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Course Report

[2024] 180 Free Online Writing Courses to Improve Your Skills

From grammar to creative writing to technical writing, these free online courses will help you hone your writing skills.

Writing Courses

Becoming a better writer can help you achieve professional and personal goals. Whether you’re preparing for university studies, drafting résumés and cover letters, writing sales copy, or trying to preserve your own memories, you need to be able to communicate through writing. Fortunately, free writing courses abound to guide you in your writing journey.

Want to start writing fiction? There’s a course for that, several actually. There are also free writing online courses that will teach you to write better business emails, create compelling online posts and social media updates, and prepare technical reports. English language learners, teachers, and grammar nerds will also find some courses on this list. In short, whatever it is that you’re writing, chances are you can improve your craft with one or more of the courses below.

And for more resources, take a look at Learn English as a Second Language (ESL) with Hundreds of Courses and Sites.

Quick note:All of the featured courses in this article are either entirely free or free-to-audit. If you want to explore paid courses to help you become a better writer, simply type your topic of interest into the search field or browse our Humanities subjects.

For more courses, browse Class Central’s catalog of over 200K online courses or find all our free certificates articles here. Or visit our Best Courses Guides for writing:

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Free Grammar Courses

Verb Tenses and Passives
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
In this course, you will review the verb tenses that you learned in beginning English classes and learn about a few tenses you may not know very well.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Conjunctions, Connectives, and Adverb Clauses
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
In this course, you will learn about a lot of different ways to join ideas to make more complex and interesting sentences.

Grammar and Punctuation
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
After completing this course, you will be able to: – identify the correct verb tenses to use – use commas effectively – utilize several different sentence types – write more effectively in English
★★★★☆ (33 ratings)

Adjectives and Adjective Clauses
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
Adjectives and adjective clauses are very common in English, so students need to be able to understand them when they see them or hear them.
★★★☆☆ (4 ratings)

Perfect Tenses and Modals
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
In this course, you will learn about important intermediate verb tenses, including present perfect, present perfect progressive, past perfect, and past perfect progressive. You will also learn about common modal verbs used in English.
★★★★★ (6 ratings)

Tricky English Grammar
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
While it’s easy for non-native speakers to get overwhelmed by confusing grammar rules, in this course, we’ll provide you with tips that will help you understand the rules more easily and give you lots of practice with the tricky grammar of everyday English.
★★★★☆ (2 ratings)

Noun Clauses and Conditionals
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
In this class, you will learn about the advanced grammar concepts of noun clauses and conditionals.

Just Reading and Writing English 1
Tsinghua University via Coursera
Do you want to communicate with English speakers fluently? The course consists of 6 units with different topics: feelings, staying healthy, learning, university, cultural differences, and cities. From this course, you will have a good knowledge of primary English reading and writing skills in your daily life.

Just Reading and Writing English 2
Tsinghua University via Coursera
Do you want to read and write better in English? The course consists of 6 units with different topics: education, manners, personal communication, purpose of living, cultural studies, life science. From this course, you will have a good knowledge of intermediate English reading and writing skills.

Just Reading and Writing in English | 生活英语读写
Tsinghua University via edX
Learn how to read and write in English in the context of lectures and academic texts. 以读促写,以写辅读!掌握正确的阅读技巧和写作技巧,让你实现一次英语读写的飞跃!
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Writing and Editing: Word Choice and Word Order
University of Michigan via Coursera
This course will teach you how to use your written words to become more persuasive.
★★★★★ (2 ratings)

Writing and Editing: Drafting
University of Michigan via Coursera
This third course in the “Good with Words: Writing and Editing” series will give you a number of strategies to help with what is often the most intimidating, even paralyzing part of the writing process: getting started.

Writing and Editing: Structure and Organization
University of Michigan via Coursera
This second course in the Good with Words: Writing and Editing series will help you become an effective architect of information, both with your sentences and with your paragraphs. You’ll learn that the traditional advice to “Show, don’t tell” is incomplete and that skilled writers actually switch back and forth between showing and telling.

Writing and Editing: Revising
University of Michigan via Coursera
This fourth and final course in the “Good with Words: Writing and Editing” series will help you master perhaps the most important step in the writing process: revising. You’ll learn about the difference between editing and proofreading.

Effective Writing
Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee via Swayam
The purpose of this writing course is to familiarise students with the nuances of effective writing so that they can better understand the subtle art of writing. It allows them to write with clarity, precision, and subtlety to express their ideas on various occasions while considering the concepts of appropriateness and accuracy.
★★★★★ (2 ratings)

English Grammar and Style
University of Queensland via edX
Learn key concepts and strategies in grammar and style to help enhance your writing and confidently respond to the demand of high levels of literacy in the 21st century.
★★★★☆ (32 ratings)

Enhance your Writing with Adverb Clauses
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
In the first part of the course, you’ll learn some basic information about adverb clauses. Then, we’ll dive into the categories of ideas that adverb clauses express, and you’ll practice using subordinating conjunctions–the many grammar words that start adverb clauses.

Enhance your Writing with Adjective Clauses
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
Do you have a hard time describing things, people, and places in English? This course will show you how to be more descriptive in your writing by incorporating adjective clauses in complex sentences.

Enhance your Writing with Noun Clauses
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
This course is designed to hold your hand step-by-step through the most basic concepts of noun clauses all the way to the end goal of writing a paragraph with varied noun clauses.

