Creative Writing Courses
Ideal for beginners
or if you want to try a new area of writing
Creative writing is a most rewarding and stimulating pastime. But the rewards aren't just creative. You can also earn a spare or full-time income from your writing if you want to. Our creative writing courses will show you how.
Since 1989 we've been helping writers find their own voice and teaching them how to get published and paid. We can help you too. The course lessons tell you what you need to do. Then you put that advice into practice in your tutor-marked assignments. You’ll work with your tutor - a professional writer - throughout your studies. They are your personal guide to writing success.
For new writers we strongly recommend the Comprehensive Creative Writing Course as you get to try a wide variety of writing to find what you are good at and enjoy. However, because of your own experience and circumstances you may feel that one of the other courses is better for you. Click the button below to see our range of courses.
Since 1989 we've been helping writers find their own voice and teaching them how to get published and paid. We can help you too. The course lessons tell you what you need to do. Then you put that advice into practice in your tutor-marked assignments. You’ll work with your tutor - a professional writer - throughout your studies. They are your personal guide to writing success.
For new writers we strongly recommend the Comprehensive Creative Writing Course as you get to try a wide variety of writing to find what you are good at and enjoy. However, because of your own experience and circumstances you may feel that one of the other courses is better for you. Click the button below to see our range of courses.
See What Our Students Say
Annemarie Munro
"I signed up for the course in December 2020 as a Christmas present to myself and I started the first module in January 2021. I have had eight pieces published: three paid earning £1080 and a star letter where I won a £250 hotel voucher.
"I have seen my writing journey as an adventure: What can I write? What am I best at? What new aspects of writing can I discover and contribute towards? I have welcomed the wide range of modules covering different types of writing, challenging me to try new aspects in style and content, pushing me gently outside my comfort zone with encouragement."
"I have seen my writing journey as an adventure: What can I write? What am I best at? What new aspects of writing can I discover and contribute towards? I have welcomed the wide range of modules covering different types of writing, challenging me to try new aspects in style and content, pushing me gently outside my comfort zone with encouragement."
Legodile 'Dredd X' Senganabeng
“After I started the Comprehensive Creative Writing course with The Writers Bureau I began to write extensively as a freelance writer for newspapers and magazines. I’ve written for the Midweek Sun, Botswana Guardian, Weekend Post, Dreams magazine, and Air Botswana’s in-flight magazine, Peolwane and Botswana Tourism Organisation’s annual magazine, Discover Botswana. I’ve also published several short stories with Drum magazine in South Africa.”
Theresa Gooda
"Having more than covered the course fees from published pieces I have never looked back. Initially my ambitions were to get going. I knew I wanted to be a writer, I just didn’t know how to go about it, or, if I’m honest, quite what I wanted to write.
"Since, I have gradually blended a teaching career with writing, first with articles and short stories, then increasing the writing commitment dramatically when I secured an agent to ghostwrite a series of memoirs."
"Since, I have gradually blended a teaching career with writing, first with articles and short stories, then increasing the writing commitment dramatically when I secured an agent to ghostwrite a series of memoirs."
Mike Smith
"The course has given me, not only the confidence, but the opportunity to experiment with different writing styles and techniques. The writing assignments have encouraged me to work outside of my comfort zone, and to write about subjects, and for markets, that I would never have considered. Not only has my grammar and sentence construction improved but the course has been instrumental in firing my imagination and getting me to look at things from a different perspective. Although it’s only been nine months since I started the course, I have earned £500 from writing and I’m awaiting further payments."
Alice Vinten
"The Writers Bureau opened my eyes to possibilities that I'd never considered before - writing for magazines, pitching for non-fiction books, and researching the writing industry. My memoir 'On the Line - Life and Death in the Metropolitan Police' was published in paperback by Two Roads Books.
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"As a direct result of my memoir I have since been commissioned by the BBC to consult on the production of a new crime drama. I have also been paid to appear at crime writing festivals and have enjoyed some excellent publicity, including appearing on BBC Breakfast and BBC London radio. I have also secured an excellent literary agent and finished my first crime novel."
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"As a direct result of my memoir I have since been commissioned by the BBC to consult on the production of a new crime drama. I have also been paid to appear at crime writing festivals and have enjoyed some excellent publicity, including appearing on BBC Breakfast and BBC London radio. I have also secured an excellent literary agent and finished my first crime novel."
Awais Khan
"I signed a two-book deal with Orenda Books in October 2020, and my second novel, No Honour, was published in August 2021 to much critical acclaim. It became a Woman and Home Book of 2021 and went on to win the World Book Award (Woman and Home). Isis Audio published the audio version in 2021 as well.
