Freelance writing has long been known as a feast or famine profession. During the feasting times it's easy to become self-satisfied and smug, until the next fast comes along and leaves you scrambling for contacts and assignments. The next time you find yourself in a lull, take a look at your associated skills. What do you know? What can you do? Who can you convince to let you do it? As a published writer, chances are that you're a perfect candidate to create a freelance writing course.

Planning a Freelance Writing Course

If just the thought of returning to a classroom makes you shiver with memories of red marking pens and forced presentations, relax. When you plan a course you have the freedom to structure it as you like. You get to choose the topics, the books, the in-class exercises, and the homework assignments. Of course with this power comes responsibility, so make sure that you plan your course down to the last detail.

Most writing courses run between nine and twelve weeks. If you are unsure of your schedule, plan a twelve week course that you can cut down later if needed. Now consider which twelve points you think are most important to freelance writing. These will become your weekly lessons. Common topics related to freelance writing include looking for inspiration, brainstorming article ideas, researching markets, writing a query letter, writing with a style guide, self-editing, the writer/editor relationship, copyright issues, payment issues, promotion, goal setting, and more. A quick flip through the myriad freelance writing books available online or in your local bookstore will likely net you further ideas as well. When you have decided on your topics, write them all down in a syllabus. Don't be scared by the formality of the term-- just think of the syllabus as your class schedule. List the dates and times of each class, the topic for each lesson, and a one or two sentence summary of what the students will learn about the topic. When you're finished you'll have a nice document that you can use to pitch your course (and your students can use to help them prepare for your weekly meetings).

With your weekly topics decided, creating lesson plans is the next step towards success. The key to a great lesson plan is flexibility. Try to plan at least 90 minutes worth of content for every 60 minute class, that way you will never be caught short if some parts of your schedule do not take as long as you had envisioned. Just make sure that you know which activities you can jettison if you find that you have more than enough to keep your class going. Creating a written document for each lesson plan will help keep you on track, and with clearly labeled sections such as Title, Objectives, Materials Required, and Activities, it will guarantee that you will always be able to find the information that you are looking for, even in the middle of a hectic class discussion.

Pitching a Freelance Writing Course

With your course planned and prepared, it's time to sell it to someone. Craft a pitch for your course with the same care that you would lavish on a query letter to a new editor. In your cover letter explain who you are, what you would like to teach, why you are qualified to teach it, and why you think that the particular institution is the best forum for your course. Remember that community colleges, community centers, religious communities, prisons, public libraries, and even some local high schools are all possible homes for your course. Take the time to find out statistics that could help your case ("Bayview Community College regularly enrolls more than 300 students interested in writing…") or quotations that will shore up your arguments ("Mountview Prison has been hailed as 'a leader in inmate education' by…"). Also consider including your syllabus as proof that you have devoted time and energy to planning this course and your resume to detail your own writing accomplishments. With such a well-constructed pitch, your chances of being called for an interview should rise sharply.

When you are called for an interview, bring a portfolio with you. Be sure to bring copies of your syllabus and resume, as well as clips of your published writing. If you have ever given talks, seminars or workshops, include information from these as well. Also try to bring a "lesson in a box." Include at least one fully formed lesson plan as well as all of the accompanying handouts, exercises, and assignments that will be used in that lesson. Yes, this may seem like overkill, but it's better to have everything on hand and not need it than to be caught short for no good reason.

Much like the question of simultaneous submissions, the question of simultaneous course submissions is something that you will have to answer on your own. If you do decide to pitch to more than one institution at a time, do not fall into the trap of sending out a form letter to each. Instead, give each pitch the time it deserves, and remember to send thank you letters after each interview and follow-up letters as required. Again, this may seem like overkill but it will be better to be remembered for your professional courtesy than the alternative.

Teaching a Freelance Writing Course

If your course is offered a home, congratulations! Now get ready to work even harder. Though it may not seem like it, facilitating even a 60 minute class can be draining. Not only must you remain positive and energetic throughout, but often you have to use your own enthusiasm to goad your students along as well. Adult learners in particular are already stretched thin by personal and professional demands, so take this into account before assuming that your class must be lazy or disinterested.

Speaking of adult learners, remember that anyone over the age of about 18 gets tired of a lecture format fairly quickly. Obviously lecturing is an efficient way of transmitting a lot of information, but always try to pass out a handout with pertinent information on it as well. This will allow students to both read and listen, and it will allow them to truly think about things rather than worry about furiously scribbling down your every word. In each lesson, try to keep lecturing to a minimum and include lots of time for class discussions, individual exercises, group work and questions and answers. Also build in a little time for a break, which will allow students some time to refresh themselves and socialize a little, and some time for quiet writing. It may well be that class time is the only time that students have for uninterrupted writing, so allow them to make full use of it if they show such a desire. Remember, you are there to help students, not to dictate to them. Take into account student preferences and your classroom will likely become a haven for you all.

Beth Morrissey has published over 350 articles in international print and online publications and her latest work can be seen in the Dublin Explorer: The Complete Residents' Guide (Explorer Publishing, 2007). Beth is currently teaching freelance writing courses in Dublin, Ireland and encourages anyone in the area to attend. Visit Beth at her website, www.bethmorrissey.com.

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