Finish Your Novel.
Craft That Script.
Publish Your Story.
Join thousands of writers who’ve transformed their writing through personalised coaching. Online and at your own pace.
Our Creative Writing Courses are for you if...
You’ve started a writing project – and stalled.
You want one-on-one feedback from a published author.
You’ve tried writing alone but get stuck in self-doubt.
You dream of publication, but don’t know where to begin.
Courses Open Now –
Start anytime
Sign up today and start writing straight away.
What Makes NZ Writers' College Different?
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Step-by-step course design
Our structured lessons take you from blank page to finished manuscript faster than you thought possible. -
Personalised feedback from award-winning writers
Every assignment receives detailed, honest critique to sharpen your voice and style. -
A proven path to publication
Students have gone on to win national competitions and sign book deals. -
Work at your own pace, from anywhere
No pressure. No fluff. Just results.
Student Successes:
“There is no way I would have been published without Alex’s guidance.”
— Gareth Ward, winner of the Tessa Duder Award and Sir Julius Vogel Award, author of six novels
“Something pulled me towards the Writers’ College Short Story Course, and I never regretted trusting my instincts on that one. In fact, I went on to enrol in two more courses.”
— Megan Frith, winner of several short story awards, author of a published novel
“I don't think I would have finished the book if it wasn't for the Writers' College or Alex's guidance and encouragement. Thank you so much for making my dream come true!”
— Catherine Jarvis, winner of short story awards and a major award for her debut published novel
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Master proven creative writing techniques
We’ll reveal the writing skills that famous authors and professional writers use to bring their work to life, create authentic characters, and invent compelling plots and story structures. Skip the uncertainty and find out exactly how it’s done! -
Follow a step-by-step process taking you from idea to final draft
These straightforward strategies can help you finish your creative writing project months faster than you ever thought possible. -
Uncover your writing blindspots with the help of your award-winning tutor
Eliminate self-doubt and uncertainty with feedback on the specific writing errors that are holding you back. Receive detailed constructive critiques on every assignment from an award-winning, professional writer. -
Discover the mistakes made by virtually all beginner writers
Almost everyone makes the same common problematic mistakes – we’ll help you identify and eliminate them. -
Explore a wide range of publication outlets to enhance your chances of success
Find out how and where to professionally submit work for publication, and exactly what steps to take when approaching different markets.
Suzanne Main
Winner of the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award; published novelist
Martin Steyn
Bestselling, award-winning thriller author of four books and counting
Trish Nicholson
Winner of Flash500 and many international short story awards; published non-fiction author
Shelley Kirton
Multiple short stories placed in international competitions or published in magazines and journals
Tanja Wijnen
Published children's book author with a sequel in the pipeline
Riaan Grobler
Published his bestselling debut novel with Penguin Random House, quickly leading to a second novel.
We'll show you how.
‘I can honestly say my writing improved by leaps and bounds. Don’t hesitate. Just do it.’
—Edward Hallifax
‘Life-changing and worth every hour of work it inspired me to complete.’
Kirsty Chalmers
‘I would not look anywhere else to do an online course but here. Being a repeat subscriber of the College's courses speaks for itself.‘
— Lesley Sefton
‘Choosing to do this course with the Writers' College was without a doubt the right decision. It has been an eye-opening, life-changing experience for me.‘
— Natasha Alexander
‘The Writers' College is a hidden gem among online writing programs. It has the high, rich quality of an Oxford Continuing Education writing course for an incredibly affordable cost. I cannot recommend it enough in all my writing circles.’
— Irina Novac
Want Help Choosing
Your Writing Course?
We would love to help you choose the best course for you. Tell us what style of writing you want to develop and we'll give you some options.
How Creative Writing Courses Work at NZ Writers' College
What creative writing courses does NZ Writers' College offer?
The college offers courses across fiction, poetry, memoir, and scriptwriting — including the Basics of Creative Writing Course, Write a Novel Course, Short Story Writing Course, Introduction to Poetry, Scriptwriting, Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy, Write a Romance Novel, Writing for Video Games, and Write Your Memoir, plus advanced follow-on courses in most of these areas.
Are the courses taught in person or online?
All courses are online and self-paced, with one-on-one feedback from a tutor rather than group classes or fixed class times. Students can start at any time.
Who teaches the courses?
Courses are tutored by published, award-winning authors — for example, Helen Brain (60+ children’s books), Alex Smith, Sonny Whitelaw, Tania Hutley, Andrew Salomon, Fiona Ingram, Arja Salafranca, and Karen Jeynes, most of whom have taught at the college for 15–20 years.
How long do the courses take?
Course length varies by course, ranging from 4 months (Basics of Creative Writing) to 24 months (Write a Novel, Write a Romance Novel, Advanced Novel Writing).
How much do the courses cost?
Prices range from roughly $ 895.00 to $ 1 995.00 depending on the course and its duration, payable in NZ dollars with payment plan options available.
Is there a certificate on completion?
Yes, students receive a certificate on completion of their course.
Is there a refund policy?
Students can transfer courses or get a full refund within 7 days of starting. Between 7 and 30 days, a 5% admin fee plus incurred bank and tutor fees applies. No refunds are offered after 30 days.