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.

Recommended For You

40 of the best Harvard University courses you can take online for free

Want to learn about Python, AI, JavaScript, and more without spending anything? Here's how.

Write it all down with the Apple Pencil (2nd Gen) for just $79 at Amazon

Get creative for less.

By Lauren Allain

30 of the best MIT courses you can take online for free

There really is something for everyone on edX.

By Joseph Green

AI can now copy your handwriting. We're concerned.

First voices, now this.

By Tim Marcin

A university is offering lessons from hologram professors

A new kind of learning is on the horizon.

By Meera Navlakha

More in Life

'Priscilla' is coming to streaming: Peek behind the glittery Graceland gates at home

One of our favorite films of 2023 debuts on Max this month.

By Christina Buff

How to watch the live-action 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' series

After 5+ years of waiting, it's finally here.

By Christina Buff

Ben Affleck's Dunkin ad is his version of JLo's 'This Is Me…Now'

He's in on the joke, and it's glorious.

By Kristy Puchko

Apple TV+’s new 'Peanuts' film rights the record, just in time for Black History Month

"A kid can really learn a lot hanging around with you, Franklin."

By Chase DiBenedetto

Top streaming deals: Lock in three months of Starz for $3 a month

You can also still get a month of Paramount+ with Showtime for free.

By Leah Stodart and Bethany Allard

Trending on Mashable

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for February 21

Everything you need to solve 'Connections' #255.

By Mashable Team

Wordle today: Here's the answer and hints for February 21

Here are some tips and tricks to help you find the answer to "Wordle" #977.

By Mashable Team

NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for February 20

Everything you need to solve 'Connections' #254.

By Mashable Team

The majority of traffic from Elon Musk's X may have been fake during the Super Bowl, report suggests

These numbers are legitimately shocking.

By Matt Binder

Webb telescope makes unexpected find in outskirts of our solar system

These ice worlds aren't dead.

By Mark Kaufman

The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.

This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Subscribing to a newsletter indicates your consent to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe from the newsletters at any time.

Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!

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

FAQs

Which is the best online writing course? ›

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular writing courses
  • Write Your First Novel: Michigan State University.
  • Creative Writing: Wesleyan University.
  • Academic English: Writing: University of California, Irvine.
  • Good with Words: Writing and Editing: University of Michigan.

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

If you're looking to learn content writing for free, Udemy's SEO Training is one of the best online courses available. This comprehensive course covers the complete process of SEO content writing for various formats, such as websites, webpages, blogs, articles, whitepapers, guides, infographics, and more.

What is the best course for English writing? ›

In summary, here are 10 of our most popular english writing courses
  • Academic English: Writing: University of California, Irvine.
  • Writing in English at University: Lund University.
  • English for Career Development: University of Pennsylvania.
  • English Composition I: Duke University.
  • Writing in the Sciences: Stanford University.

How can I learn online writing? ›

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.

What is the most trusted online writing services? ›

Top-Rated Research Paper Writing Services
  • Academized.com - Best Research Paper Service Overall🌟 - 4.93/5.
  • DoMyPaper.com - Best for Customization Options✍️ - 4.9/5.
  • PaperFellows.com - Best for College Papers✨ - 4.88/5.
  • BoomEssays.com - Best for Essay Writing📚 - 4.85/5.
  • LastMinuteWriting.com - Best for Urgent Orders⏰ - 4.83/5.
May 28, 2024

What is the most popular online course website? ›

Coursera is perhaps the biggest name in online courses and education, with a global roster of universities and partners offering more than 7,000 specialized courses.

Which is the best online learning platform for free? ›

While Coursera, edX, Udemy, Google and Great Learning offers loads of free online courses with certificates, do have a look at Alison, NPTEL and others. Most of the courses on these other platforms offer free online courses for immediate upskilling.

What is the best free study website? ›

Free study websites include Khan Academy, Coursera (for certain courses), edX, and MIT OpenCourseWare. These platforms provide high-quality educational resources at no cost.

Is there a website that makes your writing better? ›

Wordtune: Free AI Writing Assistant. Write Better Today.

How can I improve my writing skills? ›

In this article, we will explore ten essential tips that will help you enhance your writing abilities and become a more confident and effective writer.
  1. Read Widely and Analytically: ...
  2. Write Regularly: ...
  3. Embrace the Writing Process: ...
  4. Expand Your Vocabulary: ...
  5. Focus on Clarity and Simplicity: ...
  6. Edit and Revise Diligently:
May 11, 2023

How do I improve my English speaking and writing skills? ›

How to Improve English: Best Tips to Improve Your English Skills
  1. Table of Contents. ...
  2. Watching TV Shows, Cartoon Shows, and Movies. ...
  3. Reading Books, Magazines, and Newspapers. ...
  4. Making Notes of New Words. ...
  5. Practice Learning the Names of the Things at Home. ...
  6. Practice Speaking in English with Your Peers and Family.

Which is the best practice for writing fluently? ›

Study spelling and vocabulary

Nothing improves your fluency quite like studying spelling and vocabulary. When a writer has good spelling skills, they use less energy figuring out how to spell a word, which makes it easier for them to focus on choosing the right word.

Are all Coursera courses free? ›

Some courses are paid-only. Look for the green $ symbol on the Class Central page. If you are unable to pay and want a certificate, you can apply to Coursera for Financial aid.

How do beginners learn to write? ›

How to Learn to Write: Read. Reading is bread and butter for a writer no matter what stage of their career they're at. Reading is how we both discover what we gravitate to and, inevitably, learn to write. Writers read not just for fun, but also with a critical lens, noting techniques that we can apply to our own work.

How can I learn to write correctly? ›

8 exercises to improve writing skills
  1. Write every day. ...
  2. Turn long paragraphs into bullet points. ...
  3. Change passive voice into active voice. ...
  4. Use grammar checker tools like Writer. ...
  5. Proof your friend's or colleague's writing. ...
  6. Write fanfiction. ...
  7. Read out loud. ...
  8. Read books on how to write better.

Which course is best to become a writer? ›

Courses to Become a Writer
ParametersBA EnglishBA Mass Communication
Average Salary (INR)2.5 LPA - 3.5 LPA3 LPA - 6 LPA
Top RecruitersTeaching institutes, Journalism, Publishing Houses, TranslatorsNew Indian Express, Scroll.in, Hindustan Times, Amazon India, Wipro, Penguin India
4 more rows

What is the best online platform for writers? ›

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 best style of writing for online? ›

Research has shown that short, concise paragraphs and bulleted lists work best for web use. Just say it. Phrase things in simple, straightforward language, using familiar words and avoiding jargon.

Which is the best website 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
Jul 1, 2024

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Sen. Emmett Berge

Last Updated:

Views: 5679

Rating: 5 / 5 (60 voted)

Reviews: 83% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Sen. Emmett Berge

Birthday: 1993-06-17

Address: 787 Elvis Divide, Port Brice, OH 24507-6802

Phone: +9779049645255

Job: Senior Healthcare Specialist

Hobby: Cycling, Model building, Kitesurfing, Origami, Lapidary, Dance, Basketball

Introduction: My name is Sen. Emmett Berge, I am a funny, vast, charming, courageous, enthusiastic, jolly, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.