Pitch 101: How to Get Published in Top Magazines and Newspapers with Elle Warren — April 3

Have you ever dreamed of seeing your name in fancy outlets like HuffPost, The Cut, or even The New York Times, but have no idea where to start? This class will teach you everything you need to know about what makes a successful pitch, how to choose the right home for your work, and how to come up with ideas that will sell (hint: it's not as scary as you think!).

The world of pitching and writing for magazines and newspapers is an opaque one. There's not a ton of transparency surrounding the process, and it can feel incredibly daunting and out-of-reach. Yet, it's a great opportunity to get your name out there and build your platform. This class will pull back the curtain and teach you everything I've learned over the last year since I began pitching (like how to hunt down editor email addresses and whether or not to send that follow-up). I'll show you examples of my pitches that have sold, we'll take time to generate ideas, and you'll also practice writing your very own pitch. You'll learn how to write a successful pitch, how to discern what ideas are likely to sell and which aren't, how to choose the right home for your work, and more. The biggest takeaway, I hope, will be that these publications *aren't* out-of-reach - in fact, they rely on freelance writers like you. We'll also leave plenty of time for a Q&A session, so come with all your burning pitching-related questions.

What you will learn

• How to write a good pitch (including a captivating headline)

• What a successful pitch actually looks like (from my own archives)

• The difference between a general topic and a specific story

• How to scout out potential outlets for your pitch

• What the entire process, from ideation, to pitch, to acceptance, to publication looks like

• Helpful newsletters and other pitching resources - Writing for your dream outlets *is* possible!

Workshop takeaways

• A list of ideas

• A draft of a pitch

• A pitch template

• A roadmap for seeking out the right outlets for you

• The confidence to send that email

• Newsletters/resources for staying on top of pitch calls

• Strategies for hunting down editor emails

Additional info

This workshop will be recorded for the convenience of those unable to attend live. The recorded session will be emailed to participants the following day.

About the Instructor

Elle Warren is a Chicago-based writer with essays in The Guardian, HuffPost, Business Insider, and elsewhere. She writes most often about OCD, grief, queerness, and other historically taboo topics. Her poetry chapbook, Come Back For a Little Bit, debuted in April 2023 with Game Over Books. Elle has hosted writers’ retreats, writing workshops, and a weekly poetry open mic. She's currently working on a memoir.