“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing”- Ben Franklin. Did this quote motivate your inner writer? Do words like poems, stories, imagination, and novels excite you? Are you imaginative, and can you induce emotion in your readers with your creative writing? Then you can transform your passion into a successful career as a writer by gaining expertise in these genres by pursuing creative writing courses in Canada.
Canada is a dream destination for many who want success as writers. Canada, rich in culture and heritage, has now developed into a highly enviable destination for writers worldwide. Canada has several reputed universities with experienced faculties and supportive environments.
Let us unlock the potential of creative writing courses in Canada with the help of this article and get answers to questions like Where Can You Find Creative Writing Courses in Canada? What are the types of creative writing courses? And what are the career opportunities after taking creative writing courses in Canada?
Types of Creative Writing Courses in Canada
Screenwriting: Also called scriptwriting, it is the artwork in which you write scripts for mass media, TV programs, and video games, their expressions, dialogue, and characters.
Fiction writing: Fiction is any creative or narrative work that depicts imaginary people, events, and locations. It is the composition of text to entertain the readers, like novels and fairytales.
Creative nonfiction: Nonfiction is writing that provides information or describes actual events. Biographies, textbooks, and newspaper articles are examples of nonfiction writing.
Short story writing: This comprises concise stories, defining a narration perspective, and developing characters. The word limit is set at 1000 to 7000 words. The story is set in one time period and in one location in each scene.
Poetry writing: The most efficient use of words to convey emotions to the reader through poetry, rhythm, and imagination is combined in Poetry Writing.
Writing for media: Writing for blogs, websites, journalism, and various other digital platforms that involve creative ideas are forms of Media Writing.
Editing and publishing: This step comes after you finish writing, drafting, and revising. Editing means checking and refining your writing. While publishing is the sharing of the final draft or converting it into a book,
Career Options After Taking Creative Writing Courses in Canada
- Professional Freelance writer
- Journalist
- Copywriter
- Screenwriter
- Content Creator
- Graphic Designer
- Web Designer
- Book and Magazine Editor
- Publisher or Agent
- Public relations specialist
- Marketing Specialist
- Art Editor
- Technical Writer or Author
- Literary Agent
How to Find the Right Creative Writing Courses in Canada
- Identify your goals. Decide if you want to develop your basic skills or if you need specialized training in genres like poetry, fiction, screenwriting, editing, and publishing.
- Find the right institution: You should search for accredited universities, considering their faculties and success rates.
- Do some research. Check out the course curriculum and seek out your interests. Check if they offer practical experience and workshops. Search for reviews and student testimonials for more clarity.
- Learning modes: Many universities provide full-time and part-time learning formats. You may select based on your personal choices.
- Course duration: There are various options like diploma courses, certificate courses, full-time courses, etc. to choose from. You should go further as per your needs.
- Certification: Ensure that the course you choose provides a recognized certificate.
- Cost of creative writing courses in Canada: The average annual tuition fee for creative writing courses in Canada is: Bachelor’s: 20000–45000 CAD, Master’s: 15000–25000 CAD. However, you may compare the cost of different courses and find out if there are any scholarships or financial aid.
Top 10 Creative Writing Courses in Canada
1. IIM SKILLS CWMC (Content Writing Master Course)
IIM SKILLS is a renowned Ed-tech company located in New Delhi, India. It is established all over Asia, serving education in Finance, data, and Marketing. You will get multiple benefits by enrolling through IIM SKILLS. Highly experienced industry professionals are teaching the course programs.
They provide virtual classrooms on both weekdays and weekends with lifetime course access. You will learn to publish an eBook on platforms like Kindle and Google Books, write a blog for a renowned channel like The Times of India, and get complete support in developing a portfolio and writing a press release on an online news portal.
Also, get prepared for HubSpot Content Marketing Certification (USA) and the TOLES (Test of Legal English Centre) in Cambridge (United Kingdom).
