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.
114 courses available
Writing horrorWrite to unsettle, in this six-week trip through the techniques of horror fiction, learning from classic horror authors and contemporary masters of the genre.Online
Tue 16 Feb 2027Saranya MurthiFull fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00- How to get publishedSo you've finished your manuscript. What's next? This short course provides guidance in submitting novels and non-fiction books to agents and publishers, and helps you to tailor your work to maximise its potential in the marketplace.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
- Short story writing: intensiveA fast-paced introduction to the art of writing short stories. In this 6-week course you will receive technical advice, creative exercises to generate ideas, and feedback to develop your writing skills.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
- Writing creative non-fiction: intensive
This shorter version of our introductory creative non-fiction course explores the core elements of creative non-fiction across genres such as travel writing, the personal essay and life writing.
Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00 - Ways into poetry: intensiveAre you just starting to write poetry? This shorter version of our introductory Ways into poetry course offers an opportunity to experiment with language and a variety of poetic devices. Discover the key elements of a poem in a friendly and interactive class.Full fee £179.00 Senior fee £179.00 Concession £116.00
- Introduction to writing microdramas: scripting the two-minute show
Curious about the microdramas taking over your phone? Learn the basics of writing vertical drama, the fastest-growing scripted format in the world.
Online
Sun 21 Feb 2027Bob SchultzFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Writing autofictionBlurring lines between fact and fiction, blending the 'real' and 'imaginary', autofiction is a rich playground for writers. In this short advanced taster course, learn what 'autofiction' is, how it differs from other forms of life writing, and explore how to write it.
Online
Sat 27 Feb 2027Vicky GrutFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - How to write a non-fiction book proposalLearn how to write a compelling non-fiction book proposal on this interactive and informative short course, which will demystify the essentials to give your project the best chance of success.
Online
Sun 28 Feb 2027Nick BarlayFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - How to write strong women charactersCelebrate strong women for International Women's Day with this inclusive one-off session on how to create your own, powerful fictional women.
Online
Sun 7 Mar 2027Sharmila ChauhanFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Joke writingUncover the workings of the classic one-liner, practise joke writing and find out what makes a good joke. Learn how to refine and develop your own writing skills for stand up, comedy writing and pleasure.
Online
Sat 13 Mar 2027Kate SmurthwaiteFull fee £149.00 Senior fee £149.00 Concession £97.00 - Write your screenplay: from idea to first draftA good screenplay starts with a good story but it also needs structure, good characters and interesting twists. This is a course for writers who have an idea they think is ready to go. We’ll look at the best ways to grab the viewers’ attention from the off, and at the end of the course you’ll get a chance to pitch your ideas.
Online
Sat 20 Mar 2027Clive FordFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Craft focus: narrative time in fictionAll fiction is bound by time: a story must begin and end. In this practical short course learn how time functions in fiction and, through practical writing exercises, how you can manipulate it to great effect. Suitable for those with some creative writing experience.
Online
Sat 20 Mar 2027Vicky GrutFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Writing historical fictionDig into the past to craft historical fiction that speaks vividly to contemporary readers. From Hilary Mantel to C.J. Sansom, learn techniques writers use to turn historical record into compelling fiction.
Online
Sun 21 Mar 2027Anna RichardsFull fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00 - Ways into playwriting: getting startedExplore the fundamental techniques of writing for the stage in this introductory online course. Get to grips with dialogue, character, story and structure, and start work on your own play.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00
- Craft focus: grammar, syntax and style for creative writers - getting startedGreat poetry and prose begin when the writer puts the right words in the right places. Learn how and why the rules and conventions of language matter in this new course, which combines creative writing with a review of essential points of grammar.Full fee £79.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £51.00
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