Freelance Writers Den Review

I’ll be honest: a huge part of the reason I became a writer was to avoid networking.

I’m an introvert and also one of those kids who, when tasked with group projects, made everyone else in the group give me their stuff so I could do it all myself. “Teamwork” and “collaboration” don’t have prominent places in my vocabulary.

But as I quickly learned (and as you know if you’ve spent more than two seconds trying to freelance), this is not a business where you can go it alone. Finding a writing community, or at least some reliable industry resources you can turn to, is a critical step to creating the kind of freelance career you’re dreaming of. And fortunately, there’s an option that doesn’t require leaving the house—or even putting on pants.

Here’s a breakdown of what I’ll cover in this review:

• What is the Freelance Writers Den?
• What are the features / benefits?
• What do I like about the Freelance Writers Den?
• What do I not like about it?
• Next Step

What is the Freelance Writers Den?

Taking place entirely online, the Freelance Writers Den is the perfect place to find a resource-packed writing community, especially for socio-phobes like me.

But since its 1,100+ members come from all over the world, it’s also helpful for bona fide extroverts, even if they do already have access to a real-life writing circle. Even the richest local writing community can’t compete with global!

The Den was founded in 2011 by Carol Tice, the “Den Mother” and mind behind the Make a Living Writing blog. She’s been a successful freelancer for more than 15 years and today earns six figures doing it. She wanted to help other freelancers find real financial success as efficiently as possible—and also to stop the influx of one-off how on earth do I do this? emails she had in her inbox.

Membership to the Freelance Writers Den comes with a host of useful tools, content, and learning opportunities, which we’ll dive into below. It costs $40 per month with no obligation—which isn’t crazy expensive, but isn’t nothing, either.

So what do you get for your price of entry?

What features & benefits do you get as a Writers Den member?

For most of us, freelancing isn’t exactly a get-rich-quick scheme—so when we pony up for a writing resource, we want to know we’re getting our money’s worth.

Here’s what the $40-per-month Freelance Writers Den Membership gets you.

Online community forums

Ever sit down to write a story (or pen a pitch, or start a blog, or—you get it) and wish you had a friendly fellow freelancer whose shoulder you could tap to ask for advice, or even just commiserate?

The Freelance Writers Den forums are the next-best thing: an active, affable group of writers convening to swap tips, ask and answer questions, and share both challenges and success stories.

Unlike even the most active real-life writers’ group, the Den’s forums are open for your musings 24/7, and they’re organized into helpful and relevant categories. Moderators and fellow members chime in with answers and help within hours. The collective wisdom of the group is tremendous.

Whether you’re looking to amp up your marketing skills or ask a specific writing question—or maybe you’re just looking to meet more writers in your position. Either way, there’s a board for it, and a writer (or ten) on the other end waiting to connect.

Live and recorded resources

The Freelance Writers Den is first and foremost a community, and the ability to connect with other freelancers working to meet their goals is invaluable on a fundamental level.

But there’s also a whole lot of expertise to be mined from that community, and it’s available in the form of more than 300 hours of evergreen resources—as well as an actively-updated calendar of live events.

• Bootcamps are essentially four-week-long ecourses, and your Writers Den membership gives you instant access to over two dozen of them. They’re designed to help you get to the next step in your writing career no matter where you are on your journey, from finding your first-ever paid gig to breaking into business writing or building a better writer website and LinkedIn page. Each bootcamp comes complete with videos and engaging homework assignments, and the ones offered live on a monthly basis feature real-time Q-and-A calls to help you make the most of the effort you’re putting into the course. They’re also augmented by discussions in the forums so you can connect with other writers diving into the same topics, and get feedback from the experts dishing the details. (In other words, it’s nothing like being yelled at by a Drill Instructor.)
• Webinars and Podcasts are also offered by industry influencers on a regular basis, including a helpful “Ask the Editor” series which gives you an insider view of what, exactly, editors are looking for. You’ll also learn to overcome fear, increase productivity, and figure out the business end…not to mention, of course, honing the craft itself.
• The Resource Library is where all this content lives once their livestream has passed, and it’s packed with over 300 hours of content. So even if you can’t make the scheduled events, you’ve still got plenty of helpful goodies to wade through.

Direct Referrals for Jobs / Gigs

Finding gigs is one of the hardest parts of freelancing, hands down. Finding good gigs is even harder.

That fact is why I really appreciate the Den’s built-in referral system. Writers are helping other writers find gigs with an attitude of abundance. And you won’t find anything that pays less than $75 per post.

There’s no shortage of opportunities to scope out. You’ll find both remote and on-site listings for copywriters, editors, content marketers and more, and along with regular old freelance gigs, there are also part-time, contract, and retainer positions.

That’s really just the start of what’s available; as the helpful Orientation Guide puts it, the Den has “a lot of nooks and crannies.” Fortunately, you can easily keep tabs on it all with once-weekly newsletters that come out every Monday, getting you ready to tackle your week with strength and success.

What do I like about the Freelance Writers Den?

I’ve been making a living as a freelancer for a while now, and only just learned about this resource. Which parts made me say, “Man, I wish I’d known about this earlier?”

Well, I’ll admit it: I’m not really the ecourse type. I’m midway through my third full year of freelancing, and I’ve yet to find one I’m willing to drop money on. (Of course, I was lucky enough to learn a lot of my freelancing skills through friendships with other writers, giving me a jump-start that not everyone gets. There’s that networking thing again!)

But I know plenty of writers adore ecourses—and I have to say, a Den membership seems like a great way to access them. It offers both an active, rotating calendar of live events as well as scores of pre-recorded bootcamps, podcasts, and webinars, and you get into all of it for just $40 per month. That’s way less than the fees I usually see advertised on private ecourses.

What I do love about the Freelance Writers Den: the job board and the forums.

• The gigs posted on the job board are authentic, high-quality, and easy to filter, and I saw a few that hadn’t already crossed my radar via the grapevine or my newsletters. It’s nice to know they’ve been pre-screened for non-crappiness, so I don’t have to be quite as critical as I usually am while I’m clicking through. No freelancer has time to work for peanuts, and we have even less time to scrounge around on the internet trying to figure out where the well-paid jobs are. So for me, the Den’s job board is easily worth the price of entry all on its own.
• The forums are an amazing way for a work-from-home writer to interface with other real, live people—who actually understand the unique challenges we face as freelancers and can help us find the resources, opportunities, and advice we need. I especially love the board dedicated to feedback and critiques, which allows you to get some gentle constructive criticism from other writers before you ship off your piece to an editor or potential client. Hey, better to hear it from a peer than a paying customer—or to have it derail your pitch!

