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This is a noncredit, online writing class through UW-Madison Continuing Studies.

Feature Writing in the Digital Age

Write like the pros!

Are you interested in writing magazine articles or feature articles for any media but you aren’t quite sure where to begin? This course from professional freelancer, feature writer, and mentor Jennifer L.W. Fink gives you one-on-one instruction, prompt feedback, and fun mini-exercises that get you working on real ideas and articles you could eventually sell and publish. You also receive plenty of tips on how to market your writing for money.

You leave this course knowing both how to organize your ideas and time, and how to write articles that will appeal to today’s mass media.

Six lessons cover the seven basic kinds of features, how to discover the right slant, how to interview effectively and dig for nuggets editors and readers love, and how to write brilliant leads (also called “ledes”), personal profiles, columns, and how-to articles. (See list below.)

Work at your own pace; you have up to one year from the date of registration to complete the course.

How it works

You can start our courses anytime, and there are no required hours to log on or deadlines. It’s all done with one-on-one correspondence with the instructor via email. Because of the one-on-one nature of our courses, you’ll find them an excellent mentoring situation to challenge you just enough and to help you keep you writing. If you prefer to work on your own, you can opt out of the feedback. We’re also here throughout the year if you have any questions.

What this course covers

• Lesson One:  Types of features, the changing market, finding opportunity for publishing.
  
• Lesson Two:  The steps to convert an idea into an article. Planning the “package” you send to editors.
  
• Lesson Three:  Writing techniques. Honing intros and endings. How to use subheads and quotes.
  
• Lesson Four:  “How-to” articles and where to sell them. Article analysis. Querying.
  
• Lesson Five:   Profiles and where to sell them. Interviewing 101. Using fiction techniques.
  
• Lesson Six:  Finding your voice. Essays, reviews, op-eds. Writing from your life, funny or serious.
  
• Plus:  You receive a professional’s feedback on all the optional exercises in addition to feedback on your article ideas, ledes, a short article, a profile, essay and op-ed piece, as well as the query you use in marketing.

 

Your instructor

Jennifer L. W. Fink’s essays, articles and columns have appeared in American Baby, Home Education Magazine, Boys’ Life, MyMidwest, Wisconsin Trails, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and other regional and national publications. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Jenny has taught at the UW-Madison School of the Arts in Rhinelander, Wis. She’s also a past participant of our freelancing section of the Write-by-the-Lake Writer’s Workshop and Retreat held every June in Madison, WI. She subsequently launched a successful career writing features and essays for a living. Now Jenny shares her success tips with you via our online course. 

Visit Jenny’s website:  http://www.jenniferlwfink.com.

Student comments

“Jennifer Fink is a great writer. It's very comforting to give Jennifer a creative brief, some contact details and a deadline and simply wait for the good results!” — Christopher Sadler

“I've been familiar with her work for more than four years. She is smart and professional. I highly recommend her.” — Kelly James-Enger, speaker, author, consultant, BodyWise Consulting

“Jennifer and I worked together on an annual report for a major hospital and academic medical center. I was particularly impressed that Jennifer is able to adapt her ‘voice’ for the different tasks involved. She was able to write interesting, focused and economical copy for general healthcare articles while her writing style for patient stories was more relaxed and conversational. Exactly what we asked for—and more.” — Michael Proft, owner, MP Design, LLC

Costs

Sign up at any time for program #9015. The $165 fee includes instruction, e-mail correspondence, and feedback on your article ideas, ledes, a short article, a profile, essay and op-ed piece, as well as the query you use in marketing. You earn 1.5 continuing education units (CEUs), when you complete this online writing course. Register any time.

How to register

Online: Register now online with our secure server.

Mail: Print and mail our registration form.

Telephone: Call 608-262-2451 or toll-free 800-725-9692 to register. Our phone is answered M-F, 7:00 am-4:30 pm Central Time. At other times please leave a message, and we will return your call.

Contact

Your contact for more information about Feature Writing in the Digital Age (Program #9015) is Chris DeSmet. 608-262-3447 or cdesmet@dcs.wisc.edu

For more information about online learning contact Lori O'Neill at 608-263-6322 or toll-free 877-336-7836 or email LSAonline@dcs.wisc.edu.

Also of interest

Explore other online writing classes.

The same writing staff that bring you these great online classes also provide individualized writing critique services. Learn more by visiting our writing critique services web page.

 

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