Do what you love and write what you love — sounds like a pretty good plan, right?

But what if I also told you that doing what you love and writing what you love leads to growing a platform you love?

Even better news!

But wait, here comes the punchline.

The challenge is that precisely what a writer loves is almost never apparent…unless the writer has already done a lot of writing.

In fact, I’d say 99.9% of writers I have worked with personally have to write their way to a successful platform.

Rare is the writer who can accurately predict what her platform is going to look like ahead of time without some writing to predict it.

That’s because you can’t describe something that does not exist yet, at least not with very much accuracy, where writing platforms are concerned.

Which is why I train writers to write first and describe their platform second, after they have a sense which topics will stay compelling to them in the long run.

Because when you are a writer, platform is a story about what you love to write.

Sure you could be a flash in the platform pan. You could manufacture a lot of short-term attention on just about any topic, if you wanted to.

You could grab and steal everyone else’s ideas on a topic and throw a platform up in no time.

OR you can dig in and write originally on topics that engage you and will continue to engage you forever.

You can write on topics that allow you to leave behind something solid and lasting.

You can write your way to a platform you love.

And if you do, I promise you will create a platform that will never let you down.

And don’t worry too much about those who beg, borrow, and steal from others so they can toss up a platform overnight.

They won’t be around tomorrow.

But you will, if you write what you love, for whom you love, and you love the process of doing it.

All we need is love?

When it comes to writing and platform, I believe this to to be true.

Christina Katz is the author Get Known Before The Book Deal, Discover Your Platform Potential, and the course, Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform. Nine months out of the year, she offers a 25-day platform workout for writers called Platform Bingo, which is available in three levels that writers can fit into their busy schedules any time.

I adore writing for regional publications. I especially enjoy sharing things I’ve learned with other parents who read regional parenting magazines around North America.

Writers I have trained to write for these types of publications have gone on to write for online and national publications. They have also gone on to write e-books and traditionally published books.

I’ve written hundreds of articles at this point, but I still love writing articles for regional parenting publications because it grounds and centers me in my current identity. I’m a wife and mother, and other wives and mothers like me read these publications. I am so grateful to be able to connect to like-minded others through these publications.

Here’s a roundup of some of my recent articles:

To The Moon & Back: 10 Love Lessons For The Whole Family

A Heart-Shaped Box Of Classic Romantic Movies

Writing Thank You Notes: How To Teach Life-Long Graciousness

How To Tackle Tough Topics With Your Kids

Contagious Compassion: Let Your Kids Catch You Being Generous

Save Time, Money, Even Sanity — Hosting A Sleepover Party

For The Love Of Learning: Four Ways To Teach Your Child To Enjoy School

I have yet to meet a mom who does not have a lot to offer the world with her words.

If you don’t feel this way, I would love to work with you to help you discover how to express yourself in ways that inspire, inform, and educate others.

Interested in learning about how to start writing articles from home? Check out my e-book, Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit, which is the perfect companion to my book, Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids. I also create contexts in which I help others achieve writing career success. Check out my writing classes and writing challenges and platform challenges.

Keep in touch! Follow me on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Subscribe to this blog and sign up for The Prosperous Writer e-zine.

I think these are helpful principles for writers.

Amy Morin is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist from Lincoln, Maine. She came up with these “13 Things Mentally Strong People DON’T Do” (emphasis mine) and her ideas have recently been picked up and adapted by major media outlets including Forbes.com.

Amy elaborated on the ideas in a poster in her post here on Lifehack.org.

And then a columnist for Forbes, Cheryl Conner, came upon her ideas and reslanted them for entrepreneurs here.

For those of you take other people’s ideas and build upon them, this is a stellar example of how to do it properly in a way that is win-win-win for all involved, including for the reader, who then has no problem tracing the origin of the ideas back to the author.

After all, if we refer to number nine on the list, mentally strong people “don’t resent other people’s success,” which means giving appropriate credit, where appropriate credit is due.

Cheryl Conner gave Amy Morin appropriate credit and therefore they both win. This is how Amy’s name went from somewhat know to internationally know seemingly overnight.