What do I not-so-like about the Freelance Writers Den?

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot to love about this community. The recorded content could keep you busy for months, and with a vibrant group of writers ready to chat in real time, you’ve got other minds to bounce those new tips and tricks off of.

But no platform is perfect—and if I had to pick a part of the Writers Den that could use improvement, I’d say the user interface could be a little bit more intuitive. Those “nooks and crannies” Tice mentions are well-described; it’s easy to get lost back here! And while the main parts of the site are helpfully listed as links in the site header, I constantly feel like I might be missing something as I click around.

Rumor has it their team plans to address this in coming months.

Ready to sign up for the Freelance Writers Den?

So what’s the catch? Well, the Freelance Writers Den only opens its digital doors to the public twice a year.

If you want to be notified the next time it’s open for enrollment,  your best bet is to join the waiting list.

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

Photo via apichon_tee/ Shutterstock 

And in spite of its appearance, it works quite differently than its neighbor, the colon. 

But for those who take the time to learn its quirks, the semicolon is a punctuation mark unparalleled in versatility; properly employed, it can make your prose sound more professional (if slightly pontificating).

Okay, enough of that. But seriously: how do you use a semicolon (;), anyway? And when should you definitely NOT use one?

Read on to learn the ins and outs of this unique little piece of grammatical nuance and explore a few semicolon examples:

1. How to use a semicolon
2. Colon vs. semicolon
3. When not to use a semicolon
4. Why use a semicolon?

How to use a semicolon, once and for all

Semicolons can be used in four cases. We’ll review each of them and provide examples.

Here’s when to use a semicolon:

1. To link closely-related independent clauses
2. To separate two independent clauses that are connected by a transitional phrase or conjunctive adverb
3. To separate two independent clauses that are connected by a coordinating conjunction if those clauses are very long or already punctuated with commas
4. To separate items in a serial list that already contains commas

In the majority of cases, a semicolon is used to link two closely-related independent clauses. 

That is, the two statements on either side of the semicolon could totally be sentences all their own, but the semicolon indicates that they’re essentially part of the same idea. The first three semicolon use cases are really just variations on this method, which treats the semicolon as a kind of intermediary punctuation mark, between the period and the comma.

In the last use case, the semicolon is used to separate items in a list because those items have already been strewn with commas, which could lead to a lack of clarity without the employment of another punctuation mark.

To illustrate these use cases, I’ll devise some semicolon examples that relate to one of my favorite topics on earth: cheese. Here’s how sentences should look when you use semicolons properly.

1. Linking closely-related independent clauses

Jamie really likes cheese; it may be her favorite food on Earth.

As you can see, these two statements could easily stand on their own with a period in between them. But by using a semicolon, the closeness between the two ideas is reinforced. After all, they’re essentially saying the exact same thing.

2. Linking independent clauses separated by a transitional phrase or conjunctive adverb

Jamie really likes cheese; in fact, it may be her favorite food on Earth.

The transitional phrase “in fact” has been added to the second independent clause, but the two statements can still be joined by a semicolon.

3. Linking independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction for clarity or brevity

Jamie really likes cheeses of all sorts, including both soft-ripened Bries and firm cheddars; but other cheese lovers sometimes stick to a single variety.

The first independent clause in this set already has a comma, which would make using a second comma to separate the clauses a little less clear. 

By using a semicolon, the sentence achieves clarity and also gives the reader a bit of a brain break — the semicolon provides a firmer stop than a comma would, so your reader can take in the whole idea without getting overwhelmed.

4. Separating items in a serial list

Jamie’s list of favorite cheeses spans a wide variety: soft, gooey Bries; firm, sharp cheddars; and all sorts of intermediary options like goat’s milk Gouda.

In this sentence, the serial list includes items that already have commas (“soft, gooey Bries” and “firm, sharp cheddars”). Thus, a semicolon is employed to make the separate list items more distinct.

There’s also, however, a colon (:) in this sentence — which leads us to another important point.

Colon vs. semicolon: What’s the difference?

Many writers get the semicolon confused with its similar-looking, but very differently employed, cousin, the colon. 

Whereas the semicolon has a comma on the bottom, the colon has two vertically aligned dots, and is most commonly used to introduce a list. (That’s what it’s doing in the cheesy example sentence above.)

However, colons can also be used between independent clauses, which can lead to some confusion. But here’s the big difference: when you use a colon before the second independent clause, it needs to explain or introduce the first independent clause… exactly as it does in this sentence.

When not to use a semicolon

One good time not to use a semicolon: when you need a colon instead. (See what I did there? Okay, I’ll stop. Maybe.)

Yet another common error has to do not with overusing the semicolon, but underusing it. All too often, writers who are just learning how to make edits will employ a comma when they actually need the full weight of a semicolon. 

For example, if you’re trying to link two independent clauses without employing a conjunction, you need a semicolon. To link them with a comma instead is a common error known as a comma splice, which is exemplified below:

INCORRECT (comma splice): The cheese is tasty, it is also rich in calcium.

CORRECT: The cheese is tasty; it is also rich in calcium.

However, it’s also possible to use a semicolon in place of a comma to separate a dependent clause from an independent one. An example:

INCORRECT: Since cheese is delicious and nutritious; you might as well eat it.

CORRECT: Since cheese is delicious and nutritious, you might as well eat it.

The first clause is dependent on the second, which means a semicolon provides too much of a pause in between the two ideas.

Why use a semicolon?

Well, for starters, if you’re a grammar nerd like many of us writer types who cares about grammar rules and grammar tools, it’s just plain old fun to add something new into the mix, not to mention making for some much-needed variety when you’re working on a longer piece. 

Proper semicolon use can make your work sound more sophisticated and give you the opportunity to play with new sentence structures and clause lengths.

But really, if you’re reading this blog post, you probably don’t need much convincing. When it comes to having another tool to master and add to your writing workbox, the real question is: why not? 😉

And yes, the winking emoji is a proper use of the semicolon, too — at least in our book.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

Photo via AnnaStills / Shutterstock 

“Trying to make it as a freelance writer is scary AF.”

With a subject line that bold (and accurate), I wasted no time in opening the email. It was from a young woman who’d recently graduated with a dual degree in English and journalism, asking me how, how, how to become a freelance writer?

It wasn’t the first time I’d received an email to this effect, which feels patently insane. If you’d told me just a few years ago I’d be earning my keep as a full-time freelancer — let alone giving advice on the subject — I’d likely have laughed in your face.

Even when I was working a staff writing gig, I had never so much as drafted a pitch to an outside publication.

