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FutureLearn

How to Get Your Feature Articles Published

University of Lincoln via FutureLearn

Overview

Turn your ideas into award-winning features

Are you a journalist or writer with a winning idea for a feature article? Do you want guidance on how to research, write, and pitch a 600- to 2,000-word piece?

This four-week crash course from the University of Lincoln provides a comprehensive overview of the feature writing process. From finding your voice and identifying a market, to grabbing your audience’s attention and convincing editors, you’ll get the tips you need to see your idea through to publication.

Get expert guidance from a published journalist

Your mentor on this course is Jason Whittaker, a published journalist and nonfiction writer who has spent 20 years helping budding journalists get their work published.

He’ll introduce you to the world of creative nonfiction, and share his own insights and experience from the field.

Understand the landscape for creative nonfiction

You’ll begin the course by considering the different markets for publications and their respective target audiences.

Whether you want to publish your piece online or in print, in a magazine, a paper, or a news platform, you’ll learn how to tailor your writing to a given market and audience.

Learn how to research, write, and pitch a feature article

In the second half of the course, you’ll begin expanding your journalistic toolkit. You’ll hone your research and writing skills, and learn how to reel readers in right from your introduction.

Last but not least, you’ll take a closer look at the pitching process. You’ll discover what editors are looking for in features, and how to write a pitch they can’t ignore.

By the end of the course, you’ll be equipped and ready to take your first steps as a creative nonfiction writer.

This course is designed for aspiring journalists and writers of creative nonfiction who want to get a 600 to 2,000-word feature published in print and online magazines and news platforms.

It is particularly aimed at first-time writers hoping to begin a career in creative nonfiction.

Syllabus

  • An Introduction to Creative Nonfiction
    • Overview and Getting Started
    • Why Write Creative Nonfiction?
    • Varieties of Non Fiction
    • What Will You Write?
    • Summary of Week 1
  • Understanding Markets
    • Understanding Markets
    • Finding the Right Style
    • Summary of Week 2
  • Researching and Writing Features
    • Gathering Information: Research and Interviews
    • Writing from Life/Life Writing
    • Writing Intros
    • Summary of Week 3
  • Pitching to Editors
    • Finding Your Way Around a Publication
    • Do's and Don'ts of Pitching
    • Writing your Pitch
    • Summary of Week 4

Taught by

Jason Whittaker

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