Online Short Story Writing Courses

Develop your craft and tell the stories you're burning to tell, in our online short story writing courses.

You’ll get personal weekly instructor feedback on your work, ongoing collaboration with other writers, and a supportive course structure that will help you set and meet your writing goals.

Learn from published short story writers who have spent decades perfecting their craft and are dedicated to supporting you and your work.

Our online short story classes are filling fast. Find yours today!

online short story writing courses

Upcoming Online Short Story Writing Courses




October Courses

Word Witch: Exploring the Strange Magic of Embodiment

with

October 23 | 4 Weeks | $345 | NEW!

Infuse your writing with the weird and wonderful: discover the transformative power of embodiment through the archetype of the witch.

, , , ,

November Courses

Thirty Tiny Stories In Thirty Days

with

November 1 | 4 Weeks | $345 | NEW!

Discover the exciting possibilities of micro stories, and write a 6- to 250-word story every day for 30 days.

, ,

How to Firm Up the “Mushy Middle” of Any Story

with

November 6 | 5 Weeks | $395

Ensure a strong middle throughline for any story. Say goodbye to the "mushy middle," and hello to stories that work.

, , , , ,

Write Your Picture Book!

with

November 13 | 6 Weeks | $445

Picture books have changed greatly over the last few decades, and the market is wide open for fresh ideas. Join us in this six-week intensive where we’ll take that idea of yours and turn it into a manuscript!

, ,

Finding Confidence and Motivation in Your Writing

with

November 18 | Single-Day Webinar | $79 | NEW!

Liberate yourself from imposter syndrome and the inner critic, and discover confidence in every stage of the writing process.

, , , , , , ,

Nature’s Muse: Finding Inspiration through the Changing Seasons

with

November 20 | 4 weeks | $345$295Early Bird: Save 15%! | NEW!

Galvanize your creative practice by deepening your connection to the natural world. Discover inspiration in the changing seasons, and generate fresh new writing.

, , , , , , ,

December Courses

From Memory: Writing Fiction or Memoir from Lived Experience

with

December 4 | 4 Weeks | $345$295Early Bird: Save 15%!

Only 3 seats left!

In this class, you'll use a nearly infinite resource—your own memory—to craft compelling fiction or nonfiction stories.

, , , , ,

New Year, Novel Draft: Start the Year Off Right!

with

December 4 | 5 Weeks | $395$340Early Bird: Save 15%! | NEW!

Get one-to-one feedback on up to 50,000 words of a draft, write or revise 12,000 more, and set yourself up to have a polished draft in the new year.

, ,

January Courses

A Writerly Life: Develop a Writing Routine that Works for You

with

January 1 | 5 Weeks | $395$340Early Bird: Save 15%!

What does a writer's life look like? Build a productive writing habit in this course for writers of all backgrounds.

, , , , , , ,

In Brief: Explorations in Short Story Forms

with

January 1 | 8 Weeks | $545$465Early Bird: Save 15%!

Explore the intricate world of short prose forms. Experiment with story forms from one-syllable micros to full-length short stories, and complete six new story drafts.

, , ,

Both Fish and Fowl: The Prose Poem

with

January 8 | 8 Weeks | $545$465Early Bird: Save 15%!

A successful prose poem reads like a magic trick. Learn how to wield the powers of poetry in the context of prose in this comprehensive prose poetry course.

,

Intro to Fiction Writing

with

January 8 | 8 Weeks | $545$465Early Bird: Save 15%!

What makes a good fiction story? Learn how to write compelling stories in this eight-week intro to fiction course, with Donna Levin.

, ,

Rapid Story Development: A Master Plan for Building Stories That Work

with

January 8 | 10 Weeks | $645$550Early Bird: Save 15%!

In this 10 week story writing class, Jeff Lyons pairs the Enneagram with story development techniques to revolutionize your writing practice.

, ,

Start Your Writing Journey!

with

January 15 | 4 Weeks | $345$295Early Bird: Save 15%! | NEW!

Launch yourself into writing: discover your unique voice, write 5 to 10 new pieces, and build and sustain a writing life.

, , , , , , , ,

Writing Autobiographical Fiction

with

January 15 | 8 Weeks | $545$465Early Bird: Save 15%!

