Course Details

For a freelance writer, knowing how to pitch is every bit as important as crafting sentences and knowing where to find free wi-fi. Yet many freelancers are miserable salespeople and end up watching their brilliant ideas get scooped. In this crash course on pitching smarter, you'll learn to package irresistible article ideas, target the right editors, follow-up intelligently and get multiple assignments. This is a fast-paced, interactive, no-holds-barred evening that's not for the timid. Bring plenty of ideas and be prepared to talk and write your way through rejection to the pitching A-list.

In this class, you can expect to learn:

• How to write a compelling lede
• How to pitch in a voice
• When to pitch and how to know a magazine or newspaper'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:
Workshopped one pitch letter (students must bring one to class, with enough copies for each student).

Instructor Bio

Rebecca Smith Hurd's Courses

Rebecca Smith Hurd is an all-around word nerd whose journalism career spans more than 20 years. For the past three, she's maintained a successful freelance business as an editor, writer and communications consultant. Hurd specializes in producing clear, concise and clever copy -- and enjoys helping others do the same. Her job experience includes a six-year stint (2000 to 2006) as assistant managing editor of Wired, which during her tenure earned three nominations and won a National Magazine Award for general excellence. She holds a bachelor's degree in news reporting and editing from San Jose State University.

Testimonials

Rebecca's material was fresh, the assignments interesting, and she was a fun, dynamic, informative speaker. My experience with Rebecca has made me eager to sign up for other classes with mediabistro. -- Trina Enriquez, copy editor, Sunset Magazine

"Rebecca provides valuable information about copy editing and hilarious anecdotes from the publishing world. Her teaching style engages, informs, and entertains. I recommend her classes to anybody interested in learning the craft and business of copyediting." -- Evan James

"I highly recommend studying with Rebecca. She designed a thorough and challenging curriculum and taught it with wit and warmth. She was highly accessible and always on point. An excellent instructor." -- Corey Williams

"Rebecca was a wonderful instructor, with great insight, knowledge, and attention to detail. She has a vast expanse of knowledge and is more than happy to let her students pick her brain while challenging them to improve." -- Lindsay Sandor