Write to Wander
Want to add “full-time freelance writer” to your resume?
How does writing for VICE sound or getting paid $200+ to write blog posts for clients sound?
…But there’s only one problem…
okay, there Are MULTIPLE problems…
You feel like there’s NO POTENTIAL for a career in writing.
You’re SICK AND TIRED of submitting pitches and hearing crickets.
You don’t know how to WRITE A BLOG POST OR ARTICLE that sells.
You break out in a NERVOUS SWEAT when someone asks about your rates.
You have NO IDEA where to start.
…And when you sit down to write, the only thing on your page is a blinking cursor.
Oh, and then there’s this god damn SEO stuff! What the hell is an H2 tag, and why does it matter so much!!
It’s frustrating. Infuriating. Overwhelming.
The information overload is real and only fuels ANALYSIS PARALYSIS (NOT your bank account).
We get it.
We’ve been there.
Whether you’re looking to start making money from freelance writing, give your current skillset a makeover, or just get published in your dream publication – this is the workshop for you.
Write to Wander isn’t about inspirational fluff.
Over three days, you’ll learn ALL the tools, tips, and tricks for starting a thriving freelance writing business.
The best part?
It can make you money while you type away from a cafe in Paris or the beaches of Zanzibar.
Imagine having an in-depth understanding of content marketing AND journalism that allows you to…
- Write COLD PITCHES that land you high-paying clients.
- Create a NICHE and become a specialised writer.
- Write pitches that get you PUBLISHED in international publications.
- Have bomb-ass RESEARCH SKILLS when it comes to finding clients and email addresses.
- Negotiate THE RATES you deserve.
- Generate ideas for pitches that editors will LOVE.
- Build a NETWORK with other successful writers.
- Learn how to CREATE OFFERS that sell.
- Understand SEO, keyword research, and everything else that goes into writing blog posts for clients.
Want this to be you?
You only need one weekend away.
With 10 years of freelance writing experience combined, bylines in Matador Network, Refinery 29, VICE and client lists including Neil Patel and Skyscanner, we have the EXACT skills you need to create a thriving freelance writing business.
And we’ll teach you every last one.
Here’s What You Get With The Write to Wander Workshops
SEVEN WORKSHOPS designed to teach you everything about becoming a freelance writer.
ASSIGNMENTS AND WORKSHEETS to help you practice techniques.
FEEDBACK AND SUPPORT on the dedicated Slack Channel
TEMPLATES AND SWIPE FILES for you to use in your business
The Write to Wander Workshops
The Pitch
Do your pitches typically result in… crickets?
The pitching workshop will show you how to craft a pitch that will hook your target audience and result in a freelance job, story acceptance, or sales call.
In this workshop, you’ll learn:
- How to write a killer SUBJECT LINE.
- What to include in EVERY SINGLE PITCH, whether you’re pitching to a publication or your services.
- How to demonstrate STORYTELLING SKILLS in the pitch.
Finding Clients
Creating a sustainable income as a freelance writer is about finding clients who pay 👀. We’re here to help you find clients who you’ll enjoy working with AND compensate you fairly.
In this workshop, we’ll cover:
- Research TECHNIQUES using Twitter, Linked In, email tools, and more.
- Navigating JOB BOARDS and content mills like UpWork.
- How to identify HIGH-PAYING potential content marketing clients.
- How to find out if a publication works with freelancers and what they PAY.
Idea Generation
Ever feel totally stuck as a writer? I’ll let you in on a secret: even the BEST writers run out of ideas. That’s what idea generation exercises are for.
In this workshop, we’ll cover:
- Generate IDEAS with journaling techniques, social media research, and by reading local news articles.
- Connect PERSONAL EXPERIENCES to a wider narrative.
- Report on LOCAL STORIES for a global audience.
- Competitor RESEARCH and discovering trending content.
- How to use KEYWORD RESEARCH tools to find ideas.
Storytelling Techniques
Want to know the secret to writing a blog post or article that doesn’t totally suck? After this workshop, you’ll master hooking readers in from the get-go!
In this workshop, we’ll cover:
- Writing a BLOG POST that converts using copywriting formulas.
- The basics of writing a PERSONAL ESSAY for publication.
- How to write a NEWS FEATURE like a pro journalist.
Search Engine Optimisation
If you want to get paid to write blog posts for brands, you need to know SEO like the back of your hand.
In this workshop, we’ll cover:
- The basics of SEO STRUCTURE and formatting on a blog post.
- How to perform KEYWORD RESEARCH, choosing your keywords, and where to use keywords in blog posts.
- Understanding how the GOOGLE ALGORITHM works to rank content.
After The Pitch
So you sent your pitch-perfect pitches, now what? Perhaps you’re still waiting to hear back. Or maybe your pitches have generated positive responses, and you have zero clue what to do next.
In this workshop, we’ll cover:
- How to strategically FOLLOW-UP, set, and negotiate RATES.
- Tweaking your pitch or rejections so that you can RE-USE them.
- How to make INVOICING pain-free and easy.
- How to create CONTRACTS and PROPOSALS.
