Food writing enthusiasts often have questions about how to pitch food writing to bon appétit or other prestigious food mags.

In this article, we will answer the following questions: “How can one get featured on food mags like bon appétit, for instance?” Or where do you pitch food articles? In other words, how to pitch food articles . If you are asking these crucial questions, you have come to the right place.

The editors of Bonappétit.com are currently accepting pitches from food writers. So if you have been itching to pitch your articles and food stories somewhere, you’re in luck. This prestigious food magazine frequently publishes on their webpage as well as on their print magazine.

Don’t be deterred by their in-house writers. The publishers of bonappetit.com are also receptive to new writing, so if you have great eloquently written stories, ideas and recipes, reach out to them. You might wow them. They are mostly interested in food writing that takes the form of:

• witty freelance pitches for reported feature stories,
• culture stories,
• personal (creative non-fiction) essays
• opinion essays.

How to Pitch Food Writing To BonAppetit.com,

Your work can be featured in Bon Appetit magazine. But first, you have to follow the pitching guidelines. The steps are easy. All you have to do is:

• send a summary paragraph,
• proposed headline and clips to sasha_levine@condenast.com.
• Or email cooking@bonappetit.com with “PITCH: [your idea here]” as the subject line.
•  Send stories about shopping to their shopping editor:  mackenzie_fegan@condenast.com
• Send culture and lifestyle pitches to culture@bonappetit.com with “WRITER PITCH” in the subject line.
• Send your restaurant-related pitched in an email with “PITCH” as the first word in the subject line to restaurants@bonappetit.com.

But these are just the general guidelines. Be sure to study and follow the pitching guidelines provided by Bon appétit on their website. They are particularly open to pitches from BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities..

How to pitch a Restaurant Review to Bonappetit.com

Kindly send your pitch in an email . Your email subject title must start with the word “PITCH” . Please send the email to restaurants@bonappetit.com.

How to pitch a Culture & Lifestyle story BonAppetit.com

Send culture and lifestyle pitches to culture@bonappetit.com with “WRITER PITCH” in the subject line.

Bonappetit.com frowns upon PR pitches. Kindly refrain from sending those.

How Much Can You Expect To Earn From Bon Appetit?

The payments are not exactly fixed. The payment starts at $250 for Restaurant Diaries. and Personal Essays. They also pay handsomely for flash (short-form) stories between 300 to 500 words.

We wish you the best of luck as you send your pitches to Bonappetit.com.

Looking for more food writing gigs? Consider submitting to EatingWell Magazine.

The post Bon Appetit Mag Is Accepting Pitches From Food Writers — How to Submit (Pays About $250) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Are you a writer who wants to upskill? Completing a course and getting a writing certification can bring you one step closer to landing the writing job of your dreams. 

Choosing the right writing course can be very daunting for both early career and established writers. In this article, Haley shares tips on how writers can upskill using edtech tools and platforms. She also shares the best ed tech tools for writers and writing certifications that can open up visitas of opportunities..

Here’s Everything You Need To Know About Upskilling And Getting  Writing Certifications

Technology plays a big role in how we interact with others and the society around us. As it continues to advance, it’s important that we use technology to our advantage, especially when it comes to upskilling . 

Educational technology, in particular, can make a tremendous difference when it comes to building better writing students and employees. This way of learning creative writing reframes how we approach career advancement and prepare ourselves for the future.

As a writer, you can use Edtech to your benefit by completing online writing certifications. With any position in the writing industry, part of our job is constantly learning. 

Not only will certifications develop your writing skills, but they can also distinguish you from other candidates when applying for positions. Down below we cover how Edtech can boost your career, and how writing certifications can be of benefit to you.

What is Edtech?

Edtech is software material designed to develop the skills of individuals in a particular field of interest. Most of us were introduced to Edtech in the classroom at a young age but may have never noticed it.

For instance, playing with computer games as a child is a perfect example of educational technology at play. Reading on your phone, tablet or PC? That’s edtech too.

A Writing Course Is Worth The Time and Effort: Here’s Why.

An Edtech-AcquireD Writing Certification Improves Your Resume:

Nowadays, most people use Edtech to build out their resumes and further deepen their knowledge of a subject matter. If you’re looking to acquire more writing certificates, then perhaps you need to sign up on some edtech platforms.

Writing Courses Provide Opportunities For You To Upskill.

With Edtech tools, writers can conveniently learn new skills and hone their craft. Take a writing course if you want to excel as a writer. 

Improves your chances of getting writing jobs and creative writing scholarships and grants.

A growing body of evidence suggests that human resource managers prefer to hire writers who have writing certifications. In fact, grad school admissions committee members are likely to admit students who have attended writing workshops and writing courses. So if you want the gatekeepers to take you seriously, complete some writing courses. Get some writing certifications.

How Edtech Can Advance Your Writing Career 

Provides A Great Opportunity To Beef Up Your Resume.

If you’ve been laid off due to the pandemic or are just an upcoming writer with little experience, you may be looking for ways to flesh out your resume.

Helps You Maximize Your Time As A Writer.

Now more than ever we are limited in the ways we can connect with others and learn new skills. As a result, more writers are using their free time to complete writing certifications. 

Gives You A Chance To Make A Good Impression On Employers.

These certifications work great for filling in the empty spaces in your resume. As mentioned, going the extra step with Edtech will distinguish you from other candidates when applying for jobs.

This happens because:

• employers will see that you are taking the extra time out of your busy schedule to advance your career as a writer.
• It’s a reflection of self-discipline.
• It shows dedication  to your writing craft.

The Best Writing Courses On Edtech Platforms.

There are many different options you can choose from when looking for writing classes or writing certifications.

Are you confused about where to begin? Don’t worry. We are here to help. You can start from any of the following are five paths.

Microlearning 

Microlearning is a great option for those with busy schedules ahead of them. This style of Edtech focuses on smaller sized lessons to learn different kinds of skills. The lessons you engage in are typically interactive and enjoyable.

Many microlearning platforms come in mobile applications, making the course easily accessible to you. This way, you can simply pick up another lesson when you find yourself waiting around or with nothing to do. 

For example, Duolingo is an application that uses microlearning to teach people different languages. This platform may be of interest to you if you are considering writing in a different language or to a different audience.

