How does it work?

Studying from home is easy with our online courses. All you need is a computer with an internet connection. You don't need to install new software or be a techie. You can sign up to our courses from anywhere in the world and work through the courses at your own pace. Start off with some of our free courses and browse our full catalogue when you're ready.

At your own pace

Start our courses whenever is convenient and go through them at a pace that suits your lifestyle.

Yours to keep

Once you've signed up to a course you can come back to it at any time and study using your phone, tablet, laptop or desktop.

World class tuition

All our courses are designed by published writers with extensive experience in teaching creative writing.

Take a tour

How to Write More & Stay Happy

The author of The Last Pilot shares his secrets of how to write more, smash writer's block, avoid digital distractions and develop a good writing habit.

Get started with the FREE Supercharge Your Productivity course or jump straight into How To Write More & Stay Happy.

Know Your Publishing Options

Not sure where to start with getting your book published? This FREE course explores traditional publishing, self-publishing and online publishing, clearly laying out the different paths and highlighting the opportunities and risks.

Sign up for free!

The Science Fiction Trilogy

Wanted to know everything there is to know about the science fiction genre? Tutor Ian Nettleton has you covered in this three-part series.

Don't miss out on the discounted Writing Science Fiction bundle!

Writing Science Fiction 1: World building

Ian Nettleton begins his epic 3-part dive into the science fiction genre with this FREE World Building course. Discover how to create your sci-fi worlds and make them feel real.

Join for free!

2: Characters & Point of View

Next up, Ian examines characters and point of view from the unique angle of the science fiction genre. What makes for compelling characters and how do you fit them into a fantastical tale?

Find out more!

3: Plotting & endings

We will be releasing new courses throughout 2020. Try any of our current courses - including the free ones! - and we'll let you know when new courses are available.

Find out more!

What is the National Centre for Writing?

We are a non-profit charitable organisation based in the UK. Our mission is to support writers at all stages of their careers.

Our base at the medieval Dragon Hall in Norwich is home to events, festivals and workshops throughout the year. Our online courses bring practical tips and resources to writers anywhere in the world.

Learn more about our work here.

When you buy one of our online courses you're helping to fund our work, including outreach work with young people and supporting early career writers.

Schools & young people

In the last year we've worked with 4,440 children and young people as part of our Learning & Participation programme.

Workshops & courses

Every year over 600 aspiring writers take part in our workshops both online and on our campus at the medieval Dragon Hall.

Collaborating with writers

In 2019 we funded 498 writers to create original commissions and appear at our events.

Creative Writing Online

Co-designed with the University of East Anglia

If you're ready to go to the next level, our premium courses offer live tutoring, one-to-one feedback on your work and a collaborative community of up to 15 students from around the world.

Courses last 3 or 6 months and start in the autumn, winter and spring.

Fiction

We run introductory courses and advanced courses for fiction writers, plus genre-specific courses such as our renowned Start Writing Crime Fiction course.