Writing Courses

Turning ideas into commissions.

A course to help you successfully pitch your ideas and sell your work.

Like most journalists, I’ve learned the hard way that even the most brilliant idea rarely sells itself. That’s my job – and yours, if you’re serious about seeing your byline in newspapers and magazines, and boosting your earnings.

You've got a great idea for a story or feature, and you know it's a go-er. But which publication are you going to send it to? And will commissioning editors share your enthusiasm?

Any experienced journalist will tell you that having a good story is only the first step towards seeing it in print, and getting paid for it. Knowing how to craft a hard to resist pitch and choosing who to send it to is crucial. It's a fact that a busy editor may well turn down a story, and then commission the same one from a different freelance - just because the pitch was snappier.

Turning ideas into commissions will help you decide which publications will be interested in your ideas, and how to sell those ideas. It'll cover the importance of targeting your markets, and tweaking your pitch to fit several different publications. Along with what to include in your proposal, how clever headlines can sell a story, how to deal with editors, what NOT to say, and much more.

If it’s too far for you to travel, or you can’t spare the time. I can provide a phone and email version of the course, at a cost of £20 per hour. If you’re interested, please call me for more details.

Practicalities

The course runs from Monday early evening to Thursday lunchtime and will have no more than three attendees, so you'll have plenty of individual attention. (These days can be changed to suit, but the structure will be the same - arrive evening, then two full days, leave at lunchtime on the third day).

Courses will run according to demand, so if you’re interested, please let me know.

The cost is £350, and that includes everything - a comfy, quiet room to yourself (with a desk, kettle and hot drinks tray) full breakfast, lunch, dinner with wine, unlimited tea coffee snacks etc, two and a half days of tuition and workshops, endless discussion with me on the subject in hand, a list of contacts to get you started, and a trip to the beach, or walks in the countryside if we so desire...

The only extra is collection and delivery from and to Exeter train or bus station or airport, which is £25 each way.

All major credit cards accepted by phone.