Blogging 101 and Writing 101 Are Back!

Just started blogging, but not sure how to take your site to the next level or solidify that writing habit? Our free Blogging U. courses, Blogging 101 and Writing 101, start on September 15th. Get registered!

September 10, 2014

Krista Stevens

You’ve just started your shiny new blog and you’d like some help as you get up to speed on WordPress.com. Or, maybe you’d like some inspiration to write every day. On September 15th, we kick off two free Blogging U. courses: Blogging 101 and Writing 101. They might be just what you need to whip your blog into shape and/or establish your writing habit.

Blogging 101

Each day for 30 days, Blogging 101 offers a bite-sized blogging “assignment*,” geared to helping you customize the look of your blog, start a blogging habit, and find some new blogging friends. Here’s how it works:

  • Assignments fall into three broad categories — publishing posts, customizing your blog, and engaging with the community. Assignments are designed to build on one another.
  • We’ll post a new assignment at The Daily Post each weekday at 12AM GMT (8PM EDT). (Time zone math: 12AM GMT, Monday September 15th = 8PM EDT, Sunday, September 14th.) Each assignment contains all the inspiration and instructions you need to complete it. Weekends are free time you can use to catch up on assignments, if you like.
  • Participants get access to a private community site, the Commons, where they can chat, connect, and seek feedback and support. Daily Post staff and Happiness Engineers will be on hand to answer your questions and offer guidance and resources.
  • Cost? Free!

Writing 101

Each day for 30 days, we’ll post an “assignment*” geared to helping you create a writing habit, inspire you to try new forms, get some feedback from fellow participants, and make some writing friends online.

Here’s how it works:

  • Each assignment has two parts: a prompt and a twist. Prompts are the topic for the day; twists are exercises that stretch your writing chops. Use them however you’d like: respond to the prompt, and ignore the twist. Try the twist, but write on your own topic. Use both.
  • We’ll post a new writing assignment at the The Daily Post each weekday at 12AM GMT (8PM EDT). (Time zone math: 12AM GMT, Monday September 15th = 8PM EDT, Sunday, September 14th.). There are no weekend assignments — you’re free to expand on a weekday post, write something unrelated, or (gasp!) spend some time away from your blog.
  • Participants get access to a private community site, the Commons, where they can chat, connect, and seek feedback and support. Daily Post staff and Happiness Engineers will be on hand in the comments to answer questions and offer guidance and resources.
  • Cost? Zilch, zero, nada.

*All assignments are optional. Blogging 101 and Writing 101 are designed to inspire and educate you to start and maintain a blogging habit. While we encourage you to be active in the Commons and participate in discussions with fellow participants, you never have to show your work if you’d prefer not to.

Intrigued? Register for Blogging 101, Writing 101 or both by filling out this form:

Thanks for your interest! Registration is now closed, but both challenges will be back again later this fall.

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71 Comments

Comments are closed.

  1. iamj0ann Sep 10th at 9:40 pm

    I would like to register but i am getting a message that says the link is not safe…

    Liked by 6 people

  2. CherylB Sep 10th at 10:12 pm

    Hi: I would like to sign up but my McAfee protection warned me not to. I have a blog on blogspot but would like to move to wordpress.

    Liked by 1 person

  3. kae64 Sep 10th at 10:44 pm

    Hello,

    In response to this email sent, I cannot access a sign up spot for the free blogging and writing courses. Where could I access please?

    Thanks, Lisa

    Liked by 3 people

  4. leonapitej Sep 10th at 11:02 pm

    I want to register, I really do. But this is what I get when I click on the Take Our Survey link: Your connection is not private. Attackers might be trying to steal your information from improve.wordpress.com (for example, passwords, messages, or credit cards).

    Liked by 4 people

  5. AL Oglesby Sep 10th at 11:15 pm

    I want to register but forgot my Blog URL. Can you help me?

    Liked by 1 person

  6. floraglade Sep 10th at 11:51 pm

    I signed up for writing 101! I probably should’ve done the blog one first but I felt I needed to season my writing and it might help bring back a muse that’s been dead.

    Liked by 5 people

  7. Thomas Sep 11th at 12:24 am

    I am also interested but my blog is in German language. Does it still make sense to register?

    Liked by 1 person

    • Krista Sep 11th at 1:02 pm

      Sure! Note that most participants will be participating in English and may not be able to read German in order to give you feedback.

      Like

  8. jspears16 Sep 11th at 12:30 am

    Where exactly do you register?

    Liked by 1 person

  9. rosemawrites Sep 11th at 12:46 am

    I’m registered! Yikes! This looks really exciting! ~

    Liked by 3 people

  10. midlifewellness Sep 11th at 1:31 am

    Hi. When I click on the link to register for these programs, I get a warning on my PC that the “connection is not private” and therefore I should not continue. Is there a different website link that may not have these issues? I don’t want to compromise my computer security but I would like to participate.

    Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

  11. MB Manion Morell Sep 11th at 1:31 am

    Signed up and looking forward to it!!

    Like

  12. bro8kenneth Sep 11th at 1:56 am

    Can I still participate in Blogging 101 course even though my blog is self supported but using WordPress as a blogging platform?

    Like

  13. lifeinsmallbites Sep 11th at 2:35 am

    Please help. I cannot get into my website: LifeinSmallBites.com Your Password recovery program is not functioning for me after many attempts. Thank you in advance for your help. – Jim Yarbrough

    Like

  14. kwk50 Sep 11th at 2:59 am

    How do I register?

    Like

  15. Warrens Coins Sep 11th at 3:50 am

    Dear Krista,

    Yes I would like to join Blogging 101 and Writing 101 beginning on September 15.

