Harmony Dust's memoir Scars and Stilettos was published after taking a Memoir Writing class with Rita Williams. Join Harmony at the launch party in Venice on Saturday, February 6! There will be an art and photo exhibit as well. Find out more about the event here.

Harmony says, "Mediabistro played a big role in helping me find my voice as a writer. Taking classes at Mediabistro was one of the scariest and sharpening experiences in honing the craft of memoir writing."

--Hussain Rahim

RELATED: Memoir Writing Courses at mediabistro.com

Bruce Frankel's first book What Should I Do With The Rest Of My Life? True Stories of Finding Success, Passion, and New Meaning In The Second Half Of Life is due out from Avery/ Penguin on March 4, 2010. After taking a Nonfiction Book Proposal course with Ryan Fischer-Harbage and the Selling Your First Book workshop, Bruce actually landed Ryan Fischer-Harbage as his agent and sold his proposal.

Bruce says, "I was surprised not only by Ryan's intelligence, but by the level of experience and talent among the other people in the workshop. Ryan thoughtfully deconstructed a successful book proposal and answered questions sincerely, honestly, and without resorting to any hyperbole. He became my agent several months later, and when I completed my proposal -- following the template he had provided in class -- he sold the book to Penguin in short order. My meta-surprise: the course was one of the best investments of my life."

--Hussain Rahim

RELATED: Book Publishing Courses at mediabistro.com

Adam Kelinson is still riding the experience of his first published book, The Athlete's Plate: Real Food for High Performance, that developed after taking a Food Writing course. The book is off to a strong start and has already gotten Adam calls for speaking engagements.

Adam says, "What surprised me the most was all the creativity and recollected food memories that were uncovered due to the stimulation and inspiration from the writing process and class atmosphere."

--Hussain Rahim

RELATED: Food Writing Courses at mediabistro.com

Jessica DuLong's recently published her book, My River Chronicles: Rediscovering America on the Hudson after developing her work in Christa Bourg's Book Proposal class. The book has gotten excellent press and reviews and the paperback will be out in June 2010.

Jessica says, "Christa's guidance, combined with invaluable feedback from my fellow students, not only helped me craft the proposal that my agent called one of the best she'd read, but it outlined the structure and approach that helped me greatly with the writing process. What surprised me most about the Mediabistro course I took was how invaluable feedback from the other students was. Some of us have kept in touch for years, offering encouragement and ideas."

--Hussain Rahim

RELATED: Book Publishing Courses at mediabistro.com

Regan Hofmann's memoir, I Have Something to Tell You, was recently published by Simon and Schuster. The memoir was an outgrowth of a manuscript Regan began in the Novel Writing course she took with Nick Fowler.

Regan says, "I LOVED my Mediabistro class and was overwhelmed by the level of talent and diversity of my fellow students! Nick Fowler was a fabulous teacher and the whole experienced inspired me and convinced me to follow my childhood dream of finally turning in that manuscript! I hope friends and alum of Mediabisto will read my book...for the sake of their health and that of their friends and family."

--Hussain Rahim

RELATED: Book Publishing Courses at mediabistro.com

Mark Stevens sold every piece he workshopped in Travel Writing Boot Camp with Jay Cooke and continues to sell pieces to the Washington Post, Toronto Star, and other publications. He has won several Best in Show and Best Magazine awards for his work.

Mark says, "Yes, the course works. Gotta focus your energy - boot camp is a good term for it. The best part was the individual critiques. Website up and running too - www.thewriteman.ca if anyone wants to know! Would do another course soon - now working on a novel."

--Hussain Rahim

RELATED: Travel Writing Courses at mediabistro.com

Since taking Laura Miller's Book Review course, Sue Comninos has worked consistently as a critic, essayist, interviewer and profile writer. She currently covers books and authors for the Christian Science Monitor, Miami Herald, Forward and Albany Times Union, among others. Most recently, her poetry was featured in the Forward newspaper online, along with two related podcasts and her fiction is forthcoming in Quarterly West.

Sue says, "Laura's a fine instructor. She has a keen understanding of journalistic form -- and an ability to communicate it."

--Hussain Rahim

RELATED: Journalism Courses at mediabistro.com

After taking Andrew Craft's Personal Essay Course Laura Jofre's piece was purchased by the Associated Press. Laura also took Paula Derrow's 1-night seminar on Personal Essays: Writing About Family and published an essay in the December issue of Self magazine.

Laura says, "What surprised me the most about Mediabistro was that each class I took led to an essay of mine being published! The classes are efficient and professional, with wonderful teachers. Thank you Media Bistro for the great courses!

--Hussain Rahim

RELATED: Essay Writing Courses at mediabistro.com

Dmitry Zlotsky's first book, Monster (Leapfrog Press) hits shelves April 1, 2010.

Dmitry took instructor Susan Shapiro's The Secrets Behind Writing and Publishing Your First Book and it completely caught him off-guard.

"The Mediabistro course was my first introduction into the world of publishing. Surprise is a mild word to describe my impression. It was on a scale of a first grader learning that his mother smoked. That's pretty much how stunned I was. I thought I was a ready and desired product. My experience was sobering, but thanks to that course, I realized what I needed to change," he says.

Says Dmitry, "My instructor, Susan Shapiro, proved to be not only insightful during the class, but very helpful afterwards, as she answered my emails long after the course was over. I must say that it was a great decision to sign up for the Mediabistro class."

--Hussain Rahim

RELATED: Book Publishing Courses at mediabistro.com

After taking Brett Leveridge's Humor Writing course, Peter Scallion has had his work accepted by McSweeney's and Reader's Digest.

Peter had come up with a list of anxiety medications for an assignment in Brett's course. Brett suggested he submit it to McSweeney's. After New Anxiety Medications For Coping With Economic Gloom was posted, an editor from Reader's Digest read it and e-mailed Peter asking if he wanted to submit the material to the magazine. Peter was both flattered and flabbergasted.

Says Peter, "It's an example of what Brett was telling us: Sometimes it takes the right person to read your stuff and present you with an opportunity."

Currently, Peter is putting together a blog called "The Scallion-The Leaner, Greener Onion."

Peter says, "It's a satirical news site modeled after that brilliantly funny publication."

--William Battaglia

RELATED: Humor Writing Courses at mediabistro.com

Avalanches for Dummies is an article about Homer, a certified crash test dummy who has been utilized in engineering tests to determine what exactly happens to a human body inside an avalanche.

Author Andrea Clark remembers pitching the idea to High Country News after taking Jay Cooke's Travel Writing Boot Camp.

"After I took Travel Writing Boot Camp, I understood that an emailed rejection is a type of acceptance, so I would write editors back until I came up with an idea they liked."

Andrea has forged a relationship with High Country News through various assignments such as "Avalanche for Dummies" and would like to keep pursuing freelance work with other magazines.

"I became a lot more confident of a freelancer after I took the mediabistro course and began querying magazines about freelance ideas," says Andrea. "I also came to understand the idea of slanting a story. A general idea is usually not specific enough. Pitching the story is half the battle."

--William Battaglia

RELATED: Travel Writing Courses at mediabistro.com