How Our Writing Program Works
A clear path from basic principles to confident journalistic writing, structured around how people actually learn to write well
Three Connected Phases
We built this around what works. Start with fundamentals, practice with real assignments, then refine your voice. Each phase builds on what came before. You write from day one, get feedback from people who've done this work, and gradually develop skills that transfer to any writing context. No theory for theory's sake—just practical steps that get you writing clearly and confidently.
Foundation Building
Learn the core principles that make journalistic writing effective. We cover structure, clarity, and how to convey information without losing your reader. You'll write short pieces, analyze published work, and get direct feedback on what's working and what needs adjustment. This phase typically takes four weeks of consistent practice.
Active Practice
Apply what you've learned through assignments that mirror real editorial work. Interview sources, write articles under deadline pressure, and revise based on editorial feedback. You'll work with actual topics and develop the ability to find stories worth telling. Most students spend six to eight weeks in this phase, completing roughly twelve assignments.
Style Development
Refine your approach and discover your voice within journalistic conventions. Focus on areas that interest you—whether that's investigative pieces, feature writing, or opinion journalism. Build a portfolio of work you're genuinely proud of and learn to edit your own writing effectively. This final phase runs four weeks with individual guidance.
What Actually Happens During the Program
You write at least three pieces per week and get detailed feedback within 48 hours. Weekly group sessions let you discuss work with other students and hear different perspectives on common writing challenges. Between sessions, you have access to recorded workshops covering specific techniques—interviewing, fact-checking, headline writing, structural editing.
The platform includes a growing library of annotated articles showing how professional writers solved particular problems. When you're stuck on structure or tone, you can find examples of similar pieces and see what choices other writers made. All materials remain accessible after you complete the program, so you can reference them whenever you need a refresher.
- Individual feedback on every submitted piece from working journalists
- Weekly live sessions with small groups for discussion and workshopping
- Library of 200+ annotated professional articles across different styles
- Recorded technique workshops covering interviewing, research, and revision
- Direct access to instructors via messaging for questions between sessions
Inside Each Learning Phase
Different phases emphasize different skills. Here's what you'll actually do in each part of the program and what kind of work you'll produce.
Building Your Base Skills
The first month focuses on fundamentals you'll use in every piece you write. You learn how to structure information logically, write clear sentences that don't require re-reading, and convey facts without editorializing. Weekly assignments are short—300 to 500 words—so you can focus on technique rather than managing long-form complexity.
Each week introduces one core concept: lead writing in week one, paragraph structure in week two, attribution and sourcing in week three, revision techniques in week four. You write, get feedback, revise, and move on. The goal is to develop instincts for clear communication before tackling more complex assignments.
What You'll Complete
- Twelve short writing exercises covering fundamental techniques
- Four analyzed professional articles with detailed breakdowns
- One longer piece (800 words) integrating all foundation skills
- Revision portfolio showing progression from first to final drafts
Applying Skills to Real Work
Once you have the basics down, you start writing fuller pieces that require research and interviewing. Assignments mirror actual editorial work—you'll pitch story ideas, conduct interviews, gather background information, and write complete articles under realistic deadlines. This is where the work gets harder but also more satisfying.
You'll write news pieces, features, profiles, and analysis articles. Each assignment type teaches different skills: news writing emphasizes speed and accuracy, features require narrative structure, profiles need character development, analysis demands clear argumentation. By the end of this phase, you've produced work across multiple formats.
What You'll Complete
- Three news articles written under deadline conditions (500-700 words each)
- Two feature pieces requiring original interviews (1200-1500 words)
- One profile article with multiple sources (1000 words)
- Two analysis pieces arguing clear positions (800-1000 words)
- Portfolio of pitched story ideas with editorial feedback
Finding Your Writing Voice
The final phase gives you space to develop a distinctive approach while maintaining journalistic standards. You choose topics that interest you and experiment with different styles and structures. The focus shifts from learning new techniques to refining what you already know and discovering what kind of writing feels most natural to you.
You'll revise earlier work to portfolio standard, write new pieces exploring areas of interest, and receive individual guidance on developing your strengths. This phase is less structured—you set your own goals and work with instructors to achieve them. You finish with a portfolio of polished work you can show to editors or use as writing samples.
What You'll Complete
- Four portfolio-quality pieces in formats of your choice
- Substantial revisions of two earlier assignments
- One investigative or in-depth piece (2000+ words)
- Personal style guide documenting your editorial choices
- Final portfolio with introduction explaining your approach