NYU Fashion Writing Class

We all know that New York University has a treasure trove of literally thousands of courses to take both for academic credit and for continuing education, but their fashion writing course is certainly one of the most beneficial for all those budding fashion editors and writers in NYC. Their fashion writing course is offered during the 2009 summer term through the School of Continuing & Professional Studies' department of writing and speech. The five session course is $290 and can be applied toward the NYU journalism certificate and is taught by fashion writer Susanne D'Amato at the Washington Square campus. The course is on Tuesdays from 6:45 PM to 9:05 PM from May 26 to June 23.

NYU's website says, "this course is for those who are so passionate about what to wear that they feel compelled not only to talk about their opinions, but to write them down. We cover the fundamentals of all cultural reporting and writing (observation and description); try on the different forms of fashion writing (preview, review, trend piece and profile, among others) and discuss submission strategies. We also survey the world of fashion magazines--as well as the world of fashion itself. The goal of the course is to begin compiling a fashion writing portfolio." For more information on the program check out NYU's website below.

Fashion Writing Summer 2009 Course

www.scps.nyu.edu/course-detail/X32.9781/20092/fashion-writing

National Writing Project

The National Writing Project is a wonderful resource for educators who teach writing and the techniques that they learn from this program in turn benefit their students. The quote from their website below sums up what they are all about.

"The National Writing Project (NWP) is a professional development network that serves teachers of writing at all grade levels, primary through university and in all subjects. The mission of the NWP is to improve student achievement by improving the teaching of writing and improving learning in the nation’s schools.

National Writing Project
www.nwp.org

Girls Write Now

Girls Write Now is an organization that provides girls with assistance to improve their writing skills as creative wordsmiths. Its a fantastic opportunity for female writers to help mentor high school girls and be a part of shaping future leaders and writers at a critical time in their life. Here is what their website says, "Girls Write Now (GWN) provides a safe and supportive environment where girls can expand their natural writing talents, develop independent creative voices and build confidence in making healthy choices in school, career and life. GWN provides at-risk New York City high school girls with emerging writing talent an opportunity to be custom-matched with a professional woman writer who serves as her personal mentor and writing coach, meeting with her weekly for the duration of an entire school year and for up to four years."

Girls Write Now
http://www.girlswritenow.org

Specialized Professional Organizations: Writers/Editors

There are literally hundreds, maybe thousands of different writing specialties to cater to every niche under the sun. Accordingly there are professional organizations to fill the career needs of these niche writers, below is just a sampling of the different groups to join and excepts from their websites explaining their offerings.

The North American Association of Travel & Lifestyle Writers

"Membership in TravelJourno is open to working professional travel, wine and food journalists, photographers, and broadcasters. Our membership also extends to publishers and editors of consumer and trade publication, book authors and freelancers. Affiliate membership is open to public relations personnel who represent clients in the wine, food, hotel, resort, cruise and airline industries."

New York Financial Writers' Association

"The New York Financial Writers Association is the nation's oldest organization devoted to business and financial journalism. Since its founding in 1938, hundreds of journalists from news organizations in every facet of media, newspapers, magazines, television, radio, wire services, online website services, and other new media have enjoyed the benefits and camaraderie of membership."

New York State Sports Writers Association

"Founded in 1967, the New York State Sportswriters Association has long been regarded as an authoritative voice and the leading source of information about scholastic athletics. Begun by sportswriters Larry Serrell of the Schenectady Gazette and Chuck Korbar of the Buffalo Evening News, NYSSWA membership grew from a mere 12 in 1967 to 246 in 1971. Larry died in 1983 and Chuck passed away in 1998, but they built the foundation of an organization that includes more than 300 reporters, coaches, administrators and assorted fanatics who receive 50 annual issues of the newsletter. Our membership includes prep writers and editors from virtually every newspaper in New York -- many of whom contribute countless hours compiling rankings information and statistics -- as well as a number of other media outlets and college coaches from across the country."

National Sportscasters & Sports Writers Association and Hall of Fame

"The National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association and Hall of Fame is the only organization dedicated to the crafts of sportscasting and sportswriting in the United States. Our more than 700 members are the most accomplished and talented sports media in the industry covering professional, collegiate and amateur sports both in the U.S. and abroad."

Association of Food Journalists

"The Association of Food Journalists, Inc., is a networking system especially created for journalists who devote most of their working time to planning and writing food copy for news media worldwide. AFJ's primary goal is to encourage communication among food journalists. In addition, AFJ tries to increase members' knowledge of food and to sharpen their writing, design and broadcast skills. The group also strives to foster professional standards among its members and other members of the media."

American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors

"The American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors is an organization of editors from the United States and Canada dedicated to the quality of features in newspapers and the craft of feature writing. AASFE supports its membership with an annual conference, a writing contest, an annual magazine and a Web site."

Writer's Resources

Writers need all the help they can get to perfect their craft in order for them to stay competitive. Here are five resources that will expertly help writers take their skills to the next level.

New York Writer's Workshop
"New York Writers Workshop is an alliance of experienced, professional writers of poetry, fiction, non-fiction, plays and screenplays who live and teach in New York City. Our mission is to serve a growing community of aspiring writers with workshops that teach craft, foster creativity, and enable writers, no matter their background or experience, to achieve their full writing potential," their website said.

NY Writer's Coalition
Their website says, "NY Writers Coalition Inc. (NYWC) provides free and low-cost creative writing workshops throughout New York City for people from groups that have been historically deprived of voice in our society."

NYC Pitch & Shop Conference
According to their website, "This writer conference event promotes aspiring authors writing in the genres of commercial and literary fiction, serious and light women's fiction, historical fiction, mystery/thriller and detective, high-concept young adult, as well as memoir and narrative nonfiction.

Gotham Writers' Workshop
The summary on the website explains, "Gotham Writers' Workshop is the leading private creative writing school in New York City and online. Professional writers present workshops in more than a dozen forms of writing. The school’s interactive online classes, selected as “Best of the Web” by Forbes, have attracted thousands of aspiring writers from across the United States and more than one hundred countries."

The Village Quill: A New York Writer's Loft
"A writer's loft and art galley in the heart of Tribeca, The Village Quill has been a haven for creativity for almost four years, providing workspace for both emerging and established writers and a showcase for artists. Located in one of Manhattan's most coveted neighborhoods, The Village Quill seeks to foster the literary success of its members while offering a creative forum for professionals of all genres," according to their website.