The Writers Bureau Reviews 332

I've done the Comprehensive Creative Writing Course with the Writers Bureau and absolutely loved it! The main thing it has done for me was to encourage myself to write regularly and make it a part of my daily routine. It also gave me the confidence to continue writing even if I thought I was writing rubbish! Being a perfectionist, I overcame my fear of not being good enough of a writer and started having work published. Many thanks to Esther, Susie and Tony for making this course what it is as well as all the fellow students I've met along the way!

Very disappointed. My advice would be not to spend your money on this course. I have just discovered that the course I am enrolled on was discontinued on 31st December 2025 and I only discovered this when I contacted my tutor to update them on one of my assignments.

I must say their promotional material is brilliant! I was led to believe that The Writers Bureau is a company that was warm, supportive and caring. However, my experience has somewhat differed.

Half-way through the two year course I was enrolled on, my mother suffered a huge seizure which revealed a serious brain aneurysm. This resulted in brain surgery that she thankfully survived and a twelve month recovery period followed. Furthermore, I lost my job and we were forced to move home. Suffice to say, the course was not my main priority, which I explained to the course providers.

When I queried the closure of the course, there was no apology for failing to inform me. Apparently I was to blame for not submitting my assignments on time, whereupon my tutor would have informed me of the impending closure. I was simply told that my contract ended two years from the date of enrolment so in other words "too bad!" So effectively, I have been left without the option to finish with something to show for it, or to move on to another course. They have happily taken my money and run off with it with no apology.

My main issue with The Writers Bureau is their total lack of customer care in this case. Their refusal to acknowledge the extenuating circumstances that I was experiencing is outrageous.

I am sorry to say that I would definitely not recommend this company. I can honestly say that I did not get value for money.

I was a bit apprehensive about starting a writing course, but I'm so glad I did. My tutor gave me the confidence to embark on writing my memoir.
If anyone is considering taking any of the courses, I can personally recommend them. The assignments are so well structured that they give you the confidence to eventually submit your work to a publisher. All that is required is a little self-discipline to complete each assignment. You will not be disappointed.

An Introduction to World-Building

I enjoyed the talk, which was quite a comprehensive round-up, but what I felt was missing were examples drawn from the literature: if your title includes a white rabbit, why not include some if the White Rabbit's conversation from "Alice"? ('Oh, my ears and whiskers!)
Such short quotations illustrating the world in question would bring the whole subject to life and let us see different world-building skills in operation.

A great teacher, who went into depth on the course and was easy on how to answer any questions throughout.

I have just completed a course with The Writers Bureau and would highly recommend them to anybody who would like to give creative writing a go.
The team are very helpful and encouraging - I can't wait to start my next course.

I was hesitant about enrolling on the poetry writing course as my experience in writing poetry was patchy. I needn't have worried. This was a practical course. The tutor was knowledgeable and gave expert guidance in a personal, helpful and reassuring manner.
This course gave me confidence, knowledge and enthusiasm to become a writer. My dream.
During the course I had eight poems published and am looking forward to progressing even further.
I thoroughly recommend this writing course.

Great value as it covered a great range of areas of fiction. Without doubt the most useful part was the feedback received for my assignments from my wonderful tutor Mandy Pannett . It was worth doing the course for this alone.

Esther Chilton's eight week workshop 'Novel Know-how' has helped me greatly, with numerous suggestions to enhance my storyline and keep readers turning the pages.

The eight week Novel Writing Know How course with Esther Chilton has been brilliant. Esther teaches in an engaging and informative way, ensuring everyone in the group is included and has a chance to speak and ask questions. I have done many writing courses in the past, but this one has given me the confidence to finally take the next step in my writing journey.

If you are a budding writer, then I would suggest that you look no further than The Writers Bureau. They are excellent. I have now finished two courses with them. The Comprehensive Writing course incorporated both Fiction and Non-Fiction which I completed in 2023 and How to Enter Competitions and Win which I have recently finished. The tutors are excellent. Very supportive, and included with the courses are regular Zoom calls that mean you can meet other writers and share your experiences. It is a very useful communication medium and can be fun. Susie Busby is the principal, and nothing is too much trouble if you are struggling. She will look after you. My tutor was the lovely Esther Chilton who was the absolute best with encouragement, praise and tips. I also met Tony Kirkwood via Zoom, who was extremely helpful and practical with his tips too. Will be enrolling on another course with them in the next few months. Well done everyone!!

The Writers Bureau is the best platform to improve on your writing skills. I love the way the creative writing course is broken down. It exposes the learner to every genre of writing.

Thank you.

A reputable trustworthy online writing company. I’ve known them for over 10 years and are a wealth of experience and knowledge. The tutors are great and return work marked quickly (quicker than I wanted!) but always with valid and valuable pointers. Thanks for all your support.

Completed the 'Proofreading & Copyediting' course last year - all good and well, but as far as getting into commercial work is concerned (either freelance or full-time) - FORGET IT! Advised to contact agencies, publishers, writing groups, colleges, libraries, local businesses and charities etc, but basically, no-one is interested unless you already have relevant commercial experience and/or a college degree- this includes the agencies, e.g. Fiver, Upwork, etc. When searching for work online, either you are rejected outright, steered towards yet another 'wonderful' course, or advised to set up your own website with a 'strong profile', so basically would need to lie/exaggerate my experience, qualifications etc, to have any chance. Sorry, but there are no opportunities out there for course graduates like myself - put your money into something worthwhile, and steer clear of this one - it's a CON!

I highly recommend The Writers Bureau for budding authors and those who want to write. I recently attended a Zoom workshop held over two consecutive Tuesday evenings. The meeting was well-organised and friendly, interactive, and informative. I will be attending more.

The host for this workshop did her best to cover a complex subject in the limited time we had, explaining the options clearly and permitting us to ask questions and make observations. This way, we were able to participate and interact with others, which gave the meeting a friendly, welcoming feel. The workshop was reasonably priced and therefore, accessible.

Interesting, informative webinar. Useful information plus personal experience. Very helpful advice and signposting. Highly recommend.

I did two courses with The Writers Bureau in 2021. From there, I met people that I now meet with weekly to do some writing and give productive criticism and encouragement to each other. For the last two years, I have been part of a monthly mentorship, run by The Writers Bureau, with 3 other people. We submit 1000 words to be line critique. This has been immensely productive. The difference in my writing is very apparent when I read back to what I wrote prior to the feedback. Any support from The Writers Bureau has been great value for money. I am grateful for Phil Busby. He has been a great teacher and has been a guiding hand throughout the last 3 years. I would highly recommend this company if you are looking for a supportive environment to develop your craft.

The workshops managed by the Writers Bureau are always well planned and conducted with the theme well matched to writers' needs of all capabilities. This series of two workshops led by Esther Chilton were a pleasure to attend, gave good information and very helpful notes always available almost immediately. I recommend.