"I took the course on a whim but I still remember when I got my first bit of feedback from my tutor. It totally took me by surprise, and for the first time, I realised I could actually do it. I could write a book.
"I mostly submitted short stories during the course, but they gave me inspiration to write the book I had always wanted to. The course helped me understand how the various writing tools worked e.g. dialogue, plot, character and point of view."
"I took the course on a whim but I still remember when I got my first bit of feedback from my tutor. It totally took me by surprise, and for the first time, I realised I could actually do it. I could write a book.
"I mostly submitted short stories during the course, but they gave me inspiration to write the book I had always wanted to. The course helped me understand how the various writing tools worked e.g. dialogue, plot, character and point of view."
Your Personal Tutor
For individual help and support
As a Writers Bureau student, you're never left alone to flounder. Every student has their own personal tutor allocated, based on their writing interests and aspirations.
All our tutors are currently published writers, so they have a good working knowledge of the markets. From their own direct experience, they can help you to start writing, find ideas, and produce the sort of work that really sells in the current marketplace.
Your tutor will...
Here at The Writers Bureau we go the extra mile to make sure that the personal guidance you receive, and the writing practice you gain, gives you the best possible chance to become a successful, published writer.
All our tutors are currently published writers, so they have a good working knowledge of the markets. From their own direct experience, they can help you to start writing, find ideas, and produce the sort of work that really sells in the current marketplace.
Your tutor will...
- Give you an honest opinion about your work, advising, as needed, on style, subject matter, presentation, grammar and anything else that is relevant.
- Tell you how to improve your work – if improvement is necessary – and how to avoid the common errors and mistakes that so many beginners make.
- Give you constructive feedback, and help you be objective and realistic in your approach to your writing.
- Provide motivation and encouragement, helping you overcome any little setbacks and build on your achievements and successes.
Here at The Writers Bureau we go the extra mile to make sure that the personal guidance you receive, and the writing practice you gain, gives you the best possible chance to become a successful, published writer.
We give you:
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First-class courses from professional writers.
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Caring, constructive help from expert tutors - all published writers.
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Help and advice when you need it from our experienced Student Advisory Team.
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A flexible study programme to suit you with two years in which to complete your course (this will change to one year after 1st January 2024).
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Tutor-marked assignments.
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Specialist advice on how to sell your writing or services.
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Online access to your course as soon as you enrol with downloadable PDFs so you can study off line.
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15 days to inspect your course and to make sure it's the right training for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Will you help me to sell my writing?
We tell you exactly what to do and how to do it, in order to give you the best possible chance of having your work accepted. In addition, there is constant advice throughout the course on selling your writing, extra resources in the Writers' Community area, plus the on-going guidance from your tutor and in the Zoom study sessions.
Selling your writing is one of the basic skills you will need if you are to be successful. You learn exactly what to do and how to do it so that, once your writing is up to publishable standard, you should have no problems selling your work. -
Do you take a commission on students’ published work?
We do not act as agents for you so we don't take a commission on your published work. You have done the writing and selling of your work so you deserve the rewards!
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How much time do I need to spend on the course?
We recommend that you try to complete one assignment per month. You will need to study between 4 - 6 hours per week at this pace.
If you want to write professionally then you must put into your studies, and writing, sufficient time and effort to bring you the rewards you want. If, on the other hand, you want to develop your writing for fun and creative satisfaction, then you can take your time and work at a pace that suits you. -
How do I know if I will be able to write?
The only way to find out if you can write is to actually do it. So, what is holding you back? Is it lack of confidence in your ability or simply that you do not know where to start? The latter is one of the most common reasons why so many people never reach their full potential. The Writers Bureau gives you the know-how as well as the encouragement to get you started. So, if you have the urge to write, give it a go with the support of The Writers Bureau.
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Do I have to attend the Zoom sessions?
No. The Zoom sessions are there for those who would like to meet other students and writers . You can attend as little or as often as you like. All our courses can be studied successfully on their own but some people like the interaction that the Zoom sessions give them.
We run the sessions at different times each week to give people the chance to come along. -
I have never written anything before – is a Writers Bureau course suitable for me?
The best way to judge this is to examine the course itself. All our courses come on a 15-day trial so you can take a look to see if they are suitable for you. Should you change your mind during the trial period any fees paid will be refunded providing you have NOT sent in an assignment for marking.
Remember, every writer has to start somewhere. It is better to start with experts to guide you, than it is to struggle along on your own, learning by trial and error. You will certainly save yourself a lot of time and frustration as well as having the support and encouragement of experienced, expert tutors.