Internet Writing Markets, Introduction to

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Lesson 1
The Internet offers a world of opportunity for writers. This lesson gives you a brief introduction to the Internet, the terminology you'll need to know to understand how it functions, and the tools you'll use to explore it. As you probably know, Internet searches can be frustrating. So we'll examine different ways to make your search queries more effective. One of the most exciting things we'll do is learn about metasearch engines and horizontal searches that can find the answers you're looking for in the blink of an eye.

Lesson 2
Today we're going to examine the Internet as a research tool, beginning with ways to evaluate Web sites. You've probably wondered what editors expect in terms of proving the validity of your information, and so we'll discuss some guidelines for doing that. Then we'll move to advanced search tools like Newsgroups and specialized search engines. And finally, we'll dive into the biggest tool available to writers: the invisible or hidden Web.

Lesson 3
This may be one of your favourite lessons as we learn how to use the Internet to locate traditional markets for your writing. Looking for a book publisher, magazine, or newspaper that might be interested in your articles? Have you thought of syndicating your work or trying a job bank? Once you've located a market on the Internet, it's time to get the straight facts on what an editor expects in an e-mail query and submission. This lesson will help you present yourself as a pro.

Lesson 4
Today we'll tackle the issue of copyrights. Your copyright is the single most important thing you own as a writer because it's what legally gives you the right to earn income from your creative work. Selling your work to Internet markets means you'll need to be familiar with copyright laws around the world. If you understand your bundle of rights well, you can sell the same story several times for top dollars! Of course, since you're also a researcher, you need to understand how copyright applies to what you're accessing and what you can use or quote.

Lesson 5
In this lesson we're going to talk about contracts. We'll clarify the many confusing terms used in the agreements that publishers ask writers to sign. We'll cover the essentials, so you can feel more confident when you sell your work. We'll talk about what the publisher gives you, and what you grant the publisher. Signing on the dotted line can be stressful, but if you understand contract language, you'll be able to negotiate exactly what you want!

Lesson 6
A century ago, a writer needed a pen, paper, and maybe, a typewriter. Now writers are confronted with hundreds of different choices in terms of hardware and software, all of which will supposedly help you be more effective at your job. But what do you really need? Today, we'll take the confusion out of it all by separating the must-haves from wish list items like digital cameras and story development software.

Lesson 7
This lesson is likely to surprise many writers as we explore the requirements of writing for the Internet?particularly what we'll discuss about search engine rankings. User-friendly content is concise and to the point, and mixed with graphics, color, and spacing to keep the surfer reading. But it takes more than that to get a high ranking on Google! Whether you're writing for e-commerce or an information site, your site has a much higher value if it ranks well and has high traffic. So we're going to unravel the mysteries of writing content that is effective and makes the grade.

Lesson 8
With billions of pages on the Internet, there are lots of markets for writers, but what sells? Today you'll find out the most popular nonfiction topics and learn the secrets to writing nonfiction articles that sell on the Internet. If you're just getting started, you may find one of these large markets to be a good entry point. If you're already established, you may find these a good source of extra income.

Lesson 9
Do you write fiction? If so, you'll be please to know that there area more opportunities to sell short fiction in cyberspace than in the print world?particularly in certain genres. What genres you ask? Well, we're going to explore that in this lesson and talk about the unique features Internet publishers and readers look for in each one. We'll also look at the genres that have grown up, or been revived, in recent years to suit the changing nature of readers in cyberspace.

Lesson 10
Today you'll enter the exciting new world of e-books, as we examine exactly what an e-book is, and what it isn't. First, we'll look at their advantages and disadvantages, and then move to e-book formats and e-book readers. Did you know you could read an e-book on your PDA or your Pocket PC? Technology today lets you download a new e-book from the Internet to your laptop using a wireless connection (WiFi), so we'll talk about using WiFi too.

Lesson 11
If you've written a print book that's out-of-print, or a new manuscript that hasn't found a traditional publisher, then e-publishing may be for you! We'll start this lesson by exploring the different types of e-publishers and what you can expect if you choose one. Have you been thinking about self-publishing? It's relatively inexpensive and simple with e-books, so we'll talk about what you need to know before you proceed. Another very popular form of Internet publishing is e-zines, which are of course, electronic magazines. We'll review what you need to know to publish one yourself or to create one for a client.

Lesson 12
Our last lesson is the most action packed of all! We'll look at various ways you can promote yourself and your writing on the Internet. The most important way is by creating your own Web site. We'll take the mystery out of doing that by walking step-by-step through the process of choosing a service provider and developing your content. Then we'll move on to other ways you can establish yourself in a niche area in cyberspace?whether you haven't published at all yet, or have published several books. You'll also get tips on how to sell your books, as we look at promotion strategies that will earn you more royalties, or for self-publishers, more revenue.