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Demonstration

Writing for Activism
Opinion Writing Masterclass

Learn how to amplify your voice and position yourself as an expert in your field.

You want your writing to impact policy. You want to reframe how the mainstream media discusses issues that affect you. You want to advocate for change. But there seems to be so many barriers.

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  • I’m not an ‘expert’ in anything.

  • I want to write something but I don’t know how to start.

  • I’m not a journalist - who would even want to publish anything I write?

 

Does this sound familiar?

If you’re like me, you didn’t learn the skills to write an opinion piece at school or university. You don’t have anyone around you to ask for help and trying teach yourself via Google just isn’t working. You want to change the conversation around topics that you’re passionate about but you don’t know how.

Women, people of colour, those in the LGBTQIA+ community, and people with disabilities have been excluded from sharing their stories. Which is why we keep reading the same types of opinions from the same types of people.

And their opinions shape the policies which affect every aspect of our lives. From healthcare to our finances and everything in between.

Protest

Just Imagine:

  • You've published your opinion piece (and you’ve been paid for it)

  • You’ve positioned yourself as an expert in your field, without waiting for someone to hire you

  • And most importantly, you’re confident that your opinion is valuable and worth sharing

Writing for Activism: Opinion Writing Masterclass is your roadmap.
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Hi, I’m Jena

I am a writing coach, editor, and researcher. My mission is to diversify the media landscape by giving women, people of colour, the LGBTQIA+ community, First Nations people, and those with disabilities the skills to share their perspectives and become recognised as experts in their field.

My goal is to elevate the best ideas by removing barriers to joining the conversation and amplifying underrepresented voices.
 

Why should you learn from me?

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  • I spent 3 years as the senior editor for Young Australians in International Affairs

  • I have published multiple opinion pieces for SAGE International Australia and the Lowy Institute

  • I worked as the Oceania consultant for youth engagement in nuclear weapons policy and disarmament for BASIC (and wrote THIS report)

  • I was a keynote speaker at the Community Changemaker Summit

  • I have a Master’s Degree in Violence, Terrorism, and Security​ and a Graduate Certificate in Gender Mainstreaming Policy and Analysis

Pride Parade

Writing for Activism
Opinion Writing Masterclass

INTRODUCING...

A self-paced, online course designed to take you from complete beginner to published writer.

What's included:

EXPERT ADVICE
From someone who’s not only written opinion pieces but also helped countless people write and publish their own. I’ll help you navigate the world of opinion writing.

A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
You’ll have access to self-paced video tutorials that you can access them anytime you like. I cover everything you need to know so you can start writing. You can download your very own workbook to record your progress and actionable steps to take every week.

What you'll learn:

Module 1: MINDSET AND EXPERTISE

You’ll start from the very beginning. In module 1, you’ll learn what an opinion piece is, learn the theory behind why you don’t feel like an expert, and find out how that shows up in your work.

By the end of module 1, you’ll know how to:

  • Reframe your mindset around expertise and imposter syndrome

  • Think more critically about bias and objectivity

Module 2: PLAN AND PREPARE

In module 2, you’ll learn all the things you need to do before you start writing. You’ll learn how to choose your topic and decide on the publication you’re going to send you article to.

By the end of module 2, you’ll know how to:

  • Narrow down your ideas into a specific topic to write about

  • Find the gaps in existing research

  • Find and interpret publication guidelines

Module 3: MASTER THE FUNDAMENTALS

In module 3, you’ll discover the fundamentals of your opinion piece. You’ll learn how to construct your argument and how to conduct research.

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By the end of module 3, you’ll know how to:

  • Turn your topic into a logically structured argument

  • Find the evidence you need to support your argument

Module 4: ELEVATE YOUR WRITING

It’s time to start writing! In module 4, you’ll learn how to write an engaging title, what you need to include in your introduction, how to structure your article, what makes a good conclusion, and techniques to draw your reader in.

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By the end of module 4, you’ll know how to:

  • Write all of the elements that you need to include in your opinion piece

  • Use writing techniques to engage your reader

Module 5: PERFECT YOUR PROOFREADING AND PITCHING

In module 5, you’ll learn how to proofread your own work and the best ways to pitch your opinion piece to an editor using my own template.