Duration: 4 weeks (30 Hours of training, including 16 Hours of lectures and 14 Hours of Internship)
Learning Mode: Live classroom
Content Writing Course Key Highlights:
- Recognized by MSME Government of India
- 3 Months Guaranteed Internship
- Flexible study hours
- Free Tools Worth INR 35000
- Freelance Opportunities
- Specialized Unit for Placement
- Lifetime course access
- Portfolio development support
- Practical Learning
Course Module:
- Content Writing Introduction
- WordPress Web Development
- Articles, web pages, and blog writing
- Copywriting
- Marketing collaterals
- Email Writing
- Video scripts and social media writing
- Creative writing
- SOPs and business listings
- Legal Writing
- Technical writing
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- Content Marketing
- AdSense and Affiliate Marketing
- Freelance content writing
- Resume writing
Fee: 242.11 Canadian Dollar
2. Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing by the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Duration: 2 years
Eligibility:
Standard requirements for admission often include an overall average in the B+ range (76% at UBC) and other qualifications.
Minimum requirements also require applicants to submit transcripts from post-secondary studies in the past. A minimum of three references are mandatory for graduation at UBC. A report must be provided on your academic qualifications. Additionally, you may require a statement of interest. Also, in research-based programs, students need a faculty member to serve as their thesis supervisor.
English Language Proficiency
The results of an English language competency test must be submitted with the application if the applicant is from an institution outside of Canada where English is not the major language of instruction. Tests must have been completed within the previous 24 months when your application was submitted.
TOEFL minimum score required: 90
IELTS minimum score required: 6.5
Learning mode: Campus classes at UBC Vancouver
Key Highlights:
- Merit-based scholarships and awards
- Teaching Internships for full-time graduates
- Research Assistantships
- Qualify for government loans as financial aid
- Learn and earn
Course module:
Advanced Poetry Writing, Children, Creative Nonfiction, and Young Adults, New Media: Podcasting, Writing Speculative Fiction, Drama for Screen and Stage, Graphic and Lyrical Forms, Fiction, Television, preparing for a Writing Career, and Unique Projects are included in this program.
Fee:
First-year
Domestic: $5400 approx. (INR 4,42,062)
Global: $9500 approx. (INR 7,77,456)
3. Master of Arts in English: Creative Writing program at the University of Toronto
Duration: 18 to 24 months
Eligibility: Students must take graduate-level English courses to complete the course. The diploma is eligible for an English Ph.D. Students must therefore have completed at least seven full undergraduate English courses or the equivalent in half-year courses.
Entry into the program requires a minimum GPA of 3.3 and a B+ average. In addition, the standard of the submitted portfolio serves as the basis for selecting the candidates.
Two online letters of recommendation and an online statement of purpose (SOP) must be submitted. Official transcripts from every post-secondary institution attended need to be mailed to the department and submitted online. A portfolio could include a maximum of 25 pages of drama, fiction, or creative nonfiction and 25 pages of poetry.
Program requirements:
- Workshop for writers: All candidates must complete this workshop for writers during their first year of study. Students will also submit creative work for feedback from the teacher and other students, helping them to build their portfolios.
- Project related to writing: Students will work on a writing project like the length of a book in a genre of their choice, such as poetry, drama, fiction, or creative non-fiction, during the program’s second year. A faculty member will be assigned to each student to consult regarding the Project. All mentors will be experienced writers.
- Student Funding: Teaching internships are accessible to students in several creative writing courses. For prospective scholarships, every student arriving is taken into consideration.
Students are highly advised to submit applications for outside funding from the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.
Fee: INR 17 lacs, approx.
4. Bachelor of Creative Writing, At Humber Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Duration: 8 semesters
Eligibility:
Admission is granted based on the following three criteria:
- Academic
To qualify for entry, you must possess the following:
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) or equivalent, including Grade 12 English (ENG4U or equivalent) with a minimum grade of 65 percent plus five additional Grade 12 courses Minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 65 or status as a mature student or college or university transfer student
- English Language Skills
All applicants whose native language is not English are required to adhere to Humber’s English Language Proficiency Policy. 6.5 IELTS is the entry score for admission.
- International Credit Assessment
Canadian citizens and permanent residents with international education must provide an evaluation of their credentials.
