The Pitch Is Back

The Exact Tools to Get the Bylines You Want

Hello, you brilliant creative person!

Tell me if this is familiar:

You want to write more...
You want to get paid to write…
You read articles in Huffington Post, Thrillist, Buzzfeed, and think “I could write that” But...

You don’t know where to start and spending hours combing through questionable how-to blog posts doesn’t sound like a fun time.

Would you like to know a fun fact? Pitching is the fastest way to get writing work.

Would you like to know a bonus fun fact? Anyone can pitch editors.
Not just people with MFAs, journalism degrees, and a crapload of bylines. Anyone.

As long as you have an idea and know how to pitch it.

Whether it’s a tiny gardening zine or the New York Times, editors rely on freelance pitches to keep their publications running. When you pitch an idea, you’re not only getting your writing out into the world, but you’re doing editor’s a favor.

You just need to know how to pitch the right way (without wasting an idea or being annoying).

Whether you're...

  • A creative with lots of unpaid writing experience that you’d like to turn into paid writing experience. 
  • A freelance writer who’s tired of Upwork jobs that pay $10 for the privilege of working with extremely irritating clients. 
  • A copywriter who needs a break from soulless marketing copy and wants creativity and credit for your work. 
  • A woman who wants to see your name on the byline of your favorite publication

You’re in the right place!

In this course, you’ll find out that pitching is much easier than it seems and can lead to some pretty impressive bylines right away.

Instead of flinching at the inevitable “what are you working on?” question when you’re home for the holidays, you can confidently say “I have a story coming out in Huffington Post.” Take that judge-y uncle who’s never impressed!

I might be projecting my own story here, but getting bylines in black and white is a great way to make some money, grow your body of work, and shut up relatives who don’t understand creative careers.  

But you can’t get bylines by obsessing over a Google Doc that no one sees. You have to pitch.

And I can make that a whole lot easier. 

Introducing...

The Pitch is Back:
The Exact Tools to Get the Bylines You Want

A self-study course that shows you precisely how to pitch newspapers, magazines, and your favorite publications — even if you have no previous experience.

This proven process takes you from “is this even an idea?” to “I just hit send on a pitch that took 20 minutes.”

You’ll know how to come up with ideas editors want, craft a pitch that contains just the right information for your story, find publications, contact info, and hit send without going into a complete “my ideas aren’t good enough!” breakdown.  

In less than 90 minutes, you’ll feel confident in your pitches and be raring to send ideas to editors.

Even if your brain is going down the “who even cares about this story” wormhole, you'll find techniques to get through those negative blocks and keep moving forward.  

Multiple students sold their first pitch on their first try using what they learned in this class.

Does that happen every time? Hell no. If it did, this thing would be about $5000. But it gives your ideas the very best chance of succeeding. So you aren’t just sending an idea out into the void, you’re following a professional process that works.  

Plus, you get instant access to the entire class. You can start pitching today and get a yes from an editor sooner than you think. 

In this course, you'll get...

  • 6 video modules that take you through every step of pitching 
  •  A fill-in-the-blanks pitch template (that many students used to sell their stories) 
  • A 20-page guidebook with all the pitching tools (so you don’t have to rewatch every video to get the one tiny detail you missed) 
  • Over 11 pages of real pitch examples that sold, including my pitch to the New York Times 
  • A 19-page workbook with journaling prompts and brainstorming exercises to get through those “all my ideas are terrible” times 
  • 5-Minute Timers and exercises to get you writing without all the worry 
  • A list of over 250 paying publications that take pitches 
  • A meditative 30-Minute timer to save you from spending hours on your pitches (also, it contains videos of super soothing ocean footage. Beaches always make things a little better) 
  • Personalized feedback from me! Send me a pitch or two and I’ll send you detailed, kind video notes. You don’t have to send out a pitch and hope it’s right, you’ll get 6 years of experience packed into a private video, so you can send out ideas with confidence. 

