Advanced Writing Certificate Course

Unleash your words. Master your impact.

Sept. 10, 17, 24 | 1-3 p.m. ET | Three consecutive modules

Register for this immersive three-part certificate series to improve your writing skills, develop your creativity and your critical thinking skills, and become a better, faster and more confident writer.

Effective communication is the key to success. Whether you’re a comms or PR professional, a marketer or you simply want to express yourself with clarity and impact, this advanced writing course will help you take your skills to the next level.

You’ll learn how to develop your distinct voice, hone your editing and proofreading skills, use AI tools to enhance and streamline your writing process, craft compelling narratives and leave a lasting impression with every word you write.

Over three weeks, our expert instructors will guide you through this interactive learning experience. Through hands-on instruction, interactive exercises, peer feedback and exclusive resources, you’ll advance your skills and receive valuable insights that will help you advance your career.

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You’ll learn how to:

  • Articulate authentic and resonant messages in times of change and crisis.
  • Compose concise and persuasive copy for newsletters, blog posts, thought leadership and more.
  • Develop your authentic voice and storytelling skills.
  • Engage and inspire audiences through top-notch messaging.
  • Boost your confidence as a communicator and level up your career.

CURRICULUM

Hone your writing skills in just a few short weeks. You’ll receive assignments, a certificate of completion and a writing style guide you can tailor to your organization.

Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3
Session 1
Principles of Storytelling in Communications

The ability to write persuasively, clearly and concisely is more crucial than ever. In this advanced writing session, we'll focus on storytelling strategies that will help you develop the skills you need to increase your writing’s effectiveness – and excites your audience from the very first sentence. You’ll learn:

  • Fundamentals Refresh:
    • Overlooked techniques to write simpler, more direct sentences that propel readers.
    • Smart, quick and impactful ways to gather and structure information.
    • Storytelling basics, from summary vs. dramatic scene narratives, and when to use each.
  • Create Inspirational Stories: Learn how to write inspirational narratives for your audience, whether it’s in a newsletter or a social media post.
  • Be a Storyteller: Learn from creative writing techniques to develop a narrative structure for your writing that will engage any audience.
  • The Power of Persuasion: How to unlock advanced persuasive techniques that connect with an audience and deliver a message using your expertise.
  • Write to Your Audience: Discover how to adapt these techniques for every message you plan to send, regardless of the audience.
  • Self-Editing Techniques: In our breakout session, you’ll practice editing techniques using an exercise designed to weed out wordiness, develop the tone and intention of your language and make it publication-ready.

Light Homework:

  • Develop five new rules to add to your personal editing guide.
Session 2
Writing Meaningful Communication During a Polarized Time

This session tackles the ongoing challenges you face in writing copy that authentically represents diverse perspectives, recognizes ongoing events in the world, and ensures effective communication in polarizing times. You will have the opportunity to practice crafting a personalized message to apply these techniques to a common communication document.

  • Review and Refresh:
    • An up-to-date language guide that you can adapt for your company’s style guide.
  • Monitor Language and Tone for Inclusivity: Steps you can take to develop a welcoming and inclusive environment within your written communications, including working with ERGs and representatives from other communities.
  • Craft Inclusive and Authentic Narratives: Learn techniques to represent diverse perspectives, experiences, and cultures in your storytelling, which fosters inclusivity and resonates with a wide range of readers.
  • Case Study Breakout: Review examples of past communication materials and practice adapt them using the most up-to-date language.

