15 Writing Courses for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 4 hours ago
- 10 min read
Courses are a practical and accessible way for you to explore advanced subjects early, without the high cost or long-term commitment of intensive programs. Many online platforms like Coursera and edX, as well as universities, offer structured pre-college courses with defined curricula, allowing you to build real academic skills at your own pace. These courses often mirror high school or introductory college-level content, giving you early exposure to formal learning environments. You can develop discipline, time management, and independent study habits while engaging with well-designed lessons.
If you are interested in writing, taking a dedicated course can help you strengthen your fundamentals while exploring different styles, such as creative writing, storytelling, and academic writing. Writing is a core skill across subjects, and developing it early can significantly improve your overall academic performance.
Why should I do a writing course in middle school?
Taking a writing course in middle school helps you build a strong foundation before academic expectations increase in high school. You will learn how to organize ideas, construct arguments, and communicate clearly, skills that are essential for essays, reports, and exams across subjects. These courses also expose you to various writing formats, from narrative storytelling to analytical writing, helping you discover your strengths early.
Additionally, you will develop critical thinking and editing skills, learning to refine your work rather than just complete it. Early exposure to structured writing also makes high school assignments less overwhelming, as you will already be familiar with drafting, revising, and receiving feedback.
To help you get started, we have compiled a list of 15 writing courses for middle school students.
If you’re looking for programs for middle school students, check out our blog here.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective
Dates: Eight weeks; dates vary by cohort (summer sessions available)
Application deadline: Varies based on cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 8
Lumiere’s Junior Explorers Program is a selective online research experience for middle school students, designed to build advanced academic writing and research skills. You will begin by selecting a subject area, such as STEM, humanities, or social sciences, and being matched with a Ph.D.-level mentor from a top university. Over the course of the program, you will receive a structured introduction to your chosen field, then design and carry out an independent research project focused on a real-world question. To strengthen your writing and analytical abilities, you will conclude the program by producing a formal research paper that presents your findings.
Location: Online
Cost: ~$2,745
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Semester-long course (within academic year)
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Middle school students (grades 6–8); no prerequisites
LAN 0651: Middle School Creative Writing is a semester-long course that introduces you to a range of creative writing genres while strengthening your overall composition skills. You explore formats such as autobiographies, family narratives, fairy tales, fantasy, short stories, and journal writing, allowing you to experiment with different storytelling styles. The course integrates reading and writing, using excerpts from well-known literary works as models to guide your own writing. Throughout the course, you will develop key elements of stories, including character development, plot structure, theme, and setting. Each module builds on the previous one, helping you plan and produce original pieces based on the genre you are studying. The structured approach ensures you practice writing regularly and understand how to refine your ideas.
Location: Online via Coursera
Cost: Free to audit; paid certificate
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Rolling
Application deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Middle school students
Stanford’s Writing in the Sciences is an eight-week course designed to help you refine academic writing skills in scientific and technical fields. While the course focuses on science writing, the first four weeks cover general writing skills useful across disciplines. You will learn how to organize your ideas, write with clarity, and improve sentence and paragraph structure. The second half of the course covers topics specific to scientific writing, including peer review, manuscript formatting, and communicating research to broader audiences. The course includes quizzes, short writing assignments, video lectures, and peer editing.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by course
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple sessions in a year
Application deadline: Open enrollment
Eligibility: Varies depending on the course; several courses are open to middle school students
The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth offers a variety of courses for students looking to explore subjects beyond the standard school curriculum. In the Language Arts category, you will find writing-focused courses available in flexible formats throughout the year. The Crafting the Essay course introduces you to the work of famous essayists and works of creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry, and lets you experiment with tone, mood, imagery, prose, and various narrative devices to create your own engaging personal stories. You can also explore the Art Meets Science: Nonfiction course to learn about the intersection of science and art while reading and writing personal essays in the nonfiction genre. Another option is the Crafting Poetry course, which covers poetic techniques, sound patterns, and structure, and lets you explore how these elements shape a reader’s experience. Each course is structured to include daily readings, informal writing assignments, editing workshops, and major writing projects.
