Learn How To Tell A Great Story With The 2024‘s 13 Best Online Storytelling Courses & Classes
Here is a list of reviews for 2024‘s top 13 best online storytelling courses and classes. These courses and instructors will teach you how to develop a compelling story, write and edit it for maximum impact and deliver it to your listeners effectively.
Why learn storytelling? Because there is nothing more powerful or time-tested than the art of telling a great story. It is how we inspire and motivate others. It is how we teach students and children new things. And it is how we pass down our history from one generation to the next.
And while it may seem like some people are natural storytellers, the good news is this skill can be easily learned.
How you ask? By taking direction from some of the best storytellers of our generation. In addition, many of the online storytelling courses are free. And the ones that aren’t are a part of a low monthly subscription that gives you access to as many as 20,000 courses across a broad range of skills. Finally, some course providers offer valuable extras such as CE credit, class projects, discussions, downloadable resources, and a certificate of completion.
Find your perfect match below.
Top 13 Best Online Storytelling Courses & Classes (2024) (Free & Paid)
1. Storytelling 101: Character, Conflict, Context & Craft (SkillShare)
What makes an anecdote become a story? That’s what you will learn in this beginner-level online course. The 4 C’s of storytelling, character, conflict, context, and craft, are highlighted in this training by looking at the instructor’s own work.
That instructor is New York Times best-selling author Daniel José Older, with more than 34,000 students enrolled in this course.
With a run-time of just 45 minutes, this is the best online storytelling course for those that want an easy-to-remember framework and fast results. You will also receive downloadable resources, class projects, and class discussions. He also has a second course on writing killer opening scenes available
SkillShare is home to this online course along with thousands of other courses covering all sorts of subjects from marketing to healthcare and many things in between. Try out this course and others with their free trial period!
- Beginner level
- ¾ hour on demand video
- Taught by best selling author
- Downloadable resources
- Class projects
- Class discussion
Activate FREE Skillshare Trial
2. LeVar Burton Teaches the Power of Storytelling (MasterClass)
“We are here to contribute something mighty, and our storytelling is the ship that we sail on”. The next course is a new offering from MasterClass with instructor LeVar Burton.
With his iconic roles in Roots and Star Trek: The Next Generation as well as 23 years as the host of Reading Rainbow, LeVar has 45 years of telling stories to audiences around the world. Now the Emmy, Grammy, and Peabody winner is sharing his approach to storytelling so you can connect authentically with your children, friends, colleagues, and fans.
Learn how to find intention, use your voice, and mine your experiences to be a more effective and dynamic storyteller. The case studies in this course are sure to have broad appeal as they are focused on reading to children and adults, performing in front of live audiences, and even podcasting.
MasterClass is a subscription service that comes with a 30-day money-back refund policy if you change your mind. So you’ll get LeVar’s class and many, many more with virtually no risk! They also one a Buy One, Give One sale several times a year which is especially popular around holiday gifting season.
- Beginner level
- 5.5 hours on demand video
- Average Rating of 4.7/5
- Taught by best selling actor, author, host
- Case studies from famous movies, tv shows and novels
3. Storytelling Program (Fiverr)
Next up is a course targeted at copywriters, content marketers, and business owners.
This Fiverr program combines two courses with 53 videos into a discounted bundle that sets you on the path to be an impactful online storyteller. And fast – run time is just over 4 hours. Better yet, badges you earn for successfully competing courses will show up on the Fiverr profile. Instant credibility with your next client.
To get started, Jon Youshaei will kick off the learning with his course, Stories That Sell: 7 Secrets To Create Killer Content. Jon helped YouTube’s biggest stars grow and monetize their millions of fans. He’s the creator of the wildly popular Every Vowel and has also been featured in Inc Magazine, Time, and NPR. Jon’s course is designed to help you write content that makes “your audience nod their heads and open their wallets”.
Once you have the killer content, next is making it come to life through data and insights. Bill Shander will use this 25 years of experience to guide you through Data Storytelling: Deliver Insights via Compelling Stories. As the founder of Beehive Media, a Boston-based data visualization consultancy, he’s worked with Facebook, Starbucks, American Express, and even the UN. Bill is an expert in showing you how to take a narrative and drive home the point through visuals designed to create that a-ha moment for your audience.
- Appropriate for all levels
- Immediate unlimited access to course materials
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Exercises and quizzes to help you put theory into practice
- English Closed Captions
- A badge to showcase your expertise on your profile page upon completion
Explore Fiverr’s Discounted Program
4. Storytelling for Leaders: How to Craft Stories That Matter (SkillShare)
As a leader in your workplace or among your associates, your storytelling abilities allow you to communicate meaningfully about the work you do together. Marketing and client presentations are also excellent opportunities for a compelling story. This instruction is suitable for all professional levels.
