Setting the Right Course for Your Indie Author Journey
Author-Focused Courses that Help You Write, Publish, and Grow Your Audience
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything to prepare to write except actually writing, you’re not alone.
One of my recent coaching clients came to me after a multi-year deep dive into story structure, writing craft, and productivity systems. He’d taken dozens of courses, downloaded every worksheet he could find, and could talk circles around most writing professors. But when it came time to start his novel, he was stuck—too many frameworks, too many voices in his head, and no clear path forward.
I recognized the pattern because I’d lived it. During the pandemic, after my editorial job at Nickelodeon was cut, I found myself with loads of time and an inbox full of “free” writing courses. I took them all. From Zoom at breakfast to webinars after dinner, I soaked up information like a sponge. But when I finally sat down to write, I couldn’t. My creativity had been drowned in expert advice.
If this sounds familiar, here’s the truth: Free isn’t free. You pay with your time, your attention, and sometimes your momentum. Not every class is the right one for your season—and choosing the courses that serve specific needs within your specific writing journey is the key to moving forward without the brain freeze.
The Benefits of Courses and Masterminds
Courses, workshops, and masterminds offer something blog posts and social media threads usually don’t: structure, guidance, and support. When you follow a clear framework from someone with experience, it saves time and helps you focus. You stop second-guessing every step or jumping from one system to another. And you start making progress. Some offer office hours, one-on-one feedback, or peer forums so you’re not doing it all in a silo. For a lot of writers, the right course at the right time becomes a turning point, and it can help them stop spinning out and start moving forward.
Choosing a Course: What to Consider
Before signing up for any course, take a moment to define what you need right now. Your current stage in your indie author journey will guide what kind of support makes the most sense, whether that be in drafting, revising, building your author brand, learning how to sell your books, or expanding into new formats or platforms.
Here are a few additional factors to consider before signing on as a student:
- How do you learn best? Some writers need live interaction and deadlines to stay motivated. Others prefer self-paced lessons they can work through on their own time. Make sure the course you choose matches your learning style.
- Be realistic about your budget and availability. Short workshops can offer quick wins, but longer or higher-priced programs often include more support, feedback, or coaching.
- Check that a course has clear outcomes. Know what you’ll be able to do or understand by the end—and how that connects to your goals.
- Look for signs of quality. Reliable courses include testimonials, outline the full curriculum, and are upfront about cost. Be cautious if a course leads with hype, lacks detail, or seems built mainly to sell you into the next tier.
- Do a little background check. Search for the course or instructor in author Facebook groups, check for reviews on Reddit or Medium, or see if the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) has weighed in. A quick scan can reveal whether a course delivers what it promises—or not.
What Sort of Class Suits You Best?
Live cohort
Best for: Accountability seekers
What to Expect: Scheduled deadlines, peer feedback
Asynchronous
Best for: Busy or introverted writers
What to Expect: Flexible, self-paced learning
Hybrid
Best for: Academic deep-divers
What to Expect: High-level content without formal enrollment
Degree programs
Best for: Career or literary aspirations
What to Expect: Accredited validation, mentorship, community
Coaching programs
Best for: Personalized feedback seekers
What to Expect: High-cost, long-term coaching
The List
There’s no one-size-fits-all for writing courses, and there are trusted options that span several formats, budgets, and stages in your author journey. This list of vetted opportunities, however, provides a solid starting point, whether you want focused self-study, live workshops, or a full degree.
Although this list focuses on online courses and programs, don’t overlook the value of live events, either. Conferences, in-person workshops, and local writing groups can offer a different kind of energy and connection. Sometimes the right spark happens when you step away from the screen.
Indie Author Training
- Platform: IndieAuthorTraining.com
- Duration: Varies by course
- Cost: Varies by course
- Best for: Indie authors seeking accessible, focused self-study
Writers.com
- Platform: Writers.com
- Duration: Four to ten weeks (live); one-day webinars
- Cost: $345 to $645 per workshop; $115 to $195 per webinar
- Best for: Writers wanting structured teaching plus community
Reedsy Learning
- Platform: Email delivery via Reedsy
- Duration: Varies; each course is around ten to fifteen emails
- Cost: Free
- Best for: Authors wanting no-cost intros to publishing skills
Ninja Writers
- Platform: NinjaWriters.org
- Duration: Ongoing membership
- Cost: Club $25/mo; Guild $29/mo or $290/yr; Academy ~$300/yr
- Best for: Writers seeking consistency and peer accountability
UCLA Extension Writers’ Program
- Platform: UCLA Extension online/in-person
- Duration: Ten weeks per class; certificate ~21 units
- Cost: $600 to $1,600 per class; ~$5,040 total for certificate
- Best for: Writers desiring university-level craft study without a full degree
MIT OpenCourseWare
- Platform: OpenCourseWare (archive); MITx for certificates
- Duration: Self-paced
- Cost: Free to audit; certificates $200 to $1,000
- Best for: Writers seeking in-depth academic writing study for free
Gotham Writers Workshop
- Platform: WritingClasses.com
- Duration: ~10 weeks per class
- Cost: ~ $400 per course; intensives and coaching extra
- Best for: Writers looking for personalized feedback and group support
Self Publishing Formula (SPF)
- Platform: SelfPublishingFormula.com
- Duration: Varies by program
- Cost: $997 to $1,997 per flagship course
- Best for: Indie authors ready to expand paid marketing and automation
University of Houston–Victoria Online MFA
- Platform: University of Houston–Victoria online MFA
- Duration: 36 credits (2–3 years)
- Cost: ~$14,040 in-state (higher for out-of-state)
- Best for: Writers seeking an affordable, accredited online MFA
University of Iowa—Iowa Writers' Workshop
- Platform: University of Iowa (on-campus only)
- Duration: Two years (full-time MFA)
- Cost: ~$11,000/yr in-state; ~$30,000/yr out-of-state
- Best for: Writers seeking elite, literary MFA experience with in-person mentorship
Western Colorado University MA in Creative Writing, Publishing Concentration
- Platform: Canvas plus Zoom plus two one-week campus residencies
- Duration: 14 months (30 credits total)
- Cost: ~$749.60 per credit + fees; residency $600/session; total ~$51,230
- Best for: Authors or small-press publishers seeking immersive, hands-on training
Ready, Set … Learn!
Publishing is an ever-changing industry, and learning its ins and outs is its own journey. You won’t master it all at once, nor should you try. Instead, pick a course that fits where you are right now in your career, and stick with it. Bookmark this article to revisit it when your goals change. No need to worry about your grades; in this class, moving forward is what matters most.
Cara J. Stevens
