Happy spring!

Today is the first full day of spring here in the Pacific Northwest and I am psyched.

I love spring. I love everything spring traditionally stands for: spring training, spring cleaning, spring blossoms, and the resurgence of life in general after a long slumber.

Because I am passionate about the seasons and the way they influence us as creative human beings, I built the creative cycle into the structure of The Writer’s Workout.

The intention of the book is to help you identify that same energetic thrum in the flower that encourages it to reach for the sun and blossom every year. That’s the creative pulse that exists in each of us just as surely as it exists in the flower.

If you want to be satisfied with your writing career, you have to follow the directive that bursts forth from within. Otherwise, you’ll end up somewhere you never wanted to be.

Sometimes where we would like to be is so simple that we overlook signals. Have you ever noticed that the daffodil, for example, doesn’t need to attend a meeting or get on Facebook to unfurl its yellow trumpet?

That’s because the potential for the flower already exists in the daffodil bulb and it’s just waiting for the ideal circumstances to come to fruition.

The Writer’s Workout helps writers create the circumstances in your life to allow what’s within to express itself.

So, can your writing career unfurl just as naturally as a daffodil bursts into a bright yellow flower? I don’t see why not.

Spring is one of the best parts of the creative cycle. And that’s why I started The Writer’s Workout with spring.

It’s the part when what we’ve hoped for and dreamed of starts to show itself. In this phase of creativity we can appreciate the bright burst of yellow that symbolizes our true self shining through.

Not everyone is a social learner. Social learning does not always take you deeper, towards more personal meaning and satisfaction.

And peer groups, though well-intentioned, can actually interfere with members’ growth and development. I see this happen all the time with writers. They spend all their energy enmeshed in the community and can’t figure out why they are not reaching any of their own personal goals.

Or why they are reaching goals that do not end up making them feel personally satisfied.

If this describes you, spring is your chance to start over, clean house, and pay closer attention to your inner trumpet.

I want writers to actualize their innate potential. I want writers to learn year after year, cycle after cycle, how to summon the magic of their creative flowering.

The students in my most advanced training group continually impress me because they are masters of creative abundance. Flowering and flowering and flowering all over the place. Imagine a field of daffodils and you are seeing symbolically what their careers are like.

It’s glorious to be a part of their process. And I enjoy working patiently with others to help them first produce one daffodil, and then produce another, and another, and another.

Because for me, that’s what we’re here for. To flower, to flourish, to trumpet something wonderful into the world where there was formerly just a patch of dirt.

That’s your job today. Get busy and flower. You have to start somewhere. May as well start with one effort and take it from there.

New around here? I am the author of three books from Writer’s Digest: The Writer’s Workout, Get Known Before the Book Deal, and Writer Mama. I also published Author Mama and The Build Your Author Platform Workbook in digital formats. Please subscribe to my ezine, The Prosperous Writer, and this blog so we can stay in touch.

~ Photo by Lutmans

One of my students brought my attention to this article in the New York Times about cookbook ghostwriting.

She pointed it out because she knows my position on taking ghostwriting gigs when I’m coaching my students.

My position is: think twice before you ghost.

Why?

Well, for one thing, my students work long and hard to develop their own voices, their own expertise, and their own niche. Therefore wherever they go to ghost, they are bringing all of their own hard work with them, including their distinct platform dynamic.

But with ghosting, writers have to subordinate all of their own strengths to someone’s whims and desires. And that someone else is going to cheerfully take all the credit for their hard work.

I can see how my students would be very appealing to celebrities, who want to extend their reach through ghostwritten books. My students are good, solid, conscientious writers. The know how to focus. They get stuff done.

And I can see how the lure of a celebrity name might be enticing. Might be a tempting possibility to see their name with another bigger name on the cover of a book or ebook.

They might think that this kind of opportunity is a good learning experience or a feather in their platform cap or even just a decent paycheck.

But I suspect the subordinate writer being pitched by the more experienced author is not likely seeing the whole picture. My primary concern is that they may not calculate the cost of the time spent away from the development of their own work.

Bottom line for me: I feel my students deserve better than what most ghost deals can offer.

I am willing to be wrong about this. I am waiting to hear of an example of ghostwriting where it made sense for an intelligent, hardworking, thoughtful writer with burgeoning success to take a ghostwriting gig. But so far, my impressions are…not so much.

At the very least, a writer considering ghostwriting should look beyond the paycheck and consider multiple intangibles that may be difficult to imagine unless you read this article.

Regardless of what credit the subordinate writer will receive, they will never be seen as primary catalyst behind the book, even if they were. The celebrity name is always going to garner more credit and cachet from the book, whether it sells or not.

I hope my students would get some input from experienced ghostwriters. I hope they would look at an ebook or book project as the sizable commitment it is, even in the scope of a career. And then remember, it will likely eat up 3-5 times more clock hours than you think.

Ask yourself if the gig is getting you to your ultimate destination as a writer, especially if you are on the receiving end of a very persuasive sell, in which flattery may or may not be involved.

If you subordinate yourself, expect to feel like a subordinate every step of the way. When you are used to full ownership, subordination is not likely to feel that great, promises of greater exposure or no promises of greater exposure.

I think this article helps more experienced writers with an established niche begin to understand how ghostwriting may actually not be rosy picture of camaraderie and mutual success that it’s cracked up to be.

In the meantime, I stand by my position when it comes to advising my students. And it is this: tender your career more dearly. Think twice before you take that ghost gig.