I only got brave enough to start submitting ideas after lots of encouragement from my good friend (and fellow TWL writer!) Susan Shain. Thanks again, Susan.

Now, I’ve got almost three years of working for myself under my belt — and in the first year, I actually earned more than I had as a staffer. I enjoy location independence and a workday uniform of yoga pants and t-shirts, so it’s no surprise that fielding the “how do you do it?” question has become a common conversation.

But it’s never easy to answer.

So really though — how do you become a full-time freelance writer?

Here’s the thing.

There’s no guaranteed, step-by-step process that will land you the freelance writing career of your dreams. Ask 10 different writers, and you’ll get 10 different how-I-made-it stories — or, more accurately, how-I’m-making-it-up-as-I-go-along stories.

The actual mechanics of how to get started freelance writing are pretty simple, though not easy: Have good ideas, be good at explicating them clearly, and spend lots of time and energy on the Sisyphean footwork of finding publications that will pay you to publish them. (And convincing them to do so.)

As you’ve likely already discovered, this blog is a great resource for figuring out these logistics and improving your skills at each level. We also offer an ebook dedicated to freelance writing jobs for beginners.

The honest truth about how to become a freelance writer

As far as stringing it into a full-time living, though, I’ll be honest with you: A *lot* of it is luck, and also getting very cozy with rejection. If I get a positive response for just 10-15% of my pitches, I count that as a huge win.

But if you have your heart set on making it as a freelance writer, there are some actionable steps you can take to make it happen.

Here’s my best advice for how to start freelance writing.

1. Seek out education or training

Don’t worry; you don’t have to have a formal degree to be a freelance writer. But if you’re starting from scratch, you’ll likely want to educate yourself in some way, so you can produce quality work from the get-go.

If you don’t have the money or time to get a degree from a university, look for an online writing course. They’re typically more affordable than formal degrees, and you can work your way through them from home (and in the evenings or on weekends if you’ve got a day job).

If you’re planning to go to college or are in the process of earning your degree, you may want to consider formal studies that will help you achieve your goal.

Contrary to popular opinion, English major jobs can be profitable, and the same is true of other writing-intensive majors like creative writing, communications and journalism.

Studying humanities flexes your rhetorical muscles, which will make you a much better writer and pitcher. Plus, these programs lend you the soft skills employers look for — which is good, since you’ll likely need a day job while you’re finding a way to make the whole yoga-pants-forever thing work.

If college is already in the rear view, you might also consider grad school, or more specifically, an MFA. But be careful. The additional expense won’t guarantee you work down the line, and if you’re already dealing with student loans, you could just be digging the hole deeper.

In the case of freelancing, it’s more about experience and practice than the fancy pedigree.

Fortunately, if you’re aching to go back to school, you don’t have to go broke to do it. Many MA, MFA and PhD programs come with tuition waivers, provided you teach, or assist in teaching, a number of undergrad classes while you study.

You can also find fellowships, scholarships and other forms of loan-free financial aid if you’re diligent.

If you’re looking for a group to help you get the ball rolling on your freelance writing career, the Freelance Writers Den might be exactly what you need. It’s a group of like-minded writers who are all looking to take their writing skills seriously and start to grow their careers.

2. Consider starting with a staff job

Yes, I know: Finding an editorial position — or any job, really — is easier said than done.

But websites and publications do hire writers, and getting a full-time position will give you two amazing, irreplaceable benefits: an instant stack of clips and a world of hands-on education you just can’t get any other way.

Working closely with editors and other creatives every day will make you a better writer, period; if you work for a digital publication (likely), you’re bound to get some SEO training and other know-how in the bargain.

I know for a fact I owe my success to my tenure at The Penny Hoarder, whose managing editor — Alexis Grant, who also started this website — essentially handed me a writing career whole cloth in hiring me.

3. Get out there and start pitching

“This is how you do it: you sit down at the keyboard and you put one word after another until it’s done. It’s that easy, and that hard.” – Neil Gaiman

At the end of the day, the only way to become a freelance writer is…to start writing.

That means taking a pretty scary leap: You’ve got to start pitching publications and applying for gigs even if you don’t have many clips. Hey, everyone’s a beginner at the beginning.

Of course, even if you’ve never published professional work, there are other ways to showcase your writing prowess. Got a killer short story that hasn’t found a home quite yet? Maybe even a particularly well-wrought essay from college?

I applied for The Penny Hoarder with a short memoir I wrote in grad school and — I kid you not — wine-tasting notes. Most employers and clients are more concerned with whether you’ve got the goods than where you’ve managed to land them.

Not sure where to start when it comes to finding paid writing gigs? Check out these online gold mines for finding freelance writing jobs.

4. Showcase your work online

Your pitches will be far more effective if you link to an online writing portfolio where editors can check out your work.

This doesn’t have to be anything fancy! A static website will do, even one created with a template.

As far as a portfolio is concerned, I recommend Contently. Not only is it a clean, easy-to-use digital showcase, but it can also land you valuable work: the platform matches editors with writers and other content creators based on specific beats and skill sets. I’ve earned literally thousands of dollars simply because I chose to use it.

If you want to take this a step further, consider starting a blog. Writing regularly is a great way to practice your craft, and you might even grow a following for your work.

A blog also gives editors more samples to review when they click over to your site from your pitch; every blog post is an example of the kind of work you do. That doesn’t mean they have to be perfect, but know that if you have a blog, editors will look to that for insight on your skill and creativity.

Finally, having a website will make you feel way more legitimate. (Impostor Syndrome is totally a thing in this business, so get ready!)

Oh, and while you’re at it, make sure your social media accounts reflect well on you, too. Any good editor will explore those to learn more about you.

5. Networking: Yup, it’s a thing for writers, too

As a serious-business introvert, “networking” has always felt like a four-letter word to me. In fact, I was drawn to freelancing in large part because it got me away from the noisy, crowded office environment.

Nevertheless, my first major client — the one that made quitting my day job possible, and whose work still makes up a sizable percentage of my income — was an opportunity I landed in part because of a shared connection.

I’ve also written web copy for gym acquaintances, friends and family members, which were gainful projects both financially and in broadening my experience.

The Write Life’s managing editor Jessica Lawlor blogs about how she landed her first freelance client, as well as the ones she found thereafter. From sorority sisters to Twitter friends to existing professional connections, nearly every single story involves networking.

Case in point: Don’t overlook any of your current social spheres when it comes to writing opportunities, and get ready to actively work to increase them. Everyone needs the written word sometimes!

Inside of the Freelance Writers Den, you can learn how to use LinkedIn to your advantage when it comes to networking. Instead of cold pitching, there are ways you can simply adjust your profile and settings and connect with a ton of potential clients.

