21 Moments Will Get You Writing Daily & Keep You Writing

Are you thinking about doing NaNoWriMo?

Are you warmed up and ready to write?

If not, considering trying the October 1st – 21st round of The 21 Moments Writing Challenge.

It will have you ready and warmed up for NaNoWriMo in just a few days, which is much better than starting cold.

Here’s what recent participants say about it:

Writing about 21 moments was both motivating and enlightening.  I remembered things I haven’t thought about for years and took the opportunity to reflect on them and then to write about them.  I have signed up for the next round. ~ Jo Ann B.

This challenge got me into a groove. I’m writing more and enjoying the writing process better now than I have in a long time. ~ Steffanie L.

Participating in the 21 Moments Challenge is like having your own writing productivity & creativity app. It keeps you in sync with your talent and challenges you to stretch the scope of what and how you write.  ~ Rhonda F.

I took this more seriously the second time around because it was fun. It reminded me of what good literature is and provided a much needed deadline and consistency in writing practice. Thanks Christina!  ~ Leslie B.

This is a safe place to be vulnerable and learn more about yourself and your writing voice twenty-one times. ~ Annette S.

The challenge was fun, while providing some accountability with the daily prompt. There was a great variety of literature and the inspiration of past participants’ moments to inspire new writing. It’s an easy, painless way to establish a daily writing routine. ~ Crystal H.

Ready to get writing?

Register today and take your writing to the next level! The next 21 Moments Writing Challenge begins tomorrow, October 1st!

You Want Writing Career Success? Stop Talking & Start Creating

Yes, I'm talking to you.My whole career is dedicated to this idea: stop talking, start creating.

We are living in chatty times. I could spend all day, no lie, visiting the blogs and websites of people I know and saying, “Oooh-ahhhhh” or “Oh-no!”

I could kill the rest of the week on social media just trying to keep up with these same people.

But I can’t and I don’t, because I have a full day of paying work on my plate every single day of the week, and often more.

The reason I have paying work is because I have been working consistently at my skills and craft for fourteen years.

That’s after 4 years of a BA + 3 years of a MFA + 14 years working as a writer.

Naturally, I earn more now than I did in those first few years of my career. But please remember this was after an initial investment of $75K in my education.

Even so, my career and  earnings did not really start to gain traction until 2004. That’s almost a decade after I completed my MFA coursework.

Today, almost a decade after my career started taking off, I am still not independently wealthy.

But I am the most satisfied writer I know. And I worry about nothing that is happening “out there.”

I say this because we spend way too much time, in my opinion, revering those who promise us quick profits.

Ask any writer you admire how they got where they are today and they will tell you: slowly and steadily.

My most profitable students do the exact same thing. They work for years for their success and once they have it, they own it.

There is always going to be the siren call of the biz, the breakouts, the bestsellers, etc. And that’s all nice, but I’m not sure it’s relevant.

So I want to say to you is this: you can talk or you can create.

Creating often means less talking and more focused work.

Some folks think that focused work always means isolation and closed-mindedness, but it doesn’t. And that’s ridiculous.

It’s the opposite. Your creative projects can be the path to the people you want to meet and the information and inspiration that will delight your whole life.

So, stop talking. Throw yourself into your creative projects.

Because creativity is the door to a better life for anyone who feels called to answer the call.

Shhhh, now. Get back to work.

~ Photo by Erica on Flickr.

And The Recipient Of The October 9th Writer Mama Scholarship Is…

Powell Berger!

I look forward to working with you in Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff, which starts in just a few short weeks on Wednesday, October 9th.

Thanks to EVERYONE who applied! Choosing scholarship recipients is  extremely difficult because I always receive many applications from worthy writers.

Trust me, it never gets any easier.

Watch this blog, christinakatz.com and/or subscribe to The Prosperous Writer e-zine for all the details on future offers.

I will be offering one scholarship for each Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff class session next year. That’s five scholarships total.

If you have not checked out my classes, you can learn more on the “Register” page. I am still accepting students for the October 9th Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff class.

