Do you feel totally lost when it comes to pitching and publishing? Are you intrigued by freelancing as a career but don’t know where or how to start?
This course is for anyone who wants to learn more about freelancing, from how to write a successful pitch, to insider tips (like how to find editor emails, turning a single story idea into different pitches, or how to get paid more) whether you want to land your first byline or break into higher-tier publications: no workshop experience required!
In this intensive three-week online bootcamp, you’ll read successful pitches and the published stories they became, brainstorm and workshop story ideas, track down sources, and conduct research. You’ll learn the behind-the-scenes tips to demystify the process, and learn to love rejections (really!). You’ll get personalized feedback from a working freelancer, and you’ll leave with a polished pitch and a list of potential outlets.
COURSE SKELETON:
Week 1: THE IDEA: students will deconstruct a successful pitch, brainstorm story ideas, develop potential angles for pitches, track down sources and start background research on their way towards drafting a pitch
Week 2: THE PITCH: students will workshop and revise a compete pitch, find potential outlets for publication, track down editors, and learn to streamline the submissions process
Week 3: WHAT NOW?: editorial feedback, negotiations, contracts, what happens once your story goes live, and more tools you need to tackle your freelancing career!
CLASS TAKEAWAYS:
- a complete, polished pitch for a feature, profile, or personal essay (with a reported element)
- close reading of successful pitches (and finished articles) to learn what makes them work and how to apply them to your own writing
- coming up with story ideas
-finding sources, conducting interviews, and background research
- demystifying the freelance process: from finding potential outlets and editor contacts
- understanding contracts, negotiations, and what happens when a story goes live
- the tools you need to dive into the freelancing world after the course
Laura Yan is a freelance writer. Her writing has appeared in Wired, NYMag.com, GQ.com, Pacific Standard, GOOD, The Outline, Penthouse, Southwest: the Magazine, Victory Journal, The Awl, & elsewhere. Her stories have been featured in Longreads Best of Arts & Culture Writing 2017 and Longform.org. She loves deadlines, and hearing from you!
"Laura is concise, engaged, knowledgeable, and committed to her students. She is also a great writer who has published extensively and is in the thick of building her exciting career, and brings that energy and drive to her classes."
"Laura Yan is a whip-smart writer who knows how to take a burning idea, put it through its paces, and emerge with a story that editors can't resist. Not only is she generous in sharing insider tips on writing and publication, she's fun to be around. "
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