More Passionate Media training sessions in London and Birmingham

FOLLOWING the success of our recent one-day course in London, for freelance writers wanting to find out more about making more money from so-called 'commercial' projects, we have now booked venues for future events.

You can read feedback from our last event here. With attendees telling us it was the "best training they had ever been on" and that "we should add life coaching to our list of skills," it's fair to say we were blown away by the reaction.

We are keen to make sure that the sessions are excellent value and that journalists can find them genuinely worthwhile. We've deliberately kept the price realistic in the hope that people whose circumstances have changed can join us. And we're offering a discounted price for journalists who have recently been made redundant. Places are limited to ensure feedback is specific enough to attendees' particular questions.

I've included a picture of the team at Passionate Media to accompany this update as I hope this helps illustrate the amount of work that can be found. Our team grew out of demand for work from a freelance journalist.

The next courses are taking place on Saturday, May 30 at The Priory Rooms, in Bull Street, Birmingham and Saturday, June 27 at Friends' House, Euston Road London.

The cost for those attending is as follows:

Birmingham - normal price £180, including VAT. Reduced price £150, including VAT.

The reduced price is available to journalists who have been made redundant from a media organisation and members of the online community JournoBiz.

London - normal price £180, including VAT. Reduced price £150, including VAT.

Again, the reduced price is available to journalists who have been made redundant from a media organisation and JournoBiz members.

The itinerary is as follows: This is a day-long training event including practical exercises with instant feedback.

Areas covered will include*:

Ethics - Is commercial writing for you? How can you or should you juggle this with a career in freelance journalism? What are the conflicts of interest and how can they be avoided?

Writing style - How does it differ from more objective styles of writing?

How to get work - What's the point of networking? Getting the most from contacts. Finding 'strategic alliances' to go after more/bigger work

Getting paid - Advice based on experience of contracts and order forms, with templates provided.

The clients from hell? Guidance on how to deal with and strengthen relationships with corporate clients.

Exercises will include*:

Writing different sorts of copy

Networking practice

Communicating with corporate clients

* The details are being finalised. The days are planned to run from 9.30am to 4.30pm, with a break for lunch and two coffee breaks. Lunch will not be provided.

About the trainers:

Me:

I'm the managing director of Passionate Media, an agency that works on copywriting, PR, blogging, podcasting and other marketing support/editorial services for a range of customers. The company was started in 2003 to allow me to work around my children. I'm an established media trainer, working in-house and with individuals to help them maximise their commercial writing potential. I'm also the author of The Greatest Freelance Writing Tips in the World.

My colleague Carol

Carol Garrington is the award-winning marketing director at Passionate Media and oversees the company's accounts and cash flow system. Carol offers realistic advice on dealing with clients and getting paid. She also runs a flourishing network for businesswomen in the West Midlands, Wings.

If you are interested in knowing more, please do get in touch. Please contact Carol on carol@passionatemedia.co.uk for more information or to book your place.