Thanks to Julie Moskin from The New York Times for writing, “I Was A Cookbook Ghostwriter.”

Spring forward in your writing career. Take the first step today and purchase The Writer's Workout!

Ready to leap forward in your writing career?

Then I have to ask: have you purchased and read my new book, The Writer’s Workout, yet?

If not, you are really missing out, based on the feedback I have been receiving from readers.

In case you are not convinced, here are ten reasons why you don’t want to deprive yourself of The Writer’s Workout for even one day more.

1. Spring Training for your Career

Spring is almost here! And the first section of The Writer’s Workout is titled… Spring!

The book is divided into four sections by season. Here’s a teaser from the introduction to the spring section:

Getting started and finding a workable writing rhythm are big steps. Just like baseball players go to spring training every year, writers need to recommit year after year to getting into the game. This means getting off the couch and getting warmed up, loose, and strong again. The tips and exercises in this section are designed to help focus your energy and get your writing career off to a solid start so you can eventually write, sell, get published, specialize, and promote yourself. A lot of eager writers never get past the reading-about phase, but you will be different. You will not only be prepared, you will be encouraged. You will channel your wishes into actions. You will get on track and stay the course. You will realize your creative potential. You will be a winner, whatever winning means to you.

2. Discouragement Antidote

Suffice it to say, writers have multiple challenges in this day and age. I have written three traditionally published writing how-to books for Writer’s Digest, but this one is probably the most encouraging of the three. The book covers a lot of ground, which allowed me to address as many challenges that writers face at all levels of career growth as I could squeeze into 366 chapters.

Here’s what one reader shared in an personal message (reprinted with permission):

Today I was blue regarding several things including a recent rejection which I deserved. In the Writer’s Workout, #127, Monitor Your Attention, was on target. All day I tried to write but could not focus. After reading your passage, I gave up trying and tuned into something away from writing. Your message was timely and the shot in the arm I needed today. Thank you for a great book full of wonderful messages.  ~ Lila J.

3. Magic Eight Ball

Writer Nathalie Hardy says that she uses The Writer’s Workout like one of those toy Magic Eight Balls. You ask it a question, you open to a page, you read it, and…we’ll have to see what Nathalie has to say in her blog post on the subject.

4. 366 Reasons to Buy This Book

Every once in a while, we have a Leap Year.

According to Dictionary.com a Leap Year occurs “in years whose last two digits are evenly divisible by four, except for centenary years not divisible by 400.”

Leap Years are why the title of my book refers to 366 chapters rather than 365 chapters.

I think it was conscientious of us to go out of our way to include Leap Years in the book, don’t you?

But who knew that the year following publication would actually BE a Leap Year? Not me.

I was paying attention, but I was not paying that much attention.

So, yahoo! We have 366 chapters for a year that has 366 days. I feel a nerdy sense of pride about this.

If you have ever experienced nerdy pride over something like this, then you should probably buy my book.

5. Get Your Butt Kicked Here!

My reputation started out as “a gentle taskmaster” but I confess, sometimes, and certainly with my most advanced students, I can be something of a butt-kicker. However, I’m not hanging my head in shame because here’s the truth of the matter: sometimes it’s hard for us to recognize our own strengths.

Leading with your strengths is not only good advice for your writing career, it’s good advice for your life. Here’s what #amwriting Twitter hashtag creator and community leader, Johanna Harness has to say about the book in an Amazon review:

The Writer’s Workout provides a full year of tough-love advice. This is not one of those namby-pamby inspirational books that finds new ways to say, “don’t give up” on every page. This is the real thing. If you buy this book and follow Christina’s advice, you will see a visible difference in your writing career. She doesn’t tell you what you want to hear. She tells you what you need to hear. I can’t recommend this book enough.

6. More Thoughtful Than Most

I did not write this book off the top of my head. I took my time and drew from ten years of teaching experience and twelve years of writing-for-publication experience. The book took about two years of work from conception to publication.

You might think that’s old school, but when you really pour your guts into a project, it makes for a better book in the end.

I have been exploring the topics in The Writer’s Workout for years whether through this blog (example), through my feature articles for Writer’s Digest (example), through my books (example), ebooks (example), workbooks (example), classes (example), training groups (example), local author series (example), and presentations (example).

This book was not born yesterday. And neither was the person who wrote it. In fact, according to an Amazon review by Lela Legit:

Katz cracks open many of the often unrealized hesitations and pitfalls that prevent writers from prospering. She offers concrete guidance for focusing and realizing career goals. She emphasizes certain key concepts throughout the book, much like a personal fitness trainer reiterates, session after session, the mantras of physical fitness to clients. The Writer’s Workout constantly leads the reader to return to purity of intention and expertise cultivated by good old elbow grease.

7. NOT About The Publishing Industry (Phew!)

Is anybody else getting weary of the never-ending play-by-play on the publishing industry, besides me?

That’s why The Writer’s Workout is about the state of the successful writer, not the state of the publishing industry.

It will show you how to grow your career regardless of what’s happening out there.

In the big picture, I suggest you work with the industry and independently for a balanced and lasting approach to writing career success.

I think we can safely toss the “indie” concept and the “traditional” concepts in favor for the hybrids that we have already become.

The Writer’s Workout shows you how. I have more to say on the topic here, in the #amwriting community blog, in my post, “Stop, Drop, and Micro-publish!”