A Beginner’s Guide to Writing in English for University Study
University of Reading via FutureLearn
Learn how to use English for study at university or college and develop your writing skills, vocabulary and grammar.
★★★★☆ (23 ratings)

Common English Grammar Mistakes and How to Fix Them–Sampler
via Udemy
Master Your Grammar Errors, Master Commonly Confused Words and Phrases, and Achieve Success and Credibility as a Writer

English Grammar and Speaking Course: Essential Verb Tenses!
via Udemy
Practice using Essential Verb Tenses in Conversation!

English Foundation Course 2023: Grammar and Speaking Upgrade
via Udemy
Become fluent by improving all your English Skills. Build a strong English foundation in grammar, speaking, and more!

English Grammar
via Udemy
Learn the English grammar you need to understand and use English today!

Basic English Grammar Course in Hindi
via Udemy
Level 1 for beginners

Grammar
via Independent
Grammar is the collection of rules and conventions that make languages go. This section is about Standard American English, but there’s something here for everyone.

Grammar matters
The Open University via OpenLearn
Grammar matters because, combined with vocabulary choice, it is our main way of making meaning. This free course introduces you to one approach used to understand how meanings relate systematically…

Vocabulary, Phrases, Idioms, Grammar
via YouTube
★★★★★ (2 ratings)

Free Essay Writing Courses

Getting Started with Essay Writing
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
By introducing you to three types of academic essays, this course will especially help prepare you for work in college classes, but anyone who wants to improve his or her writing skills can benefit from this course.
★★★★☆ (18 ratings)

How to Write an Essay
University of California, Berkeley via edX
An introduction to academic writing for English Language Learners, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing.
★★★★☆ (28 ratings)

Advanced Writing
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
After completing this course, you will be able to plan and write a more sophisticated argument essay.
★★★★☆ (7 ratings)

Writing a Personal Essay
Wesleyan University via Coursera
This class is the chance to create your personal essay or extend into a full memoir — from planning and structure to bold narrative brushstrokes to the layering of significant detail.

Memoir and Personal Essay: Managing Your Relationship with the Reader
Wesleyan University via Coursera
The blank page can be the most daunting obstacle in writing. In this course, aspiring writers will assemble a “starter kit” for approaching the blank page by developing constructive ways to think about the writing process as a whole.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Writing your World: Finding yourself in the academic space
University of Cape Town via Coursera
In this course, we provide practical insights into how to write an academic essay. We show you how to develop the academic skills needed to be a competent academic writer.
★★★★★ (3 ratings)

Developing Your Research Project
University of Southampton via FutureLearn
Undertaking an Extended Project Qualification, IB extended essay or any other scholarly research? This guides you step-by-step.
★★★★☆ (6 ratings)

Writing Skills for University Success
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
In this course, you’ll learn how to write effectively in different academic formats, especially essays and longer research papers.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Essay Writing Course
via YouTube

Essay Writing
via YouTube

Introduction to Research for Essay Writing
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
This is the last course in the Academic Writing specialization before the capstone project. By the end of this course, you will be able to complete all the steps in planning a research paper.
★★★★★ (7 ratings)

Essay and report writing skills
The Open University via OpenLearn
Writing reports and assignments can be a daunting prospect. Learn how to interpret questions and how to plan, structure and write your assignment or report. This free course, Essay and report …

The PTE 85+ Academic Essay Writing Course
via Udemy
Mastering the Writing Exam

Free Journalism Courses

English for Journalism
University of Pennsylvania via Coursera
This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in developing the skills needed for a career in modern journalism.
★★★★☆ (15 ratings)

Digital Culture and Writing
University of Burgundy via EMMA
Born from the desire to support a wide public facing the emergence of digital technology, the team of teachers from the university of Burgundy (uB), accompanied by colleagues from other universities, offers its MOOC DCW (Digital culture and Writing) publish and share on the web.” It provides an overview of the potentialities of digital writing and culture, for publish, share and communicate.

English for Journalists, Part 1
University of California, Berkeley via edX
Improve your English grammar, vocabulary and writing skills through exciting topics in journalism and world news.

Writing and Disseminating Grey Literature
Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) via Coursera
If you are a researcher, academic, student, development sector professional or a practitioner who is keen to reach the research-based knowledge you have created to a wider audience, this course is for you. Using formats such as data stories, photo narratives, opinion pieces and infographics, digital, print, and multimedia channels can help researchers reach a much wider audience when they adopt newer writing techniques.

What is news?
Michigan State University via Coursera
This course will guide you through the basic elements of professional journalism and the news values and ethics of covering real-world issues and events. The overview and examples of the types of news coverage helps introduce the different types of journalism, such as social media, multimedia, print, visual and broadcast, and how professional journalists effectively use each format.
★★★★★ (3 ratings)

Effectively delivering the news to your audience
Michigan State University via Coursera
You will learn the process, planning, requirements of how journalists develop their news reports. There are many ways to report news reports, and you will learn different forms of how to perform reporting and writing to serve different audiences.

