Tag: media writing

New course: HOW TO PITCH AND WRITE FOR ONLINE PUBLICATIONS

 

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Publishing is migrating online. So, if you don’t want to miss out, then you need to adapt your writing for digital devices.

Building on ideas from the first workshop in October 2014 [pictured above], I will share my insider tips on how to get your story ideas published – and get paid for it.

But, in this three-hour session, I will look specifically at how to work online, including writing blogs, guest posts and online features.

It runs Friday, February 6, 2015 in Hawarden, near Chester.

By the end of the course you will be able to pitch, secure commissions and file great copy. We will consider the following:

  • Why do you need to adapt your writing style for the screen?
  • What style, structure and tone devices can you employ to make your writing stand out online?
  • How do you add worthwhile multimedia content to your work?
  • How can you build a community of editors and readers around your writing?

The morning starts with coffee on arrival, then three hours of personal tuition and exercises. You have the option to pick my brains informally over lunch afterwards (lunch not included in the cost).

I’m a freelance writer and independent media tutor with 15 years experience of making a living from selling words. My portfolio includes travel features for the Daily Telegraph, guest blogger for Visit Wales and online copywriting for various tourist boards and travel companies.

The cost of this workshop is £60 per person, including refreshments and e-learning support before the course.

The next courses will run March to May 2015 as part of the Monthly Masterclass series to be hosted at CHIC in Chester – watch this space for more details.

Liked this? Try also Media masterclass: the feedback from learners at the first course.

Overleigh St Marys Primary School: a media-writing workshop for KS2

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I like a challenge.

It’s one thing lecturing a group of student journalists in a university lecture theatre but how about inspiring a primary school class to develop their news sense as part of KS2 literacy?

Well, that’s exactly what I tried to do this week, delivering two media-writing workshops to year-five learners at my local primary school.

The classes had just done a school trip to Spaceport on The Wirral and I used their try as basis to write some simple articles.

Some of things I talked about included:

  • What is news? How do we identify news?
  • How do we structure a news story?
  • What are interviews? What makes a good interview?
  • Why is direct speech import for writing articles?
  • What’s the difference between news and feature stories?
  • Why are intros so important in a feature?

Here are a selection of the comments from the learners on the day:

  • “It was s fun. I would like to be a journalist now. I love it!” – Charlie
  • “It was fun, interesting and constructive. It made me learn about writing news.” – Emi
  • “I thought it was real interesting. It was very descriptive. I liked it a lot.” – Amy
  • “I liked learning more about newspapers and features. Give even more examples. It was inspiring.” – Will
  • “It was constructive with lots of complicated words and sentences to make me think.” – Lily

* Do you have any tips for leading KS2 workshops? Share your views below.

Liked this? Try also Teachers: do you want to enhance the quality of writing in your class this term?

 

Media masterclass: the feedback from learners at the first course

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Busy day last Friday.

It was the first course in my new media masterclass series, offering practical advice to aspiring writers to help them get published.

Here we are [pictured above] in action at the Glynne Arms in Hawarden.

We spent the morning talking about media writing, as opposed to creative writing, for publication in newspapers, magazines and online.

I structured the session around four key themes:

  • Ideas
  • Pitch
  • Structure
  • Network

Here’s what people had to say about the experience at the end of the class:

“Great insight into the process of publication. Great interaction and good group work.” – Philip Parry.

“A very productive workshop about what to / what not to do when pitching and writing an article.” – Shaun Best

“An interesting insight into the world of writing for the media. Very entertaining.” – Cheryl Davies

“A very good intro to the ideas behind writing an article and the processes to be followed.” – Susan Davidson

“The course reassured me that much of what I know if accurate and added further wisdom to it.” – Becky Sowray

“Very practical session. Enjoyed the sharing of information, the informality and the honesty.” – Paul Diggory.

The next course is pencilled in for February 2015 but sign up for the newsletter on the home page for the latest news and updates.

Big plans for expansion, so watch this space.

Media writing course from David Atkinson on Vimeo.

Short clip of the first of my new series of media workshops. Filmed at the Glynne Arms, Hawarden, October 17, 2014. The theme for the first workshop was ‘Getting your story published’. Next course? February 2015; details from atkinsondavid.com.

Media writing course: Some warm-up exercises for next week

 

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So, next week then.

It’s the first course I’m running in a series of workshops offering my insider secrets to writing for the media.

To help us get our thinking caps on, I’d like you to read this recent travel article from the Independent, Anglesey from all angles.

Read it carefully, not just for content but for style, structure, use of language etc. Then post a comment below telling us what you think of it and why.

Did you enjoy the way the story was written? Why was the piece chosen for publication over others? What aspects did you like/dislike?

When you post, please also include a brief introduction to yourself, so we can get to know each other a bit before the class next Friday and start a bit of a dialogue between us a a group.

I’ll do the same. And, over the week to come, I’ll post a couple more links to get the discussion flowing.

Looking forward to meeting everyone next Friday – aim for 9.15am at The Glynne Arms, 3 Glynne Way, Hawarden CH5 3NS.

Please call or email with any questions.