And, writers, remember what I always say about “seemingly overnight.” Just because it seems like Amy became an instant overnight success, do not be fooled. This acclaim is coming after many years of consistent and devoted work.

And this is a good reminder to all of us who are busy with our consistent and devoted work to get back to it and resist the temptation looking for shortcuts to success.

Good publicity comes to those, like Amy and Cheryl, who do good work and build solid platforms.

I hope you find Amy’s ideas on mental strength helpful to your own writing career.

And I hope you find Amy’s media success inspiring in building your platform.

And may we all encounter more journalists like Cheryl Conner. Amen.

Christina Katz is the author Get Known Before The Book Deal, Discover Your Platform Potential, and the course, Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform. Nine months out of the year, she offers a 25-day platform workout for writers called Platform Bingo, which is available in three levels that writers can fit into their busy schedules any time.

One of the most exciting reasons to micro-publish these days is because you can make an international impact on your target audience in a very short amount of time. Thanks to the emergence of helpful publishing technologies for self-publishers, it is easier to go global with your manuscript than ever.

Case in point, I recently received a rave review of Permission Granted, 45 Reasons To Micro-publish from an editor in Puerto Rico, who offers self-publishing services there.

Here’s what she had to say:

I’ve been working with self-published authors for a couple of years now and I had not heard of “micro-publishing” until I saw Christina Katz’s book Permission Granted: 45 Reasons To Micro-Publish. I was happy to see that her tips align with the advice that I have been giving my clients: don’t think about one book, think about creating multiple products from a single manuscript. If ever there was a doubt of what can be done with one’s work, Christina has gathered 45 wonderful tips to encourage an author’s next step.

I particularly liked that she presented the benefits and possibilities of micro-publishing from different points of view: established author, aspiring author, and any writer. After reading it, you’ll feel the urge to micro-publish your work as soon as possible. I know I do! In the end, I found reasons to micro-publish my own work and not just encourage my clients to do so. I must teach by example. Thanks, Christina! ~ Vigimaris Nadal-Ramos, @editorialnarra

Do you have your copy of Permission Granted yet?

Have you considered the benefits that micro-publishing might offer your career?

If not, I am thrilled to let you know that Permission Granted is now available for every type of e-reader and is available for purchase all over the globe.

If I can do it, so can you. Anyone can micro-publish. But don’t wait. Start planning now. You will be so glad you did a few years down the road.

And don’t forget, everyone who purchases Permission Granted gets the “Cliff Notes” version as a list of featured quotes from the book you can download for free!

I really like this little book that one of my students gave me as a gift.

It’s called, How Many People Does It Take To Make A Difference? LINK

Here’s the YouTube Trailer:

We all have days when we could use this book.

And we can always stand to be reminded of how unique and important we each are.

Get the book and keep it within reach, so you will never forget.

And then write like your contribution matters. Because it does!

Here’s the truth.

Most writers I encounter are not ready for a tradition book deal.

The are not ready for the mental, physical, and emotional rigors that come with writing a full-length book.

Even fewer are ready for the reality of writing traditional books serially.

You have to have support a steady flow of saleable ideas, and you have to have money to support yourself in the interim.

However most writers are ready to attempt writing something shorter and can benefit, in the short and long runs, from the experience of writing something tighter.

Shorter books are easier on readers.

Shorter books are easier on writers.

And now publishing tools are available to anyone to make every kind of book imaginable.

I focus on teaching writers how to create short, tight nonfiction that becomes a quick, informative read.

But the possibilities for micro-publishing are infinite.

I recently participated in a podcast panel with Jane Friedman and Wayne Ude, where we discussed how industry changes should be impacting the way that writing is changed at the college and post-grad levels.

We all agreed, that focusing on preparing writers for a traditional publishing system is an outdated approach.

I recently shared a guest post over at Jane Friedman’s blog called, 6 Ways Micro-publishing Strengthens Your Author Career, which offers a quick overview of why micro-publishing makes good sense for every writer.

In fact, I have been writing about and teaching micro-publishing for going on three years this spring.

It all started with a thought that woke me up in the middle of the night one night. And that thought was, what if, in the future, publishing looked nothing like it looks today?

What if publishing was not a gauntlet for first-time authors to run through, but a creative process that anyone could learn and practice, like building a platform?

