“Pitch Perfect: Pitching Your Story Idea and Landing a Byline” with Julie Poole
October 11, 2025 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM CDT
$59.00 – $119.00
- This event has passed.
This Event is for Members only.
Click here to learn more about benefits of membership
$59 for Members
$119 for Non-Members
Registration for the live class is now closed. The class recording is available for purchase by our members until December 31, 2025. Become a WLT member here.
This class is a part of the Narrative Nonfiction class package.
Pitching to online magazines and news outlets is a great way to get your name out there. In this class, you’ll learn how to pitch story ideas that editors will want to assign.
A perfect pitch answers these questions: Why is this story important? Why is it relevant now? And why are you the person to write it? Students will learn about the differences between pitching a personal essay, an op-ed, and a long-form reported feature. We will discuss how much research, data, and sourcing you should include, and what makes a story feel immediate and worthy of attention. You will also learn about different types of pitches and what editors are looking for. You will work with a template that will help you to create a pitch that is polished and ready to send out by the end of class. Whether you’re brand new at pitching or have some experience, this class will help you to grow and refine your skills.
TAKE THIS CLASS IF:
- You want to learn how experienced freelance writers craft their pitches.
- You’re curious about pitching but don’t know where to start.
- You have some experience pitching but want to improve.
- The fear of not being a professional journalist is holding you back.
- You want to leave this class session with the confidence to hit “send.”
The deadline to register for this class is Friday, October 10 at 5:00 PM CDT.
Can’t make it to the live class? No problem! All classes are recorded and made available to students until January 31, 2026.
CONTINUING YOUR WRITING JOURNEY
SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
The WLT is committed to making our online classes accessible to all writers including writers who do not have the financial means to pay for programming. Five (5) seats in this class have been set aside for scholarship recipients to attend free of charge. Please fill out this application no later than 2 days prior to the class to be considered for one of the scholarship seats. We do not ask for any corroborating documents; we only ask that you help us understand your situation. If you are selected for one of the available seats you will be notified via email (from wlt@writersleague.org) no later than 24 hours before the start of the class. Please note, each writer is limited to no more than four (4) total scholarship seats per catalog season.
Instructor
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Julie Poole is a poet, journalist, and filmmaker based in Austin. Her first book of poems, Bright Specimen, was inspired by the Billie L. Turner Plant Resources Center at UT. Her second book Gorgeous Freak is out now. She has published poems in Poet Lore, Cold Mountain Review, and Denver Quarterly. Her essays and journalism can be found in the Texas Observer, Texas Monthly, Bon Appétit, HuffPost, The Baffler, Slate, and The Nation. She is currently working on a memoir. For fun, she writes short stories about terrible jobs.
Before purchasing, please read all policies as noted below and on our Accessibility and Policies page.
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Anti-Harassment Policy
The Writers’ League of Texas is dedicated to providing harassment-free spaces for everyone, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion. We do not tolerate harassment in any form. Violating these rules may result in expulsion from WLT programs without a refund at the discretion of the WLT staff.
Harassment includes, but is not limited to:
- Comments that reinforce social structures of domination (related to gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, race, age, or religion);
- Sexual images not appropriate for the specific subject of the public discussion;
- Deliberate intimidation or stalking;
- Harassing photography or recording;
- Sustained disruption of discussions or other events;
- Unwelcome sexual attention;
- Advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above behavior.
Enforcement
Participants asked to stop any harassing behavior are expected to comply immediately. If a participant engages in harassing behavior, event organizers retain the right to take any actions to keep the event a welcoming environment for all participants. This includes warning the offender or expulsion from the event with no refund. Event organizers may take action to redress anything designed to, or with the clear impact of, disrupting the event or making the environment hostile for any participants. We expect participants to follow these rules during all events and event-related social activities.
Reporting
If someone makes you or anyone else feel unsafe or unwelcome, please report it as soon as possible. Reports can also be made via email at wlt@writersleague.org. We’ll handle any and all reports as respectfully as possible. You won’t be asked to confront anyone, and we won’t tell anyone who you are.
Accessibility Policy
Closed captioning is available for all online classes and special events.
The WLT is committed to making its programs & services accessible to all writers. Please contact us at wlt@writersleague.org or at 512-499-8914 for more information or to discuss accommodations you may need.
Credit Card Transaction Handling Fee Policy
All credit card transactions will incur a 4% handling fee. If you’d prefer to pay by check for membership, a class, or an event, you can use the provided forms on the membership or event pages and mail to: WLT, P.O. Box 14355, Austin, TX, 78704.
Writers’ League of Texas classes and workshops are also funded in part by the Texas Commission on the Arts – Investing in a Creative Texas. For more information, go to www.arts.texas.gov.