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This course is ideal for: Anyone craving a new income writing original content for magazines, online publications and more.
You will:
Explore the freelance industry and where ideas come from
Learn how to structure compelling articles
Receive direct feedback on your own writing
Get expert advice on research, interviewing and pitching
Start earning an income as a freelance writer!
“I loved Alex’s style of presentation and how clear and structured the course was. Well worth the money and time – I wish I had done the course earlier!”
– Grace Titioka, Freelance Writing Stage 1 graduate
This course is ideal for: Anyone craving a new income writing original content for magazines, online publications and more.
You will:
Explore the freelance industry and where ideas come from
Learn how to structure compelling articles
Receive direct feedback on your own writing
Get expert advice on research, interviewing and pitching
Start earning an income as a freelance writer!
“I loved Alex’s style of presentation and how clear and structured the course was. Well worth the money and time – I wish I had done the course earlier!”
– Grace Titioka, Freelance Writing Stage 1 graduate
This course is ideal for: Anyone craving a new income writing original content for magazines, online publications and more.
You will:
Explore the freelance industry and where ideas come from
Learn how to structure compelling articles
Receive direct feedback on your own writing
Get expert advice on research, interviewing and pitching
Start earning an income as a freelance writer!
“I loved Alex’s style of presentation and how clear and structured the course was. Well worth the money and time – I wish I had done the course earlier!”
– Grace Titioka, Freelance Writing Stage 1 graduate
| Where | Starts | Duration | Presenter | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYDNEY (Milsons Point) 55 Lavender Street, Milsons Point | Saturday 7 August 2021 10am–4pm | 2 consecutive days | Alexandra Spring | $450 |
Watch this video to hear previous students talk about their experience with this course.
Our weekend workshops are special events where you can gain practical skills and knowledge in a supportive classroom environment. Over the two days (10am-4pm each day), you will learn the skills you need to pitch story ideas to editors, get published and earn money as a freelance writer. You'll be able to write for your favourite magazines, newspapers or websites.
Across both days, you will work through lessons that cover the fundamentals of feature writing and will have the opportunity to ask your presenter any questions along the way.
Industry overview
Preparation and research is key for a freelance writer. As a class, you will look at the industry and the breakdown of hard news vs feature articles. You will learn how to analyse a publication and match its target market with your ideas or skillset.
Ideas and angles
Ideas can come from anywhere. You’ll find out which ones work as feature articles and how to use news hooks, trends, celebrity happenings, events, dates and more to make your stories relevant. You will also learn how to find a new angle for an existing topic, as well as the growing popularity of content writing/marketing and how you can get this type of work.
Story structure
Every good story needs a strong structure – the skeleton on which to add your own style. You will learn the essential elements needed for every article and the importance of intros, breakout boxes, expert opinions and more. You'll also analyse articles from hook to ending, seeing which work and which don’t!
We suggest setting aside some time Saturday evening to complete a small assignment, to cement what you’ve learnt on day 1.
Transitions and storytelling techniques
You'll continue to deep dive into articles, particularly how to transition smoothly from one paragraph to the next. You will also learn how to apply some creative storytelling techniques to your freelance writing to ensure your reader stays engrossed throughout.
Research, sources and interviews
To create a balanced article (and not simply an opinion piece), research and relevant quotes (from experts or case studies) are essential. You’ll learn the best ways and places to source information for your stories, as well as the mechanics of interviewing – where to find your subjects, what questions to ask and some ethical considerations with using quotes
Selling your work and seeing it in print or online
Arguably the most important step of the process is bringing it to the wider audience – through publication in a newspaper, magazine or website. To do this, you need to pitch your story idea (or completed story) to an editor. It may seem daunting, but this course will give you the confidence to pitch like a pro. Successfully selling your articles is a skill in itself and it’s what will turn freelancing into a regular income!
Our Sydney training centre allows you to learn directly from inspiring world-class presenters in a spacious and comfortable learning space.
We’re a short walk from Milsons Point station with beautiful views across Sydney Harbour.
Address:
Suite 3 (Ground floor),
55 Lavender Street
MILSONS POINT NSW 2061
Josefa Pete
Freelance Writer
Brad Kelly
Freelance Writer
Lisa Schofield
Freelance journalist and corporate writer
Freelance Writing Stage 1 provides you with all the foundation skills you need to start pitching stories and building a portfolio of written work. But many graduates also want support in the “real world” – and that’s where our online Freelance Writing Masterclass Program comes in.
