How To Write Opinion Pieces: Op-eds, Radio Essays and Digital Commentary

For all of you who believe you have something to say about what's going on in the world, get everything you need to write opinion pieces on all platforms from Marion Roach Smith and Rex Smith.

Taught in one live, 90-minute online class with Q&A at the end, this interactive event will give you the tools to start writing opinion pieces immediately.

• Write solid pieces for newspaper op-ed pages, public radio airing and publication on digital sites
• Submit those pieces for publication using strategies that move you to the front of the line
• Influence a whole new audience of readers and draw attention to your writing

Op-eds are a terrific first step to writing memoir, even for complete beginners. They help you test out ideas, opinions and arguments in a shorter setting, and practice writing to persuade — a key to good memoir.

Op-eds are also a fun opportunity to get exposure. In fact, Marion's entire writing career can be traced back to one article she wrote over 30 years ago. She also had a student in one of her classes whose first-ever published op-ed ran in more than 500 newspapers nationwide. This can happen to you.

And then there is this: This class will be led by Rex W. Smith, former Editor and Vice President of The Times Union, a major metropolitan newspaper in New York's Capital Region. He currently writes a successful column on Substack called The Upstate American. A graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Smith has served as a Pulitzer Prize juror, writes a weekly column and hosts a nationally syndicated public radio show.

If you’re looking for a concrete step to give you the practice, confidence, and exposure you’ll need to publish a book-length memoir, join us for this live online memoir class.

We’ll be recording the class so you can listen to it again and again.

We'll use your email address to send you important details about your upcoming class and writing resources we think you'll be interested in. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Refund Policy

We ask that refund requests be made at least 1 week in advance of the class. If not, we will actively try to fill your spot and if we are not able to, we will issue a 50% refund.

If you do not show up for the class, there is no refund available unless you have contacted us directly with your reason and a refund or class transfer has been confirmed by us. You will have access to the recording of the class if you cannot attend it live.

Host or Publisher Marion Roach Smith