A 6 Week Workshop on Getting Your Work Out There
Tuesdays, April 4th-May 9th
ALL LEVELS
Whether your heroes are John Jeremiah Sulllivan for GQ, Nikole Hannah-Jones for the New York Times Magazine, Ta-Nehisi Coates for the Atlantic, or Susan Orlean at the New Yorker, many writers dream of publishing deeply researched and sharply written features that are also a pleasure to read. But how do you get started? Whether it’s travel and food writing, opinion pieces and profiles, or deep dive investigations, submitting freelance work to magazines, newspapers, and digital publications, the process of reporting, writing, and pitching longform articles can seem daunting.
In this workshop, we’ll dive into that process: beginning with story origination and research plans, then transitioning to best practices in research, voice, and form, and finally, the pitch and editorial process. Along the way, we’ll explore issues including how to select a target publication, cultivating sources, contract negotiation, trends in commercial publishing, and the realities of making a living as a freelance writer.
This is a writing intensive class, and the goal for all participants will be the completion of a publishable feature story. Over the course of our time together, participants will have the opportunity to develop a story from nascent idea to 5000-word feature. As time allows, we’ll also discuss how to cultivate a digital platform and the process of converting a published story into a book proposal and contract. Readings for this course will include selections from Best American Essays, Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers Guide from the Neiman Foundation, and articles curated by participants. This is a workshop-based course, which means that participants will also be expected to regularly share their work and to provide feedback to others.
Class takeaways:
During our time together, participants will have the opportunity to:
• Evaluate exemplary publications
• Learn the distinctions between writing for different audiences and modes
• Refine their narrative voices
• Draft a publishable piece of work
• Engage with contemporary publishing trends and expectations
+ SYLLABUS Please purchase (via your local indie bookstore, Bookshop, AbeBooks, etc) or borrow the following texts before your first class:
Aciman, Andre. Best American Essays 2022. Houghton Mifflin. ISBN-10 : 035865887X
Kramer, Mark and Call, Wendy.Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writers Guide From the Neiman Foundation.Plume. ISBN-10 : 0452287553
+ PLEASE NOTE This workshop will occur online via Zoom. Students do not need to create an account to participate, but should test out Zoom before their class if they are first-time users. On Thursday, March 30th from 5:30pm to 6:00pm, MWPA staff will offer a tech help session on Zoom. Students are encouraged to attend the tech help session, which usually takes only 5-10 minutes, if they have any tech concerns, use Zoom infrequently, or simply would like to test their connection, and those who do not are responsible for ensuring that they are able to use Zoom on their own. The week of the workshop, students will be emailed a link that they may click to enter the test session and the class.
+ REQUIRED EQUIPMENT A reliable, fast internet connection (broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE), speakers & a microphone (built-in or USB plug-in), and a webcam (built-in or USB plug-in).
If you would like to quickly and easily test your internet connection and your computer’s compatibility with Zoom, click HERE. Full details on supported Operating Systems, internet browsers, and more can be found HERE. To download and familiarize yourself with Zoom, click HERE.
Kathryn Miles is the author of five books including the forthcoming, Shenandoah: Love, Murder, and the Quest for Justice in America’s Wilderness. Her essays and articles have appeared in publications including Audubon, Best American Essays, Best American Sports Writing, The Boston Globe, The New York Times, Outside, Politico, and Time. A contributing editor at Down East Magazine, Miles also serves as a scholar-in-residence for the Maine Humanities Council and as a faculty member in several MFA programs.
ADVANCE REGISTRATION REQUIRED
All MWPA workshops require advanced registration. We accept registration by phone, mail, and online via our website. We cannot guarantee registration in the final 24-hours before a workshop, and can rarely accommodate day-of registration.
PAYMENT & CANCELLATION POLICIES
If you need to withdraw from a class after registering for any reason, please email or call the MWPA immediately. You may be eligible for a partial refund or credit, depending on how far in advance you cancel. → MORE INFORMATION
QUESTIONS
For any questions regarding this workshop, please contact Meghan Sterling at programs@mainewriters.org.
REGISTER BY PHONE
Call 207-228-8263 and register with your VISA or MasterCard.
$245 Members / $450 Nonmembers
REGISTER BY MAIL
If you prefer to pay by mail, please print this registration form (downloadable PDF) and mail it to the MWPA with a check or credit card information.
SCHOLARSHIP
The MWPA is proud to offer one partial scholarship to this workshop for members-only. Scholarships are awarded on a combination of need and merit. Email Meghan at programs@mainewriters.org to see if a scholarship is still available. Application Due on March 7th at 9:00 a.m.
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MWPA WORKSHOP POLICIES
Registration in any MWPA workshop, program, or event constitutes your agreement to our terms and conditions. → MORE INFORMATION