8. A Writing Workout With…Soul?

The Writer’s Workout takes a holistic approach to writing, selling, self-promotion, specializing, and professional development and all the other things that go into raising a writing career alongside the rest of your life. This is not another 101 ways you can sacrifice your personal happiness for success. This is 366 ways you can learn that who you are and what you care about is a great place to start growing writing career success.

So, yes, I admit it, I wrote about soul in a writing how-to book.

I have a soul and so do you. We may as well take them into account. I don’t think I got carried away, but you let me know if you think I did.

I believe we will enjoy the creative process more if we are allowed to have a soul while we’re in it.

Maybe that’s just me.

9. There Are No Great Writers

There is only great writing.

We have a tendency to place writers on pedestals and then knock them off when it’s convenient for us.

To make matters worse: I have met writers who have devoted their lives to the pursuit of being declared “great writers.”

You can’t cure low self-esteem with acclaim. Writing will not deliver you from your humanity today or tomorrow. You will be just as imperfect the day after you write something well, as you are today. And this goes for everyone, including me.

I gave up trying to be “great” a long time ago, and a funny thing happened—I started writing well enough to make strides.

People are calling my latest book “great,” “masterful,” “a wealth of practical advice,” and “an invaluable resource.”

That’s not about me. That’s about how hard I worked on the book. It’s about the quality of the work I invested. I am certainly not taking it personally.

So can we can all stop vying for greatness now, and get back to work?

10. Intended To Raise All Boats

Don’t let everyone else read TWW first while you sit back and watch their careers leap forward. There is something to be said for being one of the first to discover something genuinely helpful and then leading others to it.

I wrote this book to raise all boats. However, you have to read it to benefit from it.

I hope you will. I hope you will share it with your writing pals.

I find that it’s a rare pleasure these days to discover something worth a rave recommendation.

I think if you try The Writer’s Workout, you’re going to like it.

Game?

Here’s a list of places where you can purchase the book in paperback or digital formats:

Amazon

Kindle

Barnes & Noble

Powell’s

Indiebound

Writer’s Digest

BooksAMillion

Looking forward to seeing everyone at AWP 2012 in my old stomping grounds, Chicago, Illinois!

Here’s the details of our panel:

R175. The Tech-Empowered Writer: Embrace New Media, Experiment, and Earn
(Christina Katz, Jane Friedman, Seth Harwood, Robert Lee Brewer)
Boulevard Room A,B,C, Hilton Chicago, 2nd Floor
What can a professor, a journalist, a novelist, and a poet teach you about new media? Using real-life examples from our own experience and that of other tech-savvy writers, we’ll construct a composite of how working writers use technology to invest in their careers, experiment and launch new works, and grow their income opportunities. Whether you need a day job, a part-time job, or just enough gigs to pay a few bills, there have never been so many ways for tech-savvy writers to earn.

Come back to this blog on Thursday, March 1st for some great examples of writers who are using technology to grow and empower their careers.

Be sure to visit blogs by @JaneFriedman, @sethharwood, and @RobertLeeBrewer.

Follow them on Twitter, so you won’t miss their conference and tech-related tweets.

Follow @Porter_Anderson for continuous tweets on the entire conference.

Thanks to all the folks who make AWP possible. See you in Chicago, writers!

Happy New Year, writers!

One thing I always like to do at the end of each year is reflect on all that I have accomplished in the past year, before I move on to the next.

This is what I have accomplished in one year with twelve years of momentum leading up to this year. If it was my first year in business, obviously the results would look a lot different.

I worked hard in 2011; therefore I accomplished a lot. And the results are either visible or about to become visible, which is a good feeling. So here goes…

I finished a book that was almost two years in the making and is now published. I think you know which book I am talking about at this point. I set out to create a portable supportive and encouraging context for any writer, and I am pleased to have accomplished that goal. Batteries or no batteries required!

I wrote a self-study course, “Build Your Author Platform,” which was originally sold by Writer’s Digest but as of January 1, 2012 will be available for purchase on my website in PDF workbook format. The workbook is a companion to Get Known Before the Book Deal (Writer’s Digest 2008). More info coming January 1st. Newsletter subscribers have already been notified.

I wrote a new class curriculum, “Micro-publishing for Mom Writers” and taught the class twice. Four students launched ebooks in 2011 and three more will launch them in early 2012. This is one of my most challenging and rewarding classes and it’s the perfect finish line for my most advanced students.

I taught thirteen six-week classes in 2011 and facilitated 6 dream team groups over five months each. I am not the only one who kicked butt in 2011. My students also kicked butt. Many of the got published for the first time ever, broke into national publications, or began writing regularly for the nationals. Platform-building students got on TV, built or upgraded blogs and websites, self-published unique, saleable products, landed speaking gigs, increased their visibility, productivity and profitability, started conversations with highly coveted agents, and just generally rocked. (Prospective students can check out the four classes I am offering in January here.) Dream Teams are for former students only.)

I had an original feature published in Writer’s Digest magazine. You can now read, “50 Simple Ways To Build Your Platform in Five Minutes A Day” online at WritersDigest.com. Here’s what one Writer’s Digest magazine reader said about it:

I just read the March/April 2011 issue and am compelled to send my gratitude to Christina Katz. Her article “50 Simple Ways to Build Your Platform in 5 Minutes a Day” was so specific and helpful, I was moved to act right away. She saved me hours of research in a field that is pretty foreign to me.  ~ Karen Ashley, July/August 2011 Writer’s Digest ReaderMail

I set up a writing conference/event tour to spread the word about my new book. I will be a presenter and panel moderator at the January 2012 Writer’s Digest Conference in New York City. I will be the lunch speaker at an intimate Portland, Oregon mini-conference hosted by Jessica Morrell that is called, Making It In Tough & Changing Times. Space is limited, register early! I will also be the keynote speaker at two conference in April, Missouri Writer’s Guild in St. Louis and Mad Anthony in Hamilton, Ohio. Invitations continue to roll in.

