[This is a list of online writing lectures assembled by Frances Pauli.]
Free Writing Lectures, Seminars, and Classes
Planning a Novel:
Chris Fox: How to Outline Your Novel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhrgTfjBp6s&list=PLC4FzEJ7MlpxNCmM4RxvcTiyceXTV0hOK
Chris is a very successful indie author of scifi and fantasy who posts regular how-to videos. All of his playlists are worth checking out here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu6RYg6_-pTQxLVq3Fv6lYg/playlists
General Writing/Craft:
Jenna Moreci: A YouTube channel full of writing, craft, business, and marketing advice. Jenna falls close to the middle between self-publishing and traditional and does a good job of being objective and unbiased when comparing the two paths. She also does reviews and booktuber posts but her Writing tips and The Writing Business videos are informative for authors: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCS_fcv9kBpDN4WWrfcbCrgw
Dean Wesley Smith Originality Workshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIMM9n5veWw&list=PLthXGQBdkrDr3udEIc-erFdJYpIZkLSvV
Dean’s multi-part class on generating ideas and writing original stories is incredibly helpful when answering themed anthology calls.
Stephen King: Just seven plus minutes of King being brilliant about writing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwhOd65gGoY
Elizabeth Gilbert TED talk: Fantastic talk on success, ideas, writer’s block and the creative genius https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86x-u-tz0MA
Every Story Is The Same: One distillation of the Hero’s Journey story structure: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuD2Aa0zFiA
Short Stories:
Guest Lecturer in the Sanderson series dealing specifically with writing short stories: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_vXb9FnEbU
Kurt Vonnegut on The Shape of Stories: Hilarious and simple structure for short stories (applies to novels as well) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOGru_4z1Vc
How to Craft a Killer Short Story Reedsy learning online class: https://blog.reedsy.com/learning/courses/writing/short-story/
Scifi and Fantasy:
Brandon Sanderson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbL-84SkT4Q&list=PL2FCD81A6FE4280AC
Sanderson’s college level class on writing Science Fiction and Fantasy focusing on novels. He has recorded all the lectures and posted them for free on Youtube. A good portion of the classes also cover the publishing industry and career information.
Second, slightly different Sanderson playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4ZDBOc2tX8&list=PLH3mK1NZn9QqOSj3ObrP3xL8tEJQ12-vL&index=2&t=0s
Romance:
Author journey: two part PowerPoint class on the do’s and don’ts of writing a Romance novel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kauSPbSIa9Y
Mystery:
Strand Bookstore four author panel on writing crime fiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rk2c353o3I
I had a heck of a time finding free classes or resources for mystery writing. If anyone has a better link or suggestions, please share them.
Horror:
Joanna Penn Writing Horror And Making A Living With Your Writing With Michaelbrent Collings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX_C9QCH31o
The Creative Penn, Joanna’s podcast is worth browsing for general writing resources as well: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdug0jLfpkayiiRyU4WqPPQ
Writer’s Guild Foundation: Writers on Genre: Horror – talk is focused on screenwriting as opposed to stories and novels. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJWe2UM0QDc
I could use better ideas for horror links as well.
Business of Writing:
Dean Wesley Smith’s Essentials Workshop: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isp1w8cYh6w&list=PLthXGQBdkrDqrMg3mlY4iRVD8p8m_0Pd-
How to make a living with your fiction. (note: Smith’s stuff will be heavily biased toward self-publishing)
I Writerly: What Publishers Wish Authors Knew: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvGO4GDK3Ss
Guest vlog with publishers discussing the submissions process and working with a publisher. I Writerly has a YouTube channel devoted to author how-tos that is worth following. As a former literary agent, she leans toward traditional in her skew. Channel is: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKeBsBrWDtIBrnrCkxHo5MQ/playlists
20 books to 50K puts their entire yearly conference on line. A lot of business stuff but also diverging opinions and a bunch of craft and genre lectures as well. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTrqmZBt-FWUWnxWD2x5Ucg/videos