Learn to depart from "what really happened," and write compelling fiction from your own life experiences.

, ,

Observing What’s Vivid in Prose and Poetry

with

January 22 | 4 Weeks | $345$295Early Bird: Save 15%!

Learn how to spotlight beauty through fresh, vivid, and surprising language, in this four week mindfulness writing course.

, , , , , , ,

Scene Study: Strengthen Your Writing with Compelling Scenes

with

January 22 | 5 Weeks | $395$340Early Bird: Save 15%!

Great stories are constructed with great scenes. Immerse your reader in your stories by learning the ropes of scene development.

, , , , , ,

Write Again: Returning to the Page

with

January 29 | 4 weeks | $345$295Early Bird: Save 15%! | NEW!

Rediscover your writing and voice. Write new pieces, connect in community, and leave with a clear path forward.

, , , , , ,

February Courses

It Starts with Play: Get (Back) into Writing

with

February 12 | 6 Weeks | $445$380Early Bird: Save 15%!

Harness the joy of creativity in this inspiration-focused class, where we'll uncover new ideas for writing projects and draft loads of new material. 

, , , , , , , ,

Crafting a Story or Novel Chapter Using Forward-Moving Tension

with

February 26 | 5 Weeks | $395$340Early Bird: Save 15%!

How do writers tell stories with tension, action, and emotion? Learn how to write forward-moving tension in this 5 week fiction course.

, ,

March Courses

Writing with Consistency and Courage

with

March 15 | Single-Day Webinar | $115$100Early Bird: Save 15%!

What makes a successful writer? It's not talent, craft, or even the right connections—it's consistency and courage.

, , , , , , , ,

June Courses

The Chronology of Mind: From Journal to Poem or Prose

with

June 18 | 5 Weeks | $515$440Early Bird: Save 15%!

Gather material through writing and experimenting with journaling, researching and taking notes to develop into poems or prose works.

, , ,

Unscheduled Courses

These online writing classes don’t currently have a next session on our calendar, but will soon. If you see a course you’re interested in, use the “I’m Interested” button to let us know, and we’ll follow up with you when the course is on our calendar next.

Want to reach us or our instructors with questions about our online writing courses? Contact us at writers@writers.com, or visit the contact form.

(Live Workshop) The Art of Love Stories: A Flash Fiction Workshop

with

Single-Day Webinar | $115

How do you distill love into 1,500 words or less? Zining Mok explains in this love stories flash fiction workshop.

, ,

(Live Workshop) Writing Beginnings and Endings

with

Single-Day Webinar | $115

How do you write a story that's compelling to start and satisfying to finish? Sarah Aronson explains in this comprehensive one-day workshop.

, , , , , ,

*Private Class | Embodied Writing: Improve Your Writing with Full-Body Creativity

with

January 1 | 6 to 10 Weeks | $545 | NEW!

Have a grand time with specific physical exercises that honor your health, generate imaginative ideas, explore deeply and make your creative writing entertaining.

, , , , ,

*Private Class | Embodied Writing: Somatic Practices to Improve Your Work

with

January 1 | 6 to 10 Weeks | $545

Have a grand time with specific physical exercises that honor your health, generate imaginative ideas, explore deeply and make your creative writing entertaining.

, , , , ,

*Private Class | Introduction to Writing Genre Fiction

with

January 1 | 10 to 14 Weeks | $745

Take the whirlwind tour! Learn the conventions of eight major fiction genres, try them out, and figure out your niche.

, ,

*Private Class | The Micro-obstacles/Flow Technique

with

January 1 | 3 to 7 Weeks | $395

Create new work with fresh language, universal themes, sustained mystery and memorable characters. Stimulate your imagination.

, ,

*Private Class | Using Bullet Journaling to Achieve Writing Goals

with

January 1 | 3 to 7 weeks | $345

Looking to keep your writing goals organized? Make it happen in our bullet journaling course. Learn the art of the BuJo with Rudri Patel!

, , , , , , , ,

*Private Class | Writing the Short Story

with

January 1 | 10 to 14 Weeks | $745

Create new work with fresh language, universal themes, sustained mystery and memorable characters. Stimulate your imagination.

,

*Private Class | Writing with Tarot

with

January 1 | 8-12 Weeks | $645

Jump-start your creative juices, and explore a world of divination, symbolism, and imagery right at your fingertips: learn short story and novel writing through Tarot.

