5 of the Best Freelance Writing Courses for Beginners

With the rise of remote work and the increasing popularity of freelancing, more and more people are considering freelance writing as a way to earn income and enjoy a flexible lifestyle. Whether you are brand new to writing or already have some experience under your belt, you might be wondering whether it’s worth taking a content writing or freelance writing course.

In this post, we’ll explore the benefits of taking an online writing course (including why online learning is just as valuable as an in-person class), look at the top five freelance writing courses for beginners, and share expert tips on how to make the most of your studies. Let’s get started!

3 Reasons to Take a Freelance Writing Course

While you don’t need a qualification to become a freelance writer, taking a writing course can have many benefits whatever stage you’re at in your career. Below are three reasons why taking a freelance writing course could be the right option for you.

1. You Want to Kickstart a New Career

With the promise of flexible hours and the chance to work from anywhere, freelance writing is an attractive career option for many.

But breaking into this industry can be difficult if you don’t have the right skills or experience behind you.

Taking a freelance writing course can help you turn your writing dream into a reality by teaching you:

• What freelance writing involves
• How to write for different niches
• How to market yourself
• Ways to find clients

Taking a writing course can also provide you with the opportunity to practice your writing and hone your abilities. You may even get the opportunity to develop pieces for your writing portfolio.

2. You Want to Refresh Your Existing Skills 

It’s important to make continuing professional development part of your freelance journey, whatever stage you’re at in your career. So, if you already have writing experience or a freelance background, taking a writing course can help you develop and sharpen those existing skills.

You might choose to update your current skill set or expand your repertoire further by training in new or complementary skills.

For example, undergoing a freelance writing course could help you specialize in a service such as writing for search engine optimization (SEO).

This can help you attract new clients, command higher rates, and grow your business.

3. You Want Proof of Your Skills for Your Resume

When potential employers and clients look for freelance writers to work with, they want to be reassured that you possess the right skills for the job.

One of the best ways to demonstrate that you have the skills they’re looking for is by taking a writing course.

Freelance writing courses can act as proof of your abilities by providing you with:

• Completion certificates
• CPD points, or other forms of accreditation
• Feedback from industry experts
• Writing samples
• Evidence that you are passionate about your profession

So, when you complete a freelance writing course, make sure to include it in your resume.

Why Take an Online Writing Course?

Online courses have soared in popularity in recent years, and for good reason. They often provide these benefits:

• Flexible scheduling and pacing: You can learn at your own speed and fit your studies around other commitments, such as work or family.
• High-quality, expert instruction: Many online programs are taught by industry professionals with a wealth of experience.
• Cost-effectiveness: With no overheads like those from using physical classrooms, online courses can be more budget-friendly than traditional options.
• Personalized feedback: Many online courses include individualized critiques of your assignments, ensuring that you get targeted guidance.
• Networking opportunities: Instructors and fellow students can become part of your professional network, leading to potential collaboration and referrals down the line.

Just because a course is online doesn’t mean that it’s less worthwhile than an in-person class. In fact, if you make the most of the opportunities it provides, an online program can be every bit as valuable – if not more!

5 of the Best Freelance Writing Courses for Beginners

With so many course options out there, you might be feeling overwhelmed when it comes to choosing the right one. To help, we’ve done some of the legwork for you! Below, we’ve rounded up five of the best freelance writing courses for beginners.

For each course, we’ll break down what you’ll learn, any unique features, the support you can expect, and how much it costs. Afterward, we’ll summarize them in a handy table for easy side-by-side comparisons.

1. Knowadays: Becoming A Freelance Writer

Our Becoming A Freelance Writer course is a newcomer to the game, but with comprehensive training from freelance experts and the chance to produce content for our blog, it’s a great choice for beginners.

The eight course modules cover:

• An introduction to the course
• What content writing is
• How to prepare for a project
• How to write blog posts and articles
• How to make use of SEO
• An article case study
• How to build your business
• A final assignment

Knowadays learners also receive one-on-one tutor support, a graded final assignment, and access to resources, checklists, and templates.

Plus, successful graduates are given the opportunity to write three posts for the Knowadays blog.

Learners can sign up for two free lessons to try Becoming A Freelance Writer. The full course costs $499 for lifetime access.

2. Peak Freelance: Freelance Writing Essentials

The Freelance Writing Essentials course is designed to train new freelancers in the art of building a freelance writing business.

Created by experienced writers Michael Keenan and Elise Dopson, the course is divided into six video-based modules that focus on:

• What freelance writing is (and isn’t)
• How to market yourself
• The legal side of freelancing
• How to write content
• How to find clients
• Workflow and project management

While it doesn’t devote much time to the art of writing itself, the Freelance Writing Essentials course is great for new freelancers looking to understand how the world of freelance writing works.

The course costs $99 for lifetime access, which includes downloadable resources, checklists, and templates. After taking the course, learners can choose to become a Peak Freelance member and develop their skills further.

3. Filthy Rich Writer: Comprehensive Copywriting Academy

Filthy Rich Writer founder Nicki Krawczyk developed her Comprehensive Copywriting Academy course for new freelancers looking to specialize in copywriting.

