Freelance writing and blogging

What is the course about?

Advance your journalism skills on this practical, intermediate course for freelance journalists and bloggers. You'll receive training in how to find and develop your ideas, improve your research and interviewing skills, and pitch to editors, both online and in print.

This is a live online course. You will need:
- Internet connection. The classes work best with Chrome.
- A computer with microphone and camera is best (e.g. a PC/laptop/iMac/MacBook), or a tablet/iPad/smart phone/iPhone if you don't have a computer.
- Earphones/headphones/speakers.
We will contact you with joining instructions before your course starts.

What will we cover?

- Finding and developing ideas.
- Pitching to editors online and in print.
- Research.
- Blogging and social media.
- Finding markets.

What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...

- Develop and tailor ideas for print, websites and social media.
- Interview people by researching different topics, coming up with questions, and asking them with confidence.
- Write the draft of an article and identify how to improve it.
- Understand and apply the basic principles of editing.
- Analyse a range of published articles and outline how they work.
- Pitch ideas to an editor and know what to expect from a commission.
- Grow your social media presence.

What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?

This is an intermediate course and you should have some experience of the subject. All should be prepared to write.You will need a good grasp of spoken and written English to participate in the course.

How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?

The course will have a strong practical focus. Students will complete assignments each week and submit their work for feedback from the tutor and their peers.

All writing courses at City Lit will involve an element of workshop. This means that students will produce work which will be discussed in an open and constructive environment with the tutor and other students. The college operates a policy of constructive criticism, and all feedback on another student’s work by the tutor and other students should be delivered in that spirit.

For classes longer than one day regular reading and writing exercises will be set for completion at home to set deadlines.

City Lit Writing endeavours to create a safe and welcoming space for all and we strongly support the use of content notes in our classes. This means that learners are encouraged to make their tutor and classmates aware in advance if any writing they wish to share contains material that may be deemed sensitive. If you are unsure about what might constitute sensitive content, please ask your tutor for further clarification and read our expectations for participating in writing courses at City Lit.

Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?

Purchase of publications/magazines from your target area is advisable. A book list will be provided. General guides such as The Writer's Handbook and The Writers and Artists Yearbook are recommended.

When I've finished, what course can I do next?

Your tutor will advise you on the options available for students who wish to progress to further study.

All students are invited to join us at Late Lines, our regular performance night for City Lit writers. Students are also encouraged to submit their work to Between the Lines, our annual anthology of creative writing. For the latest news, courses and events, stay in touch with the Department on Facebook and Twitter.