Writing, Selling, Platform-building & Micro-publishing Classes With Christina Katz Begin May 1st

Author: Published: April 11, 2013 2 comments

We threw our daughter a big slumber party for her birthday to make up for the fact that she got her room re-decorated last year instead of a party.

Bad idea to skip a ten-year-old’s birthday party. We learned our lesson and how.

I had a couple of birthday slumber parties when I was a kid, too. So, of course, I did what I always do when something is a challenging process and has a lot of picky details—I wrote a how-to article about it. The article has been picked up a couple of times already, and now that I have actually survived the sleepover, I can already think of ways to improve and expand upon the article.

What’s cool about writing for Regional Parenting Publications is that you can often draw ideas from your own personal experience. I teach this skill and many others in my upcoming Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff class. What sets my classes apart from all of the rest, is how seriously I take them. A recent comment from a student underscored this:

Your support and mentoring means a lot. The other courses seemed so impersonal in comparison and they were over in the blink of an eye and I wondered what I got out of them. I’ve always liked your newsletter and your kind, down to earth, honest approach so I knew your course would be a good one and I was right.

I’m not a hired hand around here, I’m holding the bag. So the class had better be good, or it’s on me and my reputation. That’s one reason I take my job so seriously. The other is that I love what I do. No matter how I’m feeling before I work with my students in classes, I am always buoyed up afterward by their creative energy and ongoing growth. It’s an honor and a privilege to work with as many awesome writers as I have over the years. And I am always eager to start each class, no matter how many times I’ve already taught it.

My students have taught me a ton over the years, and if you have ever thought that my writing books contain any kind of insight whatsoever, now you know why. It’s because I’m not theorizing, I’m reporting on my experiences working with real, live writers. I’ve learned that many writers do have some things in common, but it’s really not appropriate to over-simplify or generalize too much about writers. And it’s certainly not okay to talk down to us, as though we were part of some kind of tribe of misfit toys. We are unique and complex people, and the better you understand that about writers, the easier it is to understand and accept that expressing ourselves is what makes us tick. If you exploit or disrespect us because of the way we innately are, we’re not going to very quickly or easily forget it.

I am optimistic about the future for writers but I am not naive. It takes real skills to navigate the complex world of writing for money and publication. Anyone who acts like it’s all about luck or who you know is just obnoxious. When it was time for me to buckle down and learn all of these skills I now teach, I didn’t always want to learn them. But I’ll tell you what, once I got the hang of something that I had really resisted, I felt great about myself and my business expanded because of my willingness.

I don’t write one kind of thing; I write a variety of types of things. And just like you, I am always growing, too. I have specific goals and strategies for my students that have evolved over the years as the publishing ecosystem has changed. The landscape used to be simpler and more straightforward, but I embrace the complexity of where writing for publication is right now. And when you work with someone who can do that, the whole process becomes a lot more Zen and a lot less about the sky falling or the evil editors or whatever else it might be convenient to kvetch about today.

Something I said to one of my students today was: you can only control what you can control, and you can’t control other people. And amazingly enough, as soon as you look at what you can do better and how you can improve or how you might better serve your clients or editors, the clouds part and the sun comes out and success turns out to be not as far from you as you may have imagined it was.

Our minds create obstacles that are not even there. This is human nature, and writers’ minds do this in spades. But the steps to success are actually quite simple. It takes some practice to learn them. But so what? Isn’t this just like everything else in life?

Why should writing career growth be any different than life? It isn’t. How could it be? It’s not.

I will be teaching five classes beginning Wednesday, May 1st. You are welcome to join us if you are ready to settle down and get to work because that’s all we do in my classes. We like results. And it takes focus and action to create them. And we sure do create an impressive amount of them collectively.

The classes I’m offering this round are:

Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff LINK
Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform LINK
Pitching Practice: Write Six Queries In Six Weeks LINK
Micro-publishing For Mom Writers LINK
Become Your Own Imprint: For Serial Micro-publishers LINK

I hope you can join us this time, or in the near future.

I’m no longer offering advance payments to former students because it has come to my attention that Paypal will give you six months to pay off your class interest-free. I can’t really compete with that and I don’t think I should try.

I think I’ll just stick to what I do best and teach and train writers and leave the financing to someone else. I hope to work with you soon!

The Womenpower Movement is (re)born!

Author: Published: April 10, 2013 1 comment

I am launching a new initiative because because, you know me, I like to launch initiatives.

