5 of the Best Freelance Writing Courses for Beginners (2024)

Interested in a career as a freelance writer? Taking a freelance writing course is a great place to start.

We’ve put together a list of five of the best freelance writing courses for beginners to help you choose the one that’s right for you.

Our top five candidates are:

  • Knowadays: Becoming A Freelance Writer
  • Peak Freelance: Freelance Writing Essentials
  • Filthy Rich Writer: Comprehensive Copywriting Academy
  • Write Your Way to Your First $1k
  • Make a Living Writing: Freelance Writers Den

Keep reading to find out more about each course.

The Best Online Writing Courses for Beginners

Taking a freelance writing course can help you develop your writing skills and learn how to run a freelance writing business.

But with so many course options out there, choosing one might seem overwhelming.

That’s why we’re showcasing five freelance writing courses that we think are perfect for beginners.

For each course, we’ll break down:

  • What you’ll learn
  • The course’s unique features
  • What support is provided
  • How much it costs

So, without further ado, let’s get into our picks of the five best freelance writing courses.

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 take on freelance writing work for the Knowadays blog.

Learners can sign up for a seven-day free trial to try Becoming A Freelance Writer. The full course costs $599 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
  • 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 Writing 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 Comparison

Course ContentUnique FeaturesLearning SupportPricing
Knowadays: Becoming A Freelance WriterBlog post and article writing

Preparing for a project

SEO

Building a freelance business

Assessed final assignment

Guaranteed work for successful graduates

Yes; 24/7 support and one-on-one tutor feedback on final assignment$599
Peak Freelance: Freelance Writing EssentialsMarketing yourself

Freelancing and legal issues

Finding clients

Video-based courseNo$99 for initial course, $49 monthly fee for Peak Freelance membership
Filthy Rich Writer: Comprehensive Copywriting AcademyImproving your copywriting skills

Digital vs. print copywriting

Growing a freelance business

Access to exclusive events

Focus on copywriting

Yes; students are assigned a designated coach$697, or three payments of $257
Write Your Way to Your First $1kEstablishing a brand

Building a portfolio

Finding clients

Writing for businesses

Focus on business writing

Cheat sheets and writing challenges

Yes; access to private Facebook group$195, or three payments of $75
Make a Living Writing: Freelance Writers DenMarketing your business

Finding a niche

Developing your writing skills

Pitching

Gaining confidence

Heavily community-based

Website and bio reviews provided

Yes; monthly live sessions with experienced freelancers$40 monthly membership fee, or $400 for one year

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.

Consider your career goals, and keep in mind:

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

Our friendly customer service team is available 24/7 to answer any questions, so if you’re having trouble deciding if our course is right for you, why not get in touch?

And if you’re still not sure if you’ve made the right choice, our Becoming A Freelance Writer course comes with a 14-day money-back guarantee.

Related posts:

Should You Take a Freelance Writing Course?Do You Need a Degree to Be a Freelance Writer?Will AI Replace Writers?What Are the Benefits of Online Learning?

5 of the Best Freelance Writing Courses for Beginners (2024)

FAQs

How do I become a freelance writer for beginners? ›

Here are some simple steps to get started:
  1. Choose your freelance writing specialty. ...
  2. Set up a website or blog. ...
  3. Write great sample work. ...
  4. Pitch yourself everywhere. ...
  5. Check writing job boards. ...
  6. Collect testimonials from your clients.

Can I make $1000 a month freelance writing? ›

If you're serious about making a career change, there's no faster way to make money online than freelance writing. The best part is that if you do it right, you can blow past the $1K a month mark in no time. Freelance writing offers much, much greater earning potential.

How do I start freelance content writing with no experience? ›

So let's get into how you can ditch your fears and crush it as a content creator and start a freelance content writing business.
  1. #1: Get over your fears. ...
  2. #2: What's the IMPACT you want to create? ...
  3. #3: Pick a Niche. ...
  4. #4: Find your audience. ...
  5. #5: Pick your best method of communicating. ...
  6. #6: Pick ONE platform.
Sep 2, 2022

What is the easiest type of freelance writing? ›

Content Writing

This can include blog posts, personal essays, Op-Ed pieces, journalistic feature articles, and social media posts. It's likely one of the most common forms of freelance writing and it's a good place to start if you're a beginner in the industry.

What is a good hourly rate for a beginner freelance writer? ›

Here's a breakdown to help you gauge your per-hour rate based on your experience level: Entry Level — $15 to $30 per hour. Intermediate — $35 to $60 per hour. Experienced — $65 to $100 per hour.