Journalism 101
via YouTube
This series covers topics such as Newswriting, finding story ideas, interviewing sources and quoting sources, leading a lead and organising news stories, covering breaking news and ethics in journalism.
★★★★★ (3 ratings)

English for Journalism
via YouTube

Journalism, the future, and you!
Michigan State University via Coursera
You will explore areas such as being an international correspondent, self-publishing in journalism, as well as how to freelance in the field.
★★★★★ (2 ratings)

Investigative Journalism for the Digital Age
Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas via Independent
We are now making the content free and available to students who took the course and anyone else who’s interested in investigative reporting and data journalism basics, including experienced investigators who seek to deepen their skills on complex investigations, collaborations and data journalism.
★★★★☆ (4 ratings)

Equity & ethics in data journalism: Hands-on approaches to getting your data right
Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas via Independent
During this four-week course, you will learn about tools and techniques that will help you tell data stories fairly and ethically. Specifically, this course will guide you hands-on through the process of learning to identify inequity and hidden bias at seven key stages of the data journalism lifecycle.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Data Journalism and Visualization with Free Tools
Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas via Independent
This resource page features course content from the Knight Center for Journalism in the America’s massive open online course (MOOC) titled “Data Journalism and Visualization with Free Tools.”.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Journalism in a pandemic: Covering COVID-19 now and in the future
Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas via Independent
Produced in collaboration with the W.H.O., UNESCO and UNDP, this course helps journalists to improve their coverage of the pandemic. It’s also offered in French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Introduction to Journalism and Reporting
University of Kent via FutureLearn
Explore what makes good journalism as you learn about its origins and where news reporting stands today.

English for Journalists, Part 2
University of California, Berkeley via edX
Improve your English grammar, vocabulary and writing skills through topics in journalism including free speech, sports, humor and broadcast writing.

Teaching Writing Process
Johns Hopkins University via Coursera
Half a century ago, a revolution took place in the teaching of writing. Educators asked, “What if we were to study how professional writers wrote, as a way to learn how we might teach writing more effectively?”

Free Creative Writing Courses

Start Writing Fiction
The Open University via FutureLearn
Get started with your own fiction writing, focusing on the central skill of creating characters, with this hands-on course.
★★★★☆ (21 ratings)

Writing for Young Readers: Opening the Treasure Chest
Commonwealth Education Trust via Coursera
This course is for curious students and aspiring authors with a passion for writing for young readers. This course will guide you with a combination of video lectures, online readings, peer reviews, and guest appearances from world-renowned children’s authors.
★★★★☆ (13 ratings)

Creative Writing: The Craft of Plot
Wesleyan University via Coursera
In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to perhaps the most elemental and often the most challenging element of story: plot. We will learn what keeps it moving, how it manipulates our feelings, expectations, and desires. We 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.
★★★★☆ (15 ratings)

Creative Writing: The Craft of Style
Wesleyan University via Coursera
Your style is as unique and distinctive as your face, your voice, except that you can choose it, you can can work on it, enhance it. 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.
★★★★☆ (8 ratings)

Script Writing: Write a Pilot Episode for a TV or Web Series (Project-Centered Course)
Michigan State University via Coursera
In this project-centered course, you will design a series bible and write a complete pilot episode for your own unique television or web series, be it drama or comedy or something in between. You’ll learn to break down the creative process into components, and you’ll discover a structured process that allows you to produce a polished and pitch-ready script in just a few weeks.
★★★★☆ (3 ratings)

Transmedia Writing
Michigan State University via Coursera
In this project-centered course you will develop your own, original, intellectual property (IP) into a transmedia project containing written versions of your IP on various platforms. You will begin your novel, adapt the first chapters of your novel into the opening scenes of a film or TV show and create a game design concept of your IP.

Writing in First Person Point of View
Wesleyan University via Coursera
If you have always wanted to tell your own story—in a memoir, first-person essay, or any other form of autobiographical non-fiction—but felt you lacked the tools or the framework, this is the class for you.

Creative Writing: The Craft of Setting and Description
Wesleyan University via Coursera
In this course aspiring writers will be introduced to the techniques that masters of fiction use to ground a story in a concrete world. From the most realist settings to the most fantastical, writers will learn how to describe the physical world in sharp, sensory detail.
★★★★☆ (12 ratings)

Writing Stories About Ourselves
Wesleyan University via Coursera
In this course, creative nonfiction writers will explore traditional storytelling methods, especially those which overlap between fiction and memoir.

Sharpened Visions: A Poetry Workshop
California Institute of the Arts via Coursera
Why just write poems when you can write better ones? This course is built on the notion that the most exciting writing begins after the first draft.
★★★★☆ (19 ratings)

Writing successfully for the Stage
University of Cambridge via edX
Learn to structure your dramatic writing to a professional standard, as well as develop professionally transferable communication skills. This course will broaden your understanding of how to write engaging and interesting stories in order to attract producers and directors to your work. You will understand how to write effective dialogue, and how to edit your work.

Stand Up!; Comedy Writing and Performance Poetry
University of Cambridge via edX
Prepare to perform your comic writing and/or poetry to a live audience, as well as develop transferable writing skills and communication expertise that will be relevant in any profession. This course will broaden your understanding how to structure a stand-up comedy set, as well as allow you to understand how to use narrative form in your performance poetry texts.

Finding your voice as a playwright
University of Cambridge via edX
Learn to deepen your creative practice as a playwright, as well as develop professionally transferable writing skills and communication expertise. This course will broaden your understanding of how to start a career successfully as a professional dramatist, as well as offer you insights in how to maximise and enjoy the processes of your personal creativity.

Write Your First Novel
Michigan State University via Coursera
Write your first novel.

Creative Writing
Brigham Young University via YouTube
I’m Brandon Sanderson, and I write stories of the fantastic: fantasy, science fiction, and thrillers. Learn about plot, wordbuilding, short stories, character, and publishing.
★★★★★ (6 ratings)

Video Game Writing Essentials
The University of British Columbia via edX
Learn the essentials of writing for video games, from how games are developed and what game writers do, to the ways game stories differ from other kinds of stories.

