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Famous Freelance Foul-Ups

How to avoid them, how to undo them

Course is closed.

WHEN
Thursday, Feb. 23, 7-10 p.m.

WHO
Ideal for freelancers (fulltime or part-time) who want to avoid mistakes...or learn how to undo the damage they've done.

WHERE
Seattle Central Community College
1701 Broadway
Seattle, Wash.

PRICE
$65 ($50 for )
more info

Course Details

Botched pitches, flubbed deadlines, and writerly hissy fits are just the sort of freelance foul-ups that can keep you cranking out copy for supermarket circulars the rest of your life. But there are plenty more foul-ups where those came from. Love to take your editors to task for their slow response time? A little too lackadaisical about those word counts? So eager to get published that you sign your life (not to mention your talent) away for peanuts? Congratulations: You've stumbled upon the exact wrong way to become a successful freelance writer.

In this class, you'll discover the most common ways beginning freelance writers sabotage their careers. And you'll get the tips you need to avoid these unprofessional pitfalls. If you've been mucking it up, why not suck it up, and stamp out these fame-and-fortune-killing foul-ups once and for all!

In this 3-hour seminar, you will learn:

  • How to write pitch letters that sing rather than stink
  • How to avoid becoming an "easy writer"-taking every assignment that comes your way (even the ones that don't pay!)
  • How to get and give good ed: knowing when to stick up for yourself (and your prose) and when to look at the bigger publishing picture
  • Focusing your flow: creating a platform for yourself as a writer
  • How to win at the waiting game-and not antagonize your editorial relationships by becoming a cyberstalker
  • Procrastination nation: combating the urge to drag your feet and lose those key assignments

Students are encouraged to bring questions about pitches, editors and agents, and niche-building-a.k.a., creating a platform-to class. Bonus points will go to those who come to class equipped with at least one impressive freelance foul-up story of their own.

Instructor Bio

Michelle Goodman & Diane Mapes
Michelle Goodman has been a full-time freelance writer and editor for more than a decade. Her articles about off-the-beaten-path careers, human mating rituals, singledom, and pup culture have appeared in publications such as Salon.com, Seattle Times, Bust, Bitch, The Bark, CityDog, Meridian, Frontier, San Francisco Bay Guardian, and the anthology Moment of Truth: Women's Funniest Romantic Catastrophes (Seal Press). She recently ghostwrote a tongue-in-cheek dog owner's manual for a Northwest-based book publisher and is currently writing a book on alternative career paths for young women, to be published by Seal Press in winter 2007. During the dot-com heyday, Michelle sold piles of how-to articles on self-employment to websites such as Guru.com and techies.com. In 2000 and 2001, she penned a biweekly column on freelance writing markets for the now-defunct website Content Exchange. A native of New Jersey, she studied journalism and creative writing at George Washington University. To keep a leak-free roof over her head, Michelle also writes and edits for commercial clients such as Microsoft. In 2005, she became a Seattle-area homeowner, proving that miracles do happen, even to freelancers.


A seasoned freelancer, Diane Mapes has written essays on pop culture, the single life, television, travel, naked sushi, and more for BBW, Bust, Christian Science Monitor, Countryside, Health, Los Angeles Times, Mental Floss, Seattle Magazine, Seattle Times, South Florida Sun Sentinel, Southern Living, The Washington Post, and her personal favorite, Poultry Magazine. She has also published short speculative fiction in magazines such as Interzone, Asimov's, Fantasy & Science Fiction, On Spec etc., and has had her fiction translated, anthologized, and used as university course material. A native of the Pacific Northwest, she studied journalism at Western Washington University and creative writing at the University of Washington where she won two awards for her short stories. Her popular reported essays about dating appear regularly in the Seattle Times and were the springboard for her first book, a humorous look at today's courtship practices, How to Date in a Postdating World, due out in June of 2006 from Sasquatch Books. Most recently, her work was featured in the anthology Single Woman of a Certain Age, published October 2005 by Inner Ocean.

Testimonials


The class was most definitely inspiring and informative. And the resource/reference handouts were terrific! Michelle and Diane are seasoned freelancers who bring to life the essential pitfalls--*and* positive points--of being a freelance writer with vivid anecdotes, concrete examples, great wit, and helpful guidance for anyone with specific questions. --June Rugh, technical editor

"The great thing about Michelle and Diane is that they come from humble beginnings just like the rest of us. They've fought and struggled with their own demons like us, too, and they are willing to share what got them through. You'll learn a lot about navigating the freelance writing life in this class. And even more, you'll be inspired by their stories. They'll even show you their scars (if you ask gently)." --Jaime Friddle, freelance writer and editor

"The Famous Freelance Foul-ups seminar was perfect for where I am right now. A real hand up, and FUN. I'll be back." --Terrie Shattuck, freelance writer

Michelle Goodman & Diane Mapes's Courses

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