Journalism and Freelancing – Level 1
The basics of non-fiction freelancing
- Learn how to succeed in freelance journalism, even if you’re new to the field.
- Discover the story ideas that matter to you and write the clear and focused pitches editors want to read.
- Receive editorial feedback on your pitches and feature articles.
- Customized course lessons that reflect your journalistic niche or interests.
Journalism and Freelancing – Level 2
How to strengthen your freelance business and diversify your income stream
- Learn how to access more non-fiction writing opportunities, whether in journalism or content creation for brands.
- Refine your pitching skills, improve your writing and establish a marketing plan.
- Learn how to better organize your freelance career and earn more income as a writer.
Creative Writing – Level 1
Get started as a creative writer and learn the basics of the craft
- This course guides you to share your most important stories, whether you write fiction, poetry/spoken word, etc.
- Lessons include using descriptive language, how to create compelling characters, fine-tuning your editing skills.
- 1-on-1 lessons help your journey into creative writing feels less overwhelming.
Creative Writing – Level 2
Learn how to elevate your creative skills and discover new ways to reach your audience
- For advanced writers. Learn how you can turn great work into amazing work.
- Lessons include editorial feedback on new work, and sessions on sharpening your storytelling skills, developing a marketing plan,
and strengthening your grant-writing skills. - If you’re a creative writer feeling stagnant with your work and looking to instill your projects with confidence and inspiration, this is the course for you!
Single Session – Any Genre
Try a coaching sessions on creative writing or non-fiction. In this one-hour discussion/workshop, we’ll focus on any area of interest, such as:
- Developing your skills as a journalist, from honing pitches to crafting engaging articles to organizing your freelance business effectively
- Learn how to write powerful stories, how to fine-tune a specific aspect of the craft, or find the best strategies to access opportunities to get published. Also, develop your skills at writing grants.
- Editorial review sessions for your recent article, pitch, poem or novel-in-progress.
Where I’ve been published – November 2020
In this edition of “Where is my byline now?” I look at my recent work for BBC News, Fodor’s, and an alumni publication.
Jewnique
Written and performed by David Silverberg, Originally premiered May 10, 2018 at Toronto’s Al Green Theatre In Jewnique, I share my story of the up-and-down relationship I’ve had with Judaism via a format I call “performance journalism.” The 60-minute show not only tells my story but also profiles seven trailblazers in the Jewish Ontario community and how they inspired me to return to a culture that I always wanted to get closer to in my own way. It’s a story of community, guilt, Jewish history and being comfortable in your own skin. Profilees in Jewnique include musician David Buchbinder, social activist Judy Feld Carr, Free Times Cafe owner Judy Perly, filmmaker Igal Hecht, author Alison Pick, and Holocaust survivor Cantor Moshe Kraus. Jewnique has been produced on stages such as Toronto’s Al Green Theatre, Canadian Stage’s We Are Story showcase at High Park in Toronto, Tikkun Leil Shavuout at Miles Nadal JCC, the Calgary Jewish Book Festival, the Ottawa Jewish Community Centre and Limmud FSU at Blue Mountain Resort. A portion of Jewnique will be published in the 2021 edition of Living Hyphen Magazine. Cast and Crew Written and performed by David Silverberg Artistic Consultant: Autumn Smith Performance Consultant: Mike McGee Sound and Light Design: Charlie Petch Trailer edited by Jacob Frenkel
Poetry Performances
I love to bring my poetry to the stage! I first performed my work at 16 in Port Colborne, Ontario, when I read a short story about a hole-in-one golf adventure. Since those early days, I’ve been immersed in spoke word poetry and have toured across North America and Europe. I’ve been honoured to be a feature performer at NYC’s Bowery Poetry Club, The Jazz Cafe in London (UK), Culture Rapide Bar in Paris, Vancouver Poetry Slam, Montreal’s Words and Music, the Calgary Poetry Slam, the Peterborough Poetry Slam, Toronto’s Art Bar Reading Series, Owen Sound’s Words Aloud Festival, San Jose Poetry Slam, TEDx IB York in Toronto, and many more. While I used to be known for my egg nog ode and cheeky haikus, my spoken word poetry now focuses on areas such as relationships, inspiration/creativity, Judaism’s influence on my life, childhood bullying, and, for some fun, my love of horror films. Recently retired, I was artistic director of Toronto Poetry Slam from 2005 to 2020, where I helped lead the series to four national championships. During my tenure, TPS partnered with a variety of respected arts organizations, such as the Toronto Festival of Authors, the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Word on the Street, Meridian Theatre, and many more. In 2019 and 2020, I primarily performed in-person and online to support the launch of my new poetry collection As Close to the Edge Without Going Over, published by Kelp Queen Press. I’ve performed poetry and facilitated workshops at dozens of schools across Ontario, enlightening students to the vibrancy of spoken word and how it can give them a voice to share their stories and emotions. I’ve also led workshops at Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, and the Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre. What teachers and event programmers are saying about me: “David Silverberg is fabulous poet and a generous teacher! In the classroom, I turned the floor over to him. Always attentive to the students’ own diverse backgrounds and learning needs, David fostered a safe and dynamic learning environment, sparking creativity even among the most reticent. I learned a lot too. I would encourage all teachers of contemporary poetry to invite this kind and thoughtful poet to their classrooms.”-Alan Ackerman, Professor, University of Toronto. “David Silverberg is a storyteller a heart. He approaches the stage with wit, whimsey, humor and humility. He is often irreverent, always insightful, and deeply compassionate. In his writing, he reaches across place and time, drawing on history, pop culture, his relationships, and his memories, as he searches for those things we share, which nevertheless feel deeply personal, and in this way connect us all. In this work he endeavours to cultivate an ever-greater sense of tolerance between us.”-Jon Hedderwick, Artistic Director, Peterborough Poetry Slam I’m open to performing online and in-person in 2025. Book me today for your next show!
My origin story
How did I become a full-time freelance writer and theatre artist? Here’s an abridged version…
How being a journalist has made me a stronger creative writer
When I first began working as a journalist, I was worried. I had spent years believing I would grow up to become a fiction novelist or creative writer