Courses

McSweeny's blog has a brilliant course description for a fictional internet-age writing class. An excerpt:

Prerequisites

Students must have completed at least two of the following.

ENG: 232WR - Advanced Tweeting: The Elements of Droll
LIT: 223 - Early-21st-Century Literature: 140 Characters or Less
ENG: 102 - Staring Blankly at Handheld Devices While Others Are Talking
ENG: 301 - Advanced Blog and Book Skimming
ENG: 231WR - Facebook Wall Alliteration and Assonance
LIT: 202 - The Literary Merits of Lolcats
LIT: 209 - Internet-Age Surrealistic Narcissism and Self-Absorption

Required Reading Materials

Literary works, including the online table of contents of the Huffington Post's Complete Guide to Blogging, will serve as models to be skimmed for thorough analysis. Also, Perez Hilton's Twitter feed.

The complete course description and syllabus can be read here

Rita Williams, author of the Oprah-endorsed memoir If the Creek Don't Rise, will be teaching a 12-week memoir class beginning Oct. 22 in Beverly Hills.

Got a story to tell? Maybe Williams can help.

Deets:

WHEN 12 weeks, Wednesdays, Oct. 22 -- Jan. 29, 7-10 p.m.
WHERE Beverly Hills, CA
PRICE $610 ($575 for AvantGuild members)
HOW TO REGISTER Click here to register online or call (212) 547-7890.

The course is next week, Thursday September 25 in Beverly Hills taught by travel writer Eric Hiss.

Travel writing is your passport to an entire world of stories waiting for you at the end of a cobblestone lane or on top of a liana-covered ruin. You may already have the expertise to write about many of the subjects you'll encounter on the road, whether your ideas are related to design, food, business, or other topics you've covered in the past. You just need to get from here to there.

This workshop will help you shape your existing talents and show you how to land travel assignments. We will explore the different types of articles travel editors are looking for, as well as information on press trips: how they work, what the protocol is, and a frank discussion of whether or not to participate in them. Pack your bags and get ready for new adventures with the skills you'll develop in this workshop.
In this workshop, you will learn:

What makes good travel journalism

Road-tested ways to break in and get your start

The art of creating the effective travel pitch letter

Various types of travel article formats

How to pitch your stories beyond travel magazines

How to turn one trip into multiple story ideas

How to develop industry contacts

More information and the sign up is here.

We keep getting pitches to promote different classes (including Media Bistro's own), and we're in advanced guilt over keeping all these juicy morsels of learning to ourselves. So today, we dump our inboxes on you, the writers of Los Angeles. Thank us in your forwards and acceptance speeches:

MediaBistro offers a ton of classes, which you can check out here. One we'd like to hightlight is the Advanced Travel Writing class taught by the well-traveled Eric Hiss, who has written for Conde Nast Traveler and other pubs and, apparently, knows what he's talking about.

What: Advanced Travel Writing
When: Thursday, September 25, 6:30-10:30 pm
Where: Beverly Hills
Note: This is an advanced level course. Price is $125 (or $100 for AvantGuild members) For more info, call (212) 547-7890.

The Un-Cabaret offers the Un-Cab Lab, which works with "writers, performers and other free range creatives, from beginners to advanced working professionals. We've coached people through the development, performance and promotion of essays, scripts, standup, speeches, and one-person shows, plus bonus general career guidance and life advice."

What: The Un-Cab will offer a Free Range Comedy Seminar
When: Sunday, Sept. 21, 1-3 p.m.
Where: M-Bar, 1253 N. Vine 90038
Note: The seminar includes practical advice about writing and performing, our creative philosophy and graphics. It's also free.

continued...

What will magazines look like in the future? Hell if we know. Good thing we know some lovely people who have the answers -- and they're even willing to share them with you, provided you get yourself to a Tribeca gallery on Wed., Sept. 10.

That's right, it's the MediaBistro.com Magazines of the Future panel, and you're invited.

Panelists include:

Lynne D Johnson, Senior Editor/Community Director for FastCompany.com.

Michael Silberman, GM, NYMag.com

Lance Ulanoff, Editor in Chief, PC Magazine

Jay Woodruff, Editor in Chief, Maxim.com

Marvin Scott Jarrett, Editor in Chief, Nylon

continued...

Memoir writing with Rita Williams, author of If the Creek Don't Rise is a 12 week course that starts - soon - July 9th.

In this class, you will learn:

This way the dream about you showing up to class in your underwear - won't be just a dream.

Summer is (un)officially here! How can you work on your own projects when there are so many blockbuster movies, weekend getaways, and lazy days ahead? Our online classes include all the benefits of our in-person classes plus one: you'll never miss a session. Log in at your convenience, join the instant message chats from any location, and make real progress on your work.

June classes start next week, and they're filling up quickly. A lot of them are brand new--check out a few below or click here to see all upcoming online courses.

Has the recession hit you? Unemployed? Under-employed? Do you harbor secret Octopussy drag queen fantasies? Then try spy school. Or better yet, Stiletto Spy School.

From their site:

In just four days, learn valuable skills that will serve you for the rest of your life. Modules include firearms training, disabling an attacker in hand-to-hand combat, make up lessons and much, much more. Includes posh hotel with double occupancy room, delicious meals and wine with dinner. Airfare to Las Vegas, cocktails and incidentals are not included.

We're positive this is how Valerie Plame did it.

Marty Panzer, multi-platinum, award winning lyricist for Barry Manilow, Walt Disney, and many, many others, will speak about the art and craft of lyric writing. as well as some observations on the current marketplace, personal remembrances, and we hope, a little dish at a special event at Academy for New Musical Theatre.

Salon at the Academy for New Musical Theatre (ANMT) in No. Hollywood, CA on Sunday, August 5th, 2-6pm, but registration closes tomorrow, August 1st.

(photo by Phil Christie)

Face it--Monday nights are dull, you're dull and your career is dull. Why not spice up your evening, your life and your career by signing up for mediabistro's TV Symposium?

FBLA is well aware that this could appear to be a shameless plug, but this particular series gives attendees access to:

Allison Gibson, creator, Reba,

Drew Goddard, supervising producer, Lost,

Matt Shakman, director, Brothers & Sisters,

and a roster of other biggies.

Most of you would never even breathe the same air as these people. And as a added bonus--anyone who takes the class need not ever write into the forums:

i have an new idea for a reality show and i wanted to know if anyone knew what steps i should take or who i can contact?