 "I now have a *process* to follow from 'wanting' to get a byline, to coming up with ideas easily, to pitching, to knowing how to follow up. I feel certain about what step to take next... and that feeling of certainty means a LOT when there's plenty of uncertainty out there (i.e 'will they like my pitch?').
 Also, I can now see how my ridiculous ideas can actually be *worthwhile* to pitch. That's HUGE for me.

- Miish Grixti

My students have been seen in...

Ready to start pitching? Sign up now!
Instant Access. Keep the Course Forever

Who the hell are you?

I’m Amber Petty and after being an actor for 13 years in New York, I got  tired of waiting for auditions to play “girl who’s unpleasantly surprised by scale” in Weight Watchers commercials, moved to LA, and started freelance writing.

6 years later, I write full-time, have appeared in The New York Times, Thrillist, Greatist, Parade, IFC, MTV, Bustle, Syfy Wire, and Snooki’s blog (jealous?). Plus, I've helped over 150 students start writing.  

When I first started writing, I thought “I can’t pitch.” The idea of reaching out to editors seemed like some crazy act of hubris.

Surely, they’d laugh at my silly ideas like “Best Canned Wines for Summer” or “What It’s Like to be the Fat Lady at the Nude Spa”?

Oddly enough, they didn’t laugh. In fact, I sold those exact stories from cold pitches to editors who had no idea I existed.  

Before I started pitching, I worked for $20 a blog post to write for various Jersey Shore castmates. After I started pitching, I broke into bigger publications (like The New York Times and MTV), got more sustainable work (after the first pitch, editors often assigned additional projects), and gained a ton of confidence in my writing (and spent a lot less time second guessing my every idea).  

But who even cares about me! My students sold pitches this year (yes, the non-great year of 2021) and most of them had no previous writing samples. Some had a Medium piece they published themselves. Some had literally nothing. Yet, they still got a yes from an editor and made between $100-$500 for their first byline.  

Even if you have a byline or two under your belt, this class helps you strengthen your pitching skills. So your future bylines won’t feel like a random fluke, but a repeatable process you can go back to whenever you need it. 

 "It really showed me how I am often overthinking pitching as a whole. I had so much anxiety over reaching out to editors, but Amber reminded me that editors are people, too. And they WANT our good ideas! They WANT us to be the solution to their 'problem'! Even the rejection I got felt life-changing in a good way!

- Amy Tallmadge

Some happy words from former students

"I hated pitching at first, but you taught me that I can at least feel neutral about it. And now I think I may even like it half the time!"

Julie Hoang

"I definitely upped my pitching game. I had this idea in my head that I was just bad at pitching and would never improve, but really pitching is a process. I've connected with editors who have been super willing to work through writing issues and stuff with me, and I would never have met them without being told to pitch to them! "

Julia Rittenberg

"Demystified pitching and article writing for publication for me. Honestly thought there was more to it, and Amber made it easy and relatable."

Allison Sheff

 What's Inside This Course? 

A combination of short video trainings (20 minutes and under), pdf downloads, workbooks, writing prompts, and a pitch template you can use again and again for all your future stories.
When does class start? Now!  You’ll get instant access to all of it. Pay once and keep the course forever.  
Want more details? Here you go! 

Module 1: Why Pitching Matters


Reaching out to editors is never easy. And it’s even harder when you don’t know all the great things that can come from it. This lesson shows you real results from cold pitching, how to balance the good and the bad of reaching out, and ways to reframe your brain when you think “why even bother.”

Module 2: How to Think of Pitchable Ideas


Find out what editors are looking for, see lots of examples of student pitched stories, and see how even your simplest ideas can become sellable stories. Plus, a short exercise to get you brainstorming ideas without the stress.

Module 3: How to Craft a Pitch


Find out exactly what a pitch needs to have. You see breakdowns of successful pitches, common mistakes to avoid, and get a reusable pitch template so you’re never starting with a blank page.

Module 4: How to Find Publications & Timing


Want to know who, when, and where to pitch? This guides you through all those details. Find out how to follow up without being annoying (which increases your chances of a yes by quite a lot!)

