Magazine Writing — Spring 2018 — Readings and Assignment Schedule
Sacramento State University — JOUR 132
Tuesday, 6–8:50 p.m. — Mendocino 3002
Instructor: Stu VanAirsdale
Refer here to review the class syllabus and policies for Spring 2018.
NOTE: Schedule subject to revision. All readings and assignments are due complete by the beginning of each class period.
Week 1 — Jan. 23
Topic: Introduction to Magazine Writing
Writing Due: Mini-profiles (in-class)
Week 2 — Jan. 30
Topic: Magazine media — Print, Web, Mobile
Reading due: None
Writing due: None
Week 3 — Feb. 6
Topic: Web magazines/Medium.com
Reading due: None
Writing due: Magazine critique
Week 4 — Feb. 13
Topic: Enterprising/queries
Reading due:
- “How (and Where!) to Pitch Your Writing,” Ann Friedman, Medium.com
- “Freelance writers: Writing is Great, but Writing Isn’t Enough,” by Jessica Reed, Medium.com
“👶 Beginners: How to Start Building an Audience on Medium (From Scratch)?”, by Thomas Despin, Medium.com
Writing due: Medium.com Publication critique
Week 5 — Feb. 20
Topic: Short-form (“Front-of-book,” service journalism)
Readings due:
- “The Lives They Lived: Pioneer Cabin Tree,” by Helen Macdonald, NYT Magazine
- “Letter of Recommendation: ‘Passport to Your National Parks’,” by Jamie Lauren Keiles, NYT Magazine
- “7 Things to Do in Oakland, CA,” by Robert Firpo-Capiello, Budget Travel
- “28 of San Francisco’s Essential Coffee Shops,” by Ellen Fort and Caleb Pershan, Eater SF
- “6 Fantastic Farm Tours Where You Can Spring Into the New Season,” by Nicole Yi, Sactown Magazine
Writing due: Query memo
Week 6 — Feb. 27
Topic: Interviewing and quotes
Readings due:
-“Paul Theroux on Blogging, Travel Writing, and ‘Three Cups of Tea’,” by Rolf Potts, TheAtlantic.com
- “The Life of a Travel Writer” (Q&A with David Farley), by Nomadic Matt, NomadicMatt.com
Writing due: None
Week 7 — March 6
Topic: Interviewing and quotes (cont’d)
Reading due: “A Visit With the Missoula Motel-Keeper Who Sheltered a Hemingway” by Kathryn Schulz, Vulture
Writing due: None
Week 8 — March 13
Topic: Audio / Mid-length stories
Listening/reading due:
- “Private Geography (Prologue),” Ira Glass, This American Life
- “When Travel Companies Don’t Believe ‘Black’ Means ‘Luxury’ ” by Jessica Nabongo, Medium
- “Why Get Off the Beaten Path,” Donny Kimball, Your Guide to Real Japan
Writing due: Q&A / Interview #1
Week 9 — March 20
SPRING RECESS (No class meeting or assignments due)
Week 10 — March 27
Topic: Feature writing
Reading due: “The British Invasion,” by Lauren Collins, The New Yorker
Writing due: FOB article / Interview #2
Week 11 — April 3
Topic: Feature writing (cont’d)
Reading due: “The Hawaii Cure,” by Wells Tower, NYT Magazine
Writing due: Feature critique
Week 12 — April 10
Topic: Workshops (Medium, story design)
Reading due: “Living and Dying on Airbnb,” by Zak Stone, Matter
Writing due: None
Week 13 — April 17
Topic: Feature draft workshops
Reading due: None
Writing due: Feature story draft / Interview #3 (IMPORTANT: Bring TWO printed copies of your feature draft to class for workshopping.)
Week 14 — April 24
Topic: Visuals/multimedia; magazine story budget
Reading due: None
Writing due: None
Week 15 — May 1
Topic: Feature revision workshops
Reading due: None
Writing due: Feature story revision (IMPORTANT: Bring TWO printed copies of your feature revision to class for workshopping.)
Week 16 — May 8
Topic: Workshops (Medium, story design)
Reading due: None
Writing due: Final story draft with visuals (Q&A, service, or feature)
Week 17 —May 15 (Finals week; class period 5:15–7:15 p.m.)
Topic: Publication
Reading due: None
Writing due: Final story revision (Q&A, service, or feature)
Refer here to review the class syllabus and policies for Spring 2018.
