Breaking into print. Our signature, customized writing course.
Breaking into Print. Our signature, customized writing course

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.

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Goals & Objectives

Students develop the techniques of professional-level writing. Students develop the ability to direct and submit their writing to specific markets. They will:

  • Survey the current magazine market by analyzing published stories and articles.
  • Identify standards set by publishers by researching magazines and identifying techniques and styles set by successful writers.
  • Write eight complete stories and/or articles.
  • Write and revise four story/article manuscripts to meet current market specifications set by magazine editors.
  • Submit two or three final stories/articles to appropriate editors.
  • Learn how to work with an editor once a story/article is accepted for publication.
  • Plan and develop on-going writing projects that match writing skills and interest with editorial needs.

Curriculum Overview

Step1

Learn to Write for your Reader

Step2

Find Your Niche

Step3

Demystify The Publishing Market

1

Character Development: describing a person that will connect with readers

500 word description of a person and autobiographical letter to your instructor.

5

To Market, to Market: How to write a story or article summary

Opening of a new story or article with a summary of the remainder 1,500 to 2,000 words with two suitable market choices.

9

So Many Markets: Decide where your story or article fits

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.

2

Tell Me a Story: Your first foray into fiction

750 to 1,000 word story using the character from assignment 1.

6

The Finishing Touch: Turn your summary into a story or article

1,500 to 2,000 word completed story or article from assignment 5 with a query letter to selected market.

10

Rethink and Retool: Revise an article or story and target a new market

Revise previous story or article.

3

Tell It Like It Is: Your first foray into nonfiction

750 to 1,000 word article.

7

One More Time: Revise a previous story or article ​

Revision of a previous story or article with query letter. Submit proposal of a new story or article for assignment 8.

11

Connect with Readers Through a Short Memoir or Personal Essay ​

1,000 to 3,000-word personal essay or short memoir with market choice.

4

Creating a story or an article

750 to 1,500 word story or article.

8

Article leads to sharpen your focus; story arcs to build a framework​

Complete the story or article proposed in assignment 7 up to 3,000 words with a query letter to selected market.

12

Save the Best for Last ​

Revise a previous story or article up to 3,000 words with market choice.

Step1

Learn to Write for your Reader

1

Character Development: describing a person that will connect with readers

500 word description of a person and autobiographical letter to your instructor.

2

Tell Me a Story: Your first foray into fiction

750 to 1,000 word story using the character from assignment 1.

3

Tell It Like It Is: Your first foray into nonfiction

750 to 1,000 word article.

4

Creating a story or an article

750 to 1,500 word story or article.

Step2

Find Your Niche

5

To Market, to Market: How to write a story or article summary

Opening of a new story or article with a summary of the remainder 1,500 to 2,000 words) with two suitable market choices.

6

The Finishing Touch: Turn your summary into a story or article

1,500 to 2,000 word completed story or article from assignment 5 with a query letter to selected market.

7

One More Time: Revise a previous story or article ​

Revision of a previous story or article with query letter. Submit proposal of a new story or article for assignment 8.

8

Article leads to sharpen your focus; story arcs to build a framework​

Complete the story or article proposed in assignment 7 up to 3,000 words with a query letter to selected market.

Step3

Demystify The Publishing Market

9

So Many Markets: Decide where your story or article fits

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.

10

Rethink and Retool: Revise an article or story and target a new market

Revise previous story or article.

11

Connect with Readers Through a Short Memoir or Personal Essay ​

1,000 to 3,000-word personal essay or short memoir with market choice.

12

Save the Best for Last ​

Revise a previous story or article up to 3,000 words with market choice.

Tuition

Full Pay

$ 1,559 full pay
  • Highest Savings
  • Access To All Assignments
  • Total $1,559

Payment Plan I

$ 79 Month
  • Most Popular
  • $160 down, 19 monthly payments of $79
  • Total $1,661

Payment Plan II

$ 69 Month
  • Most Popular
  • $160 down, 24 monthly payments of $69
  • Total $1,816

Materials Included In Breaking Into Print Course

ls-project-25-slide-1Breaking into Print Course MaterialsIFW PublishingThe 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.
binder_small
ls-project-25-slide-2Writer's MarketEdited by Robert Lee Brewer, Writers Digest Books, 6th EditionWriter'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.
Writers-Market-100th-Edition-min
ls-project-25-slide-3The Elements of StyleBy William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th EditionA classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most
practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective
writing techniques.
Elements-of-Style-Book-IFW
ls-project-25-slide-4On Writing Well: The Classic Guide To WritingBy William Zinsser, Published by Harper Perennial, 7th EditionKnown 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.
On Writing Well 1
ls-project-25-slide-5Searching: a Research Guide for WritersIFW Publishing, 6th EditionPrepared especially for our students, this handbook introduces a variety of
sources and methods available for tracking down information, an
indispensable guide to research resources.
Searching-Book-IFW
ls-project-25-slide-6Self Editing for Fiction WritersBy Renni Brown & Dave King, William Morrow Publishing, 2nd EditionTwo professional editors teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that
turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.
self editing for fiction writers 1
ls-project-25-slide-7Voices in Today's MagazinesIFW PublishingAn 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.
Voices in Todays Magazines 1
ls-project-25-slide-7Supplementary Instructional MaterialsIFW Publishing- Pointers from the Pros
- Grammar Tip sheets
White IFW Pen Blog
ls-project-26-slide-1

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.

binder_small
ls-project-26-slide-2

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.

Writers-Market-100th-Edition-min
ls-project-26-slide-3

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.

Elements-of-Style-Book-IFW
ls-project-26-slide-4

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.

On Writing Well 1
ls-project-26-slide-5

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.

Searching-Book-IFW
ls-project-26-slide-6

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.

self editing for fiction writers 1
ls-project-26-slide-7

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.

Voices in Todays Magazines 1
ls-project-26-slide-8

Supplementary Instructional Materials

IFW Publishing

- Pointers from the Pros
- Grammar Tip sheets

White IFW Pen Blog
I appreciate IFW willingness to work with their students. I felt like they really cared about me succeeding. They are so helpful when it comes to making your course flexible to fit your life. I love that about this school! I had always loved writing, but never thought I could try to get anything published. But after taking the Breaking Into Print course from IFW, I now feel more confident in my writing abilities. Thank you IFW!
- Rebecca Copley

Submit a Writing Sample

Stop wondering if you have what it takes to be a published author!


Show us what you’ve got!

Submit a Writing Sample

Stop wondering if you have what it takes to be a published author!


Show us what you’ve got!

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1000 N. West Street #1200, Wilmington, DE 19801

info@instituteforwriters.com

© 2024 Direct Learning Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

Licensure & Memberships

Recommended for college credits by the Connecticut Board for State Academic Awards


College credits obtained through Charter Oak State College


Approved as a private business and trade school in the state of Delaware

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© 2024 Direct Learning Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.

IFW-Logo-Small-.png

1000 N. West Street #1200, Wilmington, DE 19801

info@instituteforwriters.com

© 2024 Direct Learning Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. 

Institute for Writers LLC BBB Business Review