Welcome!

Whether you want to write your novel, perfect your screenplay, or craft your memoir, Writer’s Digest University can help you get your writing career underway. Our expert instructors will provide advice, specific instruction, real-world experience, expertise, and the motivation and drive to help you achieve your goals.

Upcoming Workshops
Illustration of a woman sitting on a stack of books, working on a laptop.
Illustration of a woman sitting on a stack of books, working on a laptop.

A Class for Everybody

No matter your skill level or writing ability, Writer's Digest University has a class for you.

A Class for Everybody

No matter your skill level or writing ability, Writer's Digest University has a class for you.

Publishing

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Fundamentals

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Genre

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Composition

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Technique

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Advanced

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Let's get writing!

Our writing online workshops cover every aspect of writing, from how to get started all the way to getting your writing published. Writer’s Digest University features writing classes online for every skill level of writer and our professional instructors are dedicated to helping you achieve your writing goals.

 

More About WDU

Don't know where to get started?  

These featured events and courses are starting soon! 

How to Research Agents and Publishers Like a Pro

June 19

You have a polished manuscript or book proposal, and you’re ready to start pitching agents and publishers. But how do you figure out who to submit to? And how do you evaluate the quality of the agents and publishers you do find?

In this live webinar, you’ll learn not only how to research agents and publishers using a variety of online resources, but also how to evaluate fit and reputation, so that you don’t unwittingly end up with a schmagent or a publisher that’s really a self-publishing service.

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The Middle Grade Market: The Business of Writing and Publishing Books for Kids

June 26

There are many expectations surrounding content, narrative structure, and character development when it comes to writing for the Middle Grade market. If you want to be an author in this category, you need to be seeking answers to the following questions: What components make up a bestselling Middle Grade book? How can you make your book stand out in the crowded Middle Grade market? What kind of Middle Grade projects are editors looking to acquire at major publishing houses? How can the pitch for your Middle Grade manuscript catch the attention of literary agents? This live webinar offers answers to all of these questions and more.

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Agent One-on-One: First 10 Pages Boot Camp

July 10 - 14

As many writers know, agents and editors won't give your work more than ten pages or so to make an impact. If you haven't got them hooked by then, it's a safe bet you won't be asked for more material. Make sure you've got the kind of opening they're looking for! In this invaluable event, you'll get to work with an agent to review and refine the first ten pages of your novel or non-fiction book. You'll learn what keeps an agent reading, what are the most common mistakes that make them stop, and the steps you need to take to correct them. The best part is that you'll be working directly with an agent, who will provide feedback specific to your work.

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Revive Your Draft: From Stalled Plot to Compelling Story

June 19 - July 17

It’s time to re-enter your manuscript with clarity, momentum, and purpose. Maybe you had a premise that sparkled. Or a draft in progress. And then somewhere along the way, the work got murky. Life happened. You lost the thread. This course helps you pick it back up with structure, insight, and a plan.

Revive Your Draft is a four-week  course designed for writers who are ready to return to a stalled or partial manuscript.

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Writing the Thriller Novel

June 19 - July 31

Do you want to write an enthralling thriller that your readers can't put down? In Writing the Thriller Novel, a six-week course, you will get the tools you need to get your thriller project off the ground or take your current project to the next level. Examine the structural elements that create a successful thriller, learn how to build compelling conflict and suspense into your story, find out what helps a story engage a reader, and much more.

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Writing and Producing the Short Film

June 19 - July 17

If you want to be a produced screenwriter, there’s never been a better time to make it happen for yourself! There’s no reason to wait around for a producer to call when you can start to build your credits and body of produced work on your own. With everything you need already in your phone and laptop, you can produce your own short film and propel your writing and/or directing career forward with little to no budget.

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