Your instructor for this online course is the chairman of SYPartners, Keith Yamashita. He has worked with and consulted for a wide variety of international companies such as Apple, IBM, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, eBay, Nike, and the Gap.
Course modules in the ½ hour on-demand video include types of stories, what makes a great story, shape, and drafts, and putting it into words. There are class projects, class discussions, downloadable resources, and the class has been taken by over 45,000 students.
It is on the SkillShare continuing education platform for adult interests such as business and entertainment. Check out SkillShare’s free 30-day trial period!
- All levels
- ½ hour on demand video
- Taught by professional writer and consultant
- Downloadable resources
- Class projects
- Class discussion
Activate FREE Skillshare Trial
5. Shane Snow On Storytelling (LinkedIn Learning)
Storytelling is a great way to make people care about your sales presentations of products, brands, or causes. This beginner-level online storytelling in business and life course has been taken by 64,000 satisfied students.
Best-selling author and journalist Shane Snow is the instructor for this online course. Shane is the founder of Snow Academy and has over 382,000 followers for his courses.
The class syllabus includes modules on the elements of storytelling, relationship building, understanding your audience, storytelling frameworks, and unleashing your storytelling potential. It qualifies for CE credits and includes downloadable resources and a certificate of completion.
LinkedIn Learning is a great site for business professionals looking for connecting with other professionals, searching for jobs, or for continuing education. Besides individual plans, you can buy access for an entire team of employees at a discount!
- Beginner level
- 1 ¼ hours on demand video
- Instructor is best selling author
- CE credits
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
6. Powerful Storytelling Today: Strategies for Crafting Great Content (SkillShare)
Learn the key lessons of gathering information, interviewing, and what lessons to include in every story in this training suitable for all levels. Over 11,000 students have already enrolled.
Founder of Starfish Media Group and award-winning journalist Soledad O’Brien is your instructor for this class. She has worked as an investigative journalist and news anchor as well as being a news producer, too.
In ½ hour of on-demand video instruction, you will cover topics including story ideas, preparation, leading an interview, and crafting the structure of the story. There are extra resources, class projects, and class discussions.
Hosted on SkillShare, you will receive many valuable extras such as downloadable resources, class projects, and class discussions. SkillShare is very reasonably priced and has a free one-month trial.
- All levels
- ½ hour on demand video
- Taught by award winning journalist
- Downloadable resources
- Class projects
- Class discussion
Activate FREE Skillshare Trial
7. Storytelling and influencing: Communicate with impact (Coursera)
The training in this online course comes from a Global MBA program and can actually count toward an advanced degree with advanced level instruction on persuasive communication. It is part of a four-course program and has been completed by over 26,000 students.
The instructors come from the MBA degree program at MacQuarie University which ranks among the top one percent of universities in the world.
It is a 4-week course and the syllabus includes the art of persuasion, developing a narrative, connecting with people, and influential conversations. You also receive downloadable resources, class projects, and multiple quizzes.
Coursera provides university-level instruction online in shorter self-paced courses and many of these classes contribute to degree programs. You can join the Coursera platform for free and financial aid is available for premium courses.
- Advanced level
- 3 week course
- Taught by university professors
- Counts toward degree credits
- Downloadable resources
- Exams included
8. Storytelling for Social Change (edX)
Social change happens when listeners identify enough with someone telling the story about the need for change. People can identify with you and your message when your story is fully compelling, which is what this beginner-level online course has taught over 31,000 people.
Your instruction comes from the University of Michigan and is taught by university professors in the field of performing arts, which is appropriate for storytelling of any kind.
During the 5-week online course, you will navigate a self-paced array of course modules covering introducing multiple perspectives, developing a strong protagonist, appealing to empathy, and using visual aids. You will also receive many downloadable resources and a certificate of completion.
edX provides students with university education on specific subjects without needing to attend a university to enroll in multiple courses. Courses are free! Extra features are available at a low cost.
- Beginner level
- 5 weeks self paced
- University professors
- Class projects
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
9. Storytelling to Influence (Udemy)
Influence is how we get people to do things. For businesses, influence is leveraged to achieve sales, brand awareness, or some other type of call to action. It can also be used within our own businesses to make sure company policies are well developed and followed properly. This beginner-level course will show how to use influence through storytelling.
Life coach and motivational speaker Jeff Tan is your instructor and he brings his decades of motivational work as a leader in the armed forces to the work of motivating through storytelling. This course has had over 35,000 satisfied students.
