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Courses >
Writing & Publishing > The Craft of Magazine Writing
Requirements:
Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins
(two free and simple downloads you obtain at
http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and
Get Adobe Reader).
Syllabus:
All
courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two
lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course.
You do not have to be present when the lesson is released, but you must
complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
A new
section of each course starts on the second or third Wednesday of each
month. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure
to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.
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Week One |
| Wednesday - Lesson 01 |
Did
you know that you don't have to be an expert on a topic to write a
magazine article about it? And you don't need a wall of diplomas to be
a writer, either. If you think it's necessary to have taken formal
courses in writing, journalism, or communications to write, reconsider
that idea. In this lesson, you'll discover where ideas originate and
get started as a writer of nonfiction magazine articles.
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| Friday - Lesson 02 |
Ask
a magazine writer about the genres available to this profession and
you'll learn about consumer topics, informational pieces,
question-and-answer formats, true crime articles, and a bunch more.
You'll hear about how-to articles, too. If you've been seriously
thinking about writing for magazines—which I hope you have—you need to
know about the categories. You'll begin that investigation today.
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Week Two |
| Wednesday - Lesson 03 |
You've
just purchased the latest market guidebook with the writing guidelines
for oodles of magazines. It's awesome, complex, and exciting. If you
feel overwhelmed, you're not alone. Some new writers get copies of
market guidebooks and, once they've thumbed through them, put them
aside. The books can be intimidating. But after this lesson, you'll be
a pro at selecting magazines that want articles from you. By the end of
it, you'll be able to use an innovative outlining tool, called The
Bubble Method, which will help you make every single topic a potential
article.
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| Friday - Lesson 04 |
What
is a query letter? Do nonfiction article writers really need them? How
can you write one that will capture the interest of editors? That's
what we'll discuss today—giving you a foundation for writing a query
that sells your ideas.
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Week Three |
| Wednesday - Lesson 05 |
In
this lesson, you'll get a quick review of production tips and grammar
rules. But the gem is a section on how to interview the people,
experts, and celebrities that you'll be writing about. Whatever type of
article you write, you may have occasion to interview someone. Not
being an effective interviewer will diminish your chances of success.
However, what you learn today will make interviewing fun and easy.
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| Friday - Lesson 06 |
Money.
It's the topic of this lesson, and we'll discuss it in depth. Then
we'll debunk that bugaboo, writer's block. Yes, writer's block is out
there, waiting to get your attention and stop you in your tracks. But
today you're going to learn how to simply acknowledge it and then get
writing once again.
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Week Four |
| Wednesday - Lesson 07 |
Do
you know your reader? Most new writers say, "Hey, of course I do." Then
they look at me as if I'm from the planet Zod, and they seem to be
saying, "What a silly question." But unless you know who you're writing
for and write in a fashion that captures and sustains a reader's
interest, you'll find writing for magazines a huge challenge. So,
today, we'll talk about writing for a reader, ways to create clear and
crisp writing, and writing fillers and essays.
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| Friday - Lesson 08 |
Have
you ever wondered how magazine writers know how many words are right
for a specific topic? Have you thought about where sidebars come from?
Do you want to gain credibility for a nonfiction book and further your
profession, cause, or company? You'll get answers to these questions
and much more here, in today's lesson.
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Week Five |
| Wednesday - Lesson 09 |
By
the end of this lesson, you'll be able to research topics for articles
and understand how to get yourself into the research picture. It's
nearly painless and really fun once you know the techniques
professional magazine writers use.
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| Friday - Lesson 10 |
Do
you need to interview an expert or get a quote from one to make your
article sparkle? You probably have a book in your house right now that
would supply what you're looking for. Today, we'll talk more about
finding experts to make your articles sizzle. Then we'll examine the
tools you need to self-edit. Self-editing is the polish that turns okay
writing into publishable words.
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Week Six |
| Wednesday - Lesson 11 |
Recycle
your research and you'll be able to sell and resell ideas without
reinventing the wheel. That's the focus of this lesson. We'll also
discuss writing about theme and seasonal articles, locating regional
publications that would be crazy not to have you write for them, and
networking with others to increase the number of articles you sell.
