International Writers' Collective

What International Writers' Collective does

International Writers' Collective is a private creative writing education organization founded in 2017 and based in the Netherlands. It delivers a structured four-level cumulative curriculum (Level I Foundations through Level IV Manuscript Workshop) in fiction, poetry, and novel writing, positioned as a flexible, lower-cost alternative to traditional university MFA programs. The organization serves aspiring, intermediate, and advanced writers globally, with in-person courses hosted at cultural venues in Amsterdam and The Hague, and online courses delivered via Zoom to students in 40+ countries. Capped class sizes (4-10 students) ensure individualized critique from faculty of published authors.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer model through self-serve website enrollment, generating revenue from core course fees (€375-€485 per 8-week term depending on level and format), visiting author masterclasses (€15-€17 per session), private coaching packages (€195-€1,400), and gift vouchers. Supporting services include a 361-page content blog, email newsletter, community events, and a podcast archive of past masterclasses. The organization is CRKBO-accredited as a Dutch teaching institution. Strategic marketing relies on content marketing, community building, and high-profile author masterclasses rather than paid acquisition.

The company is founder-owned and bootstrapped with no external institutional investors or venture capital disclosed. With 9 employees and cumulative enrollment of 1,500+ students since 2017, it operates as a small, mission-driven educational enterprise. Operating geographies include the Netherlands (primary physical presence) and global reach via online delivery. The company maintains no mobile applications, no API platform, and no disclosed AI capabilities; its technology layer is a WordPress-based website with course booking and Zoom integration for live sessions.

Name

International Writers' Collective

Legal name

International Writers' Collective

Website

https://internationalwriterscollective.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

International Writers' Collective is a Netherlands-based private creative writing school founded in 2017, offering a four-level cumulative curriculum in fiction, poetry, and novel writing via in-person courses in Amsterdam and The Hague plus online delivery to students in 40+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Creative Writing Education

NAICS

Fine Arts Schools (611610), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online & Hybrid Creative Writing Workshops (EDAMAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fiction Writing Workshops (Short Story, Novel) (EDAMAMAA), Creative Nonfiction & Memoir Workshops (EDAMAMAC), Writing Critique Groups & Peer Workshops (EDAMAMAJ), Writing Skills & Composition Enrichment (EDAMAJAC)

Keywords

• Creative writing courses
• Fiction writing workshops
• Poetry writing classes
• Online writing education
• Manuscript workshop programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Core Course Fees: 8-week courses priced from €375-€465 depending on format and level. Fiction and poetry tracks available at all four levels. In-person courses priced at premium (€415-€465) compared to online written critique format (€375-€395).
2. Masterclass Fees: One-time fee sessions with visiting authors ranging from €15-€17. Single-session masterclasses featuring notable writers provide additional revenue and customer acquisition.
3. Private Coaching: Individualized one-on-one mentorship sessions. Single session at €195, four-session package at €745, and eight-session package at €1,400. Available online or in-person in Amsterdam and The Hague.
4. Gift Vouchers: Gift vouchers for any course on the catalogue, providing one-time revenue stream and customer acquisition through gifting.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

International Writers' Collective delivers structured creative writing education through a four-level cumulative curriculum (Foundations, Craft Development, Advanced Projects, Manuscript Workshop) covering fiction, poetry, and novel writing. Courses are offered in three formats—in-person in Amsterdam and The Hague, online with written critique, and online with live critique via Zoom—and are supplemented by private coaching, visiting-author masterclasses, and gift vouchers. The program is positioned as a flexible, affordable alternative to traditional university MFA programmes.

Product overview

International Writers' Collective offers a comprehensive creative writing education program with a four-level cumulative core curriculum (Foundations through Manuscript Workshop) covering fiction, poetry, and novel writing. The program provides three course delivery formats: in-person classes in Amsterdam and The Hague, online courses with written critique, and online courses with live critique. Specialized offerings include a dedicated poetry track, private coaching sessions, and author masterclasses. Additional services include gift vouchers, a blog with writing resources, and community events. The company positions itself as a flexible, affordable MFA alternative with courses ranging from €375 to €485 for 8-week terms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Core Curriculum - Level I: Foundations
• Core Curriculum - Level II: Craft Development An 8-week intermediate course deepening form-specific techniques for fiction or poetry, emphasizing revision skills and bringing stories and poems to completion. Available in-person and online.
• Core Curriculum - Level III: Advanced Projects An 8-week advanced course for writers working on project development and specialty subjects, including a dedicated two-part novel-writing course for long-form fiction. Available in-person and online.
• Core Curriculum - Level IV: Manuscript Workshop
• In-Person Courses
• Online Courses with Written Critique
• Online Courses with Live Critique
• Poetry Curriculum
• Private Coaching
• Author Masterclasses
• Gift Vouchers
• Novel Writing Course

Quantifiable outcome

• 1,500+ students trained since 2017
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• John Adams InstituteminorOthersCultural venue partnership for hosting in-person creative writing courses in Amsterdam. Located at Herenmarkt 95A, 1013 EC Amsterdam.
• Boekhandel Van RossumminorOthersBookstore venue partnership for hosting in-person courses in Amsterdam. Located at Beethovenstraat 32, 1077 JH Amsterdam.
• ZochersminorOthersVenue partnership for hosting in-person courses in Amsterdam at Bilderdijkpark 4A, 1052 RZ Amsterdam.
• Studio Ellen van WoerdenminorOthersVenue partnership for hosting in-person courses in The Hague at Annastraat 8, 2513 AT Den Haag.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• The Loft Literary Center:
• Faber Academy: UK-based creative writing school affiliated with publisher Faber & Faber, offering online and in-person courses in fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Comparable in curriculum rigor, multi-format delivery, and premium craft-focused positioning.
• Gotham Writers Workshop: New York-based creative writing school offering online and in-person workshops across fiction, nonfiction, and specialty genres. The closest comparable peer to IWC in multi-level curriculum structure, multi-format delivery, and direct-to-consumer model.
• Curtis Brown Creative: London-based writing school from literary agency Curtis Brown offering novel, short fiction, and creative writing courses. Comparable in novel-writing focus, agency-affiliated credibility, and structured progressive curriculum.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-writers-collective

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about International Writers' Collective