Creative Writing
Offered by Wesleyan University. Craft Your Story Like the Great Writers.
Creative Writing is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in Creative Writing. It is structured in 5 modules, over 1 month. Learners rate it 4.6/5 from 6.4K ratings on Coursera.
Part of our Creative Writing courses collection.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 1 month |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.6★ (6.4K reviews) |
| Price | Check price |
About this course
The Creative Writing course from Coursera, offered by Wesleyan University, teaches you how to develop compelling narratives. It covers the essential elements of storytelling, including the craft of plot, character development, and creating vivid settings and descriptions. You also learn to refine your writing style to make your stories more engaging and impactful.
This specialization guides you through the process of crafting an original story, focusing on practical techniques. Each module addresses a specific aspect of Creative Writing. You learn how to structure a plot to build tension and achieve resolution. The course then focuses on creating believable and complex characters that resonate with readers. Further, you explore how setting and descriptive language can enrich your narrative. Finally, you refine your overall writing style. The program culminates in a capstone project where you apply all these skills to write your own complete story.
Upon completing this Creative Writing specialization, you will be able to craft an original story, whether fictional or based on real-life experiences. The skills you gain help you capture a reader's interest from the very beginning and maintain it throughout your narrative. This course equips you with a structured approach to writing, moving beyond initial ideas to producing a polished and engaging piece of work.
This is a Beginner-level course, suitable for those new to formal Creative Writing study or looking to strengthen foundational skills. While accessible, the content is taught at a college level. This particular course is designed to be completed in 1 month. However, the full specialization, which includes all modules, typically takes between 3 to 6 months to complete. If you are interested in exploring a wider range of Creative Writing courses, you can find other options on our site.
Level and time commitment
Skills you’ll gain
What this course covers
5 modulesThe 5-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 1 month.
Module 1 · Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot
Module 2 · Creative Writing: The Craft of Character
Module 3 · Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description
Module 4 · Creative Writing: The Craft of Style
Module 5 · Capstone: Your Story
What learners rate it
Rated 4.6/5 by 6.4K learners on Coursera (checked 25 Aug 2026).
This rating is collected by Coursera from its own enrolled learners. We reproduce it as reported and do not accept paid or incentivised reviews. See it on Coursera →
Compiled by the CoursesGlobal editorial desk. Fees, ratings, duration and certificate details for the 1 course shown are read directly from Coursera course pages — we never estimate a price or a rating. Last verified 25 August 2026.
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Common questions
How much does Creative Writing cost?
Coursera does not publish a price we can read on the course page, so we do not show one. Check the fee on the provider site — we would rather say nothing than quote a number we did not collect.
Does Creative Writing come with a certificate?
Yes — Coursera lists a certificate on completion. It is a course certificate, not a formal qualification or university credit.
How long does Creative Writing take?
Coursera lists it at 1 month. It is self-paced, so that is the volume of material rather than a deadline — how long it actually takes depends on the hours you put in each week.
Is Creative Writing suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does Creative Writing cover?
It is organised into 5 modules, starting with Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot and going on to Creative Writing: The Craft of Character, Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description, Creative Writing: The Craft of Style, Capstone: Your Story. The full outline is on this page.