I granted eight scholarships at $275 each to eight mom writers. That’s a total value of $2,200 in scholarships that I gave in just 2011 alone. I’ve given thousands of dollars in scholarships to worthy writers since 2006. And I feel good about each and every one of them!

I wrote more parenting articles than I have since I became an author. I enjoyed every second of the process, and the personal satisfaction reminded me why I became a writing teacher–because writing for publication is so rewarding in and of itself. And every article you write can pay off in both the short run and the long run. Want to see an example? Here’s a good one for the New Year…Ten Tidy Reasons To Get Cleaning Help in Durham Parent.

I got a bunch of reprints published. There is nothing I love more than seeing my hard work pay off more than once. Some reprints were offered by me, others got reprinted on their own (surprise checks!). Some were from books, others were from past articles. All were reasons to celebrate! Cupcakes for everyone! (That’s how I celebrate.)

I finished off season four of The Northwest Author Series and did the programming for and launched season five. This season kicked off with a bang with The Oregonian’s Jeff Baker, novelist Emily Chenoweth, and myself. And wait until you see the second half: Karen Karbo? Bill Johnson? Pamela Hill Smith? Kevin Sampsell? Heather Vogel Frederick? It’s going to rock! In Wilsonville, Oregon no less. At our awesome library.

I updated my website. This is something that I worked on, on and off, all year long. New features include a permanent home for the 236 Movies About Writers and the Writing Life list that I created with my husband in 2010. And a permanent home for a list of Books By Women Writers For High School Students that I created this year. I also have a Clips page, a Credits page, and a Thank You page that help me keep up with myself, in addition to the usual suspects: classes, dream teams, and scholarships.

I did a Beta-test of Creative Rx with Christina Katz and learned a ton. So of course I had to change the name. Now I’m calling it: The Prosperous Creative Affirmation Intensive. I cannot wait to launch this empowering affirmation intensive tool on January 1, 2012. More info coming soon. If you are a subscriber, you already got it.

I revived my old book giveaway as “The Writer Mama Every Day In May Book Giveaway.” I enjoy doing this annual event as a way to celebrate the hard work of other mom writers during Mother’s Day month. And yes! I will definitely be doing it again in May 2012. Please email me at christina at christina katz dot com if you are interested in participating.

I presented at one conference in 2011, The Associated Writers & Writing Programs Conference and spoke at one writer’s event, The Terroir Writer’s Festival in McMinnville. I knew I would be busy with so many other things, so I kept my 2011 presenting schedule to a minimum. And it feels like that was the right choice for 2011. But in 2012, I will be moderating another panel at AWP and a whole lot more. Please contact me if you are interested in hiring me to speak or present at your event.

I was interviewed a bunch of times. Here’s the best of the batch:

• Tweet Magazine
• WOW: Women on Writing magazine
• 2012 Writer’s Market (it’s in the book)
• The Missouri Writer’s Guild (I’ll be keynoting at their conference in April 2012)

I got a couple of grooves back. Namely you will be seeing my column in Willamette Writers again this year (click here to check out WW membership) and I am offering a brand new class to my most advanced students: 60 Ways To Flex Your Content & Prosper In Your Niche. And I have a lot more new offerings coming down the pipe in 2012. Stay tuned!

I started a workout accountability group for writers on Facebook: Writers on the Move. Anyone can join. Even folks who have fallen off the workout wagon and are trying to get back on (like me).

I dropped a few tasks that were not integrated with everything else I do. It’s always hard to say no to people and invitations. But I had to on many occasions in 2011 in order to meet my goals. Does this mean I don’t like those folks or that I don’t care about them or support their work? Of course not. As you can see, I had a lot of commitments in 2011 with a lot more coming in 2012. I say yes to people all the time, but not every time. Busy moms have to learn to say no to what is no longer manageable, in order to say yes to the things what we’d like to manage.

Finally, I put on my publicity hat and worked with my publisher to make The Writer’s Workout a book readers could not refuse and so far, they love it! I created an attitude-adjusting inspirational poster to go with the book. I helped my publicist and editor package up this awesome, downloadable excerpt on Scribd. I created an online media page. I sent out review copies. I solicited blurbs and reviews of the book. I did a little launch-time blog tour. And I’ve invited book buyers to come participate in a FREE, one day “Flash Class” right here on Tuesday, January 10th. There is still a lot to do to get the word out, but I plan to enjoy every step of the process. Thanks for sharing your enthusiasm for the book, too!

Okay, I think that pretty much covers the highlights of my year. If I have overlooked anything, I apologize. And now it’s your turn, I hope!

Can you make a list like this with all of your most satisfying accomplishments from 2011?

If you do, I guarantee you will learn a ton, as I did, in the process. It’s also great to relive all of those satisfying moments from 2011.

After we have assessed what we’ve reaped, we can better see how we can sow better next time. Share your results on your blog or in your ezine, if you like. Or keep them private. It’s up to you.

Keep in mind how long you’ve been at it before you judge your results. As I said at the start, I’ve been working steadily for twelve years, not including the years I invested in college and graduate school education. Regardless of what or how much you have accomplished, I hope you will pat yourself on the back for all of your hard work in 2011.

