Even the best writing will fail to make an impact if no one ever reads. That's where our inaugural Audience-Building Intensive comes in. Picks up where the Blog-Building Intensive leaves off, this 5-month intensive covers Op-Ed writing, public speaking, headline writing, paid newsletter growth and social media promotion. Everything public intellectuals need to know to make sure their ideas find an audience.
The Audience-Building Intensive goes deep. What is the relationship between a title and a subtitle? What kinds of subject lines are sure to earn an "open"? How can you condense complicated ideas into an 800-word op-ed? What can you do to be a memorable public speaker? How can you build a community around your ideas and goals?
These are the questions we answer during the Audience-Building Intensive Program.
Our Audience-Building Intensive fellows receive extensive editing support on all their essays from our editorial staff. For op-eds, we contract with seasoned opinion editors for support and guidance. For special projects, like books and long-form features, RPI staff support fellows individually.
With the support of the Audience-Building Intensive program, our fellows written for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, American Affairs, and The New York Post, all while growing their newsletter audiences.
They have been interviewed by journalists and podcasters, and had their work featured on major blogs and roundups of great writing.
In addition to securing more opportunities in established media, ABI fellows have the option to receive public speaking coaching with instructors from the Ewing School.
At RPI, we believe building an intellectual community is integral to building the future. That's why peer workshops are a core component of the ABI fellowship. Fellows who went through BBI together deepen their friendships during ABI while forging new ones with alumni from other cohorts.
A 5-month online program for BBI alumni eager to grow their newsletter audiences and write for established media outlets.
ABI has enabled me to grow as a writer. It provides solid, actionable advice on how to write different kinds of work, engage with editors to get my message across, and speak to a variety of audiences. Thanks to that training and the support of its expert leaders, ABI is helping me to grow my audience and my impact.
BBI made my newsletter possible. ABI is BBI on steroids. Having a commitment device that forces you to publish every week is great. Having access to a community of brilliant authors who are all in it together, and who can tell you why you're wrong, is even better." Would that work?
ABI welcomed me into a dynamic and energizing team who push each other's work forward and together refine our shared playbooks. The RPI staff curated the highest-impact topics for improving my work and were my strongest supporters.
Having something to say is the easy part. The hard part is getting it onto the page without it becoming a flatter, duller shadow of what you had in mind – and then getting it off the page to illuminate a reader's. ABI is where I learned to do both, and to reach the people who need to hear what only I can say.
10–15 hours of your time for 5 months, no program fees
The fellowship runs for five months and requires roughly 15 hours per week. This includes one-hour sessions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, assigned readings, one-on-one appointments with an editor, self-directed daily writing, and publishing at least two pieces of content per month.
As with BBI, ABI is a competitive fellowship with a limited number of seats.
As you explore writing in progress studies as a career option we introduce you to those who’ve already made it: successful, established writers in progress studies as well as leaders of progress-related organizations, editors, and content experts in our two cause area tracks of AI and Heavy Industry. You’ll have a chance to meet with and learn from the best!
Washington, D.C.
Opinion editor
Bogotá, Columbia
Newsletter Growth Strategist
Durango, Colorado
President, Founder, Coach, the Ewing School
As you explore writing in progress studies as a career option we introduce you to those who’ve already made it: successful, established writers in progress studies as well as leaders of progress-related organizations, editors, and content experts in our two cause area tracks of AI and Heavy Industry. You’ll have a chance to meet with and learn from the best!
Madison, Wisconsin
Program Director
Durham, North Carolina
BA, English, geography, history, Stetson University
Currently, the Audience Building Initiative is open only to alumni of the BBI program who have a demonstrated track record of publishing high-quality writing that advances human progress. The ideal candidate is hungry to grow their audience and willing to put in the work.
The fellowship is fully online. We use Zoom for group sessions and 1:1 meetings, as well as Slack, Circle, and Google Docs. As with our Blog-Building Intensive program, fellows have the option to attend our annual Progress Conference in October in Berkeley.
As with BBI, the only cost of the ABI fellowship is your time and attention.