11 free online writing courses for getting real good at words (2024)

11 free online writing courses for getting real good at words (1)

Craft beautiful words with help from the internet.Credit: bob al-greene / mashable

Writing is a much-prized skill and a difficult one to master and, while some are naturally gifted in stringing sentences together, we all need to take the time to learn the craft.

Whether you want to write your first novel, pen a poignant poem, pull together a screenplay, or create better business content, there is a free, online course out there to help. We've rounded up a list of free, online writing courses so you can find the perfect program of study to help you write gooderer.

1. Rhetoric: The art of persuasive writing and public speaking (Harvard X)

This eight-week online writing course is an introduction to the theory and practice of rhetoric, the art of persuasive writing and speech. Using selected speeches from prominent 20th-century Americans — including Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, Margaret Chase Smith, and Ronald Reagan — to explore and analyze rhetorical structure and style, this course will teach you when and how to employ a variety of rhetorical devices in writing and speaking.

It also covers how to differentiate between argument and rhetorical technique, how to write a persuasive opinion editorial, and how to evaluate and identify strengths of logical fallacies in arguments.

2. Creative writing: The craft of plot (Wesleyan University)

This short course can be completed in one day and is one of five modules in Wesleyan University's Creative Writing offerings.

In this writing course, aspiring wordsmiths will be introduced to the concept of plot. You will learn what keeps it moving and how it can manipulate readers’ feelings, expectations, and desires. The course examines the choices storytellers make to snag people's imaginations, drag them into a fictional world, and keep them there. You will learn how to outline and structure a plot, discuss narrative arc, pacing and reversals, and reveal the inevitable surprise: connecting the beginning, middle, and end.

3. Business writing techniques (DoaneX)

Do you want an intensive writing course? This class that can take up to eight hours a week for four weeks, but the learning is self-paced so you do have some flexibility. It will help you to study the different communication styles and discuss the best practices of business writing by providing real-world scenarios and applications.

You will examine how to use the six Cs (spoiler: consideration, clarity, conciseness, coherence, correctness, and confidence) to enhance your business messages. This contemporary course also looks at the proper etiquette of business writing, and examines the use of emoji in business communications.

4. Songwriting: Writing the lyrics (Berklee College of Music)

Described as "an invitation to let your inner songwriter step into the sunlight," this online writing class will have you singing a tune (or that's the goal).

If you haven't written any or many songs, it promises to show you an efficient, effective process for tailoring songs to express your ideas and emotions. If you have, you’ll look at your process differently, taking control of aspects of the process you may have not noticed. This course will get you working both lyrically and musically, although it’s not necessary that you either read music or play an instrument — the course offers you a number of musical loops to work with that you can sing your melodies over. During this course you will create lyrics and/or melodies for peer review.

11 free online writing courses for getting real good at words (2)

Pretend you're back in college and learn to write with your buds.Credit: Photo by cottonbro from Pexels

5. Writing successfully for the stage (University of Cambridge)

This course will teach you to structure your dramatic writing to a professional standard, as well as develop professionally transferable communication skills. This course is designed to improve your understanding of how to write engaging and interesting stories in order to attract producers and directors to your work.

You will be taught how to write effective dialogue, and how to edit your work. This course looks at the work of Brecht, Richard Schechner, Augusto Boal, Japanese Noh theatre, and other forms of theatre from around the world.

You will be sent writing exercises over the course of the module, keep a creativity journal, and by the end of the course you will have completed a plan for the structure of a new play.

6. How to write an essay (University of California, Berkeley)

This course is described as an introduction to academic writing, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing. This five-week course includes a review of basic grammar terminology and understanding, writing effective sentences and paragraphs, how to tackle writing introductions and conclusions, strategies for writing longer texts, and thesis statements. The course materials will be offered via readings and videos and you will participate in online discussions. You will complete an essay for this course.

