Aotearoa New Zealand Writing Courses – in-person and online

 

See NZSA’s Learning Hub for details of NZSA’s Web Workshop programme, Writer Toolkit modules and NZSA Roadshows.

 

NZSA Writer Toolkit – The NZSA Writer Toolkit is our professional development offering, with multiple modules released. Our Writer Toolkit is an online learning platform that offers writers a wide range of low-cost or free modules on writing and the writing life by our leading authors and industry professionals. All sessions comprise of static content you can work through alone, or with your writing group or regional hub meeting. Each module contains notes, exercises, and suggestions for further reading on the topics. New Writer Toolkits are produced each year. Some modules are free to all, and members receive a free Writer Toolkit voucher with annual membership renewals.

NZSA Web Workshops –  – a series of webinars to enable ongoing professional development. Online Two-hour interactive masterclasses. See the link for the latest workshops on offer. they fwriters and industry professionals offering virtual workshops on topics such as self-publishing, romance writing, poetry, structure, short stories, pitching, contract advice, dystopian writing and the business of writing. All NZSA Webworkshops are hosted on Zoom.

NZSA Roadshows – Regional Roadshows brings professional development to the regions. Each one-day conference offers local writers access to professional development, masterclasses, workshops and panel discussions taught by experienced writers from across Aotearoa. These events are organised in partnership with local NZSA branches to build collegiality, connection and new opportunities for professional development in local settings. The events are lively, inclusive, stimulating, and practical and offer something for writers across the spectrum. Sessions cover craft, publishing, marketing, and much more!

NZSA annual Mentorship and Assessment Programmes – Each year Creative NZ supports NZSA to run four mentorship and assessment programmes: The NZSA Mentor Programme, Complete MS Assessment programme, the NZSA Youth Mentorship programme and Startwrite quick assessment programme.

Te Papa Tupu – Māori Literature Trust  – Te Papa Tupu is a highly contested writers incubator designed specifically for emerging Māori writers. Every two years, six writers are given the opportunity to be mentored by acclaimed authors and editors. Throughout the course of the programme, writers work with their mentors to develop their manuscripts for publication.

IPED – The Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd) is the professional association for Australian and New Zealand editors. It exists to advance the profession of editing and to support and promote Australian and New Zealand editors.

Massey University – this university offers diverse 1-2 semester courses in writing which can be taken individually, or as part of a degree. Subjects include journalism, poetry, travel, creative and media script writing. Following this, the Masters in Creative Writing is available online with tutorage from established authors. It allows writers to focus on their own work, while improving their craft skills.

NZ Writers’ College – offers a variety of online writing courses with one-on-one tutoring from established writers. Courses cover journalism, creative writing, business and specialist areas such as editing and blogs.

NorthTec – offers three diploma levels online. Level 5 covers every genre of fiction or non-fiction writing you can think of, including writing for children in both Te Reo Maori and English, and also an editing paper for writers. Level 6 takes the student’s choice of genre to the next level, be it poetry, short stories, romance writing, science fiction, fantasy, women’s fiction, non-fiction, literary fiction, memoir or scripts, and includes business skills, epublishing and professional editing. Level 7 allows students to focus on their own work, improving their craft skills with mentorship from established authors. Previous students have completed graphic novels, novels, memoirs, family histories, Maori legends, historical fiction, short stories, travel pieces, and an interactive game.

The Creative Hub – Taught by some of New Zealand’s leading writers, most of the courses are venue only, but the two-month Introduction to Creative Writing has an online option.

The School for Young Writers – offers a wide range of correspondence courses and mentor programmes for writers 8-19 yrs.

Waiariki Institute of Technology – offers a range of courses from one semester to one year including business, Maori, scriptwriting, travel and a diverse selection of fiction options. There are also courses covering marketing, publishing and writing for the web.

Whitireia – offers courses in creative writing, journalism, publishing, and editing from diploma to bachelor level. Some can be completed part time. In 2023 they have added Micro-credentials in editing.

Write – Short, introductory level courses in grammar and general clarity for business situations

Northland

NorthTec – offers three diploma levels online. Level 5 covers every genre of fiction or non-fiction writing you can think of, including writing for children in both Te Reo Maori and English, and also an editing paper for writers. Level 6 takes the student’s choice of genre to the next level, be it poetry, short stories, romance writing, science fiction, fantasy, women’s fiction, non-fiction, literary fiction, memoir or scripts, and includes business skills, epublishing and professional editing. Level 7 allows students to focus on their own work, improving their craft skill with mentorship from established authors. Previous students have completed graphic novels, novels, memoirs, family histories, Maori legends, historical fiction, short stories, travel pieces and an interactive game.

