All Student Success Letters

Paige McClanahan

Dear Gotham,
 
I’m just writing to say thanks for helping me take a step forward in my career.
 
Before I took your How to Freelance class, I had been writing trade news for an NGO for about two years. I was eager to make the jump into “real” (read: private sector) journalism, but had no idea how to go about it. On impulse one day, I signed up for the freelancing class taught by Cindy Price, with input from Francis Flaherty of the New York Times in the final week. I’m very glad I did.
 
Cindy’s lectures were pragmatic, thorough and eminently readable. Even better, she offered lengthy, constructive feedback on assignments.
 
One of those assignments—a query letter I wrote for the Christian Science Monitor—proved to be my golden ticket. Cindy made some very helpful suggestions and strongly encouraged me to send it in, which I did right away. I promptly got a reply from the editor and my story was published a few days later. Here’s the best part: the editor also asked me to become a regular contributor.
 
So thanks for de-mystifying the world of freelance journalism for me, and for helping me get my foot in the door. You guys do great work; keep it up!
 
All the best, 
Paige McClanahan