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Start writing fiction

Course description

Course content, course reviews.

Have you always wanted to write, but never quite had the courage to start? This free course, Start writing fiction, will give you an insight into how authors create their characters and setting s. You will also be able to look at the different genre s for fiction.

Course learning outcomes

After studying this course, you should be able to:

• identify strengths and weaknesses as a writer of fiction
• demonstrate a general awareness of fiction writing
• discuss fiction using basic vocabulary.

First Published: 09/08/2012

Updated: 14/05/2018

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7 free online creative writing courses that you can enrol in right now

By Megha Sharma

As a form of expression , a means to escape the reality, and a medium to communicate a larger ideology, the act of writing can serve different purposes. And no matter what your reason to put pen to paper, or keys to screen, these virtual lessons could help you develop the techniques you will require on your creative journey. Here, find out all the free online courses you can join to begin now.

Creative Writing Specialisation

Covering three major creative writing genres—short story, narrative essay and memoir—the course will help you master the techniques of putting your ideas on paper as clearly as possible. So if you’ve been meaning to work some engrossing features in your already existing plot, or better highlight the setting of your story, or simply articulate in a stronger fashion, let this lesson be on your shortlist. In case you’re just starting out, the course is equally rewarding.

Write Your First Novel

Have you been wanting to pen down your thoughts and weave them into a well-written novel? Go for this virtual course where you will learn an end-to-end approach to producing a work of fiction. Through a stepwise process that will culminate in your individual production of a 50,000-word book, the learning course will provide you all the important pointers right from the top.

Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest

Complete with video lectures, online readings, peer reviews and guest appearances from renowned authors, the course will offer an all-inclusive guide to creative writing for students and young aspirers. Apart from that, you will also explore the cultural significance of notable works , analyse the ways in which art and words interact, and become familiar with standard elements of a narrative, that include dialogue, point of view, theme, plot and so on.  

Write A Feature Length Screenplay for Film or Television

Whether your point of interest is serious dramas, romantic comedies or thrillers , the free virtual course will zoom in on every aspect of screenplay writing so you’re able to pursue the genre you want. Following in a well-structured process, you will have produced a pitch-ready script by the time the four-week programme is over. Along with learning how to create a basic idea and write loglines, you will be studying the Three Act Story Arc, and much more.

By Vogue Staff

By Prabal Sharma

By Shriya Zamindar

Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself Specialisation

Here, four published memoirists and essayists let you in on the tricks and tools of writing about yourself. Be prepared for professional tips, prompts, reading challenges and exercises among other interactive activities. Unlike many other courses where you will be producing a large body of work at the completion of the programme, here, you will be constructing a portfolio of work to use as valuable components later.

Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop

These lessons support the school of thought that poetry isn’t just a means of expression. Rather, using it for just that, is like “using the internet just for email”. If you too are willing to think beyond that, and take up the art to bring about a change in people’s thought and ideologies, the course is for you. Learn to use the several tools of poetic composition, study the works of contemporary poets and, of course, try your own hand at the skill.

Transmedia Storytelling: Narrative worlds, emerging technologies, and global audiences

In a world that believes in not just up-skilling, but also cross-skilling, this transmedia course serves to be an extremely well-rounded one. The description on the website states, “Transmedia storytelling is the practice of designing , sharing, and participating in a cohesive story experience across multiple traditional and digital delivery platforms - for entertainment, advertising and marketing, or social change.” So learn to develop expansive narratives and optimise your writing for mobile devices, social media communities, virtual and augmented realities and more.

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By Mónica Heras

By Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar

By Akhil Sood

Novel Writing 101

Taught by: Tom Bromley

So, you want to learn some novel writing basics ? In this free course, author and ghostwriter Tom Bromley will introduce you to all the essential steps you'll need to take before you start writing your novel's first draft.

With practical exercises in every lesson, this course will guide you through the planning stages of your novel and teach you essential elements of novel writing, including:

• Creating characters and choosing your point of view
• Bringing your setting to life
• Building enough of a structure to draft your manuscript
• Developing your unique voice as a writer

Sign up and get your first lesson right away.

