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Here’s an exclusve from 2007 Query Challenge participant, freelance writer, and teacher Tina Marie Frawley. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Writing Your Way to Teaching
By Tina Marie Frawley
Writers strive to become the expert in their field and being called upon to teach the craft to other writers is a good sign a writer is well on
their way to being that said expert. Last October I had the opportunity to be an instructor at a writer’s conference, “The Muse Online Writers
Conference.”
It was the first time I was acting as an instructor on writing and was considered experienced enough in my field to teach a class. The job didn’t come to me though, I had to market myself as a writer to the founder and owner of the conference, and convince her I was the right person to instruct others in my area of expertise (which happens to be pet writing). Here are the steps you can take to break into teaching others about writing.
Plan Ahead
After deciding where you wish to teach, review the agenda for the conference or school course schedule and see what is already being taught. Pitching your idea for a class already being taught is a waste of everyone’s time. Don’t be afraid to focus on a subject already covered, if you can present a class in a different angle. For example, someone may already have a class on writing full length novels. Your class may expand on the actual writing and cover editing or publishing a full length novel.
Write Your Proposal
If you normally send off a query letters to land your writing gigs, you have a notion of how to propose an idea; only with teaching you need to be a bit more detailed. There is no right or wrong way to draft a proposal (unless the school or conference website directs you otherwise). However there are key elements you will want to include in your proposal.
The Pitch. Lay out in a query type letter (your cover letter) to the
dean/head instructor/conference organizer what it is you wish to teach
and why you are the person to teach. With so many writers who specialize
in particular areas of writing, you must clearly define your idea and
convince the reader that you are the perfect person to be the instructor.
Resume. This should include your writing and education credentials, along with any previous leadership experience. No one needs to know you can flip a burger or have a summer job walking the neighbors pet. Be precise and to the point. Include your education, writing awards, publications, etc.
Biography. Your biography is a chance to tell people about yourself that they would not otherwise know by looking at your resume. If you have an incredibly long resume or short resume, use the biography to highlight important points about your career. Keep the biography brief and to the point. Only include personal information at the end such as where you live and with whom you live. This should be only one sentence.
Lesson Plans (just an overview). Here is your chance to show the reader you have more than just an idea in your head. Map out for them (usually in an outline form) how the lessons will go, in what order, and what is covered. Be sure each class has a clear goal. If you will be assigning homework, include that with the appropriate lesson.
Goals. What will the students walk away knowing? Will they have any completed pieces? (i.e. sample query letters, proposals, etc.) Will
students have a new skill? This is the place to tell your reader and potential employer what you are offering students.
Samples. Include relevant samples of your work. If you are trying to land a job teaching pet writing but only have healthcare clips, then send
whatever you have. As a general rule of thumb for any assignment you are trying to land, go with the most relevant clips or samples, unless you only have a few to choose from. If you have a website with samples of your work, direct potential employers to your website. This is
environmentally friendly (no dead trees), cost effective (postage), and it allows readers to decide which samples to look at and how many.
SASE. If you are mailing your “package” of information, be sure to include a self addressed stamped envelope for the return of your
materials should the conference or school pass on your proposal. Do not get discouraged, but rather send it out to the next school or conference.
Once you put your package together and mail it (or email it) be sure to follow up with the person you contacted. The closer it gets to the start of the semester or the conference, the harder it will be to get a teaching position.
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Tina Marie Frawley is a freelance writer from Huntersville, North Carolina, where she lives with her husband, Jerry and their non-retrieving Labrador retriever, Buck. You can find out more about Tina by visiting her website www.TinaMarieFrawley.com.
Tags: freelance writing, teaching, coaching, tina marie frawley
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