But, hurry, because space is limited.

If you are interested but cannot afford the class at this time, keep in mind that Paypal offers interest-free financing for folks who pay in full within six months. That’s a great deal!

If you plan to apply for the scholarship again, I strongly suggest reading and applying the suggestions in my newest e-book, Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit, which is now available in every digital format under the sun. Learn more here.

Congratulations again, Powell. I look forward to working with you.

Next chance to apply is for the January 2014 class. Stay tuned for details!

Are you a mom, and you would love to take the Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff Class that starts Wednesday, October 9th, but you would not otherwise be able to afford it?

Then you qualify for The Writer Mama Scholarship!

The application process for the next available scholarship for Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff Class begins today! I am accepting applications until Sunday, September 22nd at midnight.

One full scholarship is granted each time the class is held, five times per year. Please read this post completely and double-check your application before submitting. The recipient will be announced on Monday, September 23rd in this blog.

Please feel free to spread the word about the scholarship, even if you do not intend to apply. This is a full scholarship. The recipient commits to participating fully in the class and delivering all six assignments on time.

Please do not apply if you cannot make the commitment to participate in the class, which involves reading the weekly workbook, completing your assignments, and learning from your classmates work. (To learn about what you will get out of the class, please read the full class description.)

No additional time or special coaching is offered with the scholarship. It’s up to the scholarship recipient to make the most of the class.

Please note that this is a scholarship, not a giveaway. This scholarship is only for moms and is offered by class instructor, Christina Katz (that’s me).

One scholarship is available per WPSS class. The scholarship is not transferable if you fail to complete the class. The scholarship is also not transferable in the case of illness, family emergencies, a move, etc. If you have already paid for the class, you do not qualify for the scholarship. If you have already taken the class, you also do not qualify.

What is written in your application is private and your personal information will never be shared or sold beyond announcing the name of the recipient. The only way to qualify is to apply each time. No one else will view your application.

The application questions are below. Copy and paste them into a Microsoft Word document (to take the class you must be able to create and read Microsoft Word documents—no exceptions). Attach your application as a Word doc to your e-mail. Please answer each question concisely and completely.

Send your application to: “christina at christinakatz dot com” – this is the only email address for the scholarship. If you do not receive the scholarship, save your application for future scholarships and re-apply. Always add in your most current publication credits, since they are important. Put “WPSS Scholarship Application” in the subject line.

The scholarship recipient will be chosen based on the following criteria: demonstrated effort, need, and enthusiasm. The most important consideration is demonstrated past effort, so please don’t skimp on details of your past writing efforts. Applications accepted from U.S. residents only at this time.

Please Note: The Writer Mama Scholarship is only for moms who legitimately cannot afford class tuition for whatever reason. So if you work at home, earn money, receive money, or your spouse or partner earns enough money for you to afford the class, please expect to regular pay price. My classes are kept affordable, specifically so moms can take them!

To register for the class as a non-scholarship candidate, please visit the registration page. Space in the class is limited.

Here’s the application:

[Copy and paste the following application form into a Word doc, then simply fill it in:]

Name

Address

Email

Phone

Have you read the book, Writer Mama? How about my other books?

How long have you been reading my blog(s)?

What version of Microsoft Word software are you currently using?

Have you applied for The Writer Mama Scholarship before?

Write a short response to each of the following questions:

Please write one short paragraph about why you want to take the class, Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff.

Please list by publication name and date only, any publication credits you’ve accumulated thus far. Briefly list any other experience you think is relevant.

Please briefly state why you are unable to afford the tuition for the class at this time.

[End application.]

Thanks for applying for The Writer Mama Scholarship!

What Regional Parenting Publications Will & Won’t Do For Your Career

Now available in every digital format under the sun!

I love writing for regional parenting magazines and, just as I describe in my latest e-book, Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit, I do it for both the pleasure and the money.

However, writing for regional parenting magazines is not meant to be a final destination for writers. Indeed, writing for regional parenting publications is a great stepping stone for an unpublished writer, who is looking for those first clips.