Brought to you by Tom Bromley

As an editor and publisher, Tom has worked on several hundred titles, again including many prize-winners and international bestsellers.  

Continue learning

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Learn how to follow the golden writing rule in this free 10-day course from the Reedsy team.

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Romance editor Kate Studer presents this amazing course that will get you started on of the most popular genres in publishing.

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Eight Free Creative Writing Lessons

February 17, 2012 by Ami 17 Comments

I know I throw around the word favorite all the time. But this is the truth: teaching creative writing lessons is my favorite. 

I have taught creative writing enrichment for summer school students. I have taught creative writing in various homeschool settings and co-ops. I have taught big students and little students. And I love it. 

Since I love to share homeschool co-op class ideas , I have compiled the creative writing lessons from a co-op class that I taught. 

Creative Writing Lessons for a Homeschool Co-op Class

First, please remember that any teacher can use these creative writing lessons. You don’t need to be teaching homeschoolers. You can be a classroom teacher or a homeschool teacher at home with one student. You can even be a librarian who needs a fun program series.

Second, I used these creative writing lesson plans with upper elementary students (with maybe a few 7th graders thrown in). However, you can adapt and use them for older students or younger students!

Creative Writing Lesson Plans

Creative writing lesson one.

The first lesson focuses on cliché and metaphor. It prompts students to consider how words matter.

Grab lesson one here .

Creative Writing Lesson Two

The second lesson teaches students about sensory details: why they are important and how to include them in their writing. Students will begin using sensory details to evoke smells and sounds and sights.

Grab lesson two here.

Creative Writing Lesson Three

The third lesson introduces showing vs. telling. Students learn how to recognize authors who utilize showing, and students are able to articulate the difference between showing and telling.

Grab lesson three here.

Creative Writing Lesson Four

The fourth lesson teaches students how to capture images. We use examples of poetry and prose to discuss this important writing skill.

Grab lesson four here.

Creative Writing Lesson Five

The fifth lesson introduces the story elements of character and conflict.

Note: You may choose to split this lesson into two lessons since it covers two big elements. I only had nine weeks with my students, so I had to jam character and conflict together.

Grab lesson five here.

Creative Writing Lesson Six

The sixth lesson introduces the students to point of view and perspective. We have fun reading poems and using pictures to write descriptions from different points of view.

Grab lesson six here.

Creative Writing Lesson Seven

The seventh lesson puts everything we’ve learned together. I read the students some fractured fairy tales, and we watch some, too. Students then use the prewriting activities and their imaginations to begin drafting their own fractured fairy tales.

Grab lesson seven here.

Creative Writing Lesson Eight

The eighth lesson focuses on revision. After a mini-lesson, students partner up for peer editing.

Grab lesson eight here .

For our final class day, students bring revised work, and I host coffee shop readings. This is a memorable experience for students (and their teacher).

Creative Writing Lessons FAQ

Since posting these creative writing lessons, I have had lots of questions. I decided to compile them here in case you have the same question.

Q: What are copywork quotes? A: Copywork quotes are simply great quotes that students copy as part of their homework assignments. You can use any quotes about writing. I’ve included my favorites throughout the printable packs.

Q: Can I use this with a younger or older student? A: Absolutely! Just adapt it to meet the needs of your student.

Q: Can I use this for my library’s programming or my homeschool co-op class? A: Yes! I just ask that it not be used for profit.

Do you have any questions about teaching creative writing? What’s your biggest hang-up when it comes to teaching creative writing? I’d love to hear from you and help you solve the issue.

January 7, 2016 at 1:57 pm

Hi Theresa,

As long as you are not profitting from using them, they are yours to use! Enjoy! Wish I could be there to help facilitate all those young writers! 

[…] Creative Writing Class […]

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Over 350 Free Creative Tutorials to Keep Learning in 2023

• by Domestika @domestika

Build new skills for the new year, with tutorials in crafting, illustration, photography, and more

Picking up a new hobby can be intimidating, as can setting out to learn a new craft professionally. You want to learn and connect with the materials and tools, but you don’t want to get in over your head (that’s how New Year’s resolutions fall apart!). We think a great place to start is watching demos and learning from the pros. That way, you get the buzz of inspiration, and a true understanding of what’s involved.