Light Homework:

  • Identify a common audience you engage with through your writing. Determine if any of the terms or phrases you have used in the past needs to be updated for inclusive language.
  • Review your company’s style guide and determine if any updates need to be completed.
Session 3
Implementing AI for Your Writing and Content Creation Needs

Learn how to implement AI tools into your workflows to optimize your writing and content creation needs. You’ll explore how to write effective prompts for content generators like ChatGPT. Designed to equip you with actionable knowledge and skills in implementing AI, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of the future of AI in communications and how you can use it to enhance your digital communication strategy. Some of what we will cover includes:

  • Fundamental AI Writing Concepts and Principles: Best practices for implementing AI for productivity, efficiency, and creativity in your writing workflow.
  • AI-Powered Prompt Optimization Genius: Create the best, most targeted prompts to generate creative, efficient, and engaging content.
  • Social Media Fluency: Discover how AI can generate quick social media copy for your brand. You’ll gain insight into the way that social media can enhance your messaging.
  • Your AI Assistant: Explore how you can develop an AI assistant to help you with specific tasks for your writing and content creation needs.
  • Ethical Considerations: Awareness of guardrails and restrictions when implementing AI in your workflow. Learn how to ensure responsible and unbiased content generation.
  • Aligning AI Across Audiences: How to use AI in meaningful and targeted communication, enabling you to tailor your message to personalized audiences.
  • Editing Hacks: Explore AI-powered editing and proofreading tools to improve the quality and accuracy of your written content.

CLASSROOM MATERIALS

(Exclusive for Attendees)

  • Smart Brevity Checklist
  • Guide for Writing Concisely
  • Thought Leadership Success
  • Concise and Compelling Checklist
  • Writing in the Age of AI: Partnering with AI Programs
  • Strunk and White’s Timeless Secrets for Rocket-Powered Writing
  • Headline Writing that Speaks Volumes
  • Applying News Writing Principles to Your Writing
  • Why and How to Create and In-House Style Guide
  • The Ultimate Self-Editing Deep Dive

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PRESENTERS

Speakers will be announced soon.

Course Moderator: Jess Zafarris, Director of Content, Ragan and PR Daily READ BIO

Top 8 skills you’ll master:

  • Master Persuasive Writing: The keys to persuasive writing, helping you craft messaging that resonate with readers and inspire action.
  • Enhance Writing for Different Mediums: You'll learn to tailor your writing style and approach for web content, social media, and multimedia platforms, ensuring your message resonates across various channels.
  • Write Like a Journalist: Powerful techniques for crafting credible, yet compelling headlines, subject lines, teasers and leads.
  • Use Brevity for Concise Messaging: Learn how to communicate effectively using simple vocabulary, while conveying complex ideas clearly and straightforwardly.
  • AI-Driven Creativity: How to masterfully use AI to help generate ideas and better writing prompts to write quicker and create engaging content.
  • Manage Change through Communication: Strategies for creating, controlling, and adapting to change in organizations and groups, and how to deal with transformations through effective communication.
  • Establish Thought Leadership: Skills to position yourself as an expert or leader, increasing your credibility and expanding your circle of influence through personal identity branding.
  • The Oops Checklist: The biggest grammatical, stylistic and strategic writing mistakes communicators make — and how to avoid them.

 

Top reasons to attend this virtual course

  • You’ll learn from the nation’s top writing experts and instructors.
  • You’ll receive a certificate of completion, plus all presentations and handouts.
  • You’re guaranteed extensive, how-to instruction you can use immediately.
  • Secure your seat today for this exclusive writing course offered by Ragan and PR Daily, and become the writing expert you dream of being!

Secure your seat today for this exclusive writing course offered by Ragan and PR Daily, and become the writing expert you dream of being!

Regular Rate
$1099

Ragan Insider Member
$999

Nonprofit/Gov
$949

Phone registrations and group pricing: For group orders please contact our customer service team at 800-878-5331 or cservice@ragan.com

If you can’t attend one or more of the modules live, you will receive the on-demand versions to complete the course.

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WHO ATTENDS

Communications and marketing professionals from these organizations have earned certificates:

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Advanced Writing Certificate Course Certificate

Get Recognized!

This advanced writer’s course is designed to help you enhance your writing skills and compose memorable messaging that engages and inspires your audience — so that you get the results and recognition you deserve, along with the Certificate of Completion!

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HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?