Hey there!
I'm Heather Balogh Rochfort.
I’m a writer, author, and educator who teaches emerging freelance writers how to land their first clip, establish a portfolio, and build a successful freelancing career.
Hey there!
What I Do
I Teach.
Freelance writing can feel like a clandestine club with secret handshakes. I want to throw off the cloak of mystery and share my time-tested strategies to help turn the stories in your head into paying assignments.
I Write.
If you count the publishing center housed in the janitor’s closet at Kohl Elementary, I’ve been penning stories for nearly 40 years. I’ve written everything from reported articles and deep-dive adventure features to my three (and counting!) outdoor-themed books.
I Speak.
I don’t care if you’re a sixth-grade student in Denver or a host on the nationally-televised The Weather Channel; I love engaging with people. I’m passionate about the outdoors and am always happy to share my enthusiasm with others (even if I do still get butterflies).
Let's Chat!
Whether you want to become a freelance writer or you’re searching for your next best-selling author, I’d love to discuss your needs and how we can work together.
Get Started Today!
Download Pitch Perfect, five cold pitches that landed me assignments in the Washington Post and Men’s Journal.
My Students
“Heather delivers expert pitching knowledge you simply cannot find by Googling for tips. She divulges secrets only successful, experienced freelancers would know and I was able to apply what I learned immediately. Just weeks into the course, I landed an op/ed in the New York Times using some of what I learned from her. Plus, the personal feedback she offers is seriously invaluable — worth far more than the course in sum. I was so impressed by what I learned.”
“I’ve wanted to change careers for over a year and Heather’s pitching course was the perfect jumpstart. Her decade of experience and industry knowledge is well worth the money! She provided so many little tidbits that you wouldn’t really know unless you had insider knowledge. I have zero regrets taking this course, and the knowledge I gained already landed my first story with REI!”
“Anyone who follows Heather as a writing professional knows she has built a successful outdoor freelancing career and has so much experience to offer. After taking her pitching course, I can attest to its full value for novice writers and professionals alike. Heather delivers helpful examples and actionable steps in clear, energetic and relatable language. I consider the course a huge personal achievement, as I successfully landed my first assignment in Outside thanks to Heather’s advice and tools!!”
My Story
I didn’t have a Rolodex of networking contacts when I graduated college (because yes, people still used those back then!), and I certainly didn’t have the financial support to allow me to take on an unpaid editorial internship.
So, I got scrappy. I used hard work and out-of-the-box thinking to build my thriving freelance career by doing things my own way. Now I use those same actionable steps to help emerging writers build a lifestyle and career they love.