What makes this possible is the availability of technological resources and the availability of publishing know-how.

And this is why we are already living in a publishing renaissance. And change is already underway. And why the future of publishing is being created right now, by those who choose to participate in it.

I’ve written a book that is the first in a series on micro-publishing. The series is called, The Future Is Frictionless, and the first book is Permission Granted, 45 Reasons To Micro-publish. LINK

Whether you have thought about micro-publishing before or not, now is the time to consider the prospect more seriously.

Permission Granted will help you do this and help you get past any sticking points you may have about the idea.

Download your copy of Permission Granted today, so you can start planning micro-publishing into your successful future.

The earlier in your writing career that you read it, the better!

Click here to see what others are already saying.

Micro-publishing is about to go kaboom!

With attention spans diminishing, online commerce becoming swifter than ever, and folks curling up cozily with their e-readers in their unique niche interests, the stage is set for a micro-publishing explosion right about…now.

And if you have not jumped on the bandwagon, don’t worry. You will get the hang of this micro-publishing stuff and quick, if you have been paying attention at all to the trends in publishing over the past several years.

First, what the heck is a micro-publisher? You need to know, and I bet you would like a nice short and sweet definition.

So let me borrow one from my latest books on the topic, Permission Granted, 45 Reasons To Micro-publish. It comes with a handy glossary of terms in the back, designed to help anyone get the hang of publishing lingo quickly.

Here goes:

A micro-publisher is a publishing house of one person, who oversees production of short works, typically 45-75 pages long, in multiple digital formats, beginning with PDF and evolving into every digital format available internationally. Micro-pubs can be any genre, but are often nonfiction and niche-oriented. Micro-pubs vary widely in format and price point. Micro-pubs with enough demand can become physical books, but only when there is an existing readership or demand for physical copies.

The reason all writers should care about micro-publishing is because writing, editing, packaging, and launching micro-pubs is a heck of a lot easier than doing the same for full-length publications.

My latest micro-pub, Permission Granted, outlines in detail why writers should care about micro-publishing. I have broken the logic down for various types of writers from seasoned traditionally published authors all the way to totally unpublished aspirants.

Micro-publishing is terrific news for mid-list authors, as well as for everyone else who is neither a celebrity, the offspring of a celebrity, nor an established bestselling author. Sorry to say it, but these guys are going to be ruling the traditional publishing world for a while.

Where does that leave the rest of us?

Well, the technology for micro-publishing easily and inexpensively is finally here.

Do not underestimate the significance of this truth in the history of publishing.

We are past the turning point already. It has come and gone.

The time to micro-publish, if you have not tried it yet, is now.

And if you have tried it, I suggest you do it again, and again, and again.

The future of publishing belongs to all of us. But the real story is that it belongs to those who work hardest for it.

If you would like to learn more about micro-publishing, please check out my recent post in Jane Friedman’s blog:

6 Ways Micro-publishing Strengthens Your Author Career

Download your copy of Permission Granted and give it a read. It won’t hurt and it won’t take long, I promise. And the book is now available in every digital format available.

I’m telling you that micro-publishing is the future.

Are you ready for it?

My articles often appear in Our Kids Magazine. January 2014 cover shown here.

One of the reasons I love writing for regional parenting publications, is that I get to put my personal experience to good use.

I also love working with other mom writers who have ideas for their own articles, and who wish to learn the professional skills required to write for regional magazines.

Writing for regional magazines always was and still is a great way to get started as a freelance writer, if you are willing to use your imagination, carve out time to write, set boundaries with the family, and submit your polished work.

I have been showing stay-at-home and working moms the writing ropes for thirteen years now. That’s a heck of a long time but I still love it. And I still love writing and submitting regional parenting magazine articles myself. Just follow this blog or follow me on social media and you will see my consistent results.

Best of all, writing for regional parenting publications provides steady income flow for me and my long-time students, so we can pursue other types of projects, too, and still reap the benefits that come from writing regularly for regional parenting publications.

