At the end of the year last year, I started playing around with turning the things I often say into Pinterest quotes.
These might be quotes from my books or paraphrasing of things I find myself saying over and over to my students.
It even got to the point where I would say something helpful and one of my students would say, “Ooo, you should turn that into a quote.”
For many months, I was using an App called Instaquote to create a couple of quotes a day and then sharing them on Instagram.
I highly recommend Instaquote, by the way. It’s easy to use and you can add on colorful inexpensive backgrounds. What a great way to get the word out about your message and services.
Making quotes was a fun way to start my day and share some of my ideas in micro-form with a wider audience than I might otherwise reach on any given day.
Here’s an example of one of the quotes — possibly the most popular — I made and shared:
Write until it becomes as natural as breathing. Write until not writing makes you anxious. ~ Christina Katz
Once I started putting my quotes out there, I noticed a couple of things.
First off, some people I knew were horrified by my audacity. They asked me, “You are sharing your own quotes?”
The nerve of me. I guess. I really didn’t think it was that big of a deal. So my answer was, “I sure am!”
What I should have said is, “You’re damn right I am.”
Because here is something I have noticed over the many years I have been a woman writer…
There are an awful lot of folks out there who are happy to take your ideas, but a lot less who are willing to give you credit for your hard work.
And when you are a woman writer, one thing you notice is that those who do give you credit are most often other women.
I’m sure if I have noticed this, other women have noticed it, too.
And I’m sure if I’m noticing it as a white privileged writer, then women of color must be getting even less credit for all their ideas and hard work.
I wish this were not the case in this day and age, but there is no reason to pretend it isn’t happening.
I could get mad about it. Or I could get busy. So, let’s get back to the part where this story takes a turn for the happier.
That was the day I started putting my own words out into the world in an attempt to reach a broader audience myself instead of waiting for head-pats from men in the roles of powers that be.
I’m so glad I did. I have thoroughly enjoyed myself and I plan to keep doing it.
I have worked so hard to get where I am as a professional and my work and words have already reached thousands.
But I think my work is good enough and helpful enough to reach millions…even if I have to reach out to those millions myself.
You may have heard that I spent the summer creating an Etsy shop with my husband Jason Katz, who is one heck of a designer.
It’s true. And this is how the above quote became a printable poster that looks like this:
Write until it becomes as natural as breathing. Write until not writing makes you anxious. ~ Christina Katz
I have done a lot of different things to inspire and motivate writers near and far over the past 13 years. And now making inspirational writing posters with my husband is one of them.
I have to say, it’s one of the most fun and most gratifying things I have ever done with anyone.
What do you think? Do you like the poster? Or do you prefer the look of the original quote?
It’s okay if you do. I won’t be offended. I’m just happy that so many of you have taken the time to share my words with your worlds.
Thank you! I appreciate all of your support.
If you’d like to see all of the posters we created this summer, please visit Words, Glorious Words! on Etsy.
We had a lovely time visiting Cheryl Strayed’s home in Portland on Wednesday, where she hosted a book launch party for award-winning author, Rachel DeWoskin.