Writing Video Game Characters
The University of British Columbia via edX
Learn how to make effective, memorable video game characters, from protagonists and antagonists to NPCs.

Writing Video Game Scenes and Dialogue
The University of British Columbia via edX
Learn the fundamentals of writing cinematics, cutscenes, and in-game dialogue.

Working as a Game Writer
The University of British Columbia via edX
Learn what it takes to work as a video game writer: from resumes to writing tests to contracts and NDAs.

Interactive Narrative
The University of British Columbia via edX
Learn how to use player choice and interactivity to create compelling game experiences

Building your Screenplay
University of Cambridge via edX
Learn to strengthen you skills as a screenwriter, while diversifying your knowledge and understanding of the demands of global film and TV production. Find out how to become a powerful visual story-teller; understand how to build effective structure within your screenplay; develop professionally transferable writing skills and communication expertise.

How to Write Your First Song
The University of Sheffield via FutureLearn
Get a practical introduction to the mechanics of songwriting and meet established songwriters with this free online course
★★★★★ (166 ratings)

Songwriting: Writing the Lyrics
Berklee College of Music via Coursera
There’s a songwriter lurking somewhere inside you, peeking around corners, wondering if it’s safe to come out. Now it is. This course is an invitation to let your inner songwriter step into the sunlight. All it takes is a simple “yes” and you’ll be climbing that windy hill, marveling at the view.
★★★★★ (24 ratings)

Creative Writing: The Craft of Character
Wesleyan University via Coursera
At the center of a good story are the characters in it. In this course aspiring writers will discover how to build and bring to life complex, vivid and unforgettable characters.
★★★★☆ (7 ratings)

Creative writing and critical reading
The Open University via OpenLearn
This free course, Creative writing and critical reading, explores the importance of reading as part of a creative writer’s development at the postgraduate level. You will gain inspiration and ideas…

Creative Writing – Writer’s Block Workbook Volume 1 Month 1
via Udemy
Five weeks’ worth of beginnings to create 100+ new pieces with tips to help your writing ongoing. Plus bonus content.

Creative Writing – Writer’s Block Workbook Volume 2 Month 1
via Udemy
Five weeks’ worth of keywords to create 100+ new pieces with tips to help your writing ongoing. Plus bonus content.

Start writing fiction: characters and stories
The Open University via OpenLearn
Start writing fiction is a free course that helps you to get started with your own fiction writing, focusing on the central skill of creating characters.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Playing with Poetry: Creative Writing and Poetics
University of Newcastle via FutureLearn
Have fun writing poetry as you explore and create various forms of poetry and experiment with different poetic ideas.

Start writing fiction
The Open University via OpenLearn
Have you always wanted to write, but never quite had the courage to start? This free course, Start writing fiction, will give you an insight into how authors create their characters and settings. …
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Free Copywriting Courses

Copywriting: Improve User Experience One Word at a Time
via openSAP
In this course, you’ll learn why copy is so important for your users’ experience and how copywriting fits into the design-led development process. Domain experts provide insights and best practices, and by participating in the exercises, you’ll get practical experience in writing copy.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Copywriting Foundations: Sell Using Your Words In 2020
via Udemy
How To Listen To Your Target Market & Focus Your Message To Make Your Copywriting 10x As Effective

155 Years of Copywriting Insights Taught In 1.5 Hour Course!
via Udemy
“This is the most refreshing, clear, straight forward and useful course on copywriting you could wish for.” – Eva
★★★★★ (5 ratings)

Copywriting Secrets
via YouTube
Get tips on how to start your career as a copywriter, write better emails and increase your income as a copywriter
★★★★★ (14 ratings)

Learn Copywriting
via YouTube

The Science of Copywriting
via YouTube
★★★★☆ (3 ratings)

Copywriting for Beginners and Pros With Exercises
via YouTube
Copywriting is the practice of composing persuading texts. Copywriting is used to sell products, ideas, ideologies, etc. Copywriting is an important component on web pages, in blog posts, advertisements, social media posts, videos, and podcasts. This video series is the first one in the free online copywriting course Professional Copywriting Made Easy.
★★★★☆ (42 ratings)

Copywriting Course
via YouTube
This playlist covers everything you need to know to start a freelance copywriting business in 2021.
★★★★☆ (6 ratings)

Copywriting 101 – Training Sessions for Freelance Writers
via YouTube
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Copywriting Persuasion Challenge
via YouTube
★★★★★ (11 ratings)

Copywriting para Iniciantes
via Udemy
Descubra o que é Copy, como funciona, para que serve e de que forma utilizar para aumentar suas vendas com persuasão

Free Academic Writing Courses

Academic Writing Courses Illustrated Banner

Writing in English at University
Lund University via Coursera
This course aims to give you an understanding of the conventions of academic writing in English and to teach you the components and benefits of what is called process writing.

Discovering Your PhD Potential: Writing a Research Proposal
via FutureLearn
Learn how to research and write a high-quality research proposal for postgraduate applications.

An Intermediate Guide to Writing in English for University Study
University of Reading via FutureLearn
Improve your academic English skills further, learning about critical analysis, using sources, avoiding plagiarism and more.
★★★★☆ (1 rating)

Project: Writing a Research Paper
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
Welcome to the capstone project for the Academic English: Writing Specialization! This project lets you apply everything you’ve learned and gives you the practice you need for college classes by having you write a research paper.

