Focus On The Nonfiction Magazine Article

For freelance writers, both novice and experienced, no other market is as open as the magazine market. From trade and association publications, to special interest magazines, to regional and national consumer publications, editors are looking for writers who can deliver well-researched, reader-targeted articles on deadline.

Work with a published article writer to develop, research and write two articles suitable for publication in magazines you’ve identified.

Course level:  Intermediate

Required Book:  Writer’s Digest Handbook of Magazine Article Writing edited by Michelle Ruberg

Workshop Length:  14 weeks

Tuition:  $425.00 ($382.50 for VIP)

Start Date: View Focus On The Nonfiction Magazine Article Course Schedule

Course Structure
This workshop will consist of seven two-week sessions. Each session will include online lectures (text based) and associated textbook reading assignments, along with a writing assignment drawn specifically from the work in progress, which will be submitted to the instructor for private review at the end of the first week of the session. During the second week of each session, work will be posted for group review and feedback. Throughout the workshop you will be able to participate in asynchronous lecture discussion and encouraged to take advantage of ongoing informal discussions and posted self-directed writing exercises. (2.8 CEUs)

You will learn:

  • How to identify and fill a magazine’s editorial needs
  • How to research your article and interview experts
  • How to develop a working outline, and effective leads and conclusions
  • How to prepare your query letter and article for submission

Who should take this course:

  • Writers seeking to gain a working knowledge of the magazine market and work with a Published Article Writer to develop two articles suitable for publication
  • Freelancers who want to sharpen their magazine article writing skills
  • Graduates of Fundamentals of Nonfiction Writing

Focus On The Nonfiction Magazine Article Writing Workshop

Course Outline

Session One: From Concept to Article Idea

  • The components of an article idea
  • Know your audience before you start
  • Coming up with an appropriate angle or slant
  • Studying the magazine markets

Writing Assignment: Narrative summaries of two article ideas you want to develop in this workshop (maximum 250 words each), plus an indication of what audience each one would appeal to and one or two appropriately targeted magazines for each idea.

Session Two: Research & Interviewing

  • Research resources
  • The importance of primary research
  • Professional interviewing techniques
  • Attribution of sources
  • Legal & ethical considerations

Writing Assignment: A research plan for your two article ideas. If your articles contain interview material: A recap of the interview using the techniques discussed in this session (maximum 500 words for each article idea). If your articles do not contain interview material: A recap of the primary research you’ve conducted (or will conduct), listing reference sources and the credentials of individuals you’ll contact (maximum of 250 words for each article idea).

Session Three: Article Structure & Outlining

  • Effective leads and conclusions
  • Developing a working outline

Writing Assignment: A working outline for both article ideas (maximum 250 words each); A first draft of the first half of one article (up to 1,500 words)

Session Four: The Body of the Article

  • Stating your article’s theme
  • Using the body of the article to develop your theme
  • “Body-building” techniques

Writing Assignment: A first draft of the rest of the article in progress (up to 1,500 words).

Session Five: The Second Draft

  • Writing tight
  • Word choice
  • Revision

Writing Assignment: The complete second draft of the article in progress, up to 3,000 words.

Session Six: Polishing Your Prose & Approaching Editors

  • A checklist for your final draft
  • Query letters

Writing Assignment: The final draft of your first article (maximum 3,000 words); A one-page query letter to one of the magazines you selected in Session One as an appropriate market for this article (maximum 250 words); The first draft of your second article idea (maximum 3,000 words).

Session Seven: Keep Writing

  • Workshop wrap-up

Writing Assignment: The final draft of your second article (maximum 3,000 words); A one-page query letter to one of the magazines you selected in Session One as an appropriate market for this article (250 words maximum).