Exclusive to graduates of the stage 1 course, the program is like an apprenticeship, giving you valuable mentoring, feedback and more as you start out as a freelance writer. As a member, you have unlimited online access to a library of extra tutorials to add to your skills and confidence. You can also get feedback on your pitches and ask AWC founder Valerie Khoo questions in the monthly Ask Me Anything video sessions. With extra support and advice from an exclusive members group, it's the perfect way to keep up the momentum following Freelance Writing Stage 1.
Alexandra Spring is a journalist and editor. The former features director of Vogue Australia, her stories have appeared in Elle Australia, Guardian Australia, Sunday Life, InStyle Australia, Vogue UK, Vogue Girl, GQ Australia, The Walkley Magazine and Your Garden, as well as online for NRMA, Primped, The Hoopla and The Knot. She is currently Editorial Operations Manager at Guardian Australia.
Q: I’m completely new to freelance writing. Is this the right course for me?
A: You’re in exactly the right place. This course has been designed to give you a solid foundation in how to write freelance articles as well as all the moving parts of the industry itself. Hundreds of students have been published as a result of this course – and many are now full-time writers or even editors themselves!
Q: What’s the difference between this and the Copywriting Essentials course?
A: Freelance Writing Stage 1 is all about coming up with ideas and writing articles or commissioned content for publications and websites – these appear with your own name as the writer. In contrast, our Copywriting Essentials course is about creating words on behalf of clients, that they then use in their branding or advertising (your name doesn’t appear). Many freelancers supplement their income by doing both!
Q: How many others will be in the class – and are they all experienced writers?
A: The weekend workshop is a supportive learning environment and we purposefully keep classes small to make everyone more comfortable (no more than approx 16 per class). Everyone is there to learn and no experience is necessary, so you don’t need to worry about being out of your depth.
Q: What topics will I learn to write about?
A: That’s the cool part – it’s up to you! You’ll learn the principles of compelling feature articles and these can be applied to any topic you like. Many graduates go on to carve out a niche writing about a specific area, such as parenting, health, the environment, fitness, beer – you name it!
Q: Are there other specialist courses in freelance writing?
A: Yes, although we recommend first doing this Stage 1 course to get the foundations. Then you may wish to hone your skills in our Travel Writing, Food Writing and Profile Writing courses.
Q: This is Stage 1… Is there a Stage 2?
A: Yes – a group mentorship program! The Freelance Masterclass Program has been designed for graduates of Stage 1 as a kind of safety net in your first year pitching and writing stories in the ‘real world’. You get exclusive access to AWC founder Valerie Khoo plus bonus masterclasses, personalised pitch analysis and regular Ask Me Anything videos.
Q: What happens if the Weekend Workshop can’t go ahead due to COVID-19 restrictions?
A: We’re looking forward to bringing the Weekend Workshop to you in a safe and healthy classroom environment. But if COVID-19 government restrictions prevent the course from being run in-person, then we will deliver your course as online LIVE sessions via Zoom. You can enjoy the same comprehensive course materials and live interaction with your presenter and classmates, all from the comfort of home.
| KNOWLEDGE: | We’ve condensed a decade’s worth of learning in this highly practical two-day course. |
| CONFIDENCE: | Knowing how the industry works, how to interview and how to approach an editor is half the battle. |
| INSPIRATION: | Come up with stories and angles for just about anything, anywhere. |
| MOTIVATION: | There are hundreds of publications and websites that require freelance content – and many graduates get pitches approved as soon as they finish their course! |
“Alexandra pulled no punches as to what it takes to be a professional freelance writer. Her delivery was upbeat, knowledgeable and fast-paced. She addressed our questions well and kept to time. Do it if you want to test your writing chops in the real world.”
– Richard Gilzean
(completed in Sydney)
“Alexandra Spring was a fantastic instructor. I would highly recommend this course – it's really practical and gives lots of valuable information about how to pragmatically start freelance writing and make a job out of it.”
– Georgia Faure
(completed in Sydney)
“The course was absolutely PACKED with information, ideas, and inspiration. I'm a complete beginner, so I was worried I would come away from the course feeling freelance writing is not for me. But it had the opposite effect – I now feel it's going to be a challenge, but I'm going to do it.”
– Gesa Brennan
(completed in Sydney)
“Alex is very experienced and provided a real world knowledge on the subject. This is a field open to all, I didn't realise you could do this without a degree. I also really enjoyed the classroom interaction.”
– Michelle Hayman
(completed in Sydney)
| Where | Starts | Duration | Presenter | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SYDNEY (Milsons Point) 55 Lavender Street, Milsons Point | Saturday 7 August 2021 10am–4pm | 2 consecutive days | Alexandra Spring | $450 |
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