Courses FAQ
Our aim is to help motivated and dedicated creators become authors, illustrators and designers who can participate in, and thrive in publishing.
The Academy offers high-quality creative writing instruction in adult fiction, non-fiction, and writing for children, delivered by industry professionals. In addition, we offer publishing foundation masterclasses on other areas of the industry, such as platform-building and marketing taught by experts and partners from HarperCollins and the wider publishing industry.
The Design Academy provides crucial insights and benefits across a range of industry topics, including a greater understanding of the design, typographic and illustration opportunities in Adult and Children’s Publishing as well as a greater knowledge of the commercial book design process.
The courses are aimed at people who have a demonstrable interest in design, e.g., a graduate from a design or illustration degree or someone who is self-taught and considering a career change.
All students are supported by a mentor throughout the programme, who share the benefits of their invaluable experience and knowledge.
Our skilled tutors deliver teaching via a combination of live webinars and online streaming.
The tutors are industry professionals with established design or editorial careers.
The Author Academy courses run once a year in Spring/Summer. Motivated writers and budding authors can apply for one of the Academy’s forty-five places.
At the end of each course, students receive a HarperCollins Design Academy Certificate and are eligible to join the Academy’s Alumni Network; a community for underrepresented authors and designers to continue the conversation, create critique circles, and meet industry professionals after completing the course. Student also have access to Harper Collins editors and designers for a period of one year.
Applications for our Spring courses usually open September/October.