Before buying the course, you can watch a free training video that teaches you how to land work as a freelance copywriter and explains what the Comprehensive Copywriting Academy has to offer.

The course itself includes six modules, which cover:

• The basics of copywriting
• How to improve your copywriting skills
• What a copywriting project involves
• Digital vs. print copywriting
• Growing a freelance copywriting business

Lifetime access to Comprehensive Copywriting Academy costs a one-time fee of $697 or three monthly payments of $257.

In addition to the course content, this price also includes online support, regular calls from a designated coach, and exclusive events such as seminars and workshops.

4. Write Your Way to Your First $1k

Write Your Way to Your First $1k (or simply Write to $1k) is a freelance writing course from professional writer Elna Cain.

The course is aimed at helping new freelance writers earn an income quickly, even if they have no prior freelance or writing experience.

Write to $1k is split into 54 lessons across 7 modules, covering:

• What to expect from freelance writing
• How to establish your brand
• Building a portfolio
• Finding clients
• How to pitch
• Writing for online businesses
• How to maintain your business

Lifetime access to the course costs $195, or three payments of $75.

For this price, learners also get access to cheat sheets, pitch and email templates, a private Facebook group, and success stories from previous clients.

5. Make a Living Writing: Freelance Writers Den

The Freelance Writers Den isn’t a traditional writing course, but rather a collection of comprehensive learning materials, resources, and advice for freelance writers of all abilities.

Devised by Make a Living Writing’s founder Carol Tice, the Freelance Writers Den gives members access to multiple short courses known as bootcamps. These bootcamps cover a wide variety of topics, from how to write persuasively to setting up a freelance website.

Membership of the Freelance Writers Den also comes with:

• 300+ hours of video-based training
• Exclusive community forums
• Website, pitch, and professional bio reviews
• Regular podcasts about freelance writing
• Monthly Q&A sessions with expert freelancers

Access to the Freelance Writing Den costs a monthly membership fee of $40 or a yearly fee of $400.

While the Freelance Writers Den isn’t currently accepting new members, you can join the waiting list to be contacted when spaces are available. Signing up also gets you free access to Carol’s ebook, The Recession-Proof Freelancer.

Side-by-Side Course Comparison

How to Make the Most of Your Freelance Writing Course

Once you’ve chosen a course that fits your needs, it’s important to make the most of what it has to offer. Below are a few tried-and-tested tips to help you get the best results.

1. Stick to a Schedule

Many online content writing courses are self-paced, meaning you need to create and stick to your own schedule for learning. Set a date by which you’d ideally like to complete the course. Then, set aside time each day or week to work on assignments or read through the material. Consider when you learn best – perhaps you are most alert first thing in the morning before you start your day job or at night after the kids go to sleep – and try to work in set chunks of time (e.g., the Pomodoro technique).

2. Actively Engage in the Lessons

If you want to make the most of your online learning experience, it’s not enough to simply absorb the material as a passive observer. Actively participate in class discussions, reach out with questions for the instructor if necessary, and seek clarification if your feedback is unclear. If you’re given a writing assignment, be sure to treat it as you would a project from a real-life client (e.g., conduct appropriate research, read the style guide, and carefully edit your writing before submitting it).

3. Apply What You Learn

Like any skill, your writing will improve with practice. Set aside time after each session to write and apply the concepts you’ve learned in the course. And think outside the box – experiment with different styles, formats, and topics to build your skill set.

4. Supplement Your Studies

If there’s a topic in the course that particularly interests you, supplement your course material with outside resources you find through online research, such as tutorials or webinars. You can also research ways to continue your education in that specific subject or industry after your course concludes (e.g., by pursuing additional certification).

5. Build a Portfolio

A strong portfolio is essential for freelance writers, but it can be challenging for new writers to collect enough initial pieces to build one. If this is the case for you, use your course assignments to your advantage. With personalized professional feedback from instructors, course assignments are ideal pieces to showcase to potential clients or employers. Take the opportunity to select your best work and begin building a basic portfolio.

6. Revisit the Material

Be sure to pay particular attention to areas of the course that apply to your specific niche. For example, if you’re an aspiring SEO content writer, take detailed notes on related topics (e.g., E-E-A-T, keyword research, and external linking) and revisit the material as needed. Be sure to follow up on resources recommended in the course (e.g., blogs, articles, or podcasts), especially those relating to your specialty.

Which Freelance Writing Course Is Right for You?

Ultimately, when it comes to choosing a freelance writing course, the final decision will depend on what you want to achieve. Keep in mind:

• Your budget
• Your career goals
• The amount of time you can dedicate to learning
• Your preferred learning style
• Any niches you want to specialize in

Read through course reviews and testimonials, check out sample lessons, and reach out to course providers with any questions. For example, our friendly support team at Knowadays is readily available, so don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like guidance on whether our Becoming A Freelance Writer course is the right fit for you.

Updated on March 26, 2025

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Do You Need a Degree to Be a Freelance Writer? What Are the Benefits of Online Learning? 7 Tips for Effective Online Learning How to Find Your Learning Style and Study More Effectively