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Writing with Flair
Review

How to Become an Exceptional Writer

Total score: 8,6/10
Easy
  • Last updated 26/06/2025
Shani Raja
by Shani Raja
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What you'll learn ? Overview

Ever feel like your writing could use a real boost, moving beyond just getting words on a page? We've been diving into Writing with Flair by Shani Raja, and it's definitely not just another course making grand promises. Raja, a former editor at the Wall Street Journal who's also written for The Economist and Financial Times, breaks down professional writing into four core principles: simplicity, clarity, elegance, and evocativeness.

The course features over 30 lectures with several hours of video content. What immediately caught our attention was Raja's systematic approach. He doesn't just tell you to "write better." Instead, he provides a concrete framework you can apply to almost any piece of writing, whether it's a business email, a blog post, or a creative piece.

The course structure follows a clear, logical path. You start with foundational concepts about developing an "elite writing mindset," then move through each principle systematically. The simplicity module teaches you to cut clutter and avoid jargon. The clarity section focuses on logical flow and effective punctuation. Then comes elegance, covering rhythm and rhetorical devices, followed by evocativeness, which explores storytelling and sensory writing.

What truly sets this course apart is Raja's unique editorial perspective. He doesn't just teach theory; he shows you exactly how professional editors think. This becomes especially clear in the bonus editing demonstration, where he takes a piece of writing and transforms it using the techniques taught throughout the course. We found this practical application incredibly valuable for understanding how all the principles work together 👌

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Is this course for you?

👉

Prior experience needed

Beginner (No Prior Experience Needed)

👉

Time commitment

light Light (1–5 Hours/Week)

👉

Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

👉

Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Ideal for professionals seeking clearer business communication, bloggers wanting more engaging content, students improving academic writing, non-native English speakers refining their skills, and anyone transitioning into content creation or freelance writing

Instructor

Shani Raja

Shani Raja

Elite Writing Coach and Former Wall Street Journal Editor Legitimacy Score: 9/10
Shani Raja is a distinguished writing instructor and former senior editor at The Wall Street Journal. With a career spanning top-tier publications like The Economist, Time, and Bloomberg News, Raja has leveraged his extensive journalism experience to create highly popular online writing courses. His flagship program, 'Writing With Flair,' has attracted nearly 500,000 students from over 200 countries, solidifying his reputation as a leading authority in teaching advanced writing techniques.
Raja's journalism career includes writing for The Economist, reporting for Bloomberg News, and editing for The Wall Street Journal. He has trained numerous high-profile journalists and edited for leading global companies such as Microsoft, IBM, and PwC. Raja transitioned from journalism to focus on teaching non-journalists the elite writing and storytelling techniques he mastered in his editorial roles. His online courses have garnered widespread acclaim, with over 100,000 students across various platforms.
• Developed 'Writing With Flair,' one of the most popular online writing courses globally
• Attracted nearly 500,000 students from over 200 countries to his online writing programs
• Former senior editor at The Wall Street Journal
• Contributed to prestigious publications including The Economist, Time, and Financial Times
• Trained journalists at top-tier news organizations
• Created a writing program that has helped authors, bloggers, business writers, and TEDx speakers enhance their skills
• Webinar: 'How to become an exceptional writer' for the Professional Development Forum (2020)
• Guest on various writing and journalism podcasts (specific names not publicly available)
• Conducted workshops for corporate clients (specific events not publicly listed)
Raja is primarily active on professional platforms like LinkedIn and Udemy. He regularly shares writing tips, course updates, and insights into the craft of writing. His content focuses on helping individuals improve their writing skills across various domains, from business communication to creative writing.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration3
  • 📶 DifficultyEasy
  • ⌛ Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

Basic English proficiency and desire to improve writing skills

💻 Requirements

Device with internet connection for streaming

💸 Hidden Costs

None (just need a computer and word processor)

🙋‍♂️ Support Options

Udemy Q&A feature for questions, no direct coaching

Course content

  • Module 1: Introduction - Welcome message, course overview, and how to maximize your learning experience
  • Module 2: The Elite Writing Mindset - Understanding professional writing standards, audience-first thinking, and the importance of relevance
  • Module 3: Simplicity - Cutting clutter, avoiding jargon and nominalizations, using active voice, effective connectors and lists
  • Module 4: Clarity - Logical ordering, transitions, paragraph structure, topic sentences, examples, punctuation mastery (commas, semicolons, colons, dashes)
  • Module 5: Elegance - Incorporating imagery, figures of speech, rhythm, personality, suspense, and rhetorical devices
  • Module 6: Evocativeness - Sensory writing, storytelling techniques, emotional engagement, and developing your unique voice
  • Module 7: Summary and Editing Demo - Recap of four pillars plus live editing demonstration applying all techniques
  • Module 8: Bonus - Quick guide to freelance writing and getting published

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

With over 240,000 students enrolled and a 4.6 rating from 67,000+ reviews on Udemy, the sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. Our analysis of user feedback revealed consistent themes: beginners love the structured approach, while some experienced writers find it basic. The course enjoys strong word-of-mouth recommendations across writing forums and social media.