College Composition
Modern States via Independent
This course will prepare you to pass the College Board’s CLEP College Composition exam

Writing in the Disciplines Professional Development Course (HE)
Excelsior College via Canvas Network
This course on Writing in the Disciplines offers a modular curriculum that explores the meaning of genre, why and how to develop genre-based writing assignments, and effective techniques for using writing to enhance learning.

Academic Writing in English for ESL Learners
University College London via FutureLearn
Develop your academic writing skills in English as a second language (ESL) learner and advance your English writing at university.

论文写作初阶(Academic Writing and Research)
Peking University via Coursera
本课面向有志于学术研究和具有论文写作需求的高年级本科生和研究生同学,适合人文社会科学、特别是法学专业的学生学习,也欢迎理工科学生选修。教学内容主要集中于学术研究的基本方法与一般理念,既包括学术论文的提问、选题、谋篇、布局和实际写作,也包括学术资源特别是综合性与专业性数据库的检索和使用。

La recherche documentaire
École Polytechnique via Coursera
Ce cours vise principalement à permettre aux étudiants d’identifier les sources pertinentes dans un domaine donné, leur apprendre à construire un état de l’art et à évaluer les sources, en particulier celles en accès libre sur Internet.

Academic English: How to Write an Essay
University of Queensland via edX
A practical and introductory course to build your skills in academic writing.
★★★★★ (2 ratings)

College Foundations for English Composition
University System of Georgia via Desire2Learn
English Learning Support Course is an English preparatory course focusing on the skills required for effective writing in a variety of contexts, with emphasis on exposition, analysis, and argumentation, and also including introductory use of a variety of research skills.

English Composition I
Duke University via Coursera
You will gain a foundation for college-level writing valuable for nearly any field.

Academic Writing Made Easy
Technische Universität München (Technical University of Munich) via edX
Struggling with writing an academic text? This MOOC will ease the pain – and make your writing shine.
★★★★★ (48 ratings)

Academic Writing
H.N.B Garhwal University (A Central University) Srinagar Garhwal via Swayam
This course aims to fill this gap by providing the fundamental knowledge required for effective and result oriented academic writing. It is a foundation course and the application of this knowledge completely depends on an individual learner and his or her area of research.
★★★★★ (1707 ratings)

Academic Writing
University of Adelaide via edX
The academic writing course targets individuals transitioning from non-academic backgrounds, catering to school leavers and professionals re-entering higher education.

Introduction to Academic Writing
O.P. Jindal Global University via Coursera
Welcome to the Introduction to Academic Writing course! By the end of this course, you will gain an in-depth understanding of reading and writing as essential skills to conduct robust and critical research.

Teaching Writing Final Project
Johns Hopkins University via Coursera
One of the goals of the Teaching Writing specialization has been to help every learner consider ways to adapt what they are learning and apply it to their specific situation, needs and interests.

Free Business Writing Courses

High-Impact Business Writing
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
Effective writing is a powerful tool in the business environment. Learn how to articulate your thoughts in a clear and concise manner that will allow your ideas to be better understood by your readers.
★★★☆☆ (8 ratings)

Writing Professional Email and Memos (Project-Centered Course)
University System of Georgia via Coursera
Want your workplace writing to make a positive impression? At the end of this course, you will be a more confident writer, able to create higher quality professional documents more quickly.
★★★★☆ (12 ratings)

Better Business Writing in English
Georgia Institute of Technology via Coursera
Do you need to write more easily and effectively in English? This course will provide the tools to help you do just that.

English for Effective Business Writing
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology via Coursera
This course aims to improve your Business English writing skills by developing your use of vocabulary, grammar, understanding of different business writing genres, and your ability to write professional business documents.
★★★★☆ (1 rating)

Business Writing
University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera
This course will teach you how to apply the top ten principles of good business writing to your work, how to deploy simple tools to dramatically improve your writing, and how to execute organization, structure, and revision to communicate more masterfully than ever.
★★★★☆ (5 ratings)

Write Professional Emails in English
Georgia Institute of Technology via Coursera
This is a course to help you write effective business emails in English.
★★★★☆ (5 ratings)

Business Writing Techniques
Doane University via edX
Business Writing Techniques, will expand on the different communication styles and discuss the best practices of business writing by providing real-world scenarios and applications.

Rhetoric: The Art of Persuasive Writing and Public Speaking
Harvard University via edX
Gain critical communication skills in writing and public speaking with this introduction to American political rhetoric.
★★★★★ (5 ratings)

English for Doing Business in Asia – Writing
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology via edX
Introducing strategies for developing your written English communication skills in the context of doing business in Asia.

Redacción de documentos empresariales de gran impacto
University of California, Irvine via Coursera
En el ambiente empresarial, el saber escribir con eficacia es una poderosa herramienta. Aprende a expresar tus pensamientos de una manera clara y concisa para que las personas que lean lo que escribes capten mejor tus ideas.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

(Business Writing) الكتابة في مجال الأعمال
University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera
لا شك أن إتقان الكتابة من أهم المهارات التي يمكنك تعلمها بُغية تحقيق النجاح في مجال الأعمال. وقد استخدمت أكثر من سبعين شركة وعشرين ألف طالب – من الكتاب المحترفين والموظفين الجدد والمتحدثين باللغة الإنجليزية لغير الناطقين بها وحتى المديرين المتمرسين – الأساليب المستخدمة في الكتابة في مجال الأعمال لتعزيز قدرتهم على التواصل وإطلاق أفكارهم. ستعلمك هذه الدورة التدريبية كيفية تطبيق المبادئ العشرة الأفضل للكتابة الجيدة في مجال الأعمال على عملك وكيفية نشر أدوات بسيطة لتحسين كتابتك بشكل كبير وكيفية تنفيذ التنظيم والبنية والمراجعة للتواصل بشكل أكثر براعة من أي وقت مضى.

