WHEN 4 weeks, September 10 - October 15 Chats Wednesdays, 9-10 pm ET WHERE Online. Click here for more information. LEVEL Intermediate PRICE $350 ($325 for ) more info

Course Details

From the for-sale-by-owner craze, to challenging markets, to the quiet poets of the trade -- the architects who ponder the meaning of materials -- stories abound in the building trades. New shelter publications take to the newsstands all the time, expanding the niche by leaps and bounds. Even in economic downturns, do-it-yourself pubs thrive, as people hunker down in the homes they already own rather than buy or build one anew. Practically everything that happens affects the shelter situation -- which is why it's one of the best journalistic niches to be in.

In this class, you'll learn about the ever-growing niche of shelter writing, which includes coverage of real estate, architecture, home design and just about anything related to home -- from Better Homes and Gardens to Builder Magazine. You don't have to be a superstar home repair expert to write about the homefront. All you need is some experience living in a shelter of sorts and a curiosity for finding the story beneath the bricks and mortar.

Admission requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history), and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).

The online classroom has several interactive components:

• Instructors post lectures once a week. You can read them online, print them, or download them at your convenience.
• Students post completed assignments for feedback and discussion by the instructor and class.
• Weekly chats allow your class to get together via instant message. Transcripts are available for review if you can't attend.
• Technical support is available from mediabistro staff.
  
  

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Instructor Bio

Karen Sommer Shalett's Courses

Karen Sommer Shalett is editor-in-chief of DC Magazine. As a freelancer, she wrote for over a dozen publications including Women's Wear Daily and Lucky. In her previous position as a reporter for New Orleans' Times Picayune, she reported on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. She then launched the luxury shopping magazine Wish for the Times Picayune, where her work earned her a Louisiana Press Association award.

Having lost her home in Katrina, Karen decided to move her family to higher ground and took a position with The Washington Post as shopping columnist for the paper's Style and Sunday Source sections before becoming EIC of DC Magazine.

Testimonials

Karen's seminar was thorough and effective. I recommend it for anyone looking to pursue a freelance career. -- Leon Scott

"This was my first mediabistro class, and I loved it! Karen gave great inside tips. I left with the feeling that I could actually get a freelance job even without clips." --Jewell Jones

"I don't know how Karen did it, but in just three hours she managed to transform the daunting pursuit of a freelance career into a manageable, "you-can-do-it," step-by-step process." --Sandra Jackson

"Karen's course was just what I needed. She's a laid back, easy going, individual whose advice I definitely take seriously." --Elsie Achugbue

"Karen is a top-notch instructor who knew exactly what we wanted out of the class. I left feeling a little more confident that I had the tools I needed to move forward." --Suzanne Struglinski

"Karen shared a wealth of information about the business that was practical and organized. I was especially impressed with her professional and respectful demeanor." -- Marijo Dowd

"Karen's class was more than I expected. She answered everyone's questions showing that she really wants us to do well keeping our individuality in mind." -- Stacie Pierpoint

"Karen was very articulate and energetic. She kept the class actively involved with questions and comments so that everything flowed very nicely. She peppered the teaching with personal anecdotes that made the content more memorable and applicable." -- Nancy Michaels

"As a fairly new freelancer, I found Karen's seminar to be extremely helpful. She's engaging, intelligent and funny. This woman really knows her stuff." -- Stephanie Kanowitz