The Writing Coach Course

R 7 995.00

The Writing
Coach Course

The Writing Coach Course

Give Your Writing a Makeover With a Personal Writing Coach

Learn how to write compelling content for any medium

If you get tangled in knots over having to write at work or at home, The Writing Coach Course can help you.

This course is designed to help you gain confidence in your writing skills. You will learn how to write for different audiences and produce impactful, well-organised material in various styles and formats.

Whether you intend to write top-notch business reports, proposals, letters or just hope to improve your overall written communication, this course is for you.

Your tutor will provide personalised feedback on your assignments, as well as advice and support throughout the course.

The Writing Coach Course Gives You...

No Automated Marking

We use traditional methods of assessing work, as editors at publishing houses would. No generic feedback!

A Flexible Schedule

Work wherever and whenever you want. You can easily fit our courses around work and other commitments.

Relevant, Usable Content

Easy-to-digest course notes that capture a lifetime of writing experience, ready for you to apply to your own writing.

Ongoing Assessment

Your writing is assessed continuously as your course progresses.

Expert, Individual Feedback

Get prompt, honest, detailed feedback on every assignment from an award-winning writer. We focus on your unique writing strengths.

No Peer Reviews!

You will only be assessed by your tutor, a leader in their field. No more guessing and wondering how to write; you'll be guided line by line.

Say Goodbye to Your
Writing Struggles

Master writing tools and techniques
to help you engage your reader

Good writing skills take time and effort to learn. This course allows for a relaxed pace while you study and practise in dozens of writing exercises from the comfort of your home.

Discover how to:

  • beat procrastination and start writing regularly
  • get inspired and find topics to write about
  • perfect your punctuation
  • make your writing more dynamic using figures of speech
  • improve your vocabulary and grammar
  • apply your writing skills at work and in your daily life
SA Writers College Certified Course

Say Goodbye to Your Writing Struggles

Master writing tools and techniques to help you engage your reader

Good writing skills take time and effort to learn. This course allows for a relaxed pace while you study and practise in dozens of writing exercises from the comfort of your home.

Discover how to:

  • beat procrastination and start writing regularly
  • get inspired and find topics to write about
  • perfect your punctuation
  • make your writing more dynamic using figures of speech
  • improve your vocabulary and grammar
  • apply your writing skills at work and in your daily life

 

SA Writers College Certified Course

'The course has inspired me to become a better writer. With awareness comes opportunity; effort makes it possible. The effort I put in was reflected in my results, and I feel my journey is just beginning. I enjoyed my contact with Susan. I believe her personal, anecdotal comments brought the course to life, and I responded positively to this approach. I have recommended it to others and will continue to do so.'

Sheryl Nelley, Writing Coach Course

Course Overview

COURSE FEE

R 7 995.00

Price includes VAT

NUMBER OF ASSIGNMENTS

9

The assignments vary in length.

NUMBER OF MODULES

9

These modules include around 200 pages of course notes.

COURSE DURATION

12

Work at your own pace – up to a maximum of 12 months.

START DATE: ANYTIME

Working with an individual tutor means you can start the course at any time.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

  • Basic writing skills are essential.
  • Computer skills, e-mail and Internet access required.
  • No previous tertiary qualification required.

Tutor for this Course

Susan Williams

With a strong background in education and vast experience working at multinational corporations, Susan consults and offers services in her areas of expertise. Since starting her business in 2000, she has been contracted to manage numerous group publishing projects with international distribution. In addition, she has first-hand experience in developing corporate and technical training video scripts and presentations, as well as developing superb induction and other internal/public training programmes.

Susan tutors the Report Writing and Presentation Course, the Write Better Newsletters Course and the Writing Coach Course. Despite her busy schedule, Susan also finds the time to be an active member of Toastmasters International.

business writing courses at The Writers College

Course Curriculum

Module 1

Breaking Through the Barrier – Seven Days
  • Create a daily writing schedule
  • Learn how to manage your writing time
  • List your reasons for procrastination
  • Become more aware of your surroundings by using all of your senses
  • Daily exercise: Let it flow – keep a journal of your daily writings
  • Exercise: After 7 days, write a paragraph and submit it.

 

Module 2

Finding Topics to Write About – Seven days
  • Beware of negative self-talk
  • Make lists, jot down ideas and use mind maps
  • Read newspapers
  • Develop an interest in life – in people, projects and developments
  • Apply your writing skills to your work – emails, notes, descriptions, requests and replies
  • Daily exercise: Journal work
  • Exercise: Make a list of all the topics you would like to write about in your daily life or at work. Select one topic and draw a mind map to submit.