Sustainable Success
We’ll show you how to make it work for you in the long run (so that you can raise your rates, avoid burnout and build a career you LOVE).
In this workshop, we’ll cover:
- Building a NICHE so that your job is easier and you can charge more.
- How to RESPOND to editors’ calls for pitches and build ongoing relationships with editors.
- How to create a tiered SERVICES SUITE, make PASSIVE INCOME, and stop trading time for money.
- When to raise your RATES and fixing your MONEY MINDSET.
Besides the workshops, you also get:
Worksheets and workbooks
Take and tweak templates
Feedback and support on a dedicated Slack channel
As a result of the Write to Wander Workshops, you learn:
- Where to find clients in your niche.
- Pitch your stories and services with confidence.
- Charge what you’re worth.
- Make money from anywhere in the world.
- Overcome the fears holding you back from getting paid to write.
Write to Wander Workshops are for you if:
- You’re TIRED of the “struggling artist” narrative.
- You’re ready to start earning MONEY every single month as a writer.
- You want CLARITY when it comes to understanding what clients want.
- You’re pumped to learn how to write pitches that SELL.
- You want the ability to work from ANYWHERE on your terms.
- You want to LEARN how to write blog posts and articles for clients and magazines.
“I’ll highlight in particular that most of the notes that I wrote (and there are tonnes…) were focused on the systems that you create and in particular, the way that you approach problem-solving and clarifying tasks.
Stuff that would help me in whatever I do, economically. You guys might not even realise how much you ACTUALLY taught me.” – Thomas von Zahn
The Investment
WRITE TO WANDER
- Price and Payment Info: $399 or $230 2-month payment plan
- Sponsored by: Contentfly
Meet Your Hosts
Lauren Melnick
I’m Lauren. I’m a South Africa travel blogger, freelance writer and course creator. Over the last five years, I’ve travelled to over 30 countries and ticked off almost everything on my South African bucket list.
I’ve been a full-time freelance writer in the travel and digital marketing niches since 2016. My client list includes the likes of Neil Patel, Skyscanner, Plann, Elise Darma, Jerry Jenkins, Matador Network, and Culture Trip to name a few.
In between writing blog posts for clients, I started my own blog Wanderlust Movement. It’s fuelled my passion for blog writing, SEO, keyword research, and digital marketing. I’ve grown my traffic to 50,000 visitors a month as a result of following my curiosity.
I’m excited to meet you and be apart of your freelance writing journey!
Hello! I am Alice Draper, a freelance writer and digital strategist that specialises in pitching. My writing is published in VICE, Refinery29, HelloGiggles, and elsewhere.
I entered the writing world as a freelance journalist and copywriter. When I started my writing journey, I was earning peanuts (and sometimes, nothing at all). I now rarely charge less than R7 a word. How? By spending four years learning how to craft the perfecccct pitch.
I have worked with entry-level journalists and established writers or coaches and helped them develop story ideas and create pitches that have landed them features in The Huffington Post, Shondaland, Well + Good, Working Mother, and more.
I can’t wait to share all of the pitching secrets with you — so that you can also see your name published in your dream publication!
IG: @alicedraper
Testimonials
Andy Smit
Alice and Lauren gave me the confidence to take time with things like setting up my portfolio, looking for ideal clients, and managing my aspirations for the kind of life I want to live.
Where previously I had felt like I needed to rush because I was competing with so many other freelancers, I now realize that these people are my allies and colleagues.
I was surprised by how much information was in the course as I have been a part of writing fellowships that would not even mention how much freelance writers got paid! The fact that I am walking away from this workshop with actionable lists for every stage of setting up a freelance business feels surreal.
I am really grateful at how jam-packed it felt as it really makes me feel like the money I spent is going towards a clear future.
Demetria Drew
Alice is a wonderful writer and an even better mentor.
Her knowledge of the industry is unparalleled and she is always willing to share what she knows — which is a lot!
I wouldn’t have the career I have now without Alice’s help and guidance over the past six months.
She made an effort to introduce me to other people who could help me and invited me to join countless freelance networks and spaces that aided my success.
Ciaran R. Maidwell
Before the workshop, I had landed a couple of freelance clients through word of mouth and a few consistent bylines in the Gay Pages magazine. However, I wasn’t sure what the next steps were in terms of scaling my freelance work and reaching out to potential new clients on my own.
Since Write to Wander, I’ve been able to identify the limiting thoughts I had about becoming a full-time freelancer and now have a list of actionable steps to take to get started moving forward. I have a much clearer understanding of how to find, approach, pitch to, and work with potential clients – as well as how to market myself.
It feels like I’ve had a masterclass, which has made me really positive about the future. Really inspired by both Lauren and Alice and the work they’ve done, and in particular, the way they work. 10/10 will recommend to my friends.
Sophia Shalabi
The start of my freelance career was incredibly overwhelming—learning how to find clients, how/where to pitch, communicating with editors, and finding work that pays well took a while to get the hang of.
Alice’s expertise and guidance helped me find my flow. She improved my pitch structure which helped me land my first piece with HuffPost!
I’ve become more confident with my writing, ideas, and rates thanks to her encouragement and direction.