Humanities as Journalism: How to write for the public

Wednesday 10th February 9.30am-4.30pm, 

To stand out in a world of amateur bloggers and alt-facts, modern scholars need the techniques and skills of the professional writer. Reaching a broader audience for their ideas will give them a greater public impact and open up new opportunities for career development. This one-day workshop aims to equip early-career academics with a comprehensive introduction to popular journalism and non-fiction writing.  

9:30am – Intro: Popular Writing for the Humanities

The difference between academic and popular writing.

10:20am – 10:30am – Break

10:30am – 11:20: Getting to know your Audience

What your readers want to know, subject choice, avoiding jargon, narrative simplicity.

11:20am – 11:30am – Break

11:30am – 12:20pm: Structuring your story

Outlines, headlines, sentences, paragraphs and chapters – they’re not what you may think.

LUNCH 12:20pm – 1:40pm

1:40pm – 2:30pm: Interviewing and Research

How to arrange for and conduct a face-to-face expert interview, asking the questions the readers want answered.

2:30- 2:40 Break

2:40 – 3:40: Writing the Intro

How to grab your readers’ attention and keep it. The ‘hook’ and the ‘nut’.

3:40pm-4:30pm: Pitching your story and working with an editor

How to sell your story and who to sell it to. The pre- and post-publication process.

There are 24 places available for this workshop. Click here to book a place (google forms). Bookings will close on Wednesday 3rd February 2021 at 4pm.