Course Details

You may write the best articles on the planet, but you'll never have the chance to publish them unless you can write a killer pitch letter to convince editors why they need to grab it. Some editors get as many as one hundred pitches per day! Your job is to catch the acquiring editor's eye with a story idea he or she can't resist. This class will transform your ideas into saleable proposals.

In this class, you can expect to learn:

• How to write a compelling lede
• How to pitch in a distinctive voice
• When to pitch and how to know a publication's lead time
• When and how to include sidebars and pegs
• How to answer the "why you" and the "so what" questions

By the end of class, students can expect to have:
4-6 polished pitch letters

Admission requirements:
Students must have at least one year journalism experience, or equivalent coursework. Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history) and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).

The online classroom has several interactive components:

• Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
• Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
• Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend. 
• Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.
  

Instructor Bio

Kristen Kemp's Courses

Kristen Kemp has been a freelance writer for six years. Prior to that, she was associate editor at Cosmopolitan. She has been staff writer at Twist and assistant editor at Girls' Life. Currently, she writes for Self, Glamour, Ladies' Home Journal, CosmoGIRL!, Girls' Life, Marie Claire, The New York Daily News, Men's Health, and many other publications. She has written profiles, essays, news and service pieces, and she'll teach you what all of those terms mean and help you pick your own specialties.

Kristen is the author of 12 young adult books, fiction and non-fiction. She's currently hard at work at her summer 2007 release called Breakfast at Bloomingdale's.

Testimonials

I loved Kristen! She was interesting, informative, structured, and very accessible. 10 out of 10. -- Jamie Brenner

"I have taken many of Kristen's classes and she is amazing. Her comments are very thorough and she really knows what to focus on to give the best feedback. Her weekly assignments kept me focused on my goal -- finishing my book." -- Margaret Gelbwasser, freelance writer

"I can't recommend Kristen highly enough. Her course was challenging yet fun, thanks to both her encouraging style and expert editing. I definitely got my money's worth." -- Caroline Rodgers

"Kristen's class was a wonderful opportunity for me to get professional-level feedback on my original book project. I've been recommending her class to friends and colleagues ever since I sold my proposal. My book was just named a NYPL 2007 Books for the Teen Age selection." -- Micol Ostow, mb instructor and author of the young adult novel 30 Guys in 30 Days

"Kristen is knowledgeable and helpful and knows how to zero in on the areas of your writing that need the most help. She helped me stay on course with my first YA novel that's just near completion. I would recommend this class to anyone." -- Elizabeth Martinez, novelist

"I have already had one pitch (developed in class) accepted and two others have had interest from large consumer magazines." -- Erinn Morgan, founding editor, SoHo Style

"Kristen's expertise was evident. Her comments and criticisms were on-target and extremely helpful. She seemed to genuinely care about us and our work." -- Tamara Eberlein, author of 5 nonfiction books

"Kristen has a way of critiquing your work and encouraging you at the same time. The feedback I received from everyone was such a help. My head is on straighter now that I've taken the class, and my novel is 100 percent better." -- Michelle Andreani