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Meet The Teaching Artist: Magazine Writing 101 with Gemma Hartley
by Writing Workshops Staff
A month ago
Gemma Hartley is a seasoned freelance journalist, dynamic writing coach, and acclaimed author of Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the Way Forward, who has carved out a space for herself in some of the most prestigious publications, including Harper’s Bazaar, Women’s Health, Glamour, and The Washington Post.
Now, she is bringing her wealth of knowledge and experience to WritingWorkshops.com with her upcoming class: Magazine Writing 101: A 6-Week Zoom Intensive.
Hartley’s journey from a budding writer to a sought-after freelancer is nothing short of inspiring. Over the past decade, she has not only mastered the craft of writing but also the intricate art of pitching and selling stories to top-tier magazines and online platforms. Her latest course promises to demystify the freelance writing process, providing aspiring writers with the tools and confidence needed to navigate the competitive world of magazine writing.
In this exclusive 6-week intensive, participants will dive deep into the mechanics of freelance pitching. From generating compelling pitch ideas and overcoming imposter syndrome to understanding the anatomy of a successful pitch, Hartley’s comprehensive curriculum is designed to transform novices into confident, capable freelancers. Weekly live calls will explore critical aspects such as writing impactful letters of introduction, mastering pitching etiquette, and negotiating higher rates for freelance work.
But Hartley’s course goes beyond the basics. Students will learn to identify the right publications and editors for their pitches, stay organized with tracking systems for assignments and payments, and even leverage viral articles into book deals. With access to a treasure trove of templates, tools, and resources, including Jessica Reed's Pitch Clinic, participants will be equipped to streamline their freelance careers and maximize their earnings.
Whether you’re an emerging writer eager to break into the world of magazine writing or a seasoned freelancer looking to enhance your pitching prowess, Magazine Writing 101 offers unparalleled insights and practical strategies. Join Gemma Hartley in this transformative journey and take the first step toward a successful freelance writing career.
Hi Gemma, Please introduce yourself to our audience.
I'm Gemma Hartley, a freelance journalist, writing coach, andthe author of Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women, and the WayForward (HarperOne) and the forthcoming No One Loves AnAngry Woman (Beacon Press). Both my books have stemmed from my freelance writing career, expanding and building upon the ideas in viral articles to create full manuscripts.
What made you want to teach this specific class? Is it something you are focusing on in your own writing practice? Have you noticed a need to focus on this element of craft?
After freelance writing for over a decade, I’ve learned so much about how to successfully pitch, negotiate higher rates, and get my foot in the door at bigger publications. The tools I have now would have made a world of difference when I started out and I really want to give that back to freelance writers who are in that same frustrating place I was a few years ago.
When I was new to the freelance world I took a lot of jobs that were underpaid, unfulfilling, and unsustainable. And if I had someone like me as a mentor back then, I would have saved myself a lot of wasted time and picked up a lot of money that I left on the table.
I want to make sure my students get paid more, published more, and feel better and more organized while doing it. It's so exciting to see students realize what they're capable of achieving, and watch them keep up the momentum long after this course has ended.
Give us a breakdown of how the course is going to go. What can the students expect? What is your favorite part about this class you've dreamed up?
This course is going to give you all the skills you need to successfully pitch editors and get your work published.
Each week you can expect an in-depth look at crucial skills for freelance writing success: generating ideas and overcoming imposter syndrome, perfecting your pitch formula, finding the right outlet and editor, expanding your network and staying organized, negotiating higher rates, and turning viral articles into opportunities for book deals. You can also expect me to be very transparent about the mistakes I've made along the way, so you don't have to suffer the same.
Week 1 covers freelance writing basics and has one of my favorite exercises for generating tons of ideas. We'll talk imposter system, mindset, and common mistakes you'll want to avoid as you get started.
Week 2 dives into the anatomy of a great pitch and gives you a foolproof formula to transform your ideas into service-based stories for magazines. We'll look at real life pitch examples, breaking them down into the components that make them tick.
Week 3 is all about pitching etiquette that will get your pitch to the top of an editors inbox, plus all the terminology you'll need to know to show you've done your homework. This is also where I'll show you how to find the right editor to pitch (hint: it's never the editor-in-chief).
Week 4 shows you how to organize and build routine so you can continue to grow your freelance writing career. Spreadsheets galore, if that's your thing, and a great exercise to assess your writing routine.
Week 5 is another one of my favorites as we discuss negotiating higher rates and building your high-end client portfolio.
Week 6 goes into leveraging your freelance work into a book deal, speaking engagements, and more. This is where we talk about becoming the expert in your niche and building a bigger career from your work.
My absolute favorite part of the course is going over the anatomy of a pitch. There are so many elements to a great pitch, and having this formula is an absolute gamechanger for my students. It transforms the way you approach editors with your ideas. This is the week I start to see students putting their skills to use, which is why so many students are already getting published by the end of this course.
What was your first literary crush?
George Cooper from the Song of the Lioness series. IYKYK.
What are you currently reading?
I'm currently reading Democracy in Retrograde by Sami Sage and Emily Amick and Girlhood by Melissa Febos. I'm also working my way through all of Jane Austen this year and am currently finishing up Mansfield Park (My least favorite so far! Sorry, Jane!).
How do you choose what you're working on? When do you know it is the next thing you want to write all the way to THE END?
This is such a tough one, because I have a couple unfinished projects that I very much hope to finish, but the book that is under contract is the one that comes first. My work is always very influenced by what I'm reading, which is usually a collection of essays or feminist philosophy.
When it comes to freelance writing, I know if the idea is good if I can put it into my pitch formula and hit all the marks. If I have that, I know writing it all the way to the end will be fun, rather than stressful.
Where do you find inspiration?
Reading, hands down. Great writers are avid readers, and I see this time and again with my students. If they're in a reading slump, they're likely to be in a writing slump as well. Read in the genre you hope to write in (we'll do lots of this in the course). The osmosis of knowledge you get from reading is practically magic.
What is the best piece of writing wisdom you've received that you can pass along to our readers? How did it impact your work? Why has this advice stuck with you?
This Kurt Vonnegut quote is one I come back to time and again, when I feel like I'm losing the anchor of why I write: "If you ever wonder what in the hell you think you’re doing with your life, let me remind you that you are telling people as reasonable and humane as yourself what they desperately need to hear, that others feel as they do."
It reminds me that the goal of writing is always connection. The best and highest purpose of my work is to make other people feel less alone, feel seen. I try to take this into all my work, whether it's memoir or personal essay, fiction or freelance piece.
What is your favorite book to recommend on the craft of writing? Why this book?
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. I love this one because it's about, well, the magic rather than the practicalities of writing. I think that's what you need to connect with first. Not routine, not mechanics, magic. You can't put skill before passion.
Learn more about working with Gemma:
You can sign up for Gemma's upcoming class Magazine Writing 101: a 6-Week Zoom Intensive, and avoid the waitlist.
Instructor Gemma Hartley is a freelance journalist, writing coach, speaker and author of Fed Up: Emotional Labor, Women and the Way Forward (HarperOne) and the forthcoming No One Loves An Angry Woman (Beacon Press). She has been a freelance writer for over a decade and her writing has been featured in outlets including Harper’s Bazaar, Women’s Health, Glamour, The Washington Post, CNBC, Redbook, Cosmopolitan, Good Housekeeping, Teen Vogue, and The Huffington Post.