, , , , , , ,

Advanced Fiction Workshop with Emily Adrian

with

8 Weeks | $545 | NEW!

Build a feedback group and sharpen your novel or short stories for publication in this workshop-oriented fiction class. 

, ,

Beyond Formula: Writing Love Scenes With Spirit, Passion, Grit And Character Truth

with

5 Weeks | $395

Write about love beyond trite sentiment and shallow fictions. Work down to the real thing: deep, powerful, destructive, exalted, fundamental.

, , ,

Boost Your Imagination and Reap the Literary Rewards

with

4 Weeks | $345

It happens to all of us: life gets in the way and our creativity falters. Get back on track with this four-week creativity boosting class!

, , , , , , ,

But What Is Your Story Really About? Finding the Core of Your Short Memoir, Story, or Personal Essay

with

4 Weeks | $345

Take a four-week writing adventure deep into the core of your story, to find the true theme of your personal essay, short story, or short memoir.

, , , ,

Character is the Key: Unlock Your Best Stories

with

Single-Day Webinar | $115$100Save 15%!

If you want to tell a good story, you need to write good characters. Learn how to unlock your best stories in this one-day character development workshop. 

, ,

Claiming Our Stories: Autobiography, Memoir & Autobiographical Fiction

with

10 Weeks | $645

Turn your experience into fiction, autobiography, or creative memoir. Bring forward stories with a powerful truth at their core. Instructor Anya Achtenberg.

, , , ,

Comics for People Who Can’t Draw!

with

6 Weeks | $445 | NEW!

Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.

Can't draw? No problem! In this workshop, learn how to tell complete stories in publication-ready comics, no matter your artistic background. 

, ,

Creating Narrative in Comics

with

8 Weeks | $545 | NEW!

Art and storytelling have a rich relationship to one another. Explore that relationship in this class on writing narrative comics. Open to all artistic skill levels!

, , , ,

De Novo: How to Build Your Own Fantasy or Sci-Fi World

with

6 Weeks | $445

Create captivating worlds in this comprehensive worldbuilding course. You'll come away with fantastic settings that make your stories mesmerizing, believable, and real.

, ,

Deepening and Organizing Our Stories: Memoir/Creative Nonfiction and Autobiographical Fiction

with

10 Weeks | $645

For writers of memoir, creative nonfiction and fiction, with some experience. Particularly helpful to writers in the midst of a longer work.

, , , , ,

Drafty in Here: Write Your Novella in Ten Weeks

with

10 Weeks | $645

Write the entire first draft of a novella-length story, with plenty of feedback from stage to stage, and finish with a plan for revising toward a publishable manuscript.

, ,

Embodied Writing: Improve Your Writing with Full-Body Creativity

with

6 Weeks | $445

Have a grand time with specific physical exercises that honor your health, generate imaginative ideas, explore deeply and make your creative writing entertaining.

, , , , , , , ,

Embodied Writing: Somatic Practices to Improve Your Work

with

6 Weeks | $445

Have a grand time with specific physical exercises that honor your health, generate imaginative ideas, explore deeply and make your creative writing entertaining.

, , , , , , , ,

Even Smaller: Adventures in Short-form Writing

with

4 Weeks | $345

Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.

Less is more in this bite-sized writing class, where you'll learn how to tell complete stories under the tightest word counts.

 

, , ,

Find Your Brave: Publishing As An Act Of Courage

with

4 Weeks | $345

In this fun, transformative four-week program, get tips and techniques to bring out your courage to publish a story in print or online.

, , ,

Finding Inspiration in Dreams

with

6 Weeks | $445$335Save 25%!

Our dreams are fertile fields of inspiration, meaning, and creativity. Learn how to use your dreams as doorways to future writing.

, , , , , , ,

Finding the Real Story: Essential Elements of Story in Fiction and Memoir

with

10 Weeks | $645

Address the larger issues of writing story through a look at the essential elements of narrative in fiction and memoir.

, , , ,

Finish Your Manuscript: Next-Level Picture Book Mentorship

with

6 Weeks | $445

During this six week program, you will work closely one-on-one with Kelly to finalize, refine, and polish your picture book into a manuscript ready to submit for publication or representation.

