In this session, FWN event host Sithara shares the real, behind-the-scenes truths of freelance life. All of the unglamorous work that actually keeps a writing career running!

From chasing editors who haven’t replied, to finding sources when inboxes stay silent, to building relationships that don’t feel awkward or transactional, this session dives into the parts of freelancing no one ever talks about, but every writer deals with.

Whether you’re brand new to freelance writing or a few years in, this honest, practical workshop will help you build more confidence, resilience, and momentum in your work.

Watch and learn:

• How to follow up without feeling like a pest

• Tactics for finding and contacting the right sources

• Ways to build genuine, professional relationships with editors

• How to handle rejection and keep going

Ready to get a more realistic view of freelance life, and the tools to thrive within it?

Hit the link below to watch the full 60-minute session on demand.

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There’s a lot more to freelance writing than just pitching and writing.

So much of what we do as writers is about the quiet, consistent work that keeps our freelance writing businesses running smoothly behind the scenes.

Things like following up when an editor hasn’t replied, finding sources when no one’s answering emails, figuring out how to reach out, and building positive, professional relationships without feeling awkward.

And, of course, learning how to handle rejection. That’s just part of the job, no matter how experienced you are.

In our next live session with Sithara on Wednesday 11th March at 1pm ET (10am PT / 5pm GMT — US DST ends this weekend, hence there only being a four hour difference for now), we’ll dig into all those unglamorous but essential parts of freelance life.

Sithara will share practical approaches, real-world examples, and honest stories about what works (and what really doesn’t).

Missed any of our previous events? Why not rewatch our Pitch Lab session (a live breakdown of real freelance pitches) and our first Write Your First Pitch session.

You’ll come away with a clearer idea of how to:

• Follow up without feeling like a pest

• Find and contact sources effectively

• Build genuine relationships with editors and contacts

• Deal with rejection without it destroying your momentum

This is a supportive, down-to-earth session for anyone trying to build a sustainable freelance career (not just a shiny one).

🎥 The session will be recorded, so you can catch up in case you miss it!

✅ You’ll need to register for this event, which you can do below.

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In this session, FWN event host Sithara walks you through planning, writing, and sending your very first freelance pitch, complete with real examples, proven structure, and answers to common questions.

Never written a pitch before? Drafting emails but hesitant to send? Pitched before and yet to land your first paid assignment? This workshop is built for you, and you can now watch it whenever you’d like.

Watch and learn:

• Real pitch examples that landed assignments, with breakdowns of exactly what worked and why

• How to find the right publication and editor

• A proven pitch structure you can adapt to any publication

• The confidence to (finally) hit send!

Just hit the link below to access this 60-minute session in full.

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On Thursday, January 22nd at 12pm ET / 5pm GMT, FWN event host Sithara will walk you through planning, writing and sending your very first freelance pitch. Complete with real examples, proven structure, and live Q&A for your specific questions.

Never written a pitch before? Drafting emails but hesitant to send? Pitched before and yet to land your first paid assignment? This workshop is built for you.

You’ll learn:

• Real pitch examples that landed assignments, with breakdowns of exactly what worked

• How to find the right publication and editor

• A proven pitch structure you can adapt to any publication

• The confidence to hit send (finally)

This is a live, interactive workshop where you’ll get direct answers to your specific questions about pitching. You’ll also have space to ask questions, workshop ideas, and get real-time guidance.

Register below and mark your calendar for January 22nd!

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Our next FWN masterclass is on Monday 1st December at 2pm ET / 7pm GMT!

Instructor Tawny Lara is a journalist with a business degree who understands both sides of the creative life: we want to make great stuff, and we also want to make a living. She’s the author of Dry Humping: A Guide to Dating, Relating, and Hooking Up Without the Booze and The Sobriety Deck: Practical Practices for a Booze-Free Lifestyle. She’s also an exhausted Capricorn obsessed with her dog, Stevie Nicks.

This masterclass helps writers, researchers, artists, and creative entrepreneurs learn how to promote their work without that “ugh, I hate self-promotion” feeling. Whether you’re trying to get more eyes on a published piece or build a platform that shows you’re an expert in your niche, Be Your Own Publicist will show you how to do it authentically and effectively.

You’ll leave with a clear understanding of what a publicist actually does and a toolkit of DIY strategies you can use to boost visibility for your writing, projects, or brand.

Drawing from her experience as an author, brand co-founder, and business-savvy creative, Tawny shares the exact promotional strategies she’s tested — what worked, what didn’t, and what she’d do differently today.

🎟️ Buy my ticket!