English for Business and Entrepreneurship
University of Pennsylvania via Coursera
This course is designed for non-native English speakers who are interested in learning more about the global business economy.
★★★★★ (7 ratings)

Using Email for Networking in English
University of Washington via edX
Improve your writing skills. Write effective emails including great subject lines, greetings, and closings. You’ll be more confident as you communicate for business, send messages, expand your network, and search for jobs in English.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Smart English Basics for Professionals – Spoken English – Communication Skills
Great Learning via YouTube
Great Learning brings you this video on “Smart English Basics For Professionals”. This course will help you improve your business communication in a professional environment.

Learn Business English
Great Learning via YouTube

Academic and Business Writing
University of California, Berkeley via edX
An introduction to academic and business writing for English Language Learners, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, structure, editing, and publication.
★★★★☆ (18 ratings)

Writing for Business Advanced
University of Glasgow via Coursera
This course will teach you how to apply advanced principles and strategies to produce successful business writing.

Free Technical Writing Courses

Writing in the Sciences
Stanford University via Coursera
This course teaches scientists to become more effective writers, using practical examples and exercises. 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.
★★★★★ (14 ratings)

Discovering Science: Science Writing
University of Leeds via FutureLearn
What science discoveries will you choose to write about?
★★★★☆ (28 ratings)

How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper (Project-Centered Course)
École Polytechnique via Coursera
In this project-based course, you will outline a complete scientific paper, choose an appropriate journal to which you’ll submit the finished paper for publication, and prepare a checklist that will allow you to independently judge whether your paper is ready to submit.
★★★★★ (5 ratings)

Writing Skills for Engineering Leaders
Rice University via Coursera
In this course, you’ll learn essential writing skills that you can apply in your daily activities on the job as an engineering leader.

Writing, Presenting and Submitting Scientific Papers in English | 英文科技论文写作与学术报告
Tsinghua University via edX
Learn how to properly write a scientific paper, based on international standards, and effectively make a presentation to submit proposals for funding. 表达与交流是拔尖创新科技人才最重要的综合能力。培养英文科技论文写作与学术报告的能力,帮助你打开世界科坛大门,与国际同行平等交流。
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Requirements Writing
University of New South Wales via Coursera
Welcome to “Requirements Writing”. As the title indicates, over the next four weeks, we will be looking at the important task of writing of text-based requirement statements.

Technical Report Writing for Engineers
The University of Sheffield via FutureLearn
Get an introduction to technical report writing. Find out how to communicate your ideas through well-written engineering reports.
★★★★★ (177 ratings)

English Language for Competitive Exams
Indian Institute of Technology Madras via Swayam
The course aims to help participants develop their English language skills, particularly those planning to appear for competitive exams that test their English language abilities.

Writing Case Studies: Science of Delivery
Princeton University via edX
Learn how to write “science of delivery” case studies, which help us understand how practitioners implement complex policies or programs.

The Language of Leaders: Learn to Write with Confidence
State Bank of India via edX
Enhance your leadership role through powerful writing skills.

NIeCer 103: Scientific Writing in Health Research
AICTE via Swayam
Communicating research findings to the scientific community is the responsibility of every researcher. Our course will explain the fundamental concepts in drafting a scientific manuscript to effectively communicate research findings.

Writing READMEs
via Udacity
Documentation is an important part of the development process. Learn to write READMEs using Markdown so your code can be used by other humans!
★★★☆☆ (2 ratings)

ENGL210: Technical Writing
via Saylor Academy

Technical Writing: A Quick Start to Software Documentation
via Udemy
A quick and direct overview of the end-to-end processes for writing software documentation

Free Résumé Writing Courses

Writing Winning Resumes and Cover Letters
University of Maryland, College Park via Coursera
How can you bring your resume to the top of the pile? You will learn how to convert a boring resume into a dynamic asset statement that conveys your talents in the language that an employer understands.
★★★★☆ (6 ratings)

How to Succeed at: Writing Applications
The University of Sheffield via FutureLearn
This free three week course will help you produce a perfect CV, application and online profile when applying for a job or course.
★★★★★ (440 ratings)

How to Write a Resume (Project-Centered Course)
State University of New York via Coursera
In this project-centered course, you will craft an essential cornerstone of the modern-day job or internship search: the resume. When you complete the course, you’ll have an eye-catching resume that lets your professional strengths shine.
★★★★☆ (15 ratings)

Refresh Your Resume
Grow with Google via Udacity
Create a targeted resume that gets the attention of recruiters and lands you an interview in tech.
★★★★☆ (1 rating)

Craft Your Cover Letter
via Udacity
Write a compelling narrative that showcases your value to the company.
★★★★☆ (2 ratings)

How to Write a Winning Resume – Top Resume Writing Tips
via YouTube
In this series of videos, you’ll learn how to write a resume that will get you noticed. You’ll learn some of my top resume writing secrets! You’ll also discover where to find a sample resume template and example that you can download today and tailor to apply for your next dream job. Enjoy!
★★★★★ (2 ratings)

How to Write a Resume – Animated
via YouTube

PRDV102: Resume Writing
via Saylor Academy
★★★★★ (3 ratings)

Comprehensive guide for resume writing
via Udemy
Resume writing and template creation for all QA professionals. Learn some cool resume writing tricks to maximize calls

How to Make a Good Resume – Resume for Jobs
Great Learning via YouTube
Great Learning brings you this video on “How to Build a Good Resume’ where the video starts off by discussing the importance of a CV, followed by discussing six essential steps of writing your resume.
★★★★☆ (1 rating)

Free Screenwriting/Script Writing Courses

Write A Feature Length Screenplay For Film Or Television
Michigan State University via Coursera
Write a Full Length Feature Film Script.

