Blisscraft Life With Christina Katz

This is me looking coachy…

I recognize that you have a lot of choices in writing coaches. But you should work with me because…

1. I am only interested in working with writers who actually want to write
2. I am not afraid to ask you to work
3. I expect you to enjoy your work and I won’t ask you to do work you won’t enjoy
4. I have 16 years of professional writing experience, so I know what types of work matters most
5. I am well rounded — I write nonfiction, but I’m also a trained fiction writer
6. I have two degrees, an undergrad in English (ooo, so serious) and an MFA in Creative Writing (yay, fun!)
7. I have worked with hundreds of writers over the past 14 years (maybe thousands…I have lost count)
8. Writers who follow my advice succeed, earn, and are happy and realistic
9. Writers who work with me learn to identify and overcome the attitudes that keep them stuck (goodbye, blocks)
10. Writers who work with me and follow my advice achieve the results they aim for

This is my office…

I am now able to work with more writers than ever at more reasonable prices than ever thanks to advances in technology.

You can set and achieve your writing goals with me by signing up for my Become Your Own Writing Coach program.

You can take my writing and platform classes and advance at your own pace on your own schedule.

My mission has always been to empower writers. And I’ve upgraded my intention to empowering writers worldwide. I’m beginning to see the results of this intention take root and it’s very gratifying.

Remember…

Just because someone else succeeds does not mean that you can’t also succeed.

Just because someone else does not succeed does not mean that you won’t.

This is some of my work…

The key is to aim for targets you can hit and then get to work hitting them.

I can teach you how. And if I’ve learned anything over these past many years, it’s that you will have more fun in your writing career when you set and reach your own goals.

If you are ready to work, you should work with me.

If you are getting ready to work, you should work with me.

If you are never actually going to work, you should probably work with someone else. Because if you work with me, you will work. You won’t be able to help it.

Are there any other reasons to work with me that I have not mentioned here?

I’d love it if you would chime in with what you’ve gained from working with me in the present or the past.

Thanks in advance for your input!

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This is a reboot of my Monthly Writing Accountability Dream Team. New name, updated structure & more benefits!

Would you like to multiply your writing productivity by ten, while still keeping your focus on the joy of the creative process?

Then you will love my newly updated monthly coaching video and tools, which are now called Become Your Own Writing Coach.

Click on the image to learn more & register!

Your FAQs Answered:

Does this mean you won’t be doing the Writing Accountability Dream Team any longer?
The Writing Accountability Dream Team has become Become Your Own Writing Coach. So, if you were already signed up, you don’t have to do anything. You will automatically get all the new features starting with the October video on  Tuesday, October 6th by nooon. The video always goes out the first Tuesday by noon.

Why is Become Your Own Writing Coach better than the Writing Accountability Dream Team?
I’ve reconfigured the goal-setting worksheets to increase productivity even more and added ten seasonal tips per month in addition to what will now be a ten-minute video pep talk.

What types of writers should sign up for this?
Any types of writers who set goals or who want to increase their productivity will benefit from these tools and resources. That goes for nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and screenwriters. You customize your goals to suit your needs and dreams.

I’ve never done a subscription with Paypal before. How does it work?
Subscriptions on Paypal are simple and you are always in control. Once you sign up, you will be charged a $10 fee. You will then be charged that same amount, $10, every month on the same date as the date you signed up. So if you sign up on the 18th, you will be charged $10 per month on the 18th of every month. Just as you can sign up at any time, you can cancel at any time. So try the monthly program and see if you like it. And if you don’t like it, simply unsubscribe.

Why did you change the name and the features?
As I have been creating the videos and worksheets over the past four months, my thinking has evolved and I want the title and the structure to reflect that. The idea of becoming your own writing coach is crucial to blazing your own path in what has become a very confusing publishing world. You don’t need to imitate others, and I want to actively encourage writers to stop doing that. Everything in your life goes so much better when you learn how to be kind and encouraging to yourself. Goal-setting can be a natural extension of this, as can productivity. I’ll show you how to become your own writing coach in these monthly sessions, which will build on each other over time.

