Ultimate MasterClass Review (UPDATED 2024 + Video) - Is Worth It? (2024)

Pros:

• Taught by real celebrities and titans of their trade
• Less expensive than a premium Netflix subscription
• Video lessons have very high production quality
• Most courses come with helpful supplemental material
• A subscription unlocks every course and any new courses that are later uploaded
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons:

• Some courses are more inspirational than educational or technical
• You don’t get personalized training like from typical college or trade instructors
• Cannot download classes
• No free trial

Bottom Line: MasterClass is perfect for intermediate-level learners from many fields of interest, especially writing. Learning from genuine A-list instructors is invaluable and inspiring. However, most MasterClass courses are not very technical, nor are they for absolute beginners.

Links in this article may be affiliate links. If you purchase MasterClass or other products through these links, it may earn me a small commission. There is no extra cost to you. Nor did this affect my opinions in this MasterClass review. This way, I can keep writing these articles that anyone can read for free.

Full Video MasterClass Review

Prefer to watch and listen rather than read? I take you behind the scenes to see MasterClass in action in my video MasterClass Review.

What is MasterClass?

What MasterClass courses are offered?

Here’s a quick list of 19 star-studded teachers (out of 90+) and their MasterClass courses:

• Writing taught by multiple NYT bestselling author Malcolm Gladwell
• Basketball taught by NBA Championship winner and MVP Stephen Curry
• Comedy taught by multi-award-winning actor and comedian Judd Apatow
• Writing for social change taught by bestselling author Roxane Gay
• Filmmaking taught by Oscar-winning director Martin Scorsese
• Acting taught by Oscar-winning actress Helen Mirren
• Cooking taught by 16 Michelin Star recipient chef Gordon Ramsay
• Writing For Young Audiences taught by bestselling children’s author R. L. Stine
• Writing taught by the world’s all-time bestselling author James Patterson
• Screenwriting taught by Oscar-winning director and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin
• Writing taught by bestselling and award-winning author Judy Blume
• Singing taught by Grammy award-winning singer and songwriter Christina Aguilera
• Electronic Music Production taught by award-winning DJ and producer deadmau5
• Comedy taught by Oscar-winning comedian Steve Martin
• Chess taught by Grandmaster Garry Kasparov
• Poker taught by six-time World Series of Poker bracelet winner Daniel Negreanu
• Film Making taught by internationally renowned screenwriter and director Werner Herzog
• Writing taught by award-winning, bestselling author Neil Gaiman
• Acting taught by BAFTA award-winning director and producer Samuel L. Jackson
• Filmmaking taught by Oscar-winning filmmaker Spike Lee
• Music curation and DJ’ing taught by iconic drummer and DJ Questlove

MasterClass Format

How does Masterclass work? Here's the format of taking MasterClass courses:

1. High-quality video lessons from each course’s “Master” (an average of 24 lessons per MasterClass course)
2. Downloadable PDF lesson plans so you can go over the material on your own, offline
3. Course notes containing the main points from the video, extra reading resources, and space to write down your own notes
4. The Hub: This is a MasterClass community where you can discuss the content of the course with fellow students and share work and exercises with one another

Most instructors actually read what their MasterClass community has to say. In many cases, the instructors actually reply to student comments and inquiries.

MasterClass Cost

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MasterClass Discount Code

The Best MasterClass Courses For Writers

• The course instructor
• A few of the lessons from the course syllabus
• Why I think they are valuable to you

This isn't a MasterClass review of all the writer courses out there, but it does represent the best I've found.

James Patterson — Writing

James Patterson is one of the best-known names in American writing. He has written countless bestsellers, including the Alex Cross and Maximum Ride series.

