The Complete Beginner's Guide to Getting Paid for Your Writing

If you've always wondered about making your writing into a career, but you are not sure where to start, this is the course for you.

This course is for writers who already have an excellent command of the English language and who would like to start getting paid for their writing. The course covers:

Module 1 – Defining yourself as a writer and picking a niche

This module covers the different types of writer you can be. You will pick the type of writing and the subject(s) on which you'll focus during the course.

Module 2 - Diversifying your niche/pitch flipping

In this module, you will learn the advantages of diversifying your niche and flipping your pitches. You will learn to use mind maps to help you plan out your career.

Module 3 – Setting up shop (includes swipe files)

In this module, you will learn how to create templates that you can use again and again. This will help you to streamline your business so you can spend your time doing what you do best - writing.

The instructor will share her templates for print magazine queries, blog query emails, contracts, invoice and receipts, and more. We'll also discuss keeping track of ROI, email follow ups (and tools to help you), and more.

This module will also cover setting up a website or blog and establishing a social media presence.

Module 4 – Taxes and other boring stuff

In this module, you'll learn about how your self-employed status affects your income tax, what you can claim, and more. We'll also discuss budgeting and software you may wish to use.

Module 5 – The Art of Pitching

In this module, we'll discuss how to approach publications in order to have a higher rate of success when pitching. We'll also discuss the difference between approaching clients and pitching publications, as well as the difference between warm and cold pitches.

You will get a chance to have your first pitch reviewed by the instructor, who will give you feedback on improvement and will review the pitch once again after you have made changes. You will then send out your first real pitch to your publication of choice.

Module 6 – Wrap up and marketing your services, plus resources you should check out.

The last week of the course will be a wrap up, and a primer on marketing your services, including a discussion of pro-bono writing. This module is text-based only (no video presentation).

Module 7 – You are a writer – now go get paid for your craft!

You will have four weeks from the end of the course to submit an article of up to 1,000 words for review by the instructor, who will personally edit it before you submit to your first paid outlet.

This is the only course that guarantees you will get paid for your first piece. If you choose to pitch an article for my blog, www.marianamcdougall.com, you will be paid $50 on acceptance. You must meet the deadline for the complete article, and your article must fit within one of the sections on my blog. The writing must be of high quality, and you must make changes as discussed when you get your writing reviewed. As with every place you pitch, research the blog to ensure you understand the voice and audience. More details will be covered in the module.