9 Free Writing Courses That Can Make You an Unbelievably Better Writer

Commit to just 15 minutes of class per day

“Learn continually. There’s always one more thing to learn.” — Steve Jobs

Learning will increase your knowledge, and one of the most popular learning resources available today is the internet.

The internet wields tremendous power capable of converting any room into a classroom. Almost anyone, anywhere, can tap into this boundless power and learn something new.

Thanks to platforms like Coursera and Edx, writers can access free online courses on writing, delivered by some of the world’s top universities and other benevolent organizations. A lot of these courses are self-paced, and there are thousands of peers to connect with at any time.

I have enrolled in some of these courses, and I keep learning new ideas like cutting clutter, building vocabulary, etc., to improve my writing. Your writing career will increase in leaps and bounds if you can invest fifteen minutes a day in some of these courses.

1. Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking

Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking by Harvard University

“In it, participants will learn to construct and defend effective arguments in writing and in speech… Anyone who wishes to convey his or her message to an audience will benefit from this skill.”

Great writers always employ different forms of persuasive writing in their craft. Wouldn’t you love to learn how they do it and also make your pieces more captivating?

Building on Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion, this eight-week course analyzes some speeches and writings by influential personalities like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy, sharing how they cooked their tasty words with the sauce of rhetorical devices.

2. Writing in the Sciences

Writing in the Sciences by Stanford University

“Topics include: principles of good writing, tricks for writing faster and with less anxiety, the format of a scientific manuscript, peer review, grant writing, ethical issues in scientific publication, and writing for general audiences,” promises the course instructor.

Don’t let the topic throw you off. Along with 183,000 other students, you will learn a lot of helpful tips from this eight-week course.

From editing your drafts to constructing quality paragraphs that follow a logical flow, the instructor takes students through a rigorous learning experience that is guaranteed to give you a sharper eye as a writer.

What’s more, the course shares helpful tips on how to write personal essays for college admissions and letters of recommendation. I have already made notes on how to write a personal essay for my next application.

3. Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order

Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order by the University of Michigan

“This course will teach you how to use your written words to become more persuasive. You’ll learn creative ways to use syntax, effective techniques for telling stories, and a clever method for arranging a complex series of information. You’ll also get a chance to both professionalize your use of punctuation and add a bit of style and sophistication to how you craft everything from sentences to slogans,” reads excerpts of the course preview.

One of the four courses that make up the Good with Words Specialization Course, you need not have enrolled in the others to qualify for this. The instructor draws from his well of rich experiences collected from editing legal briefs. He then shows you how to apply some of those tips to your writing. All these goodies are condensed into four short weeks.

4. Academic and Business Writing

Academic and Business Writing by the University of California at Berkeley

“You will also focus on proofreading and self-editing; revision vs. editing; common errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling; understanding tone and diction; and vocabulary development,” the course reassures those wondering.

This five-week course offers learners helpful tips on how to build their vocabulary and develop a unique tone when writing in the academic or business worlds, to name just two.

5. Creative Writing: The Craft of Style

Creative Writing: The Craft of Style by Wesleyan University

“In this course, we will introduce aspiring writers to the art of putting pressure on written language. We will study the use of metaphor and imagery, and demonstrate how clarity, grace, and inventiveness in word choice are imperative to a story’s success,” the course promises.

If you have set your sights on perfecting a silky-smooth style, this could be what you need. This four-week course will help you pick and work on your unique style of writing. A handy tool for every writer, wouldn’t you say?

6. Engaging in Persuasive and Credible Communication

Engaging in Persuasive and credible communication by the National University of Singapore

“From a simple email request for your colleague to help you, to developing a presentation for the board of directors, these are acts of communication that require a good degree of persuasion,” the instructor notes.

If you find yourself performing any of the above-listed acts frequently, persuasion is a useful skill you have to master. Over three weeks, this course will teach you how to persuade readers with your words by establishing credibility and trust.

You will also learn some helpful tips in writing a cover letter, tips you can share with friends and siblings who need help perfecting their resumes and cover letters.

7. Writing Stories About Ourselves

Writing stories about ourselves by Wesleyan University

“The ultimate goal is for us to become aware of an ‘audience’ when we write so that the documentation of our lives will begin to resemble a ‘performance’ crafted onto paper rather than a private entry in a journal.”

If any of these bold claims appeals to you, you should give this course a shot. “Share your experiences. Tell your story. They are unique to you, and no one can steal them from you,” so the popular writing advice goes. But there’s an art to telling the personal story, and this course aims to equip you with tools to master the art. The instructor also interviews some writers who share insights on writing personal stories.

8. The Strategy of Content Marketing

The Strategy of Content Marketing by the University of California, Davis

“Specifically, you will learn how to develop, organize and implement a content marketing strategy, analyze and measure the effectiveness of content marketing, write compelling copy, use a strategic framework when writing, and build your professional brand and authority through content marketing.”

Before your eyes roll over the content marketing, hang on a minute. Writing is smack in the middle of content marketing. If copywriting appeals to you, I couldn’t recommend this course enough.

But beyond copywriting, this four-week course shares insightful tips on how to write headlines, and lots of marketing tips you can apply to your writing. Wouldn’t you want to learn how to market your work and earn more money?

9. Academic Writing for Clarity and Meaning

Academic Writing for Clarity and Meaning by the University of Witwatersrand.

“We zoom in on the practices of paragraph and sentence construction. We look at ways to avoid too much complexity and abstraction, and ways of writing that enhance clarity and engage your readers,” the course promises.

Clarity in writing has been the Achilles heel for many a writer. I’ll name myself first among those in the treatment room, but this course offers a soothing remedy for our pain. Also, it shares helpful tips on how to write on abstract subjects and how to destroy the habit of converting verbs into nouns.

Conclusion

There you go — nine excellent courses that give writers the tools to craft masterpieces. The best part, the deadlines are flexible and the instructors also recommend more helpful resources for interested students to check out.

You don’t have to pursue a verified certificate; you can audit the course contents and resources within a limited time. I hope you take advantage of these courses, or at least, stroll through this wide door of opportunity.