Op-ed Writing Workshops for Long Island Business and Professional Women October 24, 2007

A series of interactive workshops geared at teaching business and professional women on Long Island how to write Op-eds premieres in September.

The workshops are led by award-winning journalist, author, and freelance Op-ed writer Claudia Gryvatz Copquin. Her Opinion pieces run frequently in Newsday. In addition to Op-eds, Copquin’s essays have appeared in other publications, including The New York Times.

“I read an article in the Times recently that stated an overwhelming number of unsolicited Op-ed pieces- 65-75%-- were being submitted nationwide by men,” Copquin says. “So why not teach the form to women? This is something already offered in Manhattan and other places, but Long Island has a wealth of women in business and other fields whose voices ought to be heard.”

In two, two hour sessions, participants will learn how to navigate through their business fields to define topics of expertise; how to hook current headlines to their areas; and the basics of formulating an Opinion piece that is relevant to newspaper readers. They’ll also have an opportunity to craft an Op-ed on their own after the first session, with the piece reviewed and discussed in the second session.

“I’m very excited about teaching other women what I’ve learned over the past fifteen years as a freelance writer and from my newspaper editors, because it’s one thing to express yourself to friends and colleagues; but having your opinions published is quite an empowering and exhilarating experience,” Copquin adds.

The first two sets of workshops are taking place as follows:

September 19 & 26 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Law Offices of Morritt, Hock & Hamroff
400 Garden City Plaza, Garden City

October 17 & 24 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Intelligent Offices of Melville
445 Broadhollow Road, Suite 25, Melville

Fee for workshop (two, two-hour sessions) is $350. For additional information or to register, please contact The Business Development Group at (516) 222-0236

MORE ABOUT CLAUDIA GRYVATZ COPQUIN
Claudia Gryvatz Copquin is a well-known freelancer on Long Island. In addition to frequently contributing to Newsday, she’s written articles for Distinction magazine, Crain’s New York Business, The New York Post, The Long Island Press, Long Island Business News, Newsday’s Parents & Children magazine and a slew of others. She’s also the author of the non-fiction book, “The Neighborhoods of Queens,” to be published by Yale University Press this fall.