Learn more about Become Your Own Writing Coach & Multiply Your Productivity x 10

This slow cooker rotisserie chicken is the perfect solution for wholesome goodness on a busy school night. Pair it with rice pilaf, roasted potatoes, your family’s favorite veggie or a tossed salad.

Busy Mom’s Slow Cooker Rotisserie Chicken

Prep time: 5 minutes; Cook time: 8 hours

1 whole chicken (neck and giblets removed from cavity)
1/4 c. Olive oil or melted butter
2 tsp. (approx.) Herbs/seasonings of choice
1 Onion cut up in quarters
1 Apple/orange/lemon cut up in wedges (no need to peel), sprig of rosemary or thyme (optional)
Kosher Salt
Black Pepper
Aluminum foil

Directions:

1.) Roll up three to four balls of foil depending and place on the bottom of the crockpot.

2.) Stuff the chicken with quartered onion and apples or oranges/lemons, sprig of rosemary or thyme if have it. You could also squeeze the oranges or lemons over the chicken before stuffing into the cavity. This step can be skipped completely if you don’t have anything on hand to stuff the chicken with.

3.) Place the chicken on the balls of foil, which will allow the fat to drip down.

4.) Mix the olive oil with your favorite herbs and/or seasonings like lemon pepper, herbs de provence or rosemary and garlic, etc.

5.) Baste the chicken with the olive oil and herb mixture.

6.) Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

7.) Cover and set the slow cooker to low. Cook for eight hours.

*If you have leftover chicken, pack and freeze it for other meals like chicken noodle soup or quesadillas.

**Make a chicken broth out of the bones. Remove the foil and cover the chicken bones with water. Throw in any leftover vegetable scraps like onion skins, celery tops, carrot tops/peels, etc. Re-set the crockpot to cook overnight on low. In the morning, strain the broth out through a cheese cloth or fine mesh strainer. Refrigerate for a few hours. Skim the fat off the top and then freeze the broth in smaller containers or in an ice-cube tray for future uses in soups and other recipes.

Christa Melnyk Hines is a freelance journalist, family communication expert and author. Through her books, articles, blog and newsletter she inspires today’s busy families to grow happier and stronger through healthy communication. Christa is the author of Happy, Healthy & Hyperconnected: Raise a Thoughtful Communicator in a Digital World , a guide for parents interested in nurturing a versatile set of social skills in this generation’s digitally-charmed kids. She is also the author of Confidently Connected: A Mom’s Guide to a Satisfying Social Life , which helps moms build and sustain a thriving, balanced social life that supports their emotional health.

When she’s not writing, Christa is centered in her busy family which includes her two active sons, her golf-impassioned husband, and a pair of sweet dogs. She and her family reside in the lovely Kansas City metro area, home of world-class barbecue, beautiful fountains and legendary jazz. For timely communication tips, helpful resources and inspiring ideas that can benefit your entire family,  subscribe to her blog or sign up for her monthly newsletter.

Look at all these healthy veggies!

I love this creamy, spicy soup in the fall. And not only does it taste great, you feel great after you eat it.

Sweet potatoes are packed with good stuff that is especially helpful when you are either stressed, under the weather, or both.

It may not sound like much when you read the recipe, but just trust me on this one. You have to try it.

If you are doing any potlucks or volunteer events that call for supplying soup, definitely bring this one, because it will be gone in no time, and you will suddenly become very popular.

We had it with zucchini bread, but any homemade quick bread or muffin makes a great sidekick. Check out Lisa’s Seplak’s Harvest Loaf.

