DURATION/TIME 8 weeks Mondays September 11 - November 13 7-10 pm LEVEL Intro PRICE $499 ($475 for ) more info

Course Details

mb's Boot Camp is a hit, but it's an intense, advanced class. So what do you do if you want to break into journalism, learning from serious teachers who currently work in the industry? Enlist in Basic Training. Part lecture, part workshop, this class is designed to give you a professional understanding of both the editing and writing sides. If you're looking to get your start as a journalist, Basic Training will take your writing to the next level. Each week, students will receive a lecture on topics like the editing process, journalism ethics, what makes something newsworthy, note taking, fact checking, reporting, and more. Over the course of 8 weeks, you will fully workshop two pieces, including a perfectly polished, no-fail pitch letter. Your work can range from personal essays to profiles, from news stories to business or travel features. You'll also learn how to query a publication, who to call there, and where to pitch.

In this class, you can expect to learn:

• How to create captivating stories that editors will buy and readers will love
• How to write compelling pitch letters
• Which magazines will be interested in your story
• How to approach editors
• How to network
• All the basic skills any journalist should have

By the end of class, students can expect to have:
Two salable pieces, pitch letters to match, and knowledge enough to survive in the world of journalism.

Instructor Bio

Liza Monroy's Courses

Liza Monroy's first novel, Mexican High, was just released by Spiegel & Grau (a division of Random House). Her articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The New York Times Magazine, L.A. Times Magazine, Newsweek, Jane, Village Voice, and Time Out New York. The daughter of a U.S. Foreign Service officer, she has lived, worked, and studied in Mexico, Italy, Holland, the Czech Republic, Greece, and the United States. Liza's writing has also appeared in anthologies, including the New York Times The Best of Modern Love. She's been a travel writer for MTV and was recently awarded a residency by the Kerouac Project of Orlando. Visit her on the web at www.lizamonroy.com.

Testimonials

Liza brings a wealth of knowledge to the class. She suggested publications where our pieces would fit and has an address book of editors that is to die for. I sent my piece out the next day and it was published within a week. -- Tara Bishop, MD

"The class gave me the tools to make my writing better. These are all things not just applicable to the course, but to my whole life as a writer. It's like the course that keeps on giving!" -- Amy Nathan

"I loved Liza's class. Her openess to share names and places for future submissions was most welcome as this is a difficult field to break into. She has quite the rolodex and I'm sure it's from her vast experience in writing, her terrific publishing credits, and her networking expertise." -- Diane Singer

"This class was a gem. In one night, I learned how to carve my personal essay into a saleable piece, and I also gained invaluble insights into where I might look to sell my piece. Liza was so full of knowledge and advice. She knows this market and wants to help you succeed." -- Amy Tucker Carroll