Guest Speakers
Clarissa Cruz
Executive Editor
People
Clarissa Cruz is People’s executive editorial director and all-around great person. She served as a features Editor at Oprah’s magazine, Senior Editor at InStyle and has written for New York, Time Out, Food & Wine and Inc. She and I worked together at Entertainment Weekly many Marvel movies ago.
Rob Fischer
Senior Editor
The New Yorker
In his rise from fact-checker to senior editor, Rob has learned everything you need to know about writing for The New Yorker, and he loves helping freelancers figure out the secret codes. Unlike so many NYer editors, he’s open to pitches from “unknown” freelancers and is great about turning kernals of ideas into stories worthy of the greatest magazine that ever was.
Allegra Frank
Culture Editor
The Atlantic
Allegra recently put out a pitch call on X, so I thought we’d chat directly about her likes/dislikes and ‘unicorn’ stories. With previous editing stints at Vox and Daily Beast, she’s a self-described film nerd who also loves ‘90s emo, animation, internet culture, video games, and comedy.
Farley Chase
Literary Agent
Chase Literary
I’ve known Farley for years. He came out of magazine publishing (The New Yorker, Talk Magazine) and has worked in publishing for 25 years. He founded Chase Literary Agency in 2012 and takes a “deliberate, editorial-minded, and collaborative approach to projects across genres. I'd rather my authors start a trend than follow one. If you have a platform let's use it. If you don't have a platform let's not worry about it.
Peter Catapano
Guest Essays Editor
The New York Times
Peter Catapano assigns and edits Guest Essays (opinion pieces) for The New York Times. He’s a gem of a human and I’m excited for him to make his debut as a Upod speaker.
Rachel Sonis
Opinions Editor
TIME
Rachel is truly excited to hear your ideas for TIME, where she edits the magazine’s opinion section, TIME Ideas. Before that, she was a book editor at Penguin Random Hour and wrote for places like Rolling Stone.
Brian Bergstein
Ideas Editor
The Boston Globe
Brian is The Boston Globe’s deputy managing editor for the Ideas section in Globe Opinion and a member of the Globe's editorial board. He previously was executive editor of MIT Technology Review, where he helped lead the overall editorial coverage.
Mary-Ellen Deily
Health & Science
Washington Post
Mary-Ellen Deily joined the Post’s Health and Science team in 2022 to help edit and produce the weekly Health and Science section, and loves working with freelancers. Just don’t make the mistake everyone makes (including me): It’s “e before i.”
Anna Sproul-Latimer
Literary Agent
Neon Literary
Illustrious editor (and Upodder) Megan Greenwell raved so much about Anna that I couldn’t resist adding her to the schedule. (“Anna's a dream! Not just an agent but the sharpest editor I've ever worked with!”). The founder of Neon Literary, Anna has sold multiple New York Times bestsellers, major book-to-film deals, and foreign translations in more than 50 languages.
Email davidhochman@mac.com if you have questions.
Refund policy:
A $100 fee will apply for any cancellation before October 31, 2024, as long as a replacement is found.
If no replacement is found, full tuition fee will be charged.
No refunds after October 31, 2024.
Legal disclaimers: Speakers occasionally cancel. This is extremely rare but know that their participation is not guaranteed. Also know that the sessions will be recorded and available for purchase after the weekend for those who missed the opportunity. By signing up for the workshop you are granting permission to have your name and likeness appear as part of the video library of speaker sessions. There are no guarantees that your participation will result in publishing your work or even in getting responses from the speakers. Like everything else in the realm of freelance writing, success is determined by your ability to come up with good ideas, pitch well, follow-up, etc.
Questions: davidhochman@mac.com
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Upod Academy
Two-Day Workshop
November 16-17, 2024
9:00 am - 4:15 pm Pacific Time
Both days via Zoom
It’s not easy being a freelancer right now. Here’s an immersive weekend to figure out your best way forward.
Scholarships available for writers who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.
Here's what people say about their Upod Academy experience
For writers and other media people, these are challening times. The advent of technologies like ChatGPT, the collapse of media giants, and the relentless pressure to do more for less have combined to create a perfect storm for freelancers. It's tough, and if you're feeling the squeeze, you're not alone.
Think of Upod Academy as your career survival plan, a beacon of hope and strategy amidst the chaos. The weekend is designed to pull you through the storm with practical advice, invaluable connections, and insider tips I've accumulated over three decades in the trenches.
Here's what I'm offering you:
* Blueprint for Traction: I'll share the simple, actionable steps that have helped me make meaningful progress on the projects that matter. You'll learn how to identify and pitch Stories Only You Can Tell, or “SOYCATS” as I call them.
* Direct Access to Gatekeepers: Ask your burning questions to some of the most influential figures in the media world. I'm talking about feedback on your pitches, ideas, and the kind of direct advice that can pivot your career.
* Beyond the Freelance Treadmill: We'll identify paths to more lucrative projects and assignments. This is about breaking free from substandard pay rates and figuring out how to follow the money.
* Your New Support Squad: Seriously the best part of these weekends. Your fellow freelancers will become more than peers—they'll be your motivators, your accountability partners, and perhaps your closest friends, as we navigate this journey together.
* The Credibility Leap: I'll show you how to land major bylines that can transform your career, providing instant recognition and opening doors.
* From Idea to Reality: Whether it's a book, podcast, TED talk, This American Life piece, or some other creative venture, we'll map out the journey from concept to completion. It's finally time to bring your ideas to life.
* A Much-Needed Push: Sometimes, we all need that kick to get out of a rut. I'm here to offer it, with all the empathy, understanding, and tough love you need.
These workshops are intimate, impactful weekends with a group that will become your support circle for months, if not years. Spaces are limited to 25 max to ensure that everyone gets the attention and pitch guidance they deserve, and these sessions fill up fast.
This is your moment to take control, to equip yourself with the tools and knowledge to thrive as a freelancer.
I see this as more than a course; it's a community, a strategy, and perhaps the most important step you'll take this year. Let's navigate these rocky waters together.
Over the course of more than 55 Upod Academy weekends since 2011, hundreds of attendees have sold or placed thousands of articles, opinion pieces, books, TV shows, podcasts, radio segments and more with the cream-of-the-crop of media outlets, including The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, Esquire, Wired, Slate, Salon, GQ, Travel + Leisure, Food + Wine, Bon Appétit, Politico, AARP, Longreads, the Atavist, McSweeneys, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, The New York Times (including Modern Love and Tiny Love Stories), National Geographic, Discover, Sports Illustrated, Smithsonian Magazine, Texas Monthly, This American Life, Netflix, All Things Considered, The Moth Radio Hour, TEDx, Shondaland, Huffpost, Today.com, Insider, and many many MANY more.