £399.00 - Poetry workshop: intensive Course start date: Tue 23 Sep 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie IrigarayWant to have your poems critiqued in a supportive environment? This intensive poetry workshop focuses on offering feedback to poets who have already written a selection of poems and are looking to push their writing further.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Short story writing Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 8 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Vicky GrutA hands-on introduction to the art of writing short stories. You will receive technical advice, creative exercises to generate ideas, and feedback to develop your writing skills.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00 - Writing fantasy stories Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Victoria M. AdamsBuild fantastical worlds, fill them with compelling characters and learn how to structure innovative plotlines in this perfect introduction for those with a passion for fantasy.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00 - Ways into playwriting Course start date: Wed 30 Apr 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nicole AcquahExplore the fundamental techniques of writing for the stage in this introductory course. Get to grips with dialogue, character, story and structure, and start work on your own play.Full fee £239.00 Senior fee £239.00 Concession £120.00 - Advanced autobiographical writing Course start date: Tue 29 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Nick BarlayA supportive workshop for more experienced writers of autobiography who are ready to push their practice, explore new techniques and further develop their authorial voice.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00 - Developing your creative writing Course start date: Fri 2 May 2025 (and 3 other dates)
Location on this date: Keeley Street
Tutors: Christina DunhillThis supportive intermediate course for writers with some experience will provide inspiration, technical guidance and feedback on your work, as well as helping you to sustain your writing practice. You will be working with other aspiring writers and benefit from the support and encouragement that working with a group over a whole term can bring.
This course supports several kinds of creative writing, including prose fiction, poetry, reflective writing and memoir, whether they are finished pieces or works-in-progress.Full fee £249.00 Senior fee £249.00 Concession £125.00 - Reading for writers: the short story (a fortnightly course) Course start date: Thu 1 May 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Annabel BanksThe best way to write good short stories is to read a lot of good ones first. Dive into the best of short fiction, explore point-of-view, character and pacing, and begin to apply the lessons learnt to your own writing in this fortnightly course.Full fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £75.00 - Writing an academic essay Course start date: Fri 2 May 2025 (and 2 other dates)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: William BradyA crash course in essay writing – beginnings, middles and ends. Suitable for students on A level and access courses or undergraduates.Full fee £109.00 Senior fee £109.00 Concession £55.00 - Autobiography into poetry Course start date: Sun 5 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Sarah WardleLearn how to translate real-life experiences into powerful poems in this stimulating course for those interested in the meeting place between autobiography and poetry.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Writing about food Course start date: Mon 28 Apr 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Love food and want to write about it? Whether you’re keen to review dishes, interview chefs or write about sustainable eating, now is your chance. This course will cover writing for established publications as well as personal blogs.Full fee £199.00 Senior fee £199.00 Concession £100.00 - Submitting your poetry to magazines Course start date: Wed 22 Oct 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Katherine LocktonThis short course is designed to guide students on submitting their poetry to magazines, journals and websites for publication.Full fee £19.00 Senior fee £19.00 Concession £19.00 - Writing the body in poetry Course start date: Sun 2 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie IrigarayExplore the relationship between poetry and the body, and learn to be bold and innovative in writing about your own bodily experiences, in this thought-provoking workshop.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00 - Introduction to journalism Course start date: Mon 3 Nov 2025 (and 1 other date)
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Allis MossOn this course students will explore the basic skills a freelance journalist needs to write and sell news and features to newspapers and magazines. From developing ideas and identifying outlets to interview skills and approaching editors.Full fee £159.00 Senior fee £159.00 Concession £80.00 - Writing women's experiences in poetry Course start date: Sat 15 Nov 2025
Location on this date: Online
Tutors: Julie IrigarayThis course will look at how contemporary women poets write about their experiences of womanhood. We'll discuss their strategies and you'll be encouraged to write poems, in a supportive environment, about what being a woman means to you.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £40.00
Can't see a course you want?
Add this category to your waiting list to set up alerts and we will update you when new courses are released online.
Add me to waiting list