Breaking into print

for the incarcerated

CHANGING LIVES THROUGH EDUCATION

Correspondence course for inmates

Many incarcerated individuals seek a positive endeavor while serving their time. Consider sponsoring a loved one in a correspondence course for inmates. As a sponsor, you play a pivotal role in their rehabilitation process. Your support allows your friend or loved one to serve productive time by learning the fundamentals of writing and giving them an opportunity to share their stories.  

In this course, incarcerated writers sharpen their descriptive writing skills, draw on personal experiences for story and article material, and survey the current magazine market to understand publishing standards. 

As the program progresses, their writing takes on a new dimension. They tailor manuscripts to fit the editorial requirements of specific magazines, and their grasp of writing techniques and market knowledge helps them identify their individual writing niche. This focused approach enhances their skills and allows them to serve productive time, contributing to a sense of purpose and accomplishment during their incarceration. 

Breaking Into Print is designed for incarcerated students to work one-on-one with their instructors through correspondence. The average student takes about 276 hours to complete all assignments. Although most students complete this course in 18 months, IFW allows up to 2 years to complete Breaking Into Print.

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Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Breaking into Print Course Manual, IFW Publishing.

The Instruction Manual published exclusively for our students. It contains assignments, idea generators, planning guides, writing and revision techniques and guidelines for preparing a book submission package.

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Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Writers Market, edited by Robert Lee Brewer, Writers Digest Books, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-44034-773-3.

Writer's Market 2020 (e-book) guides you through the submissions process with thousands of publishing opportunities for writers, including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents—as well as new playwriting and screenwriting sections. These listings feature contact and submission information to help writers get their work published.

Writers-Market-100th-Edition-min
IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0205309023, 2000.

A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing. William Zinsser, Harper Perennial, 7th edition, ISBN 978-0-06-089154-1, 2006.

Known for its sound advice, On Writing Well offers you fundamental principles as well as the insights of a distinguished writer and teacher. With more than a million copies sold, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Searching: a Research Guide for Writers, IFW Publications, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-13-0.

Prepared especially for our students, this handbook introduces a variety of sources and methods available for tracking down information, an indispensable guide to research resources.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Self Editing for Fiction Writers, Renni Brown and Dave King, William Morrow, 2nd edition, ISBN 0-06-054569-0, 2006.

Two professional editors teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Voices in Today’s Magazines, IFW Publishing, ISBN 978-1-889715-48-3.

An anthology of notable published fiction and nonfiction with a purpose: to give you 81 outstanding models of characterization, dialogue, viewpoints, endings, settings, leads, conflict, climax, voice, flashbacks, (and every aspect of each of these elements), to examine, understand, consider and, perhaps, add to your arsenal of skills.

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Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials published by IFW Publishing

- Pointers from the Pros
- Grammar Tip sheets

Why Choose IFW

  • Customized – one-on-one Instructor
  • Reputable – time-tested, quality curriculum
  • Affordable – tuition payment plans available
  • Flexible – write anytime, anywhere, at your own pace
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Reducing Recidivism

Creative writing helps develop cognitive growth, improve organizational skills, and expand problem-solving abilities.  The Institute for Writers believes in the power of education—its impact is especially evident in our incarcerated students. They become better writers, clearer communicators, and gain valuable skills. Providing a pathway for offenders to express themselves can be transformative and therefore the likelihood of re-offending is significantly reduced. Studies show a 43% reduction in recidivism rates for those prisoners who participate in an education program.

Northwestern Prison Education Program, © 2022 Northwestern University Disclaimer Contact Northwestern UniversityCareersCampus Emergency InformationUniversity Policies Address 1880 Campus Drive Evanston, IL 60208 Email Npep@Northwestern.edu Social Media Rss Feed About Admissions Curriculum People News & Events Contact Us, https://sites.northwestern.edu/npep/benefits-of-prison-education/.

The Power of the Pen

“The course served as my lighthouse in the chaotic ocean of my life. Writing with a mentor allowed me to have some degree of stability and vent about things in a self-contained environment. After completing my assignments, receiving feedback, and learning how to revise my words into something more constructive, I learned to string ideas together by being open to the teachings of my mentor.
I highly encourage anyone with the desire to share their creative imaginations to open their mind to the rich knowledge of your mentor and the coursework. You never know if your story will set someone else on the path to give life to their own stories.”                                                                   
Breaking Into Print Graduate – Byron D.