The latest, greatest idea from Christina Katz is The Womenpower Movement.

Like many ideas I have been pulling together and dusting off this year, this idea is not new for me.

I have been teaching writing-for-publication skills for writers since 2001. You have heard this a hundred times by now, but did you also know that before I became a professional writer, I used to facilitate a women’s empowerment circle in my living room?

It’s true. I was a tie-dye skirt wearing, drum-banging, caffeine-free hippie for a while there. And you know what? It was awesome and I would not trade that period of my life for anything. It was very healing and profound, and it changed the trajectory of my life.

Then I met my husband, got married, moved to the Pacific Northwest from the Southwest, had a baby, and decided to get serious about my writing career.

Fast forward a few years until I started offering writing-for-publication skills for writers based on what I had learned. This eventually morphed into offering writing skills from beginner to book deal. And then my teaching morphed into offering writing skills from beginner to become your own imprint.

As I grew as a journalist and author, I started expanding my services to include writing challenges, writing career classes & training groups, books, e-books, and workbooks, and phone consultations.

And that’s where I am today. I am my own imprint now. This means I still partner with folks in traditional publishing, but I also get it — I am 100% responsible for producing my own writing and publishing success, just as I have been saying to all of you for years, and I encourage all women writers to view their career trajectories this way.

So, the first initiative of The Womenpower Movement is encouraging women to be more expressive not only as professionals but in every area of their lives. This is the part where I get to take everything I have learned thus far about how to express yourself to yourself, then to small audiences, and eventually to global audiences, and share it with you.

I am excited! And I am going to start by weaving this initiative into what I already do, beginning with the Every-Day-In-May Writer Mama Book Giveaway LINK.

Therefore the theme for this year’s giveaway is expressiveness. How do women express ourselves, what prevents us from expressing ourselves, and how can we become even more expressive and transform the world through our individual contributions?

I have always been passionate about this topic, ever since I was a little girl. So I hope you will join me in supporting The Womenpower Movement and by participating in The Writer Mama Every-Day-In-May Book Giveaway LINK!

There is much more to come. So if you have fallen off my e-zine list for any reason, now would be a good time to subscribe or resubscribe to my e-zine, so you won’t miss any important announcements about the upcoming giveaway.

Thanks for participating! And get ready to express yourself more in May! We’re going to have some fun, as usual.

And The Recipient of the May 1st Writer Mama Scholarship Is…

Author: Published: April 9, 2013 0 comments

Beth Fornauf!

I look forward to working with you in Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff, which starts in just a few short weeks on Wednesday, May 1st.

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.

This time around was NO exception. It was an especially competitive group.

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 this 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 May 1st Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff class.

Space is limited. If you are interested, Paypal offers interest-free financing for folks who pay in full within six months.

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. Next chance to apply will be late July.

Congratulations again, Beth. I look forward to working with you!

Elements Of A Successful Fiction Platform By Christina Katz

Author: Published: April 4, 2013 0 comments

For most fiction writers, the true definition of that buzzword “platform” has always seemed a bit fuzzy. While writers of nonfiction can draw upon their subject matter in seeking opportunities for their work, theories on how aspiring novelists should promote themselves abound. Many fiction writers have a vague understanding of the need to network online, but are unsure of the specific and tangible benefits of doing so. Can time invested in platform development up front really help sell more novels later? Does offering craft tips or glimpses of your personal life succeed in leading people to your fiction?

Without having a clear idea of which methods of promoting yourself and your work are really worth the investment of time and money, you might be tempted to avoid the subject entirely. After all, you’ve got a novel to write! But in today’s publishing world, neglecting your platform—even before you have a book deal—can be a big mistake. Simply put, writers need readers. It’s an undisputable fact that many of today’s most successful fiction writers are those who’ve developed ways of creating lasting fans—and of reaching out to new ones every day. And aspiring writers who’ve developed budding fan bases have an advantage when it comes time to appeal to publishers and agents.

So as much as you might want to, you can’t afford to wait to create an online identity. The kinds of connections that translate into devoted readers of your work take time to build. “First and foremost, I try to remember the brand is me, not my latest book,” romance novelist Gwyn Cready says. “My efforts go into building a connection between the reader and Gwyn Cready, the writer.”