, , ,

Flash Fiction: Writing the Short-Short Story

with

10 Weeks | $645

Only 1 seat left!

Write 1–3-page flash fiction in this online course with Barbara Henning, drawing on classic, poetic & experimental elements. Read the form’s masters.

,

Get Clear on Your Story and Voice

with

Single-Day Webinar | $115

What is your story about? What is your voice? Whether you write poetry, fiction, or nonfiction, hone your writing in this 3 hour workshop.

, , , , , , , ,

Get It Done: Create the Scaffolding to Start (and Finish) a Writing Project

with

2 Single-Day Webinars | $195 | NEW!

Get your butt in the chair, your mind roaming freely, and your creative juices flowing in this motivational, all-genres writing class.

, , , , , , , , ,

Get Your Book Noticed: Writing Loglines That Sell

with

1-Day Webinar | $115

Your logline helps you query agents, market your book, and figure out the story itself. Hone your logline and set your book up for success in this Zoom workshop.

, , , , , ,

Growing Smaller: The Art of Micro- and Short Fiction

with

4 Weeks | $345

Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.

Less is more. Learn the ropes of flash and micro-fiction in this 4-week course and hone the art of the short-short story.

,

How to Start a Podcast

with

2 Single-Day Webinars | $195$170Save 15%! | NEW!

Share your voice with the world! Learn everything you need to plan, record, and share your first podcast episode and beyond.

, , , , , , , , ,

How to Write Character-Driven Stories

with

6 Weeks | $445

Characters don't just drive the story, they are the story. Learn how to craft character-centered fiction and give life to the people on your page.

, ,

How to Write Great Stories

with

6 Weeks | $445

Learn how to combine character, setting, plot, and other elements of fiction to write powerful, compelling stories.

, ,

Humor Is The New Black!

with

4 Weeks | $345

Ready to add a splash of fun to your writing life? Join us for a four-week humor writing class. We’ll read. We’ll laugh. We’ll write. We’ll experiment.

, , , , , ,

I’ve Drunk Your Poisoned Nectar: Writing with the Goddess

with

8 Weeks | $545

Dig deep into the rich mythology of South Asian goddesses to find new inspiration for your work in this generative, open-genre writing class.

, , , , , , ,

In Bloom: Nature Writing Workshop

with

6 Weeks | $445

Only 3 seats left!

Want to write about nature like Robert Frost, Henry David Thoreau, or Annie Dillard? Join us for this six-week nature writing course.

, , , , ,

In Focus: Writing Short Stories

with

6 Weeks | $445$380Save 15%! | NEW!

Discover the power and impact of the short story form. Explore new ideas freely and begin up to 6 new short stories.

,

In Your Own Words: Transforming Life Into Memoir and Fiction

with

8 Weeks | $545

Learn how to draw inspiration and material from your life experiences or those of people you know, or want to know, to craft compelling, publishable memoirs, personal essays, autobiographical novels and short stories, and/or narrative poetry.

, , , , ,

Introduction to Writing Genre Fiction

with

10 Weeks | $645

Take the whirlwind tour! Learn the conventions of eight major fiction genres, try them out, and figure out your niche.

, , ,

Let It Rip: The Art of Writing Fiery Prose

with

6 Weeks | $445

You'll write prose that gets folks so hot and bothered they won't be able to put it down, even if it isn't about sex.

, , , , ,

Make Your Prose Sing

with

Single-Day Webinar | $115

Enrich your prose with techniques from poetry. Bring paper and pens; leave with a better ear and lots of ideas about how to make your prose sing.

, , , , , ,

Manuscript Review for Children’s Writers: Summer Edition

with

5 Weeks | $395

Instructor Sarah Aronson welcomes all writers who are working on manuscripts for kids and teens. This advanced workshop will focus entirely on the participants' own work in progress.

, , ,

Manuscript Workshop: Writing For Young Readers

with

8 Weeks | $545

Author Denise Santomauro leads this intermediate/advanced workshop on writing for children. It offers support, structure and detailed feedback on manuscripts.

, ,

Mastering the Elements of Fiction

with

10 Weeks | $645

In this course, you’ll work with the basic elements of fiction--the fundamentals that drive the story and determine the quality of the work.