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Our Philosophy

We believe that everyone has a story to tell. Whether you are an aspiring writer or looking to improve your craft, our time-tested materials and one-on-one method of teaching provides the opportunity for you and your instructor to develop your own way of working together—to help you achieve your writing goals.

One-on-one Instruction

Writing is one thing. Teaching writing is another. Our instructors are pros at both.

All of our instructors are writers and editors trained to be your personal guide from your first assignment until you graduate—a true mentor. Personal instruction of this quality and intensity is rare and extraordinarily effective.

Our Credentials

Institute for Writers is approved as a private business and trade school in the State of Delaware and recommended for college credits by the Connecticut Board of Academic Awards. College credits are obtained from Charter Oak State College, which functions under the degree granting authority of the Connecticut Board.

Breaking Into Print Course Details

The course is designed to teach students how to write fiction and nonfiction for magazines and how to sell their work.

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Course Goals & Objectives

The objective of this correspondence course for inmates is to develop the skills, resources, and work habits that will empower students to continue writing independently long after the course is complete. By focusing on their strengths and chosen areas of concentration, incarcerated writers complete story and article manuscripts and devise strategies for marketing them.  They will:

      1. Survey the current magazine market by analyzing published stories and articles.
      2. Identify standards set by publishers by researching magazines and identifying techniques and styles set by successful writers.
      3. Write eight complete stories and/or articles.
      4. Write and revise four story/article manuscripts to meet current market specifications set by magazine editors.
      5. Submit two or three final stories/articles to appropriate editors.
      6. Learn how to work with an editor once a story/article is accepted for publication.
      7. Plan and develop on-going writing projects that match writing skills and interest with editorial needs.

curriculum

Outline

Part 1: Writing for your Reader (Assignments 1-4)

You sharpen your powers of descriptive writing, draw on your personal experience for story and article material, and learn to write to a specified word count. You survey the current magazine market to understand publishing standards.

1. Description of a person and autobiographical letter
2. Story using character from Assignment 1
3. Nonfiction article and writing interest/goals note
4. New story or article with market choices

Part 2: Finding your Niche (Assignments 5-8)

Your writing takes on a new dimension in this section of the course. You tailor your manuscripts to fit editorial requirements of specific magazines. Your growing grasp of technique and your increasing knowledge of markets helps point the way to your individual writing niche.

5. The summary of a new story or article, the opening, and two possible magazine markets
6. Completed story or article from Assignment 5, proposal for a new story or article
7. Revision of early story or article, query letter/cover letter, and proposal for new story or article with market choices
8. New story or article, market choice, goals update, proposal for new story or article

Part 3: Writing for Publication (Assignments 9-12)

The objective of this course and the challenge to you and your instructor is to develop your skills, resources, and work habits to a level that will prepare you to keep on writing—independently–long after you complete your training. Focusing on the strengths you develop and the concentration you choose, you complete an additional three manuscripts and devise a strategy for marketing them.

9. New story or article, with market choices
10. Revision of earlier story or article, proposal for personal essay topic
11. Personal essay
12. Revision of earlier story or article, or a new story or article targeted to a market, final questions to instructor

college credits

College Credits and Professional Development Hours: The Connecticut Board for State Academic Awards recommends that our graduates be awarded 7 college credits. No matter where you live, you can obtain these credits from Charter Oak State College—which functions under the credit-granting authority of the Connecticut Board—for a fee anytime within five years of your completion of the Institute’s course. You can have Charter Oak “transcript” these credits to any college, university, or school board. Teachers may be able to receive professional development hours. Check with your district or administrators.

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Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Breaking into Print Course Manual, IFW Publishing.

The Instruction Manual published exclusively for our students. It contains assignments, idea generators, planning guides, writing and revision techniques and guidelines for preparing a book submission package.

bip_manual_cover
IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Breaking into Print Pointers from the Pros, IFW Publishing.

Pointers from the Pros are a collection of teaching aids, either mini lectures or short skill tips, that your instructor will reference throughout your course. These supplementary guides provide in-depth expertise on a wide range of writing concepts to reinforce your instruction.

bip_cover
IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Writers Market, edited by Robert Lee Brewer, Writers Digest Books, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-44034-773-3.

