Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 @ 2pm – 4pm ET (11am–1pm Pacific)
Department
Nonfiction/Journalism
Instructor
Courtney Kocak
Format
2-hr. masterclass + Q&A
Writer Courtney Kocak got her best bylines by placing essays in popular columns. These columns are constantly looking for fresh content, so it’s a great way to break in and uplevel your writing career. In this workshop, Courtney will explain the crux of popular columns for top publications. She’ll give you 10 targets and generative prompts, brainstorming and drafting exercises for each, and a lesson in how to pitch. You’ll receive a list of potential columns and editor contact information for each, so that you leave with a game plan for landing your best bylines yet!
This class offers students the option to upgrade to Stream B for an additional fee. Stream B students will receive a personal consultation from Courtney. (Full details below.) There are 12 Stream B spots available. Payment plans for Stream B are available on request.
TUITION
Stream A (lecture only): $100 🇨🇦 | ~$72 🇺🇸
Stream B (lecture and feedback): $199 🇨🇦| ~$144 🇺🇸 (Max 12 students)
Prices do not include 5% sales tax
TAKEAWAYS
- A strategy for pitching and selling columns to top publications, such as The New York Times, Cosmopolitan, and many others
- Decoding the premise and angle of popular columns
- Identifying article ideas that would be a good fit for existing columns
- Pitching best practices
ENROLLMENT INCLUDES
Stream A: Live 2-hr lesson (with break) with Q&A; access to re-watch the webinar for 30 days after the class ends and a PDF containing a directory of target publications, column premises, and submission info.
Stream B: Students who upgrade to Stream B for an additional fee will also receive a personal consultation from Courtney. This consists of feedback on an essay of up to 2,000 words, as well as an accompanying pitch email (for the same essay) of up to 200 words, and a 20-minute call to discuss the feedback. There are 12 Stream B spots available.
REGISTRATION
After checkout, you’ll receive a receipt with a link to download your tickets, which will include Zoom passcodes and additional webinar information. You will also receive an emailed reminder a few days before the event.
ACCESSIBILITY & RECORDING
This webinar is designed for live participation but a recording of the webinar will be provided to all registrants to stream if they’re unable to attend in full or wish to view it again. Closed captioning is also available for both live and recorded video, however, it’s auto-generated and subject to error.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR
Instructor Courtney Kocak is a writer, podcaster, and comedian based in Los Angeles. She wrote for Amazon’s Emmy-winning animated series Danger & Eggs and Netflix’s Know It All podcast. She’s produced a slew of highly-ranked podcasts—including The Bellas Podcast, which debuted at #1 on Apple Podcasts, PayPal’s Never Stand Still, and Girlboss Radio—and currently hosts three of her own with over two million downloads to date: Private Parts Unknown, about love and sexuality around the world, The Bleeders, about book writing and publishing, and Podcast Bestie, a best friend to podcasters trying to grow and monetize their shows (and a popular Substack). As a writer, her bylines include The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, Cosmopolitan, BUST, Bustle, Business Insider, InsideHook, and more. She’s currently working on a coming-of-age memoir in essays. For more, check out her website courtneykocak.com