📑 What you’ll learn

Identify Your Niche Without Feeling Typecast
How Tawny built The Sober Sexpert persona, turned it into a book deal, and pivoted that expertise into the non-alcoholic drinks industry — plus, why she wouldn’t fully brand herself again, and what she recommends instead.

Plan a Preorder Campaign That Works
Behind the scenes of Tawny’s book and product preorder campaigns — and how to apply her lessons to your own book launch or creative release.

Hiring a Publicist or Virtual Assistant (and What It Costs)
Understand what these roles actually do, how much they cost, and how to decide whether to hire help, go solo, or combine both for your own promotional plan.

🎟️ Buy my ticket!

🗣 Who it’s for

Writers, journalists, and freelancers who want to:

• Learn self-promotion that feels authentic, not awkward

• Build a platform to showcase their expertise

• Understand the costs and benefits of hiring PR or VA support

• Plan an effective preorder or launch campaign

• Use their niche to build visibility and opportunities

With Tawny Lara’s real-world insights — and Amy Arthur’s guidance as event host — you’ll leave this session feeling confident, capable and ready to promote your writing with purpose.

🎟 How to attend

You’ll need to purchase your ticket ahead of the event, while paid subscribers to the Freelance Writing Network will get a 20% discount on their entrance fee.

Every ticket will also include access to the replay, so you can watch back even if you can’t make it live.

🎟️ Buy my ticket!

👇 Everything you need to know

🗓 Monday 1st December
🕒 11am PT | 2pm ET | 7pm BST
📍 Online via Zoom (replay included for all ticket holders)

For paid subscribers, grab your 20% discount below👇

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And we have just a few spaces left available.

We’ll look at a fresh batch of pitches (including new success stories and what didn’t land), dive even deeper into what editors actually want and leave more time for your questions.

This workshop is free for you as a paid subscriber. So come along and share your insight, ask questions and learn from real examples submitted by fellow writers.

👇 Everything you need to know

🗓️ TODAY, 14th October at 9am PT // 12pm ET // 5pm BST

📍Online via Zoom, and the recorded replay will be sent and available to all paid subscribers after the event.

👇 RSVP below!

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And you’ve only got a few days left to save your space.

We’ll look at a fresh batch of pitches (including new success stories and what didn’t land), dive even deeper into what editors actually want and leave more time for your questions.

This workshop is free for you as a paid subscriber. So come along and share your insight, ask questions and learn from real examples submitted by fellow writers.

🗣️ Want feedback on your own pitch?

If you’ve got a pitch that didn’t work out (or one that did and you’d like to share), this is your chance to get expert eyes on it and receive real, actionable feedback. Sithara will choose a handful of submissions to unpack live.

The more submissions we receive, the more feedback we’ll be able to share.

👉 To submit your pitch for feedback, use this link. And if you’d prefer to anonymise it, that’s fine - no shame in sharing something that hasn’t quite landed yet!

👉 You can also ask questions in advance, using this link. If you want to ensure your question is answered, be sure to ask it before the session.

👇 Everything you need to know

🗓️ Tuesday, 14th October at 9am PT // 12pm ET // 5pm BST

📍Online via Zoom, and the recorded replay will be sent and available to all paid subscribers after the event.

👇 Paid subscribers can RSVP below the paywall!

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✉️ Pitch Lab: A live breakdown of real freelance pitches: what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve yours.

After the great feedback from our first session, the Freelance Writing Network’s Pitch Lab returns! Another live, interactive workshop led by Sithara.

🔍 What’s new?

We’ll look at a fresh batch of pitches (including new success stories and what didn’t land), dive even deeper into what editors actually want and leave more time for your questions.

As before, this workshop is free for paid subscribers and designed to be focused, practical, and collaborative. Share your own insights, ask questions, and learn from real examples submitted by fellow writers.

🗣️ Want feedback on your own pitch?

If you’ve got a pitch that didn’t work out (or one that did and you’d like to share), this is your chance to get expert eyes on it and receive real, actionable feedback. Sithara will choose a handful of submissions to unpack live.

👉 To submit your pitch for feedback, you can share it using this link. And if you’d prefer to anonymise it, we can absolutely do that too.

👉 You can also ask questions in advance, using this link. If you want to ensure your question is answered, be sure to ask it before the session.

🎟️ How to attend

You’ll need to RSVP if you’d like to attend as we do have a limited number of spaces available.

If you’re a paid subscriber and you can’t make this one, you’ll receive a replay link of the workshop after the session ends, meaning you can watch it even if you can’t attend.

👇 Everything you need to know

🗓️ Tuesday, 14th October at 9am PT // 12pm ET // 5pm BST

📍Online via Zoom, and the recorded replay will be sent and available to all paid subscribers after the event.

👇 Paid subscribers can RSVP below the paywall below!