Massive Open Online Courses (Or MooCs)

Completing massive open online courses is one of the best ways to achieve a writing certification. These courses are designed by both universities and Fortune 500 corporations.

Some examples of companies that offer these kinds of courses include Google and Linkedin. They are also usually offered to the public for free, which is great if you are looking to stay under a budget. 

The University of Iowa’s International Writing Program has some free MOOCs you might want to explore.

While these courses are administered by external organizations, there is no added pressure to complete the course under a specific time frame. They are designed for you to work through them at your own pace and own schedule.

Also, there are hundreds of different course options to choose from. You can either further develop your skills in one area, or branch out into other aspects of writing.

Here are some massive open online course platforms for you to dig deeper in:

• Coursera 
• Udemy  
• Khan Academy  
• Canvas Network 

Multidirectional Training

Multidirectional training is a more popular route for once you are already working in the writing industry. When you join a company or team, the training you receive is often only pertinent to what you are responsible for in your position.

You may be excelling in your current field, but lacking in other areas of writing unknown to you. For instance, a play writer’s work may not provide training or knowledge on how to write blog posts. These are two completely different areas of writing.

With Edtech, individuals can bridge this gap between what they do know and what they want to know on their own time. This can help with moving up in the workplace, or also facilitate an easier transition between two different areas of writing. Some workplaces are also becoming more aware of the benefits of multidirectional training, and are beginning to offer it to employees.

Blended Learning

Blended learning is a combination of in-person learning with extra online supplementation. This is a great option for those who learn better in more than one learning environment.

Due to the recent pandemic, many schools have already started adopting blended learning into their framework. Classrooms were transitioned to operate primarily online, with the option of some being in person if needed.

This style of learning can be adopted in the workplace as well. You may be able to write for your company from home, but need to go into the office every once in a while for meetings and training.

Companies are also becoming much more favorable to this because it saves them a lot of money.

Having an office space can get quite expensive, so having your team operate remotely can save a lot of rent costs.

Career Development

When it comes to using Edtech to advance your writing career, you are the one in control of your learning. You can take these courses at your own pace and from the comfort of your own home.

In the workplace or the classroom, everything is structured with a designated deadline. Learning is less personalized and more structured to the group as a whole.

Learning with Edtech can also help prioritize your goals more efficiently. What’s great about this form of learning is that you can pick skills that you want to work on and develop yourself.

This can help you and your writing stand out from the rest of your colleagues. 

Expand Your Horizons

You can use online writing certifications to expand your knowledge into different industries as well. For example, writing poetry is very different from writing short stories.

There are different techniques and styles associated with both types of writing. Take some time to think about different genres of writing you have been interested in over the years.

It’s never too late to learn something new. You may even be surprised that it can help you with your writing as a whole. 

Some writers also use Edtech to help them become much more knowledgeable on topics they write about. Writing can be extremely difficult if you aren’t too familiar with the topic at hand.

It may even decrease your credibility with your audience when they are reading your piece. If you are writing about how people make decisions, consider picking up an online writing course dealing with psychology or human behavior.

This will help flesh out your writing at a much faster pace than if you weren’t to take the course.

You may even find yourself interested in applying for a specific brand that is very focused on one area. Take the fashion industry for instance.

You can be an amazing writer, but not know very much about clothes or upcoming fashion trends. This will most likely make you appear as not the best candidate for this particular position.

Before applying or going into the interview, take a free online course on fashion. This way, you have material you can pull out in front of your potential employer to show your background in the industry. 

How is Edtech Growing?

Edtech is continuously growing and developing at a rapid pace. The way we approach learning and career advancement also change as a result.

The Edtech industry is increasing in revenue as more organizations adopt it into their teaching techniques. Likewise, higher amounts of people are predicted to be using Edtech in the coming years. As the industry increases in popularity, many people won’t want to be left behind.

The rise in educational technology has led to the adoption of gamification techniques when learning. Gamification style courses are structured with rewards as you progress throughout the writing course.

This can keep you motivated at times where you don’t want to continue. In some instances, hitting specific benchmarks has been known to lead to higher productivity rates when learning.

Distanced learning has also become the new norm for many of us in school and at work. This abrupt need for change has caused the world to learn how to adapt very quickly.

As a result, more technology has been developed to fit the needs of our new way of learning. While distanced learning may be a battle for some, it can be very beneficial to other students.

Not everyone is fully capable of coming into the classroom or workplace for their own personal reasons. Distanced learning and Edtech have shown us that education can be available from anywhere and anytime. 

5 Best Edtech Platforms Every Writer Should Take Seriously.

It can be of your benefit to keep up with how the Edtech industry is growing. This can help you find more opportunities to benefit you in your writing.

The following are a few Edtech blogs you can subscribe to if of any interest to you:

• Edtech Center
• Skillshare
• Edtech Digest
• NovoEd
• eLearning Industry    

Wrap Up On Upskilling and Getting Writing Certifications With Edtech Tools.

Educational technology is reframing the way we look at learning. More opportunities are right at our fingertips to help us advance throughout our careers. As a writer, you can benefit extremely from completing online writing certifications. 

• This can work to flesh out your resume,
• develop your writing skills,
• and give you an extra edge against the competition.
• it can also help you in writing about certain topics you may know very little about.

Employers have wholeheartedly adopted technology in their teaching efforts because :

• it’s much more cost-effective and efficient.
• Employees can facilitate learning at their own pace and schedule. 

People are busy and often struggle with fitting more into their schedules. This is why many employers are transitioning their in-person orientation meetings into online module courses. 

The post Upskilling With Edtech Tools: All You Need To Know About  Writing Certifications appeared first on Creative Writing News.

It is not unusual to meet writers who desperately want to find creative writing jobs. It only makes sense to earn a living doing what you love, right? Especially since the internet has made it easy for writers to keep their heads above water.

Also, many youngsters what to know what kinds of creative writing jobs they can get with a creative writing degree or certification. And these concerns are perfectly understandable

You can’t blame parents for not wanting to waste hard-earned money on a useless degree or course. Plus students want to know that their creative writing certificate can earn them a fat paycheck.

And that’s what we’ll be discussing in this article. Creative writing jobs and how you can get them. But before we launch into the details, let’s look at the definition of creative writing jobs.

What Are Creative Writing Jobs?

There are a lot of definitions for creative writing. Some are narrow, while others are more inclusive. Many people think of fiction writing when they hear “creative writing.” More specifically, novels, short stories and poems.