Since the Domestika blog began, we’ve been collecting a huge array of creative tutorials from our amazing teachers, so we thought we’d bring them all together. In these short but informative videos, you can immerse yourself in the techniques and secrets of Domestika experts, to get your creativity flowing in 2023.

In this article you’ll find twenty-two tutorials from eleven different creative fields, to get you started. Then, if you scroll to the bottom of this post, you can access the full archive of over 350!

Without further ado, discover below the tutorials from craft, illustration, photography, animation, and more. You can watch each video and then find written instructions by clicking on the title in red .

​​Ceramics Tutorial: How to Create a Simple Clay Vase

This easy clay vase technique, taught by imaginative ceramic artist Sandra Apperloo ( @thepotteryparade ), doesn’t require specialist equipment like a potter’s wheel. Using only newspaper and clay with some basic tools, you can create a tall, slim vase design ready for decorating.

DIY Tutorial: How to Make a Spotted Wool Pom-Pom

Christine Leech ( @sewyeah ) is an author and maker who specializes in amazing pom-pom crafts. In this tutorial, she demonstrates how to wrap your yarn to make a pom-pom with a large spot in a contrast color. All you need is two differently-colored yarns and a pom-pom maker, which you can even make yourself with cardboard.

Illustration

Drawing tutorial: posca pen techniques for beginners.

Posca pens, also known as paint markers, are often associated with graffiti but are super versatile, essentially "painting" on pigment but in a more controlled way. James Chapman ( @jameschapman ) is a digital artist who built a following with Posca pen illustrations, and in this tutorial, he shares some of the methods you can use to get started, too.

Watercolor Tutorial: How to Create Shadow Using Color Theory

Sarah Stokes ( @sarah_stokes ) is a watercolor wildlife artist who teaches courses on portraits, watercolor, and charcoal techniques. In this painting tutorial, Sarah explains how to use a color wheel to find the complementary color to your base, and mix them together to create a darker base shade. This is a great way to add realistic and atmospheric shadow to your paintings.

Painting Tutorial: A Basic Guide to Acrylics for Beginners

You might have used acrylics at school or at home before, but many people don’t know how to use these paints to their fullest potential. Adolfo Serra @adolfoserra is a Spanish illustrator, specializing in books for young readers. In this tutorial (English subtitles included), he offers a basic guide to get the most out of acrylics, including brush types, gestures, and color considerations.

Copywriting Tutorial: Dos & Don'ts of Copywriting for Social Media

If you have created a product that you want to launch next year, you’re going to need to communicate effectively with your audience to catch their attention. Award-winning copywriter Paul Anglin ( @paulanglin ) has over 20 years of experience working with brands like Apple, Nike, and Microsoft. In this tutorial, he introduces some dos and don’ts that will help you craft sharp and engaging copy, including your tone and language choices.

Writing Tutorial: How to Create a Character Profile

Human beings are complicated: full of inconsistency, deep beliefs, and motivations. Communicating this through your writing is essential to craft a compelling article or profile. Multi-award-winning Mexican journalist and author Eileen Truax ( @eileentruax ) is an expert at combining facts with storytelling techniques. In this tutorial, Eileen explains how to turn a person into a "character" in order to tell their story authentically.

Photography

Photography tutorial: tips for portrait photography.

Many people feel uncomfortable in front of a camera, so connecting deeply with them is essential to capturing their emotions and personality. Emilia Brandão ( @emiliabrandao ) has photographed for Vogue , GQ , Elle , and Glamour . In this tutorial, she suggests ways to make your sitter comfortable and create the best environment. Using empathy and validation, you can guide the conversation in order to gently draw out the expressions you are looking for.

Photoshop Tutorial: 5 Helpful Keyboard Shortcuts for Photo Editing

Photo editor Mikael Eliasson ( @mikael_eliasson ) runs a photography school in East London and has exhibited work across Europe. Here, he shares five essential shortcuts for editing great photos, including shortcuts to zoom, alter brushes, and transform elements.

Typography, Calligraphy & Lettering

Lettering tutorial: ideas to improve your hand-lettered fonts.