2012 will be here soon! Now is the time to take a moment to feel grateful for the work that we have been privileged to enjoy in 2011.

Thank you, 2011!

And welcome, 2012!

~ Photo by BlueLily  Arlene

Well, folks who live in the Pacific Northwest, you are in luck. And anyone who wants to beat the heat and come to Seattle or Portland the first weekend in August is in double luck.

Yes, that’s right, I’m talking about the return of the Pacific Northwest Writer’s Association Conference and the Willamette Writers Conference.

There’s only one snag. They are both on the same weekend. I’m not sure who thought this was a good idea, but I’m going to cast my vote for restoring the conferences to two separate weekends next year. All in favor, say aye!

By now you’ve already made your selection so I am not caught on that particular hot seat (phew! that was close). Here’s a quick list of who you won’t want to miss at each conference.

PNWA: August 4 – 7th

Register Online Here

PLEASE NOTE THE NEW LOCATION

Don’t miss a chance to get your headshots from Mark Bennington

***Don’t miss an opportunity while you are PNWA to stop and chat with my friend, photographer Mark Bennington. Mark is a great guy and you will enjoy meeting him even if you don’t need a new headshot. (But chances are good that you do need a new headshot, right? I mean we all need a fresh one every couple years.) Mark is a total pro and he’s offering an outrageously low price for his services. If you swing by please be sure to tell him I sent you.***

And while we are on the topic of Mark. Check out this awesome photo book project that he’s working on about Bollywood actors in India (and America). He’s already got interest from a publisher in India and I bet he’ll have an agent and US publisher very soon.

Thursday:

6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Don’t miss “Self-promotion for the Introvert” with Lorraine Wild and Kim Kircher.

Friday:

8:30 a.m. Show up early to catch Writer’s Digest’s Chuck Sambuchino talk about “Pitch Perfect” (Chuck has a new book out, ask him about it!)

11 a.m.

Agent’s Forum: Listen with particular care to what my agent, Rita Rosenkranz is looking for because she’s awesome.

3:30

Catch Chuck Sambuchino again for a session on “Everything You Need to Know About Agents.” (Ask him after about his book.)

4:30

Be sure to attend the author book signing. Chatting with authors as they sign your books is always fun. (You can get Chuck’s books.)

11:30 a.m.

Don’t miss another chance to learn from my agent, Rita Rosenkranz. Her topic will be, “How to Write an Irresistible Nonfiction Book Proposal.”

Saturday:

8:30 a.m.

Sorry to keep asking you to show up early but you will want to catch Michael Larsen and Elizabeth Pomada’s preso on “13 Ways to Make Yourself Irresistible to any Agent or Editor”

10 a.m.

I’m a sucker for marketing and self-promotion topics and although I’ve not met Susan Wingate, we’ve corresponded. (I called her one time when her Facebook account got hacked.) Her session “Get on Board the Starship of Publishing” sounds interesting.

9 p.m.

Don’t miss the author autograph party! Fun, fun, fun! (And another chance to get Chuck’s books.)

Sunday:

10:30 a.m. I don’t know Bob Mayer personally but this workshop in “The Warrior Writer” sounds right up my alley. I’d check it out. (And you could sleep in a little after the big party the night before.)

• • •

Willamette Writer’s Conference: August 5-7th

Register Online Here

Be sure to swing by the Barnes & Noble Book Table and pick up copies of my books. They give back a percentage of profits to support Willamette Writers in supporting writers. Be sure to tell Page Jordan I sent you.

Also, if you plan to follow the conference on Twitter, then Porter Anderson (@Porter_Anderson) is your guy to follow. He’ll be live-tweeting the entire conference and he’s darn good at it.

Thursday:

Don’t miss your chance starting at 7 p.m. (Get there early to sign up.)

Agent/Editor Pitch Practice (This is how I got the attention of Jane Friedman for my first book Writer Mama in 2005—at the Pitch Practice. Let those pitches rip, people!).

Friday:

8:30 a.m.

Definitely check out Sharlene Martin’s “Crazy Queries” workshop. Sounds fun.

10:30 a.m.

Ooo, I would not miss this panel on “E-media—E-books, Self-publishing, and Twitter” with Jane Friedman as of panelists. (Jane is one of the foremost thinkers on e-media and the future of publishing. I’d shadow her all conference if these are topics that interest you. Full disclosure: Jane has also been my editor and publisher. )

For fiction folks, check out Laura Whitcomb’s “It’s Just So Crazy It Might Work.” Laura has spoken at my author series and she has some great tips and strategies, you won’t want to miss.

1:30 p.m.

Don’t miss “Blogging 101″ with Jane Friedman. Have you seen her blog, her guest blogs? Her interviews? The woman is omni-present. Nuf said.

Ooo, fiction folks, don’t miss Hallie Ephron on “Plotting a Page-Turner.” Hallie is great. You will love her and everything she says.

I like Roseanne Parry and her topic, “Character & The Seven Deadly Sins,” sounds truly helpful for YA folks.

3:30 p.m.

Don’t miss Gigi Rosenberg’s “Fund Your Writing Projects,” if you are thinking you might ever want to seek funding for any of your writing projects.

Fiction folks will want to head straight on over to Hallie Ephron’s “Details to Make Or Break a Character.”

Children’s writers won’t want to miss Roseanne Parry’s “What Makes It A Children’s Novel?”

Saturday:

8:30 a.m.

