Master Class with Sue Shapiro: Writing for NYC Newspapers and Magazines

Course is closed.

DURATION/TIME
5 weeks
Tuesdays
April 4 - May 2
8:15-10:15 pm

LEVEL
Intermediate/advanced

LOCATION
New York (Soho)

PRICE
$399 ($375 for )
more info

Course Details

The New York Times, the Daily News, Newsday, the New York Post, and The Wall Street Journal publish essays from freelancers every day, as do The Village Voice, The New York Observer, Forward, and The New York Sun. Taught by a funny, fast-talking journalist who has written for over 100 publications and is the author of two memoirs, this five-week workshop uses the "instant gratification takes too long" method of breaking into the biz.

The goal is simple: write a great essay, rewrite it based on a brutally honest critique, learn marketing tricks, and sell it. You'll have a hot new clip and will have reimbursed yourself for the class. Important rule: If anybody sells a piece for $1000, the instructor gets dinner on you. (It's happened!)

By the end of this class, students can expect to have:
At least two salable first-person pieces ready to submit to NYC publications
 
Admission Requirements: Students must have at least one published clip. Please submit a letter of interest, including a brief publishing history, and a writing clip (not necessarily a first-person piece). 

Less-experienced writers should check out our Beginner's Class With Sue Shapiro

Instructor Bio

Susan Shapiro's Courses

Writing for NYC Newspapers and Magazines: Session 2 – New York (Class starts July 8)

Susan Shapiro
Susan Shapiro has written for the New York Times Magazine, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Boston Globe, The Nation, Village Voice, Salon.com, People, Glamour, and Jane magazine. o.) She's co-editor of the anthology Food for the Soul, and author of the books Secrets of a Fix-Up Fanatic, Lighting Up, and Five Men Who Broke My Heart (recently optioned by Paramount Pictures). Her new book "Only As Good As Your Word: Writing Lessons From My Favorite Literary Gurus" will be published in September by Seal Press, a California publisher. She lives with her husband, a TV/film writer, in Greenwich Village. Susanshapiro.net is her website.


Testimonials


If it weren't for Sue's class I wouldn't have a book deal. Sue is not only extremely savvy, but extremely generous with her publishing network. That who you know thing really paid off for me. I met an editor who was a guest speaker in her Publish your Memoir class. He heard my first page, emailed me the next day, and long story short, I have a deal with Penguin. -- Louise Sloan, Knock Yourself Up, a girlfriends' guide to choosing single motherhood

"I was coming down the homestretch writing the proposal. Before panic set in, I signed up for Sue Shapiro's workshop. As soon as Sue started to talk, fear backed off. Sue is passionate, fiercely strategic, authoritative, and demanding. Hers was just the kind of high-energy-get-your-ass-in-gear pep talk I needed. Just weeks later, I've got a deal with Penguin to publish my first book!" -- Bruce FrankelBetter Late: Stories of Americans Who Succeed After Sixty

"Sue's critique of my work was a crucial step in improving it. My novel eventually sold to Spiegel & Grau, a fantastic imprint of Random House. I couldn't recommend studying with Sue more." -- Liza Monroy, mediabistro instructor

"Sue helps her students break into print by sharing her knowledge, expertise and connections without reservation. Within five weeks, one of my assignments for class became a published piece in the NY Press. Sue went beyond my expectations to help me get three other pieces published, including one in the New York Observer. What Sue offered that was just as important as her practical and constructive advice was the feeling that she really wants to see her students succeed and will help every step of the way." -- Paul Smalera, freelancer

"Sue Shapiro's class gave me the kick I needed. I learned more from her in one day than I learned from most of my college professors over the course of a year. Six months later, I'm thrilled to say I sold my first book!" -- Kimberlee Auerbach, breaking news producer, Fox News and author, The Devil, The Lovers, and Me: My Life in Tarot

"Based on Sue's insider tips for cover letters and queries, I pitched an editorial to Metro New York & the editor bought it within an hour! Sue is available to her students 24/7 and has great connections with major newspapers and magazines." -- Kerri Allen, freelancer

"Sue's class was both fun an informative. I had already had some personal essays published years before, but had gotten out of the groove and needed guidance getting back into it. Sue gave insightful, encouraging feedback and had lots of great ideas about ways to rework essays and recast them for different publications. She's got lots of great tips to offer, plus she shares contacts, which is absolutely invaluable. I've placed all the essays I worked on in Sue's class." -- Sari Botton, freelancer

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