7. Stand up: Comedy writing and performance poetry (University of Cambridge)

This course will give you specialized knowledge of histories, forms, and traditions of writing for stand-up comedy/performance poetry, as well as the cultural contexts of innovative practitioners and practices within stand-up comedy/performance poetry. You will study contemporary critical, analytical, and narrative theories of stand-up comedy/performance poetry. It will arm you with detailed understanding of key performance components within the discipline, including ideational sources, body, space, image, sound, text, movement, and environment. This course aims to develop advanced self-management skills to include working in planned and improvisatory ways, as well as the ability to anticipate and accommodate change, ambiguity, creative risk-taking, uncertainty, and unfamiliarity.

8. Memoir and personal essay: Write about yourself (Wesleyan University)

This course will teach you "how to write about yourself … so that someone else wants to read it." This is the heart of this specialization in memoir and personal essay from Wesleyan University.

You will get tips, prompts, exercises, readings, and challenges to help you imagine, construct, and write compelling pieces of non-fiction's most popular form: the personal narrative. Coursera says learners will develop a toolset to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and write the story of their life. As a result of taking this course, you will collect a portfolio of work that you can use as components of your memoir or essay.

9. Screenwriting: Building your Screenplay (University of Cambridge)

This course will teach you how to build a screenplay and the ins and outs of becoming a professional screenwriter. It's an intermediate course that requires no previous knowledge of screenwriting. The course will focus on visual storytelling, screenplay structure, and character development and how those work together to convey the central meaning of your work. It will also teach you concrete skills like script-editing, time management, and how to work as a screenwriter. In addition you will gain knowledge the history of film and film theory.

10. Become a journalist: Report the news (Michigan State University)

This course is a specialization that's part of a journalism study program from Michigan State University that's designed to develop and enhance your understanding of the global field of journalism.

You'll learn best practices and ethical standards for news gathering processes and compiling a news report through hands-on projects, peer-to-peer feedback, and issue exploration. You will also study journalism's impact on societal issues and trends, plus explore career opportunities in newspapers, magazines, social media, Internet multimedia, television, radio, corporate, and community journalism.

11. Write your first novel(Michigan State University)

This is a beginner level 26-week course that will guide you through the process of writing your first novel. The course boasts that you will leave the class with a 50,000 page manuscript. By breaking down the writing process and providing you with deadlines, the course can help make writing a novel a less daunting pursuit. It even schedules writing breaks for you. Additionally, the course will provide you with the space for peer review.

This post was originally published in April 2021 and was updated in January 2022.

Additional reporting by Elena Cavender.

11 free online writing courses for getting real good at words (3)

Amy-Mae Turner

Amy-Mae is a freelance writer covering tech at Mashable.

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11 free online writing courses for getting real good at words (2024)

FAQs

11 free online writing courses for getting real good at words? ›

For individuals interested in pursuing a career in writing, many schools offer free writing courses and materials through OpenCourseWare (OCW) projects. While formal admission isn't necessary to access lectures and other materials, these free online writing classes don't usually award college credit.

Are there free writing courses online? ›

For individuals interested in pursuing a career in writing, many schools offer free writing courses and materials through OpenCourseWare (OCW) projects. While formal admission isn't necessary to access lectures and other materials, these free online writing classes don't usually award college credit.

How to become a good writer for beginners free? ›

Here are just a few steps to becoming a better writer, which can begin to happen in just a few short weeks but takes practice over time:
  1. Set specific goals. ...
  2. Use simple and concise language. ...
  3. Read often. ...
  4. Take notes. ...
  5. Practice on personal time. ...
  6. Match your tone to your audience. ...
  7. Use a writing aid. ...
  8. Outline each piece.
Feb 3, 2023

What is the best free online site for learning content writing of websites? ›

University content writing courses

Open University offers free courses on a wide range of topics, including writing, digital marketing, and more. You can learn at your own pace and get a certificate upon completion. EdX offers free online courses from top universities around the world like HarvardX.

Where can I improve my writing skills? ›

Here are a few ways you can get started:
  • Start a journal or a blog.
  • Join a class or writing workshop.
  • Practice free writing.
  • Write letters to friends or family.
  • Put together an opinion piece for your local newspaper or publication you like.
Mar 15, 2024

Is there a free app for writing? ›

Google Docs is a great free writing platform for any writer. It's an extremely clean, quick word processor available in the browser, on desktop, and phone and tablet apps. So, you can take notes wherever inspiration strikes. Docs is more or less Google's spin on Microsoft Word.