 

 

Module 3

Logical Writing
  • Get your facts together
  • Arrange them in a logical order
  • Give them flesh (writing sentences and paragraphs)
  • Use transitions to ensure logical flow
  • Use consistency in style, tone, tense and perspective to ensure logical flow
  • Exercise: Learn the process of writing and apply it to one of your selected topics.

 

 

Module 4

What Do You Actually Say? An Exercise in Clarity
  • Become more aware of how people write and speak
  • Make a list of of abstract terminology, officialese and clichés you hear or see in writing and find a better way of saying it
  • Write shorter sentences
  • Test your writing phrase by phrase and sentence by sentence
  • Exercise: Rewrite a paragraph in clear English.
  • Write a short report or a proposal that you could use in the workplace.

 

 

Module 5

Vocabulary and Grammar Gremlins: What Are the Rules?
  • Language as a communication tool requires vocabulary and grammar. What is vocabulary and what is grammar?
  • Learn to define the parts of speech and understand their function in a sentence
  • Learn to use tenses effectively
  • Avoid common errors
  • Tips and exercises on how to improve your vocabulary
  • Notes on how to use a dictionary and a thesaurus
  • Exercises: Short exercises in correcting errors and building vocabulary
  • Write an essay on a topic of your choice, consciously using new words.
  • Write an essay exploring the different senses.

 

Module 6

Using Perfect Punctuation
  • What is a sentence?
  • What is a paragraph?
  • What is punctuation?
  • Exercise: Correct sentences and a paragraph.
  • Write your own paragraph and use punctuation marks effectively.

 

Module 7

Is Your Writing Dull?
  • Spice up your writing by using figures of speech
  • Use metaphor, anecdote and descriptive language to improve your writing
  • Use your senses to become aware of what you experience and use that in your writing
  • Beware of ambiguity, mixed metaphors, etc.
  • Exercise: Rewrite a dull paragraph.

 

Modules 8 and 9

You can select TWO of the following modules to specialise in:

Specialist Module A

Letter Writing
  • Find out about different types of letters, format of letters: business letter; personal letter; condolence letter; thank you letter; letter of complaint; letter to the press etc.
  • Writing for the reader
  • Tone of voice
 

Exercises: Write two of these:

  • Write a letter to the press or a letter to a friend
  • Write a letter of complaint
  • Write a letter to your boss for a salary adjustment
  • Write a cover letter for a job application
 
 
 

Specialist Module B

Writing Easy-To-Read Reports
  • Plan a report on a selected topic
  • Draft a report
  • Analyse and improve on the draft
  • Add anecdote and metaphor and descriptive language in an appropriate manner to interest, influence and inform your reader
  • Report formats (short report, long report)
  • Reports on: projects, reporting on meetings or discussions, research
  • Executive summary
  • Planning a theme for an employee report
  • Using storytelling techniques to create interest (metaphor, anecdote, etc)
 

Exercise: 

  • Use the given theory and guidelines and write a report of use to your workplace.
 
 
 

Specialist Module C

Writing Newsletter Articles For The Workplace
  • Practical tips and guidelines on article writing
  • Learn about writing style, article formats, checking facts, do’s & don’ts

 

Exercises:

  • Write a paragraph about a business, social, or sports event, a visit from a VIP, or an interesting experience – to be published in a newsletter.
  • Write a technical or specialist article based on an interview, on product specifications, or meeting minutes and research.
  • Write a human interest article based on an interview (e.g. interview with disabled worker, person with interesting hobbies, NGO and its work, etc.)

 

Specialist Module D

Write a Riveting Speech
  • Learn how to plan and do research for a speech on a chosen topic
  • Use metaphor, anecdote and description
  • Use rhythm and rhyme to pace the speech

Exercise:

  • Write a business related or social speech. Select from:
  • The opening of an event;
  • Introducing another speaker,
  • A product launch,
  • A farewell speech,
  • A national celebration (Heritage Day, Women’s Day, etc),
  • A 21st birthday celebration,
  • A wedding,
  • Or on a topic of your choice.