Post-program learning
- Describe how media and culture affect writers’ craft in modern markets and audiences.
- Find writing-relevant structures and traits in creative and professional works.
- Use rhetoric, syntax, grammar, and style to write creative and professional works for a variety of audiences, publications, platforms, and industries.
- Write innovative and professional pieces using genre-specific frameworks and forms.
- To fulfill publication requirements, revise your writing using various methods.
- Work with designers, publishers, editors, marketers, and advertisers to accomplish innovative and professional writing tasks.
- Analyse illustrations to identify effective writing methods.
- Reflect on creative and professional writing initiatives to evaluate progress and apply insights.
- Develop a multimodal portfolio to demonstrate fluency, craft, technology, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Fee:
Fees and Financial Assistance for two semesters:
Domestic students: $7,019.86 (INR 5,74,630)
Global students: $20,105.00 (INR 16,45,752)
5. Master of Arts in English: Creative Writing and Language and Literature, At the University of Windsor
Course Overview:
The University of Windsor offers numerous undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Undergraduate programs are available to students that provide foundation-building methods for English literary traditions, writing, and argumentation.
The University of Windsor’s creative writing degree programs integrate literary and analytical studies. The workshops are performed in an informal seminar style, where students are supervised by creative writing professionals who are writers and subject matter specialists, while also learning from other students writing.
Duration: 1-year
Eligibility:
Specific Requirements
- a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in English with a cumulative average of at least 70% in the last two years of education
- a B average (75%) in all beginner English courses plus an average of B+ (77%) in English courses over the previous two years of study.
- A minimum 7.0 IELTS, TOEFL 250, or IBT-100 entry score is required.
- Creative Writing Project (book-length manuscript, approximately 70–120 pages)
Creative Writing Thesis Prospectus: Students must present a prospectus, created with their advisor(s), before starting their thesis. The English Department will review the prospectus. The thesis will be a nearly 20,000-word paper. The student works on the thesis under the supervision of a thesis director and two readers, all of whom are chosen during the first term of study.
Grading
Students must maintain a 70% cumulative GPA in the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Graduate credit is awarded for courses with a 70% or higher grade.
Course module: The course includes special topics like Children’s literature, animals, and Canadian Literature Topic: Windsor’s Literary Culture, Modern and/or Contemporary British and/or Irish Literature Topic: Modern Irish Literature and Renaissance Literature Topic: Milton’s Paradise Lost
Fee: CAD$30,200.00 (18,30,303) per year
6. Master of Arts in English (Creative Writing) by the University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, Canada
Duration: 20 months
Eligibility:
Bachelor of Arts in English with Honors or an equivalent degree requiring a minimum GPA of 3.5
A research essay from a college-level English literature course that serves as an example of academic writing A most recent, 10-page minimum creative writing sample
Students whose first language is not English must submit their IELTS, TOEFL, and MELAB scores.
Admission requirements:
To apply for the course, you need to have a four-year bachelor’s degree from a recognized university. You are also required to submit a writing portfolio as part of your application that will showcase your creativity in writing.
While most institutions ask for letters of recommendation to verify your writing skills for the program, you must also provide a Statement of Purpose (SOP) with reasons to pursue this Master’s course in Creative Writing.
Course module:
- Two creative writing workshops for different groups
- Writing paedology
- Literature courses
- Three educational courses
- Research Methods in English
- Creative genre proposal with a critical introduction
- Literary theory
- Creative writing workshop
- Thesis
Fee:
Domestic Students: $ 12,642 or Rs. 7,66,897 (approx.)
International Students: $ 21,630 / Rs. 13,12,133 (approx.)
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7. Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of Victoria
Duration: 20 months
Eligibility:
You must provide information for all post-secondary institutions where you have enrolled in courses. The institution accepts three language tests as proof of language proficiency: TOEFL (90), IELTS (6.5), or MET. Other than this, most often you need to find a supervisor before applying.
Admission Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree in any field from any accredited university will be required. Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of at least B and a bachelor’s degree.
- A portfolio, a statement of purpose (SOP), and two letters of recommendation will be required.