I’d be interested in “Words & Pictures: Writing for Comics,” with Anina Bennett. I don’t know the presenter but the topic sure sounds interesting.

Ooo, have you seen Eric Witchey’s handouts? They are thi-ick! Fiction writers won’t want to miss them and him talk about “Mythic Power From Your Life.”

I don’t know Kim Cooper Findling, but this is a good kind of workshop for any nonfiction writer to attend, “Anatomy of a Magazine Article.”

If you are writing a picture book or thinking of writing one, definitely go to Addie Boswell’s “Picture Book Pacing & Poetry.”

10:30 a.m.

Nonfiction writers, I’d definitely check out Peter Bowerman’s session on “Taking The Reins Of Your Own Publishing Journey.” (Moms may want to check out my new e-mail class Micro-publishing for Mom Writers.)

Hallie Ephron’s “Mixing Internal & External Dialogue” sounds really interesting for fiction writers.

Leigh Anne Jasheway is funny, and this session looks to be both entertaining and useful. I’d check out “Comedy As A Nonfiction Tool.”

1:30 p.m.

Definitely do not miss “Three Models for Using Twitter to Grow Your Career,” with Jane Friedman. Why? This is why.

Fiction writers, don’t miss another chance to get one of Eric Witchey’s big, fat handouts (but don’t just pop in and ask for a handout b/c that’s not cool). His topic this time is “Partying Your Way To Publication.”

Ooo, fiction writers, tough call in this slot b/c Bob Dugoni’s session, “Getting Started And Staying Headed in the Right Direction,” sounds really good, too. I would not want to have to make this choice.

Kim Cooper Fielding tackles a topic that every writer wants to learn more about in “Engaging the Senses in Travel Writing.”

Addie Boswell’s “Illustration Techniques for Writers” sounds interesting for children’s book writers.

3:30 p.m.

Once again Peter Bowerman and I are on the same page (although, full disclosure, I’ve never read his work) with his “Build Your Own Writing Empire.”

Fiction writers, once again you have a terribly tough choice between Eric Witchey and “Ed Ace and the ABCs of Fiction” and Robert Dugoni, “You’ve Got the Power.”

Leigh Anne Jasheway’s creativity workshop, “How Thinking Like A Five Year Old Can Help You Become A More Creative Writer,” sounds fun, if you are feeling a bit information overloaded at this point of the conference.

Sunday:

8:30

I’d catch Monica Drake’s session, “What Can A Sentence Do?” Sounds interesting.

Also Robert Dugoni’s “Catching An Agent’s Attention,” is a must-learn topic.

And if you are writing YA, don’t miss Christine Fletcher’s “Talk To Me” session on voice. She’s great.

10:30

Gary Corbin is a fun guy and if you are interesting in staging any of your writing, I would definitely check out his “Get Your Story A Stage.”

I would be loathe to miss Jane Friedman’s, “Thinking Beyond the Book.” This is necessary medicine, writers, and I promise, it won’t hurt.

Oh, man. Another impossible choice for fiction writers. Bob Dugoni on “Playing God” or Bill Johnson on “Spirit of Storytelling.” Good luck!

See what Christine Fletcher has to say about plot in YA in her session, “Then What Happens?”

1:15

Don’t miss Jane Friedman talking about “Audience Development 101.” This goes for writers in all genres, not just nonfiction.

Fiction writers won’t want to miss Hallie Ephron’s “Fly High, Fly Low Revision” session. After all, so much of writing well is rewriting.

If you are interested at all in Playwriting, Cynthia Whitcomb is a always a great teacher.

3:00

Sage Cohen marries two topics she excels at poetry and productivity in “The Productive Poet.” You probably don’t have to be a working poet to get a lot out of this session.

This panel moderating by Ellen Urbani on writing critique groups sounds interesting, “How To Find Or Create Your Ideal Writers Critique Group.” If you are interested in this topic, you may also wish to check out Becky Levine’s book on the topic from Writer’s Digest, The Writing & Critique Group Survival Guide.

At this late point in the conference, “Improv Your Writing” with Gary Corbin sounds fun.

Children’s writers or anyone interested in Laura Ingalls Wilder should definitely check out, Pamela Smith Hill’s session, “Writing YA in Hard Times.”

• • •

The end. All the attendees collapse in a giant, brain-bursting heap.

This was a lot of information to cover, but I hope, if you are attending either conference, and I hope you WILL pick one and attend it, that this list is helpful and saves you some of that writer’s conference there-are-so-many-choices-that-my-head-is-spinning feeling.

Have a great time! Buy lots of books! And then put everything you learn into action!

I noticed last night that the last article I wrote for Writer’s Digest, “Elements of a Successful Fiction Platform” is now online. Hooray!

I think fiction writers, memoir writers, and children’s writers have it rough, and I want to acknowledge their unique challenges. This is partly what motivated me to pitch and write this article for Writer’s Digest.

I wanted to get to the bottom of the whole, “But Christina, I’m a fiction (memoir, children’s…) writer, so your platform advice does not apply to me, although it’s nice for you and your tribe of lagabout nonfiction writers.”

I was never really convinced that the advice in Get Known did not apply to writers of other genres, but I was willing to go straight to the top, in this case interviewing 13 powerhouse novelists, to find out what they collectively know about fiction platforms.

I interviewed James Scott Bell, Meg Cabot, Gwyn Cready, Katie Davis, Hallie Ephron, Heather Vogel Frederick, J. A. Konrath, Lisa McMann, Scott Sigler, Laurel Snyder, Dana Stabenow, Susan May Warren, and Allison Winn Scotch.