Many people erroneously conjure up images of traditional writers whenever writing jobs are mentioned. 

However, fiction writing and creative writing are not the same things. Creative writing is an umbrella term that includes fiction writing. It also includes many other types of writing.

Creative writing can be found outside the literary realm, and so can creative writing jobs. It’s valuable in business, journalism, education, entertainment, and more.

There’s a creative writing job for everyone who enjoys writing. In 2018, 181,000 writers and authors were employed in the USA. Between 2016 and 2026, that job market is expected to grow by 7.6 percent.

A University of Chicago study also found that authors were one of the top 10 occupations in job satisfaction. Writing is incredibly rewarding.

But deciding to pursue a creative writing job is easier than actually landing one. First, you have to determine what writing job you want. What career would be a good fit for you? Once you decide that, you have to secure a job offer.

Free writing courses and certifications can help you to succeed in your endeavor  Writing degrees and courses will enhance and hone your skills. Also, they will give you credibility as a serious writer.

We’ll first take a look at creative writing jobs. Then we’ll explore five writing courses and certifications to sharpen your resume. You’re on your way to your dream creative writing job!

The Ultimate Guide To Getting Well-Paying Creative Writing Jobs.

Important Tips To Consider When Searching For Advanced Level an Entry-level Creative Writing Jobs.

Below are a few things to consider when selecting creative writing jobs.

Creative Writing Is Broad.

Yes, creative writing has a broad definition. But it does capture the spirit of creative writing.

Study.com defines creative writing as “any writing that is original and self-expressive.”

It’s an art form that comes in endless forms. Creative writing doesn’t necessarily mean writing a plot with characters. Some jobs may or may not include plotting or rounded characters. 

Creative Writing Jobs Can Be Found In Every Industry.

Creative writing can be a rich product description that boosts sales (also called content marketing). Or it can be a moving speech. Creative writing could be a cheerful text on a greeting card. Creative writing could be a blog post about creative writing.

Even creative writing in the “narrative story” form can be used outside the traditional writing industry. A well-placed anecdote can enhance endless written pieces. Stories live in textbooks and academic papers.

Know Your Areas of Strengths and Weaknesses.

Different writers have different areas of strength. Writing jobs are easier to execute if they fall within your area of strength. So before you say yes to that writing job, ask yourself the following questions:

• What skill sets or knowledge do you have?
• Have you attended any creative writing workshops?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• What niche/topics are you interested in?

Some Jobs Are Best Suited For Writers Who Enjoy Conducting Research.

Consider your ability or inability to conduct fast and effective research. Sometimes you may have to research unfamiliar or difficult topics. Take into account your preferred assignment or the preferred length of the writing project.

Lengths of Writing Projects Vary.

Would you be happier with short-term freelance writer jobs? Or would you prefer lengthy projects often reserved for full-time creative writers?

Creative Writing Jobs Are Abundant In The Entertainment Sector.

News articles and blog posts. Video games and board games. Advertisements and commercials. Stories are a part of daily life.

An inclusive definition of creative writing opens up the possibilities for careers. Which possibility is the right one for you?

What Jobs Can You Get With Your Creative Writing Skills and Certificate?

Believe it or not, there are plenty of opportunities for creative writers to earn a living doing what they love/ Ready to see a list of lucrative creative writing jobs?

Below are some well-paying jobs that require a lot of creative writing.

Novel Writing:

This means writing a long work of fiction. You have read Harry Potter? Yes? Or Half of A Yellow Sun. You could write novels and self-publish them online, where readers can buy the soft copy and read.

Copywriting:

Copywriters write texts for the purpose of marketing or advertising. They write about particular products (or copy) in a way that attracts the attention of a particular audience to the product.

Content writing:

Content writers write articles for particular blogs on particular topics. Most times they are not credited as the writers, but they get paid for the job. However content writing requires a lot of expertise and training. You might want to learn more about content writing before you venture into this field of creative writing.

Editorial work:

One way to make money as a creative writer is to edit. There are a lot of people who have manuscripts that they need someone with professional eyes to take a look at, to help them give it shape and colour. Currently, there are editorial job vacancies at MayDay Magazine, Fractured Lit & Voyage and One Story.

Screenwriting / Playwriting:

Yes. The movies we watch are written by creative writers. You could start writing for the screen or stage. This pays well, if you get a good gig.

Advert Writing:

Advert writers write catchy and clear sentences that help a company or an organization attract a particular audience. You could write one-liners for different companies to help them get more customers.

Songwriting:

While we all can’t be singers, some creative writers write songs for singers. This is not new. Poems by writers like Lord Alfred Tennyson have been set to music.

Biography/memoir writing:

We have all read books that detail the lives of influential people, or that detail a particular, crucial moment of their lives that coincided with a crucial moment in history.

You also could help write the stories of some influential people, or help give an account of their lives during a particular moment. Learn more about how to write an autobiography, a biography or a memoir.

Translating:

The work of the translator is needed now, more than ever, as the world has become more of a global community. Are you bi- or multilingual? Do you possess translating skills?

You could start working as a translator. You could work as a book translator or even help translate subtitles for the screen.

Journalism:

Do you like reporting news and events? Do you have the right training and skills? You could work as a journalist, writing for a particular magazine or blog, or even set up your own blog. Like Kola Tunbosun does with his blog.

Technical writing:

This is the kind of writing that involves breaking down technical information so that it is easily accessible to a particular audience. If you are able to write clearly and you possess technical knowledge, you could write instruction manuals and how-to guides for tech companies.

Literary magazine entrepreneurship:

If you love writing or editing, you could start a literary magazine. This could be a print or an online magazine. Or you could work as an editor, or even a social media manager, for already established literary magazines. Check out this opportunity.

Podcast Creating:

Do you possess knowledge on a particular topic? Are you willing to share? You can create a podcast where you share your ideas. With podcasts, you can record these ideas and upload them for others to download and share.

Ghostwriting:

This basically means being paid to help a person write the book they intend to write, without taking the credit for the work. You could help write an autobiography for an influential person. You get your pay and the book is theirs.

Teaching:

A good deal of writers are teachers of creative writing. You could work as a lecturer at a university, teaching creative writing. Or you could start writing workshops (either online or physically), or master classes, where you teach others how to write.