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Tomorrow, Tuesday 23 September at 6pm UK / 1pm ET / 10am PT, join FWN host Amy Arthur in conversation with Kate Barker, a UK literary agent with 20+ years of experience across publishing.

Kate has worked as an agent, editor, and ghostwriter, representing both debut and established authors. She’s also held senior editorial roles at Viking, Curtis Brown, Orion and Bookouture, so she knows exactly what makes a nonfiction proposal land on an editor’s desk.

This two-hour masterclass will give you the tools, structure, and strategy you need to build a standout proposal. Whether you’re writing memoir, smart thinking, pop science, or lifestyle nonfiction, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of how to pitch your book and where it fits in the market.

👉 Kate is UK-based. Many of her insights apply globally, and we’ll also flag the key differences for US writers.

Buy my ticket!

🔍 What to expect

Kate will walk through:

• What publishers and agents really look for in nonfiction proposals

• The essential elements of a strong submission

• How to shape your proposal to match your book’s genre

• The differences between UK and US processes

• How to position your idea so it stands out in a crowded market

Kate will also dive deeper into idea-shaping: how to test your comp titles, show an awareness of your readership, and prove there’s space for your book.

Buy my ticket!

🎟 How to attend

Tickets are £19.99 / $27, with a 50% discount for FWN paid subscribers (£10 / $13.50). Every ticket includes access to the replay, so you can catch up anytime.

🗓 Tomorrow, Tuesday 23rd September
🕒 10am PT | 1pm ET | 6pm BST
📍 Live on Zoom (replay included for all ticket holders)

Reserve your place now, tickets close soon!

Buy my ticket!

Paid subscribers can access the 50% discount below the paywall👇

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On Tuesday 23 September at 6pm UK / 1pm ET / 10am PT, join FWN host Amy Arthur in conversation with Kate Barker, a UK literary agent with 20+ years of experience across publishing.

Kate has worked as an agent, editor, and ghostwriter, representing both debut and established authors. She’s also held senior editorial roles at Viking, Curtis Brown, Orion and Bookouture, so she knows exactly what makes a nonfiction proposal land on an editor’s desk.

This two-hour masterclass will give you the tools, structure, and strategy you need to build a standout proposal. Whether you’re writing memoir, smart thinking, pop science, or lifestyle nonfiction, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of how to pitch your book and where it fits in the market.

👉 Kate is UK-based. Many of her insights apply globally, and we’ll also flag the key differences for US writers.

Buy my ticket!

🔍 What to expect

Kate will walk us through:

• What publishers and agents really look for in nonfiction proposals

• The essential elements of a strong submission

• How to shape your proposal to match your book’s genre

• The differences between UK and US processes

• How to position your idea so it stands out in a crowded market

Kate will also dive deeper into idea-shaping: how to test your comp titles, show an awareness of your readership, and prove there’s space for your book.

Buy my ticket!

🗣 Your questions answered

You’ll be able to submit questions in advance (perfect if you can’t make it live) and we’ll put them to Kate during the Q&A.

We’ll also ask for a few details about your project so Kate can tailor her advice to what you’re working on.

🎟 How to attend

Tickets are £19.99 / $27, with a 50% discount for FWN paid subscribers (£10 / $13.50). Every ticket includes access to the replay, so you can catch up anytime.

🗓 Tuesday 23 September
🕒 10am PT | 1pm ET | 6pm BST
📍 Live on Zoom (replay included for all ticket holders)

Buy my ticket!

Paid subscribers can access the 50% discount below the paywall👇

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Join the Freelance Writing Network on September 23rd for a brand-new live masterclass with Amy Arthur and guest literary agent Kate Barker.

Kate Barker has worked in UK book publishing for over 20 years as a literary agent, editor and ghostwriter. She represents a wide range of novelists and writers of non-fiction. She was previously an Editorial Director for Viking, and has also worked for Curtis Brown, Orion and Bookouture.

Kate knows exactly what makes a non-fiction proposal land on an editor’s desk, and what can make it sink without a trace.

This session is designed to give you the tools, structure, and strategy you need to build a standout proposal. Whether you’re writing memoir, smart thinking, pop science, or lifestyle non-fiction, you’ll leave with a clearer sense of how to pitch your book and where it fits in the market.

Kate works in the UK publishing industry, and we’ll highlight where UK and US expectations differ so writers on both sides of the Atlantic get clear guidance.

Buy my ticket!

🔍 What to expect

Kate will walk us through:

• What publishers and agents look for in non-fiction proposals

• The essential elements of a strong submission

• How to shape your proposal to match your book’s genre

• Key differences between UK and US submission processes

• How to position your idea so it stands out in a crowded market

After a short break, Kate will dive deeper into idea-shaping: how to test your comps, show awareness of your readership, and prove there’s a market for your book.