Module 5: Pitching Answers & Dealing with the “Your Writing Sucks” Voice


Can you pitch multiple publications at once? How do you reuse a pitch? How do I stop thinking “all my ideas suck?” Find all the answers in these quick videos.

Module 6: Getting Yourself to Pitch


Now you know exactly how to pitch, but that won’t mean a hill of beans if you don’t actually do it. You’ll get tools and tips for setting up a pitching schedule, staying motivated, and gaining confidence in your work.

Plus, Guidebooks, Workbooks, and an Almost Done-For-You Pitch

Fill-in-the-Blanks Pitch Template

“Wait, goes in a pitch again?” is something you’ll never think again. This template has everything you need in a handy Google doc. So whenever you have an idea, just make a copy, fill in the blanks, and you’ll have a sellable pitch ready to go.

The Pitch is Back Guidebook

A 20-page reference guide with all the pitching answers in one place. As you start pitching, you’ll want to go back to this class. This guide makes it easy for you to find info without having to watch all the modules again

Ideas & Journalling Workbook

With 30 writing prompts, brainstorming techniques, and journaling questions to get you through the “I guess I’m a terrible writer” thoughts, this workbook will keep you writing. Print it out or type right into the fillable boxes, this download simplifies the world of pitching and makes it, dare I say, fun? Note: I find a lot of boring things fun. But it certainly makes pitching a less daunting prospect.
(Course Value $300)

That's it...Just Kidding, Look at These Bonuses!

Personalized Video Feedback on Your Pitch

“30 minutes of pure gold.”  - Student Eli Newell in reaction to my notes.

I’ll be sure to answer any questions you give me, help make your pitch (and future pitches) stronger, and give advice on places to pitch in a personalized video.

And I do all that without being a jerk. I won’t tear down your work. Instead, you’ll be excited to make the changes and keep sending out pitches. Not all my videos are 30 minutes, but you’ll get between 7-30 minutes depending on what you send and the feedback that’s most helpful. Send me your pitch and questions anytime and you’ll get a response in about 48 hours (or sooner). (value $99) 

How I Got Into the New York Times Guidebook

Black Friday Bonus!

If you purchase before November 30th, you get my How I Got Into the New York Times Guidebook.
In this instant download, you’ll see all my rejected NYT pitches, my accepted pitch, and the entire process of working with the Gray Lady.
Plus, you’ll get editor email addresses for the verticals that are most friendly to cold pitches (even if you don’t have a bunch of bylines). Even if the New York Times feels too fancy for you, you’ll be itching to pitch them after reading this. (value $50)


You could...
Keep figuring out the intricacies of pitching on your own.
But you also risk saying “I’ll definitely do that tomorrow” and suddenly it’s New Years Eve and nary a pitch has left your inbox.  
Or...
Get this course, watch it in about 90 minutes, send off your pitch, and get a yes tomorrow.  
That’s a pretty lucky timeline, but it’s not impossible (I’ve seen it happen before).

Though it usually took a few weeks to get their first yes, my students got paid between $100-$600 for their work. For one story.

Sign Up for The Pitch Is Back Today

Get instant access. Keep the course forever.

One-time payment

$149

Some lovely Qs students asked before joining the class

That’s fine! Many students pitched with either no samples or one short sample article they wrote and put up on Medium. You don’t need samples to start pitching. And, if an editor says yes, guess what? You’ve got a sample! A professional one you’ve been paid for. For freelancers, previous writing experience is less important that the story idea itself. This class will help you solidify your story ideas and give your pitches the best chance possible.

The trainings are split up into short videos that range between 2-20 minutes. Overall, it takes about 90 minutes to go through it, including some of the writing exercises. So, you could watch a little bit at a time over a few days or binge it all in half the time of Avengers: Endgame.

Right now! Well, you have to enroll first. But after you enroll, you get access to everything in the class instantly. The class is fully self-study without any live component.

Yes! Once you enroll, you have access to the class forever. You can watch it whenever you have time or aren’t full of eggnog.

