aspiring writers

In our information age, somebody needs to produce that information, and it can’t all be pictures or videos (try as YouTube might). Luckily, there are a variety of free online courses(MOOCs) available for all types of writers and aspiring writers. https://www.class-central.com/report/writing-free-online-courses/

Note: Not all of these courses are available. Add a course to MOOC Tracker and we will notify you when the course becomes available. To signup for a course, click on the green ‘Go to Class’ button on the course page.

Basic Writing & Composition

Creative Writing for All: A 10-Day Journaling Challenge (Almost free – $0.99)
via Skillshare
Internationally acclaimed author Emily Gould walks you through a 10-day creative writing challenge! Filled with inspiring examples, observation prompts, and clever revision tricks, it’s perfect for writers and enthusiasts eager to rekindle creativity in a personal and artful way.
Self Paced

A beginners’ guide to writing in English for university study
via University of Reading
Learn how to use English for study at university or college and develop your writing skills, vocabulary and grammar.
Next Session: 9th May, 2016

Write101x: English Grammar and Style
via University of Queensland
Write101x will enable you to learn how words work so that you can write the concise, lucid, nuanced, and compelling prose that is so valued by readers.
Next Session: 25th Jul, 2016

English Composition I: Achieving Expertise
via Duke University
You will gain a foundation for college-level writing valuable for nearly any field. Students will learn how to read carefully, write effective arguments, understand the writing process, engage with others’ ideas, cite accurately, and craft powerful prose.
Next Session: 20th Jun, 2016

Adventures in Writing
Stanford University via Stanford OpenEdx
Welcome to Adventures in Writing, a series of graphic-novel style learning modules designed to help you learn more about and practice a range of effective written communication skills. You’ll immerse yourself in the adventures of Maya and Chris, using each module’s interactive exercises to apply what you’ve learned
★★★★★ (1 rating) | Next Session : Self Paced

Scribble: Writing for New Writers
via OpenLearning
This course will take students through the process of writing from simple paragraphs to more complex writing structures and eventually research writing.
★★★★☆ (4 ratings) | Next Session : Self Paced

First-Year Composition 2.0
via Georgia Tech
First-Year Composition 2.0 will help you to develop a better process and gain confidence in written, visual, and oral communication and to create and critique documents and presentations in college, in the workplace, and in your community. You will draft and revise the following assignments: a personal essay, an image, and an oral presentation.
Next Session: 27th May, 2013

Writing II: Rhetorical Composing
via Ohio State University
Rhetorical Composing is a course where writers exchange words, ideas, talents, and support. You will be introduced to a variety of rhetorical concepts—that is, ideas and techniques to inform and persuade audiences—that will help you become a more effective consumer and producer of written, visual, and multimodal texts
Next Session: 15th Sep, 2014

 

Crafting an Effective Writer: Tools of the Trade (Fundamental English Writing)
via Mt. San Jacinto College
Learn to become an effective builder of sentences using the basic tools of English grammar, punctuation, and writing. This is a fundamental English writing course.
Next Session: 4th Sep, 2015

Thinking Like a Writer
via Michigan State University
This course revolves around the work of revising writing, learning, and engaging with language and community. You will explore who you are as a learner as you write about yourself and your language use, as well as consider who you are as a communicator as you critique texts, persuade audiences, and collaborate with others.
Next Session: 23rd Jun, 2014

Essay Writing

ColWri2.1x: How to Write an Essay 
via University of California, Berkeley
College Writing 2.1x is an introduction to academic writing for English Language Learners, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing.
Next Session: 12th Oct, 2016

ColWri2.2: English Grammar and Essay Writing
via University of California, Berkeley
College Writing 2.2x is the second part of the academic writing course. In this part, you will focus on proofreading and self-editing; revision vs. editing; common errors in grammar, punctuation, and spelling; understanding tone and diction; vocabulary development.
Next Session: 18th Feb, 2017