Annie Weir ( @a_journal_by_annie ) is a bullet journalist who combines floral imagery and delicate lines to create mindful yet practical journals. In her tutorial, she shares some basic tips on how to improve your hand-lettered fonts, using pens and brushes of varying weights and types.

Procreate Tutorial: How to Create Lettering Textures and Brushes

One of the most inventive ways to create your own custom lettering is to use your own textures and brushes. Jimbo Bernaus ( @jimbobernaus ) is a graphic designer and lettering artist whose clients include BMW and Carlsberg. Here, he shows you how to create a brush in Procreate, to introduce your personal style into every aspect of your design.

Architecture & Spaces

Illustration tutorial: how to draw the human body to scale.

Although your focus in designing architecture is the space itself, it’s also essential to know how to locate people within that space to demonstrate its use. Brazilian architect and urban planner, Marcelo Marttins ( @marcelomarttins ), teaches you how to draw the human body using the scaling technique, step-by-step, showing examples from other architects and offering tips to ensure your drawings work in context (English subtitles included).

Interior Design Tutorial: Learn How to Decorate a Room with Plants

It’s no surprise that bringing the outside in has become popular in interior design recently. If you want to bring your space to life, this tutorial is for you. Landscape Gardener and Content Creator Daniel Virgnio ( @danielvirgnio ) shares his secrets to allow you to add energy, color, and light to any interior design project (English subtitles included).

UX Tutorial: How to Conduct Qualitative User Research

Good User Experience design means that users are given relevant and meaningful experiences when they engage with a product or service. Patricia Reiners ( @ux_patricia ) is a UX/UI designer based in Berlin who is an Adobe resident and the host of the Future of UX podcast. Here, she explains the basic principles of good research, such as starting with quantitative data, market analytics, and user testing.

TikTok Tutorial: Foolproof Tips for Great Content

Arnulfur Hakonarson ( @arnulfur ), also known as That Icelandic Guy, is a photographer and content creator on Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok. In this tutorial, Arnulfur offers his advice on creating quality content for TikTok and how to make your profile stand out. This means creating a narrative that flows throughout your content, and keeping your audience in mind.

Freelance Tutorial: Basic Principles of Creating a Digital Portfolio

If you’ve been creating work for a while, you might think about assembling a portfolio in 2022. Mark Brooks ( @mbrooksnyc ) is a graphic designer and art director. In this tutorial, Mark gives you his top tips to make your portfolio stand out from the competition, such as focusing on quality not quantity, and being careful not to get too personal in your approach.

Packaging Tutorial: How to Choose Your Materials

In this tutorial, artist and packaging designer Marion Bretagne ( @marion_bretagne ) shares her tips for finding and selecting the best materials for your packaging. This means forming a relationship with local printers, carrying out research, and getting samples.

3D & Animation

Cinema 4d tutorial: how to create a base model.

Ali Sahba ( @alisahba ) is a multidisciplinary digital artist who tells stories using photography and computer-generated imagery. In this tutorial, Ali explains a simple way to create a base model on Cinema 4D, from creating a basic shape to adding volume and sweeping up.

Procreate Tutorial: How to Start Animating for Beginners

Caroline Kjellberg is an animator and motion designer who has worked for international names like Beats by Dre and Adobe. She’s on a mission to make the internet a more playful place through innovative animations, and in this tutorial she walks you through simple animation steps in Procreate. Learn about dimensions, background frames, frame duration, and more.

Lettering Tutorial: How to Create an Idea Sketchbook

Graphic designer Iván Caíña ( @ivan_caina ) is passionate about letters and incorporates them into printed clothing designs with his Domestika course. In this video (English subtitles included), Ivan teaches you a few sketchbook calligraphy exercises that overcome creative block and start finding ideas. Get inspired, and work towards designing your own T-shirt with calligraphic elements.

Sewing Tutorial: How to Use a Sewing Machine (beginners guide)

Play designer Maria Mandea ( @miculhaos ) specializes in creating playful fabric characters. Here, Maria teaches you how to set up a sewing machine effectively, to ensure a quick and easy sewing process. Learn to thread your needle, and deal with that tricky element for any new sewer: bobbins!