You could do both! If you get The Pitch is Back and then decide you'd like to take Freelance Writing for Creatives, you'll get a credit for $150 off my full freelance writing course. Basically, you get your money back for this class (plus a dollar, yes I'm so generous) if you decide to take my live class. If you're anxious to start pitching right away, get the Pitch is Back now. If you're not sure, Freelance Writing for Creatives will start in February and you can sign up then.

No! I've had many requests from people who don't need my full course, but would like the pitching training. So, I'm making their wish come true. But if you've taken my live class, you already have this information and don't need to buy it again.

Nope! This one you get to do all at your own pace. Then, when you have a pitch, send it to me, and I’ll send you a personalized video of notes to help make it even better. You will get personalize feedback from me, but there are no live sessions.

Nope. This is only for articles. But when I sell a book or a TV show of my own, I’ll let you know how it goes.

Not really. Getting better at pitching strengthens all kinds of writing muscles, but this course is geared towards non-fiction articles. So, I’m afraid it probably wouldn’t be too helpful with poems, short stories, or other fiction.

I highly doubt that. Remember, with articles, you aren’t asking for an editor to say yes to a 500 page novel or a $55 million screenplay. You’re asking to write 800-2000 words for a publication that needs to put out new stuff every day. You don’t have to be a perfect writer to get started. As long as you have a clear idea that might be a little interesting, educational, or entertaining, your pitch has a chance.

No! If you have any type of question about the class, just email me at Amber@AmberPetty.com.

Still not sure?

If you’re not sure about the course, think about your writing goals. 
If you just want to write more on your own, this class probably isn’t for you. 
But if you want to start building up a body of work and getting your name out there as a writer, this is the way to do it.   

Though there’s lots of information about pitching out there, it’s scattered through the sea of Google. And other courses don’t cover the important topic of getting through all the "who'll want to read this story" thoughts that stop so many people from pitching. 
You’ll find out all the technical aspects of pitching and the tools to get through the emotional vulnerability that comes with sharing your stories.  

The course takes the mystery out of pitching and gets you excited about your own ideas and possibilities.

And, you’ll find that editors respond to all kinds of ideas from the profound to the exceedingly ordinary.  

 
You’re possibly overthinking and perfecting your ideas, while other yahoos are out there getting the bylines. Don't leave all the fun to the yahoos!
You can overcome some of that perfectionism and start getting recognition for your work.  And this class makes that a whole crapton easier.
Sorry to drop such scientific terms on you, it’s just such an important topic.  

You’re a wonderful gem and I can’t wait to see your pitch.

Because of one cold pitch to an editor, I got my own column, a free trip to a beachside mansion, and over $10,000 of work.
That beats the hell out of 20 bucks for 1000 words on Snooki’s favorite pickle recipes.  

Pitching makes you a stronger writer. It makes you more confident. And it gets your name out there.
So you don’t have to be a hidden gem of a creator who might write someday.  You can be the professional writer with the bylines to back it up.  

I’m not saying this is easy. Pitching sucks in many ways and most writers would rather their work get discovered by magical content elves and go viral overnight. That happens pretty much never. But...

- Getting an article in Thrillist to write about podcasts you like? I’ve seen it happen.
- Getting a Buzzfeed article from a 10-minute pitch sent off at 2am? I’ve seen it happen.
- Getting a personal essay in Huffington Post in your first weeks of pitching? I’ve seen it happen. Twice. In one month.  

This class might be the only holiday gift that’ll make you money.

If you choose to take this class, you’ll be surprised at how many lovely ideas you have and how simple pitching can be. I can’t promise you’ll get an instant yes from an editor. One student got a yes after her 20th pitch. But she still got a yes.  

You’ve got a lot of stories to share. Pitching gets you to the yes a whole lot faster.  

Hope to see you in the Pitch is Back! Can’t wait to see all your wonderful ideas! 

Sign Up for The Pitch Is Back Today

Get instant access. Keep the course forever.

One-time payment

$149