6. Figure out how to get paid

This sounds obvious, but it can be a hurdle when you’re just getting started. Once you’ve found a client and produced the work you promised, you need a way to get money from their bank account into yours.

Many freelancers have given up on paper checks and rely primarily on online payments. If you’re just testing the waters as a freelancer, keep it simple by creating a PDF invoice and emailing it to your client, then asking for payment via an easy-to-use system like PayPal.

Not sure what to include in your first invoice? We’ve got you covered! Here’s how to write an invoice, plus an invoice example.

Once you feel confident you’re sticking with freelance writing, it makes sense to move to a software that will create the invoice for you and help you track payments. We’ve got a list of some of the best invoice generator tools for freelancers.

7. Know this: the work isn’t always glamorous

When I tell people I’m a freelance writer, they often think I’m publishing exclusively in glossy magazines with chic, single-word titles. The closest I’ve come to that, so far, is Yahoo! — a byline I’m very happy with, but whose trademarked exclamation point does not exactly bespeak elegance or sophistication.

The bulk of my paying work is far less illustrious, but critical for rounding out my bank account. Website copy, SEO work and listicle-style blog posts aren’t what anyone dreams of when they feel the pull of the pen, but they’re some of the most reliable ways for freelance writers to pay the bills.

Many businesses can provide a steady stream of this kind of work, becoming the anchor clients by which you build a semi-reliable paycheck.

The idea is to pick up as much of this bread-and-butter work as you need to survive, and then use the rest of your time to pitch those dreamy projects you can’t wait to work on.

It can be a hard balance to strike, but even un-fun writing counts as valuable practice. You’ll hone your craft and earn your keep all while amassing more clips — and better chops — to show off when you’re pitching the big boys. Then, you can slowly scale up to working exclusively on better-paid, more interesting content.

8. Expect the unexpected

Fickle income, weird hours, totally unmitigated refrigerator access — working for yourself is a strange and sometimes dangerous world.

At the very least, you’ll want to prepare yourself financially for things like managing income flow and expenses, paying your own taxes, buying your own health care and funding your own retirement.

And for even the best writers, clients come and go, so be sure to build up a significant cushion for those inevitable dry periods.

It’s also a good idea to impose rules to lend your otherwise-loosey-goosey day structure — like deciding you’ll only write at your desk as opposed to your couch, for instance, or making yourself put on real pants for the duration of your work day. (Or maybe not. Let’s not get crazy.) This is especially true during times like the holiday season when you’ll need to be extra disciplined to get your work done.

If I had to summarize it all in brief, I’d say this: Becoming a freelance writer requires equal parts semi-pathological levels of type-A dedication, boundless curiosity, and total insensitivity to rejection.

Oh, and luck. A lot of luck.

But like all of the best things in life, even though it’s not an easy journey, the road to the write life is definitely one worth taking — and one we’re excited to help you travel.

Ready to take the next step?

You’ll want to check out the Freelance Writers Den if you’re looking to succeed as a freelance writer. It gives you all the tips and tools you could possibly need to succeed.

This is an updated version of a story that was previously published. We update our posts as often as possible to ensure they’re useful for our readers.

But when writing is your bread and butter (or even just your primary hobby), figuring out the most salient points of usage takes on a new importance — or, at least, feels more important than figuring it out just to pass a pop quiz.

Chances are at least one of your teachers drilled the idea that passive voice is bad into your head. 

But why did they do that? Is it that bad, really? And, with however many years separating you from your classroom experience, do you even know how to identify passive voice in the first place anymore?

Let’s take a quick, pain-and-pop-quiz-free review of this peculiar type of sentence construction.

What is passive voice?

The passive voice is a type of sentence construction wherein the subject and object switch places: rather than the subject acting on the object, the object of the action becomes, itself, the subject.

It sounds complicated, but you’ve definitely seen it used — and more than likely used it yourself without even thinking about it.

One common way the passive voice is employed (and thus an easy red flag to look for when trying to identify it in your own writing) is the use of some form of “to be” verb plus a past participle. For example:

The paper had been written when I was young and inexperienced.

(An active voice version of that idea might read: I wrote the paper when I was young and inexperienced.)

However, not all sentences that use “to be” verbs or past participles are passive! For example, all of the following sentences are in the active voice:

I had been writing all night long, but I wasn’t getting anywhere.

I have to submit my manuscript by tomorrow!

He had gone to his editor more than once about it.

“To be” verbs and participles aside, the most conclusive way to figure out whether or not a sentence is in the passive voice is to identify the subject, verb, and — if there is one — the object of the action. If the object of the action is in the front of the sentence and the subject is at the end, you’ve got yourself an example of passive voice.

Another example:

PASSIVE VOICE: The book was written by my best friend, Elizabeth.

ACTIVE VOICE: My best friend Elizabeth wrote the book.

Why is the passive voice wrong?

As discussed above, the last time you talked about the passive voice was probably in the context of being told, by some well-meaning teacher, that it’s incorrect.

So let’s be totally clear: the passive voice isn’t wrong, exactly. But it’s usually a lot clunkier than an active sentence construction. 

Using the passive voice distances the subject from the action of the sentence, which leads to less clarity and urgency. It can also add unnecessary words to your manuscript, since the passive voice generally requires more auxiliary verbs than the active voice does. You need a lot more space to say The ball had been kicked by me than to say I kicked the ball.

That said, there may be times when you want to employ the passive voice to purposefully draw emphasis to the object of an action — or the fact that the object is, in fact, being treated as an object. 

For instance, Writer Constance Hale argues that Germaine Greer, in writing “The Female Eunuch,” uses the passive voice “ to emphasize that a subject is not a ‘doer’ but a ‘done-to’ over at the New York Times. Here’s Greer’s passage with the passive portion bolded:

The married woman’s significance can only be conferred by the presence of a man at her side, a man upon whom she absolutely depends. In return for renouncing, collaborating, adapting, identifying, she is caressed, desired, handled, influenced.

When in doubt, however — and especially if you’re still working to understand exactly what the passive voice is — it’s usually a good rule of thumb to avoid it.

How to use less passive voice in your writing

Now that we’ve covered how to discern between passive vs. active voice and why the passive voice can be so problematic, you may be wondering how to fix or avoid it in your own writing practice. 

And to be honest, like most things in the writing world — and in the whole world, as a matter of fact — a lot of it comes down to plain old practice. As you continue to write, take time to review your work specifically for instances of passive voice usage and change the sentences to active voice when you see them. Over time, using the active voice will become second nature.