- You must submit a portfolio of writing samples in the genre of your choice.
Key Highlights:
- Experienced faculty
- Work with internationally published writers
- You can intern with a literary magazine or British Columbia publisher.
- Practical training
- conducts substantial field research.
- The solo exhibition as a final project
Course module:
The University of Victoria offers more than eighty programs including Education, Engineering and Fine arts, technology, business management, Human and Social Progress, Humanities, Science, Social Studies, Arts and Humanities, Life sciences, and medicine.
Learning outcomes:
- Learn how to provide and accept relevant editing feedback in a workshop context.
- Learn how to read critically and become familiar with a wide variety of modern creative works in a variety of genres.
- Comprehend how to employ dramatic and/or literary strategies to produce appealing and unique creative compositions
- Write a significant creative capstone project in a field of your choice.
Fee:
Application fee for Citizens of Canada: $134.25
Application fee for international students: $172.00
Total annual tuition fee: CAD 7764 per year
8. Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing (Major) program at Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Creative Writing Courses in Canada Overview:
The Honours in English and Creative Writing program enables you to refine your craft as a creative writer and create a broad perspective from which to see your writing.
The combined English and creative writing degree offers a unique balance between the academic and artistic worlds. Studying Literature will improve your skills for critical reading, thinking, and writing while encouraging you to create alternate realities and points of view.
Duration: 4 years
Eligibility:
A Grade 12 Certificate is required. Three full years of study at a secondary or postsecondary institution where English is the only language of instruction are required. Students whose first language is not English are required to submit their IELTS, CAEL, CAE, CPE, TOEFL, PTE, or DET scores.
Admission requirements:
- English proficiency needed for TOEFL is 100 and IELTS is 7
- Portfolio and Letter of Intent
- C+ in High School
- International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma
- University Transfers (internal/external): C
Programs available
English and creative writing with honors (66 credits)
Creative writing concentration (42 credits)
Minor in creative writing (24 credits)
Course module
- Creative Writing: Poetry, Prose Fiction, and Playwriting
- Creative Non-Fiction Writing
- Workshops in Fiction, Poetry, and Playwriting Creative Non-Fiction Publishing and Editing Experimental Writing, and Memoir
- The Solo Play
- Literary Publishing, Editing, and Production
- Media Writing
- Advanced Creative Writing
- SLS International Literary Seminars
- Credits from English Literature courses are also included.
Fee:
Domestic Students: $ 3,916 or Rs. 2,37,554 (approx.)
International Students: $ 35,910 / Rs. 2178395 (approx.)
9. Associate of Arts in Creative Writing at Capilano University, North Vancouver, British Columbia, CA
Duration: 2 years
Course Level: UG Diploma Certificate or Associate Degree
Creative Writing Courses in Canada Overview:
The two-year Associate of Arts in Creative Writing program covers modern literature, creative writing, reading, and writing fundamentals. Creative writing experts lead the course.
The program is ideal for creative writers, copywriters, proofreaders, persuasive writers, and freelancers. This program covers creative writing for newspaper articles, short tales, TV/radio scripts, and poetry.
Eligibility: Admission prerequisites comprise high school graduation (Grade 12) and a minimum grade point average of 2.0 (60%) calculated in English Studies.
Before admission, applicants must demonstrate English proficiency. A good score on the SAT or ACT may also help. Required documents include a Statement of Purpose (SOP), Letters of recommendation, funding proof, and writing samples.
The English Proficiency Requirements are
TOEFL 83 (Internet), 560 (paper)
IELTS (academic) 6.5 overall
PTE 56
Key Highlights:
- Get guidance from professional writers
- Most favourably by global students
- Affordable for international students
- The cost of living is CAD 12,960.00 / Year
- Get an Associate degree at the end of the program
- Part-time jobs and internships after course completion
- Options for PR and credit transfer
Course module:
- English Literature
- Science courses
- Arts courses
- Literary theory and criticism
- Introduction to Creative Writing
- University writing strategies
Fee: Per year cost is $20,632 (international) (INR 16,97,183)
The scholarship amount may vary from $2500 to $5000 and is offered through programs like the RBC Water Scholars and the Kerr Ostrander Leadership for Tomorrow Award.
