Artichokes in the Catskills!?

... and last call for my upcoming pitching class!

Author

Sandy Allen
September 30, 2026

Welcome to What’s Helping Today, a newsletter about the everyday work of staying alive on earth — written by author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

Hey all!

Today’s newsletter is just another quick one …

My latest Garden Report for Catskill Crew published yesterday: It’s on growing artichokes in the Catskills …

COUGARS? A Nor'Easter Update & Fall Adventures

Mountain mystery: Are cougars roaming the Catskills? Plus post-nor'easter updates, calendar improvements, and regional events worth exploring.

Catskill Crew • Michael Kauffman

artichokes growing!

Subscribe to CC if you don’t already …

Mostly wanted to say: Last call to enroll in my class!!!

I’d asked some friends/colleagues if they’d share the link the other day. Genuinely: What’s Helping Today were their kind words …

Christine Grimaldi saying: Alum here! I genuinely loved sandy’s class. He brings such positive energy—learning from him is truly a joy. Enroll away!
Madison Pauly: Sandy intro’d me to freelancing 10+ years ago and some of my most lasting lessons about journalism came from him. I bet this class is going to be good.
Andrew Leland: Sandy is the GOAT. Last chance to take what is surely an amazing class
Julie Kliegman: Sandy is wise, and nonfic writers should take his class!

Alex’s point below is extremely true, IMO, and it’s why I’d wanted to teach this class:

Alexander Chee saying: Not knowing how to pitch holds a lot of writers back. Don’t let it be you.

(I do chuckle at how much better some of my pals are than I am, at pitching me.)

chris xu: If you or anyone you know is just getting started in the world of nonfiction writing and pitching, you couldn’t ask for a better teacher than @sandyernestallen.bsky.social who pours so much care into all he does! Would make for a great gift too.
Drew Philp: Want to learn how to pitch newspaper and magazine stories? my friend - and truly extraordinary nonfiction writer - @sandyernestallen.bsky.social is teaching a course early next month. check it out:
Robert Moor: To any aspiring journos/nonfiction writers: my friend Sandy Allen—who’s written everywhere from The Paris Review & The Believer to Esquire & Eater, to Cosmos & CN Traveler—is teaching a course on the most mysterious and dreaded task in freelancing: how to write a pitch. Enrollment closes soon

tl;dr …

Josephinen Riesman: Take Sandy’s class!!!!

Anyone willing to help me spread word (today), I’d genuinely appreciate your help. If I don’t get a few more enrolled, I won’t get to teach it.

If you know anyone who’d maybe be interested, I hope you’ll forward this, or send them the listing …

Craft Seminar: The Art of the Pitch with Sandy Ernest Allen — The Shipman Agency

2 Sessions: Saturdays, October 3 + 10 1:00-3:00pm ET Sandy Ernest Allen Master the art of pitching with journalist and editor Sandy Ernest Allen. Sandy is a trans and queer freelance journalist, author, speaker and previous BuzzFeed News features editor. Sandy's own features and essays been publ

The Shipman Agency

Here’s graphic you’re welcomed to share wherever …

info graphic for the art of the pitch

Thanks so much!!!

Sandy

p.s. I do also offer one-on-one manuscript consultations, for anyone who’d rather work with me that way.

Thanks for reading What’s Helping Today, a newsletter by me — author and journalist Sandy Ernest Allen.

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