If you are ready to get started, here are a few simple tips:

1. Familiarize yourself with a handful of regional parenting magazines

2. Brainstorm some topics from your life you might write about

3. Organize your topics by time of year, start with seasonally and then eventually sort them by month of the year

4. Draft your ideas in a format you think will serve regional publication editors (not too long or too short)

5. Walk away from your draft for a bit to let it cool off

6. When you come back, make it better with the addition of quotes, facts, stats, examples, or anecdotes

7. Keep polishing the piece again each time you sit back down

8. Have someone else proofread the piece to make sure you have not overlooked anything you can no longer recognize

9. Submit the article to the regional parenting magazine of your choice

10. Repeat, repeat, repeat until you have a body of work you can submit and resubmit each season and month

Here are a few articles I have written based on personal experience:

Streamline The Back-To-School Paper Flood

A Puppy As A Present? Ten Ways To Survive The First Ten Days

Ho-Ho-Hanukkah! How To Balance Hanukkah And Christmas Celebrations

If you would like to learn more, please check out my resources and offerings below.

I am the author of Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit.

I also teach the online video course, The Art Of Short Article Writing For Nonfiction Writers.

I offer ongoing and inexpensive accountability coaching for writers who are finding their writing and submitting grooves.

I am also the author of the classic, dog-eared reference for mom writers, Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids.

You might also like to read my post 10 Reasons To Write For Regional Parenting Magazines.

I hope we will have a chance to work together soon. In the meantime, I wish you the best of luck in your professional writing pursuits!

Folks, I have extended this giveaway/goal-sharing opportunity in honor of Snowmaggedon 2014. You now have until Sunday, January 12th at midnight! Thanks for sharing!

Happy New Year, writers!

I asked some of my favorite authors if they would share their 2014 resolutions as part of a week-long e-book giveaway.

And they said yes!

We’re giving away a total of 15 e-books to one lucky winner one week from today on Monday, January 13th.

I’ll announce the winner here, in this blog.

To enter for a chance to win, simply post your professional resolutions for the New Year in the comments.

Post your comment by midnight, Tuesday, January 7th for your chance to win. Keep it short and sweet like this, and no blatant self-promotion, please. Focus on your mission/goals for changing the world for the better in 2014!

And now, without further ado, let’s meet our giveaway authors via their 2014 resolutions.

Cindy Hudson, Family Literacy Expert, Mother-Daughter Book Club Author & Journalist

Cindy is giving away a copy of the Mother-Daughter Book Club Meeting Planner Guides, Collections One & Two and the Cultural Explorations Collection Learn More

I will continue to write about family literacy and the multiple ways to achieve it, especially through parent-child book clubs, so that every parent will understand the many benefits that can be gained through reading with their children and have greater access to resources that support their efforts. By the end of the year, I will have an easily accessible collection of e-books, magazine articles and videos for all my readers.

Judy Miller, International Adoption Expert,  and Advocate

Judy is giving away a copy of What To Expect From Your Adopted Tween Learn More

My mission in 2014 is to continue to write about parenting adopted children, focusing on a broader and deeper examination of the fallout that can occur because of issues inherent to adoption. I will continue to be a resource for adoptive parents and support for adopted persons and birth parents through coaching, teaching, workshops, and appearances at conferences and on radio. I will launch my second book—a healing workbook for adopted adults—in early 2014. I will launch a third book in the second half of 2014.

Krysty Krywko, Hearing Loss Expert and Advocate

Krysty is giving away a copy of Late-onset Hearing Loss, A Parent’s Perspective Learn More

My mission in 2014 is to support and provide information for parents who have chosen the path of listening and spoken language for their children who are deaf or hard of hearing (DHH). My view of working with children who are DHH is that they are part of the mainstream education setting, so it is just as important to get the mainstream ready for them, as it is to get children ready for the mainstream. With this in mind, my mission is also to help classroom educators and administrators understand the strengths that children who are DHH bring to the classroom, as well as the challenges they may face.

In order to support my mission, I will work towards developing my website into a go-to resource for families and educators who are supporting a child who is DHH. Website users will find what they need via my e-books, free informational downloads, and informative resources.

Parents are inundated with information right from the initial diagnosis of their child’s hearing loss. It can be an overwhelming task to sort through the emotions of learning about a diagnosis as well as trying to make appropriate decisions as to what therapy is needed. The information found in my e-book and website help parents of newly diagnosed children gain confidence in working with their child’s hearing loss.

