Writing for High Profile Publications
A Workshop
Writing for high profile publications can transform your business. It certainly has for mine.
In 2010, I started blogging for the Harvard Business Review. One of my first posts for them ("How to Reinvent Your Personal Brand") became popular, and they asked if I'd be willing to expand it into a piece for the Harvard Business Review magazine.
Within a week of its publication, three different literary agents approached me and asked if I had considered turning it into a book proposal.
That became my first book, Reinventing You, which was published in 2013 by HBR Press.
Since 2010, writing for high profile publications has been a key part of my business strategy.
I've written 170 blogs or articles for the Harvard Business Review, 250+ for Forbes, and have been a regular contributor to Entrepreneur magazine, among many others.
My work has also been featured in Fast Company, Inc., Business Insider, the World Economic Forum blog, and more.
Writing for high profile publications helped my business in three profound ways.
First, creating content allows others to see my ideas and it builds one's reputation as an expert/thought leader.
Second, it creates "social proof," because clients and potential clients assume that if you're "good enough" for prominent publications, you're good enough for them, as well.
Third, you're often able to interview people for your articles, or quote them. This helps you build connections with high level people that might otherwise be inaccessible to you.
The upshot of all this is that writing consistently for high profile publications has enabled me to grow my brand and platform, and attract clients and opportunities to me - rather than (as at the start of my business) having to beg or petition for them.
This isn't just a story about how I grew my business, however.
It's about how you can dramatically grow your own.
Every technique I've used is replicable and repeatable.
I feel passionately about helping talented professionals get their voices heard in a crowded and noisy marketplace.
That's why, on Friday, July 27th in Cambridge, Massachusetts (just outside Boston), I'll be teaching a one-day workshop sharing my strategies for how to successfully break into writing for high profile publications.
I hope you can join me.
What Does the Workshop Cover?
Since 2009, I've taught myself - through trial and error - how to consistently create content that's sought out by prominent publications.
In this one-day workshop, I'll be teaching you everything that it took me a decade to fumble through and learn. My goal is to save you years of missteps, and give you the tools to approach major publications with confidence and extremely high quality pitches and sample posts.
Specifically, you'll learn how to:
We'll also be joined by two special guest stars: my editors at Harvard Business Review, whom I've worked with on my books and my blogs/articles.
They'll be sharing their advice about what they're looking for in submissions, how to tap into your unique ideas and perspective, and what kind of material they (and their readers) find valuable.
The Business Model Intensive Workshop, August 2017.
What Will You Learn?
This workshop will teach you how to create high quality content that is compelling to top publications in your field. You'll learn how to create ideas for topics, identify unique positioning/angles, write and outline them effectively, and then capture editors' attention - even if you don't currently have media connections.
I've done all these things myself, learning from scratch, and I'm excited to share my detailed strategies with you.
Who Is This Workshop For?
This workshop is for professionals who know that breaking into top tier publications will help their brand and their careers, and want to make this a priority.
Given my own experience, the vast majority of examples cited will relate to business publications, but the same principles apply across fields.
You may have always wanted to write for brand name media outlets, but weren't sure where to start. Or you may have tried, but been rebuffed.
This workshop will give you the tools you need to reach out (or try again) with confidence. If you know that writing for prominent publications will help your business, your platform, and your credibility, this workshop is for you.
Obviously, this workshop is not for you if you hate the idea of content creation and don't think you'll want to execute on the principles we discuss. You only get results if you "work the program"!
Frequently Asked Questions
Will This Workshop Guarantee Me Placement in a Prominent Media Outlet?
To be clear: no. This workshop will teach you techniques for creating great posts and articles, and 'teach you to fish' in terms of techniques to reach out to editors, whether via "cold pitches" or through networking (I have experience with both approaches).
But the workshop does not guarantee that your work will be published by any particular publication, and it'd be irresponsible to do so, because only individual editors can make that determination.
The goal, instead, is to prepare you to create amazing work that is worthy of being published by high profile publications, and concrete strategies to help you get it seen through your own contacts and channels.
What If I'm Not a Great Writer?
If you're *really* not a great writer (flunking high school English and the like), you should probably start with a private writing coach or take more remedial classes.
But for the majority of professionals I've seen, when they say, "I'm not a great writer," that typically means one of two things: 1) they don't enjoy writing because it feels stressful and takes them a long time; and/or 2) they feel like they're not a master prose stylist.
If those are your concerns, this workshop can probably help. Writing blogs or articles feels much less stressful when you understand the structure and what editors are looking for, so you know what you're aiming for.
And you definitely don't need to be a 'literary' writer for blogs & articles - in fact, that's often a hindrance. What editors are looking for is clean, clear prose - something where the organization of the post makes sense and the ideas are easy to understand. If you're able to do that well, you're in great shape.
What If I've Tried to Write for Prominent Publications Before, But Have Been Rejected?
That's totally OK. In fact, I've been there. Before I broke into HBR, I had tried - repeatedly and assiduously - to write for both Inc. and Fast Company, and was unceremoniously blown off by their editors.
I know what it's like to have your work rejected repeatedly, and the level of perseverance needed to finally break through.
Just because some editors have rejected you before, that does not mean your work isn't worthy of being published.
It just means you may need to try some different techniques and strategies, and that's what we'll be learning in the workshop.
How Is This Workshop Different from the Rapid Content Creation Masterclass?
I offer an online course called the "Rapid Content Creation Masterclass." I think it's pretty awesome, and if you can't make this workshop, then I certainly recommend it. :)
But this live workshop is quite different, so if you've already taken the masterclass, I think you'll still get a lot of value out of joining us in Boston.
In terms of content, the Rapid Content Creation masterclass focuses on writing quickly and effectively. This program will touch on that briefly, but the primary focus is how to tailor your submissions to specific publications, develop your unique voice while matching the editorial style they're looking for, and tactical strategies for how to break in with editors, either via networking and/or cold approaches - so the material covered is different.
There's also the benefit of live interaction. You'll be learning from me in person, rather than via a recorded program, so can ask any question you want and can meet and interact with a group of top quality professional colleagues (it's my goal and desire for you to make lots of friends and new connections during the day, as well!).
Finally, during the Boston workshop, you'll be hearing live from two Harvard Business Review editors, who will be sharing a unique and valuable perspective about what HBR is looking for, as well as common submission mistakes and how to avoid them.
Logistics
The workshop takes place in Cambridge, Massachusetts (in the Kendall Square neighborhood near MIT) on Friday, July 27, 2018.
We'll gather at 8:30am for a light breakfast, and the workshop will run till 4:30pm. I'll be providing breakfast and lunch that day.
Feel free to dress comfortably, and please bring something to write with - your laptop, or just a pad and paper. Whatever you prefer is fine!
The workshop costs $2000. That includes the workshop itself, plus having me personally evaluate one of your blog posts after the session and provide you with detailed editorial feedback via a private 30-minute phone consultation.
If you'd prefer to skip the personal editorial feedback, the cost of the workshop alone is $1500.
I hope to see you in Cambridge!
How Can You Sign Up?
If you think this sounds like a fit for you, click the "enroll now" button below.
(If you'd like to register for just the workshop, sans personalized editorial feedback, please scroll to the bottom of the page to access that registration button.)
Writing for high profile publications has made a huge difference for my platform and career.
I'm excited to share what I've learned with you so that you can also share your ideas more widely with the world.
Dorie Clark
$2,000.00
Regular price
$1,500.00
Just the Workshop (No Personal Editorial Review)