1000 N. West Street #1200, Wilmington, DE 19801
© 2024 Direct Learning Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
Our signature, customized writing course for those interested in learning how to write for adults and young adults in the genre of their preference. Students learn to write and market fiction and nonfiction magazine articles for the adult reader. Students define personal writing goals, learn techniques of good writing, develop the ability to direct writing to specific readers, explore and identify a writing niche for potential writing projects, and undertake a project that matches their skills and interests to editorial needs. Students write and revise seven articles or stories to submit to magazines.
Our courses are designed for you to set your own pace. The average student takes about 276 hours to complete all assignments. Although most students complete this course in 18 months, IFW allows up to 2 years to complete Breaking into Print.
Students develop the techniques of professional-level writing. Students develop the ability to direct and submit their writing to specific markets. They will:
500 word description of a person and autobiographical letter to your instructor.
Opening of a new story or article with a summary of the remainder 1,500 to 2,000 words with two suitable market choices.
New story or article up to 3,000 words with a query letter for an article or cover letter for a story. Include suitable magazine choice.
750 to 1,000 word story using the character from assignment 1.
1,500 to 2,000 word completed story or article from assignment 5 with a query letter to selected market.
Revise previous story or article.
750 to 1,000 word article.
Revision of a previous story or article with query letter. Submit proposal of a new story or article for assignment 8.
1,000 to 3,000-word personal essay or short memoir with market choice.
750 to 1,500 word story or article.
Complete the story or article proposed in assignment 7 up to 3,000 words with a query letter to selected market.
Revise a previous story or article up to 3,000 words with market choice.
500 word description of a person and autobiographical letter to your instructor.
750 to 1,000 word story using the character from assignment 1.
750 to 1,000 word article.
750 to 1,500 word story or article.
Opening of a new story or article with a summary of the remainder 1,500 to 2,000 words) with two suitable market choices.
1,500 to 2,000 word completed story or article from assignment 5 with a query letter to selected market.
Revision of a previous story or article with query letter. Submit proposal of a new story or article for assignment 8.
Complete the story or article proposed in assignment 7 up to 3,000 words with a query letter to selected market.
New story or article up to 3,000 words with a query letter for an article or cover letter for a story. Include suitable magazine choice.
Revise previous story or article.
1,000 to 3,000-word personal essay or short memoir with market choice.
Revise a previous story or article up to 3,000 words with market choice.
Breaking into Print
Course Materials
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.
Writer's Market
Edited by Robert Lee Brewer
Writers Digest Books, 6th Edition
Writer's Market 2020 (e-book) guides you through the submissions process with thousands of publishing opportunities for writers, including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents—as well as new playwriting and screenwriting sections. These listings feature contact and submission information to help writers get their work published.
The Elements of Style
By William Strunk Jr. & E.B. White
4th Edition
A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.
On Writing Well: The Classic
Guide To Writing Nonfiction
By William Zinsser
Harper Perennial, 7th Edition
Known for its sound advice, On Writing Well offers you fundamental principles as well as the insights of a distinguished writer and teacher. With more than a million copies sold, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers.
Searching: a Research Guide for Writers
IFW Publishing, 6th Edition
Prepared especially for our students, this handbook introduces a variety of sources and methods available for tracking down information, an indispensable guide to research resources.
Self Editing for
Fiction Writers
By Renni Brown & Dave King
William Morrow, 2nd Edition
Two professional editors teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.
Voices in Today's Magazines
IFW Publishing
An anthology of notable published fiction and nonfiction with a purpose: to give you 81 outstanding models of characterization, dialogue, viewpoints, endings, settings, leads, conflict, climax, voice, flashbacks, (and every aspect of each of these elements), to examine, understand, consider and, perhaps, add to your arsenal of skills.
Supplementary Instructional Materials
IFW Publishing
- Pointers from the Pros
- Grammar Tip sheets
Stop wondering if you have what it takes to be a published author!
Show us what you’ve got!
Stop wondering if you have what it takes to be a published author!
Show us what you’ve got!
1000 N. West Street #1200, Wilmington, DE 19801
© 2024 Direct Learning Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
1000 N. West Street #1200, Wilmington, DE 19801
© 2024 Direct Learning Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
1000 N. West Street #1200, Wilmington, DE 19801
© 2024 Direct Learning Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.