Odyssey Online | Odyssey Writing Workshops

Odyssey Online Classes

Since its inception in 1996, the Odyssey Writing Workshop has become one of the most highly respected organizations in the world offering educational programs for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror.

Odyssey's online classes combine deep focus, directed study, intensive practice, and detailed feedback to help students learn how to best use the concepts, tools and techniques covered to make major improvements in their work.

Odyssey's online classes are rigorous and demanding, giving you the most for your time and effort. You should not apply unless you are ready to learn and practice new techniques, hear about the weaknesses in your writing, and work to overcome those weaknesses. Classes provide a supportive yet challenging, energizing atmosphere. Taking one of Odyssey's online classes is a great way to focus on your writing, giving it the time and attention it needs. Each class is focused on a particular element of fiction writing and is designed for writers at a particular skill level.

Odyssey's online classes will provide you with valuable tools and techniques and will guide you as you practice using them. We'll study some of the most beautiful and powerful writing in the field to gain understanding of what these tools can do when wielded with skill. We'll also discuss the common failings of developing writers and explain how to avoid those pitfalls. Classes will provide you with new insights into the writing process and into your writing in particular, through detailed feedback.

We offer just three online courses each winter and focus them on some of the biggest challenges writers face. Below are descriptions of our Winter 2025 classes.

Are you writing stories that mix genres? Does your fantasy have some romance? Does your horror involve a mystery? Is your science fiction a cozy? Stories that mix genres have the challenge of meeting the demands and expectations of those different genres, and sometimes those may seem incompatible. To help writers caught in the cross-genre conundrum, bestselling author and Odyssey graduate Gregory Ashe, a highly rated instructor for Odyssey Online, is offering the new class Mix-Up, Mash-Up, Hybrid, Fusion: How to Write a Blended-Genre Story.

The course will cover concepts and techniques that will help you write effective blended-genre stories, with a focus on combining fantastic fiction (fantasy, science fiction, horror) with mystery, romance, and cozy (meaning, low-stakes, comforting stories). Greg will explain the core elements of genre, including tropes, story structures, character types, plot devices, and story turns. He’ll also discuss the important role of reader expectations and the emotional experience that is key to genre fiction, as well as genre considerations for successfully marketing your work. The course will cover techniques for combining different story structures, with an emphasis on controlling pacing, conflict, tension, and suspense in a way that is appropriate for the blended genres.

One of Greg's students, Lyri Merrill, said, "Greg Ashe does a fantastic job making complex ideas understandable and actionable. His course assignments are comprehensive, he provides multiple examples that illuminate and broaden the concepts under consideration, and his provocative discussion questions further clarify the course content. All of this rich instruction is provided in a friendly and encouraging environment. I read lots of writing craft books, but Greg helps me apply writing techniques in real time. I also continue to deepen my understanding of his lessons long after the class has concluded. Similarly, I’ve taken many writing classes. Odyssey Online provides high-quality instruction that combines live video lecture, discussion boards, and in-depth critiques for a superior learning experience. If you’re looking for an excellent teacher, who is kind and fun, and who will help you take your writing to a deeper level, I strongly recommend you take a class from Greg Ashe at Odyssey Online."

We're very lucky that E. C. Ambrose, one of the most perceptive and brilliant problem-solvers when it comes to character, has agreed to teach a revised and improved version of her fantastic course, Bodies & Heartbeats: Crafting Character from the Inside Out. This highly praised course has been in the Odyssey vault for years, as we’ve struggled to coordinate schedules with Elaine. Finally, the timing worked out this year for us to lure Elaine, a wonderful teacher and critiquer, back to offer this very useful course.

The first duty of the fiction writer is to make the reader care about people that don’t exist. In this class, Elaine will explain how to create the core of a sympathetic character, to build that character from the inside out, and to bring that character to life through words so that the reader invests in the dreams and challenges of your imagined people. The course will explore how backstory, point of view, subtext, secrets, and relationships can be used to enrich your character. The differences in developing a character for shorter works or longer works will be covered, as well as how to choose other characters for your story and how to derive plot from your character.

One of Elaine’s students, Frank Hagelberg, said, “An excellent class that equipped me with good ideas and useful techniques for creating viable characters. Receiving very detailed critiques by fellow students and by the class instructor Elaine let me see my work from multiple angles, sometimes confirming my own views, sometimes surprising me greatly, always in helpful and informative ways. A very rewarding experience altogether.”

Our final course this season will be taught by award-winning novelist Barbara Ashford. Barbara has been an outstanding, top-rated instructor for Odyssey Online for 15 years, sharing her wide-ranging knowledge and providing deep feedback to students that has helped them make major improvements in their writing. Barbara will be teaching Getting the Big Picture: The Key to Revising Your Novel. There are few things more difficult than revising a novel. You've worked on it for months, or years, and you're so immersed in it you can't step back and see the big picture. You might polish the draft and make minor changes, but you don't really know what to change to turn that rough draft into a powerful, unified novel. And chances are, major changes are necessary. In this course, award-winning novelist Barbara will guide you in a deep examination of the "big picture" elements of your novel--premise, promise, theme, world, character, plot. Analyzing each of these building blocks and how well they are working together can give you new perspective on your novel, reveal weaknesses, and provide direction for major changes that will help you to maximize your novel's potential.

