Best Online Writing Courses
Writing is one of the most powerful forms of communication, but also one of the most challenging to master. Individuals can spend a lifetime honing their skills and perfecting their craft. Writing well, whether for professional or artistic use, will require a high degree of dedication and consistent practice. Luckily, in this day and age, many cost-effective online resources can help you enhance your writing skills. While the journey to becoming a proficient writer is a challenging path, it is often worth the effort, and getting a little help from some of the best online writing courses can make your path to writing well a bit easier. Here is our list of the best writing courses available for our readers.
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Coursera: Academic English - Writing Specialization
Course Facts
- Costs: Single Program $49 Monthly, Coursera Plus Monthly $59, Coursera Plus Annual $399
- Certificate of Completion: Yes
Our Take
Coursera is one of the largest and most trusted online course providers, and those seeking the best online writing course may want to consider the Academic English: Writing Specialization course to learn how to enhance their writing. The course is taught by three instructors from the University of California, Irvine. It consists of a five-course series that includes grammar and punctuation, essay writing, advanced writing, an introduction to research, and how to write a research paper. Generally speaking, the course will take approximately 2 months to complete if students commit about 10 hours a week.
To enroll in the course, students must create an account. Once created, they can select the subscription plan that best suits their budget. Single programs start at $49 per month, while Coursera Plus Monthly is billed at $59 per month, and Coursera Plus Annual costs $399 per year. For those hesitant about the price, Coursera provides a 7-day free trial; just be sure to cancel before the trial ends if you are not fully satisfied. However, the course has received overall high remarks, with a 4.7-star rating based on over 12,000 reviews. Students who complete the course get a certificate that can be shared directly on their LinkedIn profile.
Coursera: Creative Writing Specialization
Course Facts
- Costs: 7-day trial, Single Program $49 Monthly, Coursera Plus Monthly $59, Coursera Plus Annual $399
- Certificate of Completion: Yes
Our Take
Coursera also offers the Creative Writing Specialization course. Those who enroll can expect a 5-series writing course taught and instructed by four highly educated instructors from Wesleyan University. While the course is designed for aspiring writers and authors, anyone can take it to learn how to write more effectively and understand the fundamentals of story construction, which can be useful in various professional and academic settings. For instance, to name a few, topics will include crafting a plot, character development, establishing settings, and more.
Similar to other courses on the Coursera platform, users will need to create an account and pick a subscription that fits their budget. A single program is billed at $49 per month; users will have access to the course as long as they have an active subscription, but the single program option is exclusive to that course. The Coursera Plus monthly plan is billed at $59 per month, and the Coursera Plus annual plan is billed annually for $399 per year. Both Course Plus options, whether monthly or annual, offer access to over 10,000 courses. However, all three options come with a 7-day trial. Other notable course features include a certificate that can be shared on LinkedIn and a 4.7-star rating, based on over 5,000 reviews.
Udemy: Writing With Flair: How To Become An Exceptional Writer
Our Take
Udemy is another exceptional platform that prospective writers and authors should consider enrolling in to improve their writing skills. The course, “Writing With Flair: How to Become an Exceptional Writer,” provided by Udemy and taught by Shani Raja, a former Wall Street Journal editor, who teaches how to write with elegance and sophistication, but most importantly, with clarity and conciseness. While the course costs $159.99, Udemy often runs specials on its courses, allowing enrollees to get the course at a significant discount.
Those who enroll in the course can expect an engaging experience that covers several essential topics, including writing with integrity, the effective use of words, the importance of sentence structure, and more. The course comprises seven hours of on-demand video, five articles, three downloadable resources, and the option to access the course on a mobile platform for those on the go. Upon completing the course, students will be able to download a certificate. The course also has a 4.5 star rating from over 22,000 course takers, an excellent score for an excellent course.
edX: AlaskaX: The Craft of Storytelling
Course Facts
- Costs: $0 to $119
- Course Certificate: Yes
Our Take
Writers interested in learning the art of telling a story should consider taking The Craft of Storytelling. The course is provided by edX and taught by Rob Prince, an associate professor at the University of Alaska. Those who enroll in the course can expect to learn how to determine the story’s target audience, create a story structure, and implement story elements, among other skills. The course requires a minimum commitment of four weeks. However, the course is generally self-paced.
Enrollees will incur a cost of $119 to gain full access to the course; however, a free version is available for those who want to try out the course to get a better feel for its style and curriculum. But only those who have purchased the full course and completed it successfully will receive a certificate. Although the course has only a 4.4-star rating with 11 reviews, over 17,000 students have enrolled, and it offers an excellent course on crafting a story.
LinkedIn: Writing Online Training Courses
Course Facts
- Costs: Monthly subscription of $39.99 or annual subscription of $239.88
- Course Certificate: No
Our Take
LinkedIn is globally recognized as a leading social media platform for professionals, where they can connect, find employment opportunities, and advance their careers. However, in addition, it also provides access to over 24,000 courses designed for professional development, including courses that help users learn how to write. Through LinkedIn Learning, its educational subsidiary, users can choose from over a thousand courses focused on writing.
Please note that this type of access incurs a cost. For instance, members can choose between a monthly subscription of $39.99 or an annual subscription of $239.88, which is more cost-effective when paid annually. Users can choose from a wide range of online writing courses, spanning from professional writing to fiction writing. Users can also expect these courses to provide high-quality education, with an intended focus on helping you improve your writing.
The Takeaway
Mastering the art of writing is a lifelong journey, but with the right resources, anyone can dramatically improve their skills. Whether you’re looking to strengthen your academic writing, craft compelling stories, or write with professional flair, there’s a course out there to guide you. Platforms like Coursera, Udemy, edX, and LinkedIn Learning offer various options tailored to different goals, skill levels, and budgets. Investing in your writing today will create greater opportunities and clearer communication tomorrow. Choose the course that aligns best with your goals. For those who learn better with books, check out the best books on writing by Lucid Paradox.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Best Online Writing Course?
The best online writing course will depend on your writing goals and needs. Our research found that Coursera’s Academic English – Writing Specialization is best suited for those seeking to develop sophisticated writing skills tailored to academia. Simultaneously, Coursera also offers Creative Writing Specialization, a writing course that will help literary creatives learn how to articulate their thoughts and imagination through their writing.
Is It Worth Taking an Online Writing Course?
Yes, taking an online writing course can be worth it, especially if you know your skill level. Beginners seeking a way to learn the basics of writing and develop their skills at their own pace can be beneficial. However, advanced writers seeking to elevate their expertise may want to consider more academic courses.
How Long Will It Take to Master Writing?
Unfortunately, writing is a discipline that will be a lifelong journey to learning the craft. While many writers will see a vast improvement after 10,000 hours, it will require many more even to consider the notion of being a master of writing. But with dedication and constant practice, it’s possible.
The Author
