Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling
Short Stories and Articles Course Details

An Advanced Writing Program for Selected Graduates, Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles emphasis is squarely on writing that is targeted to editorial needs, and on selling your writing.

curriculum
materials
instructors
IFW 13

Course Goals & Objectives

1. Development of writing skills with particular focus on meeting the standards of the children’s magazine market
2. Write four to six submittable manuscripts targeted to suitable magazine markets
3. Analyze, in depth, the needs of the current children’s magazine market
4. Create fiction and nonfiction ideas to meet publishers’ needs
5. Prepare drafts and revise manuscripts tailored to the requirements of specific magazines
6. Plan and develop on-going writing projects

curriculum

Outline

This course gives you advanced training to increase your prospects for success as a fiction/nonfiction writer for children’s and teen magazines.

Part 1
You’ll sharpen your skills, master new techniques, and update and broaden your knowledge as you create salable fiction or non-fiction for specific markets.

Part 2
Refine and expand your writing, revising, and marketing skills. You’ll be introduced to advanced techniques for writing fiction and nonfiction.

Part 3
Polish your writing and marketing skills to a professional level, with publication as your goal.

Overview

1. Autobiographical letter and story or article
2. New article or story, with 2 market choices, query letter with article
3. Revision of Assignment 1 or 2 and note updating goals
4. Two story or article proposals with market choices and the first 100 words of each piece
5. Complete manuscript developed from Assignment 4 proposal: query letter with article
6. New manuscript with market choices or revision of an earlier manuscript and proposal for a new story or article with market choices and note updating goals
7. Manuscript developed from Assignment 6 proposal and new proposal for Assignment 8 with market choices
8. Manuscript developed from Assignment 7 proposal or revision of an earlier story or article and note describing next project

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Material Included in your Beyond the Basics Course

Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles Course Manual, IFW Publishing.

The Instruction Manual published exclusively for our students. It contains assignments, idea generators, planning guides, writing and revision techniques and guidelines for preparing a book submission package.

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Material Included in your Beyond the Basics Course

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers, edited by Marni McNiff; IFW Publishing, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-27-7, 2024

Offers a complete roadmap to the changing world of publishing — get the inside scoop on what print and digital publishers are looking for in 2024. In addition to 608 new and updated listings, you’ll find bonus articles to boost your knowledge of the industry and increase your odds of getting published. Plus, you’ll find sections devoted to helping you create a polished submissions package including how to write and format a query letter and how to properly format your manuscript so you can make a professional impression on publishers.

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers by Institute for Writers
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Material Included in your Beyond the Basics

First-Time Authors, IFW Publications.

An anthology of 64 children’s writers first published pieces with comments from authors and editors.

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Material Included in your Beyond the Basics Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publishing:
Talk Abouts.

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Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course Manual, IFW Publications.

The Course Manual is your road map to a finished novel. Step by Step, with your instructor by your side, it will lead you through the process of writing a novel.

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Material Included in your Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course

The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing, 3rd Edition, Writer’s Digest Books.

This handbook includes dozens of essays by masters of the novel. You'll learn from established writers about how to make your novel a reality. Discover techniques and strategies for generating ideas, connecting with readers emotionally, and finding inspiration you need to finish your work.

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Material Included in your Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course

Novel and Short Story Writer Market: he Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published, Amy Jones, editor, ISBN-13: 978-0593332078.

The Novel and Short Story Writer Market book will help unlock the secret of a successful submission package for an editor or agent. You’ll use this market directory in conjunction with outside research and your instructor’s suggestions to determine exactly what to include and where to send your submission package.

Novel-Short-Story-Writers-Market-40th-Edition-min
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Material Included in your Shape, Write, and Sell Your Novel Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials, IFW Publications:
Talk Abouts.

With ICL, all course materials are included. Details below:
ICL Course Manual Institute for Writers

Beyond the Basics: Creating and Selling Short Stories and Articles, Course Manual, IFW Publications.

The Instruction Manual published exclusively for our students. It contains assignments, idea generators, planning guides, writing and revision techniques and guidelines for preparing a book submission package.

First Time Authors

First-Time Authors, IFW Publications.

An anthology of 64 children’s writers first published pieces with comments from authors and editors.

Magazine Markets for Childrens Writers

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers, edited by Marni McNiff; IFW Publications, Annual edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-04-8, 2017.

Magazine Markets for Children’s Writers lists virtually every market in North America that buys freelance editorial material for children, teens, their parents, and teachers. More than 670 listings include editors, addresses, current guidelines and specs for submissions, plus information on contests, conferences, and industry news.

Black IFW Pen Blog

Supplementary Instructional Materials published by Writers Institute, Inc. 1995-2005.

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