Recommended Classes
Freelancing for Newspapers
Note: This course is RECOMMENDED by Writing-World.com. It is offered independently by the Instructor.
Instructor: Sue Fagalde Lick
Length: 8 Weeks
Start Date: Continuous enrollment. Begin when it's convenient for you.
Course Fee: $100
Overview: When most people think of freelance article writing, they think of magazines. Although magazines are wonderful markets, many freelance opportunities also exist in the newspaper field. Newspapers generally don't pay as much as magazines for freelance articles, but they have many other advantages. Local papers are a great place for new writers to break in and accumulate some clips. Also, because newspapers come out daily or weekly, they need more articles more often, and they publish and pay more quickly. Plus, nearly everyone reads the newspaper, so far more people will read and respond to your work. It is also possible to resell your articles to other non-competing newspapers or expand the same information into magazine articles.
Participants in this class will develop a list of freelance opportunities at their local newspapers, brainstorm ideas for the kinds of articles newspaper editors want and pursue one or more of those ideas all the way from a query to a completed article. They will also develop a plan for future newspaper freelancing, including possibilities for more article assignments, resale opportunities and becoming a regular contributor.
Read a lecture excerpt or related article!
Assignment: Study local, regional and special-interest newspapers and
develop a list of freelance opportunities, along with editors' names and
addresses.
Session 2: Developing Newspaper Article Ideas
Assignment: Using the list of freelance opportunities you developed last
week, give me three or more article ideas. In one or two paragraphs, list a
possible title, what topics would be included and major sources of
information. Then tell me where you think this article might fit.
Session 3: How to write a query letter
Session 4: Researching Your Article
Assignment: Draw up a list of questions to go with the article for which
you wrote a query last week. Ideally, these questions will match the topics
listed in your query, and they can become not only your research guide but
the outline for your article. With your questions, include a list of
sources you will use.
Session 5: Interviews
Session 6: Writing the Article
Session 7: Rewrites
Session 8: Where Do We Go From Here?
Assignment: Make a plan for where you go from here, ask me your questions.
NOTE: I offer additional additional courses in writing reviews and opinion pieces, travel articles and columns for newspapers, magazines and online publications. E-mail me at
suelick@suelick.com for details.
Articles by Sue Lick on Writing-World.com:
If you would like to pay for this class by check or money order, please contact suelick@suelick.com.
Syllabus
Session 1: Introduction: Newspaper Freelance Opportunities
Assignment: Draft an article query, including the actual name and address to which it will go. List what other clips or supporting material you will send out with it.
Assignment: Interview someone. If you are not ready to do this for an
actual article, try interviewing a friend or relative just for fun. Type up
and turn in your notes.
Assignment: Draft an 800-word article. If you don't have an
assignment--and you probably don't yet--this is it. You can write about one
of the ideas from your list or write a piece from your practice interview.
Assignment: Rewrite your article. You will have received it by now,
marked with questions and suggestions. Use these as a guide for your
revisions.
About the Instructor
Sue Fagalde Lick is a former newspaper reporter, photographer and editor turned freelance writer. In addition to articles, short stories and poems, she has published three nonfiction books and a novel and has taught numerous workshops for writers. Having worked on both sides of the editor's desk, she knows what editors need and how writers can fill those needs. For more information, visit her website at http://www.suelick.com
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