Auckland

AUT – Auckland University of Technology – provides a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing which explores a variety of genres, and also a Masters in either Creative Writing or Screenwriting. Tutors and mentors include James George and Siobhan Harvey.

Massey University – this university offers diverse 1-2 semester courses in writing which can be taken individually, or as part of a degree. Subjects include journalism, poetry, travel, creative and media script writing. The courses vary from campus to campus, but are all available online. This includes the Master in Creative Writing, which allows writers to focus on their own work, blending literature studies and craft skills with tutorage from established authors.

The Creative Hub – offers a range of writing related courses, from half day through to a thirty week course involving master classes from established writers. Courses include creative writing, self-publishing and fiction/memoirs.

University of Auckland – offers a range of English, drama, screen and creative writing courses. The Masters of Creative Writing, taught by Paula Morris, runs for a full university year during which writers work intensively on their own project. Limited to twelve participants, the MCW includes craft skills and exercises, weekly critique workshops, masterclasses with visiting established writers (previously including Eleanor Catton and Ben Okri), and seminars with representatives from the writing industry.

Waikato

University of Waikato – has a range of writing major papers which include academic and creative writing with additional screen, media and theatre studies also available.

Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) – offers a range of writing papers at degree and postgraduate level. Level 6 and 7 papers can be taken as part of a Communications degree, or as a separate Certificate of Proficiency. These include: Creative Writing Workshop, Writing Project (both taught in evening), Screenwriting, Advanced Screenwriting, Feature Writing and Professional and Technical Communication (online). Wintec also offers the Level 5 National Diploma in Journalism, a Graduate Diploma in Communication (with a major in Professional Writing), and post-graduate Honours and Masters qualifications with an emphasis on research and generation of a major piece of work. Post-graduate publications have included edited creative anthologies, plays, memoir and family histories.

Central Districts

Massey University – this university offers diverse 1-2 semester courses in writing which can be taken individually, or as part of a degree. Subjects include journalism, poetry, travel, creative and media script writing. The courses vary from campus to campus, but are all available online. This includes the Master in Creative Writing, which allows writers to focus on their own specific project, whilst blending literature studies and craft skills with tutorage from established authors.

Western Institute of Technology – is situated in Taranaki and offers a National Diploma in Journalism.

Wellington

Victoria University Wellington – this university has an established creative writing programme (Institute of Modern Letters) with a diverse selection of writing courses, from undergraduate level to PhD. Courses include poetry, short fiction, writing for children and Iowa workshops in poetry and prose. Tutors include Emily Perkins, Hinemoana Baker, David Armstrong and Ashleigh Young, among others.

Whitireia Community Polytechnic  – has a range of full and part time courses in creative writing, also English skills and its National Diploma in Journalism. Writing for radio is included the Radio Journalism diploma.
Write – has a variety of one-off writing workshops designed to help with writing for business, blogs and websites.

Canterbury

The School for Young Writers – offers a wide range of courses and programmes for writers 8-19 yrs. The school holds weekend, after school, and in school classes.

University of Canterbury – in addition to a range of courses in journalism, and a selection of creative writing papers (not available every year), this university has the Master in Fine Arts – Creative Writing. Here, writers undertake a single larger project as well as a substantial essay and oral exam.

Hagley Writers’ Institute – based in Christchurch, this offers a part-time year-long course for writers, working in both prose and poetry, with a portfolio submitted at the end of the year. Working in small groups, the classes meet on Saturdays for support, advice and critiquing with tutors. Hagley Writers’ Institute offers both a foundation and advanced level programme, and is also available online on a Tuesday evening for students throughout New Zealand. Our current tutors are Melanie Dixon and Joanna Preston, with guest tutors and mentors also contributing to the course across the year.

The Poetry Class – regular and bespoke short poetry classes in Christchurch and greater Canterbury, taught by Joanna Preston.

Otago/Southland

Otago University – A number of semester-long classes at undergraduate level are offered in Creative Writing.

Creative Writing Dunedin  – a range of courses taught in small classes in Dunedin, from one-day Saturday courses to 8 to 10 week courses in Memoir, Fiction, Poetry and completing a Manuscript.

The Wanaka Autumn Art School – a 5-day annual writing course for beginner to more advanced fiction writers, currently tutored by Jillian Sullivan.

Online Courses (Australia)

OpenColleges – Providing specialised writing, editing and media-related training to aspiring authors, editors and journalists for more than a quarter of a century, the Australian College of Journalism can deliver the expert tuition required to polish your skills and acquire the commercial savvy you need to succeed.