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| Friday - Lesson 12 |
You're
about to print an article on which you've been working for a week. It's
dynamite and headed for publication in a major magazine. This is your
lucky break. As weird as it seems to a cyber-savvy writer like you, the
editor wants a printed manuscript. After thinking, "This magazine is
still in the dark ages," you smile and comply. However, you've run out
of paper (or need a printer cartridge) or stamps or some other
indispensable writing supply. If this hasn't happened to you yet, it
may, unless you realize that time is money. Time management is our
final topic and since we only have so much time in our days, today
you'll learn how to use what you have, and use it well.
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This
course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide
you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your
questions. The instructor for this course will be Eva Shaw.
 Eva
Shaw, Ph.D. is a full-time working writer of 1000 articles, essays and
short stories. She’s the ghost or author of 70 books including: Ghostwriting for Fun & Profit, Writeriffic: Creativity Training for Writers, Write Your Book in 20 Minutes (a DVD), Shovel
It: Nature’s Health Plan, What to Do When a Loved One Dies, The
Successful Writer’s Guide to Publishing Magazine Articles, Writing the
Nonfiction Book, Insider’s Guide to San Diego, The Sun Never Sets, and more. Eva's work has been featured in USA
Today, San Diego Union Tribune, Shape, Woman’s World, Country Living,
Costco Connection, Publisher’s Weekly, Washington Post, the Wall Street
Journal and others. She has won several awards, including the Book
of the Year Award from the American Journal of Nursing, the Benjamin
Franklin Award, and the Woman of Merit Award. An expert on time
management for writers, Eva stays on top of market trends to sell her
own work and to help emerging writers focus on quality writing and
publication.
Student Reviews:
"As you suggested, I got the courage to call our local
newspaper today and talked to the editor. I had previously had sent her
a short resume and some clips that had been published in the newspaper.
When I called her today and suggested 2 different articles, she told me
to write them up. She wants 3 articles. One on sugar-free desserts and
the restaurants that do and do not serve them. Then she said she wanted
me to do some articles on then and now. She asked me if I wanted to do
it weekly or monthly. I said monthly. I asked her the word length and
she told me to take pictures to go with the articles. I was so excited
I forgot to ask her how much they pay. She was so excited and so was I.
I am writing down the ideas for the then and now articles. I am still
looking for the places to send a query letter from my article list. And
we're just in Lesson 4!"
"Before I jot down some goals I want to say how perfect this
class was for me. I submited my finished article last week and the
editor was thrilled with how organized and creative it was. Not tooting
my horn but yours, Eva. Having taken this course and Writeriffic (last
year) I used your advice to help me through this (my second) assigned
article. The bubble method and interviewing tips were especially
helpful. I immediately queried the editor after I submited the article
and she accepted so I'm now working on my second paid assignment. THANK
YOU. I hope this is my start."
"Can you get addicted to something like this?! I keep
telling myself I'm finished with the course, but I can't seem to stay
out of the discussion area. It's like when I was a little kid and hated
to go to bed at night, because I was afraid I'd miss something. What am
I going to do without you all?! I'm having serious withdrawal symptoms!"
"Dear Eva, I am so grateful for your support and
instruction. I must admit I was not too sure about the whole on line
course process, but you far exceeded my expectations. Although I have
not posted all of my work, I have learned so much and have gained some
confidence. Thank you."
"Dear Eva, Thank you for a very informative class. I learned
too much to note. I also learned my writing weaknesses such as time
management, fear, and a loss of creativity from being rusty. Your
biggest help to me was answering all of my technical questions
pertaining to format and content of articles. Now I can look like a
professional when I submit my work! I also deeply appreciate your
encouragement and motivation in submitting my queries and in writing in
general. I never lost my desire to write but I was at a place where I
felt it was a dream that had to be postponed for another 5-10 years.
Now I am truly excited again and I know even if I do a few "bubbles" a
day, I can get there."
"Dr. Shaw is a dedicated and enthusiastic instructor. The
amount of time she spent interacting with the class in the Discussion
area exceeded my expectations from other online courses I have taken. I
would recommend her course without reservation."
"Dr. Shaw is a wonderful instructor. From the start of the
course she made a comfortable environment which encouraged students to
submit their assignments and participate in the discussion areas. I
will definitely be taking another one of her classes."