• Outlining. James Patterson is known for being a master outliner, perhaps accounting for his prolific resume. Here, James breaks down his personal outlining process and illustrates it with an actual never-before-seen outline from a bestselling novel.
• Writing Suspense. James Patterson’s novels are page-turners that keep readers hooked from the first page. Here, James reveals his secret recipe for suspenseful writing.
• Book Titles and Covers. Here, James Patterson reveals his tips and tricks to keep in mind when choosing your book title and book cover.
• Working with a Co-Author. Two of Patterson’s collaborators help teach this lesson explaining the secrets behind successful co-authoring.
• Marketing the Patterson Way. Before James Patterson became a bestselling novelist, he worked as a top advertising executive. This perspective gives him unique book marketing insight you won’t find anywhere else.

Margaret Atwood — Creative Writing

• Structuring Your Novel. In this lesson, Atwood uses real anecdotes, both her own and others’, to explain how a novel can be structured. Choosing the proper structure is a real struggle for many writers, so this lesson alone makes her course worth taking.
• Creating Compelling Characters. A valuable lesson for every fiction writer out there. It explores how to make characters memorable and vivid and explains how gender impacts character creation.
• Speculative Fiction Case Study. Margaret Atwood uses her most famous novel, A Handmaid’s Tale, to illustrate her own process of researching and getting inspiration for a speculative fiction project.
• Research and Historical Accuracy. Research can make or break a book, regardless of the genre. This is a unique chance to learn the exact research process used by one of the most successful writers of our time.
• The Business of Being a Writer. Atwood explains the business aspects of writing, such as finding an agent, dealing with criticism, and negative reviews.

Malcolm Gladwell — Writing

• Developing the Story. This lesson teaches how Gladwell takes the initial seed of a story idea and develops it into something greater, drawing upon the feedback of his family and friends in the process.
• Structuring Language. A technical look at punctuation and sentence length. Gladwell explains how these seemingly technical aspects of writing can be used to help readers understand complex ideas.
• Tone and Voice. Gladwell explains how he matches his tone and voice to audience expectations, referencing examples from his own career to illustrate the techniques he shares.
• Titles. Here, Gladwell explains how a book title’s primary purpose is to grab a reader’s attention. The best way to do this is to play on their emotions.
• How to Read. One of the keys to being a great writer is being a great reader. Gladwell makes a point of sharing his personal strategies for reading intelligently in this MasterClass lesson.

Malcolm Gladwell’s status as a bestselling nonfiction writer and respected journalist means this MasterClass will hold a unique appeal for nonfiction writers. Of course, any writer could learn a lot from his lessons, like reading intelligently and how to title your book effectively.

Neil Gaiman — The Art of Storytelling

• Short Fiction. When it comes to short fiction, you need to learn how to properly focus your scenes to achieve their maximum impact. Gaiman walks you through some handy techniques to help you do just that.
• Dialogue and Character. Ever had to slog through unrealistic dialogue in a story? Did the lines feel unnatural and forced? Gaiman addresses these points to help get you on track to writing fluid dialogue to help move your story along.
• World-Building. If you've ever read any of his stuff, then you know Neil Gaiman is one of the kings of world-building. In this lesson, he shares his philosophy on settings, common pitfalls when creating them, and avoiding those pitfalls.
• Humor. How do you feel about “Sherbert Lemons” and “Figgins”? These are two of Gaiman’s personal humor introduction techniques. These techniques, among others, will be introduced in this lesson.
• Dealing with Writer's Block. While most of his lessons are involved with full story creation, Gaiman also tackles one of the most significant issues facing fiction authors today: writer's block. Learn some of the ways that he gets through these difficult times.

I recommend Neil Gaiman’s MasterClass to all fiction writers out there. Gaiman is a pillar of the modern fiction community, and it would behoove any aspiring legends to listen to what he has to say.

Joyce Carol Oats — The Art of the Short Story

Joyce Carol Oates is one of the most decorated authors of our time. She has published over 50 novels, as well as hundreds of short stories, plays, essays, and poems.

Oates is a winner of the National Book Award, two O. Henry Awards, and the National Humanities Medal. She has also been nominated for the Pulitzer Prize.

