The Workshop

This course digs deeply into the mechanics and philosophy of creating short non-fiction. It is interactive, with time spent in discussion with the instructor and other participants.

This is a chance to do something surprisingly rare—to speak, think, and focus on writing with other people who share the interest and passion.

Through six sessions we’ll spend significant time reading, examining and discussing examples of ours and other’s work. Students will be asked to create work, which will be reviewed by the group. Though the submission of writing samples is optional, students benefit greatly from having their work read and critiqued gently by the group.

This course is for people new to writing or people with some experience who would like to improve. Previous writing experience is not required; interest in writing and a passion for the outdoors are the only pre-requisites.

Some Topics That Will Be Covered

  • Philosophy of Short Non-Fiction

  • Parts of an Article

  • Common Errors and Traps

  • The Grunt Work: Re-writing, Editing, Polishing

  • Selling Your Work and More

Jim McLennan

Jim wrote his first piece for an outdoor magazine in 1978 and sold it—twice. Since then he’s written several hundred articles for numerous publications, including Fly Fisherman, Sporting Classics, Fly Fusion, Gray’s Sporting Journal, Gun Dog, Shooting Sportsman, and Outdoor Canada. He’s authored four books, has contributed to a number of others, and has written forewords to several, notably the late Andy Russell’s final book, The Wild Country.

He received a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Alberta and has taught fly fishing in various formats for more than 30 years. His outdoor and writing experience, along with his teaching training and experience, qualify him to help with your writing journey.

Jim's Work Can Be Seen In

What Others Are Saying

David Charlton

Author of Cuyahoga Valley Microadventures

Hey you two! Way back in 2022, April you connected me with Jim and his online outdoor writing class, "Living and Writing the Outdoor Life". I wanted to circle back almost two years later to say how helpful Jim's writing class was: Jim's wisdom, the collective effervescence of fellow students and guest authors wove themselves together to give me the extra push I needed to buckle down and finish writing my book, Cuyahoga Valley Microadventures.

The book published last month, and now a "friends of the park group", Conservancy for Cuyahoga Valley National Park, wants to stock & sell it in their visitor center.

I couldn't have finished this book without you two showing up in my life - you made a difference. Thank you, David

Barret S.

Sales Rep, Red Bull

Jim McLennan’s years of experience in the outdoor-writing, as well as fishing and hunting worlds make for a fascinating, and very informative class. With ways to improve your writing, things editors watch out for, and ways to clean up a sentence to make it pop, I cannot recommend this class enough. If you want to combine your love of the written word with your love of the outdoors, go straight to this course to learn.

Bruce Masterman

Writer, book author and former college journalism instructor

If you want to learn how to be an outdoor writer, then you should learn from the best. Jim McLennan's writing is eloquent, descriptive and masterful. He has decades of award-winning writing in his resume and is a natural born teacher.

Ross Purnell

Publisher/Editor, Fly Fisherman magazine

When I penned my first freelance article 30 years ago, Jim McLennan was my role model, and to this day I can’t think of a better mentor and teacher. I’ve learned more from him about writing (and fishing) than any other person.

Jake Smith

Editor Pointing Dog Journal

Jim always provides clean content and sharp images, something that is a rare find these days. But most importantly, Jim displays one of the most hard-to-find talents among writers: the ability to take feedback from an editor and apply it thoughtfully to improve the piece. His eye is always on how his contribution can make the entire publication look good.

When You Join Today

We'll Also Be Adding These Three Exclusive Bonuses

  • Lifetime Access

    We understand that you'll be covering a ton of ground in this class. It's only natural to want to refer back to it later. You'll have access to all of Jim's worksheets and recordings of the course for life!
    Value: $1200

  • Outdoor Photography with Bryan Gregson Masterclass

    Renowned photographer Bryan Gregson teaches how to capture some of the most special moments of our lives. This class is suited to aspiring and novice photographers.
    Value: $197

  • Annual Membership

    Our popular Anchored Outdoors membership includes exclusive documentaries and series, how-to videos, visual presentations, interactive lessons with industry leaders, giveaways, community and more!
    Value: $1640

Bryan Gregson Masterclass

We're including this masterclass for FREE to give you the resources to help you make a living writing for outdoor publications

Bryan Gregson is an award-winning photographer & cinematographer. Based in Bozeman, Montana, he travels the globe working in some of the most remote corners of the planet.

Known for his unique vision and storytelling abilities, Bryan is the humbled recipient of numerous awards and is a leading source of outdoor imagery.

FAQ

  • Is this class pre-recorded?

    Unlike our masterclasses, our workshops are fully interactive and presented live. You will be working closely with Jim in a small group setting throughout six 90-minute video calls.

  • What if I can't make one of the sessions?

    While it is recommended that you attend every call, each session will be recorded and available to you for life.

  • When does class begin?

    Class officially begins November 5th at 3pm PST. It runs every Tuesday until December 10th.

  • Is this the right investment for me?

    Writing is an important part of everyday life. From social media captions to work emails, your words are regularly on display for the masses.

    Whether you're looking to write a book, blog or article, this workshop will improve your writing and even teach you how to pitch your work!