Music & Audio

Podcasting tutorial: a basic guide to preparing your gear.

Maybe 2022 is the year you start your podcast and share your ideas with the world? David Mulé Rebecchi ( @davimulepodcast ), is a podcast journalist who has worked on projects for Cadena SER and Podium Podcasts. In this video (English subtitles included), he explains the technology you need to start your own home studio from scratch, including a mixing deck, headphones, and the right microphone and cables.

These twenty-two tutorials have only scratched the surface of all the useful content you can discover in our creativity tutorials section of the blog. In fact, we have over 350 for you to discover, with more being added each week—so you can kickstart 2022 learning something new.

Click here to get access to 350+ tutorials for free

Happy 2022, and happy learning!

You may also like:

- 22 Creative Tips to Improve Your Skills in 2022 - 5 Free Tutorials to Make Crafts at Home with Few Supplies - Illustrated Sketchbooking in Full Color , course by James Chapman - Nonfiction Writing: Tell Your Unique Story , course by Eileen Truax - Creating Ceramics with Character , course by Sandra Apperloo

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Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing The Write Stuff for Writers

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Grow Your Writing Passion into a Career with Liberty’s Online MFA in Creative Writing

Many people write creatively, but few hone their skills to develop their writing craft to its highest form. Even fewer learn the other skills it takes to become a successful writer, such as the steps needed to get a book published and into the hands of readers. Liberty’s 100% online Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Creative Writing can help you develop your writing passion into a career so you can set your works free to impact culture and the world.

Employers in every industry need professionals who have strong writing skills, so you can be confident that your ability to write effectively can also help set you apart in your current career. With in-demand writing expertise and the ability to customize your degree with electives in literature or writing practice, Liberty’s online MFA in Creative Writing can help you achieve your professional writing goals.

Our online MFA in Creative Writing is designed to help you build on your writing skills with specific workshops dedicated to the craft of fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, or screenwriting. With a work-in-progress approach to writing practice and mentorship from our faculty of experienced writers and scholars, you can learn the specific skills you need to make your writing stand out.

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Why Choose Liberty’s MFA in Creative Writing?

Our online MFA in Creative Writing is mainly offered in an 8-week course format, and our tuition rate for graduate programs hasn’t increased in 9 years. Through our program, you can study the writing process and develop your creative skills through workshops with experienced writing professionals. With our flexible format, you can grow in your creative writing while continuing to do what is important to you.

As a terminal degree, the online MFA in Creative Writing can also help you pursue opportunities to teach writing at the K-12 or college level. You will gain comprehensive and in-depth exposure to writing, literature, publishing, and many other professional writing skills that you can pass on to students. Partner with the Liberty family and learn under faculty who have spent years in the field you love. Your career in professional writing starts here.

What Will You Study in Our MFA in Creative Writing?

The MFA in Creative Writing program is designed to help you become an excellent creative writer across the genres of creative fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, and poetry. You can learn how to produce aesthetically and culturally engaged creative works while gaining professional knowledge and practice. You will also study foundational contemporary literature so that you have a background in studying important works to draw on for your writing.

To help you in your professional writing, you will also study many essential skills in editing, layout, and the business of publishing so that you can best position yourself for success in the market. Through your creative writing courses and workshops, you can develop your craft so that you will be ready for your thesis project.

Here are a few examples of the skills Liberty’s MFA in Creative Writing can help you master:

• Marketing your projects and pursuing new writing opportunities
• Organizing writing and adapting it to different types of writing
• Tailoring writing to specific audiences and markets
• Understanding what makes art effective, compelling, and impactful
• Writing compelling stories that engage readers

Potential Career Opportunities

• Book and magazine writer
• Business communications specialist
• Creative writing instructor
• Publications editor
• Screenwriter
• Website copy editor and writer
• Writing manager

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• ENGL 600 – Editing, Layout, and Publishing
• ENGL 601 – Writing as Cultural Engagement
• ENGL 603 – Literary Theory and Practice
• WRIT 610 – Writing Fiction

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• This program falls under the College of Arts and Sciences .
• View the Graduate Arts and Sciences Course Guides (login required).
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Admission Information for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (MFA)

Admission requirements.