Of course, everyone needs some help along the way. Fortunately, we’ve come across some grammar checker tools that include a passive voice checker amongst their suite of goodies — and although premium versions of those programs cost, many offer a free edition.

Armed with this knowledge of passive voice, go forth and do some writing…as opposed to letting your writing do you!

Photo via Prostock-studio / Shutterstock 

With such a wide range of acceptable applications, an em dash might seem easy to use. But despite its flexibility, there’s one way in which the em dash is anything but intuitive — and that’s typographically.

If you want to benefit from the em dash without littering your manuscript with double hyphens (–), here’s what you need to know. 

Here’s how to type an em dash in your favorite word processor

No matter where you do your writing, there’s a trick to ensuring you get the perfect em dash every time!

In Google Docs

Although MS Word has long been considered industry standard, many writers have moved on to Google’s free cloud-based word processing platform, Google Docs. However, in this program, dual hyphens stay dual hyphens by default.

In order to put an em dash into your work, navigate to the “Insert” menu, and then select “Special Characters.” Instead of scrolling through the various symbols available to you, you can simply search for “em,” and the dash will come right up.

If you — like me — use Google Docs almost exclusively and love your em dashes, I’d recommend creating an automatic substitution command.

Click on the “Tools” menu, and then click on “Preferences.” At the bottom, you’ll see a tick box next to the words “Automatic substitution.” Ensure it’s toggled on, and then set a command to replace — with — (grab the symbol from the “Special Characters” menu referenced above, and copy/paste it into the right-hand text box).

Ta-da! You never have to go menu hunting for em dashes again.

In MS Word

One of the most popular word processors on the market, MS Word offers users a variety of ways to make an em dash appear. 

The first of these is AutoFormat, which is likely already enabled and will automatically create an em dash when you type a double hyphen (–). In order to make AutoFormat change your — to —, you’ll need to type one word before and one word after the double hyphen, without pressing the spacebar until the end. 

Example: hocus–pocus (space) becomes hocus—pocus

If AutoFormat is not enabled (and you don’t want it to be), you can also find em dashes by navigating to the Insert tab, selecting Symbol, choosing More Symbols, and clicking the em dash on the second row. Finally, there’s also a keyboard shortcut: Ctrl+Alt+minus, where Num Lock is enabled and you’re utilizing the minus symbol on your numeric keypad.

On a Mac

If you’re operating on a Mac, the basic instructions for MS Word and Google Docs above should still apply — though you’ll have different keyboard shortcuts. In Word, you’ll hold down Shift+ Option+minus rather than the Ctrl+Alt+minus mentioned above.

In the native Mac word processor, Text Edit, you’ll have access to the Emojis & Symbols menu under Edit, which you can browse for the em dash.

Okay…but when do I use an em dash?

If you’re like most of the writers we know, chances are you’re already comfortable employing this enigmatic piece of punctuation— if anything, you use it too much. (Yes, I could cram an em-dash into just about every sentence I write if my editors would allow it. Who says you have to follow grammar rules?!)

Indeed, em dashes are so versatile it’s hard to find examples wherein they’re truly wrong.

But just in case you’re looking for ways to spice up your punctuation, here are a few scenarios in which an em dash is a valid option.

To set off parentheticals

Just as you use parentheses to set aside auxiliary information (like this), you can use em dashes for the same purpose. However, where parentheses cast the information very much as an aside, em dashes have a tendency to emphasize the information — so be sure you choose wisely. 

Em dashes are also particularly useful in setting aside appositives that contain commas, since they offer a less cluttered, more streamlined sentence to the reader.

Examples: 

• Portland is a city where the weather — by which we mean rain, and a lot of it — can be a detractor for those who are susceptible to seasonal affective disorder.
• Learning to use proper punctuation — including periods, commas, question marks and more—will make you into a much stronger writer. 

In place of a semicolon or colon

We’ve already talked about when to use a semicolon and their plain-old-colon cousins. In many cases, an em dash can be subbed in for either of these punctuation marks.

For instance, if you’re separating an independent clause and a list, an em dash is just as valid an option as a colon. An em dash can also separate two independent clauses, just like a semicolon does, though it may feel more casual and signify that the two ideas are quite closely related.  

Examples:

• There are a few things you need for a safe hiking trip — sunscreen, water and high-quality footwear.
• We still aren’t sure if the manuscript is going to be accepted — we’re in a rather nail-bitey mood as of late. 

To signal interruptions or shifts

When writing narratives or dialogue, em dashes become even more useful; they can help you bring a reader into the scene by displaying interruptions or changes in tone.

Examples:

• “Where are we goi—”
  “Shh,” he interrupted her, grinning. “Just trust me on this one, okay?”
• First comes love, then comes marriage — then comes the $30,000 bill for the wedding.

So now you’ve got everything you need to put em dashes in your own writing — the when, the where and the how. So what are you waiting for? Get writing!

Photo via Alissa Kumarova / Shutterstock 

Despite the tired narrative that writers resent their editors, who slash through their hard-won lines with a flick of the red pen, many of us have come to realize that a quality editor can help a writer figure out exactly what they meant to say…and say it better. 

If you’re finishing a manuscript, for example, a round of professional edits can help you shine it up and increase your chances of getting published. Hiring a book editor can be a major leg up in the notoriously competitive publishing market. 

And even if you’re just publishing a blog post on your own website, you want to ensure it’s the best it can be. 

Where to find a quality freelance book editor

Ideally, you’re looking for an editor who’s got great chops, and someone who offers affordable freelance editing rates. Which kind of sounds like looking for a unicorn.

Fortunately, such editors for hire aren’t mythical beasts — but it can take some digging to find one. 

Here’s where to look for a book editor.

1.Facebook

Yes, this one might look like a surprise at first glance, but online writing groups can be a treasure trove of resources at any point in your drafting process.  

On Facebook in particular, you can find a wide range of groups dedicated to all things editorial, from places like EAE Ad Space, which is explicit in its mission to match editors and clients, to groups like Beta Readers and Critique Partners, where you can get (potentially free, but also potentially non-professional) editorial help. 

In any case, the other writers in your online spaces may have a lead on a great editor, so it’s worth asking. (And if you’re not already a part of The Write Life Community group, this is your reminder to get in there!)

Finding a great editor can really take your work to the next level — as can learning how to become an editor yourself. So if you’re a writer looking to market your skills in every way possible, keep in mind that these resources also work for selling services as well as buying them!

As a next step: Is it your first time hiring an editor? Here are some questions to ask once you’ve figured out how to find an editor that could be a fit for you. 

And if you’re wondering, what does a book editor do? We’ve covered that for you, too.

