The Better Writing
Skills Course
Personalised Grammar,
Style & Punctuation Coaching Online
5 Months
Beginner-intermediate
5+
- Guaranteed 100% money back
- 12 000+ Writers trained since 2005
- Rated 5/5 on Google Reviews
The Better Writing Skills Course
Personalised Grammar, Style & Punctuation Coaching Online
5 Months
Beginner-
intermediate
5+
- Guaranteed 100% money back
- Rated 5/5 on Google Reviews
- 12 000+ Writers trained since 2005
Give Your Writing a Makeover With a Personal Writing Coach
This is our most tailored writing course yet – designed to target and transform your specific writing errors
The Better Writing Skills Course begins where it matters most: with your writing.
For your first module, your tutor reads a sample of your work. They identify the specific grammar errors, style habits and punctuation problems that are genuinely affecting your writing. Together, you select five modules from a list of 50, each one chosen because it targets a real weakness in your writing.
The result is a course that is 100% relevant to you. Every hour of study addresses a skill you actually need. Every piece of feedback is specific to your work.
This course is designed primarily for non-fiction and business writers: professionals, report writers, content creators, bloggers and anyone who wants to write with greater accuracy, clarity and style in a practical context. It goes deeper than a broad programme because it focuses entirely on the handful of issues that are costing you impact and credibility in your writing.
What You'll Gain on This Course
- Identify your most persistent grammar, punctuation and style errors, including the ones you may not know you're making
- Understand the theory behind each error and exactly how to correct it
- Practise targeted writing of at least 500 words per module, building new habits in your real writing voice
- Build your skills progressively, applying each new technique to a fresh piece of writing
- Submit a polished, professionally assessed portfolio of five work-related pieces
- Leave with stronger, cleaner writing you can apply immediately and maintain for life
What You'll Gain on This Course
- Identify your most persistent grammar, punctuation and style errors, including the ones you may not know you're making
- Understand the theory behind each error and exactly how to correct it
- Practise targeted writing of at least 500 words per module, building new habits in your real writing voice
- Build your skills progressively, applying each new technique to a fresh piece of writing
- Submit a polished, professionally assessed portfolio of five work-related pieces
- Leave with stronger, cleaner writing you can apply immediately and maintain for life
What makes studying with us different?
Built Around Your Writing
When your course begins, your tutor reads and assesses a sample of your writing. The modules you study are chosen specifically because they address problems identified in your own work.
Expert, One-to-One Assessment
Every essay is read and evaluated by a professional writing tutor with deep expertise in clear, precise writing. Your assessment is always personal and always from someone who understands exactly what strong writing looks like.
50 Modules to Choose From
With 50 modules available and five chosen in consultation with your tutor, your course is highly targeted and completely personalised to your needs as a writer.
Ongoing, Personalised Feedback
Your tutor reads and responds to every essay you submit. Feedback is detailed, specific and always directly relevant to your work.
A Flexible, Self-Paced Schedule
Work wherever and whenever suits you. There are no fixed intake dates and the course fits comfortably around your professional and personal commitments.
A Portfolio That Grows With You
You re-edit all five essays at the end of the course, using the feedback you have received. The portfolio you submit for final assessment reflects real, measurable growth in your writing.
The Better Writing Skills Course is for you if:
- You write non-fiction, business or professional content and want to write it with greater clarity and precision
- You're ready for targeted improvement in specific areas rather than a broad grammar or punctuation programme
- You want personalised, expert feedback on your own writing rather than generic writing advice
- You live anywhere in the world and need a flexible, self-paced structure
- You're ready to take your writing to the next level with one-to-one expert coaching
- You want easy-to-digest course notes that capture a lifetime of writing experience, ready for you to apply to your own writing
How the Better Writing Skills Course Works
This is not a fixed curriculum. It is a tailored programme built specifically around your writing, from the first assessment to the final portfolio.
Step 1: We Assess Your Writing
Formulaic structure and grammar.
You submit a sample of your writing. Your tutor analyses it professionally to identify your most significant and recurring grammar, punctuation and style errors.