    Best! Warren D Smith

    Liked by 1 person

  16. dharmendr Sep 11th at 4:34 am

    Eagerly waiting.. 😀

    Liked by 1 person

  17. toniovarado Sep 11th at 6:27 am

    BRING IT ON I NEED ALL HELP I CAN GET

    Like

  18. M Murphy Sep 11th at 7:00 am

    Can’t wait to get started!

    Like

  19. supergirl2000 Sep 11th at 7:15 am

    Excited for writing 101!

    Like

  20. staceyebel Sep 11th at 8:12 am

    Sign me up for blogging 101! 🙂

    Like

  21. sarahpaddon Sep 11th at 8:28 am

    Can I register for the blogging 101 course please?

    Like

  22. napper0308 Sep 11th at 8:31 am

    Why not use the 24 hour clock system, thereby eliminating any confusion. 12 am – is that noon or midnight?) Using 1200h or 2400h, there can be no confusion.

    Like

  23. melissaceramics Sep 11th at 8:43 am

    Really looking forward to this! Have reblogged as it will help my students trying to start up there own craft business and getting there businesses online.

    Like

  24. randan248 Sep 11th at 9:16 am

    Eagerly waiting 🙂 GMT 12:00 AM means 0:00 in 24 hour format or 12:00 noon?

    Like

  25. jacknyamwaya Sep 11th at 10:57 am

    Being very new to this, I am definitely looking forward to learning!

    Liked by 1 person

  26. itratatouille Sep 11th at 12:06 pm

    Hello,

    I’d like to particpate in Writing 101 however as i don’t yet have a url, i’m unable to sign up online. Is there a way to enrol without a url?

    Thanks!

    Like

  27. choosing4me Sep 11th at 1:03 pm

    I wanted to register for both. However, it would only let me select one. Is it possible to add me to the Blogging 101 class as well? Please let me know. Many thanks! 🙂

    Like

    • Krista Sep 11th at 8:28 pm

      You’ll need to complete the form two times to register for both classes — once to register for Blogging 101 and once to register for Writing 101.

      Liked by 2 people

  28. pfca2 Sep 11th at 2:18 pm

    The reason it comes up unsafe (even though safe) is that you are redirected to Polldaddy.

    Like

  29. Tom Ball Sep 11th at 2:20 pm

    I really like the idea of participating in something like this, but my blog is pretty stuck to a particular genre. I’m trying to start a blog for film/theatre/book reviews. Would this work for my blog at all?

    Liked by 1 person

  30. hrh66 Sep 11th at 2:54 pm

    This is a great idea! Can I sign up for both?

    Liked by 1 person

  31. busybeepat85 Sep 11th at 8:12 pm

    How do I register safely?

    Like

    • Krista Sep 11th at 8:25 pm

      When you click on the link to register, you’re redirected to Polldaddy.com — which, like WordPress.com is a service owned and operated by Automattic. It’s safe.

      Like

  32. Assembled Creatively Sep 12th at 2:34 am

    Can one sign up for both (And if we’ve already done the course/higher level of course, can we do it again?)?

    Like

  33. quotingtochangetheworld Sep 12th at 2:36 am

    Hi, where can I check if I am officially on the list for this offer, registered yesterday and still no confirmation..

    Like

  34. Tobi Sep 12th at 9:18 am

    This is a great idea! I’m looking forward to polishing up my learning blog with your tips 🙂

    Like

  35. sshafarzek Sep 12th at 1:49 pm

    I attempted to sign up but was directed to a site with a warning not to proceed further. I don’t understand.

    Like

  36. Let It Be Sep 12th at 2:48 pm

    Krista, If i “read” you correctly, you are suggesting that if my blog is a specific topic (mine is sailing) I should start a new blog to take these courses. Is that what you recommend?

    Like

  37. niggazinpower Sep 12th at 3:32 pm

    Now am on blog 101. Say in the course of time, can I as well register for Writing 101 even after the program is kicked off.

    Like

  38. emmapalova Sep 12th at 3:46 pm

    When I click on it, it tells me that it is not safe and redirects me to blank.
    What do I do to register?
    Emma
    http://emmapalova.com

    Like

  39. Swav Sep 12th at 5:02 pm

    I’ve just signed for Blogging 101, I’m sure I will find the answers regarding my latest upgrade of my blog theme @ byswav.com from Ryu to Forever one 🙂

    Like

  40. janetflavell100 Sep 13th at 12:06 am

    Yes, it’s all rather overwhelming to an 80yr. old.

    Like

  41. mykeyboardblog Sep 13th at 12:30 am

    What if we didn’t do the assignments ?

    Like

  42. vannae7724 Sep 13th at 8:04 am

    Please, instead of explaining over and over that the link is safe, why don’t you fix the link?

    Like

  43. juanbaezmelendez Sep 13th at 12:47 pm

    Is there a specific time in the day for each class? I would love to register but my schedule is kind of crazy. Can I take each class at any time during the day?

    Liked by 2 people

  44. africayoutheye Sep 13th at 6:32 pm

    How does the class works, kindly visit http://www.africayoutheye.wordpress.com

    Like

  45. soturisoiree Sep 13th at 9:04 pm

    Just Signed up. Very excited. Hope the schedule works out for me!

    Like

  46. twistnpout Sep 14th at 3:46 am

    I’d love to participate, but afraid i won’t have a lot of time to do all the assignments. Is that a problem? I’d love the challenge.

    Like

    • Ben Huberman Sep 20th at 6:50 pm

      You can complete assignments at your own pace — there’s really no problem with you completing only some of them. It’s entirely up to you.

      Liked by 4 people

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