Best Creative Writing Short Courses UK 2026

Key Takeaways

✅ Most credible fiction/non-fiction: Curtis Brown Creative (6 or 12 weeks online, ~£800–£1,000)
✅ Best residential retreat: Arvon Foundation (5 nights, ~£900–£1,100, bursaries available)
✅ Best screenwriting: NFTS short courses + ScreenSkills script development programmes
✅ Best online with university CPD: Goldsmiths, UEA, Edinburgh creative writing short courses
✅ Self-publishing pathway: Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) resources
✅ Honest reality: Most authors supplement writing with adjacent careers (publishing, journalism, teaching)

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The UK Creative Writing Landscape

The UK has produced more literary prize winners, globally successful authors, and influential screenwriters per capita than almost any other country. London's publishing industry, the BBC and Channel 4's commissioning culture, the games industry, and a thriving literary festival circuit (Edinburgh, Hay, Cheltenham) create an ecosystem where creative writing careers are genuinely possible — though rarely straightforward.

The honest context: full-time writing income is the exception, not the rule. The Society of Authors' surveys show that median author income from writing in the UK is around £10,500–£12,000 per year. Creative writing skills are more practically deployed as components of portfolio careers — combining writing with publishing work, journalism, teaching, copywriting, or screen work.

Career Applications for Creative Writing Skills

Fiction author (traditional publishing): Advances and royalties. Highly variable income. Long development timeline.
Self-published author: Direct reader income. More control, more marketing effort. Viable for genre fiction with backlist.
Screenwriter (TV/Film): PACT rates, BBC/Channel 4 commissions. Better income than prose fiction for produced writers.
Games writer: Narrative design, dialogue, world-building. Employed or freelance. Salary: £35,000–£65,000.
Script editor: Develops others' scripts. BBC, independent production companies. Salary: £40,000–£65,000.
Copywriter / content writer: Commercial writing for brands and agencies. Salary: £28,000–£60,000.
Creative writing teacher / lecturer: University CW programmes, secondary education. Salary: £28,000–£55,000.

1. Curtis Brown Creative

Curtis Brown Creative is the most credible fiction and non-fiction writing course provider in the UK. Curtis Brown is one of the world's leading literary agencies (representing Kazuo Ishiguro, Nick Hornby, and hundreds of other major authors), and its creative writing arm draws on genuine publishing industry expertise.

Courses offered:

6-week online courses: Novel writing (literary fiction, commercial fiction, crime, speculative fiction), non-fiction, writing for children, screenwriting (TV Drama). ~£825.
12-week online courses: More intensive development of the same formats. ~£1,000.
Start Writing Fiction: 6-week introduction for complete beginners. ~£550.

Taught by published authors and, crucially, working literary agents — providing industry feedback that university creative writing programmes often cannot match. Many Curtis Brown Creative alumni have gone on to publication with major publishers. Not academic credentials, but highly valued by the UK publishing community.

2. Arvon Foundation

Arvon runs one-week residential retreats at four UK writing houses — The Hurst (Shropshire), Totleigh Barton (Devon), Moniack Mhor (Scottish Highlands), and Lumb Bank (Yorkshire). Two established authors in residence teach, mentor, and workshop with a small cohort of 14–16 writers for five nights.

Courses span fiction, poetry, screenwriting, non-fiction, life writing, writing for children, and experimental forms. The residential immersion creates conditions for creative work that are hard to replicate elsewhere — five days of uninterrupted writing, peer workshop, and author mentoring. Cost: ~£900–£1,100 including accommodation and meals. Bursaries available — Arvon is committed to financial accessibility.

Arvon alumni include Ted Hughes, Sylvia Plath, and many UK debut novelists. The network and community built at Arvon retreats is as valuable as the teaching.

3. Faber Academy

Faber & Faber — one of the UK's most prestigious independent publishers — runs Faber Academy, offering in-person and online courses in fiction writing, poetry, non-fiction, and screenwriting. Faber Academy courses are taught by published Faber authors and guest industry professionals. The Faber brand carries significant credibility in the literary world.

