This practical workshop will give you the confidence and skills to start turning story ideas into pitches to send to outdoor publications. The workshop will be structured but informal and interactive. We’ll cover outdoor stories in their broadest form, from nail-biting adventures to contemplative nature essays. Beginner storytellers and experienced writers alike are welcome.
We’ll start the session by having a chat about everyone’s outdoor passions and storytelling aspirations then get into crafting and pitching.
We’ll talk about your favourite outdoor stories (articles, books, films etc.) to tease out what makes them engaging and successful. We’ll look at how writing techniques from fiction, like narrative and character, can be used in nonfiction. There will be time to share your story ideas and give feedback to others. This introduction to crafting nonfiction stories will provide you with ideas and techniques that you can build on after the workshop.
Nonfiction stores are usually sold to publications as emailed pitches, i.e. you ‘pitch’ your idea to an editor and if they like it, they will commission you to write it. We’ll look at what makes a great pitch and how to write one. We’ll talk about finding the right publication/s for your idea and cover practical details, like finding submission guidelines and editors’ names. You’ll leave with pitch templates and other resources to support you after the workshop.
Bring either a laptop or a phone and notebook as we will be doing internet searches and making lists. Bring any story ideas, no matter how loose! The focus will be on written stories, but we can also talk about other formats like podcasts, social media and short films.