Step 2: You Choose Your Five Modules
Discover the secret formula to yield the best results
Together, you and your tutor review the findings and select five modules from a list of 50. Each one targets a specific problem area identified in your work. If your assessment reveals more than five areas to address, you can purchase additional modules at NZ$ 150/ £ 70/ ZAR 749 This is optional.
Step 3: You Work Through Each Module
Hallucinations
Each module covers the theory behind the error and includes at least 500 words of structured writing practice to help you internalise and apply what you’ve learned.
Step 4: You Write and Submit Five Essays
Find your unique voice
You write one essay per module, demonstrating the skills you have learned. Your tutor provides detailed, personalised feedback on each submission.
Step 5: You Re-Edit and Submit Your Portfolio
Plunder your memories
Once all five essays are complete, you revise every piece using the feedback you have received across the whole course. You then submit your final portfolio for formal evaluation. Each essay is marked out of 20, for a total course score of 100.
Sample Modules, Chosen From a List of 50
Your five modules will be selected based on your individual writing needs. Here are 15 examples from the full list of 50:
- Wordiness: cutting unnecessary words and phrases for tighter, clearer writing
- Correct sentence structure: building sentences that work every time
- Cutting repetition: eliminating redundant content without losing meaning
- Logical flow: creating writing that leads the reader forward naturally and purposefully
- Paragraphing effectively: structuring paragraphs for maximum clarity and impact
- Commas, apostrophes, hyphens and dashes: mastering the punctuation marks that trip most writers up
- Writing style: increasing pace, tension and reader interest
- The right word: choosing precise language and identifying missing words
- Common grammar errors: identifying and eliminating the mistakes most writers don’t know they’re making
- Sentence length variety: mixing long and short sentences for better rhythm and readability
- Correct use of articles: the, a and an, used with confidence
- Precise language: saying exactly what you mean, every time
- Verb tense consistency: keeping your writing steady and coherent across time frames
- Point of view: using POV correctly and maintaining it consistently
- Avoiding clichés: replacing tired phrases with writing that is fresh and genuinely your own
I’ve been writing for 35 years, and teaching creative writing for 20. I’ve seen over a thousand students graduate from my courses, and have an exceptionally high completion rate.
I’m very interested in the craft of writing and believe that this is something that can be learned and practised so that the story that appears on the page correlates more closely with the story in your head.
I love teaching one-on-one, and supporting my students as they stretch themselves creatively and technically.
Achievements:
- Over 60 books published for children, young adults
- Here be Lions, a memoir, published 2006
- Fiery Spiral trilogy acquired by US publisher Catalyst Press 2018
- Ibby South Africa Honours list multiple years
- ATKV Award for her teen novel Tamara
- Three of her books have been selected for the SACBF Honours List
Our Graduate Students' Successes
We are proud of our graduates who have achieved success. Here are a few among dozens of our creative writing success stories.
COURSE FEE
NZ$ 750
£ 345
ZAR 7 495
Price includes VAT/GST
NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS
Variable
The writing assignments vary in length.
NUMBER OF MODULES
5+
Selected from a list of 50 based on your writing assessment. Optional additional modules will be invoice as required.
COURSE DURATION
5
Work at your own pace – up to a maximum of five months.
START DATE: ANYTIME
Working with an individual tutor means you can start the course at any time.
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- Basic writing skills in English are essential.
- Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required.
- No previous tertiary qualification required.
Get These Additional Benefits
Lifetime Course Access
Benefit from free lifetime access to future course updates and access to our writing resources.
Work at Your Own Pace
Work at the speed that suits you. No fixed schedule, no deadlines and no rushing.
Be the First to Know About Writing Competitions
We'll help you keep up to date with the latest competition announcements
500+ Bonus Articles on Our Blog
A constantly updated library of writing articles, tips and interviews with working writers.
Work Opportunities
Top students are invited to join our writers and editors for hire service.
Join a Community of Writers
You will have access to our friendly Facebook community, daily writing tips and writing inspiration.
You will receive an approval email and invoice within one working day.
