The Advanced Course is an intensive 6-month writing workshop that allows you to strengthen your writing muscle, gain confidence and build your portfolio of saleable articles at the same time. This course is intended as a continuation for graduates of our Magazine Journalism Course. We also welcome published journalists who want to sharpen their writing skills.

You can specialise in writing particular types of articles, including:

• humour columns
•  topical features
•  celebrity profiles
•  inspirational human profile
•  ‘how to’s’
•  Q&A interviews
•  feel-good human interest stories
•  travel writing

Course Details:

• Modules: 3 Modules - 12 Feedback sessions
• Duration: Course can be completed at own pace: within six months
• Start date: At any time; applications all year round via our website

Student must complete:

• 6 planning assignments (feedback task)
• 3 query letters (feedback and assessment)
• 3 full-length articles of publishable quality (feedback and assessment)

Admission Requirements:

Students must have successfully completed the Magazine Journalism Course.

Tutors for this course:  Loenie Joubert, Karin Schimke, Puseletso Mompei, Tracey Hawthorne, Lisa Lazarus

 

Course Curriculum

The Advanced Course is a practical course aimed at fine-tuning magazine writing skills and professionalism, as well as building a portfolio of writing.

This course has been designed to replicate the procedure that a freelance magazine journalist follows from start to finish: from generating a saleable idea, pitching the story to a suitable magazine, writing the article to deadline, to invoicing and being paid for the piece.

Students will be encouraged to sell work of publishable quality, all within a supportive environment.

Assignments

The course comprises three modules consisting of six planning tasks and six writing assignments. Once the student has completed an assignment, and e-mailed it to the lecturer, an assessment and feedback will be sent to the student, and the module will be considered complete. The next module will then be e-mailed to the student.

Students are given reading material on writing techniques at the start of each module, and are encouraged to ask questions throughout the course, either by e-mailing the lecturer, or posting a query on the student board. In addition to 12 formal feedback sessions, the lecturer is similarly available for ongoing editorial assistance for the duration of the course.

If you need further course details, please contact us.

Conditions of Certification:

Students will receive an SA Writers College Certificate upon successful completion of the course, provided they meet the following conditions:

• Students must have completed all 6 assignments (namely: 3 query letters and three articles)
• The course must have been completed within six months of registration.
• Students are expected to attain a minimum average of 60% for the course

Minimum Estimated Time Commitments:

• Reading Time: 3 hours
• Writing Time: 3 hours for three query letters
• 30 hours for three articles 
• Research Time: 12 hours for research and interviews, depending on the complexity of the articles.