Key courses include: Writing a Novel (12 weeks, ~£800); Writing Short Stories; Writing Poetry; and a range of genre-specific courses. Available in-person (London) and online.

4. University-Affiliated Short Courses

Goldsmiths, University of London

Goldsmiths Creative Writing programme (MA and short courses) is among the most highly regarded in the UK. Short courses in fiction writing, life writing, and experimental writing provide CPD-level learning from Goldsmiths academics and visiting authors. Online and in-person options.

University of East Anglia (UEA)

UEA pioneered the UK Creative Writing MA and remains one of the most respected programmes. UEA's short course offer includes writing masterclasses and weekend workshops. The UEA Literary Festival provides annual access to leading authors and industry professionals.

University of Edinburgh

Edinburgh offers online creative writing short courses through its Continuing Education department, covering fiction, non-fiction, and scriptwriting. Accessible from anywhere in the UK or internationally. Short courses: typically 6–8 weeks, £200–£600.

Provider	Format	Best For	Cost (GBP)
Curtis Brown Creative	6/12 weeks online	Fiction, non-fiction, TV writing	£550–£1,000
Arvon Foundation	5-night residential	All forms — immersive retreat	£900–£1,100
Faber Academy	12 weeks online/in-person	Fiction, poetry, non-fiction	£600–£900
NFTS Short Courses (Screenwriting)	1–5 days	TV/film screenwriting	£150–£1,200
The Script Factory	Workshops + labs	Screen writers — UK TV/film	£100–£600
University of Edinburgh (online)	6–8 weeks online	Fiction, non-fiction, scriptwriting	£200–£600

5. Screenwriting: NFTS and ScreenSkills

National Film and Television School (NFTS)

The NFTS in Beaconsfield runs short courses and masterclasses in screenwriting — taught by working screenwriters and development executives. Covers TV drama structure, feature film development, pitch preparation, and the UK commissioning landscape. Cost: £150–£1,200 per course. One of the most industry-connected screenwriting development options available in the UK.

ScreenSkills Script Development

ScreenSkills, the UK screen industry skills body, funds script development labs and workshops for emerging screenwriters — often free or heavily subsidised. ScreenSkills' development programmes are specifically aimed at writers targeting UK TV and film production. The ScreenSkills website (screenskills.com) is the first port of call for UK screenwriters seeking funded development support.

The Script Factory

A specialist screen development organisation running script labs, workshops, and intensive feedback sessions for writers working in UK film and TV. The Script Factory works with the BFI, BAFTA, and major broadcasters. Workshops: £100–£600. Often subsidised for early-career writers.

6. Self-Publishing: The ALLi Pathway

The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) is the professional membership organisation for self-publishing authors in the UK. ALLi provides guidance, resources, community, and advocacy for authors who choose to self-publish. For writers interested in the self-publishing route:

ALLi membership: £89/year — access to resources, expert guidance, and the ALLi community
ALLi runs free webinars and events covering book production, marketing, distribution, and rights
The ALLi Self-Publishing Advice blog is the most comprehensive free resource for indie authors in the UK

Self-publishing is a legitimate and increasingly mainstream publication route — with significant upsides in royalty rates (typically 35–70% vs 8–15% for traditional publishing) and creative control, but requiring investment in professional editing, design, and marketing.

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Salary Overview: Creative and Media Writing in the UK (2026)

Career Track	Notes	Income Range (GBP)
Published fiction author (median)	Society of Authors data	~£10,500–£12,000/yr
Copywriter / Content Writer	Agency or freelance	£28,000–£60,000
Games Writer (employed)	UK games studios	£35,000–£65,000
Script Editor	BBC, independent production	£40,000–£65,000
Produced TV Screenwriter	UK TV commissions	£30,000–£80,000+ per project
CW Lecturer / Teacher	University, school	£28,000–£55,000

Related Guides

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Curtis Brown Creative course worth doing?