See Also

MasterClass review: How it works, what it costs, the best celebrity-led classes to take

In her MasterClass, Oates focuses exclusively on teaching the art of writing powerful, memorable short fiction. The course consists of 14 video lessons totaling over 2 hours of instruction.

Some of the most valuable lessons in Joyce Carol Oates’ MasterClass include:

• Principles of Writing Short Fiction – Oates shares strategies for making time to write each day, pushing through blocks, and sharing work with others.
• Journals: Observing the World – Oates advocates journaling as a way to nurture your unique voice and gather material.
• Ideas: Exploring Taboo and Darkness – Oates encourages writers to explore the darker aspects of human nature in their fiction as a way to grab interest.
• Story Study – Oates analyzes her most famous short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” revealing the creative process behind this masterpiece.
• The Writer’s Workshop – Oates workshops a classic short story with two of her students, demonstrating her approach to teaching writing.
• Revision Workshop – Oates runs two revision workshops on student drafts, illustrating how she would improve these stories.

Joyce Carol Oates is unmatched when it comes to the art of short fiction. Given her extensive experience writing and publishing short stories, aspiring short fiction writers have an incredible opportunity to learn from one of the great masters of the craft.

N.K. Jemisin — Fantasy and Science Fiction Writing

As the first author to win three consecutive Hugo Awards for Best Novel, N.K. Jemisin has proven herself as a groundbreaking voice in speculative fiction. In her MasterClass, she shares hard-won lessons from her journey as a Black female author in a traditionally white, male-dominated genre.

Spanning 16 video lessons and over 3 hours of teaching, Jemisin’s MasterClass covers both big picture concepts and granular techniques.

Some of the most compelling lessons include:

• Elements of Worldbuilding – Jemisin outlines her methodology for constructing immersive fantasy settings from scratch.
• Macro Worldbuilding – Jemisin walks through a hands-on exercise for developing the physical environment and key aspects that will shape your fictional world.
• Micro Worldbuilding – She explains how to build out the intricate details of culture, power structures, and people in a way that feels real.
• Inventing Science and Magic – Jemisin challenges definitions of fantasy and sci-fi, teaching you how to devise plausible systems of magic or futuristic science.
• The Psychology of Characters – Drawing from her psychology background, Jemisin provides insights into human behavior that can bring characters to life.
• The Hierarchy of Characterization – She shares a framework for crafting complex, compelling characters with authentic demographic details, backstories, motivations and arcs.
• Seeking Publication – Jemisin demystifies the publishing process and offers best practices for pitching agents and publishers as a marginalized writer.
• Writing While Marginalized – She speaks candidly about overcoming prejudice as a Black female speculative fiction author.

N.K. Jemisin provides both inspiration and practical knowledge that can empower traditionally marginalized authors to tell their own stories, construct worlds, and get published. Her MasterClass is a must for aspiring sci-fi and fantasy writers.

R.L. Stine — Writing for Young Audiences

As the author behind the beloved Goosebumps series, R.L. Stine knows how to captivate young readers. In his MasterClass, he shares his proven techniques for crafting page-turning stories that hook kids.

With 28 video lessons totaling over 4 hours of teaching, the course covers everything from generating ideas to outlining gripping plots to establishing scary settings.

Some of the most helpful lessons include:

• The Idea Store – Stine reveals his go-to sources for story inspiration: experience, memory, and imagination. He explains how to actively gather ideas from each.
• Outlining – Stine advocates using a plot outline focused on surprise endings, cliffhangers, and twists to structure your story in a compelling way.
• Writing for Different Age Levels – He shares specific strategies for building an appropriate level of scariness for early readers, middle-graders, and young adults.
• Point of View – Stine stresses the importance of close third-person perspective for maximizing fear.
• Creating Middle Grade Characters – He demonstrates how to write relatable characters kids can identify with to draw them deeper into the story.
• Combating Writer's Block – Stine offers the routines, discipline, and tools that enabled him to prolifically write Goosebumps while avoiding writer's block.

