Income is a great motivator! If you keep on cranking out articles and stories day after day and continuously receive little or no financial compensation for your efforts, pretty soon, you may begin to doubt if freelance writing is for you. But even a modest additional income can bring a much-needed lift to your writer's ego. I have found that teaching writing is a great way to supplement your writing income, and to interact with your fellow authors while developing confidence and competence in your speaking and teaching skills. WHAT TO TEACH, AND WHERE "But what would I teach about?" you ask yourself. I would advise that you teach about a writing genre where you have received success. For instance, if you've had many personal experience stories published, you should teach a class about writing creative non-fiction. Give your class a catchy title, like, "Writing True Stories That Touch The Heart." If you've had numerous poems published, you should teach a class about crafting and marketing poems. You might call this class, "You Can Write And Publish Poems." At this early stage, you should write a 2-3 sentence description of the topics you would cover in your lecture. If you have answered the first and most important question, "What?" to speak and teach about, you can proceed to answer the next important question, "Where?" Where you're going to teach your class will later help you determine how to prepare for your class. There are many different places where you can teach your class. The first is your local or state writer's organization, preferably that you're a member of. If you've been a member of a writer's group for any length of time, you already know the structure of their meetings and conferences. At many writers conferences, several different authors may teach one-hour workshops on specific writing topics. You should approach the president of the organization, or any of the officers, and ask them who plans the program for the day. They will refer you to the person who plans the day, one I shall call the program coordinator. Then you should speak to the program coordinator in person, if possible, and tell them about the idea you have for a class you'd like to teach. Follow up later by email or regular mail, and tell them again about the idea you talked about for the class you'd like to teach. Include in this correspondence the title of your class, a short, 2- to 3- sentence description of your workshop, as well as a brief author bio where you state where you've been published and any other credentials you have to teach on this particular topic. Your bio can include publishing credentials, diplomas and degrees received, as well as career and volunteer experience. If the program coordinator likes your class idea, he or she will write you back to confirm when and at which writers conference you are speaking, and how much you'll be paid. Most professional writers organizations do pay their speakers anywhere from $40-$100 for a one-hour workshop. Other places where you could teach a short series of writing workshops would be at community centers, or community colleges. In our city, Portland, Oregon, we have many community centers that offer different recreational and educational classes in fields like creative dance, sewing, gymnastics, writing, and piano or guitar. In our city, the community centers are funded and run by Portland Parks and Recreation, so the tuition for the classes they offer is very reasonable. The instructors of these classes are paid. If you want to teach at a local community center or community college, you should visit when they are open and pick up a brochure with information on who to contact about employment as a teacher. Many of these city-run community centers, and community colleges also have websites where one can enroll in a class, read about the other classes offered, and also contact them about employment as a part-time teacher. The community centers and community colleges usually offer classes and print their brochures four times a year--for the winter, spring, summer, and fall quarters. Write the correct supervisor or administrator about your idea, and the title of your writing class, with a description of the topics you'd like to cover. Include your publishing, career, educational, and teaching experience. They will contact you if they are interested. You may be required to fill out an application form. If they decide to hire you as a part-time teacher, your salary could range anywhere from $15 to $30 per hour, based on your education and experience. At a community college, you would contact the Director of Continuing Education. Continuing Education classes are normally offered on a non-credit basis to adults with a desire to learn more about a certain subject. You should plan a class for either the community center or community college that would run for 1-2 hours, one day a week, anywhere from 2-10 weeks. You would determine the day and time, and how many weeks the class will meet. As a busy writing parent, perhaps you could teach on a weekday evening, or on a Saturday morning, when your spouse can watch the kids. Other places where you might apply to teach a class are at various writing schools and universities online, as well as at your neighborhood public library. PREPARE FOR YOUR CLASS, THEN TEACH WITH CONFIDENCE! Here are some things to keep in mind when you're preparing to teach, and while teaching. *At the start of your class, introduce yourself, and state when and where you've been published, and any other relevant life experience. Bring some of your published pieces in magazines and books to show your students. *Write out your lecture. This will help you stay on track while teaching. You can also refer to your notes in case you forget what you're going to say next. *Make sure to teach the things about writing that are dear to your heart, and about things that you've learned the hard way. *Writing students love handouts. Prepare a 1-2 page handout which includes writing tips, your favorite writing books, and the writing websites you love. *Using overhead transparencies can be effective. You can also show a short video clip as it relates to your class topic. *Read an excerpt from your favorite writing book. *Give a 10 or 15 minute [timed] in-class writing assignment, for example, like: a. Tell us about your most memorable summer vacation as a child. b. Write a brief, three-paragraph, personality profile of one of the most influential persons in your life. If you have time, let a few students read a page or two of their work. Give them feedback on their work, and let their fellow students give feedback. *Offer a good balance of inspirational content in your class, as well as practical, how-to content. For instance, you can encourage your students that editors are not scary people, and that they love authors with new, innovative ideas. But also teach them how to write a good cover letter, and an effective query letter. *Make eye contact with your students, and smile. Be confident. Remember, even if you are not a famous writer, if you've been published, you have something to offer. Don't forget to end your class on time. Thank your students for being great listeners. Smile and say, "I wish you the best with your writing. When we meet again, I hope you to hear good news about where you've been published." Jennifer Anne Messing resides in Oregon with her husband and their three children, is a published author and poet, and currently serves as President of the Oregon Christian Writers. She has taught creative writing at writers conferences, and at Mt. Hood Community College. Her true story, "God Gave Me A Prince," is published in the inspirational anthology, "Nudges From God," recently released by Obadiah Press. For more information about the book, or to order a copy, email: MnJMessing@cs.com |