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By the end of module 5, you’ll know how to:

  • Assess the structure and grammar of your opinion piece

  • Pitch your opinion piece to your chosen publication

  • Write an author profile/biography

Module 6: MAINTAIN YOUR MOMENTUM

Now that you’ve sent off your opinion piece, now what? In module 6, you’ll find out everything you need to know about getting paid for your work, what to do if your work is rejected, and how to use your opinion piece to create a bigger impact.

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By the end of module 6, you’ll know how to:

  • Navigate the publishing process and potential rejection

  • Use your opinion piece as a stepping stone to amplify your voice and create meaningful change

Climate Protest

This is for you if:

  • You’re tired of not being represented in the mainstream media

  • You want to share your perspective but aren't sure how

  • You’re ready to learn how to amplify your voice and create change

I’ve worked with people just like you to achieve their dreams of being published writers. After answering the same questions and correcting the same mistakes, I knew there must be a more efficient way to get this information to the people who need it most.

Enter Writing for Activism: Opinion Writing Masterclass.

I took everything I’ve learnt as an editor and researcher and put it into this Masterclass. This isn’t a course that takes hundreds of hours to complete. It’s a streamlined, step-by-step guide to take you from beginner to published writer.

You might be thinking that you can find out everything you need to know online and piece it together, rather than spending your money on this Masterclass.

While that will save you money in the short term, it won’t save you time and energy in the long term.

When I wrote my first op-Ed, I had no idea how it was meant to be structured, what I needed to include, and how to pitch to an editor. I eventually pieced it together via hours of Googling and a lot of guesswork.

What I really wanted was someone to teach me step-by-step.

That’s why I created Writing for Activism: Opinion Writing Masterclass. It’s everything I wish I knew when I first started writing. It save you time and effort so you can focus on your writing.

Are you ready to learn how to share your story?

 

Join the Waitlist

Thanks for joining!

FAQ

I’m a complete beginner. Do I have to know a lot about writing?
Not at all! This Masterclass takes you through writing an opinion piece step-by-step, starting with the definition or an opinion piece, or op-Ed, and building from there.

Do I have to decide on the topic that I want to write about before I start this Masterclass?
Nope! One of the first things you’ll learn is what you’re an expert in and how to decide on a topic to write about.

Can I complete this course from anywhere in the world?
Of course! This Masterclass is completely online and can be completed anywhere you have access to an internet connection and a computer.

Does this Masterclass have subtitles?
Yes! This Masterclass is designed to be fully accessible and does include subtitles. If you have any access needs and aren’t sure if they’re catered for, please email me at sixdegreesofpunctuation@gmail.com and I’ll work with you to make sure you can access the content.

Will the videos be live or recorded?
The videos are recorded and the content is self-paced so that if life gets in the way, you can take a break and come back to it when you’re ready.

What is my time commitment for this course?
This course is structured so that you complete 1 module a week. It takes approximately 2 hours to watch the videos, take notes, and complete the homework. This means that you’ll finish the course in 6 weeks. This is just a guide and it may take more or less time for you. Take it at your own pace.

How long do I have access to the Masterclass for?
You have access to the Masterclass for 6 months. After that you can email me at any time to request additional time to access the Masterclass. I’ve done it this way so that the time limit serves as a deadline and motivates you to complete the course but you can always take a break and pick up from where you left off if you need to.

I’ve already written an opinion piece. Is this course for me?
If you’ve already written an opinion piece and feel like you have a firm grasp of the basics, you might not need to enrol in this Masterclass. If you’re still struggling to publish your work, you might benefit from a 1:1 Consultation with me to get personalised feedback about how you can improve and address any problems you’re having.

If you have any other questions not listed here, email me at sixdegreesofpunctuation@gmail.com

Payment Plans and Scholarships Available

I am committed to inclusion and equality. As women and people from marginalised communities often do work that is underpaid or unpaid, there are payment plans and scholarships available.

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Contact me at sixdegreesofpunctuation@gmail.com for more information.

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