If you’re picturing Erik Thomson knocking out one column a week in Channel Seven’s 800 Words, and making enough money to provide for himself and two teenage children and thinking, I could do that … well, it’s possible.
It is possible to make a decent living as a freelance journalist, even in this COVID-induced downturn. However as an author, rather than take it on as a full time career move, most of us are simply wanting to supplement our income using skills that we already have. Writing articles about what interests you, and getting paid, is a great way to do that.
I’m a freelance journalist specialising in romance. I do write about other things, but I’ve come to learn that romance is everywhere and in everything. So it usually works out that I’m writing about romance!
The aim of this course is to give you the basic knowledge and skills to develop ideas for magazine articles (print or online), pitch them to publications and ultimately get paid for writing them.
In the first week you will find a topic you want to write about, research and develop potential angles for the article. Don’t worry if you're drawing a blank - we can brainstorm this.
In the second week you will choose a publication you want to write the article for, and learn how to identify the style, target audience and in-house requirements of the publication. You will then develop an outline – the bones - for your article.
In the third week we’ll go through a step by step process for the structure of writing an article – add the meat to the bones. The fourth week will focus on developing a pitch for the publication you are targeting.
You will receive feedback from me every week on whatever you submit. There will also be the opportunity to give each other feedback (which I strongly encourage) in the group chat. This is a really great way to test your idea with readers, and offer each other encouragement along the way.
Every week will be full of tips, tricks and lived experience to help writers break into the freelance path. By the end of the course, you will have a pitch and an article with which to launch your freelancing career. Who knows, you may even win a ROMA!
And if you want to go to the next level, make sure you sign up for the Art of Interviewing OWL scheduled for November.
Course Dates: 5Oct to 30 Oct 2020
Cost: RWA Member - $55.00. Non-RWA Member: $88.00.
Venue: Online – RWA Moodle Platform
Booking Link: https://www.trybooking.com/BHGWN
Tanya Nellestein has studied Freelance Journalism and her work has appeared in Sunday Life and NSW Business Chamber quarterly magazine Courage, as well as being a regular contributor for Blush Magazine. Tanya is also an accomplished presenter and workshop facilitator and has almost completed a CERT IV in Training and Assessment. www.tanyanellestein.com