Yes — Curtis Brown Creative is widely considered the most credible and effective short creative writing course provider in the UK. Curtis Brown is one of the world's leading literary agencies, and its writing courses are taught by published authors and working literary agents who provide industry-insider feedback. The 6-week and 12-week online courses in novel writing (literary fiction, commercial fiction, crime, and speculative fiction), non-fiction, and screenwriting are taken by serious writers preparing for publication. Numerous published authors and debut novelists have come through Curtis Brown Creative courses — many participants have secured literary agents and publishing deals directly following their course experience. Courses cost approximately £800–£1,000 for the online format. They are not academic qualifications but represent genuine industry-connected creative development. For writers serious about publication, Curtis Brown Creative is one of the highest-value short course investments available in the UK.

What is the Arvon Foundation and how does it work?

Arvon is a UK charity that provides residential creative writing retreats at four rural writing houses across England and Scotland — The Hurst (Shropshire), Totleigh Barton (Devon), Moniack Mhor (Scotland), and Lumb Bank (Yorkshire). Arvon retreats typically run Monday to Saturday (five nights) with an intake of 14–16 writers, led by two established authors who are in residence throughout the week. The format combines structured morning workshops, afternoon writing time, and evening readings and discussion. Arvon offers retreats in fiction, poetry, screenwriting, non-fiction, writing for children, and other forms. Cost: approximately £900–£1,100 per retreat (includes accommodation, meals, and tuition). Bursaries are available through the Arvon Foundation for writers who could not otherwise afford to attend. Arvon retreats are widely regarded as some of the most productive and creatively stimulating writing experiences available in the UK.

Can I make a career from creative writing in the UK?

A full-time career from creative writing alone is rare — the majority of published authors in the UK supplement writing income with other work. The Society of Authors' surveys surveys consistently show that most published authors earn below the minimum wage from writing alone. However, creative writing skills support a wide range of careers: publishing, literary agenting, script editing, copywriting, content writing, journalism, games writing, and teaching creative writing are all viable professional pathways. The most successful routes combine creative writing practice with adjacent professional skills. Screenwriters who break through into produced television and film can earn substantial incomes, as can genre fiction authors who build readership and backlist. Self-publishing has also created viable income pathways for authors who can combine writing volume with effective marketing. Realistically, most people pursuing creative writing should plan for a portfolio career rather than expecting immediate full-time writing income.

What is the best course for screenwriting in the UK?

For screenwriting in the UK, the most credible short course options are: The National Film and Television School (NFTS) short courses in screenwriting — taught by working screen professionals and industry practitioners. ScreenSkills script development programmes — funded by the screen industry and specifically designed for writers targeting UK TV and film production. The Script Factory — specialist screenwriting development organisation running workshops and labs for emerging screen writers. Curtis Brown Creative screenwriting courses — particularly the 12-week TV Drama Writing course for writers targeting the UK TV drama market. Goldsmiths University short courses in screenwriting. For those serious about a screenwriting career, the NFTS and Script Factory courses carry the most industry weight. BFI NETWORK also provides funding and mentoring support for emerging UK filmmakers and writers.

How much do writers earn in the UK?

Writing income in the UK is highly variable. According to the Society of Authors' surveys, the median income from writing for professional authors in the UK is approximately £10,500–£12,000 per year — below the minimum wage. Only approximately 20% of authors earn their living entirely from writing. However, high earners in genre fiction, children's fiction, crime, and thriller can earn £50,000–£500,000+ from book advances and royalties. TV script editors earn £40,000–£65,000 as employed staff. Experienced TV screenwriters with produced credits earn £30,000–£80,000+ per project. Games writers earn £35,000–£65,000 as employed staff. Copywriters and content writers earn £28,000–£60,000 depending on specialism. The ALLi (Alliance of Independent Authors) data shows that self-published authors who invest in professional production and marketing can build sustainable income — typically £20,000–£60,000 for mid-list indie authors with a backlist.