Writing Classes

Lin Johnson’s Writing Classes

Lin is available to teach for writers’ groups and conferences and to teach a writers’ seminar as part of other conferences. Contact her at lin@wordprocommunications.com or 847-296-3964.

Continuing Classes (3-6 hours)

How to Get Published

Everything you need to know to get published: finding ideas, targeting the right markets for your ideas, manuscript structure and format, rights and copyright, query letters, keeping records, dealing with rejection, and basic resources you’ll need. Recommended for beginners.

12 Steps for Writing and Selling a Book

If you have a book idea, find out how to develop it into a salable manuscript, find the right market, write a proposal, and negotiate a fair contract. This class is not genre specific.

Writing Articles

Focusing, researching, and structuring articles; types of articles.

Writing Curriculum

If you like to study the Bible and have teaching experience, you have two basics for becoming a curriculum writer. Learn the types of curricula editors are looking for, how to get assignments, and current markets. Discover how to write to meet teachers’ and learners’ needs, including an understanding of the teaching/learning process and details of writing lesson plans and Bible study guides. Lin is a curriculum specialist who has written for a number of curriculum publishers.

Advanced/Professional Writers

Informal discussions based on participants’ questions and needs. If possible, have participants submit questions a few weeks before the conference.

Electives (45-60 minutes)

Selling What You Write (half is included in How to Get Published continuing class)

If you want to get published, you need to know how to market your manuscripts. Learn ten commandments for selling your books and articles plus tips for multiplying your sales.

Finding Time to Write

If you wish you had more time to write, these practical tips and an application exercise will help you make the time to start or expand your writing ministry.

Organizing and Goal Setting

Learn how to organize your resource materials, manuscripts, writer’s guidelines, and expenses. Plus walk through practical steps for setting goals to accomplish what you want to with your writing.

Writing Book Reviews

If you like to read and hate rejection slips, writing book reviews may be an option for you. Find out how to review a book, get assignments, and keep editors happy from someone who has written hundreds of book reviews and who edits a magazine that is primarily reviews.

Writing Curriculum (an abbreviated version of Writing Curriculum continuing class)

If you like to study the Bible and have teaching experience, you have the basics for being a curriculum writer. Learn the types of curricula editors are looking for, how to get assignments, markets, and how to write to meet teachers’ and learners’ needs.

Writing Bible Study Guides (also included in Writing Curriculum continuing class)

Tap into the growing small group and personal study market with Bible study guides. Learn key principles for studying the Bible and how to translate them into effective discussion questions.

Be Your Own Best Editor

Writers who get assignments not only have good content but also clean copy. Learn how to think like an editor to clean up your manuscripts before sending them.

Getting Ideas (part of the content may be included in How to Get Published.)

Ideas are all around us, but sometimes we don’t recognize them or we need to fine tune our ability to find them in new sources. You will explore areas from your own experiences that you can write about as well as learn how to find ideas from other sources.

Nuts & Bolts of Publication (also part of How to Get Published continuing class)

Even though you may not be a professional writer, you can look like one. In this elective, you will learn correct manuscript form, how to write a query letter that grabs an editor’s attention, and what manuscript rights you may sell.

Handling Records, Revenues, & Rejections (portions are also part of How to Get Published continuing class)

How to set up a manuscript file system, what records and forms you need to keep the IRS happy and decrease the amount of taxes you pay, dealing with rejections.

Writing Query Letters and Book Proposals (also part of How to Get Published/12 Steps for Writing and Selling a Book continuing classes—can be two separate electives)

Many magazines today have adopted a query only policy. Learn how to write such a letter that will grab an editor’s attention and help to sell your manuscript.

Structuring an Article for Impact (also part of Writing Articles continuing class)

If you want editors—and readers—to read your articles, you need to grab them in the first couple of sentences. Learn how to do so in this class, then explore ways to develop your content and bring your article to a satisfying conclusion. Plus overview the most popular types of articles editors are buying.

Understanding a Magazine as Well as the Editor Does (portions are also part of Writing Articles and How to Get Published continuing classes)

The secret to selling articles is a thorough understanding of individual magazines. Learn how to analyze a magazine and its articles to increase your sales.

Negotiating Book Contracts (part of 12 Steps for Writing and Selling a Book continuing class)

Do you want more from your next book contract, or are you looking forward to your first one? If so, learn how to understand and negotiate a contract from a writer who has negotiated with seven publishers. Discover what you can change and what to watch for.

Interviewing

Whether you want to write profiles, add life to your nonfiction, or include expert opinions and knowledge in your manuscripts, you will want to develop good interviewing skills. Learn how to get an interview, prepare for it, conduct it, and write it up.

Building a Freelance Career

Whether you want to earn a living by freelancing or supplement your income, here are seven steps to help you build your freelance career.

Ask Me Anything

Question-and-answer session on anything related to writing, marketing, and freelancing. I don’t guarantee an answer to every question, but I can direct you to resources if I don’t know something.

Writing Devotionals

If you would like to help thousands of people grow in the Lord, consider writing devotionals. Learn the types editors are purchasing, how to write them, and available markets.

How to Please an Editor

Editors are the necessary links between you and your readers. They are your allies, not your enemies. Find out how to make the author/editor relationship work smoothly so you can get published (and continue to do so) and be the kind of writer editors like to work with and give assignments to. Taught by someone who works on both sides of the desk.

Writing for a Variety of Reading Styles

We don’t all learn—and read—in the same way. So if you’re writing for only your learning style, you’re missing sales and readers. Find out what the four learning styles are and how to write for all of them.

Willing to develop other topics within my areas of credibility.

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