Regional parenting publications are great targets for stay-at-home mom writers just getting started or getting back into freelance writing.

But let’s be clear about what RPPs will and won’t do for your career. Writing for regional parenting publications will:

  • Give you goals you can set and hit
  • Help you find article and essay ideas right in your everyday life
  • Give you great practice improving your writing to the point where it becomes publishable (since you won’t get published until it is)
  • Boost your confidence by seeing your byline in print and online
  • Boost your sense of professionalism as you master what it takes to write articles that regularly get published
  • Help you feel like you have gotten off to a solid start as a professional writer
  • Help you find niche topics you wish to explore further in the future

Writing for regional parenting publications won’t:

  • Transform you from a totally unknown wannabe to a household name (except perhaps in the communities where you are published)
  • Earn you an income that would replace a day job (unless you write a very high volume of articles each month)
  • Teach you all the professional writing skills there are to learn (like querying and book writing, for example)
  • Take you from literary zero to literary hero in any way, shape or form

Considering what writing for regional parenting publications can do for you as a professional stepping stone—I think learning how makes sense for most parenting writers.

Regional parenting publication articles are written one at a time and accumulate over time. Once you have been writing them for a few years, you will likely see an increase in the number of pieces you have published each month.

What I know for sure is this: when you pair writing for RPPs with a reasonable attitude and a willingness to learn and grow in a writing career, you might be amazed how much learning, growing and publishing you can achieve.

Learn more about my new e-book, Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit. Now available in every digital format available!

Work with me directly and improve your chances of success. Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff begins October 9th.

Veterans of this class can join my five-month Dream Teams. Next one starts January 1st.

Platform Bingo Begins On Sunday, Now With Two Levels

Round one of Platform Bingo was a success!

I can’t wait to do it again. And this time, I am offering a second level alongside level one.

So those who completed level one can take level two. And so it will go until we get through all three levels I have planned.

Some of the results for Platform Bingo, Level One are in already and folks loved it!

Not only did they enjoy it, it changed the way they think about themselves and their platforms. And they are presenting themselves to the world differently already as a result of taking Platform Bingo, Level One.

This new way of thinking about platform is what producing yourself as a writing professional in the new millenium is all about.

So if you want to be discovered, discover yourself first with Platform Bingo, Level One. It’s a small commitment to make for big results in just 25 days.

And then come back again for Platform Bingo, Level Two and discover all the ways you can apply your strengths and explore your platform possibilities.

Hope to see you in Level One or Two beginning Sunday, September 15th.

That’s this weekend. So please register now. Don’t delay.

Hope to work with you!

The Newly Updated List Of Movies About Writers & The Writing Life

I am pleased to say that we now have 277 movies about writers & the writing life on the list that I have been curating for the past four years.

This all started with me and my husband sitting around one day bantering about writer movies.

Next thing you know I started creating a list (out of habit, I suppose). Then came the obsessive part, where I had to find them ALL.

Then came frustration because at the time IMDB was not all that helpful back then.

I can tell that the site has become more searchable, which means I may be introducing more titles for past years as my updates go on.

But for this year, I had to cut myself off. I could spend days on this type of research and never tire of it, but I have many other commitments for my time at the moment.

So, here is our newly updated 277 Movies About Writing & The Writing Life! I hope you enjoy it.

If you want to search the list and you don’t know the year, just hit Command + F on your computer and then type in the title and hit return. You should go right to it. Keep hitting return until you finish scanning the whole list and if something is not there, just let me know.

Click here to view the complete list…

And now here’s a challenge. Share your top five writer movies from this list in a blog post and tell us what you love about them.

Then link your post back to the list and I’ll help you spread the word on social media.

Have fun!

Some September Regional Parenting Magazine Articles By Christina Katz

I have four articles in the Sept-Oct 2013 issue of Calgary's Child!

I’m excited to share that I have four articles in the most recent issue of Calgary’s Child.