Course content is 1 hour of on-demand video and covers topics of the what, why, and how of storytelling for influence, building a library of stories, and constructing the stories, along with several quizzes. There are articles and other resources to download, class projects, and a certificate of completion.
Udemy brings together a wealth of experience from professionals and experts in various disciplines and presents it by means of well-designed continuing education online courses. Check out the promotional offers and discounts from Udemy. Or even this hack to try a course for free.
- Beginner level
- 1 hour on demand video
- Taught by life coach/motivational speaker
- Quizzes
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
10. The Art of Storytelling (Khan Academy)
Pixar storytellers can bring out so many emotions from an animated, fictional, anthropomorphized character! They tell us how they do that inside this beginner-level online digital storytelling course.
Pixar In a Box provides the instruction for this outstanding online class. Pixar In a Box is made up of various different Pixar directors and artists teaching this visual storytelling course about what they do best.
Lessons in the self-paced curriculum of on-demand video combined with scripted activities include characters, story structure, visual language, and feedback. There are a lot of extra materials to download and many activities to complete.
Khan Academy is an online continuing education web platform providing specialized, unique, and general courses for professionals and also courses designed to assist you in teaching your children doing remote learning in primary and secondary schools. Khan Academy’s mission is to provide free, world-class education to anyone, anywhere.
- Beginner level
- Self paced
- Instructors are Pixar directors and artists
- Class activities
- Class projects
- Downloadable resources
11. Leadership Communication for Maximum Impact: Storytelling (Coursera)
Effective leaders communicate well, whether with customers and clients or internally with employees or others. Storytelling is an effective method to communicate ideas to others, which is the direction taken in this intermediate-level online course with enrollment reaching 45,000 already.
Your teachers for this course are part of the degree program from Northwestern University, professors in journalism and marketing communications.
The online course is presented through on-demand video in 4 weeks of self-paced study. Modules cover lessons from great brands, the art of leadership storytelling, marketing events, and storytelling innovation. You will receive a certificate of completion, quizzes, and several downloadable resources.
Coursera presents university courses for online learning in shorter time frames as continuing education type instruction. Jin Coursera for no cost, premium features, and courses have financial aid available.
- Intermediate level
- 4 weeks self paced
- University professors as the instructors
- Quizzes
- Downloadable resources
- Certificate of completion
12. The Complete Storytelling Course for Speaking & Presenting (Udemy)
Gain confidence in your own public speaking abilities so that you can make presentations to clients or within your company that will result in positive action with the beginner to intermediate level instruction in this online course. 27,000 students have taken this online course.
Best-selling author and founder of Media Training Worldwide, TJ Walker is your trainer in this online course. TJ has trained presidents, prime ministers, Nobel Peace Prize winners, senators, and members of Parliament in public speaking since 1984.
Over 29 hours of on-demand video include class topics of testing your stories, using the vocal range, avoiding common blunders, getting rid of verbal tics, PowerPoint, and workplace meetings. You will be given many extra resources to download, class projects, and a certificate of completion.
Udemy is a great source for learning valuable tips, techniques, and methods in a wide variety of life disciplines and aspects of business, art, and industry. Check out their promotional offers!
- All levels
- 29 hours on demand video
- Taught by expert public speaking trainer
- Downloadable resources
- Class projects
- Certificate of completion
13. Transmedia Storytelling: Narrative worlds, emerging technologies, and global audiences (Coursera)
Share and continue your stories across multiple media and delivery platforms for marketing, to facilitate social change, or purely for entertainment in this intermediate-level online course. Over 62,000 people have already enrolled.
Your teachers are part of the art and design degree programs from the University of New South Wales, Sydney, a leading school for art, design, and communication in current and emerging technologies.
Your 4-week syllabus includes transmedia storytelling, idea generation, transmedia audiences, and the transmedia user experience. You will receive quizzes, projects, downloadable resources, and a certificate of completion.
Coursera gives online students a university education on various subjects without needing to attend a university to enroll in multiple courses. Enrollment for many of their online courses is free!
- Intermediate level
- 4 weeks self paced
- University professors as instructors
- Quizzes
- Extra resources
- Certificate of completion
The Next Level
Do let you’re learning stop now. Think about bundling your new storytelling skills for an even greater impact.
- Interested in movies or online video? Think about our screenwriting course reviews.
- Want to make extra money as a freelancer editing blogposts? Then you’ll want to be a great storyteller and proofreader.
- Perhaps you aspire to be the next online influence? Why not start with a free online social media marketing course?
This post was proofread by Grammarly