Writer's Market 2020 (e-book) guides you through the submissions process with thousands of publishing opportunities for writers, including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents—as well as new playwriting and screenwriting sections. These listings feature contact and submission information to help writers get their work published.

writers-market-Copy-002
IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0205309023, 2000.

A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing. William Zinsser, Harper Perennial, 7th edition, ISBN 978-0-06-089154-1, 2006.

Known for its sound advice, On Writing Well offers you fundamental principles as well as the insights of a distinguished writer and teacher. With more than a million copies sold, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Searching: a Research Guide for Writers, IFW Publishing, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-13-0.

Prepared especially for our students, this handbook introduces a variety of sources and methods available for tracking down information, an indispensable guide to research resources.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Self Editing for Fiction Writers, Renni Brown and Dave King, William Morrow, 2nd edition, ISBN 0-06-054569-0, 2006.

Two professional editors teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Voices in Today’s Magazines, IFW Publishing, ISBN 978-1-889715-48-3.

An anthology of notable published fiction and nonfiction with a purpose: to give you 81 outstanding models of characterization, dialogue, viewpoints, endings, settings, leads, conflict, climax, voice, flashbacks, (and every aspect of each of these elements), to examine, understand, consider and, perhaps, add to your arsenal of skills.

Voices in Todays Magazines 1
IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Breaking into Print Course Manual, IFW Publishing.

The Instruction Manual published exclusively for our students. It contains assignments, idea generators, planning guides, writing and revision techniques and guidelines for preparing a book submission package.

binder_small
IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Writers Market, edited by Robert Lee Brewer, Writers Digest Books, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-44034-773-3.

Writer's Market 2020 (e-book) guides you through the submissions process with thousands of publishing opportunities for writers, including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents—as well as new playwriting and screenwriting sections. These listings feature contact and submission information to help writers get their work published.

Writers-Market-100th-Edition-min
IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0205309023, 2000.

A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing. William Zinsser, Harper Perennial, 7th edition, ISBN 978-0-06-089154-1, 2006.

Known for its sound advice, On Writing Well offers you fundamental principles as well as the insights of a distinguished writer and teacher. With more than a million copies sold, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Searching: a Research Guide for Writers, IFW Publications, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-13-0.

Prepared especially for our students, this handbook introduces a variety of sources and methods available for tracking down information, an indispensable guide to research resources.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Self Editing for Fiction Writers, Renni Brown and Dave King, William Morrow, 2nd edition, ISBN 0-06-054569-0, 2006.

Two professional editors teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Voices in Today’s Magazines, IFW Publishing, ISBN 978-1-889715-48-3.

An anthology of notable published fiction and nonfiction with a purpose: to give you 81 outstanding models of characterization, dialogue, viewpoints, endings, settings, leads, conflict, climax, voice, flashbacks, (and every aspect of each of these elements), to examine, understand, consider and, perhaps, add to your arsenal of skills.

IFW Background Email14

Material Included in your Breaking Into Print Course

Supplementary Instructional Materials published by IFW Publishing

- Pointers from the Pros
- Grammar Tip sheets

With IFW, all course materials are included. Details below:
bip_manual_cover

Breaking Into Print Course Manual, IFW Publishing.

The Instruction Manual published exclusively for our students. It contains assignments, idea generators, planning guides, writing and revision techniques and guidelines for preparing a book submission package.

bip_cover

Breaking Into Print, Pointers from the Pros

Pointers from the Pros are a collection of teaching aids, either mini lectures or short skill tips, that your instructor will reference throughout your course. These supplementary guides provide in-depth expertise on a wide range of writing concepts to reinforce your instruction.

writers-market-Copy-002

Writers Market, edited by Robert Lee Brewer, Writers Digest Books, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-44034-773-3.

Writer’s Market 2020 (e-book) guides you through the submissions process with thousands of publishing opportunities for writers, including listings for book publishers, consumer and trade magazines, contests and awards, and literary agents—as well as new playwriting and screenwriting sections. These listings feature contact and submission information to help writers get their work published.

Elements of Style Book IFW 1

The Elements of Style, by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White, 4th edition, ISBN 978-0205309023, 2000.

A classic manual on the principles of English language. Decidedly the most practical handbook of grammar, correct usage, punctuation, and effective writing techniques.