Praised points

  • Crystal-clear framework: Students repeatedly mention how the four-pillar system gives them a concrete method to improve their writing immediately
  • Instructor credibility: Raja's Wall Street Journal background and teaching style earn consistent praise for authority and clarity
  • Immediate results: Many report noticing improvements in their writing within days, particularly in clarity and conciseness

Criticisms

  • Too basic for advanced writers: Professional writers often find the content elementary, especially the early modules
  • Repetitive concepts: Several students note that key points are repeated multiple times throughout the course
  • No personalized feedback: The self-paced format means no direct instructor interaction or writing critique

Testimonials

"This course revolutionized my approach to business writing. The clarity principle alone was worth the price." - Sarah M., Udemy Review

 "As a blogger, I finally understand why some posts perform better. The evocativeness module changed everything." - ContentStarter Review

 "Shani breaks complex writing concepts into digestible pieces. Perfect for non-native English speakers like me." - Pradeep H., Course Review

 "The editing demonstration at the end pulled everything together beautifully." - Anonymous, Udemy

 "I've taken three writing courses on Udemy. This one actually made a difference in my daily work emails." - Reddit User

Social insights

Reddit discussions in r/writing and r/freelancewriters consistently recommend the course for beginners, with users citing genuine improvements in their professional writing. Quora threads echo similar sentiments, particularly praising the journalism-based approach. One Reddit user noted, "It's the best $20 I've spent on Udemy" (referencing sale prices). However, seasoned writers on these platforms often suggest it's better suited for those just starting their writing journey.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The course promises to teach you "how to become an exceptional writer" using techniques from elite journalism. After completing the course, we can confirm it delivers a solid editorial framework. Does it make you "exceptional"? That depends on your starting point and practice, but it certainly provides the tools.

Price History

Listed at $99 on Udemy, but rarely sold at that price. Typical purchase price ranges from $12.99 to $24.99 during frequent Udemy sales (which occur almost weekly).

Upsell Practices

No aggressive upsells within the course. Raja has other courses on Udemy (Ninja Writing, Editing Mastery), but they're not pushed heavily.

Student Success

Over 240,000 enrolled students with consistently positive outcomes reported. Verified success stories include improved business communication (ContentStarter), better blog engagement (Pradeep Hoskote), and enhanced academic writing (multiple Udemy reviews).

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Udemy, industry-standard platform with reliable streaming, mobile apps, and lifetime access. Interface is intuitive with progress tracking, bookmarks, and speed controls.

Content Accessibility

Full lifetime access via web or mobile app. Videos can be downloaded for offline viewing through the mobile app. Closed captions and transcripts available.

Mobile Compatibility

Excellent. Udemy's iOS and Android apps work smoothly for on-the-go learning. We tested both and found no issues.

Technical Requirements

Basic internet connection for streaming. No special software required beyond a web browser or mobile app.

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

Our investigation found no significant complaints beyond standard course limitations. The most common grievance relates to Udemy's aggressive pricing tactics (showing inflated "original prices"), but this affects all Udemy courses, not just this one.

😬

Refund policy issues

Standard Udemy 30-day money-back guarantee applies. We found no reports of refund difficulties specific to this course.

😬

Marketing practices

The marketing is refreshingly transparent. Raja promises to teach you his editorial framework, not to make you a bestselling author overnight. The course description accurately reflects the content we reviewed.

😬

Community feedback

The lack of a dedicated community or forum is mentioned by some students as a limitation, but it's not positioned as a community-based course, so this isn't misleading.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At the typical sale price of $15-25, this course offers exceptional ROI. You're getting insights from a Wall Street Journal editor for less than the cost of a writing handbook. Even at full price ($99), it's competitive with similar offerings.

Conclusion

After thoroughly reviewing Writing with Flair, we can confidently say it's one of the most legitimate writing courses in the Low Ticket category. Shani Raja's credentials are impeccable, the content is well-structured and actionable, and the overwhelming positive feedback from 240,000+ students speaks volumes.

 Is it perfect? No. Advanced writers might find it basic, and the lack of personalized feedback limits its effectiveness compared to higher-priced alternatives. But for what it promises, a systematic approach to improving your writing using professional editorial standards, it absolutely delivers.

 We particularly appreciate Raja's no-nonsense approach. He doesn't promise you'll become the next Hemingway, he promises to teach you how professional editors think and write. That honest positioning, combined with practical techniques you can apply immediately, makes this course a smart investment for anyone serious about improving their written communication.

 For beginners and intermediate writers, or professionals who need to communicate more effectively, Writing with Flair earns our strong recommendation. Just wait for one of Udemy's frequent sales to get the best value.

FAQs about this course

Absolutely. Raja is a former Wall Street Journal editor who has also written for The Economist, Financial Times, and Bloomberg News. His credentials place him among the most qualified online writing instructors.

The course contains 3.5 hours of video content (not 7 hours as sometimes advertised). Most students complete it within a week by watching 30-60 minutes daily.

While the techniques apply to all writing, the course focuses primarily on non-fiction and business writing. Fiction writers may find some concepts useful but should look for genre-specific courses.

No, this is a self-paced video course without instructor feedback. You'll need to self-assess using the principles taught.

Listed at $99, but frequently on sale for $12.99-$24.99. We recommend waiting for Udemy's regular promotions.

Yes, Udemy offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all courses, including this one.

Raja provides a systematic framework based on professional editorial standards, not random tips. The structured progression and editing demonstration offer value beyond scattered free content.

Yes, many non-native speakers report significant improvements. The course assumes basic English proficiency but explains concepts clearly.

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Writing with Flair Review
$ 99
Total score: 8,6/10 ⭐
Join now
  • Duration3
  • DifficultyEasy
  • Release Date01/2021
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentLight (1–5 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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