Public Speaking:

A lot of creative writers are also speakers; and others, while not speakers, write speeches for influential people. This could be for politicians or motivational speakers.

And this is not an exhaustive list. Many of the creative writing jobs above also span multiple industries. One important career option that comes to mind is content marketing.

Content Marketing.

In many cases, a content marketer combines five or more of the aforementioned creative writing skills to succeed in their jobs. This makes it a great fit for a creative writer.

Bottom line: You have the flexibility to pursue different specialties. You have the power to pursue writing niches that most interest you.

How And Where To Find An Entry-level or Expert-Level Creative Writing Job?

Once you’ve determined the creative writing jobs you want to pursue, you have to find a vacancy or an opening.

Below are avenues where you can find well-paid creative writing jobs.

Try Traditional (Not Freelance) Job Sites.

Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter, Monster and Glassdoor are popular options. These job sites are good for if you want an hourly or salaried job.

Use Your Google Search Engine Effectively.

A Google search can also help with finding expert-level and entry-level creative writing jobs. It will show you a wide range of opportunities, especially those that aren’t being advertised on traditional hiring websites.

Subscribe To Creative Writing Websites.

Another easy way to get creative writing jobs is through creative writing websites. Subscribing to literary blogs can give you n advantage. This way you’ll know where there are vacancies/opportunities for writers.

Creative Writing News, Writer’s Digest, James Marua’s blog and Brittle Paper are examples of literary blogs that advertise jobs for writers.

Join Facebook Groups For Digital Nomads.

Did you know that you could find writing jobs on Facebook? Well, now you know. All you have to do is join the right groups for digital nomads.

You can get writing jobs via the following Facebook groups:

• B2B Bloggers Boost Group (and no, you don’t have to be a blogger to be eligible for membership).
• Digital Nomads Jobs: Remote Job Opportunities.
• Remote Work & Jobs for Digital Nomads–

Seek Membership In The Right Slack Channels.

You’ll be amazed to know that there are hundreds of thousands of creative writing jobs being advertised on Slack, All you have to do is be at the right place at the right time.

Find freelance and full-time writing jobs in the following slack channels:

• Online Genuises.

• #freelance

• #CreativeTribes

Explore Online Hiring Platforms for Freelancers.

If you want more flexible work, consider freelancing. In that case, you’ll be searching for freelance writer jobs or something along those lines.

One advantage of freelancing is its flexibility. You have complete control of your hours, and also you can also be selective about the type of work you want to take. You can even work remotely from home.

All you have to do is sign up on freelance marketplaces and start sending out job proposals. You can start with the following freelance writing sites:

Upwork:

Upwork has three million jobs posted annually. This makes it the largest freelancer marketplace in the world. In its writing jobs section, creative writers are “Some of [the] most in-demand pros.”

Its top skills in the US include copywriters, editors, creative writers, blog writers, content writers, proofreaders, and writers. If you can write, there is a high demand for your expertise.

• Fiverr
• Toptal
• Simply Hired
• PeoplePerHour
• Freelancer.com
• Guru.com

These are just a hand full of platforms where you can get entry-level creative writing jobs online. Although these are the popular options, they aren’t the only options.

Writing Courses That Boost Your Resume And Help You Get Freelance Writer Jobs.

If you’re looking for a creative writing job, you might want to take some courses and certifications. Some of these courses can help make your resume stand out.

It can be daunting to try for a creative writing job. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be strong competition for writers and authors.

This is because so many people are attracted to writing jobs. And it may feel like there’s always a better or more experienced writer than you. But don’t be discouraged.

This is where writing courses and certifications come in. They can help you stand out from other applicants. Writing courses and workshops are a great way to learn new writing techniques. They can also refine the skills you already have.

Writing courses don’t have to be incredibly expensive. Many are very accessible; some are even free. You can find countless courses online. This is especially convenient given the COVID-19 pandemic.

Popular sites for online creative writing courses:

• Coursera
• Udemy
• LinkedIn Learning
• Skillshare
• edX

Plus, there’s a writing course for any topic you desire. There are courses with a narrow, specialized focus. Mary Karr’s course on Memoir Writing is specifically designed for memoirists.

Many other creative writing courses are more general and versatile.

You can start by exploring the sites above. Then you can broaden your search or dive deeper. The courses and certifications in this post are just a tiny fraction of the resources available. 

Some courses also come with a certification that adds value to your resume. Certifications showcase your skills and add credibility. They demonstrate your proven abilities.

Here are five writing courses and certifications that can boost your resume.

High-Impact Business Writing

This High-Impact Business Writing course is from Coursera. Coursera offers courses from top universities and leading companies. This one is taught by an instructor from the University of California Irvine.

This course can help you apply your creative writing skills in a business setting. You’ll learn to select specific formats appropriate for your audience.

You’ll also be able to determine the most effective medium for your message. And you’ll master how to avoid common writing mistakes. 

Ultimately, you’ll communicate objectives and ideas clearly. These skills will apply to a wide variety of business-related writing projects.

Learn to write more effective business documents, memos, yearly reports and more.

You can improve your career outcome with this course. 22 percent of students started a new career after completing this specialization. 12 percent got a pay increase or promotion after they’d completed the course.

This Course Helps You Learn To:

• Communicate effectively to any target audience
• Choose the right format and medium using different techniques
• Edit, proofread and analyze business documents efficiently and effectively
• Spot, correct and avoid the most common writing pitfalls
• Create business reports, press releases, presentations, emails and memos.

Cost of course = Audit for free

Cost of certificate = $50

Copywriting Secrets – How to Write Copy That Sells

This is a comprehensive copywriting course. It covers how to write sales copy, calls to action, White Papers, press releases, and more.

It also helps you target a variety of audiences, from B2B to consumers. Anything you need to know to become a copywriter, this course explores.

Many different learners can benefit from this course. You should definitely take this course if you’re:

• An entrepreneur or start-up founder.
• A small (or large) business owner.
• Involved in marketing.
• Someone who wants to become a successful freelance copywriter.

You can ask questions or seek further explanations directly from the course creators. They usually respond within 24 hours.

This is an extremely valuable resource. The lifetime access you get makes it even more valuable. It is an “insightful and actionable course”, with constantly updated content.

This creative writing-related course teaches you to:

• Generate more sales leads using the power of words
• Understand how to leverage features, benefits, and advantages
• Craft professional press releases that get published
• Create persuasive case studies by interviewing customers with confidence
• Structure and write compelling sales copy.

