Course description
What will I learn?
You will get direction for your freelance writing. You will learn the basics of freelance writing to enable you to begin planning, researching, writing and pitching articles to Editors at magazines and newspapers. The sessions also include a workshop element where students work on specific exercises, such as interviewing and writing an “intro”, or opening paragraph. Students will also be given a weekly assignment for discussion and feedback. They can opt to do the assignment in the form of a feature article on a subject of their choice, which they can work on week by week. Completing the assignment is essential if students are to get the maximum value from this course. Week 1 • Overview of course • What do you hope to achieve? • Discussion of possible projects • A guide to the magazine market Week 2 Types of article: • General feature • First-person experience • Profiles • Columns • Blogs Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 3 Structure: - The “intro” - From the specific to the wider picture - Winding it up Discussion of assignment and feedback • Week 4 • Colour and human interest • Style and tone • Using quotes • Working from notes Week 5 Interviewing • Telephone versus Skype versus face-to-face. • Persuading people to talk • Interview techniques • Taking notes/recording • Handling demands for conditions Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 6 • Generating Ideas • Choosing your publication/format • Tackling the research • Building contacts Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 7 Publication • Establishing your profile and credentials • Selling your idea • Writing a pitch • Submitting on spec. Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 8 Handling a commission: • Agreeing terms • The brief • Word count and deadline • The production process • Dealing with feedback and queries Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 9 • Copyright • Libel • Priva
What do I need to know?
Writing Freelance Magazine Articles Course Outline The sessions also include a workshop element where students work on specific exercises, such as interviewing and writing an “intro”, or opening paragraph. Students will also be given a weekly assignment for discussion and feedback. They can opt to do the assignment in the form of a feature article on a subject of their choice, which they can work on week by week. Completing the assignment is essential if students are to get the maximum value from this course. Week 1 Overview of course What do you hope to achieve? Discussion of possible projects A guide to the magazine market Week 2 Types of article: General feature First-person experience Profiles Columns Blogs Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 3 Structure: - The “intro” - From the specific to the wider picture - Winding it up Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 4 Colour and human interest Style and tone Using quotes Working from notes Week 5 Interviewing Telephone versus Skype versus face-to-face. Persuading people to talk Interview techniques Taking notes/recording Handling demands for conditions Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 6 Generating Ideas Choosing your publication/format Tackling the research Building contacts Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 7 Publication Establishing your profile and credentials Selling your idea Writing a pitch Submitting on spec. Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 8 Handling a commission: Agreeing terms The brief Word count and deadline The production process Dealing with feedback and queries Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 9 Copyright Libel Privacy Data protection Contempt of court Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 10 Outstanding questions *Truncated - see website for more*
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Suitability - Who should attend?
What do I need to know?
Writing Freelance Magazine Articles Course Outline The sessions also include a workshop element where students work on specific exercises, such as interviewing and writing an “intro”, or opening paragraph. Students will also be given a weekly assignment for discussion and feedback. They can opt to do the assignment in the form of a feature article on a subject of their choice, which they can work on week by week. Completing the assignment is essential if students are to get the maximum value from this course. Week 1 Overview of course What do you hope to achieve? Discussion of possible projects A guide to the magazine market Week 2 Types of article: General feature First-person experience Profiles Columns Blogs Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 3 Structure: - The “intro” - From the specific to the wider picture - Winding it up Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 4 Colour and human interest Style and tone Using quotes Working from notes Week 5 Interviewing Telephone versus Skype versus face-to-face. Persuading people to talk Interview techniques Taking notes/recording Handling demands for conditions Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 6 Generating Ideas Choosing your publication/format Tackling the research Building contacts Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 7 Publication Establishing your profile and credentials Selling your idea Writing a pitch Submitting on spec. Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 8 Handling a commission: Agreeing terms The brief Word count and deadline The production process Dealing with feedback and queries Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 9 Copyright Libel Privacy Data protection Contempt of court Discussion of assignment and feedback Week 10 Outstanding questions *Truncated - see website for more*