Writing about Spirituality, Wellness, and Alternative Healing for Mainstream and Niche Pubs

WHEN Thursday, June 15, 7-10 p.m. WHERE offices of mediabistro.com 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 303 West Hollywood, Calif. MORE INFO Email learnwest@mediabistro.com, or call (310) 659-5668. PRICE $65 ($50 for ) more info Add to Calendar iCal | Outlook

Course Details

You don't need to be an avid yogi to write about spirituality. Nor do you have to be a naturopath to write about alternative healing. You just need to have access to the experts who are. With literally dozens of magazines on yoga, wellness, and "alternative lifestyles," plus more and more cropping up each day, the areas of spirituality and healing are ripe with opportunity for writers. And as interest in non-traditional forms of healing increases, its span is spilling out of the niche markets and infusing the pages of general interest, men's and women's magazines. So where does that leave you? With a whole lot of options for potential writing assignments.

Have an interest in writing about yoga, feng shui, acupuncture, meditation, massage, or any other mode of holistic wellness? This class is for you. You will learn how to break into the alternative healing arena with angles that will interest both niche and mainstream magazines and newspapers.

In this seminar, you can expect to learn:

• How to tailor your pitches to niche and general markets
• How to spin the same story 5 different ways
• How to find reputable sources and experts
• What topics are hot (alternative lifestyles, spa'ing, zen rooms, fitness fusions) and what are not
• How to use your life experience in your writing

Instructor Bio

Laurel House's Courses

Laurel House is the creator of ChickNotesGuide.com and chief officer of GreenIQ.com, an online calculator that measures your combined carbon and environmental footprint. She is also the blogger/spokesperson for YourShapeGame.com, a new game for Wii, as well as a regular contributor for Yahoo!, Shine, and Discovery's PlanetGreen.com.

For 3 years she was the trends and tips editor for HealingLifestyles.com. Her articles have appeared on HuffingtonPost.com, Gayot.com, EcoStiletto.com, WuffingtonWag.com, CocoEcoMag.com, WhiteApricot.com, GuidebookAmerica.com, BeMoreYou.com, FindBliss.com, and ExerciseTV.TV. She has written for First for Women, Men's Journal, Women's Health, Elite Traveler, Vegetarian Times, Elegant Bride, Playboy, and FHM. Laurel has appeared on NBC's Today Show, Soap Talk, Daily Buzz, KTLA Morning News, and local CBS, Fox, NBC, and ABC stations.

Testimonials

I learned some things that I hadn't heard of before, especially about blogging. I'm so glad I went to the class. I feel excited and energized instead of overwhelmed and defeated. -- Rebecca Stone

"Laurel is one of the best. She speaks from a basis of hard-won, real-world experience and provides a broad knowledge of the realities of the industry. She's also completely candid. Highly recommended." -- Marcus Webb, president, Executive Speechwriter

"Laurel was very informative, entertaining, and insightful. She really focused on the information that a novice needs to know. The time and money spent on the seminar was definitely worth it. Laurel is a wealth of information." -- Karen T. Gardoce

"Laurel was an excellent, knowledeable speaker. She was very energetic and enthusiastic. I'd give her an A+." -- Darcy Kimatian

"Laurel is a very enthusiastic instructor who conveys her experiences as a freelance writer in an interesting and clear manner." -- Michael Berick

"Laurel is a fantastic instructor and is very smart, successful, and knowledgeable." -- Lauren Creamer

"There is a reason Laurel is so successful. She is positive, dynamic, and clearly knows her stuff. She offers an insider's perspective, freely sharing her hard-earned knowledge and strategies." -- Rosa Leonetti

"Laurel gave us the foundation to transfer our print journalism experience to online cash, the structure to focus on pitching appropriate editors, and the outside appeal to market our brand." -- Sue Facter

"Laurel is an energetic, interesting, knowledgeable, and inspirinh teacher." -- Jennifer Gardelle

"Laurel had great energy. Her passion for what she does really came through in her teaching style. She was very knowledgeable and I got up-to-the-minute information and insider tips. I really enjoyed her class." -- Katherine Tolford