Cost of course and certificate = $16 – $90 (frequently on sale)

Creative Writing Specialization

This course is also available on Coursera. It’s offered by Wesleyan University, one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges. The Creative Writing Specialization is comprehensive. It has everything you need to craft a compelling story.

The capstone project is a substantial original story in the genre of your choice. Along the way, you develop skills focused on the four key aspects of writing. They are plot, character, setting/description, and style. You’ll also analyze and constructively evaluate peer writing. Being able to critique and revise is essential to improving.

The University of Iowa through it’s International Writing Program (IWP) often organizes free online creative writing specialization courses. 

The career outcomes from this course are especially promising. 58 percent of students started a new career after completing this specialization. 22 percent got a pay increase or promotion. This could be you.

When you take a creative writing specialization, you learn to:

• Write short stories, narrative essays, and memoirs
• Develop bracing stories, memorable characters and interesting settings
• Refine and critique writing to continuously improve
• Develop your own unique and distinctive writing style 
• Draft, rewrite, and complete a substantial original story

Cost of course = Audit for free

Cost of certificate = $50

Learning to Write for the Web

LinkedIn Learning offers courses from industry experts. This course is only 1 hour and 24 minutes. Yet it’s incredibly valuable for such a low time investment.

Almost 4.57 billion people actively use the web. So it’s important to know how to write for the web to stay relevant.

This course has a Q&A feature. 75 percent of questions are answered by instructors and other learners. 34 percent of questions are answered by the course instructor. So you’ll be supported by a community of learners.

A course in learning to write for the web teaches you to:

• Understand that people read differently on the web, and how to write content that goes viral and stays relevant.
• Identify and include documents that could be used to provide supporting evidence in an article
• Determine the expiration date on seasonal articles
• Assess the reading level that body text should be written at
• Move your target audience to care about your text

Cost of course and certificate = $35

Writing With Flair: How To Become An Exceptional Writer

If you don’t have a specific career in mind, this course is a great option. It’ll help you become a better writer overall. With almost 100,000 students, it’s the most popular writing course on Udemy.

This course helps you achieve a variety of goals. Improve business, sales and marketing writing. Make your resume shine. Craft the best essays in your class. Increase traffic to blogs and other sites.

Writing With Flair Shows You How To:

• Write with simplicity by shedding unnecessary words and complex sentences
• Write with clarity by using precise language and focusing your ideas
• Craft elegant writing that flows smoothly and maintains consistency
• Make your writing more evocative and moving with fresh language and varied sentence structures
• Develop or rediscover a love of writing

Cost of course and certificate = $13 – $95 (frequently on sale)

Wrap Up On How To Get Creative Writing Jobs And Find Free Writing Courses That Help You Get Gigs.

Gone are the days when writers were doomed to a life of eternal poverty. Thanks to the internet, you can make a ton of money from writing.

Creative writing jobs come in a variety of forms. They also span many industries, so the opportunities are endless. If you’ve decided to pursue a creative writing job, consider finding a writing course and certification.

If you’re just launching your creative writing career, consider taking writing courses, and certifications.

Or if you’ve already found a job, courses and certifications can still improve your skills. It makes perfect sense to attend a course or two as often as you can.

These courses improve your talents and employability. And the certifications provide tangible proof of your skills.

The courses and certifications in this article are only a starting point. Sometimes you can only rely on experience to teach you how to make your first $100 as a freelance writer. Or how to earn money from writing and publishing poetry.

And you can find other writing courses and certifications that are more suitable for your career goals.

When most people hear creative writing jobs, they first think of storytelling and poetry/play/novel-writing.

A quick Google search for “creative writing jobs” yields millions of pages. You might’ve expected opportunities like novelist, screenwriter, book editor, and ghostwriter. But there are also less “traditional” writing jobs where creative writing is valuable.

Have you been trying to get creative writing jobs? How successful have you been? Have writing courses helped you in any way? Which writing courses do you recommend? Please share your ideas below in the comments section.

The post Creative Writing Jobs And Free Writing Courses that Can Help You Land Gigs appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Every writer will, at some point, be presented with the opportunity to write creative non-fiction. In this article, the prolific biographer. Mike Ekunno, teaches us how to write an autobiography, biography, and memoir. Ready to learn from this maestro? Keep reading.

To understand how to write an autobiography, you must consider how a biography differs from an autobiography. 

A biography is the story of one’s life which when written by the subject becomes an autobiography. A memoir is also a biography or autobiography but concerned more with the subject’s career and public life. Understanding these terminologies will help you on your journey to learning how to write an autobiography.

While late Owelle Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe’s My Odyssey is a good example of an autobiography, Malam Nasir el-Rufai’s The Accidental Public Servant is a memoir. Michelle Obama’s Becoming is another good example of a memoir. 

Autobiographies and memoirs are often written with the assistance of professional freelancers. By prior mutual agreement, this fact can be hidden. When anonymous, the paid author or co-author becomes the ghostwriter. He/she is paid off and loses all future claims to authorship or co-authorship of the work.

A Detailed Guide On How To Write An Autobiography.

At this point, you’ve probably ascertained that there isn’t much of a difference in the process of writing an autobiography and a biography.

Below is a step-by-step guide for writing that award-winning autobiography or biography.

Draw Up The Outline For Your Autobiography Or Biography.

Generating an outline is like drawing the building plan for a construction project. As with building construction, the outline is of existential consequence for the biography or autobiography project.

 In the classical biography, the outline follows a chronological order beginning with family genealogy, birth, childhood, education, career, and so on. 

But with a memoir, the outline is episodic dwelling on the milestones in the subject’s career path and public life. The freelancer must work with the subject-client to tease out a workable outline. 

Since the chapters of the resultant book will mimic the outline, a grouping of topics in the outline is to be done with an eye for coevality and volume. By coevality, I mean those events that occurred around the same period of time. 

These should naturally be grouped together. However, the chances of overlap of references to the same event are always there. And this shouldn’t be a worry at the outline stage.

How To Group Your Headings and Sub-Headings.

While grouping the headings and sub-heads, the writer should be sensitive about achieving approximate uniformity in the volume of each chapter. This is to forestall a scenario where one chapter is five pages long, while the other is twenty-five pages long.