Should your form not submit, please let admin know at info@thewriterscollege.com
We are so confident that you will love your course that if you’re not 100% satisfied with the quality of our training, simply ask for a refund within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Better Writing Skills Course
What makes this course different from a standard grammar or punctuation course?
The Better Writing Skills Course is entirely personalised. It begins with a professional assessment of a sample of your writing, so your course is built around the errors you are actually making. You study five modules selected specifically for you from a list of 50, which means every hour of study is directly relevant to your improvement as a writer.
Who is this course designed for?
The course is designed primarily for non-fiction and business writers: professionals, report writers, content creators, technical writers, bloggers and anyone who wants to write with greater accuracy, clarity and style in a practical, everyday context. Writers of narrative or creative non-fiction will also benefit from the personalised approach.
Can fiction writers take this course?
Yes. Although the course focuses on writing quality rather than creative forms or outputs, fiction writers who want targeted coaching on recurring grammar, style or punctuation errors in their prose will find the personalised approach very effective.
How does the initial writing assessment work?
You write an essay, chosen by you from a list of fun prompts. Your tutor analyses this sample to identify your most significant and recurring errors. They then recommend which modules from the list of 50 will be most valuable for you and together you confirm your final selection of five.
How many essays do I write?
You write five essays in total, one for each module. Each module also includes structured writing practice within the module itself. At the end of the course, you re-edit all five essays using the feedback you have received throughout and submit them as your final portfolio for evaluation.
Can I take this course if English is my second language?
Yes. The personalised nature of the course means your modules will be chosen to address the exact issues relevant to you, whether those are errors common among second-language writers or more nuanced style concerns. A solid working foundation in written English is required.
Do I need any previous tertiary qualifications?
No. Solid basic writing skills are required, but no tertiary qualification is necessary to enrol.
How long does the course take?
The course is self-paced, so the timeframe depends on how quickly you work through each module and essay. Most students complete the course over several weeks to a few months.
Why would I pay for this when I can use AI?
Every assignment you submit is read by a published, award-winning, human author, someone who has sat where you’re sitting, struggled with the same craft problems and built a writing career from scratch.
Your tutor reads your work, responds to your unique voice and gives you specific feedback. AI can only give you generic, formulaic input.
We’ve been doing this since 2005, long before AI existed. Our methods work because writing is learned through practice and genuine, expert human response, not through machine-generated content.
What are the conditions of certification?
Students will receive a Writers’ College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:
- Students must complete all 40 writing assignments
- The course must be completed within four months of registration
- Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 50% for the course
When can I start a course?
Because you will work with an individual tutor, you can start your course as soon as your application has been approved. There are no specific start dates as would be the case with a traditional college.
An application is usually approved within one working day. Once we receive proof of payment, your can start your course.
You could be starting your course today!
What lasting skills will I develop on this course?
The Better Writing Skills Course gives you something that stays with you: a genuine understanding of why you make the mistakes you do and the skills to stop making them. By working through targeted modules and receiving expert feedback on your essays, you build real writing competency in your specific areas of need. You leave the course a permanently stronger, more confident writer in everything you write from that point forward.
When will I get access to the course?
Once your application has been approved, you will receive notification of approval and an invoice via email. As soon as we receive proof of payment, the first module as well as your tutor’s email address and your login details will be sent to you. Your tutor will also be in touch to welcome you.
Who owns the rights to the work I produce?
Any work created on our courses is owned by you. We will never make a claim to anything you produce. We follow the rule that copyright subsists with the creator (you).
What if I choose the wrong course?
During the application process, we get a good idea of your suitability for the course you have chosen. If we feel there is an alternative course that will serve you better, we will always recommend that you consider that course before we approve your choice. We provide plenty of detail on each of our courses online so that you can make an educated choice as to which course will suit you best. If you want advice before you apply, just ask us. We have a lot of experience in determining your needs as a writer and finding the most suitable course for you.
If you do embark on a course and find that it is the wrong choice, then we will happily transfer you to another course, as long as it is early on in the course (i.e. within the first module). If you change your mind later on in the course, we will charge you pro rata for the modules you have completed as well as an administrative fee.