Location: Howard Community College, Columbia, MD
Cost: $339
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Two-week summer sessions (July – August)
Application deadline: Rolling until spots are filled
Eligibility: Middle school students, ages 11 – 14
Creative Writing for Middle School is a short, immersive summer course that lets you explore various forms of creative expression. Over two weeks, you will experiment with various writing styles, including poetry (free verse, blank verse, and lyric), character sketches, personal narratives, and dramatic monologues. The course encourages you to develop your imagination while learning structured techniques for journaling and storytelling. A key component of the program is the opportunity to compile and publish your work in a digital literary magazine, providing a tangible outcome of your efforts. The fast-paced format is designed to keep you engaged while helping you refine your creative voice.
Location: Online (asynchronous)
Cost: $249/student; $149 for each additional student
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~25 students (with parent participation)
Dates: Multiple 6-week sessions offered throughout the year
Application deadline: Rolling; varies by session
Eligibility: Students, ages 9 – 14 (typically grades 4 – 8) with active parent participation
Brave Writer 101 is a six-week online course that focuses on building strong writing habits through a guided, step-by-step process. Unlike traditional writing classes, this program requires you to work alongside a parent, who will act as your writing coach with support from experienced instructors. The course emphasizes making writing a positive and collaborative experience rather than a stressful task, helping you gradually gain confidence in expressing your ideas. Each week will introduce a new stage of the writing process, starting with communication and idea generation, then moving through observation, freewriting, revision, and editing. You will practice turning your thoughts into structured writing while receiving consistent feedback and encouragement. The program is designed to be flexible and supportive, allowing you to progress at your own pace while still building essential writing skills
Location: Online (live classes)
Cost: $275 (standard course tuition)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~12 students/class
Dates: Full-year course (August–May)
Application deadline: Rolling; subject to seat availability
Eligibility: Middle school students (grades 6 – 8); prerequisite knowledge may be required
Expository Writing I is a full-year course designed to help you build a strong foundation in structured, academic writing. The curriculum focuses on essential pre-rhetoric skills such as organizing ideas, improving sentence construction, and developing early research techniques. You will work on a variety of writing formats, including narrative summaries, descriptive pieces, chronological writing, and short literary analyses of fiction and poetry. Throughout the course, you will work on skills like outlining (both single- and multi-level), note-taking, and proper documentation, which are essential for high school assignments. Classes are held twice a week in small groups, allowing for individualized feedback and consistent interaction with instructors.
Location: Online
Cost: $579/year
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 32-week course (offered in the fall; excludes holiday breaks)
Application deadline: Varies; enrollment opens seasonally
Eligibility: Middle school students (grades 6 – 8)
WriteAtHome offers year-long writing courses designed to help you steadily build strong writing skills through consistent practice and feedback. The 32-week courses focus on developing your ability to write across multiple formats, including creative, academic, and practical writing. The extended duration allows you to engage deeply with the material while improving gradually over time. A key focus of the program is personalized coaching, where you will receive detailed feedback on your assignments to help refine your writing. You will work through structured lessons that reinforce core skills such as organization, clarity, and expression. Since writing improves with regular practice, the annual format can help you get sustained exposure and support.
Location: Online
Cost: $850
Acceptance rate/cohort size: ~10 students/ class
Dates: Summer course (dates vary by session); five-session course requiring a commitment of ~10 hours total
Application deadline: Varies by session
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
Writing: Start to Finish is a short, intensive summer course designed to help you build a clear and repeatable writing process. The program focuses on core academic writing skills, including planning, organizing, drafting, and revising assignments. It is particularly useful if you find writing challenging or struggle to get started and complete projects. Across five structured sessions, you will explore your individual writing strengths, learn strategies to overcome common obstacles, and develop frameworks to work on different types of assignments. The course also emphasizes finding your authentic writing voice and building confidence through guided practice. Within small class sizes, you will receive targeted instruction and personalized support to refine your work.
