Back to Home > Courses and Seminars > Basic Training: Intro to Writing for Women's Magazines

Basic Training: Intro to Writing for Women's Magazines

Get your foot in the door at the top mags

Course is closed.
Basic Training: Intro to Writing for Women's Magazines

DURATION/TIME
8 weeks
Tuesdays 
September 26 - November 14
7-10 pm

LEVEL
Intro

LOCATION
New York (Soho)

PRICE
$499 ($475 for )
more info

Course Details

Women's magazines offer an abundance of opportunities for freelance writers, from newsy "front of book" snippets to personal essays, profiles, health features, and travel stories. Writing for them is a high-profile and potentially lucrative business, but you need to learn how to get your foot in the door and to write the queries and articles that will get assigning editors' attention. This class will teach you everything you need to know about the business before breaking in.

This course is designed for non-journalist writers looking to make the leap to writing for women's magazines. Over the course of eight weeks, you will workshop two women's magazine-related pieces, including a perfectly polished, no-fail pitch letter. You will also receive weekly lectures on every angle of the business.

In this class, you can expect to learn:
  • The different types of articles women's magazines are crying out for
  • Which magazines are likely to go for your story
  • How to create captivating stories that editors will buy and readers will love
  • How to write pitch letters that no sane editor would ignore  
  • How to approach, court, and cultivate relationships with editors
  • How to understand the market and detect changes
By the end of class, students can expect to have:
Two salable pieces, pitch letters to match, and enough knowledge to survive and thrive in the world of freelancing for women's magazines.

Admission Requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history).

Instructor Bio

Virginia Sole-Smith's Courses

Breaking into the Glossies – New York (Seminar on January 28)

Virginia Sole-Smith
Virginia Sole-Smith is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in Better Homes & Gardens, Family Circle, Fitness, Glamour, Good Housekeeping, Marie Claire, Martha Stewart Living, Modern Bride, More, Prevention, Shape, Self, Women's Health, and The New York Times. Before abandoning tiny cubicles in midtown for a tiny office in her Harlem apartment, she held staff positions at Organic Style and Seventeen.

Testimonials


I traveled from Baltimore to the Big Apple for this course and it was well worth it. Virginia's well-rounded background brought tremendous insights to the table and her experiences helped us crack open what it takes to succeed in the magazine industry. -- Margaret Lauryssens

"Virginia was great -- supportive, helpful and full of information. She demystified the world of women's magazines and gave me enough information to start pitching." -- Jessica Cary

"Virginia's vast experience in magazine publishing left me with a real understanding of not only pitching and writing, but the business itself. She was really invested in the class and went above and beyond -- her humor and candor made each session relaxed and fun." -- Abby Sugrue

"Virginia took us through the entire process of freelancing for the glossies, from pitching to what happens after you get the assignment. The handouts were awesome, and much more thorough than expected." -- Lisbet Krogslund Bertelsen

"Virginia was great. She gave me the boost I needed to get back into the writing game. I would definitely recommend her class." -- Melissa Brescia

"Virginia was fantastic. She was very professional and informative. There was something to learn for everyone who attended, even given our diverse interests and experience levels." -- Shari Albert

"Virginia's class inspired me to become a freelance writer." -- Sandy Jerez

"Virginia is a great instructor with tons of real-world insight. If you want to really know how it's done, then this is the class for you!" -- Hank Mendheim

"Virginia was witty, sharp and very knowledgeable. She gave us real insight into what a freelance writer does, how they live, and what they do to get published." -- Christine Hackett

"Virginia brings her knowledge and experience to this class with humor and a charming personality. She gives great insider advice that is truly helpful for those who are starting in the industry." -- Mariana Leung-Weinstein

"Virginia is sweet as candy pie, funny as all get out, down to earth and so smart! I definitely feel that I got my money's worth from Virginia's course." -- Philana Marie Boles

"Virginia teaches a great class! She made the experience fun and accessible by creating a warm and nurturing environment." -- Ameet Maturu

"Virginia was patient, encouraging, and supportive. She's a successful freelance writer and knows the business well, so I felt like I was in good hands." -- Ivonne Salazar

AvantGuild* Discounts on mediabistro.com courses are just one of the wonderful benefits of being in AvantGuild, our premium membership program. For just $59 a year, you'll receive instant access to our How to Pitch articles and other premium articles, transcripts from selected seminars and panels, and discounts on virtually everything we do (including eClasses and the Freelance Marketplace)! Click here to join now.