Whether you’ve already completed your first draft, are still working on it, or are struggling with revisions, this course will provide invaluable insights into your novel through the lectures, assignments, and critiques. Barbara's feedback on assignments has been widely praised for its depth and helpfulness. A previous student said, "Barbara is an incredibly knowledgeable and effective instructor who completely blew away all my expectations for the course. . . . I learned more about theme, story structure, characterization, and world building than I’d thought possible. Her analysis of my novel excerpts has helped me redirect my wandering plot issues, and every critique I received has been detailed, analytical and thought provoking. This course over-delivered and will be something I refer back to for many works to come."

Barbara's course will be longer than the standard Odyssey online class, with four class meetings rather than our usual three, so you'll be able to fully process and incorporate the important concepts discussed. If you've taken the course before and want to take it again to work on a new novel, you'd be welcome to apply.

Please click on the other tabs at the top of this column of text for additional information on the "Components," "Specifics," and "Cost" of Odyssey's online classes.

Lectures and discussions:

Lectures and discussions are scheduled for particular times, and students are expected to attend all of them at the scheduled times. Students receive access to these sessions through Zoom. At class time, plug in your USB headset and click the link to go to the Zoom meeting. You will see and hear the instructor live, giving the lecture, and your computer screen will become the instructor's blackboard, where various examples and notes will be displayed.

Class materials:

Supporting materials are posted on a class discussion group, which you will be asked to join when you enroll in the class. You may be required to print out some materials, so you can refer to them during lectures.

Writing exercises and assignments:

Homework will be assigned at each class meeting and must be completed by the due date. In most courses, you will also offer feedback on some of your classmates’ work, and they will provide feedback on your work.

The instructor will also require you to respond to discussion questions on the class group, which will encourage you to explore ideas and get to know your classmates.

Communication with the instructor:

Since class sizes are small, you’ll have plenty of opportunity to ask questions and discuss issues with the instructor. The instructor will be providing in-depth feedback on your work and offering suggestions and advice. The instructor will also have a one-on-one meeting with each student.

Communication with Odyssey Director Jeanne Cavelos:

Jeanne will not be teaching this winter, but she will be reading the applications and making admissions decisions, coordinating the dissemination of advance materials, setting up the class groups, and making herself available by email and phone if you have problems of any kind during a course. Feel free to contact her with any questions.

Our classes are for writers serious about improving their writing. Whether you’re a beginner or a published writer, you’ll be able to find an Odyssey Online Class to help you attack your weak areas and and level up your writing. Here are some other details about the courses:

Class size:

Limited to 14 students, unless otherwise announced.

Instructors:

Top authors, editors, and agents who are also great teachers serve as instructors for Odyssey’s online classes. You can find information about the instructor of each course on the specific class page.

Time requirements:

Make sure you check the specific class page to find out when lectures will be held. You need to attend class at those times. An estimate of the amount of time homework assignments will take is also provided on the specific class page.

Work requirements:

Assignments may include readings, writing exercises, responding to discussion questions, critiquing, and writing and revising your fiction. See the specific class page for more details.

Technological requirements:

The computer specifications may look a bit intimidating, if you’re not a technical person. Chances are, if you’ve bought your computer in the last 5 years, it will fulfill the requirements. So don’t panic; just go through them one at a time and make sure you are covered.

-Computer: Make sure your computer fulfills the Zoom requirements. You can find them here: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362023-System-requirements-for-Windows-macOS-and-Linux. While you can join the class meetings from supported tablets and mobile devices, Odyssey recommends you use a desktop or laptop computer for full functionality.

-Headset with earphones and microphone: Odyssey strongly recommends participants use a USB headset made up of headphones and microphone. Using speakers and microphone instead of a headset can lead to feedback or echo, disrupting the class. You can also use a telephone, though the sound quality may not be as good.

-Internet: Broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE). Make sure your internet is up to speed (1.5 Mbps download/1.5Mbps upload). You can check your bandwidth here.

-Assignments: Assignments must be turned in as MS Word files or rich text files.

-Class materials: Materials will be distributed in MS Word files or pdf files. You must be able to read such files.

Class tuition varies depending on the course. See the specific class page for more information. The tuition costs quoted are the discounted rates for US students paying by check or money order, and for international students paying by bank draft in US dollars.

Students have the additional option of paying tuition through PayPal which allows you to charge the costs on a credit card. Those using PayPal need to pay the full rates, which are about 4% higher.

Refunds: All tuition payments are non-refundable.

