Course Details

You don't need a perfect body or high cheekbones to be on the cover of Vogue or Glamour. All you need is a good story, a few contacts, and a killer pitch letter. And, oh yeah, you need to know what your favorite women's magazines are looking for. Whether it's "Make the Most of Your Looks," "Burn Fat Faster," "What Does Your Look Say to Men?," "Discover Your Sexier Self," "Shocking Health Report," or "Fashions 244 Best Buys," it's high time your story was featured on newsstands. Prolific women's magazines freelancer (and mb Stiletto Boot Camp instructor) Daina Hulet will show you how to get it there.

What are the secrets to slipping your foot in while losing as few toes as possible? Whether you are thinking of making a career change, preparing to quit your job and go freelance, or just want to do a little writing for women's magazines on the side, this seminar is for you. You will learn how to develop and write a pitch letter to an editor at your magazine of choice. You'll learn what happens when your letter arrives and how soon you might hear back. We'll address the pros and cons of freelancing full time. We'll follow the path of a story from a light-bulb of an idea until it appears on the printed page. By the end of the seminar you will understand just what all those folks on staff of a women's magazine really do.

This seminar will cover:

• The elements of all women's magazines
• What goes on behind the closed doors of women's magazines: the good, the bad and the really ugly, and how that knowledge can help you score an assignment
• Types of stories
• The key to the perfect pitch letter
• How to decode the masthead, cover blurbs, and table of contents of women's magazines
• How to make your story trendy, newsworthy, and just right for the publication you're working for
• How to work with your editor so you get more assignments and keep that contact--whether she moves up on the masthead or moves to another publication
• How to get great quotes from your interviews
• What happens befor you turn in your piece: the final revision and a checklist of questions to ask yourself before you submit your story

Instructor Bio

Daina Hulet's Courses

Daina Hulet has over twenty years of experience as a staff editor and writer focusing on the areas of women's fashion, beauty, health, fitness and lifestyle for various magazines, newspapers and websites. She spent 10 years on the staff of Glamour magazine as the west coast editor, has worked as special publications editor for Teen magazine, and has written content for several corporate fashion and beauty websites. As a staff editor and content developer she has assigned and edited freelance writers with a "nurturing edge." As a freelancer, she was the ghostwriter of a beauty newsletter, was a beauty columnist for Palm Springs Life magazine, and her articles have appeared in American Photo, Family Circle, Fitness and Los Angeles magazines. Currently, she is in the beginning stages (the hoping-to-sell phase) of writing two non-fiction books.

Testimonials

I thought Daina did an outstanding job. She was able to give criticism in such a helpful way that it didnt even feel uncomfortable. Also, she really opened up the class so everyone was able to weigh in and it became such a supportive class. I wrote an article interviewing Kirstin Dunst for a denim roadtest for www.handsblue.com. Also, ElleGirl has one of my articles on hold, so cross your fingers! -- Meredith Craig, producer, America's Next Top Model

"I enrolled in the seminar hoping for some motivation to start writing pitches again. Thanks to Daina, I've once again been bitten by the bug. I really appreciate the tips and advice she gave us, all of which she gained from her extensive editorial experience. I almost wish I didn't have to work all day, so I can start fleshing out some of the ideas I jotted down during class." -- Elise Smith, associate editor, Sage Publications, Inc.

"Daina Hulet was awesome! She made all the students comfortable, regardless of experience level. She encouraged participation and is an exemplary facilitator. She went beyond the call, providing leads to actual opportunities, in addition to providing the tools needed to break in." -- Jacquie Owens

"Daina spent time with each student in class to make sure that we all had time to share and pitch our ideas. She answered all of our questions and encouraged each of us to pitch to our dream publications. She made it real and possible for freelancers to sell their ideas." -- Jennifer Chen

"Daina is a really great teacher -- not just a talker-ater. This class was concise, to the point, and gave me the information I wanted. Daina was so well-prepared and her materials were to the point and really helpful. Longer classes for coaching are nice, but I like my information fast, reliable, and realistic -- this was the perfect course for exactly what I wanted." -- Elisabeth Holcombe

"Daina has a long-standing career as a writer and editor and brings a remakable palette of experience to her instruction. Daina is extremely generous with practical suggestions and ideas, not just in the women's glossies but also with general applications that could be used fruitfully in many kinds of journalism; she knows the magazine marketplace backwards and forwards. She uses lots of actual physical magazines to make points, giving her lessons a real-world grounding via concrete examples." -- Susan Brooks