Slightly Spicy Peanut Soup

4 medium carrots, chopped
2 small-medium onions, chopped
4 tablespoons of olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup chunky peanut butter
4 tablespoons red curry paste
4 cans (14-1/2 ounces) vegetable broth (or one less can for thicker soup)
2 cans (14-1/2 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes, undrained
2 bay leaves
2 fresh thyme sprigs
1 teaspoon pepper (fresh-ground is best)
1 cup of salted peanuts, chopped

In large sauce pan, sauté carrots and onion in oil over medium heat for two minutes. Add garlic and sauté for another minute. Stir in sweet potato, cook two minutes longer. Then stir in peanut butter and curry paste until blended. Add broth, tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme, and pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and simmer 20 minutes until sweet potatoes are tender. Discard Bay leaves and thyme sprigs. Stir until blended. Sprinkle individual servings with chopped peanuts. Salt to taste.

~ Recipe adapted from Special Collectors Edition, Taste Of Home, Soups magazine, Spring 2014

All this and more! Please subscribe to The Prosperous Writer Blog and sign up for The Prosperous Writer Newsletter, for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere.

I’ve been working with writers for many years as a teacher and coach, so I’ve had lots of opportunities to notice the difference between writers who succeed and writers who stall.

Here’s a countdown of ten ways nonfiction writers stay blocked:

10. Be self-conscious

9. Worry about what editors will think of you and your writing

8. Never do research

7. Overthink every idea

6. Have no target reader

5. Ignore forms

4. Spend so much time on research that you have no time left to write

3. Tell yourself nonfiction writing isn’t real writing

2. Talk to yourself instead of to the reader

1. Wait for someone to validate you before you write again

Or you can take my Become An Idea Factory Course and break out of all of these ruts by doing one simple thing: learning to trust your instincts.

I want you to be the writer you were born to become. And nonfiction writing should definitely be a part of your repertoire.

How do you get there?

You write your way there. And then success will follow naturally.

Hope you can join us for Become An Article Idea Factory! It’s where the writing writers are.

All this and more! Please subscribe to The Prosperous Writer Blog and sign up for The Prosperous Writer Newsletter, for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere.

~ Photo Credit to Carli Jean on Unsplash

10 Ways To Write More Prolifically So You Can Create Nonfiction Content That Delights Editors And Readers

Have you always wanted to become a more prolific writer, so you could compete with journalists who have years of professional experience?

Well now you can leverage your creativity to become a nonfiction article idea factory, even if you have very little writing experience!

In this course, I cover how to warm-up to write, brainstorm ideas, and draft articles quickly and creatively, so you will be the inspired writer who delivers articles that stand out in an editor’s inbox.

In this course you will learn:

• How To Simplify Article-writing Success
• The Cure For Editor-phobia
• Warm-up Exercises That Amplify Your Creative Output
• 10 Playful Approaches For Drafting Any Idea
• How To Increase Article Sales By Adding Sidebars
• 155 Article Title Ticklers
• How To Match Your Article-writing Strengths With Editorial Needs

This course will awaken your natural writing instincts and teach you to write quickly and gamely instead of agonizing over every word. Best of all, every time you write, you will remember why you wanted to become a writer in the first place.

And if you suffer from a fear of editors, the inertia of not being able to get started, or the crippling blocks of self-doubt, this course will cure you for good. Writers who take this course go from, “I don’t know how they write like that,” to “Hey, I’m doing it, too!”

Are you ready to learn how you can turn one idea into ten different types of articles without stress or strain? Then jump into this course, which includes:

• 40+ minutes of video coaching
• 30+ pages of instructional worksheets
• Just enough structure to encourage your ideas to flow swiftly into articles
• Tips and tricks from a veteran article writer
• Methods that help you adopt helpful writing habits
• Visual inspiration in the form of published articles

This writing class is helpful for both beginning writers who have taken The Art Of Short Article Writing For Nonfiction Writers as well as for experienced freelancers with any amount of prior experience.

This class is perfect for moms who want to write from home, as well as anyone with an eye on writing for national and online markets. Bloggers who want to write articles and copywriters who want to dazzle their clients may also enjoy this course.

