Begins Tuesday, March 11th, 2025

The class will meet weekly via Zoom on Tuesdays, 7PM - 9PM Eastern

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button (lower left) to talk with us.

Melissa Petro is a cultural journalist and author of SHAME ON YOU: How to Be a Woman in the Age of Mortification (Putnam Books, 2024). Her writing has been featured in New York Magazine, Washington Post, The Guardian, The Nation, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, Rolling Stone and many other national publications. She was one of three finalists for the PEN/Fusion Emerging Writers Prize, an annual award that recognizes a promising young writer of an unpublished work of nonfiction that addresses a global and/or multicultural issue. She holds a BA in Women’s Studies from Antioch College, an M.Ed in Childhood Education from Fordham University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction from the New School, and was on the faculty in the Masters in Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program at Goddard College until the school’s closure in August 2024.

You have stories to tell, and there are literally thousands of print and online publications looking for content. Let me teach you how to break into the business and become a working writer.

This class breaks down the process of publishing short nonfiction (articles and essays around 700-1200 words) into clear, manageable steps that will help you accomplish your goals, whether you want to see your name in print, develop an online platform on an area of expertise, or bring in a steady income as a freelance writer.

By the end of this class, you’ll be better equipped to find a good home for your work. From developing relationships with editors and discovering new publications to managing your time and making ends meet, you’ll learn it all.

COURSE OUTLINE:

• WEEK 1: Overview/How to write a pitch
• WEEK 2: What do I have to say?
• WEEK 3: Who wants my writing?
• WEEK 4: What happens after I hit send?
• WEEK 5: Putting it all together
• WEEK 6: The business of being a writer

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• IDENTIFY a handful of story ideas worth pursuing by considering the ideas editors are most interested in and the stories you’re best suited to write.
• EXPLORE existing publications in order to answer the question, “Who wants my writing?”
• LEARN how to pitch your ideas to editors effectively. The presentation will include how to best match an idea to a publication and increase your rate of success.
• DISCOVER what happens after you hit send on your query letter, including everything from responding to rejection to following up when there’s no response, negotiating assignments, signing contracts, and delivering the goods.

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

This class meets weekly via Zoom. Come prepared for a super fun class with live interaction on Zoom each week and plenty of writing, reading, and talking!

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Tuition is $495 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

• Instructor: Melissa Petro
• This class will meet on Tuesdays starting on March 11th, 2025
• Live class via Zoom will meet on Tuesdays from 7:00PM - 9:00 PM EST.
• Tuition is $495 USD

Contact us HERE if you have any questions about this class.