9 sweet courses to binge over Easter

As we approach the Easter long weekend and the chance to take stock one-third of the way into 2019, it’s a great opportunity to add to your writing skills with our suite of self-paced online courses. The following NINE have been created by experts and designed to provide you with flexible, binge-able learning wherever you are!

So sure, binge the chocolate and binge the TV shows, but balance it out with a dose of writing smarts – ready when you are and offering 12 months’ unlimited access to the course content. Life is sweet…

1. Fiction Essentials: DIALOGUE
PRICE: $195
IDEAL FOR: Fiction writers wanting to ‘level up’ on their core skills.
IN A NUTSHELL: The newest in our line up and just launched this month, this course focuses on one of the most important elements of storytelling. Dialogue advances the action, defines characters and entertains the reader – covering both what is said as well as body language. This course will improve your mastery of this tricky but essential part of fiction.

2. Fiction Essentials: CHARACTERS
PRICE: $195
IDEAL FOR: Fiction writers who want to create more engaging characters.
IN A NUTSHELL: Whether you’re writing your first novel or your 21st, this comprehensive course will help you create the strongest characters possible to drive your narrative forward.  Just consider how memorable the characters are in your own favourite books – the magic would be lost without them…

3. Real Estate Copywriting
PRICE: $275
IDEAL FOR: Freelance writers or copywriters wanting a new revenue stream.
IN A NUTSHELL: No matter what the market is doing, there are always homes for sale – and where there’s a sale, someone needs to write the property listing. Many agents use property writers for this job, and this course will show you what’s involved and how to get started. Packed with fun lessons, useful templates and exercises, this one will pay for itself after just one or two jobs!

4. Build Your Author Platform
PRICE: $165
IDEAL FOR: Emerging fiction and memoir writers looking to generate more buzz and enhance their public profile.
IN A NUTSHELL: These days, simply writing a good book is not enough. With such a crowded marketplace, it’s vital that you also focus on building your profile before you’re published. This course will give you the exact steps you need to take to build an engaged community and boost your brand, with tips for both offline and online.

5. 2 Hours to Scrivener Power
PRICE: $97
IDEAL FOR: Writers looking for a more purpose-built program than Word.
IN A NUTSHELL: Authors the world over swear by Scrivener – the software that helps you keep track of multiple elements of your manuscript, including timelines, characters, chapters and much much more. In fact, it’s so powerful that it can seem overwhelming – which is where superuser and author Natasha Lester can help. In just a few hours, you’ll have the essentials mastered and never look back! (Updated for version 3.)

6. Content Writing
PRICE: $295
IDEAL FOR: Freelance writers and bloggers looking to get paid for branded content.
IN A NUTSHELL: Content marketing is the new way brands are connecting with customers – not through overt selling techniques, but rather by sharing stories and engaging content that provides something useful for the reader. This course will share how to create great headlines and content writing pieces, including plenty of ready-to-use templates to choose from.

7. Inside Publishing
PRICE: $165
IDEAL FOR: Aspiring authors who want to understand how the book publishing process works.
IN A NUTSHELL: We all know that writing the manuscript is only half the job. The rest is a series of processes that can trip up the uninitiated newbie author. Don’t fall into that trap – get the inside knowledge on everything from copyright to offers and advances, editors and contracts. A must do for any aspiring author!

8. Short Story Essentials
PRICE: $345
IDEAL FOR: Competition addicts and aspiring novel writers – a great way to hone your craft!
IN A NUTSHELL: With short stories, every word needs to pull its weight – and this course will take you step-by-step through each stage of building a compelling short story, and – best of all – includes the opportunity on completion to submit your final story for personalised feedback by course creator Cathie Tasker. Get the edge on other writers with this invaluable toolbox of short story essentials!

9. Anatomy of a Crime: How to Write About Murder
PRICE: $195
IDEAL FOR: Crime and thriller writers wanting to inject more authenticity into their stories.
IN A NUTSHELL: Award-winning crime fiction author and crime buff Candice Fox takes you on a deep dive into the dark and detailed world of murder. You’ll discover how to approach homicide from an objective, investigative standpoint and consider the experiences of the killer, victim and the police teams throughout several real-life cases. If you love true-crime podcasts, you’ll LOVE this course!

Want to see our full range of courses?

There are two dozen of them currently – and you can explore them all right here. 

Happy Easter hunting!