How to Pitch Freelance Work
December 12, 2021
Are you a freelance writer who wants to learn how to turn ideas into pitches? Do you want to know how to get an editor to pay attention to your pitch—and to increase the likelihood that your pitch will turn into a paid assignment? Is it possible to expand a single successful pitch into a series of paying gigs? This course will teach you how to pitch, what today’s editors are looking for and how to develop a pitching strategy that can help you build your freelance career.
Personal Finance for Writers
November 17, 2021
Writing takes time—and time, as is often said, is money. The more you know about how to manage your personal finances, the better prepared you’ll be to build your writing career while working a day job, balance freelancing and fiction writing, and reconcile (pun intended!) the work you do for money and the work you do for love.
Join HappyWriter instructor Nicole Dieker as she discusses personal finance as it applies to the writer’s life, from the perspective of a writer and author who has ten years of freelancing experience and three years of six-figure writing income. Topics to include:
- How much you can expect to earn at each level of freelancing (entry-level, mid-level, expert-level)
- How much you can expect to earn from writing fiction, whether you self-publish or go the traditional publication route
- How to budget when your income is irregular and/or unpredictable
- How to deal with taxes, business licenses and all of that legal stuff
- How Nicole increased her freelance income by $20K each year (and how you can use similar data tracking tools to increase your own earnings)
This class is a lunch-and-learn, so feel free to eat while you Zoom! Bring your questions, and be ready to take notes.
The Art of Interviewing
June 5, 2021
If you want to build your freelance career, you need to know how to interview. How do you find and interview a source when your editor wants your draft by Friday? What questions should you avoid? What do you do when your source wants to approve the interview before it’s published? This course will cover the mechanics of interviewing, including how to locate sources, how to prep the interview, and how to help your source feel comfortable during the process.
How to Start a Writing Practice
February 1–March 3, 2020
The difference between writing and a writing practice is that a writing practice lets you focus on process, product, and improvement.
The other difference between writing and a writing practice is that a writing practice gives you dedicated, structured time to work on a writing project—whether that’s a novel, a screenplay, a personal journal or anything else you want to create.
Want to know where a writing practice can take your writing? Join me in class and let’s find out together. ❤️
How to Get Started as a Freelancer
October 19–November 9, 2020
How do you get started as a freelance writer? Is it possible to turn freelancing into a full-time job? Nicole Dieker has been a full-time freelancer for nearly a decade, and she’ll teach you everything she knows about how freelancers make money; how to pitch (even when you don’t have clips); how to build a freelancer schedule that combines writing, pitching, networking, and administrative work; and how to grow your earnings over time.
How to Develop a Writing Practice
May 5—May 26, 2020
Successful writers understand that writing is not just an art—it’s also a practice. If you’re having trouble finding time to write or feel like you lack the motivation to complete your writing projects, this class is for you. Students will learn how to track their creative energy throughout the day, analyze their schedules to set aside time for writing, use measurable goals to maximize productivity while writing, and discuss how to remain committed to their writing practice long-term.
How to Get Started as a Freelancer
February 11–March 3, 2020
How do you get started as a freelance writer? Is it possible to turn freelancing into a full-time job? Nicole Dieker has been a full-time freelancer for nearly a decade, and she’ll teach you everything she knows about how freelancers make money; how to pitch (even when you don’t have clips); how to build a freelancer schedule that combines writing, pitching, networking, and administrative work; and how to grow your earnings over time.
How to Develop a Writing Practice
September 19—October 10, 2019
Successful writers understand that writing is not just an art—it’s also a practice. If you’re having trouble finding time to write or feel like you lack the motivation to complete your writing projects, this class is for you. Students will learn how to track their creative energy throughout the day, analyze their schedules to set aside time for writing, use measurable goals to maximize productivity while writing, and discuss how to remain committed to their writing practice long-term.
How to Get Started as a Freelancer
June 25–July 16, 2019
How do you get started as a freelance writer? Is it possible to turn freelancing into a full-time job? Nicole Dieker has been a full-time freelancer for nearly a decade, and she’ll teach you everything she knows about how freelancers make money; how to pitch (even when you don’t have clips); how to build a freelancer schedule that combines writing, pitching, networking, and administrative work; and how to grow your earnings over time.
