If you test positive for Covid – Don’t come to class until you test negative. But let your teacher know and we’ll work to give you access to your missed classes via Zoom.
If you show Covid symptoms OR If you have been exposed to someone with Covid – Don’t come to class for at least 5 days after showing symptoms or exposure, and then take a test to confirm that you are negative. Let your teacher know and we’ll work to give you access to your missed classes via Zoom.
If you have any questions about this, you may call (212-974-8377) or email us (contact@gothamwriters.com).
Blog & Newsletter Writing
GUIDE TO NONFICTION COURSES
Nonfiction Pathways
Foundation
If you’re not sure what kind of nonfiction to write...
If you know what kind of nonfiction to write...
Memoir I
Essay & Opinion Writing
Feature Article Writing
Blog & Newsletter Writing
Travel Writing
Food Writing
Or...
If you want a rather short course...
Memoir Intensive
Flash Fiction & Nonfiction
Personal Essay Writing
Feature Article Writing Intensive
Humor Writing Intensive
Blog & Newsletter Writing Intensive
Next Steps
After completing a Level I ten-week course...
After completing Memoir II, if you want to write a book...
Selling Your Work
If you hope to get published somewhere...
Also Helpful
These essential courses are great for writers of any level.
Blog & Newsletter Writing is a 10-week workshop, which includes lectures, exercises, and the critiquing of student projects. It’s for beginners or anyone who wants to brush up on the fundamentals. Farther down, you can view a syllabus for this course.
The beauty of a blog or newsletter is you can start one up without anyone’s permission. But how many are well written? Truly interesting or entertaining or useful? Maintained on a regular basis? Enjoyed by a wide circle of people? Precious few.
The key is to write blogs or newsletters so good even total strangers will be drawn to read them.
Here you’ll learn the specialized craft of writing for blogs or newsletters. Creating a concept. Writing with structure, voice, credibility, and a point to each post. Also, setting things up and attracting an audience.
Whether your purpose is to establish a platform, promote a business, or just to spread your creative wings, we’ll show you how to win over readers time and again.
If you're thinking about starting a blog or newsletter, this course will give you a great overview of things you need to consider and clarify for yourself before you begin. It's also a great space to try some ideas and get feedback on them, both from the instructor and the class.
Jo Ann Roberts
attorney
Notes
This course does not cover content marketing, but focuses on blogs and newsletters that favor voice and originality.
Upcoming Classes
NYC COVID Info
10-Week
-
Online
Anytime, week-long sessions
Tuition: $439 (returning students: $409)
-
One-on-One
Tuition: $1895
Syllabus
This course gives you a firm grounding in the craft of blog and newsletter writing. Course components:
Lectures
Writing exercises
Workshopping of student blog/newsletter posts (each student presenting work two times)
New York City/Zoom classes
The syllabus varies from teacher to teacher, term to term. Many topics will be similar to those covered in the Online classes.
Online classes
Week 1
Concept: Defining blogs and newsletters. Key features of blog/newsletter writing. Finding and focusing topics, audience, uniqueness, name. Author platforms. Blog/newsletters for businesses.
Week 2
Point: The importance of a point to each post. Finding a fresh or interesting point. Ways to make your point.
Week 3
Structure: Types of structure—inverted pyramid, feature article, story, meandering, numbered list, other options. Planning a structure.
Week 4
Voice: Defining and achieving voice. Exploring various voices. Stylistic tips—rhythm, verbs, interesting words, senses, emphasis.
Week 5
Credibility: Demonstrating expertise—knowledge, accuracy, provability, specificity. Demonstrating excellence through good writing and professionalism. Crafting an About page.
Week 6
The Flow of Ideas, Part 1: Exploring frequency and length of posts. Techniques for generating ideas.
Week 7
The Flow of Ideas, Part 2: Types of post to consider—recurring features, questions/discussions, profiles, guest posts, digests. Using curation to create and augment posts. Creating a podcast to complement your blog/newsletter.
Week 8
Headlines: Types of headline—clear, coy, cryptic. Subtitles. Subject lines. Crafting the best headline.
Week 9
Setting Things Up: Setting up a blog. Setting up a newsletter. Adding a visual element to your blog or newsletter.
Week 10
Audience: Techniques for increasing visitors and subscribers. Interacting with your audience. Ways to earn money. Transparency about payment and freebies. Final inspiration.
Note: Content may vary among individual classes.
Teachers
Stuart Pennebaker
Stuart Pennebaker is the author of the novel Ghost Fish (Little, Brown). Her fiction and poetry have appeared in JAKE, Unstamatic Mag, and After-Dinner Conversation. Her nonfiction has appeared in CHS Today and the Chronicle-Independent, among others. She is the former fiction editor of LIT and the author of the newsletter Missed Connection. She is Gotham’s Director of Publishing Guidance. Stuart holds a BA from the University of South Carolina and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School.
Read moreStuart Pennebaker
Stuart Pennebaker
is the author of the novel Ghost Fish (Little, Brown). Her fiction and poetry have appeared in JAKE, Unstamatic Mag, and After-Dinner Conversation. Her nonfiction has appeared in CHS Today and the Chronicle-Independent, among others. She is the former fiction editor of LIT and the author of the newsletter Missed Connection. She is Gotham’s Director of Publishing Guidance. Stuart holds a BA from the University of South Carolina and an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School.