Location: Online via Coursera
Cost: Free to audit; paid option for certificate (varies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; large global cohort
Dates: Flexible five-course series; ~4 weeks/course
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all learners (suitable for middle school students)
The Creative Writing Specialization on Coursera is a multi-course program designed to help you build strong storytelling skills across different genres. You will explore forms such as short stories, narrative essays, and memoirs while learning to develop characters, structure plots, and create engaging settings. The course is taught by experienced authors and emphasizes both writing and critical evaluation of peer work. Throughout the program, you will complete guided assignments that help you draft, revise, and refine your writing. Each course focuses on a specific aspect of storytelling, allowing you to gradually build your skills. In the final capstone project, you will produce an original piece, applying everything you’ve learned
Location: Online via Coursera
Cost: Free to audit; paid option for certificate (varies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; large global cohort
Dates: Flexible 4-course series; ~two months total
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all learners; middle school students with basic writing skills can enroll.
The Good with Words Specialization focuses on helping you improve clarity, structure, and effectiveness in your writing. Across four courses, you will learn how to organize ideas, refine sentence construction, and communicate complex information in a clear and engaging way. The curriculum emphasizes practical writing strategies, including drafting, revising, and editing, which are essential for academic success. You will also develop skills in word choice, paragraph structure, and persuasive communication, allowing you to write more confidently across different contexts. The course includes structured lessons and exercises that guide you through the writing process step by step.
Location: Online (self-paced)
Cost: Free to audit; paid option for certificate (varies)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment
Dates: Flexible; ~3 months (10 hours/week recommended)
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Open to all learners
Write Your First Novel is a course designed to guide you through the process of planning, drafting, and completing a full-length work of fiction. You will learn how to transform an initial idea into a structured narrative, breaking the writing process into manageable steps that help you stay consistent and productive. The course emphasizes hands-on learning, encouraging you to write regularly as you build your manuscript. Throughout the program, you will develop key storytelling skills, including plot development, character creation, and pacing. You will also engage in editing and peer review, which will help you refine your work and improve your understanding of narrative structure.
Location: Online and in-person (in NY, CA, and D.C.); location varies by session
Cost: $645; limited financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective; application-based admission
Dates: Multiple sessions each year
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 – 8
AWE is designed for middle school students who want to take their writing skills further through structured, workshop-based learning. In this course, you will participate in multi-genre writing workshops as well as specialized masterclasses that focus on specific forms of writing. Sessions are led by experienced instructors and are interactive, allowing you to receive feedback from both mentors and peers. A key component of the program is its emphasis on community-driven learning, where you will actively engage with other writers and refine your work through discussion and critique. You will also attend a one-on-one session to focus on areas such as academic essays, creative writing, or other writing goals tailored to your interests.
Location: Online (asynchronous; optional live support sessions)
Cost: $357
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 1 – August 17 (commitment of 1–2 hours/week)
Application deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Students, ages 11 – 14; prior writing experience recommended
This advanced creative writing course is designed for middle school students who want to deepen their storytelling skills and explore more complex literary techniques. Over 12 weeks, you will engage with topics such as theme, symbolism, narrative structure, and character development to move beyond basic writing to more refined, purposeful storytelling. Each week includes a focused lesson, a creative exercise, and a writing prompt that encourages you to experiment with style and structure. You will receive personalized feedback from an instructor (typically an author), allowing you to revise and strengthen your work over time. The course also offers optional live support through office hours, providing additional guidance when needed.
Location: Online (live + optional self-paced components)
Cost: $249/month (subscription-based; varies by plan)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Monthly classes; you can join anytime
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Middle school students
Writing 2.0 is an intensive writing course that combines reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary development to strengthen your overall language skills. The program is structured around live classes with an instructor, supplemented by regular assignments that include reading literary texts and writing essays. Each session emphasizes consistent practice, while offering feedback to help you improve over time. A key feature of the course is its integration of reading and writing, where you will analyze selected texts and apply those insights to your own essays. You also build vocabulary through curated word lists tied to the readings and reinforce grammar concepts based on your writing patterns. The course offers flexible participation options, including live classes, independent writing tracks, or reading-focused plans.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.