 

Specialist Module E

Writing Proposals
  • Learn the different formats and styles of proposal writing
  • Write for your reader

Exercises:

  • Write a proposal to your boss to attend a conference, go on training, develop a new product; or
  • Write a proposal to the school board, municipality, church or community group to improve a service
 
 
 

Specialist Module F

Memos, Emails and Faxes
  • Formats and styles for memos, emails and faxes
  • Do’s and don’ts for each
  • Exercises:
  • Write a memo
  • Write an email on a given topic
  • Write a fax following a given brief

 

What Our Students Say

Wanda van der WathWriting Coach Course
Read More

Susan quickly got me out of my shell and helped me enjoy every minute of the writing process. The course opened my eyes and gave me confidence to pursue this dream.
Allan SpearWriting Coach Course
Read More

I believe what made the course work for me was Susan. She helped me a great deal and was encouraging and motivational at all times. The feedback was great, and you could see that time was taken in the assessment and feedback. As one can see from my feedback, I really enjoyed the course.
Theresa de BeerWriting Coach Course
Read More

I was extremely happy with all the materials and course content. Susan is a wonderful lecturer: her feedback was always constructive, informative, kind and insightful. She is also very approachable, open and supportive. She is absolutely the best. I learnt more than I ever dreamed I would.
Sanchia LubbeWriting Coach Course
Read More

My experience at The Writers’ College was very positive. The course was very enjoyable and a useful experience; it helped me identify gaps in my writing. The course was all about tutor-student interaction; a very positive tutor-student relationship was created which allowed me to experiment and grow. The course absolutely met my objectives; some of the assignments were perhaps a bit too easy, but all in all the general experience was a positive one. The administrative interactions were efficient and the electronic medium was extremely useful. The Writers’ College has mastered online courses and I'd recommend them to anyone who would like to improve their writing skills while not being bound to attend lectures.
Helena CuestaWriting Coach Course
Read More

I enjoyed doing the course a lot; I'm more confident now with my English writing. English is not my first language. I wanted to try something different to improve my writing, vocabulary and even grammar skills and this course absolutely met my objectives. My tutor was always very clear and respectful with her comments. The course was fun, challenging and I learnt a lot.
Kim Western-WilliamsWriting Coach Course
Read More

I thoroughly enjoyed studying with The Writers College. I didn’t feel under pressure like you do at University and the course allowed me to manage my time in a relaxed manner. My tutor Susan, and Koos in admin, were very helpful. Susan was very good with feedback, which was given in a clear and concise manner. She taught me so much, without making me feel like an old idiot. They say you can’t teach old dogs new tricks; studying with The Writers College proves that you can. I’ve learnt more in six months than I did in 15 years at school! I am now searching for another course to do with The Writers College.
Previous
Next

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

Our courses work around you. You can pace your course around your busy life.

500+ Bonus Articles on Our Blog

A superb, constantly updated resource with articles on writing and interviews with writers.

Work Opportunities

Top students are invited to join our writers and editors for hire service.

Be the First to Know About Writing Competitions

We'll help you keep up to date with the latest competition announcements

Join a Community of Writers

You will have access to our friendly Facebook community, daily writing tips and writing inspiration.

Risk-Free 100% Money-Back Guarantee

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.

Complete the Application Form to Enrol on the Writing Coach Course

You will receive an approval email and invoice within one working day.

Should your form not submit, please let admin know at admin@sawriterscollege.co.za

Questions?
We've Got Answers

Detailed course notes covering the content of each module will be emailed to you. At the end of each module, you will be required to complete one or two writing exercises. Once a writing assignment has been completed and emailed to your tutor, you will receive an assessment and feedback, and the module will be considered complete.

Absolutely. You have direct communication with your tutor for the duration of the course. The more questions you ask, the more you will get out of the course.

You will get lifetime access to the course. You will also benefit from future updates and improvements to the course.

For the majority of our courses, only your tutor will see your work. It will remain completely private unless you get it published. The journalism courses might see your work published in the public domain, but you do have the final say as to whether or not this happens.

You will receive a Writers College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided you meet the following conditions: 

  • You must have completed all writing assignments.
  • The course must have been completed within 12 months of registration.
  • A minimum average of 50% must be achieved.
  • Basic writing skills are essential.
  • Basic computer skills, as well as email and Internet access are required.
  • No previous tertiary qualification is required.

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!

  • Reading time: 6–12 hours, depending on your reading speed
  • Writing time: Up to 20 hours

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.

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).

'The Writers College is a professional provider of writing courses and I am fortunate to have benefited from their service.'

Sheryl Nelley, Writing Coach Course

Got More Questions?

We would love to help you choose the best course for you. Tell us what style of writing you want to develop and we'll give you some options.

Our Refund Policy

If within seven days of starting your course you are not happy on your course, we can either transfer you to a different course or provide a full refund.

If you request a refund after seven days and before 30 days we will charge a 5% administrative fee, as well as any bank fees and tutor fees already incurred.

We do not offer a refund after 30 days on the course.