8 Free Online Courses for Elevating Your Pen Game
Though image is emphasized in influencer culture, knowing your way around a pen and keyboard still matters. Writing is a common thread skill for most creators. Whether you’re writing product captions, personal essays, informational blog posts, and/or marketing strategies, knowing how to do it can be incredibly helpful, especially if you’re a solopreneur. Though outsourcing help can be a great way to set boundaries and identify your strengths and weaknesses, there are times when it just makes sense to handle on your own. (Not to mention, the do-it-yourself method is a money saver, too.)
While some of us prefer learning on-the-go, others may find a classroom structure more helpful. For those who want the latter, there are plenty of online courses that you can take on your own schedule and from home (or wherever you’re working). For creators specifically, we recommend courses made by other creators who have the practical experience to back up their expertise.
For example, “The Scoop on Blogging,” created by blogger Xaviera Bryant covers a wide gamut of topics for beginner bloggers: writing killer blog posts, most profitable blogging topics, and monetization, to name a few. Christina Galbato’s “TIB Webinar” is all about the secrets to succeeding as an influencer, including how to write effective social media captions.
But if you’re on a budget or simply don’t have one (yet), here is a couple of free online writing course options that cover a variety of skill levels and types of writing.
HubSpot Business Writing Course
If you want to improve your creative process by learning how to effectively brainstorm, build a research plan, and create outlines, this class taught by best-selling author Daniel Pink is a start.
Memoir and Personal Essay: Write About Yourself Specialization
This Wesleyan University course, hosted by Coursera and taught by published writers, uses the Applied Learning Project method to give you 16 writing assignments across four video modules. By the end, “you will collect a portfolio of work that you can use as components of your memoir or essay.”
Writing for Social Justice
If you’re committed to integrating social impact into your work year-round, this edX course teaches you how to craft opinion articles, contact public officials about causes you’re backing, how to maintain a blog, and more.
Writing for Social Media
If writing Instagram captions or consistent posting isn’t your strong suit, take this course for tactical tips on social media writing, including how to respond to customer comments, how to define your social media voice, and craft authentic marketing language.
Writing in First Person Point of View
If you want to simply write more memorable blog posts, this course focuses on improving memoirs and first-person essays by helping you to find your voice, figure out “your point,” and more.
FutureLearn Content Marketing Strategy
If you’re a newbie creator and know absolutely nothing about content marketing, this class covers the basics so you can create a PR plan that actually resonates with your community.
Creating a Daily Writing Routine That Actually Works
For those who struggle to stick with a writing routine, this class will tell you not only why a daily routine is important, but how to set writing goals, create a space that encourages writing, embrace bad writing, and more.
Writing Crystal Clear Copy: Copywriting Basics for Beginners
If you’re a business owner selling products, this course goes over how to know your customer, find your voice, write sharp copy, and more.
Subscribe to the BlogHer newsletter for more tactical advice, exclusive content, and timely event updates.