, ,

Overcome Writing Anxiety: Boost Your Storytelling Confidence in Four Short Weeks!

with

4 Weeks | $345

"Who are you to want to write?" Someone great, that's who! Politely ask Mr. or Ms. Fear to step aside while you sign up for this fun, freeing and functional adventure.

, , , , , , ,

Plumbing the Past: Turning Life Experience into Poetry, Flash and Creative Non-Fiction

with

4 Weeks | $345

Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.

Dig deep into personal ritual while studying narrative poets, short fiction and non-fiction authors, and food writers.

, , ,

Roads Into Writing: Opening New Terrain In Your Work

with

6 Weeks | $445

Write like mad, read brilliant books & deepen your craft while exploring new paths to inspiration. With novelist and poet Anya Achtenberg, .

, ,

Six Flash Stories in Six Weeks

with

6 Weeks | $445$380Save 15%! | NEW!

Pack the maximum punch in the fewest words! Learn the craft of flash fiction writing, and complete six flash stories.

,

Speculative Fiction: Sci-fi, Fantasy, & More

with

4 Weeks | $345 | NEW!

Speculative fiction isn't (only) warp drives and magic wands; it's anything that examines human lives and relationships through alternate realities. In this course, learn how to wield the fantastic in your fiction.

, ,

Story Lab: Story Structure 101

with

5 Weeks | $395 | NEW!

Structure is essential to great storytelling. Learn how to roadmap any story in this comprehensive story structure class.

, ,

Story Lab: The Story-Subplot Connection

with

Subplots are key to maintaining narrative pace and tension in a story. Drive your story forward with this deep dive into the elements of good storytelling.

, , ,

Suspense Sells! Power Up Your Writing With Conflict, Tension and Emotion

with

4 Weeks | $345$295Save 15%!

Inject suspense into your stories to keep readers turning pages. For writers of all kinds of fiction: thrillers, mysteries, romance, humor, literary and memoir. A four week class with Giulietta Nardone.

, ,

Techwashed!: Writing with AI, Data, and Surveillance

with

2 Saturday Workshops | $205

Raise a mirror against society's relationship to technology in this two part workshop series where we will learn how to write about tech.

, , , , , , ,

Teen Writers’ Workshop: Discover the Writer You Want to Be

with

2 Single-Day Webinars | $195 | NEW!

Give your teens the power of writing and community in this two part workshop, where teen writers will learn the skills to become professional authors.

, ,

Ten Steps to Creating Interesting, In-Depth Characters

with

Single-Day Webinar | $115

How do you write about people convincingly? Empower your character development in this workshop filled with exercises and character discussion.

, , ,

The Cabin In The (Virtual) Woods: Writing Horror Comedy

with

4 Weeks | $345$295Save 15%!

The line between horror and comedy is a lot thinner than you think. In this class, make your readers laugh in one sentence and cower in the next.

, , ,

The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy

with

10 Weeks | $645

Create fantastical worlds with mythical beings in this comprehensive introduction to fantasy and science fiction.

, ,

The Elements of Fiction

with

8 Weeks | $545$465Save 15%!

Good fiction writing can feel like juggling as you balance all the different elements of storytelling. By the end of this course, you'll be an expert juggler.

, ,

The Five Ws (and One H) of Drafting Middle Grade and Young Adult Novels

with

8 Weeks | $545

Asking yourself these six questions will give you the scaffolding for your next young adult or middle grade novel.

, ,

The Micro-obstacles/Flow Technique

with

3 Weeks | $295

Create new work with fresh language, universal themes, sustained mystery and memorable characters. Stimulate your imagination.

, ,

The Sixth Sense: Writing Horror with a Message

with

4 Weeks | $345

Looking to write the substance of nightmares? Learn the ropes of horror writing in this spine-chilling fiction course.

,

The Surprising Sentence: Honing Your Prose Style

with

2 Single-Day Webinars | $195 | NEW!

Great sentences stack up into great stories. Learn how to hone your style and voice at the most basic unit of writing, the sentence, in this workshop.

, , , , , , ,

The Watching Eye/Thinking Mind: Writing Flash Fiction

with

10 Weeks | $645$550Save 15%!

Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.