Odyssey knows how to deliver instruction, and their online course on Scene and Sequel with Gregory Ashe took my writing to another level. I had read about Scene and Sequel in several sources, but it wasn’t until Greg broke down the process and helped me practice the techniques that this became a tool I now own. Odyssey courses are organized and well moderated. I always feel like I’m in safe and responsible hands. The workload is demanding but certainly not overwhelming. This was my second online course through Odyssey, and each one has given me greater confidence as a writer.
–SAM PISCIOTTA

I was looking for a course to really help me level-up my writing. Something beyond the usual how-to books and YouTube tutorials. Odyssey Online gave me what I needed in spades: the instructor was knowledgeable and helpful; the assignments were designed to help me grasp the material; there was just enough challenge to encourage growth; and, best of all, it’s clear how I can apply my new knowledge to improve my new writing.
–NATHANAEL GREEN

The Odyssey Online course Scene and Sequel taught by Gregory Ashe was a great experience. I especially appreciated Greg’s enthusiasm, his willingness to share and discuss techniques both in and out of class, and the insights he gave me into using scene and sequel to hone my pacing. It was also a pleasure and a privilege to be in class with such dedicated, serious and imaginative fellow writers. Well worth the time and the hard work!
–CAROLINE LEE

I’ve taken two Odyssey classes over a couple of years. I now use the techniques I learned there for every story I write. Not only have those lessons been incorporated into the stories I’ve published since, but they have made me more confident in approaching any story I can dream up. It’s like I was given a box of immaculate, well-made tools.
–TED BUSHMAN

In Ashe’s Scene & Sequel intensive, I learned how to better decipher how some writers create page turners and how I can better do that myself. I’ve tried to decipher how favorite authors do it, but until this course, the usefulness of my analyses was more miss than hit. I’m keeping the templates for effective scenes and sequels open as I write. The course work, class feedback, and instructor suggestions have helped me be more productive and to move my plots forward in ways that engage. I’m grateful for the opportunity to take an Odyssey online course.
–JENIFER HARTT

This class was a huge help in getting me to take a step back and figure out what my WIP is actually about. Barbara is supportive, knowledgeable, and kind. She has given me new tools to identify story problems and find innovative ways to fix them. The homework assignments challenged me and pushed me into new thinking; I’m no longer dreading the work of revision, but am excited to dig into it!
–JESSICA PLUMBLEY

This class has been an inspiring and transformative experience for me as a writer. . . Through assignments and examples, Barbara taught us how to think about stories in terms of the promise they make to readers, and then she gave us techniques for measuring whether our openings, conflict, scenes, climax, and resolution were fulfilling that promise. We studied methods for infusing our stories with drama. Class gave me tangible ways to . . . evaluate my stories, and revise my stories to make them more satisfying for my reader. Barbara is extremely personable and invested in her students. This was an enriching experience that helped me strengthen . . . my writing.
–HEATHER HENRY

Before, my characters began their existence as plain-vanilla, and I tried to develop them as the story progressed. Bodies and Heartbeats gave me the tools to create characters that engage from the moment they step on the page, characters ready for conflict, adventure, and suffering.
–SCOTT T. BARNES

An excellent class that equipped me with good ideas and useful techniques for creating viable characters. Receiving very detailed critiques by fellow students and by the class instructor Elaine let me see my work from multiple angles, sometimes confirming my own views, sometimes surprising me greatly, always in helpful and informative ways. A very rewarding experience altogether.
–FRANK HAGELBERG

“I’ve taken other online writing classes before and gained a few useful insights here and there, but this class does more than just lecture–it gives you tools and forces you to practice using those tools. Then it shows you how to incorporate those tools into writing an actual story. I felt welcomed and supported in every stage of the class and am thrilled at how my writing network has expanded from this class. I was astounded at the amount and quality of the critiques I received from the instructor and my classmates on assignments I turned in. I learned so much from them! And I was just as astounded at the amount and quality of critique I was giving to other students–I’d been giving critiques for years, but this class taught me how to look at the big picture and spot problems in an outline before a draft is even written.
“I cannot recommend this class enough–it is vital for anyone looking to create fiction that WORKS.”
–CAITLIN JACOBS

“I can honestly say this is the best writing course I have ever completed. I highly recommend this workshop to anyone who wants to learn how to write the best possible version of their stories.”
–BECCA YUAN

” I have attended more than a dozen courses on writing fiction, both online and bricks-and-mortar including (now) four Odyssey Online Writing Classes. The Odyssey Online classes offer by far the best value for money of all the courses I have taken–by a long way. You have to put the work in. As do your fellow students. But, importantly, as does the instructor. So there is no excuse not to up your game.”
–JACK CALVERLEY

“I am so thrilled I was able to take an Odyssey Online Class, I can already see the improvement in my writing. The lectures and class discussion were wonderful. I learned so much in a short amount of time. The feedback I received from my classmates was invaluable and the critiques from the instructor, Barbara Ashford, have already improved my novel beyond expectations. I cannot recommend this class enough!”
–HAYLEY WILDS