The autobiographer or biographer has a duty at this stage to tease out as wide a range of events and occurrences as possible. This should include their ramifications done by asking the kind of searching questions that will help the subject clarify fuzzy connections. 

In other words, this is not the time for minimalism. Rather, it is the time to be expansive.  Understand that the outline will form the compass for the project. Just as architects take one section of the project and blow it up for details in the plan, the biographer also has to explore the detours and subheads to the main headings and events.

Embarking On Background Research For Your Autobiography, Biography, and Memoir.

In the run-up to beginning the biography or autobiography and having drawn up the outline, one should prepare oneself with background research. This step is important for autobiographers, biographers, and memoirists. 

Many writers wonder how to find materials for their autobiographies and biography projects. If you’re such a writer, you should consider exploring the most popular sources of research materials. 

Sources of background research can be divided into: 

• Written 
• Oral. 

How To Use Written Sources During Your Background Research.

Written sources include files and diaries relating to the period under consideration. Also, newspaper cuttings if the issues involved were captured in the media. There would probably be pictures and other graphic records. 

As social media becomes a prominent part of our lives, future biographers may also have recourse to social media archives. Clients who had public service careers should be mindful of the Official Secrets Act. Also, be well advised on excerpting official documents.

The oral sources would include relations and workplace colleagues of the subject. However, these sources needn’t be approached at the onset until the outline progresses and these sources’ perspectives become relevant. 

The ethics of the business demands that the freelancer must obtain the client’s fiat before speaking with these third-party sources. In the sub-genre known as unauthorized biography however, the freelancer operates more like a sleuth to unearth what may not be favorable to the subject which makes the requirement for the subject’s prior approval unnecessary. 

One of such unauthorized biographies happened by serendipity in Nigeria in relation to a man of letters who fell out with his biographer. Interesting right?

The Quest for Volume and Why It Should Matter To The Writer.

During the outlining and research phase, think about the volume of the project. The volume will determine how successful you’ll be in your quest to figure out how to write an autobiography or a biography.

Most biography-writing projects are faced with a mortal threat in the quest for a sizeable volume for the resulting publication. This is caused by the subject-client overestimating the quantum of the story he/she has got.

Also, the volume is often a source of worry to many writers who are in the process of figuring out how to compose an autobiography or biography.

Many prospects for autobiographies think because the story of their life appears huge to them, it can actually make a good volume in book form. For others, it is a question of not having the ability of a raconteur to tell their story in a compelling way. 

One client of mine ended up with essay-type print-outs of her life’s story which were useless to me. I had to subject her to a re-telling of the narrative in order to give it flesh as a story.

Many who think of their story as vast start off well, but end up with something very scanty. This is where the professional freelance biographer comes in to help achieve your dream of writing a biography.

Again, many biography prospects do involuntary self-censorship of their stories or adopt a minimalist approach believing the reader would not be interested in the details. 

It is the duty of the professional biographer to tease out these details glossed over by the subject during recorded interviews with follow-up questions.

If you’re experimenting with styles and ways to write an autobiography, you can adopt the strategies of professional biographers. Put in a lot of details.  It is better to over-write and cut than under-write and look for augmentation. 

Handling The Interview Session.

For a freelance biographer whether writing overtly or ghostwriting, the interview sessions with the subject are of utmost importance. The freelancer should pre-arrange each session in consultation with the subject-client and agree as to venue and time. 

Over time, all parties will come to know what works best for them as to durations, venues, and times. Many biography prospects are senior citizens and would be managed as such. 

I remember having to pre-order one such client’s favorite wine to be at the ready at our rendezvous. With a glass of this drink, he came alive in his best narrative elements and began to ‘sing.’

More tips on having a successful interview session.

• The freelancer should come to each interview session prepared with extra batteries for the voice recorder and a clear idea of where the day’s session stood on the outline. 
• Also, there should be a way of identifying the voice files with alphanumeric codes in the transcription file in order to be able to access the right voice file at the right time knowing the approximate time count of anything needed on playback. 
• Files that have been transcribed and vetted by the subject should be deleted to free up space in the recorder. 

In working as a freelance biographer, progress comes incrementally. It comes through many continual cycles of the interview – transcription – vetting – final drafting – vetting until the work is complete.

Narrating one’s life story can be an emotional rollercoaster and freelance biographers should come loaded with a good swathe of emotional intelligence to manage their clients. 

The major part of managing clients comes in their tardiness with timelines. He is expected to vet and approve a transcribed section in one week but he has not got back to you after one month.

How To Get Payment For The Writing Project.

Except the writer has achieved name recognition in the trade of biographing, there’s always the prospect of being regarded with suspicion by most clients. One way to assuage this suspicion is to agree to a Pay-As-You-Go arrangement. 

This aspect might come in handy for anyone who’s in the process of figuring out how to write an autobiography. Chances are that you might want to employ the services of a professional biographer.

In a Pay-As-You-Go arrangement. the client pays on a pro-rata basis as the manuscript progresses according to the outline. (This is another raison d’etre for the outline). If the project does not go to full term and gets aborted midway, neither party would feel short-changed.

When the full manuscript is ready, a professional book editor should be engaged to edit it. This goes beyond spellings and typos and nothing can fully capture all the ways in which a good editor can improve a literary piece.

 Sections of the story with legal implications should be shown to a lawyer. An experienced lawyer will do a good job of vetting your book for possible libel. It is the duty of a good freelancer to not presume to be a Jack of all Trade in these matters. It is wise to advise the client as a fiducial power.

Talking of the fiduciary relationship between the client and freelancer on a biography project – this cannot be overstated. The implication of this for the freelancer is that all information received in the process should be treated as privileged and of confidential nature. 

A contractual agreement should be endorsed by both parties at the beginning with provision for arbitration if things don’t go well.

Backing Up Files For The Book And Why It Matters When Learning How To Write An Autobiography..

Backing up files is of acute importance in writing a biography. The freelance should use the client as a veritable back-up resource, in so far as the relevant section of the manuscript has been paid for. 

No writer should depend solely on their digital devices for back-up of sensitive work. Always use email to send your drafts. Emails provide an unwitting but reliable back-up in the event of any system crash or loss. 

What’s The Purpose Of An Autobiography or A Biography?

One of the first things the subject-client must determine is the goal of the proposed memoir, biography, or autobiography. Reviewing the goal of the project will help you determine if you really should go through the long haul of learning how to write an autobiography or a biography.