How to Develop a Writing Practice
April 30—May 21, 2019
Successful writers understand that writing is not just an art—it’s also a practice. If you’re having trouble finding time to write or feel like you lack the motivation to complete your writing projects, this class is for you. Students will learn how to track their creative energy throughout the day, analyze their schedules to set aside time for writing, use measurable goals to maximize productivity while writing, and discuss how to remain committed to their writing practice long-term.
How to Get Started as a Freelancer
January 12–February 9, 2019
How do you get started as a freelance writer? Is it possible to turn freelancing into a full-time job? Nicole Dieker is in her sixth year of full-time freelancing, and she’ll teach you everything she knows about how freelancers make money; how to pitch (even when you don’t have clips); how to build a freelancer schedule that combines writing, pitching, networking, and administrative work; and how to grow your earnings over time.
The Path to Freelancing
How do you get started as a freelance writer? Is it possible to turn freelancing into a full-time job? Nicole Dieker is in her seventh year of full-time freelancing, and she’ll teach you everything she knows about how freelancers make money: how to pitch (even when you don’t have clips); how to build a freelancer schedule that combines writing, pitching, networking, and administrative work; and how to grow your earnings over time.
The Path to Publishing
There’s no single path towards publication — you can query an agent and get picked up by a traditional publisher, you can work with a small press, or you can take on both the writing and publishing responsibilities and build your career as a self-published author. This course will outline all of the available paths to publication for both fiction and nonfiction writers, offer the pros and cons of each, and give you actionable next steps for whichever path you choose.
How to Get Started as a Freelancer
September 29–October 27, 2018
How do you get started as a freelance writer? Is it possible to turn freelancing into a full-time job? Nicole Dieker is in her sixth year of full-time freelancing, and she’ll teach you everything she knows about how freelancers make money; how to pitch (even when you don’t have clips); how to build a freelancer schedule that combines writing, pitching, networking, and administrative work; and how to grow your earnings over time.
Getting Started as a Freelancer
49 Writers (Juneau, Alaska)
Monday, June 11, 2018. 6:30-9 p.m.
How do you get started as a freelance writer? Is it possible to turn freelancing into a full-time job? I’m in my sixth year of full-time freelancing, and I’ll teach you everything I know about how freelancers make money: how to pitch (even when you don’t have clips); how to build a freelancer schedule that combines writing, pitching, networking, and administrative work; and how to grow your earnings over time.
The Finances of Self-Publishing
Hugo House (Seattle, Washington)
Tuesday, June 3, 2018. 6-9 p.m.
Self-publishing is easier than ever—but it isn’t cheap. When you become your own publisher, you take on all the costs associated with publication: hiring editors and designers, getting industry reviews, planning book launches and book tours. You also become your own accountant: how much should your book cost, and how many copies will you need to sell to break even? Is it worth it to sell print copies as well as ebooks? What about taxes? This course will cover the finances of self-publishing, explain the types of expenses you can expect as a first-time publisher, and discuss ways to keep your costs low while still creating a professional-quality book.
Write-O-Rama
Hugo House, July 2017
Write-O-Rama is your chance to try out several workshops offered by Hugo House teachers all in one writing-packed day.
Not only can you sample Hugo House classes and teachers, but you can also try out genres and topics outside your purview without the pressure of registering for a full class.
The Art of Interviewing
Hugo House, June 2017
If you want to build your freelance career, you need to know how to interview. How do you find and interview a source when your editor wants your draft by Friday? What questions should you avoid? What do you do when your source wants to approve the interview before it’s published? This course will cover the mechanics of interviewing, including how to locate sources, how to prep the interview, and how to help your source feel comfortable during the process.
Getting Started as a Freelancer
Hugo House, October–November 2016
How do you get started as a freelance writer? Is it possible to turn freelancing into a full-time job? Nicole Dieker is in her fourth year of full-time freelancing, and she’ll teach you everything she knows about how freelancers make money; how to pitch (even when you don’t have clips); how to build a freelancer schedule that combines writing, pitching, networking, and administrative work; and how to grow your earnings over time.