"Dr. Shaw, you are tremendous. The only thing better would be to have some one-on-one critique of an actual writing assignment."
"Eva absolutely knows how to bring all the players together as a team. Loved this class!"
"Eva did a super job. I've read both her books but this
course went a step further to educate me in this field. I especially
liked the resource references and the personal experiences shared by
Eva."
"Eva is charismatic -- even in an online class! I
appreciated her positive outlook, encouragement, and useful advice.
Great course!"
"Eva, I would to thank you very much for a great class. I
learned a lot, plus I also have finally found something that I love to
do, and also help others. I also want to give credit to my friend,
Donna, who recommended this course. I have already received an interest
in my query on organic food from a famous magazine. With all your great
advise, teaching skills, and your knowledge, we are off to an excellent
start."
"Eva's style is very supportive."
"Eva, thank you for this course. I was already familiar with
much of the content but did learn a lot of techniques that I hadn't
considered before. I also feel that this class has definitely inspired
me to re-start my writing career--it has given me a fresh perspective
and I've sold two articles in the last two months, partly because of
your advice. I look forward to taking more courses over the next
several months."
"Eva - this course has provided great practical info and your personal comments made it a wonderful experience for me."
"Eva: This has been an absolutely wonderful course! I have
learned so much, and have received a lot of inspiration to actually do
something about writing instead of just thinking about it; something
that hasn't really happened with other writing courses I have taken
[from other providers]. Thank you for all of the great feedback."
"Eva was wonderful. By the end of the course I sent out two
Queries!! I had the courage to "just do it" Her lessons are concise and
provide a wealth of valuable information. I hope to meet her in person
to thank her some day!!"
"Eva, you made me feel like I was in a classroom without
being there. The instructions/lessons were methodical and upbeat. I
learned more than I thought I would and your praises kept me going. You
were thoughtful and encouraging while sharpening my skills. The online
discussions were extremely vital and useful. I hope to show you my
piece in print one day as my biggest thank you so much! Here's to the
next generation of writers. YEAH!"
"Eva-You've been a wonderful instructor, and I'm sure glad
that I decided to sign up for this class and also the Writeriffic class
I just began."
"Excellent course and instructor."
"Excellent course. I took the course to get me writing again
- which it has. I did not find my genre - humour - was well covered but
the basics of writing for magazines were very well covered. I would
consider a course with Eva anytime. She is terrific and gives a great
deal of encouragement as well as helpful healthy criticism. Thanks for
the ride!"
"Excellent course! Wealth of material for new writers."
"Hi Eva, this class has changed my life and given me
something to live for. Thanks so much for your humor(made me laugh out
loud) and what a great teaching style you have."
"Hi Eva: This is a great class! I had terminal writer's
block when we began. Since starting this class I've sent two poems, a
book proposal, an essay, 2 magazine article queries, and 2 magazine
articles out into the big world for consideration. You are a gem."
"I am deliriously happy. I submitted the biking essay I
wrote in the class to Cycle California magazine - AND THEY WANT TO BUY
IT!! This is an absolute dream come true for me. I just can't believe
it. I am sooooo happy. I have to email the editor back and agree to the
terms of the offer. How am I going to be able to do that without
sounding like I'm on the moon, which I am!?"
"I enjoyed this class so much. Eva, you're a great teacher! I like how personable you are with us."
"I got so much out of your class...I can't believe how
quickly it went by. Thanks for your encouragement and for all of the
information you provided. I thought I knew quite a lot about writing,
but this class really opened my eyes to the business sense it takes to
be a successful writer. Thanks for your positive feedback on my
article. It is in the cool off phase, and I think I'll work on some
queries in the meantime and get them in the mail. It's a very exciting
time! I'll probably surface again in one of your Writerific classes.
I'm still debating whether to go for the first or second course."
"I have thoroughly enjoyed this...my first writing class and
my first online class. I have learned so much from not only Eva (who is
great!) but from all your input, posts, questions, encouragements, etc.
I knew that I wanted to try to build a post-retirement writing career,
but had no idea how. Now I feel that I know a lot about freelancing for
magazines, thanks to this class."