And they all rock, by the way.

And guess what they said?

They said platform is incredibly important.

Not a single one of them said platform wasn’t important. Nobody wanted to impress upon me how different it is for them as novelists than it is for nonfiction writers. And all of them accepted that self-promotion comes part and parcel with the job description.

So, we’re all in the same boat, folks. And I think it’s time to get over it.

No platform, no book deal.

No willingness to self-promote, no book sales.

Traditionally published or self-published, it does not matter. With extremely rare exception, like almost never, platform rules.

Of course, the writing has to be exceptional, as well. Never forget that part. They all agreed on this.

I know it, best-selling fiction writers know it, everybody, by now, I hope, knows it.

If you are someone who still wants to argue about whether or not other types of writers besides strictly nonfiction writers need a platform, you can try, but as far as I’m concerned the case is closed.

If you want your hard work to get read, you’ll come around. And if you don’t want to come around, then consider writing for personal pleasure, rather than as a professional writer.

Platform development is not simple — it won’t happen at lightning speed and at your convenience. It takes years to establish and maintain a solid platform.

But if you embrace the platform-building process as part of your job description, you will get used to it, and you might even have fun with it. I do and I definitely got the sense that all of the authors I interviewed totally get platform, are at peace with it, and enjoy the opportunity to connect with their readers.

And amen to that.

If you are just getting starting or you could use a basic primer on platform development and how it fits into a writer’s career, take a look at my book, Get Known Before the Book Deal (LINK).

If you have already identified your audiences, determined your niche, and built an online platform that reaches out to your current and potential readership, and you want to take it to the next level, take a look at my more recent article in the  current, but soon to fade from stands, March/April issue of Writer’s Digest, “50 Simple Ways To Build Your Platform In Five Minutes A Day.”

One final piece of platform advice: put your name, face, and considerable writing expertise at the center of your platform and spoke off exciting and engaging social artistry from there. Keep this simple, so it stays manageable as you devote the lion’s share of your energy to your craft.

If your platform is so over the top that it strains you and interferes with getting your best writing done, then maybe you are allowing platform to be too complicated. If you can’t sustain the time and energy to nurture your craft and put your very best work out in the world, then there’s no point. Get your priorities straight and everything will fall back in place.

Writers serve readers. It’s fun and rewarding work. So go do it and then let me know how it went. And for goodness sake, don’t let me catch you grousing.

What do Scott Sigler, Meg Cabot, Allison Winn Scotch, and Dana Stabenow all have in common?

I’ve stumped you, haven’t I?

They all let me interview them for my feature, “Elements of a Successful Fiction Platform” for the November / December issue of Writer’s Digest magazine.

And they are not the only folks I interviewed. There were thirteen authors in all. I also caught up with James Scott Bell, Gwyn Cready, Katie Davis, Hallie Ephron, J.A. Konrath, LIsa McMann, Laurel Snyder, and Susan May Warren and asked them questions about how, when and where they promote themselves and their books.

Because I know that aspiring fiction writers want to know which strategies for attracting readers work, which don’t, and everything else they can learn from seasoned professionals who have established an author’s platform and put it to good use serving readers and fans.

So what can you learn from these — many of them bestselling — authors about how you can best promote yourself and your writing?

Plenty.

And my feature is in great company this issue, appearing alongside articles by fellow journalists Becky Levine, Monica Bhide, Tim Beyers, Melissa Wuske (my new book editor!), and Writer’s Digest editor, Jessica Strawser (and many more).

You’ll find the full scoop in the November / December issue of Writer’s Digest magazine. Coming to newsstands this week. And already in the hands of (and probably dog-eared by now) loyal Writer’s Digest subscribers.

Kinda makes you wish you were a Writer’s Digest subscriber, doesn’t it? You can subscribe here. Download the digital version here. And find the issue on stands after October 26th.

I’d love to hear what you think. And I’m sure the folks at Writer’s Digest would like to hear what you think, too. So please don’t be shy.

Thanks for reading! Here’s a sneak peek of the cover…

One thing I love about being a writing instructor is that back-to-school thrill every Fall. I am probably more excited for back-to-school than my eight-year-old.

I love school, whether I am the teacher or the student. But starting on September 8th and running for six weeks, I am the teacher. And I am looking for a fresh batch of new-to-me, highly motivated, hard-working students. And so is my colleague Abigail Green.

I’ve been teaching classes consistently for nine-and-a-half years to hundreds of students, who have had more articles published than I could possibly count. Several of them have built up a large enough platform over time to get books published and land agents simply by continuing to build their skills and put them to good use.

The writing class I am offering this time around is Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff. Abby is offering her popular class, Personal Essays That Get Published. (I’ll tell you more about my platform-development class, Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform, tomorrow.)

Just this past week, I have heard about twenty of my current and former students’ articles getting into print or getting reprinted (which means that the person who wrote them is getting paid again for reselling what they already wrote). And despite all the hulla-ballo to the contrary, there does not seem to be any shortage of article-writing opportunities for those who are just getting started.