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Income is a great motivator! If you keep on cranking out articles and stories day after day and continuously receive little or no financial compensation for your efforts, pretty soon, you may begin to doubt if freelance writing is for you. But even a modest additional income can bring a much-needed lift to your writer's ego. I have found that teaching writing is a great way to supplement your writing income, and to interact with your fellow authors while developing confidence and competence in your speaking and teaching skills. WHAT TO TEACH, AND WHERE "But what would I teach about?" you ask yourself. I would advise that you teach about a writing genre where you have received success. For instance, if you've had many personal experience stories published, you should teach a class about writing creative non-fiction. Give your class a catchy title, like, "Writing True Stories That Touch The Heart." If you've had numerous poems published, you should teach a class about crafting and marketing poems. You might call this class, "You Can Write And Publish Poems." At this early stage, you should write a 2-3 sentence description of the topics you would cover in your lecture. If you have answered the first and most important question, "What?" to speak and teach about, you can proceed to answer the next important question, "Where?" Where you're going to teach your class will later help you determine how to prepare for your class. There are many different places where you can teach your class. The first is your local or state writer's organization, preferably that you're a member of. If you've been a member of a writer's group for any length of time, you already know the structure of their meetings and conferences. At many writers conferences, several different authors may teach one-hour workshops on specific writing topics. You should approach the president of the organization, or any of the officers, and ask them who plans the program for the day. They will refer you to the person who plans the day, one I shall call the program coordinator. Then you should speak to the program coordinator in person, if possible, and tell them about the idea you have for a class you'd like to teach. Follow up later by email or regular mail, and tell them again about the idea you talked about for the class you'd like to teach. Include in this correspondence the title of your class, a short, 2- to 3- sentence description of your workshop, as well as a brief author bio where you state where you've been published and any other credentials you have to teach on this particular topic. Your bio can include publishing credentials, diplomas and degrees received, as well as career and volunteer experience. If the program coordinator likes your class idea, he or she will write you back to confirm when and at which writers conference you are speaking, and how much you'll be paid. Most professional writers organizations do pay their speakers anywhere from $40-$100 for a one-hour workshop. Other places where you could teach a short series of writing workshops would be at community centers, or community colleges. In our city, Portland, Oregon, we have many community centers that offer different recreational and educational classes in fields like creative dance, sewing, gymnastics, writing, and piano or guitar. In our city, the community centers are funded and run by Portland Parks and Recreation, so the tuition for the classes they offer is very reasonable. The instructors of these classes are paid. If you want to teach at a local community center or community college, you should visit when they are open and pick up a brochure with information on who to contact about employment as a teacher. Many of these city-run community centers, and community colleges also have websites where one can enroll in a class, read about the other classes offered, and also contact them about employment as a part-time teacher. The community centers and community colleges usually offer classes and print their brochures four times a year--for the winter, spring, summer, and fall quarters. Write the correct supervisor or administrator about your idea, and the title of your writing class, with a description of the topics you'd like to cover. Include your publishing, career, educational, and teaching experience. They will contact you if they are interested. You may be required to fill out an application form. If they decide to hire you as a part-time teacher, your salary could range anywhere from $15 to $30 per hour, based on your education and experience. At a community college, you would contact the Director of Continuing Education. Continuing Education classes are normally offered on a non-credit basis to adults with a desire to learn more about a certain subject. You should plan a class for either the community center or community college that would run for 1-2 hours, one day a week, anywhere from 2-10 weeks. You would determine the day and time, and how many weeks the class will meet. As a busy writing parent, perhaps you could teach on a weekday evening, or on a Saturday morning, when your spouse can watch the kids. Other places where you might apply to teach a class are at various writing schools and universities online, as well as at your neighborhood public library. PREPARE FOR YOUR CLASS, THEN TEACH WITH CONFIDENCE! Here are some things to keep in mind when you're preparing to teach, and while teaching. *At the start of your class, introduce yourself, and state when and where you've been published, and any other relevant life experience. Bring some of your published pieces in magazines and books to show your students. *Write out your lecture. This will help you stay on track while teaching. You can also refer to your notes in case you forget what you're going to say next. *Make sure to teach the things about writing that are dear to your heart, and about things that you've learned the hard way. *Writing students love handouts. Prepare a 1-2 page handout which includes writing tips, your favorite writing books, and the writing websites you love. *Using overhead transparencies can be effective. You can also show a short video clip as it relates to your class topic. *Read an excerpt from your favorite writing book. *Give a 10 or 15 minute [timed] in-class writing assignment, for example, like: a. Tell us about your most memorable summer vacation as a child. b. Write a brief, three-paragraph, personality profile of one of the most influential persons in your life. If you have time, let a few students read a page or two of their work. Give them feedback on their work, and let their fellow students give feedback. *Offer a good balance of inspirational content in your class, as well as practical, how-to content. For instance, you can encourage your students that editors are not scary people, and that they love authors with new, innovative ideas. But also teach them how to write a good cover letter, and an effective query letter. *Make eye contact with your students, and smile. Be confident. Remember, even if you are not a famous writer, if you've been published, you have something to offer. Don't forget to end your class on time. Thank your students for being great listeners. Smile and say, "I wish you the best with your writing. When we meet again, I hope you to hear good news about where you've been published." Jennifer Anne Messing resides in Oregon with her husband and their three children, is a published author and poet, and currently serves as President of the Oregon Christian Writers. She has taught creative writing at writers conferences, and at Mt. Hood Community College. Her true story, "God Gave Me A Prince," is published in the inspirational anthology, "Nudges From God," recently released by Obadiah Press. For more information about the book, or to order a copy, email: MnJMessing@cs.com |
ME? TEACH WRITING? Boost Your Income By Teaching Writing by Jennifer Anne Messing |
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