"I have to tell you the class was great. I have a new found
love for writing, although I think I write essays better than magazine
articles. Thanks to your nudges, maybe this will lead to a non-fiction
book or something. See the confidence - thanks for nudging this inner
desire that had been lerking inside of me for years."
"I just cashed my first magazine writing check for an online
magazine. It wasn't for much, but the article I wrote was very short
(only 3 small paragraphs which I completed very quickly.) It was
wonderful to get a check for magazine writing just as I finished the
course! This proved to me that it can be done and the payment, however
small, always helps!"
"I just read this in my IBD and thought I'd pass this along
to you. "The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The
superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires" (William
Ward). You are a great teacher. Thanks and meet with you soon in
Writeriffic."
"I just wanted to say how much I like the way you structured
this course. The lessons are so easy to read, yet so packed with tons
of USEFUL information. I love the way the information from one lesson
flows into the next. I print out every lesson for future reference.
It's also pretty amazing that you can teach so many online courses,
work as a writer, be a mom & wife and still have time to give
personal attention to your students. I'm convinced you are
Wonder-Woman-Word Wizard! Anyway, I'm really enjoying this course and
feel confident that I am on my way to being a freelancer. Thanks!"
"I obviously loved this course, I may even take it again. Of
the 10 to 12 courses I have taken through this program, this is the
first where the instructor was truly interactive and the discussion
areas filled and interesting. Great job -- more like this would be
terrific."
"I realize Dr. Shaw offers other courses (which I plan to
take). I believe there is so much she could share, if she chooses to do
so. I would like to see additional courses offered in the future."
"I suppose it is time for me to wrap up here at Magazine
Writing. Gosh, I enjoyed this class. Thanks again, everyone, and
especially you, Eva. See you in Writerrific! :) And, to everyone else,
see you in print!"
"It does take courage to keep sending in letters and hoping
for a chance. I have set my course so I am not afraid. You have given
me the motivation to carry onward."
"It has been an absolute pleasure taking this course as well
as Writerrific 1 & 2 this year. For the first time in my life I am
starting to see myself as a writer thanks to your guidance and gentle
nudges. You are a first-rate writer and an inspirational teacher and I
thank you for sharing your gift with all of us."
"I think Eva is an excellent instructor and has done a great
job teaching this material and motiviting students to participate.
Thank you, Eva!"
"I thought Eva did a great job. I would have loved to take a
semester long course with her. I enjoyed the lessons and the discussion
area, and learned more than I expected to."
"It may sound corny, but I feel that someday I'll look back and know "this is the course that got me started". Thanks to Eva."
"I took Eva's magazine article writing class last fall and
loved it. From that I have sold 3 articles and would love to sell many
more. I am constantly sending out queries!"
"I took this course because I wanted to improve my chances
of getting published. I had already read a book by Dr. Eva Shaw and had
found it the most practical book on writing I had ever read.
Consequently, I was excited to take this course. This class has not
only given me new insight but renewed confidence as well. I would
highly recommend any class taught by Eva Shaw."
"My skepticism about this format quickly dissipated. The
lessons were full of valid tips; the discussions were earnest and
mainly on topic; the instructor was attentive and her personality was
evident in her comments. Thanks!"
"Near the end of The Craft of Magazine Writing course, I was
referred to an equestrian lady to write an article. It was my first
‘professional' piece! It was published! I am excited...and the editor
is asking for me to write more! Thank you so much for your
encouragement then and now. This proves it can be done!"
"One more of your students will be earning their first
"clip" on January 1. I wrote and submitted a short essay titled
"Another Name for Love" which will be included in the January 1 edition
of Faith, Hope and Fiction…Thank you for your encouragement and faith
in your students. It took a lot of encouragement from you to step past
my family and friends and into the real world of writing where you were
dealing with people who didn't necessary love what you wrote because
they love you. My most humble appreciation goes out to you, Eva!"
"Thanks, Eva and everyone. Even if I've been silent through
some of the discussions, I've learned a lot from just reading some of
your articles, and reading your questions and responses. Magazine
writing is definitely something I'm going to continue pursuing."