10. Diploma in Writing and Publishing by Okanagan College in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Duration: 2 years
Eligibility:
Regular applicants:
A regular applicant is a secondary school student who must meet these initial requirements: B.C. secondary graduation or equivalent and English 12 minimum 60% or alternatives. Students with less than 60% in English 12, English 12 First Peoples, or TPC 12 will be admitted to the first year of the program.
Mature applicants:
Mature applicants are 19 or older and have not attended secondary school full-time for at least one year. Admission requires meeting the English entrance criteria.
Learning mode: Both full-time and part-time learning modes are available
What you will learn:
Creative writing, editing, communications, technical skills in graphic design, coding, typography, and book publishing
Additionally, students can benefit from special hands-on opportunities to develop their abilities. Okanagan College has a functional letterpress print facility in addition to other on-campus resources like Ryga: A Journal of Provocations and Kala Malka Press.
Course module:
Year 1
- English literature courses like drama, poetry, novels, short fiction, and narrative
- Critical Writing and Reading: Narrative
- Creative writing courses
- Publishing courses
- Communication courses like Mass communication, journalism, and digital media
- Marketing courses
Year 2
- Publication design courses
- Applied English courses like Small Press Publishing in Canada and Introduction to Book Arts
- English literature courses like Studies in Popular Narrative, Studies in International Literature in English, Studies in the Theory and Practice of Creative Writing, and Studies in Indigenous Literature in Canada
- Publishing course to focus on the production process
- Web design course
- Professional editing course
- Intermediate workshop in creative writing courses like poetry, fiction, drama, non-fiction, and screenwriting
Fee: $5,133.38 per year (INR 4,21,006)
Frequently Asked Questions Related to Creative Writing Courses in Canada
1. Why Should You Consider Taking Creative Writing Courses in Canada?
Quality Education: Canada’s universities and higher education degrees are acknowledged worldwide and provide modern and innovative programs to improve your writing and advance your skills.
Course diversity: The universities of Canada offer creative writing courses for varied interests and writing styles. Explore all genres like poetry, playwriting, screenwriting, and fiction to find your interest.
Careers: Your skills and experience may give you various employment options in Canada’s flourishing writing industry that will help you start a career in writing, publishing, or editing.
2. How much does a creative writer make in Canada?
The average creative writing salary in Canada is $87,449 per year. Entry-level positions start at $51,938 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $92,302 per year.
3. What is the most in-demand type of creative writing?
Novels are one of the most desired and approachable forms of creative writing. Though they vary in length depending on the subject, they are generally considered an extended form of fiction, typically divided into chapters. The average length of the novel is 80000–100,000 words.
4. How much does it cost to study creative writing in Canada?
On average, the tuition fees for a year vary from 20,000 CAD to 40,000 CAD for the bachelor-level programs. For master’s programs, the tuition fees range from 15000 to 25000 CAD.
5. Are creative writing courses worth it?
The process of creative writing involves the use of imagination and narration, which will enhance your creativity, communication, and writing skills. The course encourages you to develop your abilities, which could aid in the development of a portfolio, be useful when searching for employment, or result in your next promotion.
Conclusion
Creative writing courses in Canada can help you develop your skills in multiple ways. It enhances your imagination, allowing you to think more creatively and solve problems artistically. Creative writing stimulates vocabulary development. You will also develop your emotional abilities. Several renowned institutions in Canada can help you access comprehensive programs in creative writing. This will further help you explore many job opportunities. By pursuing one of the above-listed courses, you can gain good knowledge in creative writing and start a successful career as a creative writer.
The average salary of creative writers in America is $50,000 per year. Many of these programs also offer the chance to work with established authors and industry professionals to further your writing ambitions. Therefore, if you are looking to explore the art of writing or want perfection in your writing to write professionally, Canada offers you a variety of programs you can study and gain expertise. Book a free call with our admission experts for more information about creative writing in Canada.