What’s on the iPod: Mistletoe by Jukebox the Ghost
It’s Friday. I’m busy. I’m tired.
I’m hoping by noon to have wrapped up the last of my projects for this week. I need to breathe a little before I start marketing. I’m waiting for one project to come in, and I expect it Monday, and I have the ongoing project to keep chipping away at. I like busy, but I’m seeing my chances of a vacation evaporating quickly. The cool weather this week is a reminder that summer is fading fast.
I wanted to give you a post on some of the best writing courses available, but I realized that like me, you may not take courses very often. I like them. I simply don’t have time to partake. With that in mind, I opted to give you a list of resources –courses, workshops, seminars, books, etc. — that can help you expand your writing skill set and help you diversify your income. If you have any resources to share, please do.
Start here:
Books
The Urban Muse Guide to Online Writing Markets – I love Susan Johnston for the way she built her business, ground up, in the most successful, respectable way. She’s what I’d consider an expert in diversifying a writing career and making it look effortless.
John Soares’ Productive Writers books – Not only has John made his living at writing textbooks, but he’s able to boost his income without increasing the work involved. His two books can help you do the same.
The Well-Fed Writer – Peter Bowerman is the king of showing us how to start, build, and run a successful writing business. If he’s written it, you need to buy it. Plus, he’s just a darn nice person.
30 Day Marketing Bootcamp for Freelance Writers – Jenn Mattern is great. A former corporate marketing guru, Jenn knows exactly how to market and gain clientele. She’s also shown her expertise in how well she’s developed her own business right to the top of freelancing.
Marketing 365: Daily Strategies for Entrepreneurs and Small Business – It’s my book, and I think you’ll find at least one strategy out of the 365 in this book that will fit you.
Courses
Coursera – A local writer friend first introduced me to this early last year, and I’ve been in love ever since. Free online courses in nearly any subject you can imagine, led by professors at top universities from around the world. It’s a great way to expand your knowledge and maybe improve skills and education you already have.
Poynter – Online training for journalists, but any writer can benefit from this great selection of courses. Check out the free ethics course.
5 Buck Forum – I’d be remiss if I didn’t include my co-owned forum (Anne Wayman and I started it a few years ago), which offers self-paced courses to help you expand your skills. Right now, we offer members a free Get Started Writing course, and soon to follow will be the Writing for Trade Magazines course. Five bucks per month for membership, plus a discounted fee for the trade magazine course.
Webinars
Writer’s Digest – From writing memoirs to how to blog a book, these free webinars can give you a boost in your creativity and push you into new areas.
The Savvy Freelancer – Lexi Rodrigo impresses me no end. Her email pitches are spot on and always relevant without screaming at you or running you down with tons of copy. She offers free webinars, and if they’re anything like her marketing, they’ll be terrific.
How do you learn new skills?
Coursera.
The classes I've taken there have not only enriched my life as a human, but allowed me to land writing jobs in areas I couldn't get into before — certification from a well-known professor at a well-known university IN ADDITION to be able to converse/discuss/write intelligently about said topic makes a huge difference.
I've kept in touch with several of my professors beyond the class (in spite of large class size) and they are some of my most treasured resources.
I also read the local listings in the paper and try to make myself do something out of my normal realm once a week, at least.
It's fun, it keeps me growing, and often I get stories out of it.
Thank you for including The Savvy Freelancer, Lori! And for the kind words. I don't do new webinars anymore, but those who sign up for them will get access to the recordings of all previous webinars I've hosted. Cheers!
One day I'll need to look into Coursera, but not in the same week that I had the dreaded it's-time-for-finals-and-I-forgot-I-was-even-in-this-class nightmare. It always feels so real.
I try to approach writing the same way I approach knitting: I want to learn something new from each project or client. If you keep your eyes, ears and mind open, you'll learn no matter where you are or who you're with.
Thanks so much for including me, Lori!
I'd like to add another resource that I've found invaluable: the Reynolds Center for Business Journalism. (Website is http://bizjournalism.org/) They have an excellent blog with tons of great ideas for business stories and their free webinar series is fantastic! I've learned so much from both.
Happy to have both you ladies on the list, Susan and Lexi! You're both quite inspiring.
Lexi, I figured you weren't, but I thought your existing stuff was great.
Susan, thanks! I'll check that one out.
Devon, I can't get enough of Coursera. Mind you, I'm not into taking the same courses I took in college, but I love exploring the ones I missed! That means I have time to leisure over the Humanities stuff. 🙂
Paula, the courses aren't quite like that. You can work to get the certificate or you can just follow along and not do a lick of work.
Lori, I'm honored to make your list!
I've been listening to lots of TED talks lately, both as mp3s and via the TED channel that's on my Roku. Most don't directly address writing, but they do address business and life.
This is an amazing list, Lori. Really good stuff. I hope you get the chance to recharge your batteries on what sounds like a much needed vacation!
Good morning, Lori,
Great list of resources. Last year I attempted to take a couple of the Writers Digest online courses only to find that what glitters is not gold and to say the least they really left me with bitter feelings about what could have been a positive experience, needless to say the money I invested could have been better spent. Chuck
Chuck, that's good to know. Maybe that's why I don't do paid webinars — I tried one that was just awful. Have you tried their free webinars?
John, great point. I'd love to take advantage of more TED talks. There are lots of raves for them.
So do I, Kimberly! At some point, I'll have to just insist that people wait until I get a vacation. 🙂
Personally after my recent experience I'd shy away from anything WD has to say or sell. Unfortunately my experience was with one individual who kindly let me know she was holding all the trump cards. When I asked for my money back it took her two weeks to reply to that email and her response was the deadline for refunds had passed, so no bananas. There is one guy, and I won't name names, but he's an editor on the on-line side of the equation who is worth his weight in gold and my communication with him prior to my turning over my credit card number was great. Unfortunately, he has nothing to do with their course offerings.
On to a more positive contribution to your blog.
I've discovered Brandon Sanderson, a University of Utah writing professor who's entire class on writing has been videotaped by a student and published on YouTube. He's a kick to watch and listen to. Free, too.
Chuck, that's terrible. I'm sorry to hear the experience was so bad. Have you thought of pushing that complaint up the food chain? Might do them good to know she's not leaving a very good impression.
Thanks for the info on Brandon Sanderson! Happy to hear about another great resource.