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 (231)

Woman sitting cross-legged on living room floor, thoughtful, with her laptop in front of her
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Fiction Skills: Plot

Create storylines that keep readers turning those pages in this self-paced online course.

Level

i
Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Tutors

Tom Bromley

Start Date

Wednesday 01 Jun 2022

£120
Book Now

Last few places available

Details
Image of a writing space in a light, modern room, with laptop, headphones, coffee, books and a desk lamp arranged neatly on a table
Fiction Development, Non-fiction

Fiction Skills: Research

Learn how to convert dry facts and higgledy-piggledy materials into compelling stories packed with atmosphere.

Level

i
Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Tutors

Philip Marsden

Start Date

Monday 13 Feb 2023

£120
Book Now

Sold Out

Details
Image of a writing space in a light, modern room, with laptop, headphones, coffee, books and a desk lamp arranged neatly on a table
Fiction Development, Non-fiction, Novel Writing

Fiction Skills: Research

Learn how to convert dry facts and higgledy-piggledy materials into compelling stories packed with atmosphere.

Level

i
Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Tutors

Philip Marsden

Start Date

Thursday 24 Feb 2022

£120
Book Now

Last few places available

Details
woman-writing-on-laptop-in-empty-coffeeshop
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Fiction Skills: World Building

Learn how to create unforgettable story worlds that a reader can immerse themselves in – and how other writers use setting to transform their fiction.

Level

i
Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Tutors

Tom Bromley

Start Date

Monday 19 Sep 2022

£120
Book Now

Last few places available

Details
woman-writing-on-laptop-in-empty-coffeeshop
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Fiction Skills: World Building

Learn how to create unforgettable story worlds that a reader can immerse themselves in – and how other writers use setting to transform their fiction.

Level

i
Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Tutors

Tom Bromley

Start Date

Monday 28 Feb 2022

£120
Book Now

Places available

Details
woman-writing-on-laptop-in-empty-coffeeshop
Fiction Development, Novel Writing

Fiction Skills: World Building

Learn how to create unforgettable story worlds that a reader can immerse themselves in – and how other writers use setting to transform their fiction.

Level

i
Improving

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Tutors

Tom Bromley

Start Date

Wednesday 11 May 2022

£120
Book Now

Places available

Details
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

i
Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
6 month +

Tutors

Jessica Moor

By Application

Start Date

Monday 01 Jul 2024

Application Deadline

Monday 17 Jun 2024

£1850
Book Now

Sold Out

Details
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

i
Advanced

What do these levels mean?

Location

i
Online

Length

i
6 month +

Tutors

Marcel Theroux

By Application

Start Date

Monday 03 Feb 2025

Application Deadline

Monday 20 Jan 2025

£1850
Book Now

Sold Out

Details

Online Course Tutors

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

tutor-4-min

Tom Bromley

Tom Bromley is an author, editor and ghostwriter. He has written ten books under his own name, both fiction and non-fiction...

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Tom Bromley
philip-marsden-tutor

Philip Marsden

Philip Marsden is the award-winning author of a number of works of travel, history and fiction, including The Bronski House...

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Philip Marsden
38d1a709-9485-4bf3-8c5c-b7ac3635e906

Jessica Moor

Jessica Moor grew up in south-west London and studied English at Cambridge before completing...

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Jessica Moor
Portrait of author Marcel Theroux

Marcel Theroux

Marcel Theroux is the award winning author of six novels: A Blow to the Heart, A Stranger in the Earth, The Paperchase (winner...

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Marcel Theroux

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.