Creative writing courses, In London and Online
Character Development – The Deep Dive
Build captivating and memorable characters with believable motivations and compelling story arcs.
Writing Your Novel – Three Months
Get the best out of your novel with expert tuition, a strong peer group and advice from literary agents. All online, and with flexible scheduling.
Writing Your Novel – Three Months
Our flagship course is back in London, with some teaching on Zoom. Get the best out of your novel with expert tuition and vital input from publishing professionals. *Scholarship available*
Writing Crime Fiction
Draw your readers into a web of intrigue that will keep them guessing till the final page – with bestselling crime novelist Vaseem Khan.
Writing Short Stories
Write and edit a complete short story and learn essential fiction-writing techniques on our course from award-winning short story-writer Cynan Jones.
Writing a Memoir
Bestselling memoirist Cathy Rentzenbrink shows you how to bring your real life stories to the page.
Writing a Romance Novel
Write an irresistible, heartfelt romance that readers will fall in love with – with bestselling author Jenny Colgan.
Writing Historical Fiction
Travel to the past and explore what makes a compelling historical novel with the help of bestselling author S J Parris – aka Stephanie Merritt
Writing a Psychological Thriller
Write a twisty, suspenseful thriller that readers won’t be able to put down – with bestselling author Erin Kelly.
Starting to Write Your Novel
The online writing course that helps you get your novel off the ground. With our support, you'll develop your idea, plot and plan your story, and write a confident opening.
Write to the End of Your Novel
Need some great advice to help you reach the end of the first draft? This course will help you develop the skills, techniques, and staying power that will get you over the finish line.
Edit & Pitch Your Novel
Suitable for anyone with a complete first draft, this online course helps you edit and polish your novel and prepare your pitch package for agents and publishers.
Writing & Illustrating a Children’s Picture Book
Bringing together the teaching materials from our two individual courses – for people who want to write and the illustrate children's picture books.
Writing a Children’s Picture Book
Turn your ideas into fully-fledged story book texts for 2-6 year-olds with advice from a successful author.
Illustrating a Children’s Picture Book
Want to illustrate children's books? Learn the tricks of the trade from a leading professional illustrator in our online course for all-comers.
Creative Writing for Beginners
The four-week online writing course that helps you explore your Writer's World and find your voice. With our guidance you'll gain confidence and put pen to paper.
Writing YA & Children’s Fiction
Learn how to write exciting and engaging YA, Middle Grade, and Children's Fiction on our three-month online course with author and tutor, Catherine Johnson.
Discover our Longer Courses
Our Three- and Six-Month Selective-Entry Creative Writing Courses in London or Online
Highly selective, highly personalised
Our selective-entry courses focus in-depth on your novel-in-progress, with tutor-led writing workshops, one-to-one tuition, dedicated teaching and industry insights.
Connect with authors, publishers & literary agents
The literary agents at Curtis Brown and C&W regularly visit our London courses to meet students. On our online courses, they take part in exclusive industry webinars.
Introducing our Short Online Writing Courses
These three six-week online novel-writing courses are open to all-comers. Enrol on whichever suits your stage of writing, or take all three short courses to go all the way from first idea to finished novel.
Starting to Write Your Novel
Develop your story idea, plot and plan your novel, and write a confident opening, with our support.
Write to the End of Your Novel
You’ve started writing but it’s a long way to the end of the first draft. We’ll get you there.
Edit & Pitch Your Novel
Great novels are made in the edit. We’ll help you get the best out of your novel and learn how to pitch to agents.
Expert teaching materials
Each course features teaching videos and substantial notes organised into six modules, specially written and produced by novelist, agent and CBC Director Anna Davis.
Writing tasks and support
Each week you’ll complete writing tasks designed by Anna and get feedback from your writing community of fellow students in group discussions, moderated by us. Weekly messages from Anna and our CBC team readers will reinforce the lessons.