Writers Academy — Free Courses on Writing and Self-Publishing

5 courses 39 lessons Self-paced and free

Beginner7 lessons·30 min
Foundations
From first idea to a finished, revised draft.
A practical starting course for anyone writing their first book, fiction or non-fiction. You will test an idea until you know it can carry a whole book, decide exactly who it is for, build a writing habit that survives real life, choose a planning method that fits how you think, get a complete first draft written, and revise it in a sensible order. The last lesson covers how to use AI tools for brainstorming, outlining, critique and drafting while keeping the book, and the voice, yours.
Your progress0 / 7
All levels9 lessons·35 min
Writing Fiction
The craft of novels and short stories, one working technique at a time.
A practical course in fiction craft for new and experienced writers. You will learn how stories are built, how to write characters readers follow anywhere, how to choose a point of view, and how to make scenes, dialogue and pacing pull a reader forward. Each lesson teaches real techniques with original examples and ends with an exercise you can do on your own manuscript.
Your progress0 / 9
All levels7 lessons·30 min
Writing Non-fiction
Turn what you know, or what you lived, into a book a reader can use.
A practical course on planning, researching and writing non-fiction: how-to books, memoir, narrative non-fiction, reference and business books. You'll learn to define the reader's problem and your book's promise, build a table of contents that works as an argument, research and fact-check (including checking AI drafts for invented facts and quotes), write clear and actionable chapters, handle real people in memoir, and position the finished book with a title and subtitle readers can find.
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All levels7 lessons·30 min
Writing Children’s Books
From board books to young adult: write stories kids ask for again.
A practical course on writing for young readers. You'll learn how the children's categories differ, how a 32-page picture book is built spread by spread, how to write text that leaves room for pictures, how to create characters kids love without preaching at them, when rhyme helps and when it hurts, how voice and theme change in middle grade and young adult, and how to get your book illustrated and ready for print.
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Beginner9 lessons·40 min
Self-Publishing
From finished manuscript to a book readers can buy, on your terms.
A practical, beginner-friendly course on publishing a book yourself. You'll learn how self-publishing compares with traditional deals, how to edit, cover and format a book to professional standards, how ISBNs, copyright and metadata work, whether to go exclusive with Amazon or sell everywhere, and how to price, launch, market and turn your book into an audiobook. Every number is sourced and dated, because royalties and platform rules change.
Your progress0 / 9

Start anywhere

New to writing? Begin with Foundations. Already drafting? Jump to the course for your kind of book, or straight to Self-Publishing.

Learn by doing

Every lesson ends with an exercise you can finish in one sitting, so you leave each one with more of your book than you started with.

Free to start

The first lesson of every course is open to everyone. A free Anthra account unlocks the rest, and you can mark lessons complete as you go.

Ready to write? Start lesson one.

Foundations covers finding an idea worth a whole book, knowing your reader, building a habit and getting a first draft to the end.

Begin Foundations Write your book with Anthra

Academy.

Foundations

Writing Fiction

Writing Non-fiction

Writing Children’s Books

Self-Publishing

Start anywhere

Learn by doing

Free to start

Ready to write? Start lesson one.