Please note: this MasterClass review contains affiliate links to a subscription site our founder Maddy Osman has been a member at for several years.
Content writing is an art that turns words into appealing and easy-to-read information. In the digital age, content writing has an undeniably important role in making brands profitable.
It’s easier to write about a topic when you feel like you truly understand it. Expertise in a subject reduces future research since you’re starting from a place of insider status. In-depth industry knowledge also provides a more subjective foundation from which to judge content quality.
Put simply, a solid knowledge base helps you write content that excites your audience. Watching classes on platforms like MasterClass can help you fill any gaps in your subject matter expertise.
MasterClass offers courses in self-improvement, negotiation, cooking, acting, and other subjects that will expand your skill set. Although I’ve taken courses offered by experts across many interesting topics, I’ll focus this MasterClass review on my favorites of their business and writing courses.
MasterClass Review: The Fundamentals
I decided to try MasterClass after seeing Kaleigh Moore tweet about the platform and being blown away by the pros who give their time and expertise to the platform.
One of the best lessons I've taken away from @JuddApatow's MasterClass is that smart people interview other people who are doing what they want to do (and take notes! and learn from what they say! and make connections from it!)
— Kaleigh Moore (@kaleighf) January 30, 2019
After seeing how much value an annual membership offers, I signed up. I’ve been a MasterClass member for several years and have taken over a dozen classes in various disciplines.
So, how can you make the most out of MasterClass and grow as a writer today? First, let’s review MasterClass’s basics.
The Basics
MasterClass is an e-learning platform that shares some traits with similar websites. The classes cover various topics, and experts align with what they teach. For example, a famous writer will teach about writing and a famous singer about singing.
The diverse topics are categorized in an easy-to-find manner. The web navigation is easy on the eyes, and a search bar lets you type in your preferred topic to get suggestions on courses. You’ll also get video learning and workbooks to guide you through your chosen class.
One of my favorite workbooks is for Yotam Ottolenghi’s Mediterranean cooking class, which doubles as a super functional cookbook featuring recipes from his class.
But if that’s all there is to it, why am I still talking about MasterClass? Well, we’re not quite done yet.
Despite the similarities to other e-learning platforms, MasterClass offers a refined and unique learning experience. I wouldn’t expect Chris Voss to teach “The Art of Negotiation” anywhere else.
MasterClass has more than 150 classes, each taught by the best of the best in their field. But these are not your run-of-the-mill training sessions.
MasterClass films a celebrity expert in their element, someone you’ve read about — maybe you even have their autobiography.
If it’s anything film, celebrated actors like Samuel L. Jackson take the lead. Did you say cooking? Experience what it takes to prepare a Gordon Ramsay “Hell’s Kitchen” recipe.
Want to hone your skills on the court? Learn ball handling and shooting tips from NBA star Stephen Curry. If you’d rather learn about conservation and animal intelligence, check out Dr. Jane Goodall’s class.
Each class consists of the following:
- A series of about 20 high-quality videos that dig into the subject matter of the class
- An average video length of 10 minutes, providing break opportunities to continue reading or working
- A well-crafted (and beautifully designed) workbook that you can take away from the class to help you test learning outcomes and acting as a summary for future reference
You can download classes for on-the-go, offline learning— your progress will update when you connect to the internet. Download the iOS or Android app and enjoy it on mobile.
Membership and Pricing
Despite the prestige of the celebrity gurus teaching these courses, the membership plans are relatively affordable.
MasterClass offers three annual membership plans. Each enables you to enjoy its 150-plus course catalog on a TV, mobile, or tablet.
Here are the main differences between each plan:
Individual Plan:
- Use one device at any given time
- $15/month, billed annually ($180/year)
Duo Plan:
- Watch and listen on two devices simultaneously
- Download courses to watch offline
- $20/month, billed annually ($240/year)
Family Plan:
- Watch and listen on six devices simultaneously
- Download courses to watch offline
- $23/month, billed annually ($276/year)
A 30-day guarantee promises a full refund if it’s not for you.
