Achieving Your Resolutions

Admit it...you made some New Year's Resolutions this year, didn't you?

It's okay, you're among friends. And I promise - I won't tell!

Chances are, if you made resolutions for 2011, then at least one of your resolutions had to do with learning. Something to the effect of - "I will take one class in 2011 that will further my writing."

First, let me just say - Good for you!

Personally, I think that learning, no matter what the format, is a good thing. So I'm here to help. Here's a roundup of 10 online writing classes that I guarantee will fit your schedule - it's online so you can work at your own pace - and your budget. The classes are all FREE!!

1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology - MIT offers dozens of free online courses through its MIT OpenCourseWare initiative. No registration required.
2. Utah State University  - Three free courses devoted to the art of writing are available through the school's OpenCourseWare program. No registration required.
3. Open University The UK's largest academic institution, Open University, offers a number of different writing courses through their OpenLearn website. Classes are open to everyone, regardless of country of origin. No registration required.
4. University of Utah The University of Utah offers two free writing courses designed for beginners. No registration required.
5. Purdue University Purdue University's Online Writing Lab (OWL) materials are free to everyone regardless of location or student status. The OWL site offers writing instruction, grammar and usage information, individualized help from tutors and much more. No registration required.
6. Steven Barnes' UCLA Writing Course Steven Barnes offers a free version on his website of the writing class he has been teaching for many years at UCLA. No registration required.
7. News University Courses cover everything from writing and editing to reporting and ethics. News U also offers a newsletter, a blog and other great resources. Registration is required.
8. E-Zine University Although the courses offered at E-Zine University are designed mainly for web and e-zine writers, they would be helpful to almost any type of writer. Courses are short and don't take much time to complete. No registration required.
9. Wikiversity There are currently several different writing courses that can be found at Wikiversity, many of which focus on technical writing. No registration required.
10. Writing.com Online writing classes for all levels of writers -- from beginning to advanced. Registration required.

Here's to 2011. I wish you success in achieving your resolutions!