The Fundamentals of Screenwriting
via YouTube
★★★★★ (3 ratings)

An Introduction to Screenwriting
University of East Anglia via FutureLearn
This online course explores the key concepts and fundamental principles involved in the process of screenwriting.
★★★★★ (6 ratings)

Screenwriting Masterclass for Beginners
via YouTube

Screenwriting
via YouTube

Screenwriting Tips
via YouTube

The Screenwriting Life
via YouTube

Free Grant Writing Courses

Grant Writing and Crowdfunding for Public Libraries
University of Michigan via edX
Learn how to increase your impact, innovate, and overcome often static funding through various fundraising and grant writing approaches.

Grant Writing
Texas Instruments via YouTube
★★★★☆ (4 ratings)

Grant Writing for Beginners
via YouTube
Grant Writing For Beginners playlist provides you with insight to help you write winning grant proposals that get funded! These videos help you to learn grant writing quickly.
★★★★☆ (4 ratings)

Grant Writing for Nonprofits
via YouTube
We’ve included some videos on various Grant tips like Walmart Community 1 HR Grants, Grants in a Box and Grant Templates. Other helpful topics revolve around Program Officers, Letters of Inquiry (LOI), Unsolicited Proposals and various other Grant processes.
★★★★★ (1 rating)

Amazing People Share Nonprofit & Grant Writing Advice
via YouTube

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Pat Bowden

Online learning specialist, still learning after 200+ online courses completed since 2012. Class Central customer support and help since 2018. I am keen to help others make the most of online learning, so I set up a website:  www.onlinelearningsuccess.org

Comments 38

  1. Sabihe Tavakoli

    I would like to write children books and I am
    interested in taking a course to help me with that.

    Reply
    • Kiki

      Hi Sabihe,

      Have you ever found any learning resources for that? I would also love to improve my children-book writing skills.

      Looking forward to your reply!

      Reply
  2. Purushottam Tamang

    I would like to improve my English writing skills that helps me for report writing and I am very interested in taking report writing course. please help me with that.

    Reply
    • Augustine Kastherody

      I enrolled already and want to do my master of Science in Infection Prevention and Control through online and I am interested in taking a course to assist me in managing my study.

      Reply
      • P. Davis, Sr

        I am a retired senior citizen [85 years] who enjoys writing. I have a Bachelors’s Degree and plan to enroll in a graduate humanities course that requires heavy writing. My plan is to refresh my writing skills and I am searching for an online [graduate level] academic writing refresher course. Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated. My e-mail address is [email protected].

        Reply
  3. roV83

    I am interested in non-fiction writing and want to learn the basics

    Reply
    • J Sheen

      Have you found a creative nonfiction course online by chance you’d want to recommend?

      Reply
  4. mir shaukat ali

    Dear sir, I am engineer , i job iptv company but my writing English knowledge is very poor ,please tell me how to improve writing skill such as email writing, mag writing etc, please any body help me

    Reply
    • Fatima Camelo

      My name is Fátima and I’m also an engineer but my friend you should read more and more because this way you’re going to write beter and will develop your english.

      Reply
  5. SH

    This is a great collection. Thank you very much Mr Dhawal.

    Reply
  6. Nathanel TEGAYOMBI

    Dear sir,I appreciate your programs which help a big number of people from different corners of the world.So as a student of school of journalism,I would like to improve my English in terms of writing skills,and I wish you to help me become a future storyteller.Thanks

    Yours faithfully

    Reply
  7. Cathy Johns

    Am very intrested in this.

    Reply
  8. kakar

    sir we have a lot of problem in English understanding as well as in writing so sir tell us the perfect way that help in all skill of english.

    Reply
  9. Arvind Ramanujam

    Thanks for the info.

    Reply
  10. Jaylee M Wayne

    I would like to write a novel and I am also interested in taking coures

    Reply
  11. Alexiaga

    Whatever kind of English you want to write, mastering essential English grammar is essential. Here is a good site wher you can check out the main topics of English grammar, including points not always dealt with in grammars, such as style and sentence-structure. http://linguapress.com/grammar/

    Reply
  12. jaspreet singh

    The one which i need to recommend is http://www.pariswritersretreat.com/online-courses.html this is not free but this can help you to enhance your skills

    Reply
  13. berna gurning

    Dear Disqus, i am interested in writing essays so i can write excellent journals, articles, and assignments as well

    Reply
  14. Mark Sandel

    Thanks that an awesome course list. I was looking for “how to write better” courses for a long time until finding this one. The list looks reasonable and much longer than I have expected. However, I still have doubts, is it possible to learn how to write better, just interacting with a tutor online (and this is the best option) or watching the video? Well right now, I am pretty concerned with the quality of my writing and readers experience. Starting from the winter, I started to user style checkers http://www.paragraphchecker.com/. They are a bit unusual for me but undoubtedly helpful.

