Symposium Session: From Practice to the Page (Part 1): Translating Your Expertise Into Articles, Blogs and Books
Suggested CDR Learning Codes: 1000, 1110, 1140, 7000, 7070
In this two-part workshop, participants will learn how to bring their professional experience to larger audiences through writing for professional and popular publications—both print and digital. This workshop gives hands-on tips for identifying appropriate media outlets, writing pitches, crafting articles and working with editors. Participants come away understanding how to pitch an article to digital and print publications.
The workshop includes work breaks that enable participants to actually practice developing ideas for publication. We will include an overview of tips that help writers reach their audiences. Participants will learn how to make their message compelling by writing with professionalism and personality. The following areas of the writing process will be explored in detail:
- Breaking in--discovering what you have to say
- Getting to know the editors—and the readers they work for
- Understand the mission of your publication
- Finding your focus
- Architecture: following formats and building your case
- Writing queries, stories on spec
Learning Objectives
After attending this session, nutrition professionals should be able to:
- Describe how writing editorials can launch a freelance writing career.
- Court and develop lasting relationships with editors.
- Conduct an architectural analysis on print and digital media.
- Develop at least one strong, newsworthy story concept.
- Identify the six components of query letters that sell.
Constance Brown-Riggs, MSEd, RD, CDE, CDN
National speaker for PESI HealthCare based in Massapequa, NY. Author of The African American Guide to Living Well with Diabetes, member Today's Dietitian advisory board and the American Association of Diabetes Educators board of directors.
Tamara Jeffries, MFA
Contributing editor for Health magazine based in Greensboro, NC. Assistant professor of journalism at Bennett College.
Available Credit
- 1.50 CDR