How much should a beginner freelance writer charge per hour? ›

The average freelance writer makes about $29 per hour, and the average freelance writing rate per word ranges from $0.05-$0.10 for beginner writers, $0.30-$0.50 for intermediate writers, and $1-$1.50 for experienced writers.

What type of freelance writing pays the most? ›

Freelance Writing Niches: 9 High-Paying Content Types
  1. Long-form Blog Posts or Ultimate Guides. ...
  2. E-Books. ...
  3. White Papers. ...
  4. Case Studies. ...
  5. Email Writing. ...
  6. Sales Pages or Landing Pages. ...
  7. Video Script Writing. ...
  8. Online or E-Learning Courses.
Jan 4, 2024

Can you make a living off freelance writing? ›

Many freelance writers manage to make a good living writing for institutions, publications, and brands, and earn upwards of six figures per year. This step-by-step guide will help you get started as a successful freelance writer with a steady income and a flexible career.

Is freelance writing a good side hustle? ›

While this is clearly true for some, the opportunity to make a decent living exists. But the pay range is so broad, “it's barely useful” according to the site clippings.me: Payscale reports a pay range of $10.31 to $53.79 per hour for freelance writers. ZipRecruiter has an even broader range: $5.29 to $193.03 per hour.

Where do freelance writers start for beginners? ›

How To Become A Freelance Writer With No Experience
  • Write samples.
  • Find a writing agency to support you.
  • Launch a blog.
  • Write for friends and family.
  • Network with other freelance writers.
  • Get your start with a content network.
  • Revise and refresh your grammar.
  • Learn about SEO.

How do I start freelancing with no skills? ›

How to Start Freelancing with No Experience
  1. Key Takeaways. ...
  2. Identifying Your Freelance Niche.
  3. Building a Professional Online Presence.
  4. Creating a Portfolio Website. ...
  5. Establishing Social Media Profiles. ...
  6. Joining Freelance Platforms. ...
  7. Developing Your Skills and Expertise.
  8. Online Courses and Certifications.

Why is freelance writing hard? ›

Here are some of the common obstacles freelance writers encounter: Your friends and family may not understand or support your decision to freelance. The marketplace is diverse, highly fragmented, and confusing. There are many different possible starting points and different ways to land entry level writing jobs.

Which is the easiest freelancing course? ›

  1. Ultimate Digital Marketing Course (Reliablesoft) ...
  2. Complete Guide to Freelancing (Udemy) ...
  3. The Freelance Masterclass (Skillshare) ...
  4. Building Your Freelancing Career Specialization (Coursera) ...
  5. Cybersecurity Certificate (Google) ...
  6. Social Media Marketing Certificate (Meta) ...
  7. Full Stack Software Developer Certificate (IBM)
Jul 29, 2023

How do I practice freelance writing? ›

11 Essential Tips to Improve Writing Skills as Freelancer
  1. Prioritize Your Writing Time.
  2. Practice Writing Posts.
  3. Read Examples In Your Niche And Beyond.
  4. Develop Persistence.
  5. Find Community To Stay Focused.
  6. Use Headings To Create Your Outline.
  7. Separate Your First Draft From Your Final Draft.
  8. Know Your Subject.

How to find content writing jobs for beginners? ›

The best entry-level freelance writing jobs for beginners
  1. Rewrite local small-business websites. ...
  2. Find abandoned business blogs. ...
  3. Write business emails. ...
  4. Create a newsletter or brochure. ...
  5. Report articles for local news media. ...
  6. Write for local magazines. ...
  7. Turn your former employer into a client. ...
  8. Write for local marketing agencies.

How do freelance writers get paid? ›

For one article, a client may pay by the word or by the piece. If it's a project, they may pay an hourly rate or a flat rate for the whole project. At other times, you may be put on a retainer to provide a certain amount of work every month as needed by the client.

What exactly does a freelance writer do? ›

They can write blog posts for businesses or ghostwrite for individuals. They can also pitch and submit articles to magazines or newspapers, write copy for websites, or write pages or chapters for eBooks. Freelancers are usually responsible for finding their own clients.

What is an example of freelance writing? ›

There are a variety of types of writing for a freelance writer including academic writing, business writing, ghostwriting, marketing and sales copy writing, news writing, public relations writing, social commentary writing, and website writing.

Do freelance writers actually make money? ›

Many freelance writers manage to make a good living writing for institutions, publications, and brands, and earn upwards of six figures per year. This step-by-step guide will help you get started as a successful freelance writer with a steady income and a flexible career.

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