2. Ebook Launch

If you’re writing any book — be it fiction or nonfiction, ebook-only or print — Ebook Launch is something of a one-stop-shop for your editing, design, and formatting needs. 

Professional edits, by real, live humans, start at $0.016 per word for copy editing and $0.007 per word for proofreading, with a minimum or $200 per service per book. They also offer cover design and formatting at additional costs.

 3. Editorial Freelancers Association

While apps and comprehensive programs offer ease of use, sometimes you actually get a better deal and more personal attention by contracting with an individual professional.

The Editorial Freelancers Association is one of the largest collectives of professional freelance editors, writers, proofreaders, indexers, and other editorial professionals, and a great resource for those in need of their help. (Also, freelance writers, it might be worth joining to help you find new clients, too! It’s $145 per year or $260 if you sign up for two years.)

You don’t need to be a member to search the group’s directory, which allows you to filter by specific service and skill. Enter your criteria, and you’ll get a list of professionals who fit the bill, as well as their contact information. 

You’ll have to negotiate prices and services; here’s about how much you should expect to pay — and here are five important questions you should ask. 

4. ACES: The Society for Editing

Another large organization specifically for editors (as well as their educators and students), ACES is a great resource for finding freelance book editing, copy editing, and any other editorial services you might need. 

Its Editors for Hire Directory lists professional editors from around the world, as well as their specific services, specialties, and contact information.

5. Manuscript Wish List

Manuscript Wish List is a well-known resource for finding agents once you have a polished manuscript — but you can use it to find freelance book editors as well. 

The directory lists editor profiles alphabetically by first name, as well as content specialities, and there’s a search function with lots of useful filters. 

6. NY Book Editors

This platform takes the legwork out of editor shopping by matching you with an editor based on your specific style and vision. The company offers a risk-free trial edit to ensure that your newfound partnership is actually a fit. There’s a $165 fee for the service, and it’s refundable if you’re not happy with the results.

Once you’re happy with your editor, you’ll move forward by determining which services your work needs — the depth and scope of which will determine your final pricing. 

Along with making finding an editor a little bit easier, this company will also let you know if you’re not ready for professional edits yet. That can be a hard message to hear, but an important one.

7. BookBaby

Writing a book does feel like having a baby. And most people don’t expect themselves to have a baby without any help. 

BookBaby is designed specifically for people who plan to self-publish, and the company can help with everything from editing your manuscript to designing your book cover to getting that book printed and on store shelves. 

Services are offered a la carte, and your overall cost depends on exactly what kind of help you’re looking for. 

For example, line edits, which include critique of character development and style, run $10 per page, but you can get proofreading services — which just deal with grammar — for $3 per page instead. 

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

Photo via Roman Samborskyi / Shutterstock

It may seem like a little thing, but for some of us (ahem, like me), the past tense of “lead” is actually pretty elusive. After all, there’s another word that sounds exactly like it in our language…and it’s a noun (✏️) that’s spelled exactly like the present tense of the verb. 

If that sounds confusing, it’s because it is! But don’t worry, you’re allowed to be confused. And you’re also allowed to learn the simple rule that’ll keep you from ever having to type the phrase “past tense of lead” into Google again.

In this post, we lead you into a more comprehensive understanding of this tricky tense change — and give you a mnemonic to ensure you never forget the past tense of lead again!

Okay, so: What’s the past tense of lead?

Lead is, in most cases, a verb meaning to guide, initiate, conduct, or show. It can also sometimes be used in noun form to refer to the person or entity in the leading position.

The past tense of “lead” is “led,” which is not to be confused with the separate and distinct noun, “lead,” which sounds the same, but refers to the stuff you find inside your pencil.

Okay, okay — to be fair, there actually isn’t any real lead in modern day pencils, because, as we now know, the stuff is pretty darn toxic. Rather, the “lead” we refer to when we’re talking about our favorite erasable writing instrument is actually graphite, which Wikipedia informs us is “a crystalline form of the element carbon with its atoms arranged in a hexagonal structure.” Along with leaving marks on paper, it’s also used in batteries, electrodes, solar panels and even lubricants. Go figure!

But anyway, that’s the short answer to the question. Here’s an example of what it looks like.

Today, I will lead the Halloween parade. I’m excited to wear my pumpkin costume!

Two weeks ago, I led the stand-up meeting… but these days, my intern has been giving it a try.

Like we said above, it seems simple enough. But any writer who’s been at it for a while knows how easily these simple changes can slip out of our minds.

So what can you do to remember the difference forever? 

Here’s an easy way to remember the past tense of lead

Although “lead” (like the material) and “led” (like the past tense of the verb lead) sound the same, they have very different meanings. But if you can remember this one simple rule, you’ll never accidentally use the wrong one again.

The past tense of “lead” is a word with three letters. Which makes sense, since we lose a bit of immediacy when we’re talking about something that happened in the past. 

Thus, you can always remember that you make the word “lead” past tense by taking something away from it (namely, the letter “a”) — whereas the word referring to the stuff that isn’t actually in pencils is its whole, own separate concept.

The past tense of “lead” is “led,” whereas the homophone “lead” is a physical element.

There you have it! Now go forth and be leaders in the correct use of this finicky verb.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

Photo via Gajus / Shutterstock 

For instance, although I call myself a freelance writer, a truer title would look more like: freelance researcher, interviewer, SEO-implementer, brainstormer, copy-editor and writer…and that’s before delving into the housekeeping stuff that runs in the background, like invoicing, marketing and finding clients.

Suffice to say, freelancing can be a pretty overwhelming world to leap into, especially with the added pressure of income inconsistency and lack of benefits. And it’s not an industry many college programs are set up to prepare you for — at least, not traditional colleges.

How Freelance University could help you boost your business

As a freelance professional (or an aspiring one), chances are you’re already grateful for the internet. I know my business would be toast without the web.

And with Craig and Kelly Cannings’ Freelance University, there’s even more reason to celebrate cyberspace. 

This comprehensive resource fits exactly into the freelance lacuna left by traditional university programs. Its materials run the gamut from landing clients to managing email systems, preparing you for all the unexpected turns wielded by the average freelance career.

When you sign up, you get access to So. Much. Stuff. Literally more than 80 courses. It’s actually kind of hard to talk about it all in the limited space of a single blog post. 

And like college, it’s not just about the courses — you’ll also gain access to an exclusive Facebook group where students can gather and chat at their leisure.

What do you get when you enroll in Freelance University?

No matter where you are on your freelance journey, there’s something new for you to learn at Freelance University. And unlike the traditional college experience, there are no set-in-stone requirements: the course load is all up to you.