The MasterClass Community
While I’ve mentioned all the essentials, one key ingredient to these classes remains.
The MasterClass Community is an exclusive member-only space where you can interact with people taking classes.
You also can ask some of the instructors questions that come up in the course and enjoy occasional live Q&As with instructors. Just be sure to follow the community guidelines and enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with other members.
MasterClass Review: The Writing Courses
Learning from the prolific authors teaching the writing courses on MasterClass helped me build a solid book writing process for NaNoWriMo in 2020. The result is a library of writing skills I use to make my business more successful.
Honing my writing skills also led to my book, Writing for Humans and Robots: The New Rules of Content Style, a modern-day update to The Elements of Style for a global internet world.
If you’re looking for some writing inspiration, MasterClass currently offers over 20 writing courses with celebrated authors from around the world. These classes span various forms of writing and offer skills that have been tested and tweaked over the years.
Do you share my love for non-fiction and my struggle with poetry? Or maybe you’ve wanted to explore screenwriting and bring social changes through impactful writing?
This is the ideal platform to explore different aspects of writing. Even if you don’t make a career out of writing, these classes will change your perspective and help you hone your skills.
MasterClass courses opened up my mind to new ways to think creatively and helped me refine my writing process. And I’m sure it can help you, too.
Some of the best writing classes you can review on MasterClass include:
- Issa Rae: “Creating Outside the Lines”
- Neil Gaiman: “The Art of Storytelling”
- James Patterson: “Writing”
- Amy Tan: “Fiction, Memory, and Imagination”
- Margaret Atwood: “Creative Writing”
MasterClass Review: The Business Courses
The 19+ class collection of business classes — including effective communication, investigative journalism, and scientific thinking — turned me onto topics I’ve always admired.
Added to that is the treat of watching experts discuss their experiences and skills that helped them along the way. Many MasterClass videos are case studies that walk through how an expert made a career-defining decision or how they work through problems likely to come up in a certain field.
The varied approaches of these celebrities helped me bring a understanding into business dealings. MasterClass had me exploring ideas I didn’t know I should be spending my time thinking about.
The knowledge I gained from MasterClass business courses helped me turn my on-and-off writing gigs into a full-time six-figure business. Today, my content agency, The Blogsmith, works with big brands like HubSpot, Klaviyo, and Clearscope.
Whether you’re looking to start a business or just want to brush up on your skills, MasterClass has many great business courses.
For example, you can learn about branding from renowned Belgian designer Diane von Furstenberg. She makes marketing fun and helps you revitalize your strategy.
You also can learn about economic theory from Nobel Prize winner Paul Krugman or scientific thinking and communication from renowned astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.
In his class, Tyson notes, “One of the greatest challenges in this world is to know enough about a subject to think you’re right but not enough to know you’re wrong.”
This nugget of wisdom is a great reason to return to MasterClass for a new course every so often.
Notable business speakers worth including in your MasterClass review are:
- Richard Branson: “Disruptive Entrepreneurship”
- David Axelrod and Karl Rove: “Campaign Strategy and Messaging”
- Paul Krugman: “Economics and Society”
- Diane von Furstenberg: “Building a Fashion Brand”
- Neil deGrasse Tyson: “Scientific Thinking and Communication”
Final Thoughts: MasterClass Review — Learn Business and Writing From Experts
An incredible advantage of MasterClass compared to other learning platforms, like Skillshare, is that it’s easy to get started. The courses align with topics, so you can easily find what interests you.
Plus, the expert instructors take you through a detailed study of the craft they excel at with real-world examples and applications.
Sign up for MasterClass to tap the wisdom of these top-of-the-line experts and industry leaders.
In addition to learning from the experts at MasterClass, you can learn from my process for The Blogsmith with my book, Writing for Humans and Robots: The New Rules of Content Style.
Which MasterClass courses are you considering? Or if you already have a subscription, who are your favorite instructors? Share your thoughts in the comments!