The key is to get your name known early on and then work at continually increasing your visibility as your career progresses. But knowing you need a platform and knowing the best way to go about building one are two entirely different matters. The good news is that when developing a strategy for beginning—or strengthening—your own presence and outreach, you don’t have to spend valuable hours starting from scratch with your own trial and error. Many notable novelists have succeeded in building large networks of fans over time—and are willing to share what they’ve learned along the way.

What does a successful platform really look like for a fiction writer? Read on to find out…

Continue reading this article by Christina Katz at the Writer’s Digest website.

Spring = Get Going: From The First Section Of The Writer’s Workout

Author: Published: April 3, 2013 0 comments

This is an excerpt from the section header for the first section of The Writer’s Workout, my third book from Writer’s Digest, which is called, “Spring.”

Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that’s the essence of running, and a metaphor for life—and for me, for writing as well. ~ Haruki Murakami

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.

Learn more about The Writer’s Workout here.

Check out reviews on Amazon or add your own.

Do You Qualify For The Writer Mama Scholarship? Deadline is Monday, April 8th

Author: Published: April 2, 2013 1 comment

Are you a mom, and you would love to take the Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff Class that starts May 1st, 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 Monday, April 8th 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 Tuesday, April 9th 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:]

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!

Write With Me This Month: Even If You Did It Already

Author: Published: April 1, 2013 0 comments

Today is the last day to sign up for the April 21 Moments Writing Challenge. I’m extending one day due to spring break and Easter. Learn more here.

You may have heard that I am taking the 21 Moments Writing Challenge alongside the folks taking it this month.

It’s true. This is no April Fool’s joke!

I have set up a password-protected page and I will post my 250-500 word drafts daily prior to midnight the same day as each day’s prompt.

Anyone who is taking the challenge this month will receive the password to the page where I am posting at midnight.

Be sure to write your daily piece before you view mine, so you can see how terrible my draft is and gloat about what a better writer you are than me. 🙂

Seriously, do not expect masterpieces. These are going to be drafts.

Even so, I am very excited about taking the challenge myself, after three months of being mainly focused on creating new challenges for you guys.

I’ve seen one sad message already from a person who has taken all three rounds and now feels that her inbox is unbearably empty.

To anyone who finds themselves in this boat, I suggest you take whichever round you liked best again, but this time use the prompts as inspiration to REWRITE the best of the pieces you already wrote in earlier rounds (assuming you have not done this already).

The first time you approached the prompts, you were reading them for inspiration, but they can also be analyzed for craft. And when you analyze for craft, you become a better editor of your own work.

So just give me a holler if you want to jump in for an editorial round. Today is the last day for anyone who wants to jump in the April Round.

Hope you can join us. Wish me luck!

Create A Joyful Workspace Where Your Writing Can Blossom

Author: Published: March 31, 2013 4 comments

Americans have long held tight to the absurd idea that writers (and other kinds of creative people) should suffer for their art.

We have to ditch this idea and the puritanical horse it road in on.

You are here to create, not to suffer. You are here to bring fresh ideas to the table, to ignite your mind and delight your soul.

This is a good time of year to remember this, because there is so much happening in the natural world to remind us of delight and all the ways it’s good for us.

One of the things I do to keep myself happily writing is focus on the little things that I keep within reach. If my immediate surroundings make me happy and inspire me, I am that much more apt to write with joy and exuberance.

Here are a few ideas for you. None of them are expensive but the sum of them can make any day you write a little brighter.

Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Lotion (.9 oz tubes): I am using Evelyn Rose and Wisteria right now LINK

Puffs Tissues With Lotion: For allergies and spring colds

Bird clips from Paper Source: Clipped onto my idea clip boards for inspiration

Tarot cards within reach: Usually called on for decision-making LINK

A jar of money I am saving for something special: All the change found around the house goes in here

An astrological calendar: I like to have one nearby to stay informed about moons and retrogrades LINK

My latest work hanging on a wire in front of me: I like to see the results of my work

Whisperings classical music app on my desktop: Makes it easy to turn on soothing music for paperwork and such LINK

Piles and boxes with projects in process: I won’t ever run out of things to do

Photos of my peeps (not the kind you buy at the store): I like unusual frames that make me smile as much as the photos

Inspirational items: That reinforce the message of what I am here to do

A big white board: With lots of ideas to write next

A colorful calendar that is set and orchestrated by me: This is the ultimate creative tool

A bulletin board that is dedicated to images that inspire me: And I try to keep adding to is on an ongoing basis

Flowers: I pull single flowers from bigger bouquets and bring in whatever is blooming from the yard

You are here to bloom creatively, writers. If you have lost touch with this important feeling, take a little time to create a personalized context for yourself to write in. None of this will do your writing for you, but creating a joyful context can help you enjoy more moments while you write.