R.L. Stine has kept millions of kids obsessively turning pages late into the night. Aspiring authors who also hope to spellbind young audiences can gain priceless insights from his writing wisdom.

Dan Brown — Writing Thrillers

As the mind behind record-shattering thrillers like The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown knows how to craft page-turning stories full of suspense and intrigue. In his MasterClass, he pulls back the curtain on his creative process.

With 19 video lessons spanning nearly 4 hours, Brown's course thoroughly covers plot, characters, research, and more.

Some of the most insightful lessons include:

• The Anatomy of a Thriller – Brown breaks down the essential ingredients for a compelling thriller and shares his personal checklist.
• Creating Heroes and Villains – He demonstrates how to write complex, relatable heroes and villains who drive conflict.
• Character Case Study – Brown analyzes the key characters from The Da Vinci Code as examples of different archetypes.
• Building a Story From the Ground Up – He provides a step-by-step guide to developing a complete story, from initial idea to finishing touches.
• Creating Suspense – Brown reveals techniques like parallel plotlines, dramatic openings, cliffhangers, and immersive scenes to maximize suspense.
• Protecting Your Process – He shares wisdom on overcoming writer's block, persisting through rejection, and structuring productive writing habits.

For aspiring thriller writers, the opportunity to learn from a master like Dan Brown is invaluable. His book sales topping 200 million copies speak to his unmatched ability to enthrall global audiences.

MasterClass vs. The Great Courses

MasterClass vs. Udemy

MasterClass vs. CreativeLive

What I Disliked about MasterClass

It wouldn't be a proper MasterClass review without discussing what I disliked about MasterClass:

• While the people selected to lead the classes were all some of the best in the trade, many weren't exactly great teachers. Hats off to the video editors for trying to make some of these as stellar as possible, but the level of actual teaching in certain classes was scarce.
• Don't expect these to be very technical but more strategic in nature. Think of them more like intensive Ted talks with very famous speakers.
• There is no free trial. I get that, considering that someone could sign up for the free trial and binge-watch. However, they have a 30-day money-back guarantee. I like to see companies believe you'll love their courses so much that you would never ask for your money back.
• You can't download the classes. I was hoping to watch one on a plane recently, but because of this, I couldn't. UPDATE: You can now download classes for offline viewing using the MasterClass iOS app. I'm not currently aware of a similar opportunity for Android users.

All these negatives do not outweigh the positives. My wife and I enjoy MasterClass to this day.

MasterClass Review: Frequently Asked Questions

How long is a MasterClass?

An entire MasterClass is typically between 2-5 hours long, but every MasterClass is slightly different.

How long are MasterClass lessons?

How fast do I have to complete MasterClass courses?

Can I watch MasterClass on my TV?

How can I download MasterClass videos?

How can I get MasterClass for free?

You cannot get MasterClass for free. Unless you have it gifted to you, in which case someone else paid, you have to pay for MasterClass.

Is MasterClass a ripoff?

How can I send MasterClass as a gift?

How can I get a refund from MasterClass?

Submit a Request to the MasterClass ZenDesk

You can send a request directly to MasterClass via this link. Be sure to include the following:

• Your registered email address
• Transaction ID number (that will be found on your receipt of purchase)
• The title of the MasterClass you want to be refunded
• PayPal Email Address if purchased via PayPal

Call MasterClass Directly

• Your registered email address
• Transaction ID number (that will be found on your receipt of purchase)
• The title of the MasterClass you want to be refunded
• PayPal Email Address if purchased via PayPal

In-App Purchase Refunds

If you've purchased MasterClass through an app such as the Apple Store or Google Play, you can still request your refund. But you're going to have to go through the app store. Here's how:

• Apple: Reach out to the Apple Care Team by calling toll-free: 1-(800)-275-2273 or 1-(800)-APL-CARE
• Google Play: Google Play is simpler. Simply request a refund via your Google Store Account. Here's the link you'll need.

Is MasterClass worth it?