If you’re starting from scratch or looking for an inclusive overview of a topic, you can choose a “track,” which organizes a concise package of courses geared to help you hit the ground running in your latest freelance endeavor. 

But you can also DIY it, taking an a la carte approach by clicking on the courses, resources and trainings that most appeal to you. 

No matter what you choose, you’ll find that the material is well designed and easy to follow. Plus, the user-friendly homepage shows exactly how far you’ve made it through each course you’ve taken (and, importantly, makes it easy to jump right back in where you left off). Each shop and workshop is complete and comprehensive, with a printable handout at the top to help you follow along and a combination of PDF resources and videos to learn from.

What do these courses cover, you ask? Just like a good freelancer’s resume, pretty much everything you can imagine. 

Here’s a small taste of what you can learn by spending a few hours at Freelance University:

• How to build income streams and land new clients, including nitty-gritty topics like cold calling in a digital world
• How to help a client design a WordPress site or start a Mailchimp campaign — or how to better do these for your own business purposes
• How to start a podcast or launch and online summit
• How to take on a successful entrepreneurial mindset, and what that even means
• How to successfully use apps like Trello and Canva or create GIFs on your smartphone

You’ll also have access to virtual office hours, wherein Craig answers student questions live on a monthly basis. (But these office hours are way better than the ones you remember from school, because they’re recorded — which means you can attend them anytime you want. Potentially in your pajamas.)

Craig used to work as a freelancer, and he’s been teaching students how to up their freelance game for more than a decade. So he’s comfortable answering any question you could possibly come up with! More than 14,000 students have learned from him at Freelance U.

Plus, you get certifications to share with clients

In addition to the knowledge and skills you gain through this program, you’ll also have something to show for it: certifications.

Freelance University offers certification programs across seven core tracks, including content creation and management, social media, and digital marketing. You can easily feature these certifications on your website or LinkedIn profile.

If you’re just getting started as a freelancer and don’t yet have references, certifications can be helpful for landing your first few clients. Of course, you still need to prove you can do the work, but certifications prove you’ve done the training, so they can help you get your foot in the door. These certifications are included with the cost of your tuition. 

OK…so what’s the catch?

No truly thoughtful review would be complete without pointing out places for improvement.

But honestly, it’s hard to come up with too many drawbacks to Freelance University. The resources cover such a wide array of topics and are fit for freelancers in all sorts of industries and all along the experience spectrum.

I guess I can point out a personal pet peeve: Craig, who teaches many of the courses, is a self-described lover of acronyms and catchy mnemonics (i.e., “The 9 Ps of Personal Branding Success”), and these kinds of devices make me a tiny little bit eye-rolly. Which again, is just personal — and I can’t deny that they can be powerful memory aids, even for skeptics like me.

Additionally, there’s no student-to-teacher interaction within the courses themselves…though this problem is pretty much eradicated by the existence of live interactive workshops, Q&As, the Facebook group and the easy access to Craig himself. (And let’s be real: nobody’s favorite part of the traditional college experience was homework.)

What’s the cost of Freelance University?

Thankfully, Freelance University is way more affordable than your typical university.

You can join on a monthly basis for $67/month and see how much of the material you can get through, or commit to 12 months worth of training. If you enroll for a year, you get a significant discount, basically three months free, for $597/year.

Unlike many online courses, you can’t enroll in Freelance University all the time. They open registration just three times a year.

Enrollment is open now through Friday, Sept. 20, 2019, and then it won’t open again until 2020.

Here’s where to enroll in Freelance University or simply learn more details if you’re still mulling the opportunity. There’s a 13-minute video “guided tour” of the University on that page if you want a look around before joining. 

If you end up enrolling, we’d love to hear from you. Let us know how the university helps you boost (or birth!) your online business.

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!

Or, as another well-worn saying goes: opinions are like…certain unmentionable body parts. Everyone’s got one.

For some writers, the idea of voicing those opinions in front of a wide audience — and perhaps even getting paid for the opportunity to do so — is downright tantalizing. Then again, nobody wants to come across like that soapboxing uncle who’s had one glass of champagne too many at Thanksgiving dinner.

How to write a good op-ed 

If you’ve got a burning desire to tell the world how you really feel, the good news is, you can! 

And if you play your cards right, you won’t even elicit too many eye rolls.

Even more importantly, keeping these guidelines in mind will help you craft an op-ed that’s not just readable, but publishable. Because as we’ve already covered, everyone has an opinion…but only certain folks’ takes wind up in print. Sometimes, that’s for good reason. 

Here’s how to write an op-ed that stands a fighting chance of making it into your favorite online publication or paper.

1. Be timely

While every outlet is different, most editors are looking for content that’s current. So if you can find a way to tie your op-ed to a hot topic, you may be more likely to get it published.

And don’t worry — that doesn’t mean you have to wait around until some newsworthy thing happens concerning your specific topic. You can use your creativity to make not-so-straightforward connections between the news cycle and your notions.

For instance, maybe you want to write about a certain healthcare issue that affects you or your family, and a recent film includes a star who’s been diagnosed with the same malady. Or maybe you want to tackle a political topic that film alludes to. Either way, it doesn’t have to be a direct jump to a big, world-shattering headline.

If you regularly scope out the news and happen upon a timely issue you want to write about, that works, too. But either way, keeping your op ed du jour can give you a boost to the top of the slush pile.

2. Do your homework

Remember your least favorite uncle? The one from Thanksgiving?

Part of what makes him so obnoxious is that his opinions are rarely well-founded. Instead, he’s happy simply spouting off about his take on the world, no outside expertise required.

So if you want to write an op-ed that doesn’t cause instant tune-out, take the opposite tack: include lots of relevant, rigorous research. 

Including and citing reputable sources is good writing 101, and the fact that it’s an opinion piece doesn’t let you off the hook. 

After all, no matter what your topic is, you’re probably not saying something totally original; you’re most likely adding your take to an existing conversation — and including those other voices will lend your argument credibility and weight.

3. Stay on target

Another thing that makes an otherwise-well-made argument objectionable: longwindedness and a tendency towards tangents. 

Op-eds have historically been fairly short and succinct — and even without the space limitations of print media, you’ll write better if you focus.

It’s a good idea to read other op-eds in your target publication, but aiming for less than 1,000 words is a good rule of thumb. To keep it short, you’ll have to stay targeted on just one issue…which can be a challenge when you’re talking about a topic you feel strongly about.

4. Make it relevant

Timeliness is good, but relevance is even better. 

A good op-ed doesn’t just explain an issue: it tells readers why that issue matters to them, why they should care about it. 

