10 online courses you can complete in two weeks

Craving a creative outlet right now? We hear you.

The good news is it’s easier than ever to engage your mind and fast-track your learning from the comfort of your own home. If you’re feeling inspired to focus on your writing right now – or just seeking a more productive way to spend your time (perhaps a welcome break from binge-watching TV or scrolling through social media) – we have a bunch of online courses to choose from.

There’s something for everyone whether it’s for fiction, freelance, business or pleasure – all easy to use and sure to keep your motivation buzzing. Each of our self-paced courses gives you a full 12-months’ access and the flexibility of learning whenever (and wherever) it suits you. Best of all – you can blast through them in two weeks if the mood strikes. That’s right, it’s a brilliant time to binge on writing!

1. Blogging for Beginners
Ready to carve out your own little corner of the internet and enter the blogosphere? If you’ve been toying with the idea of blogging but at a loss at how to make it happen – this course is exactly what you need.

You’ll get the step-by-step instructions on how to start your own blog – complete with video tutorials and handy tips to guide you. It’s the quickest and easiest way to set yourself up online so you can begin blogging your heart out.

2. Content Writing
With more and more publications and companies outsourcing their content marketing to freelancers – our Content Writing course is a powerful resource to have at your fingertips.

Get an insight into the angles that resonate with readers so you can whip up engaging content at a moment’s notice. And you’ll be able to refer back to the valuable templates whenever you need! Follow the practical advice and you’ll become a pro at creating compelling content on the go.

3. Fiction Essentials: Point of View
If you’re like the majority of fiction writers – “point of view” is a key area you’d love to improve. When your story’s POV is seamless, your writing sparkles and your narrative voice is strong. But it’s not always easy to nail and there are many pitfalls to avoid along the way. 

This practical course delves into the nitty gritty techniques of Point of View and allows you to master this vital area of fiction writing. Through the easy-to-digest audio lessons and handouts, you’ll soon find your understanding of POV will just click into place. Who doesn’t love an ‘aha’ moment!

You might be dabbling in fiction or working on your 15th manuscript– either way – this is one course every author needs in their toolkit.

4. Writing Chapter Books for 6-9 year olds
Would you love to write a chapter book series for kids? Get the knowledge and inspiration you need in this course so you can create stories young readers will adore.

How do you write an exciting story in a small word count? What themes resonate with kids (and publishers)? Will your story idea work across multiple books?

Find out everything you need to know for a successful series and learn from children’s author Lesley Gibbes via her inspiring video tutorials. This course is sure to ignite your imagination – you’ll be smashing out your stories in no time.

5. Creative Non-fiction

Creative non-fiction is one of the most popular genres in publishing right now. And it’s clear to see why. People love a good story – and if it’s based on true events, they’re even more invested in it.

Perhaps you want to explore true crime, history or literary journalism. Maybe you have a great idea for a memoir, or armchair travel book. It doesn’t matter what subject you’re passionate about, this course provides you with a blueprint on everything you need to know – from how to structure your story and bring its real characters to life, to the kind of research you need to do and the techniques that will drive your narrative to a powerful climax.

6. Anatomy of a Crime: How to Write About Murder
Are you a lover of true crime podcasts and writing grisly, thrilling tales? This course will be right up your dark and scary alley.

Follow award-winning crime fiction author Candice Fox into the world of murder. Explore the psychological, forensic and legal aspects of homicide from premeditation to prison life – and discover the details that will add a dollop of authenticity to your own stories. Like a gripping novel, we expect you’ll find this course so fascinating you’ll binge-learn over a single weekend.

7. Real Estate Copywriting
Why not take advantage of your extra time at home and explore a new revenue stream – writing about homes! Learn what goes into a compelling property listing and HOW to get paid to write them.

There are always new properties on the market. And if you’re able to create state-of-the-art listings, you’ll have buyers (and agents) coming back for more. This course is packed full of video lessons, useful templates, case studies, email scripts, exercises and cheat sheets – everything you need to get started straight away. 

8. Fiction Essentials: Grammar and Punctuation
Don’t allow potential agents, publishers and readers to be put off by a story that’s littered with grammatical errors and incorrect punctuation. Our Fiction Essentials: Grammar and Punctuation course is an essential resource to have on hand at every stage of your manuscript.

You’ll hone your understanding of tenses, sentence structure, punctuation in dialogue and much more. There are stacks of quizzes and exercises to help you reinforce your learning and master the rules every time.

Best of all – you’ll gain the confidence to write and edit your stories so they’re as polished as possible with skills that will last you a lifetime.

9. Professional Business Writing
It’s the perfect time to get the edge on your professional writing and this course will develop your techniques in the fastest time possible. If you find your reports, emails, proposals or business communications aren’t quite hitting the mark, you'll find the framework and golden rules you need in this video-based course.

Take the stress out of your workplace writing so you can produce documents with confidence. This practical course is a breeze to complete and allows you to practise your new techniques with knowledge tests after every module. Plus you’ll have it by your side to refresh your plain English writing skills whenever you need.

10. 2 Hours to Scrivener Power
This might be your year to explore the wonder of Scrivener – the custom-built program for writers. Bestselling author Natasha Lester takes you through the essential features of this program and you’ll soon see why she loves it. In this two-hour video course you’ll learn how to use Scrivener and easily arrange information, move around chapters, develop characters and plot your work. It’s a game-changer for your fiction writing.

Are you a bit of a course junkie? Us too! Explore our full online course selection with options to suit every kind of writer. Access the materials when it suits you and gain skills you can put into practice immediately. Happy learning.