Writing is such an ancient art that it feels like you have to compete with the millions of writers that came before you. It feels like you’ll never be satisfied with your writing, because there’s always someone who does it better. But your only valid competition is yourself, and you can always become a better writer than you currently are right now.
As with most passions, we aspire to hone our craft to the point where we can eat off it, and we don’t have to worry about surviving anymore. But if you just write and write with no guidance, it might take you a lot longer to achieve pro-writer status. If you aspire to become a professional writer or improve your writing skills, enrolling in a writers course can be a transformative step on your journey.
Writing courses are a goldmine of information and valuable feedback. Because writing is such a big hobby, whether you’re a beginner or an experienced writer looking to improve, you can always benefit from feedback from more experienced instructors. In our modern age, we have writing courses that are tailored to everyone’s needs. All you have to do is find them. Whether you prefer online learning or the structure of in-person classes, there are numerous options available to suit your needs. Let’s explore anything and everything related to writers courses, from their different types, their locations, forms of education, costs, special offers, and more!
Writers Course
Specifically designed to provide comprehensive training and support to people like you, writers courses are the perfect way to enhance your writing abilities. These courses are typically offered by educational institutions, writing organizations, or experienced writers who have many years of writing under their belt.
The number of topics is absolutely eye-watering, including everything from creative writing, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, journalism, technical writing, and many more underground and unknown genres. All this is to say that there’s bound to be a writing course to suit your needs too.
Online Writing Courses
Online writing courses have gained immense popularity in recent years due to their flexibility, accessibility, and the necessity to have things online due to the recent pandemic. You can learn the skills you want from anywhere in the world, at your own pace. For tech-savvy or anxious people, you’ll be happy to hear that these courses have interactive components such as discussion forums and instructor feedback. You can get all this from the comfort of your own home and with minimal social interaction. It’s very efficient. Because of the pandemic, now many reputable institutions and platforms offer online writing courses. This has made getting a high-quality learning experience a lot easier. Let’s run through some platforms that offer writing courses.
Coursera: If you’re an academic, you’ve definitely heard about Coursera, and maybe even taken a course or two yourself. People usually use Coursera as supplementary material for more science-adjacent subjects, but did you know there are writing courses on there too? Coursera offers a variety of writing courses from renowned universities and instructors, with courses ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
Some of their popular courses are “Creative Writing Specialization” offered by Wesleyan University and “Writing Professional Emails and Memos” by the University of California, Irvine. You can’t go wrong with either of those two, but browse their website or app and choose whatever you’re interested in. You can stop taking the course at any point, so don’t be afraid to enroll in some courses and see if you like them.
Udemy: Udemy is also a big name in academia, and hosts a wide range of writing courses taught by industry professionals. These courses cater to different skill levels and budgets, making them an excellent choice for writers at various stages of their careers. You may be a beginner, so you may not need an intricate course, or have the money for it. You may be an experienced writer and you don’t want to waste your time learning things you already know. You may be something in-between.
Whoever and wherever you are in your writing journey, Udemy’s got you covered. If you need some recommendations, courses like “Writing with Flair: How to Become an Exceptional Writer” by Shani Raja and “Writing Fiction: 7 Steps to Write Your First Novel” by Jessica Brody are highly regarded among aspiring writers.
MasterClass: MasterClass has enjoyed a boom in popularity in recent years, so you’ve probably seen snippets of famous people teaching classes here. Successful, world-renowned writers are also on MasterClass! On MasterClass, you follow video lessons from renowned and beloved authors, like Margaret Atwood, Neil Gaiman, and Judy Blume.
The hook of MasterClass is that you get these valuable insights and techniques directly from the masters of the craft, hence the name “Master class”. With courses like “Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing” and “Neil Gaiman Teaches the Art of Storytelling,” MasterClass offers a unique opportunity to learn from some of the best writers in the industry. Those are just two of my favorites, but MasterClass has plenty of other writers. I recommend that you learn from writers that you want to emulate something from, whether it be their writing style, worldbuilding, the way they write dialogue, the way they write about certain subjects, if they write about themes you’re interested in exploring, and anything else.
Professional Writing Courses Online
Those courses are great for people who want to become better writers, but being a better writer doesn’t always mean you’ll receive a better income. For those looking to pursue a career in professional writing, specialized online writing courses can offer targeted training and industry-specific knowledge.
These courses delve deeper into the intricacies of writing for specific fields such as business, marketing, technical documentation, grant writing, and other usually non-fiction topics. However, this kind of technical writing can keep you afloat while you pursue your creative writing on the side, so there’s no reason to not better your technical writing skills.
ProWritingAid: ProWritingAid’s niche is business and professional writing skills, which they offer online courses for. Their courses cover topics such as effective communication, persuasive writing, editing techniques, and grammar mastery. Even if you’re more into creative writing, these are writing skills that you’ll benefit from. With courses like “Business Writing: How to Craft Clear, Concise, and Powerful Messages,” ProWritingAid equips writers with the skills needed to excel in the corporate world.
Mediabistro: Mediabistro is a great resource if you’re an aspiring creator. Whether you’re a journalist, content creator, or freelancer, this platform has an impressive range of online writing courses for people like you. They have courses specializing in feature writing, investigative journalism, social media writing, and copywriting. Some courses that I personally like are “Writing for the Web” and “Advanced Social Media Writing” which are designed to enhance your writing skills in the digital landscape.
American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA): ASJA is a prestigious and well-known institution made up of independent professional writers, and now it offers online writing courses specifically tailored for non-fiction writers, journalists, and authors. These courses cover various aspects of non-fiction writing, with topics like research, interviewing, and structuring narratives. However, I think that even creatives could benefit from knowing how to structure a good narrative! ASJA’s “Nonfiction Book Proposal Workshop” and “Crafting the Personal Essay” provide valuable guidance if you’re someone who’s looking to break into the non-fiction writing world.
Costs for online writing courses can vary widely. There are a myriad of free options, but there are also courses that cost several hundred dollars. Are you wasting your time by attending a free course? Are you wasting your money by attending an expensive on? That’s mostly up to you, but check out forum websites like Reddit or Quora for reviews of the course you want to take. Read about what real people thought about the course, and if you can, try it yourself for a limited time.
Some platforms offer subscription models, but there’s almost always a free trial period, so you won’t be wasting money. Additionally, always keep an eye out for special offers and discounts that may be available for special holidays, like Black Friday deals.
Conclusion
Writers courses, whether in-person or online, are an invaluable source of information for aspiring writers. Whether you’re interested in creative writing, technical writing, or specific writing genres, there is a course out there for you. Because there’s always someone who’s a better writer, that means there’s also someone who’s always willing to help you take your writing skills to the next level. Everyone can use a mentor; writers most of all. There’s no exact guide to becoming a good writer, but you can always benefit from having a helping hand and knowing what you should do next.
By investing in your education and honing your craft through structured learning, you’ll be on your way to becoming a pro in no time. If you’re passionate about writing and you write on a regular basis, you will improve. You’ll always be a little better than you were before. It’s inevitable. If you add a little guidance to the mix, you won’t be able to believe how much progress you’ll make in just a few months. So explore the plethora of options available to you, choose a course that aligns with your personal goals and desires, and embark on your journey to becoming a successful writer. Happy writing!