• A non-refundable, non-transferable $50 application fee will be posted on the current application upon enrollment (waived for qualifying service members, veterans, and military spouses – documentation verifying military status is required) .
• Unofficial transcripts can be used for acceptance purposes with the submission of a Transcript Request Form .
• Creative Writing Sample – A creative writing sample of one creative writing work of at least 2,500 words or a culmination of creative writing samples totaling 2,500 words.*
• Applicants whose native language is other than English must submit official scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or an approved alternative assessment. For information on alternative assessments or TOEFL waivers, please call Admissions or view the official International Admissions policy .

*A sample of one or more poems totaling a minimum of 750 words may also be submitted. Song lyrics are not accepted at this time as writing samples.

Preliminary Acceptance

If you are sending in a preliminary transcript for acceptance, you must:

• Be in your final term and planning to start your master’s degree after the last day of class for your bachelor’s degree.
• Complete a Bachelor’s Self-Certification Form confirming your completion date. You may download the form from the Forms and Downloads page or contact an admissions counselor to submit the form on your behalf.
• Submit an official/unofficial transcript to confirm that you are in your final term. The preliminary transcript must show a minimum of 105 completed credit hours.
• If you are a current Liberty University student completing your undergraduate degree, you will need to submit a Degree/Certificate Completion Application .
• Send in an additional, final official transcript with a conferral date on it by the end of your first semester of enrollment in the new master’s degree.

Dual Enrollment

Please see the Online Dual Enrollment page for information about starting graduate courses while finishing your bachelor’s degree.

Transcript Policies

Unofficial college transcript policy.

Unofficial transcripts combined with a Transcript Request Form can be used for admission. Official transcripts are required within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first, and will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Before sending unofficial college transcripts, please make sure they include the following:

• Your previous school’s name or logo printed on the document
• Cumulative GPA
• A list of completed courses and earned credit broken down by semester
• Degree and date conferred (if applicable)

Official College Transcript Policy

An acceptable official college transcript is one that has been issued directly from the institution and is in a sealed envelope. If you have one in your possession, it must meet the same requirements. If your previous institution offers electronic official transcript processing, they can send the document directly to [email protected] .

If the student uses unofficial transcripts with a Transcript Request Form to gain acceptance, all official transcripts must be received within 60 days of the admissions decision or before non-attendance drops for the first set of matriculated classes, whichever comes first. Failure to send all official transcripts within the 60-day period will prevent enrollment into future terms until all official transcripts have been received.

Admissions Office Contact Information

(800) 424-9596

(888) 301-3577

Email for Questions

[email protected]

Email for Documents

[email protected]

Liberty University Online Admissions Verification

1971 University Blvd.

Lynchburg, VA 24515

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Submit your application online or over the phone.

Apply by phone: (800) 424-9595

Liberty University is dedicated to providing world-class educational experiences to military students across the globe.

Who May Qualify?

• Active Duty
• Reserve/National Guard
• Veterans/Retirees
• Spouses of Service Members and Veterans/Retirees
• Current Department of Defense Employees

Available Benefits:

• Tuition discounts – $275 per credit hour for graduate courses
• Additional discount for veterans who service in a civilian capacity as a First Responder (less than $625 per course) *
• 8-week courses, 8 different start dates each year, and no set login times (may exclude certain courses such as practicums, internships, or field experiences)

*Not applicable to certificates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an mfa in creative writing.

A Master of Fine Arts degree, or MFA, is a terminal degree in an artistic craft that demonstrates that you have achieved the highest level of training and skill in your discipline. Like a doctorate, an MFA often allows you to teach courses at the graduate level while also providing many opportunities for scholarship and leadership in education. If you want to grow your creative writing skills to become the best writer you can be, then the Master of Fine Arts can help you get there.

How will students work towards developing their writing skills?

With creative writing workshops and a thesis project, you will receive support and guidance to help you become the best writer you can be.

How long will it take to complete the MFA in Creative Writing?

You can complete the MFA in Creative Writing in just 48 credit hours!

Inner Navigation

• Why Choose Liberty?
• What Will You Study?
• Admission Information

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