Journalistic Writing

Content Marketing: Blogging for Growth (Almost free – $0.99)
via Skillshare
Explore how entrepreneur Eric Siu creates content not just for the sake of writing, but for hitting your own goals. In this 80-minute deep dive class, you’ll learn Eric’s step-by-step structure for creating compelling blog content — the same process that has helped him build a seven-figure business, Single Grain and the five-star-rated podcast, Growth Everywhere.
Self Paced

Introduction to Journalism
via University of Strathclyde
Learn about the key principles and debates in journalism and enact the role of a journalist in the context of an escalating story.
Next Session:28th Mar, 2016

Journalism Skills for Engaged Citizens
University of Melbourne via Coursera
This is a course in basic journalism skills, designed for the many people who are now taking advantage of new media to publish news, views and information
Next Session : 17th Aug, 2015

 

Community Journalism: Digital and Social Media
Cardiff University via FutureLearn
This is a course in basic journalism skills designed for citizens who are using new media to publish news, views and information. We cover writing skills, interviews, ethics, law and accessing public forums and documents. We also introduce basic investigative skills.
★★★★☆ (3 ratings) | Next Session : 8th Feb, 2016

J4SC101x: Journalism for Social Change
University of California, Berkeley via edX
J4SC101 has been designed for students who are interested in the intersection of public policy, journalism and social sciences and who are looking to use their expertise and careers to drive positive social change.
★★★☆☆ (1 rating) | Next Session : Self paced

Writing Fiction

How Writers Write Fiction
via University of Iowa
An interactive study of the practice of creative writing, How Writers Write presents a curated collection of short, intimate talks created by fifty authors of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and literary translation.
Next Session: 24th Sep, 2015

Start writing fiction
via The Open University
This hands-on course helps you to get started with your own fiction writing, focusing on the central skill of creating characters.
Next Session: 3rd Oct, 2016

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
★★★★★ (1 rating) | Next Session : Self Paced

The Future Of Storytelling
via University of Applied Sciences Potsdam
Learn how to analyze, contextualize and create stories and narratives in current media: from understanding storytelling basics to discussing new online tools and formats, this course brings together a network of media researchers, creators, and students.
Next Session: 25th Oct, 2013

 

How Writers Write Poetry
via University of Iowa
The course presents a curated collection of short, intimate talks on craft by two dozen acclaimed poets writing in English. Craft topics include sketching techniques, appropriation, meter, constraints, sound, mindfulness, and pleasure. The talks are designed for beginning poets just starting to put words on a page as well as for advanced poets looking for new entry points, thoughts about process, or teaching tips.
Next Session: Mar, 2015

Applied Writing Skills

How to Succeed at: Writing Applications
via University of Sheffield
This free three week course will help you produce a perfect CV, application and online profile when applying for a job or course.
Next Session: 13th Jun, 2016

Writing for the Web
Understanding the difference between writing for print versus writing for the web starts with learning about how readers behave differently online. This course brings to light how to accommodate the needs of online readers through web design, writing style, structure and search engine optimisation.
Next Session: 11th Jan, 2016

ColWri2.3x: Academic and Business Writing
via University of California, Berkeley
An introduction to academic writing for English Language Learners, focusing on essay development, grammatical correctness, and self-editing.
Next Session: 18th Apr, 2016

Stunt Writing for Personal Growth
The Stunt Writing For Personal Growth class includes prompts, lectures, readings and discussions for writers of any age, at any level. Inspired by Eleanor Roosevelt’s famous quote, “Do one thing every day that scares you,” Stunt Writing For Personal Growth is a process that uses writing as a tool for you to learn about yourself, and gain skills in communicating your own unique story.
Next Session: 20th Jul, 2015

Writing in the Sciences
via Stanford
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, and issues in publication and peer review. Students from non-science disciplines can benefit from the training provided in the first four weeks (on general principles of effective writing)
Next Session: Self paced