How to start a freelance training business (in writing?)
April 3, 2022 10:40 AM Subscribe
I am a nonfiction writer and writing lecturer. I'd love to start a side business teaching seminars on writing for companies. I have no idea how to do this -- help!
I am a well-published nonfiction writer (one fairly successful book and working on another one; articles in places like The Atlantic, op-ed in the NYT, etc.) I also teach writing part-time at a well-regarded university. I really enjoy teaching and I'm good at it.
I'd love to expand my income by doing writing seminars for companies. I've taught business writing before, so I could teach this. I also find that lots of students enroll in my nonfiction classes who are interested in marketing/advertising to learn storytelling (which I am good at teaching, I think!) So maybe creative nonfiction/essay writing as well?
The thing is, I have little business sense and few friends in the industry. I have no idea how even to start this. I don't even know how to gauge interest/need. I could come up with a plan/classes/materials -- but who do I send them to? How would I even go about marketing myself this way?
I live in a Big City, by the way, with lots of companies like Google, Apple, etc.
(I also am not sure how my university would see this -- this is why the question is anonymous! Don't want to ask my department head until I figure out if this is viable.)
Any advice from insiders/HR people,etc. would be very welcome -- thanks!
I am a well-published nonfiction writer (one fairly successful book and working on another one; articles in places like The Atlantic, op-ed in the NYT, etc.) I also teach writing part-time at a well-regarded university. I really enjoy teaching and I'm good at it.
I'd love to expand my income by doing writing seminars for companies. I've taught business writing before, so I could teach this. I also find that lots of students enroll in my nonfiction classes who are interested in marketing/advertising to learn storytelling (which I am good at teaching, I think!) So maybe creative nonfiction/essay writing as well?
The thing is, I have little business sense and few friends in the industry. I have no idea how even to start this. I don't even know how to gauge interest/need. I could come up with a plan/classes/materials -- but who do I send them to? How would I even go about marketing myself this way?
I live in a Big City, by the way, with lots of companies like Google, Apple, etc.
(I also am not sure how my university would see this -- this is why the question is anonymous! Don't want to ask my department head until I figure out if this is viable.)
Any advice from insiders/HR people,etc. would be very welcome -- thanks!
I was just chatting this morning with a semi-retired editor friend who does this very thing for business writing and technical writing. She splits her time between training and freelance editing, with several of her clients look to her for support in both areas.
She's created her own training materials and presentations that she updates regularly. She has an LLC for this with a professional website, etc. She has good contacts (that one takes a while to develop, but hey), a great reputation, and she's delightfully exuberant. It's a gift.
While demand for this kind of training cooled quite a bit during covid, she's seeing renewed interest as businesses are getting back in gear. This month, she's been contracted by a current client (some kind of engineering firm?) to lead a four-week course on technical writing for two dozen new employees, all early career. They'll receive her training workbook, weekly in-person instruction (online), and detailed feedback/markups on submitted exercises. In May, she'll be leading a second group of the same size with the same tailored program.
Gentle, targeted promotion is helpful. She does all the LinkedIn stuff and some social media, gently gets the word out to her contacts when she's looking for work, does several professional organizations. In the past, she's done some cold calling and email inquiries after researching likely markets and clients, which was effective but not particularly fun for her.
Another route is offering 1:1 training/mentoring for people looking to advance their skills and move up.
posted by mochapickle at 4:17 PM on April 3, 2022
She's created her own training materials and presentations that she updates regularly. She has an LLC for this with a professional website, etc. She has good contacts (that one takes a while to develop, but hey), a great reputation, and she's delightfully exuberant. It's a gift.
While demand for this kind of training cooled quite a bit during covid, she's seeing renewed interest as businesses are getting back in gear. This month, she's been contracted by a current client (some kind of engineering firm?) to lead a four-week course on technical writing for two dozen new employees, all early career. They'll receive her training workbook, weekly in-person instruction (online), and detailed feedback/markups on submitted exercises. In May, she'll be leading a second group of the same size with the same tailored program.
Gentle, targeted promotion is helpful. She does all the LinkedIn stuff and some social media, gently gets the word out to her contacts when she's looking for work, does several professional organizations. In the past, she's done some cold calling and email inquiries after researching likely markets and clients, which was effective but not particularly fun for her.
Another route is offering 1:1 training/mentoring for people looking to advance their skills and move up.
posted by mochapickle at 4:17 PM on April 3, 2022
Also, since you're in a big city, you might find some work as an instructor for private writing workshops. I see courses for nonfiction, memoir, and essay writing all the time.
posted by mochapickle at 4:20 PM on April 3, 2022
posted by mochapickle at 4:20 PM on April 3, 2022
I know some people who make good money as writing coaches for lawyers and senior managers. Some organizations also hire editors to do editing while also mentoring their staff.
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 7:07 PM on April 4, 2022
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 7:07 PM on April 4, 2022
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You're not going to get much interest.
Companies hire professional writers for specific content creation needs, but not very often for trainings. The reality is that developing stronger writers requires students to practice repeatedly over a long period of time in a way that doesn't align with most corporate L&D spending (which is most likely what this would fall into).
If you're looking for related business opportunities, consider focusing on very specific needs, such as:
Teaching business English / business writing for non-American white collar professionals who are now living in your area, working for your neighboring companies.
"Translating" technical publications into general interest language. I had a friend who made their living doing this, and nothing but this, for faculty at a large technical university in the Boston area.
posted by NotMyselfRightNow at 2:07 PM on April 3, 2022 [1 favorite]