Malia Jacobson, Sleep Expert, Health Journalist & Author

Malia is giving away a copy of Ready, Set, Sleep, 50 Ways To Help Your Child Sleep, So You Can Sleep Too Learn More & Sleep Tight, Every Night, Helping Toddlers & Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks Or Tirades Learn More

In 2014 I will continue to support parents in building a happy, healthy, well-rested family. I will work hard to provide the latest evidence-based health and parenting information for readers across multiple media platforms. Through national and regional articles, television appearances, speaking engagements, my blog, and personalized sleep coaching, I’ll assist families as they work toward their goals of better sleep, better health, and a harmonious, thriving family.

Heidi Smith Luedtke, Ph.D, Detachment Parenting Expert, Psychology Journalist & Author

Heidi is giving away a copy of Detachment Parent, 33 Ways To Keep Your Cool When Kids Melt Down Learn More

My mission in 2014 is to help parents uncover the emotional habits that shape their realities. Through a series of how-to articles, readers will learn how to tune in to their feelings, step back in healthy ways, and revise unhelpful beliefs and behaviors. My goal is to offer great insights and specific strategies that profoundly change readers’ awareness of themselves and their ability to handle life’s toughest personal and parenting challenges. Armed with this practical emotion management wisdom, parents will be empowered to build healthy emotion habits with their children.

Lela Davidson, Award-winning Humorist, Essayist & Author

Lela is giving away a copy of Blacklisted From The PTA Learn More & Who Peed On My Yoga Mat? Learn More

In 2014 I will continue to share the strange and ordinary things that make me laugh or cry or create a spreadsheet. Now with new and improved sources of material (ie. co-workers, startup culture, cowboy boots). If you’ll have me, I’d love to come talk to your group. From the Junior League to your book club meeting at Carl’s Jr., I am happy to oblige. And finally, I’ll be scribbling away in notebooks and on MacBooks, collecting the best moments for my next essay collection, coming Spring 2015.

Christa Melnyk Hines, Family Communication Expert, Freelance Journalist & Author

Christa is giving away a copy of Confidently Connected, A Mom’s Guide To A Satisfying Social Life Learn More

I am energized and excited about 2014! This year I plan to continue reaching out to moms who create a thriving, balanced social life that supports emotional health. I will continue to expand my portfolio of published articles, my live and online communities, my blog and monthly newsletter. I will continue to inspire healthy communication in family relationships in all of my expert roles, and I look forward to launching a second ebook by the end of 2014.

Lara Krupicka, Bucket List Living Expert, Freelance Journalist & Author

Lara is giving away a copy of Family Bucket Lists, Bring More Fun, Adventure & Camaraderie Into Every Day Learn More

In 2014 I resolve to make more time for completing goals on my family’s bucket list (like seeing Blue Man Group) and venturing deeper into interests my kids & I have discovered in the past year. I hope to see more moms than ever embrace the bucket list lifestyle with their families. I plan to create more tools & resources that encourage moms to write down and live out their own bucket lists.

And last but not least, here’s my 2014 resolution…

Christina Katz, Micro-publishing Trainer, Nonfiction Writing Career Coach, Platform Development Expert & Journalist

I am giving away a copy of Permission Granted, 45 Reasons To Micro-publish Learn More, a copy of Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit Learn More, and a copy of Discover Your Platform Potential, A Get Known Before The Book Deal Workbook Learn More.

In 2014, I will continue to teach, coach, and train the most highly motivated writers, helping them own their expertise, channel it into written forms, and leverage their best works so they can prosper while growing a satisfying writing career that makes the world a better place for all. I want every writer in the world who wants to micro-publish to know how to proceed and succeed by the end of 2014. Also by the end of the year, the best of my work will be available in a complete library of multi-media forms at ChristinaKatz.com.

Okay, now it’s your your turn!

What are your professional 2014 New Year’s resolutions?

Please post yours in the comments below for a chance to win.

Keep it short and sweet like this, and no blatant self-promotion, please. Focus on your mission/goals for changing the world for the better in 2014!

And happy New Year!