When I get emails from graduates of my Intro to Freelance Writing course, I get giddy inside! They usually tell me about the commissions they’ve received, whether they have the chance to cover a rising neighborhood they love for Travel + Leisure or get to go on a dream trip to Rwanda and Uganda to hike with gorillas and cover a conservation story for Condé Nast Traveler. People often tell me, “you’re job is a dream!” And while, yes, I agree it is a total dream—and one I’m deeply grateful for every single day—I’m not uniquely special in achieving it. While loving to write isn’t guaranteed, writing is a skill that can be taught and a muscle that strengthens with time and repetition. The rest is an act of will and perseverance. I believe the writers we all read in magazines aren’t necessarily the best writers in the world; they’re the ones who didn’t give up. They notice ideas. They live their lives with unshakable and steadfast curiosity. They keep their eyes and ears open always. They take rejections in stride and never give up on a great idea. And, most importantly, they had that initial sense of perseverance to push their dream of freelance writing from the idea phase into the reality phase. They didn’t let someone’s belief that they can’t achieve their dream become their own belief. Yesterday I was reflecting on the work of my past students. They’ve gone on to write their first stories for Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Bon Appétit, and more. If you have this dream, too, I promise you my course will set you on the right path to achieve your dream. I can’t do the work for you. I can’t promise you instant success (this career path is a marathon, not a sprint). And I won’t give you editor contacts. But I will show you how you to source ideas, read mastheads to find the right contacts, and how to draft concise pitches editors will love. I’ll teach you how to do all of this yourself and how you can be successful in this industry. After the course, you’ll know the rules of the game of freelance writing; the rest is up to you! Apply and sign up by October 14 to join the last course of the year, and maybe ever. Link in bio! ❤️