Reviews and Opinion Pieces
Instructor: Sue Fagalde Lick
Length: 6 weeks
Course Fee: $100
Overview:
If you ever had an urge to share your opinion with the world, then consider writing reviews and/or editorials. Magazines, newspapers and web sites of all sorts publish reviews not only of books, but movies, CDs, DVDs, computer programs, plays, operas, dance recitals, new camera gear, cruises, bed and breakfast inns, and almost anything else you can think of. Although the pay is not usually high, you get to do something you already enjoy, share your opinion with lots of people, collect a writing clip and sometimes get free books, tickets, trips and other perks.
Or maybe you just like to spout off on a variety of topics. Op-ed pieces, commentaries and editorials offer a place to say what you think, backing it up with facts to convince the readers to change their minds. Hate the war in Iraq, think education is going downhill, want to get more funding to help the homeless? Publishing your opinions in a newspaper or magazine can sway more people, including decision makers, to your side in one day than complaining at the dinner table or waving a sign in front of building will ever do. And you could get paid for it.
Participants in this class will find out where they can publish reviews and opinion pieces and learn how to write them. They will write three short articles, which the instructor will go over carefully with them, noting the strong and weak points. Then they will have a chance to revise their pieces and learn how to offer them for publication.
Session 1: The market for opinionated writing
Overview of the course
Reviews: It's not just books, but CDs, DVDs, movies, plays, computer programs, new products, travel tours and much more
Finding markets for reviews
What do you want to review?
Building your sample packet
Homework: Using the examples given or other publications you find on your own, study the review market and come up with three possible markets and three things you would like to review
Session 2: Writing the book review
Book review markets
What are the elements of a good book review?
Reading with the reviewer's eye
Analyzing published reviews
Now let's write our own review
Homework: Pick a published review, analyze it, and write one of your own following the same pattern.
Session 3: Other types of reviews
Music reviews, live and recorded
Reviewing a play, opera or dance performance
Movie reviews
Product reviews
Analyzing published reviews
Now let's write our own review
Homework: Write a review of something other than a book
Session 4: Revising your reviews
Taking another look at your review
Cutting it down to size
Common problems in review writing
Homework: Using these guidelines and editorial comments from the instructor, rewrite one or both of your reviews
Session 5: Op-ed pieces, editorials and other places to spout off
What is an op-ed piece?
The market for op-ed pieces, editorials and commentaries
The elements of a good opinion piece
Picking a timely topic
How to back up your opinions with evidence
Homework: Write a short op-ed piece
Session 6: Polish and send out your work
Giving your work the final polish
Manuscript format--online and on paper
Cover letters
Multiple and simultaneous submissions
Getting more assignments
Homework: Choose one of the three pieces you have written and one of the markets you have identified and prepare to send it out.
ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR:
Sue Fagalde Lick is a professional writer and editor with many years experience as a newspaper staff reporter, photographer and editor, and 20 years freelancing full-time. Having worked on both sides of the editor's desk, she knows what editors need and how writers can fill those needs. She has a BA in journalism and an MFA in creative writing, and has taught article writing and fiction classes at Oregon Coast Community College, along with her online classes and conference workshops. And she loves opinionated writing.