Once you take this class and practice the techniques, your best ideas will start finding you. If you had ever thought about writing a book someday, but need help finding your topic and generating enough material, this class can get you started.

So many people want to write nonfiction articles, but once they get started, they feel daunted by their busy schedules and pressing responsibilities. How can they compete with seasoned professionals and still enjoy their lives?

The answer is by learning to be a writer who knows how to turn a spark of inspiration into a fully formed nonfiction article. After these writing techniques become habits, you will be amazed by how easy it is to identify and compose saleable articles. And you’ll be the rare writer, who has fun doing it.

For over fourteen years, writing coach and platform expert Christina Katz has been teaching writers of all levels how to cultivate and build an ever-expanding body of profitable work. After taking this class, you will tap into creative writing power you did not even know you possessed. And you will know how to use it!

Click here to claim your 50% off discount for Prosperous Writer readers

All this and more! Please subscribe to The Prosperous Writer Blog and sign up for The Prosperous Writer ezine, for exclusive discounts you won’t find elsewhere.

Man, creating video classes ALWAYS takes longer than I expect.

The closest creative process I can compare it to is writing a book.

Then, add to that process all the audio and video creation and holy cow!

Get The Best Price On This Course Exclusively From ChristinaKatz.com

Enjoy, and feel free to ask any questions you may have about the course in the comments.

I hope to work with you in this course. Be sure to sign up for my ezine, The Prosperous Writer, to score the best deal deal on this course, when it launches.

If you are a writer, you need goals and not just any goals.

You need your own goals.

But first you need to know what your goals are.

And many writers do not know what their goals are.

They know they want goals, and they see other writers with goals, and often other writer’s goals become their goals by default.

As I recall, nothing much happened in my career until I started setting and accomplishing goals.

Then progress started happening as if by magic.

Only it wasn’t magic. It was me striving towards my goals.

Goals are funny things. They take you places.

I have no doubt that if you set one goal or two or three, they will lead you to three new goals in no time.

And that’s great. That’s as it should be.

Trying to get a writer to set her own goals is challenging. I should know. I have been doing it for years.

I think writers are afraid if they choose a goal, it will become a dead-end instead of a springboard.

But the opposite is true. Every goal is a springboard that will launch you somewhere new and exciting.

And you can thank the old goal for helping you cultivate the momentum that gets you engaged in the new goal.

There is one thing I know for sure about writers and goals.

And I have learned it by working with writers on their goals for over five years.

Letting others set goals for you, will get you stuck.

And setting your own goals and accomplishing them will set you free.

The key is the goals must belong to you. There are people who can help you get to your goals once you set them, like me.

But if you want others to set your goals for you, then you might not be using your power of choice. And if you want to be a successful writer, you have to activate your personal power.

I know how to teach writers skills. I’ve been doing it for years and I love doing it because it empowers writers to reach their goals.

So if I can teach you skills that help you achieve your goals, then great. Let’s work together.

But every writer needs to have her own distinct set of reachable, actionable goals.

I don’t want to set your goals. I want you to do that. And I want you to be excited about your goals.

I want the goals you choose to bring you and others joy.

And if they don’t, then dig deeper and find goals that mean more to you.

Because  the opposite of a pro-active, goal-oriented writer is a stuck, frustrated writer.

And if you are stuck or frustrated, I have only one question for you.

Do you have goals?

And then here’s another question.

Are they your goals?

And finally…

Are you working joyfully towards them?

~ Photo by Naphtali Marshall

Christina Katz is a writing coach and platform expert with over 15 years of professional experience, two degrees, and a huge body of quality work. She earns thousands of dollars a year writing on topics she loves and coaches her clients to do the same by setting goals, building skills, and creating distinctive work. Her mission is to empower writers worldwide.

If you would like to join her ongoing goal-setting group of joyfully productive writers, learn more and register here.