Better yet: if your op-ed points out a societal problem, can you make any suggestions about what can be done about it? Writing to change minds is one thing, but writing to change the world is even better.

5. Write well

This part may sound obvious, but it’s worth repeating: if you want the attention of both editors and readers, you’re going to have to write really, really well.

New York Times editor and columnist Bret Stephens offers some basic tips for aspiring op-ed writers, ranging from basic grammatical guidelines (avoid passive voice) to more editorial-specific advice (check out the “80/20” rule in list item number five). 

As with all other types of writing, when it comes to op-eds, practice makes perfect — and you should steel yourself for a fair amount of rejection along the path to publication. It’s just part of the game!

If and when you do finally see your op-ed in print, remember that it’s just that: your opinion. 

Which means that even if you’ve written it as cogently as possible, somebody’s going to disagree…and they’ll probably share your urge to talk about it! 

So if you’ve sparked a lively discussion in the comments, maybe resist the urge to jump in. In fact, maybe just sit back and smile. Touching a nerve means you’ve done your job well…and that your op-ed was good enough to keep readers reading.

Photo via G-Stock Studio / Shutterstock 

And while I’m definitely not knocking you fiction folks, I straight up can’t do it. Every time I try, I just end up with thinly-veiled autobiography.

Luckily for me — and other writers like me — the personal essay is a thing. In fact, it’s even a thing you can get paid for.

But it’s definitely a competitive market out there. If you want your work to stand out from the crowd, or just find its way to the right editor in the first place, it helps to learn from a writer who has done this successfully.

Which is exactly where Amy Paturel’s online personal essay writing course, “Essay Writing: How to Find the Story in You — and Sell It” comes in.

Learn how to write (and sell) personal essays

We get it: Heading off to an MFA program for a degree in creative nonfiction isn’t in the cards for everybody. But what if you could have an affordable, professional personal essay workshop delivered directly to your email inbox? 

That’s exactly what Paturel offers with her online personal essay writing course: Essay Writing: How to Find the Story in You — and Sell It.  Bonus points for being able to complete the entire thing in the comfort of your pajamas. (Well, mostly. There is one prompt that involves hitting a bookstore…but who hasn’t visited a Barnes and Noble in sweatpants?)

Writing and revision prompts are just one part of this six-week course, which offers brilliant craft advice as well as granular details, like where to submit personal essays so you can get them published.

And Amy Paturel is the perfect person to guide you through the process of learning how to write a personal essay. A journalist who writes widely in the health and nutrition spaces, she’s had her own essays featured in outlets like The New York Times and Parents. 

Not only is she an accomplished writer in her own right, but she’s also an accomplished instructor: she’s done seminar-style sessions in person and also offers one-on-one online coaching, and she’s been teaching a version of this very essay course for about a decade.

Can you actually sell personal essays? 

Right from the get-go, Paturel keeps it 100: she doesn’t waste time compounding your pipedreams or setting you up for disappointment.

“You should know going into this class that unless you’re David Sedaris, Lena Dunham or Joan Didion, you’re not going to become rich on essays alone,” she says in the first lesson.

But that doesn’t mean essay-writing isn’t worthwhile. As she goes on to explain, it’s some of the most rewarding work a writer can do — and yes, it can also be saleable. 

Although markets are limited and competition is high, Paturel’s guidance stacks the odds in your favor…especially since she includes a killer essay market database complete with specific editor contact information for 130+ publications.

While Amy doesn’t promise it, plenty of her students end up with big-time bylines that are well worth envying.

Even if you don’t end up selling the pieces you workshop over the six-week course, you’ll definitely walk away a stronger writer: one unafraid to “put your whole self into it—your biggest hopes, greatest fears and deepest regrets.” 

After all, most of us didn’t start writing in the first place because we were promised a hefty payday. (If anything, we may have thought we were resigning ourselves to a lifetime of working as a barista.)

What we like about Paturel’s personal essay writing course

After checking out the course for ourselves, we can honestly say there’s a whole lot to like about it.

• Paturel includes real-life personal narrative examples of hard-hitting essays published in outlets like Newsweek and The Boston Globe — by both herself and other writers.
• The course is comprehensive: Paturel covers the important components of a well-written piece, like vulnerability, personality and honesty, and more technical craftwork like word count, sensory details and dialogue. But she also goes beyond the drafting stage, offering ideas for how to deal with constructive criticism, rewriting for a specific outlet, and figuring out where and how to pitch or “query,” all with professional expertise and an injection of humor.
• Paturel’s course offers specificity, including real-world examples of query letters and insider tips on how to do the investigative footwork to find editor contact information. (This is often the hardest part, in my opinion, or at least the most thankless. You’ve already put so much work into writing the dang thing…now you’ve got to become a private eye just to figure out who to sell it to?)
• The course includes tons of actionable exercises that are easy to follow along and incorporate into your wider writing life. For example, Paturel dives deeply into the importance of journaling and teaches you how to hone your existing journaling practice to nurture budding essay ideas. She also offers weekly writing and revision assignments that are accessible but constructive — and fun. By the end of the course, you’ll have at least one polished, revised essay draft ready to submit!
• The course is accessible — dripped out in digestible, weekly emails over a six-week period, it keeps you actively writing without leaving you feeling overwhelmed. And as mentioned above, it’s way more affordable than grad school…and you won’t have to attend even one stuffy faculty party.

The one drawback we see: unlike a traditional workshop (or even some webinars), Paturel’s course doesn’t offer student interaction or instructor feedback. She does offer one-on-one coaching and one-off critiques, but if that’s something you’re interested in, you’ll need to purchase it separately. 

You could also enlist the help of an accountability partner or your local writers group for feedback — and either way, you’ll get out of it what you put into it.

But wait…Here’s the most valuable part

Last but certainly not least, Paturel’s course includes access to her personal essay market database. We mentioned this above, but it’s worth diving deeper because this is truly an invaluable tool that will save you tons of time and even more headaches. 

While the course arms you with what you need to conduct a thorough masthead investigation, this document takes out all the footwork for 130+ publications, including direct points of contact, notes on what kind of content they publish, and even pay rate information in some cases. And they’re definitely outlets you want to be published in: LA Times, Lenny Letter, Buzzfeed, etc. 

It’s not a stretch to say that the database itself is worth the cost of the course, which is $325.

If personal essays are your thing — or you want them to be — join Amy Paturel’s course on personal essays. 

Once you land a few bylines, we hope you’ll let us know!

Looking for other good trainings? Check out our guide to the best online writing classes.

Photo via GuadiLab/ Shutterstock 

This post contains affiliate links. That means if you purchase through our links, you’re supporting The Write Life — and we thank you for that!