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 expert, 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 SA 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:
'This is the magic of the The Writers' College writing courses. You have a tutor who deals with you personally and who reads your work as you write. This makes all the difference.'
— Martin Steyn, graduate of the Skryf 'n roman-kursus and award-winning author of six novels, including 'Donker Spoor' and 'Donker Water'.
'I cannot thank [my tutor] enough. [Her] advice has been invaluable. I am very grateful and I am looking forward to seeing how I continue to write.'
— Salamina Mosese, graduate of the Write a Children's Book Course, author of three books for children and winner of both the Children’s Category and the Overall Award at the 2025 SA Book Awards.
'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, graduate of the Write a Novel Course, winner of the Sanlam Prize for Youth Literature (Gold winner) for her debut novel, 'The Swim Team'.
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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 of three books for children
Siya Masuku
Author of over 20 books for children and young adults
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 two further novels
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 SA Writers' College
What creative writing courses does SA 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 South African authors — for example, Helen Brain (60+ children’s books), Alex Smith, Nerine Dorman, Qarnita Loxton, 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 R6,995 to R10,995 depending on the course and its duration, payable in South African Rand with payment plan options available.
Is there a certificate on completion?
Yes, students receive a certificate on completion of their course.
Are courses available in Afrikaans?
Yes — Die Basiese Kreatiewe Skryfkursus, Skryf ‘n Roman-kursus, and the Afrikaans scriptwriting course are all offered in Afrikaans.
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.