ONLINE WRITING COURSES

Writing need not be a lonely activity. Join one of our online writing courses to enhance your skills, ignite your imagination and enjoy a supportive writing community.

Our online courses run for 8 weeks Winter, Spring and Autumn, with some shorter introductory options during the Summer. All courses are conducted in English. We also offer private coaching online and manuscript reviews by email. Many of our students view our programme as a more affordable and flexible alternative to an MFA because the education offered in form and craft is very similar.

You can see upcoming online Level I courses on this page. Just click on the course for more detail and to register. To see our full offering of online and in-person classes in Amsterdam, check out our course catalog. If you already have a degree in creative writing or have taken multiple technique-focused courses, contact us and we’ll help you find the right course to meet your needs. 

Have questions? See our extensive list of FAQs or drop us a line. We're happy to set up a call with an instructor.

HOW IT WORKS

Each week we'll be getting together online for a one-hour chat about craft. It's also an opportunity to ask questions, share experiences and get to know your fellow writers. You can join by video or audio-only if you prefer. If you can’t attend the live session, don’t worry—you'll receive notes and access to a recording so you don’t miss anything.

There will be an exercise to do in your own time, which you can share in our online forum a couple of days before the next live session. You'll receive feedback in writing from the teacher and fellow writers. We'll talk more about how to give constructive feedback in the first class.

WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY

"I would wholeheartedly recommend this course - either the in person workshop or the online. I've put off taking these for years because there was always something more important...which, in my mind, already prevented me from justifying the time and expense. Putting aside that thought and actually doing something which I love to do, something which will help me achieve what I actually enjoy doing has been the best gift I could give myself. I don't even think of it as a gift anymore - this is just what I need." -Kristen Langereis

"I found the quality of the instruction excellent, inspiring, and generally what I needed to get myself writing again. The other participants were also quite good, and I really enjoyed reading and critiquing the pieces each week." -Lauren Danahy

"I loved having the weekly chats to discuss each exercise. Even though we couldn't meet in person, I felt that the class was very engaged. As in previous classes, I learned many new skills. And I really feel like with the International Writers' Collective, there is a sense of community, and being part of a writing community that is supportive and constructive really helps one develop as a writer." -Jessica Pena

"It makes you write and keeps you writing and editing and writing and improving. The feedback is very helpful clear and worthwhile. I would recommend the course to any blocked writers." -Deborah Culhane

"These classes are so encouraging for someone wanting to write. I’ve been trying to write a novel for for years but never took a creative writing class nor advanced classes in English lit. So for someone like me without any formal training it’s been trial and error and trying to learn from craft books and blogs. Actually talking to other writers and learning techniques from an actual teacher has been SOOOOOOOOOO helpful!! The editing techniques alone were worth the price of admission! Also the very basics of tone and mood, something I now consciously think about when sitting down to write a scene. SO helpful! It’s also encouraging being around others who know the pain of drafts and rewrites and all the other challenges (and nightmares!) that come from writing. I'd absolutely recommend this course, for both the craft skills and the community." -Marcus Young

“I felt it was a good value for money... Other courses (Stanford Continuing Studies) require more and have more readings, but are also twice as expensive. In terms of feedback and quality of instruction, Stanford CS and IWC are very similar.” -Katheryn M.

You can read more student reviews on our feedback page.

OUR REFUND POLICY

No matter how early you register, if something changes and you can’t join the course, you can let us know at least 72 hours before the first class (so we can offer your spot to someone else) and we’ll give you a complete refund.  If you decide to drop out after the first class, let us know within 24 hours, and you only pay for the first class—we'll refund the rest. You can find the full details of our generous refund policy in our terms.