    Reply
  15. kilopko

    Free online courses are the best as well as sometimes it’s very much worthy way out to learn something innovative as well as profession in proper manner. in order to make the move precise as well as professional each stated way out is the key factors to do well in writing the essay part in proper manner so that anyone could get the possible approaches in precise manner.

    Reply
  16. Alexis

    If you’re looking how to make money online as a freelance writer, I highly recommend http:/ecareers.online. It’s a free e-course that teaches you how to get started as a freelance writer online. So far, it’s been amazing and membership is free!

    Reply
  17. Elisheva Reynolds

    I would like to write fantasy/romance/adventure type fiction novels…I would like to be an author, one whose books I would even read.

    Reply
  18. Damien Clarke

    I am currently working on developing my writing skills, so as to tackle the various hot topics in my niche, which is technology. Can anyone advise if there are good topics, which work on this specifically ?

    Reply
  19. Susie Bell

    I am writing stories for young people and adults. I have a learning difficulty so I can’t do any courses. I am a new writer who is an unsolicited writer, can’t find a literary agent. Susie Bell.

    Reply
  20. ellaalex

    Article Snipper Online tool is a one-click article rewriter that requires no signup or registration if you want to use the free version. All you need to do is enter human readable text and you will get human readable text out.
    check our free article spinner tool: http://www.articlespinneronline.com

    Reply
  21. Wan Smith

    Surely one would be suggested with these online courses to develop a clear sense of writing and develop great story telling vibes in one self. if you lack the major ideas than you should take online classes as above mentioned that these classes provides well information and intense thinking skills.

    Reply
  22. homework doer

    Firstly you have to know some basic tips for writer. They are pretty simple but forget about the. Reread on the next day. Many errors don`t come up right away. Re-reading the text immediately after writing will help cross out a couple of errors, but it’s best to do it after a while, ideally – the next day. So you can come up with a fresh mind to check your creativity, and I assure you that you will want to correct and remake a lot.

    In the book “”American Psycho”” extensive descriptions of how the main character shaves, applies gel on the body and dresses in a suit from Brioni and shoes from Prada are an artistic feature. You’d better get rid of excess water. Don`t write as much as possible. Short sentences is only what is really needed. There is too much information on the Internet, and nobody will read meaningless paragraphs of the text. To write interesting, you should have interesting life.
    I came to this conclusion after spending five days at home, not going anywhere and doing nothing. I had no idea in my head, and there was no question of writing anything. You have to try something new, to leave the comfort zone, because without it you will be the same as everyone else. And you don`t want to, do you? Write every day

    At least something. Don`t tell yourself that you have no ideas. They are always:

    What you dreamed about today.
    What interesting things did you learn today / yesterday / this week.
    What would you do if you got a million dollars (you can even dream about a billion).
    Why this day was good.
    How could one live this day better.
    What would you like to change in today’s day.
    Why do you have no inspiration and what needs to be done to make it appear.
    What is useful you have done.
    What would you teach a stranger.
    Why do we need an appendix

    Reply
  23. Kathy Bretz

    I would like to learn technical writing, can I do this without a certificate or degree? thanks.

    Reply
  24. Author Thison Schultz

    I can’t afford a writing class, is this free? I want to follow my passion to become a writer. I need your advice how to write a novel. I really want to do this. I love to read mystery novels. I can’t do anything else, Except to become a writer. I can’t succeed if I don’t take this writing course. This is my only chance to become a writer. If don’t I will fail of my future. I can’t take this anymore. I really want to become a great writer. I don’t have the money to do it.

    Reply
    • Isla

      i love to write and i wanna be a writer too

      Reply
  25. TB

    @ Dhawal Shah

    I just wanted to point out that not all of these courses are actually free. For example the two UBCx How to Write courses are $295 each with no option, that I could find, to audit or even to take a limited version.

    https://www.classcentral.com/course/edx-how-to-write-a-novel-edit-revise-10018
    https://www.classcentral.com/course/edx-how-to-write-a-novel-writing-the-draft-3938

    I’m sure there are others from this list as well, particular those on EdX as they (EdX) have been moving away from offering their courses for free.

    Reply
  26. mamta prasad

    great resources
    keep it up! ! !

    Reply
  27. Nihal Singh

    Nice Article, Your article helps to improve the writing skills for all the thesis writers and the students and the online courses are helped to gain knowledge from home itself. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
  28. Corpely.com

    Learning how to write a good essay with a powerful introduction, clear arguments and well-crafted conclusion is a great way to build a foundation of writing skills. This 8-week course starts with the basics of grammar and sentence construction and quickly advances to thesis development and essay writing with tools for creating outlines and editing your work. Dr. Maggie Sokolik of the College Writing Programs at the University of California, Berkeley guides students through this excellent introductory writing course in which participants can get a great deal of practice writing and interact with other students from around the world. Links to optional online textbooks are provided.

    Reply
  29. David Walker

    I’m looking for a writing course that teaches you how to hand write smoothly and legibly. To have flow in writing , that looks elegant on the sheet of paper. Were all the letters are easily read by anyone. The art of writing.

    DSW
    David Walker

    Reply
  30. David Walker

    Do you have a penmanship course?

    DSW

    Reply
  31. Andrew Ralphs

    FutureLearn is NOT FREE – I hate the way these types of sites either deliberately mislead or do not get their facts right !!!

    Reply

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