Those of you who have read my latest e-book, Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit know that I am a big fan of Calgary’s Child.

They consistently do a great job of providing quality content in their bi-monthly magazine and they are courteous and kind to all of their writers.

Landing four articles in one issue was a new record for me. I had landed three articles in another pub already for September and that was already going to be a record for me. So imagine my surprise when I heard that I had four articles in this one!

Broke that record before I even saw it in print. 🙂

These were some of the articles I was referring to the other day when I said the 21 Moments Writing Challenge seems to have really improved my writing lately.

Tackle Tough Topics With Your Kids: Alcohol, Sex & Peer Pressure

Give Dance A Chance, 21 Reasons To Try Consistent Classes (also featured in North State Parent this month)

Happiest Kid In The Cafeteria, Better School Lunches All Week Long

13 Not-Too-Scary Halloween Movies The Whole Family Can Enjoy Together

Thanks for celebrating with me by developing your own article ideas and submitting them.

If you need help, my latest e-book is now rolling out in a variety of digital formats.

Please see the list below for what’s available so far:

Now available in PDF!

Now available on Kindle!

Now available in the iBookstore (check your device)!

Now available on Nook!

Now available at the Kobo eBookstore!

Now available at the Sony Reader Store!

Now available on Scribd!

Now available at the Copia eBookstore!

Want To Write For Regional Parenting Magazines?

Now available for immediate download at Scribd.com!

Over the next few weeks, my newest e-book, Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit, will be rolling out in multiple digital formats. I’m so excited!

I know I have been promising to expand the formats since not long after the first version came out in March, but I was absolutely not going to move forward until the manuscript was tight and polished.

And now, after many rewrites, and thanks to generous feedback from initial readers and the eagle eye of proofreader extraordinaire, Cindy Hudson, the e-book is ready for mass-distribution!

As of yesterday, it appeared on Scribd.com complete with a nice long preview. Feel free to take a look and see what you think.

I added the subtitle, “A Step-By-Step Guide For Beginners” so there would be absolutely no confusion about what readers are getting in this guide.

What you get is what I do best: step-by-step instructions, so you can set and achieve doable writing career goals.

As the digital versions of this e-book roll out, I will announce them here, in hopes of finding just the right fit for your digital reading preferences.

Once upon a time you could publish a book in hardcover or paperback and pretty much satisfy everyone. These days, it makes sense to publish digitally first and then go to print if you find you have a demand.

Speaking of which, do I have a demand? Please let me know if you would like to see Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit in paperback and I will add that step to my to-do list.

Simply drop me a line at christina at christina katz dot com and let me know.

I look forward to hearing from you.

I’ll Take Late Registrations For 21 Moments Through Monday At Midnight

Each time I begin a 21 Moments Challenge, I have folks who want to join the next couple of days after the launch…and that’s fine.

You may not realize that each day’s prompts go out at 12:05 am each day. So today’s prompts have already gone out. Tomorrow’s will go out just after midnight. And the pattern will repeat all the way through the 21st of the month.

I am also not sure that folks realize that up to three folks from each challenge will get the next round free if they turn in a moment they wrote during the challenge and it is selected as an excellent example for that round.

So you can literally pay for Round One and then write your way through all the rounds if your work is consistently selected.

I do have participants who have accomplished this, and they are feeling pretty pleased with themselves, as they should!

So, if you were on vacation or back-to-school shopping or offline all weekend for any reason and you would like to jump in to the challenge that started today, Sunday, just go ahead and register for the next level in your progression, and I will add you in to the appropriate group.

This offer to jump in late is only available through Monday at midnight.

Starting on Tuesday, September 3rd, we will begin registration for the October round.

Happy writing to all the folks who are participating!

I am writing this round, but I won’t be sharing my results this time. I might again in the future, but not this month. I am going to take a more personal approach this time…and it’s going to feel good after a rather emotional month in August.

Register For Advanced Rounds by clicking on the appropriate badge.

Advanced rounds require completion of the prior round:

Level One

Level Two

Level Three

Level Four