How to learn writing skills online? ›

Start with the fundamentals in an online grammar course, where you can learn about the different parts of speech, punctuation, conjugation, and sentence structure. Or more advanced writers can practice their storytelling and persuasive writing skills with an essay writing course.

Does free writing improve writing skills? ›

The most effective way I know to improve your writing is to do freewriting exercises regularly. At least three times a week. They are sometimes called "automatic writing," "babbling," or “jabbering" exercises. The idea is simply to write for ten minutes (later on, perhaps fifteen or twenty).

How should a beginner start writing? ›

8 Great Ways to Start the Writing Process
  1. Start in the Middle. If you don't know where to start, don't bother deciding right now. ...
  2. Start Small and Build Up. ...
  3. Incentivize the Reader. ...
  4. Commit to a Title Up Front. ...
  5. Create a Synopsis. ...
  6. Allow Yourself to Write Badly. ...
  7. Make Up the Story as You Go. ...
  8. Do the Opposite.

Is there a website that makes your writing better? ›

Wordtune speeds up our entire writing process by 15%. Additionally, it improves the quality of our messages and accurately captures the 'melody' of what we want to say in a more fluid language.

Can I learn content writing by myself? ›

Read extensively, practice writing regularly, and consider taking writing courses or workshops to refine your skills. Research your topics: To create valuable content, research is crucial. Dive deep into your chosen niche and gather information from reliable sources.

Which website is best for writing? ›

Almost an Author
Creative WritingBloggingGrammar And Editing
Inklyo.comThe Write LifeGrammarly
Writer's digestProBloggerGrammar Girl
Write it SidewaysGoins, WriterNow Novel
Helping Writers Become AuthorsCreate If WritingAutoCrit
2 more rows
May 5, 2024

What are the 12 steps to improve writing skills? ›

12 essay writing tips
  • Read the prompt carefully. ...
  • Pick an interesting topic if you can. ...
  • Use multiple research sources. ...
  • Make an outline or diagram. ...
  • Improve your grammar, spelling and punctuation skills. ...
  • Use appropriate vocabulary. ...
  • Evaluate evidence critically. ...
  • Write a strong conclusion.
Feb 3, 2023

What are the five writing skills? ›

What are writing skills?
  • Grammar.
  • Vocabulary.
  • Spelling.
  • Sentence construction.
  • Structure.
  • Research and accuracy.
  • Clarity.
  • Persuasiveness.
Feb 8, 2024

What is the most effective way to learn writing skill? ›

  1. 1 Read widely and critically. One of the best ways to improve your writing skills is to read a lot of different texts and genres. ...
  2. 2 Write regularly and consistently. ...
  3. 3 Seek feedback and revise. ...
  4. 4 Study the rules and conventions. ...
  5. 5 Learn from the experts. ...
  6. 6 Experiment and have fun. ...
  7. 7 Here's what else to consider.
Feb 11, 2024

What is the best online writing platform? ›

10 Best Blogging Platforms for New Freelance Writers
  1. Medium. Medium continues to grow as one of the top free blogging platforms, drawing businesses and publishers to its ranks. ...
  2. Jekyll. ...
  3. Tumblr. ...
  4. Ghost. ...
  5. Wix. ...
  6. Postach.io. ...
  7. Squarespace. ...
  8. Web.com.
Mar 8, 2024

What is the free way of writing? ›

Freewriting is the practice of writing down all your thoughts without stopping, and without regard for spelling, grammar, or any of the usual rules for writing. There are various possible forms of freewriting, such as journals, essays, and fiction writing.

How to become a writer for beginners? ›

Here are eight steps to follow if you want to become a writer:
  1. Find inspiration. ...
  2. Consider the type of writing you're interested in. ...
  3. Read more. ...
  4. Seek higher education. ...
  5. Practice writing. ...
  6. Start writing professionally. ...
  7. Create a portfolio. ...
  8. Ask for feedback.
Apr 18, 2024

Is there a course for writing? ›

Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing is a four-year program that is designed to nurture and guide aspiring student writers in the four major genres: poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama.

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