WHEN 8 weeks, December 1 - January 26 Online chats: Mondays, 9-10 pm EST WHERE Online. Click here for information. LEVEL Intro PRICE $499 ($475 for ) more info

Course Details

You're a writer, so why not become a magazine writer? Intro to Magazine Writing is the class that will launch your magazine career. This class will explore the editing process, journalism ethics, what makes something newsworthy, note taking, fact-checking, and reporting. Over the course of 8 weeks, you'll workshop two pieces in any format, from personal essays to profiles, service pieces to features.

You'll also learn the business essentials that will enable you to survive and thrive in the magazine world: where to pitch, how to query a publication, and how to work with editors so they'll want to work with you.

In this class, you will learn how to:

• Create captivating stories that editors will buy and readers will love
• Craft compelling pitch letters
• Figure out which magazines and sections will be interested in your story
• Approach editors you don't know and build relationships that work

By the end of class, you will have:
Two polished articles, the pitch letters to sell them, and all the basic skills any journalist should have.

Students who have taken this class have been published in:
Time Out New York, Wired, In Touch Weekly, Boston Globe, Cookie, Town & Country Travel, Boston, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Psychology Today, Boston Globe's "Lola", Paste, Northshore, Bust, and more.

• Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
• Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
• Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
• Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.
  

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Instructor Bio

Vanessa Bush's Courses

Vanessa Bush, a fifteen-year veteran of the magazine industry, was most recently executive editor at Essence magazine and has also held various editorial posts at Life and Glamour magazines. She has written a beauty book with supermodel/entrepreneur Tyra Banks, Tyra Banks Inside & Out, and is a graduate of Harvard University and Columbia's Graduate School of Journalism. Vanessa is currently pursuing another passion of hers -- food and wine -- by writing a food blog, Food Lovers Like Me (foodloverslikeme.blogspot.com).

Testimonials

Vanessa was exceptional in her clarity and focus. I received three magazine story assignments while taking the class. -- Cheryl R. Riley

"Vanessa was genuine and very informative. I could not put my pen down. New ideas for editorial contents were flowing and covering up the white pages, and I came up with new ways to attract new readers." -- Patricia Rhinvil, Managing Editor Caribbelle.com

"Vanessa was engaging and open to discussions and extremely receptive to just about any question. I learned a lot from her class, both about writing and pitching. I left with renewed inspiration." -- Sheryl Kraft

"Vanessa gave an insider's view of journalism. Not only did she present practical tips for developing and writing service pieces, but she also shared her publication's preferred format for writer queries. She invited us all to submit story pitches to her, which added an extra dose of challenge and motivation!" -- Bernita Dorch

"Vanessa not only understands the struggles writers endure, she uses her empathy to motivate and inspire you to continue writing no matter what happens!" -- Rashana Hooks

"Vanessa did an absolutely fantastic job of teaching her course! She was always so helpful, insightful, knowledgeable, and professional. I learned so much about the publishing industry from her and was very sad during our class' last chat session." -- Elyse Lucas

"Vanessa was always upbeat and helpful. Her edits made for great learning while her experience delivered tips and insight I'm sure to use in the future. Thanks for a terrific course!" -- Matilde Parente