People embark on writing autobiographies for different reasons including:

• vanity  
• financial gains 
• setting the records straight 
• leaving a legacy for posterity. 

Most memoirs from past public officers are written for posterity and to court the favorable judgment of history. However, past American presidents and entertainment industry celebrities write for financial gains also. 

The more common thing is to find a combination of these goals undergirding one’s excuse for penning an autobiography, biography, or memoir. In Nigeria, if one hasn’t lived in the public space, one has no business writing an autobiography or expecting any commercial success from the publication. 

Also, any expectation of massive financial returns has to be highly moderated except one were ready for an elaborate launch at the book presentation.

Wrap Up On How To Write An Autobiography, Biography or Memoir.

Writing a book is not an easy feat. You have to plan, strategize, and give a lot of thought to the literary elements at your disposal. While drawing up your outline and unearthing background information, take note of subtexts, themes, and plotlines that you can play up.  

Don’t overestimate or underestimate the volume of the material. To do this is to risk boxing yourself into a corner. Remember, it is better to overwrite than to underwrite.

Have you written an autobiography, biography, or memoir? Let us know in the comments section. Your experience might help those who are learning how to pen down an autobiography, memoir, or biography.

Author’s Bio: Mike Ekunno is a creative writer, book editor and freelance biographer with copious credits in reputable literary journals including The Blue Nib, Nzuri Journal, Written Tales, Bridge Eight, The First Line, Crack the Spine, The Hamilton Stone Review, Creative Writing News, Dugwe, Gambling the Aisle, Warscapes, bioStories, The African Roar Anthology, Ebedi Review, Rigorous, Thrice Fiction Magazine, Dark Matter Journal, Bullet Pen and Storymoja, the last two coming with wins in continental contests. 

His career path has passed through film, television, radio and newspaper. He was Senior Speechwriter to late Prof Dora Akunyili as Information and Communications Minister and Special Assistant to DG of Radio Nigeria. His children’s book, Cowboy Lamido, is on the approved text for schools in the FCT and across the states.

Interested in writing for Creative Writing News? Our submission guidelines are on the Write for Us page. We look forward to hearing from you.

Photo credit: Stephen Phillips – Hostreviews.co.uk on Unsplash

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Justwork is an online data-driven company that handles the payroll and payments procedure, benefits facilities, and compliance issues of its users.” This remote writing job at Justwork is a great opportunity for any writer who wants to find well-paying freelance writing jobs.

They are looking for a Freelance Writer to help them “translate complicated topics into understandable contents. They want a commitment of 20 hours per week. If you would like to work in an encouraging entrepreneurial environment and are interested in building something extraordinary, then Justwork is for you.

Everything you need to know about the Remote writing job at Justwork:

•The freelance writer will help to translate complicated topics (think health insurance, payroll, and employment regulations) into understanding and easy contents.

• You will research and write a variety of content that informs and delights their prospects and customers. This content will be in the form of blog posts, but can also be longer (based on what is required) like ebooks, discussion guides, templates, and checklists. You will take the lead on online research and translate that information into understandable content written in their brand voice and style.

•You will report to the Content & Editorial Manager, who will make sure you have the proper foundation in place (brand voice and tone, compliance guardrails) to be successful in this role.

•They are looking for a commitment of 20 hours/week, with the potential to continue on in a similar or reduced capacity. This is a remote position.

To apply for this remote writing job at Justwork, please submit a cover letter and resume along with two relevant writing samples.

Click here. if you think this job is for you!

The post Remote Writing job at Justwork / How to Apply for this vacancy. appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Have you always dreamed of running your own literature magazine? Maybe it’s something that you’ve never really intended to do, but you’ve spotted a gap in the market. And you’ve, at some point, wondered how to start a literary magazine.

If you’ve decided that it’s something that you want to do, you need to start thinking about how to execute it. An online magazine is easy to run in this age of the internet, especially compared to publishing a print magazine. 

You can easily create a digital version of your print literary magazine, or even publish content as posts on your site.

What Steps Should You First Take When Wondering How To Start A Literary Magazine?

Below are some important steps you should consider taking when planning to launch your online literary journal. Take note of the common mistakes you should avoid as well.

Plan Your Magazine To Ensure That It Becomes One Of The Best Literary Magazines In the World.

Before you can start doing anything, you need to have a plan. There are various ways to approach an online magazine, including what format you want to deliver it in. 

You could run it like a blog, making new posts for the writing that you want to showcase. You could also create a digital magazine that can be downloaded or viewed online. 

Are you going to give it away for free or will you be selling it? If you sell it, are you going to offer a subscription option or sell each issue as an individual product? 

You should also think about who you need to work with, including an editor and proofreader. If you aren’t sure about what you want, then take the time to study the best literary magazines online. Find out what they’re doing well and see what you can learn from them.

Image from Pexels – CC0 License

Create A Website For Your Online Literary Magazine.

If you’re serious about figuring out how to start a literary magazine, you need to give serious thoughts to your website.

A website is essential for your magazine, and there are a few ways you could set one up. It’s important to know how you want to set up your literary magazine before you create a website.

It’s important that you get not just the right look but the necessary functionality. To make things easier, you might consider a website builder like Squarespace. 

If you already know a little about building sites or you’re willing to learn, WordPress might work for you. You need to consider what you want your site to look like and how you want to be perceived.

Building the right website is an important step in the process of fulfilling your dream of starting your own online literary magazine.

Call for Submissions.

Once your site is ready to go, you need to put out a call for submissions. There are many ways you could find people to submit to your magazine. 

You could let some writing blogs and websites know, and they can tell their visitors. You could use Google Ads or another platform to promote your site. 

Social media can also be a great way to find people to submit to your magazine. Consider whether you want to set a theme or a prompt for people to respond to or if you just want to let people submit whatever they want. Also, ensure that your call is clear about what kind of author’s bio they should send alongside their stories.

Image from Pexels – CC0 License

Manage Submissions and Other Content

When people submit to your magazine, you need a way to manage their submissions. A document management system like the one found at https://www.templafy.com/ could work out for you.

 It will help you to keep track of everything and allow anyone on your team to access all of your content when they need to. It’s important to have the right tools to stay organized.

Launch A Podcast.

