Zoom link for The Writing Room - Tonight at 6:30pm BST (1:30pm EST)
This month's theme: 99 Problems but a Pitch Ain't One
Hey hey!
Tonight is our May meeting of The Writing Room - a monthly writing workshop. This month’s theme is 99 Problems but a Pitch Ain’t One. And if you’re like “I don’t even know what a pitch is”, let me tell you.
Are you interested in writing for publications other than your own blog or email newsletter - in print or online? A pitch is the email you send to editors to tell them what you want to write about, and ask if they’ll let you write it.
Can I tell you a quick little story that might make you feel better about yourself? I have a Masters degree in Journalism, but a couple of years ago when I decided I wanted to dip my toe back into the publishing world, I panicked: I couldn’t remember how to pitch. Or I never learned? Or I was just really rusty from years of mothering young children and owning a photography business?
Anyway, I was scared to ask because, as previously mentioned: I HAVE A MASTERS DEGREE IN JOURNALISM. But thankfully, I have a friend who is an incredibly accomplished freelance journalist, so I emailed her bashfully and she, without judgement, was like, “Yeah girl, I got you.” And I think she sent me a pitch she’d used somewhere and I was like, “Oh yeah, now I remember” and also like: “This is actually pretty straightforward and neither time-consuming nor intimidating.”
Now, I get to be your freelancing friend.
Tonight, I’ll talk through some elements of a pitch and show you a couple of mine that have gotten me published. We’ll chat through your ideas for articles and how to pitch them, or maybe even brainstorm article ideas if you’re like, “I want to get paid to write, but I don’t even know if I have anything to write about.” [Spoiler alert: you do.]
Then, we’ll spend some time at the end of the session working on our pitches.
BONUS: After tonight’s workshop, you’ll have a couple of days to send me your pitch for very friendly, encouraging feedback.
Not a writer? I still think you should come. If it’s ever even crossed your mind as a tiny baby idea that you could potentially maybe one day write about whatever it is you do/are into (birdwatching! yoga! being a rocket scientist! online shopping! watching reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond!), this might be the push you need to believe you can do it.
Now, for the logistics.
If you’re a paid subscriber, you’re already registered for tonight and you just show up. If you’re not a paid subscriber, you can upgrade to paid below and access tonight’s Writing Room as well as every other workshop this year. Your subscription allows me to host The Writing Room and to write Porchlight more regularly.
You can also book into tonight’s session as a one-off by clicking this link.
And finally, the Zoom link for tonight is below!
Questions? You can leave a comment here or send me an email at faith.dwight@gmail.com.
Hope to see you tonight!
xx
Faith
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