"Thanks, Eva for a great class. I will work on the last
article and try to post it before we finish. I am looking forward to
working with you again in Writeriffic. I have learned so much. You are
a teacher that helps us spread our wings and fly! I so wish there were
more of you. I am glad I decided to take this step forward into the
future with all of you."
"Thanks so much for your inspiration. I have learned so much. Thanks for getting me so jazzed about writing."
"Thank you for helping with this. Also, thank you from the
bottom of my heart for giving me the courage to take a risk and pursue
my passion. This is wonderful to have you in my court. Who knows what
news I'll share with you in the future."
"Thank you for teaching this class in a way that keeps
encouraging us to participate even if we get behind. With many classes
(from other providers), the guilt and frustration you get from being
behind makes you want to give up and quit. Not your class! Thanks."
"The editor of a magazine has asked my to proceed with my
article on discrimination for their upcoming issuse. I am so excited!!!
Thank you so much, Eva. This would never have happen if I had not taken
your class. So thank you from the bottom of my heart."
"There is great news: I got the job! My future boss loved my
writing (many of the samples I gave him were from your courses). Thank
you so much for helping me put my future back on track. I am so excited
about this new start, and I wanted to thank you again for helping me to
make it possible!"
"This class was all that I had hoped and so much more. The
instructor made it a pleasure, and the information was extremely
helpful."
"This class was great. Eva is very helpful and encouraging,
I will definitively sign up for another one of her classes. The
discussion area is a very valuable tool, I did learn many things from
the discussions and I appreciate my classmates input and comments. I
just wish the class would be a few weeks longer ."
"This class was the kick in the pants that I needed to get started as a freelance writer."
"This course far exceeded my expectations. The instructor was marvelous and the discussions with peers worked great."
"This course has taught me a lot and given me the assurance
and determination to keep on writing and to understand that a rejection
from an editor is only a learning experience and not to take
personally. Eva Shaw is an excellent teacher. I enjoyed her sense of
humor and the way she presents the material. On my recommendation, my
friend took this class and is taking Writeriffic with me as well.
Thanks, Eva."
"This felt more like a course in a classroom setting rather
than simply an on-line course. Eva was very generous in her time and
assistance to anyone who requested it. She was extremely knowledgeable
about this material and very eager to share it with others. I would
definitely recommend her and take other courses she had to offer."
"This has been a great class, so much more than I expected.
You have a way of creating interest that made me jump at the
assignments. I did want to give you this feedback, I completed many of
them before they were assigned, it just seemed to be a natural
progression. I have already recommended this class to a friend. I hope
to join you online again very soon."
"This was my first experience with an online course. Eva
Shaw is an outstanding instructor. I am more likely to take another
course because of the extremely positive experience I've had in this
course."
"This was my first on-line class. I loved it. Although I
didn't have the time to complete all assignments. I did do all the
lessons, quizzes and other work. I found the class to be very
informative and I learned more than I thought I would. The class and
instructor has helped me focus on where I want to go, and showed me the
best way to get there. I hope to take another class from the same
instructor or another writing class on-line."
"Very good class. The instructor was friendly, approachable,
encouraging and gave clear answers to all questions asked. The
assignments were excellent since they forced me to write more and try
new methods of getting my work out for possible publication."
"What a unique class! This was my first-ever online class.
And I did not expect the whole process of learning to write for
magazines to feel so natural. This was sooo cool! Many thanks to Eva
and all the classmates. I printed and saved several of the discussions
because they had such useful ideas."
"Writing non-fiction articles has been much more fun and
creative than I had expected. I love it! Thank you for teaching us so
well."
"Your instruction has been awesome and this class more
rewarding than I could have ever dreamed. Your encouragement and
support have meant a lot - boosting my self-esteem on more than one
occasion. Best wishes for your continued success and I will look
forward to being with you in a discussion group again when I sign up
for another class."
To purchase this course, click the Enroll Now button below:
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Have
you ever thought about writing for magazines? Turn your dreams into
bylines and help yourself to a bright future as a magazine writer. It's
fun, it's easy, and a great source of extra income. If you're a
determined new writer, or if you haven't written for magazines in
years, this class will jump start your career. You'll learn plenty of
powerful brainstorming techniques designed to practically write every
article for you.