Podcasts have become a great content marketing strategy for most of the best literary magazines. It will help you to reach a much larger audience than you would have reached if you stuck with only an online literary magazine.

So while exploring ideas on how to start a literary magazine, think about the prospects of launching a podcast for your lit mag. You could publish broadcasts of your authors reading the stories you’ve published on your online literary magazine. 

You can get ideas from some of the most inspiring podcasts that writers prefer to listen to. This will give you a good idea of the right format to use in your literary magazine’s podcast.

Wrap Up On How to Start a Literary Magazine.

Launching your own online literary magazine is a fun idea. It can allow you to get involved in what you love and maybe even discover some amazing writers.

So don’t be scared. Take your first step towards accomplishing this dream of yours. And let us know how it goes in the comments section below.

Have you started a literary magazine at some point in your life? What challenges did you encounter? And how did you overcome them? Please share your experiences in the comments section. Your ideas will go a long way to help those who are still learning how to start a literary magazine.

The post Starting Your Own Online Literary Magazine: A Guide To Launching A Lit Mag appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Emotional Baggage is a series by AirBnb magazine exploring how travel can help heal mental illness. They are currently seeking pitches; their pay rate is from $500 and up per essay. 

According to the editors: “This series will explore the intersections of mental health, identity, and travel. In particular, we will unpack the idea of who travels, and the role travel can play in personal growth and healing, especially for people living with mental health conditions.

Many of us can’t heal in the same place where we got sick — and travel can give us the spaciousness and perspective we need to reset and reorient ourselves.

“Travel as medicine” (rather than escapism) might be a provocative idea, but when so much of our mental health can be impacted by place and environment, it’s not a stretch to imagine that travel can be utilized as a powerful, restorative experience for those who are struggling.”

Eligibility:

• There is no submission fee.
• Any writer who has a story to tell on the subject can pitch.

How to Pitch:

• Follow this link for the form.
• Check out this Twitter thread on pitching, written by one of the editors.

Payment: 

• Emotional Baggage pays from $500 upward per essay.

Goodluck.

The post Emotional Baggage/ How to Pitch (Payment: $500) appeared first on Creative Writing News.

In the field of QA, it’s common to come across code-writers and test scriptwriters who cover the technical aspects of the product. Organizations pay close attention to the recruitment and training of these writers because they have a significant role to play in defining the quality of the product. Along with these writers, software testing companies should also look towards content writers who have a less technical job to do but they can play a positive role in maintaining user satisfaction and portray a good image of your company.

As a content writer in a software testing company, I receive messages daily by readers who read my articles often thanking me for the information I provide. Sometimes, I encounter readers with technical backgrounds who disagree with my point-of-view. We have a good discussion about the subject and both, the reader and I, end up learning. And that’s the main point. Learning. That’s the primary purpose of putting the content out there. Readers generate a positive word of mouth for companies/websites that they find useful. This can help improve the image of your company and work as a good marketing strategy.

Every month or two, we have a meeting with marketing heads to discuss what topics and trends we should go for to provide engaging and quality content. This discussion also involves the feedback from readers that we receive and it’s very helpful. Being a writer only requires you to have two basic things: the passion for writing and technology. If you have passion, knowledge follows. And it’s safe to say now that I have knowledge and passion for both writing and technology since it’s been a few years that I’m a professional content writer for a software testing company.

Readers can also add to their testing knowledge by following blogs such as DZone, Software Testing Help, and Read Dive that are considered among the best out there. Outside of my work, I write articles for these websites whenever I get the time. These blogs can also play well for the testing industry and software testing companies because essentially, they’re creating awareness regarding software testing.

What Testing Companies Should Do?
For my software testing company, content writing has played a vital role in its marketing strategy and so it could for your company as well. In my opinion, knowledge is a bridge between not just people but businesses as well. Sharing knowledge with your readers makes them feel valued and positive about your company. Therefore, testing companies should also focus on the hiring and recruitment of content writers as they do for code and test scriptwriters.

Author Bio:
Ray Parker is an entrepreneur and tech enthusiast who loves to incorporate new technologies to get more efficient outcomes. When he’s not marketing his latest venture, he keeps himself busy in writing technical articles to educate peers and professionals.

The post The Role of Writers in Software Testing Companies appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Graywolf Press, a press that believes in “champion(ing) outstanding writers at all stages of their careers to ensure that adventurous readers can find underrespresented and diverse voices in a crowded marketplace”, now calls for submissions for its Nonfiction Prize. The prize, which began in 2005, is awarded to the most promising and innovative project by a writer who is not yet established in the genre. This year, the prize will be awarded to a manuscript in progress; the prize comes with a $12,000 advance and publication. The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2020.

Who is Eligible:

• Any writer who is not established in the genre of nonfiction who resides in United States.
• There is no entry fee.

How to Submit:

• On the first page of your manuscript, include a cover letter containing a short biographical statement and a brief description of the project. Note that, while previous publication is not a requirement, you should include any previous publications in the biographical statement if you have them.
• Include an overview of the project: a description of the part of the project that is complete and the parts that still need working on; it should be between 2—10 pages long.
• And, submit a minimum of 25,000 words (100 pages) from the manuscript.
• Submit here.
• The deadline is January 31, 2020.

Prizes:

• A $12,000 advance.
• Publication.

Good luck.

The post Graywolf Press Nonfiction Prize/ How to Apply (Prize: $12,000 + publication). appeared first on Creative Writing News.

Are you an editor? Do you need a job? Here is your chance.

May Univeristy Press, “a Nigerian limited liability company with defined commitment to the growth of educational, scholarly, literary, corporate and digital publishing”, is recruiting editors. The job is full time and the location is Lagos. The deadline for application is the 31st of October, 2019.

Who is Eligible to Apply:

• Applicants must have a good first degree and a masters degree in English Language, journalism, or any related social science/ art discipline.
• Applicants must be good English speakers and writers.
• Applicants must have relevant work experience as an editor in a media house.
• Applicants must possess “an ability to use initiative in getting tasks done.
• The deadline for application is the 31st of October, 2019.

How to Apply:

Are you interested? Are you qualified? If you are, here:

• Send your CV and cover letter to mayeducational@gmail.com.
• The subject of the email should be “Editor at May University Press Limited”.

Good luck.

The post Editor Wanted At May University Press Limited/ How to Apply appeared first on Creative Writing News.