In this ten-week workshop with poet and novelist Barbara Henning, write tiny fictions while experimenting with first and third person points of view and analyzing how point of view affects the craft of fiction writing. Barbara will provide practical instruction and assignments, suggestions for revision, and lectures and and articles.

,

Turn Up the Heat: How to Write Good Sex

with

2 Single-Day Webinars | $195

How do you write sex scenes that are both erotic and realistic? Make your reader's heart race in this webinar on writing good sex.

, ,

Untie the Tropes: Write In-Depth YA Protagonists

with

5 Weeks | $395

Do you want to write YA, but you're terrified of teenagers? Learn how to write authentic teen characters without tropes in this generative YA course.

, ,

What to Do When Your Characters Fall in Love: Writing Romance in Any Genre

with

5 Weeks | $395

Relationships are an important feature of fiction—and not just romances! If your non-romance work has love involved, learn the ropes in this 5 week course, open to writers of all genres.

, ,

Word Flashes & Eye Snapshots: Sketching Your Life Awake

with

8 Weeks | $545

For any writer wanting to root writing in vision and vision in the body: for poetry, fiction, essay, memoir & pleasure.

, , , , ,

Write from the Untamed Mind: Find Your Voice

with

6 Weeks | $445

Join Susan in two writing circles each week: intimate spaces for writers to free-write together, saying yes to whatever shows up, followed by group read-arounds. These writing sessions are spontaneous, intimate, freeing, and transformative.

, , , , ,

Write Your Children’s Book!

with

8 Weeks | $545

If you’re looking for accountability, support, enthusiasm, feedback, and a chance to make progress on your Children's Book or YA story, then this is the place for you.

, ,

Writing Circle Workshop: Writing for Happiness, Healing, and Health (Monday/Friday)

with

6 Weeks | $445

Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.

Expressive writing can be a powerful elixir for what ails you. Learn and practice tools for writing expressively, including two virtual writing circles each week, turn raw writing into poetry or prose, and come away with a better understanding of how writing can lead toward wellness.

, , , , , ,

Writing Circle Workshop: Writing for Happiness, Healing, and Health (Tuesday/Saturday)

with

6 Weeks | $445

Course full. Contact us to join waitlist.

Expressive writing can be a powerful elixir for what ails you. Learn and practice tools for writing expressively, including two virtual writing circles each week, turn raw writing into poetry or prose, and come away with a better understanding of how writing can lead toward wellness.

, , , , , ,

Writing Circles: Finding Community, Clarity, Poetry, and Prose

with

8 Weeks | $545

Join our writing circle to form a writing community, find clarity in your words, and turn your untamed free-writes into poetry and/or prose.

, ,

Writing for Kids: Entering the World of Children’s Literature

with

Single-Day Webinar | $115

Learn the fundamentals of writing for children in this one day workshop, and write the kinds of stories that kids simply can't put down.

, , ,

Writing Magical Fiction

with

2 Single-Day Webinars | $345 | NEW!

In this workshop series, you won't just write using magic in fiction—you'll harness the magic that only fiction can make.

, , ,

Writing Paranormal Flash Fiction: Adventures With Angels, Spirits and Ghosts

with

3 Weeks | $295 | NEW!

Create captivating stories about characters who live by rules different than our own. A fun, supportive foray into imaginative fiction, with an eye to publication. 

,

Writing Short Stories with the Empathic Approach

with

8 weeks | $545

Great fiction brings deeper understanding. Foster a greater sense of connection and supercharge your stories in this empathy-driven fiction class.

, ,

Writing Spontaneously: How to Let Your Stories Surprise You

with

Single-Day Webinar | $345

Some of the best stories don't follow a specific plot structure; they develop organically. Learn how to hone spontaneity in your fiction writing and come away surprised by your work.

, , ,

Writing the Absurd

with

8 Weeks | $545

If you turn on to the absurd in life—to the ironic, edgy, bizarre, and grotesque—this is the course for you. Learn the key techniques of writing absurdist fiction, dark fiction, and satire.

, ,

Writing the Short Story

with

10 Weeks | $645

Create new work with fresh language, universal themes, sustained mystery and memorable characters. Stimulate your imagination.

,

Writing with Tarot

with

8 Weeks | $545

Jump-start your creative juices, and explore a world of divination, symbolism, and imagery right at your fingertips: learn short story and novel writing through Tarot.

, , ,