So, if you are wondering if you should take a class this Fall with me or my colleague Abigail Green, and you are on the fence, here are a 21 good reasons why you may want to consider it:

1. Because you have ideas and you want to put them into writing.
2. To write, get published, and paid for your words.
3. Because you don’t have ideas yet but you want to find them and put them down in words (and get paid for them).
4. Because you have thought a lot about writing but not actually tried it yet.
5. Because you have read a lot about writing but not put many of the ideas into action.
6. Because you lack the confidence that comes from doing, though you think you could get there with a little practice.
7. To test-drive other people’s techniques and see if they would indeed help you write better, faster, or more efficiently.
8. Because you’ve been meaning to take a class but just haven’t gotten around to taking one yet.
9. Because our students get published and continue getting published over time.
10. Because you want to find your writing rhythm or rekindle your old writing rhythm.
11. Because you used to write but stopped for a time, and you need help getting started again.
12. Because you can fulfill weekly assignments whenever it is convenient for your schedule.
13. Because you wish to discover a sense of immediate writing community that will make you feel less alone.
14. Because you could use a deadline to structure your time and become more productive.
15. Because it’s been a while and you could use a writing refresher course.
16. Because it doesn’t matter where in the world you live, you can still participate.
17. Because investing in skill-building is something you can take back to the bank over and over in the future.
18. Because you haven’t taken an excellent class with a highly qualified instructor in a while and you think you might like it.
19. Because you will likely take your writing career more seriously after investing in continuing education to strengthen and expand it.
20. Because you could stand a little inspiration and positive attitude amidst all this doom and gloom.
21. Or maybe you just feel like it and you are tired of feeling like you are not allowed to do something you really want to do.

You can read all the details on the classes registration page. WPSS info is here. PETGP is here.

Hope to see your smiling (virtual) face in one of our writing classes that begin in two weeks.

I launched Author Mama in beta (trial) version in March and then in alpha (final) version in May. Coming soon, the Kindle version. And then shortly thereafter, I’ll launch the POD version.

In the meantime, I’ve rounded up the initial feedback on Author Mama. Check out what the first round of readers had to say:

This book couldn’t have come at a better time! Christina Katz’s insightful Author Mama joins my copy of Writer Mama as I move from freelancing to nonfiction books. This is a reference I will use over and over; the chapters are well written and in an easy, conversational tone that make this insider’s guide to publishing a gem. ~ Stacey Graham

Christina Katz does it again! Author Mama is a well-balanced tightly written e-book that provides insight, wisdom and advice for writers looking to publish. Christina shares precious nuggets from her personal experiences of how she became a published author and delivers all of it with her signature thoughtfulness and wry humor. This is another “must have” that writers should have on their resource shelves. ~ Judy M. Miller

Author Mama has it all! Christina Katz has done an amazing job putting everything an author mama needs from getting started writing a book all the way through to publication. She has left no topic untouched from celebrating each step completed in the book writing process to the changes taking place in traditional publishing. Especially unique in this e-book are the sections on paying attention to physical and mental health needs during the book-writing process. This is a book you will definitely want to have on your desk for reference as you begin the process of pitching and then writing your first book! ~ Sarah Joyce Bryant

I loved reading Christina’s book, Author Mama! With a red pen in one hand and a highlighter in another, I completely devoured the book within a few days. It was so easy to read, and I’m amazed at how much I learned. And, despite the tough love and honesty that Christina uses to teach us about the book writing process, I am not discouraged one bit. I’m actually more excited about the process than before I read Author Mama. I would recommend this book to anyone considering starting the journey of becoming an author, mama or not. ~ Jen Levin

Just like in Writer Mama and Get Known Before the Book Deal, Christina Katz delivers a practical, easy-to-follow guide based on personal experience. This is a must-have resource for those of us writer mamas with aspirations of someday landing our own book deal. ~ Liz Sheffield

Author Mama is a pragmatic, personable read for new and seasoned author mamas alike, offering conversational and comprehensive information in a supportive but realistic tone. I wish this conversational and comprehensive guide had been around when my first book was published! ~ Jenn Crowell

Christina’s writing style is so engaging it’s as if you were discussing author characteristics with her over a cup of coffee. Her enthusiasm for her craft is obvious in her well-organized content and aspiring author action steps. Thanks, Christina, for providing would-be authors with the knowledge and resources necessary to write that first book. ~ Kim Murray

Author Mama takes fear of the unknown out of the book-publishing equation. Christina Katz gives you the essentials you need to get your book written and published, along with additional resources. I feel confident that I, too, can follow these steps. ~ Kathleen McDade

The words of encouragement and direction Christina Katz offers up in Author Mama will point you in the right direction as you navigate the publishing world. ~ Donna M. McDine

What I love about Christina’s books is she takes overwhelming topics and chops them up into manageable segments. Not only is her knowledge comprehensive, it’s a relief to know she learned so much about writing and publishing as a mom. Author Mama presented some new ideas to me and it reminded me of other concepts I’d forgotten about. ~ Heather Mark

Tight writing in an easy-to-read format and exercises you can start today will have you moving towards a book deal at a realistic pace. ~ Mary Jo Campbell

As an aspiring writer mama, I am relishing the information in Author Mama by Christina Katz. I feel closer to the writing world craving more. I appreciate Katz’s honesty, intelligence, and encouragement she radiates for all writer mamas and soon to be author mamas. ~ Kristen R. Murphy

It takes something special to make me buy an ebook. And I think Christina Katz’ work is that kind of special. [Author Mama] goes through the different stages of getting a book published. She shares from her own authoring experiences plus how the current state of publishing changes the experience for current and future authors. Most chapters come with recommendations or activities for readers to try out. ~ Jaymie Dieterle, Bring on the Books blog

For all those who were so inspired by Writer Mama that they decided to write a book, Author Mama is the essential next step.  ~ Karen Banes

Keep reading about Author Mama here.