On Writing Well 1

On Writing Well: The Classic Guide to Writing. William Zinsser, Harper Perennial, 7th edition, ISBN 978-0-06-089154-1, 2006.

Known for its sound advice, On Writing Well offers you fundamental principles as well as the insights of a distinguished writer and teacher. With more than a million copies sold, this volume has stood the test of time and remains a valuable resource for writers and would-be writers.

Searching Book IFW

Searching: a Research Guide for Writers, IFW Publishing, 6th edition, ISBN 978-1-944743-13-0.

Prepared especially for our students, this handbook introduces a variety of sources and methods available for tracking down information, an indispensable guide to research resources.

self editing for fiction writers 1

Self Editing for Fiction Writers, Renni Brown and Dave King, William Morrow, 2nd edition, ISBN 0-06-054569-0, 2006.

Two professional editors teach writers the techniques of the editing trade that turn promising manuscripts into published novels and short stories.

Voices in Todays Magazines 1

Voices in Today’s Magazines, IFW Publishing, ISBN 978-1-889715-48-3.

An anthology of notable published fiction and nonfiction with a purpose: to give you 81 outstanding models of characterization, dialogue, viewpoints, endings, settings, leads, conflict, climax, voice, flashbacks, (and every aspect of each of these elements), to examine, understand, consider and, perhaps, add to your arsenal of skills.

Breaking Into Print Incarcerated Course Tuition

The Institute for Writers makes it easy for you to receive a high quality writing program at an affordable rate. Everything you need to complete Breaking Into Print is included in your course tuition. Choose which payment option best fits your needs.

Full Pay

$ 1,816 One Time Payment
  • Highest Savings
  • Access to all Assignments
  • Total $1,816
REQUEST INFO
A single one time payment for the total tuition price of: $1,816

Payment Plan I

$ 79 Monthly
  • Most Popular
  • $160 Down, 20 monthly payments of $79, and final payment of $76
  • Total $1,816
REQUEST INFO
20 Month autopay plan requires down payment of $160.00 due at enrollment and 20 equal monthly payments of $79.00 with a final payment of $76.00. Total tuition price: $1,816

Payment Plan II

$ 69 Monthly
  • Lowest Monthly Payments
  • $160 Down, 24 monthly payments of $69
  • Total $1,816
REQUEST INFO
24 Month autopay plan requires down payment of $160.00 due at enrollment and 24 equal monthly payments of $69.00. Total tuition price: $1,816

If you enroll your loved one before they’ve received an Assessment, please be aware they will need to complete our mailed Writing Assessment and return it before they can begin their coursework.

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Breaking Into Print for the Incarcerated FAQs

Learn more about Breaking Into Print for the Incarcerated correspondence course.

To enroll into our Breaking Into Print for the Incarcerated course, students must meet the following:

  • All students are required to have a copy of their High School Diploma or GED Equivalency. 
  • All students must be 18 years or older to enroll in any IFW programs.
  • Completion of a Writing Assessment
  • Complete our Enrollment Agreement for admission. The agreement outlines the obligations of Institute for Writers and the student. The required down payment must be submitted at time of enrollment.

New students must submit a Writing Assessment due to limited openings in the course. You may request a Writing Assessment for your loved one here.

It’s easy! Click on Request Info, fill in the required fields and download your course catalog. You will receive details on the program such as course curriculum, materials included, tuition fees, and payment options.

One of the advantages of taking Breaking Into Print is that you are able to work at your own pace. Students can complete this writing course in 18 months, but are allotted 2 years to complete their course.

Tuition may be paid in full at enrollment or you may choose a low monthly payment plan. You may view all payment options here.

To see what materials are included in Breaking Into Print, navigate to the course page, click on the Course Details tab, and then click the Materials button.

The Institute ships materials vis USPS

  • All course material is printed in soft covered textbooks
  • The first shipment should arrive in approximately 7-10 business days from the date of enrollment. Please keep in mind that shipments must be processed through the mailroom once they arrive at the facility
  • One assignment is release at a time based on receipt of the current, edited assignment. For those on a payment plan, payment must be up to date in order for the next assignment to be released.
Students can expect to receive feedback from their instructor within a 6-8 weeks. This includes editing time, mailing, and processing at the facility.