You are allowed pleasure, writers. You deserve to enjoy your work. Don’t expect the folks who give you deadlines to tell you this. You have to give it to yourself.

You are invited to come share photos of your inspired creating space, if you like, on my Pinterest page. Simple comment here if you would like to be added to the group board and I will add you.

21 Moments Helps Writers Do Our Main Job: WRITE

Author: Published: March 29, 2013 0 comments

Everything is blossoming around here including my next round of the 21 Moment Writing Challenge that begins on Monday, April 1st (and that’s no joke!).

I have an awesome feeling this spring that I am making the most of what I have to offer and successfully sharing my strengths with my students more than I ever have before.

I know I am successful because my students’ work is blossoming on publication pages all over the country and in publications that reach readers all over the country.

Meanwhile I am writing in my two niches, writing career growth and parenting, as well as teaching, training, coaching, challenging, and even finding time to write new e-books that make the most of all that I have to offer.

The world has not even begun to see what I have to offer. And I happy to say that I am championing not only the work of mom writers this year, but also my own best work. And my work is not limited to mom writers. Anyone can take my 21 Moments Writing Challenge and my Discover Your Platform & Launch Your Specialty class. Anyone can read my books and e-books.

So if you are a writer who is not writing as much as you would like, your first job is to get around writers who are writing. And I know one place you will find those writers, and that’s working with me!

Writers write. And we keep writing throughout an entire career. We are constantly putting our latest ideas to good use. So if you would like to join a happy crew of writing writers, I hope you will join the next round of the 21 Moments Writing Challenge.

We won’t miss you, if you don’t join us, because we will be happily writing. But you might miss us. Because our work just keeps getting better and our body of work just keeps growing.

Happy spring, writers! I hope your work is blossoming in both the back of the house (where you work) and the front of the house (where your work meets the world).

You can learn more and register for 21 Moments here.

Those who have already participated have received registration info for rounds two and three.

Hope you can join us!

On Sale Now: Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit

Author: Published: March 25, 2013 0 comments

The PDF version of Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit is now available for immediate download.

Here’s some of the early response to the e-book:

I want to write for magazines, but it has seemed so intimidating. I was just about to give up on the idea when I got this e-book. Writing for RPPs suddenly seems accessible and doable. Thank you! ~ Christen H.

After successfully writing for regional parenting magazines for several years, I still found plenty to learn from Christina Katz’s e-book. She has included everything a beginning writer would need to know to grow a professional writing career that serves the RPPs. ~ Lara K.

Write for Regional Parenting Publications for Fun & Profit is a straightforward, no-nonsense guide to what it really takes to get published in regional parenting publications. ~ Alyssa C.

This book is exactly what I’ve been looking for in my efforts to launch a freelance writing career. The format is straightforward and easy to follow for the beginning freelancer and is filled with specific details that often get overlooked in how-to books for writers. ~ Yvonne S.

With idea-generating pages and valuable tips from the trenches, this guide will inspire and educate you as you go after your professional writing goals. – Christa H.

This is an excellent get-started guide for mom writers who would like to make a little extra money or to start a freelance writing business. In contrast to Writer Mama, this book is focused on RPPs, which is a great place to get started earning clips. ~ Tiffany D.

Once again Christina Katz has nailed the needs of the beginner writer in a concise, encouraging manner. Even if you are already writing for RPPs this resource can be a refreshing reminder of how to serve that market successfully. ~ Sue L.

After reading this e-book,  you will know exactly how to find topics and where and how to submit them. This book is a must for a beginning writer or even an experienced writer needing fresh inspiration and knowledge. ~ Ruth Ann A.

Christina Katz’s enthusiasm and encouragement are contagious. Her book will entice you to get started right away! ~ Kathleen M.

Even if you think you know all you need to about writing, pitching and setting up a freelance business, you should read this book. In addition to offering advice and ideas, the tone is refreshing and rejuvenating, and will help writers jumpstart their careers. ~ Beth F.

Christina Katz’s Write for Regional Parenting Publications for Fun and Profit was exactly what I needed when I was ready to expand my writing career. She tells you what to do and how to do it—the rest is up to you. There’s no excuses now! ~ Jane E.

Learn more about Write For Regional Parenting Publications For Fun & Profit.

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