Introduction to Internet Writing Markets

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 1
The Internet grows every day, and so do your opportunities to publish on it. In this lesson, we'll begin by exploring Internet publications. Digital information archivists have identified not only the characteristics of Internet publications, but also three specific types: Web magazines, Webzines, and E-Journals. By the time you've finished this lesson, you'll not only understand how these three differ, but you'll also know which type of publication best suits what you want to write. And to make sure you have all the tools you need to begin publishing on the Internet, you'll have the chance to learn about querying by e-mail and to read some of my electronic queries that have landed assignments.

Lesson 2
In this lesson, you'll learn what makes e-zines, or electronic magazines, different from the Internet publications we talked about in Lesson 1. You'll find out the history of the zine and how it evolved to become the e-zine, We'll look at the kind of content you can expect to sell to an e-zine. Of course, you'll get some of my best e-zine writing tips, too! You'll also see how to prepare and submit content electronically after an editor asks to see your work.

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 3
You can probably name dozens of businesses that have Web sites. Some use them as online business cards or brochures, while others use them to sell directly to customers. Today, you'll learn how to write content for all these types of sites. When you write for a business, you're likely to have a payment agreement in which the business owns the copyright to the content, not you. After this lesson, you'll understand the various ways you can license or sell your writing.

Lesson 4
The majority of Web sites you find when you're surfing aren't Web publications, e-zines, or business sites. Instead, they're content-focused Web sites. From your own experiences reading online content, you know that some content or information sites are easier to read and navigate than others. In this lesson, you'll learn how to write content that will capture the attention of the average online reader, who stays just 45 seconds on a Web page. That's right--you have only 45 seconds to draw your reader in, and today you'll discover some key writing techniques to help you do that! We'll also cover the key contract points to look at when you're selling your writing to an Internet market.

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 5
In this lesson, you'll learn the deepest, darkest secret of the Internet--how Web sites make it into the top 50 listings with search engines. Your writing style has a big impact on search engine ranking, so we'll go step-by-step through how to improve the focus and keyword density in the content you create. Even the way you organize your content makes a difference, and after this lesson, you'll know various strategies to make you an effective Web writer. You'll also find out how to make your Webmaster's job easier by paying attention to the keywords and headers that search engines notice.

Lesson 6
Did you know that 70% of Web surfers say they read at least one blog every week? That's a big opportunity to have your work read! In this lesson, we'll explore how writers are using blogs--some to make their big publishing breaks. In fact, one previously unknown writer landed a $300,000 book deal after just three months of blogging! You're going to meet some expert bloggers who are handing out blog awards and analyzing what makes a blog successful. Then, we'll take a tour of your options for getting started blogging.

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 7
Maybe you're interested in writing about a niche area. If so, then publishing your own Webzine could be the best direction for you. I've gone that route myself a few times! Today, you'll discover exactly what it requires to self-publish a content site on the Internet. You'll learn about Web hosting, selecting domain names, Web publishing software (some of it's even free), using images, and registering your Webzine copyright. Even if you're not planning to publish a Webzine, you'll find the information useful when it comes to creating a personal Web site or writing content for a start-up business.

Lesson 8
This lesson is a student favorite. Who wouldn't want to know dozens of ways to earn money from their own Web content? You've already learned about blogging and starting your own Webzine--now you'll learn how to turn blogs and Webzines into profitable writing opportunities. Take all that content you have archived on your computer and turn it into revenue-generating online content just by signing up with the programs of your choice and adding computer code to your Web pages.

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 9
Now that we've started talking about ways to earn money with your writing beyond simply selling it, today we'll look at publishers who share revenue rather than buy your work outright. Revenue-sharing sites let you upload and publish everything you write rather than go through the process of querying and waiting for an editor to accept your work. They're the fastest and easiest route to publication and to making money from it. We'll also talk about e-book publishers who share revenue with royalties, or a specified amount of what they receive for each of your books that they sell. Get ready to find out all about e-publishers and e-book contracts.

Lesson 10
In this lesson, you'll find out what kinds of writing sell well on the Internet and how to decide if self-publishing is for you. We'll also take a whirlwind tour of the latest trend for self-publishers: print-on-demand, or POD. With POD, you can turn your e-book into a traditional print book with little to no investment beyond printing costs!

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 11
Today, we'll look at Web 2.0, the intelligent Web, and see it in action. From blogging, to wikis, to open source licensing, Web 2.0 is all about putting publishing power in the hands of the creators. We're going to explore neat developments such as folksonomy and services like Flickr and del.icio.us, and you'll see how these tools can help you promote your writing. You'll also get some tips about writing for Web 2.0 publishing opportunities--tips that get you ready for the marketplace.

Lesson 12
In addition to being the intelligent Web, there's another aspect of Web 2.0--it's the participatory Web. You'll be headed into the future with this lesson as we explore social networking and how it has changed the way that we interact. We'll also talk about how you can incorporate multimedia in your Internet writing. Finally, we'll lift the curtain to see what Web 3.0 has in store. Imagine a virtual reality replica of the real world, along with some imaginary ones, where you interact with your own avatar. It's here now, just waiting for you to discover it!

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.