This masterclass will equip you with everything you need to plan, write, and pitch your non-fiction book with confidence.

Buy my ticket!

🗣 Your questions answered

You’ll be able to submit questions in advance and get specific answers to support your individual processes. Even if you can’t attend live, you can send your questions ahead of time and we’ll put them to Kate during the session.

👉 When you purchase your ticket, we’ll also ask you to share a few details about your own project. That way, Kate can use examples that match the kinds of books people are actually working on, meaning we can tailor the session to you.

🎟 How to attend

Tickets are £19.99 ($27), with a 50% discount for FWN paid subscribers (£10/$13.50).

Every ticket includes access to the replay, so you can watch back even if you can’t make it.

👇 Everything you need to know

🗓 Tuesday September 23rd
🕒 10am PT | 1pm ET | 6pm BST
📍 Online via Zoom (replay included for all ticket holders)

Buy my ticket!

Paid subscribers can access the 50% discount below the paywall👇

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In this inaugural session, Sithara—one of the Freelance Writing Network’s new event hosts—led a live, interactive breakdown of real freelance pitches.

We analysed what worked, what didn’t, and exactly how to refine your own pitches and make them stand out. The feedback has been excellent, and we can’t wait to share details of our second session.

The replay is exclusive to paid subscribers, with full access to every insight and example we covered.

🔍 What you’ll learn in the replay:

• Why certain pitches did or didn’t land (and how to fix them)

• How to sharpen structure, framing, and focus

• What editors are really looking for when you pitch

• Examples across multiple genres + live Q&A takeaways

🎥 Watch the full replay

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There is just one hour to go until the Freelance Writing Network’s very first Pitch Lab: a live, interactive workshop led by Sithara, one of the FWN’s new event hosts.

This inaugural session of Pitch Lab is designed to sharpen your pitching skills through real-world examples and honest feedback. The session will be focused, practical and collaborative, with space for you to share your insight and questions.

This workshop free for paid subscribers of the Freelance Writing Network.

🔍 What to expect:

Sithara will break down a series of freelance pitches, both successful and unsuccessful, and walk through:

• Reasons a pitch didn’t land

• How to improve the structure, framing or focus

• What editors are actually looking for when you pitch

The workshop will cover examples across a range of genres, plus plenty of time for Q&A and discussions.

🎟️ How to attend

This event is for paid subscribers only, and you’ll need to RSVP if you’d like to attend as we do have a limited number of spaces available.

If you’re a paid subscriber and you can’t make this one, you’ll receive a replay link of the workshop after the session ends, meaning you can watch it even if you can’t attend.

👇 Everything you need to know

🗓️ Wednesday, August 27th at 9am PT // 12pm ET // 5pm BST

📍Online via Zoom, and the recorded replay will be sent and available to all paid subscribers after the event.

👇 Paid subscribers can RSVP below!

RSVP now!

✉️ Pitch Lab: A live breakdown of real freelance pitches: what worked, what didn’t, and how to improve yours.

Join the Freelance Writing Network’s very first Pitch Lab: a live, interactive workshop led by Sithara, one of the FWN’s new event hosts.

This inaugural session of Pitch Lab is designed to sharpen your pitching skills through real-world examples and honest feedback. The session will be focused, practical and collaborative, with space for you to share your insight and questions.

This workshop is open exclusively to full subscribers of the Freelance Writing Network, as part of a paid subscription.

🔍 What to expect:

Sithara will break down a series of freelance pitches, both successful and unsuccessful, and walk through:

• Reasons a pitch didn’t land

• How to improve the structure, framing or focus

• What editors are actually looking for when you pitch

The workshop will cover examples across a range of genres, plus plenty of time for Q&A and discussions.

🗣️ Want feedback on your own pitch?

If you’ve got a pitch that didn’t work out (or one that did and you’d like to share), this is your chance to get expert eyes on it. Sithara will choose a handful of submissions to unpack live.

👉 To submit your pitch for feedback, you can share it using this link. And if you’d prefer to anonymise it, we can absolutely do that too.

🎟️ How to attend

This event is for paid subscribers only, and you’ll need to RSVP if you’d like to attend as we do have a limited number of spaces available.

If you’re a paid subscriber and you can’t make this one, you’ll receive a replay link of the workshop after the session ends, meaning you can watch it even if you can’t attend.

👇 Everything you need to know

🗓️ Wednesday, August 27th at 9am PT // 12pm ET // 5pm BST

📍Online via Zoom, and the recorded replay will be sent and available to all paid subscribers after the event.

👇 Paid subscribers can RSVP below the paywall below!

Read more