Some of you may remember that I conducted an interview with Malia Jacobson about seventeen months ago at the launch of her first e-book, Ready, Set, Sleep, 50 Ways To Help Your Child Sleep So You Can Sleep Too.

Today I am thrilled to announce the launch of Malia’s second e-book, Sleep Tight Every Night, Helping Toddlers & Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks or Tirades.

Malia is a nationally published health journalist, columnist, sleep expert, and freelance writer. Her articles on sleep and health appear regularly in national media outlets, including Women’s Health Magazine, Costco Connection Magazine, Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, ABC News, and MSN Healthy Living, as well as over 80 regional parenting magazines across the US and Canada.

Malia appears regularly on television and speaks to parenting groups about healthy sleep support. She blogs about sleep and parenting at www.thewellrestedfamily.com, where she answers parents’ sleep questions in a popular “Ask Malia” series.

Know any parents who would like to get their babies or young children to go the heck to sleep? If so, check out some of Malia’s thoroughly researched sleep secrets right here.

Q. In the intro to Sleep Tight, you say that kids who sleep well through the night are in the minority. Why is this?

According to a new study from the University of Houston, 70 percent of children under 10 experience regular sleep problems. And I know from both my personal experiences as a mom and my professional life as a health and sleep journalist that the toddler and preschool years are a particularly tough time for sleep, simply because children change so quickly during this time period. They’re transitioning from a crib, dropping their nap, starting to have nightmares, potty training, sometimes learning to sleep alone or sleep near a sibling for the first time. They’re dealing with an astounding amount of change in a short time period, and that can be extremely hard on their sleep.

Q. What kinds of problems can crop up for kids who don’t sleep soundly?

Children who don’t sleep enough are at an increased risk for weight problems, diabetes, mood disorders, even ADHD. Doctors now know that some children who have been diagnosed with ADHD are actually just overtired—they call this syndrome of fatigue-induced hyperactivity “faux ADHD.”

Q. Just to hop backwards a bit and remind folks about your first e-book, Ready, Set, Sleep, what ended up becoming the advice readers appreciated most?

It’s hard to say; every reader seems to take something different from Ready, Set, Sleep, depending on their child’s age and stage. But people really seem to love the parts about gently shifting sleep associations, helping babies and toddlers learn to sleep in their beds, and how to handle tough stuff like screaming and crying at bedtime.

Q. You decided to write this second e-book because of the questions you received from readers of your first e-book? What were some of their biggest challenges that you address in Sleep Tight?

I tackle 12 common toddler and preschooler sleep problems in Sleep Tight, including helping kids learn to stay in their own beds all night, helping parents transition siblings to a shared bedroom, dropping the afternoon nap, learning to stay dry at night, and addressing nightmares, which begin to crop up around age 5 for many children.

Q. Are different kids wired for different sleep schedules?

Absolutely. In fact, learning about your own child’s unique sleep requirements is at the heart of many of my recommendations (and I tell parents just how to do that, quickly and easily). Mistaken beliefs about how much a child should be sleeping are a factor in well over half of the sleep questions I receive from parents—your unique child may need much more (or less) sleep than you think.

Q. One of the twelve topics you address in Sleep Tight is how to manage sleep for kids who are sharing bedrooms. If getting one child to sleep well is challenging, I can only imagine that getting two to sleep well in the same space in nearly impossible. Can you give us a few hints?

The biggest challenge parents often face is syncing up the sleep schedules the children who will be roommates. Siblings just a couple of years apart can have vastly different sleep needs, and wake up, nap, and go to sleep at different times at night. A room-sharing scenario works best when everyone hits the sack at the same time each night, so I walk parents through how to make this happen.

Q. Okay, Malia, you are a sleep expert and journalist. You know sleep advice like nobody’s business. If you were going to give just five pieces of advice to every parent about how to raise healthy sleepers, what would those five short tips be?

A child experiencing sleep problems is trying to tell you something. Instead of asking “Why is he doing this to me?,” flip the dialogue to focus on your child and his needs. What does he need sleep-wise that he is not getting, and how can you better support those needs?

Don’t rely on charts, books, or your friends to tell you how much sleep your child needs. Chart your child’s sleep to uncover how much sleep he or she really requires.

To avoid stealing from nighttime rest, don’t allow children to nap for more than two hours in the afternoon.

Don’t get married to the idea of a 7 p.m. bedtime, if that is no longer working for your child. Clinging to your child’s babyhood bedtime well into the toddler and preschool years can lead to a boatload of problems, from hours-long bedtimes to painfully early wakings.

You can’t force a child to sleep more than her personal sleep needs dictate. If your child is ready to give up his nap or no longer needs as much sleep as he once did, supporting his unique needs will bring success; fighting his needs will be miserable. I help parents work with the sleeper they have, not the sleeper they wish they had.

You can learn more about both of Malia’s awesome e-books, Ready, Set, Sleep: 50 Ways to Help Your Child Sleep So You Can Sleep Too and Sleep Tight, Every Night, Helping Toddlers & Preschoolers Sleep Well Without Tears, Tricks or Tirades at MaliaJacobson.com.

Help Malia end sleeplessness by spreading the word about Ready, Set, Sleep and Sleep Tight Every Night. And thanks for helping me support Malia’s second e-book launch!

I cannot personally work with everyone, that’s a given. There is only one of me and there are many of you.

However, if you are a positive, productive writer or you are ready to become one, I would love to work with you.

Here’s how to get the most out of my trail of prosperous breadcrumbs:

1. Start by reading my books. My specialties are nonfiction writing, selling your words, finding your specialty, building your platform, getting published and micro-publishing. Writers often comment that my books are helpful no matter what your genre and are even helpful for non-writers. READ

2. Sign Up A 21 Moments Monthly Writing Challenge. This is my latest offering and folks are LOVING it! You will begin receiving writing for pleasure prompts beginning the first day of the month following the month you sign up. Why not register for the next round and see what my high-quality coaching can do for your writing in just one month.

3. Sign up for my e-zine, The Prosperous Writer. Now you won’t miss any news. And that’s good because I have lots of news coming. SIGN UP

4. Subscribe to this blog via e-mail or RSS feed. Then you will be keeping up with all my news and all my best ideas for writers on an ongoing basis. SIGN UP

5. Join Writers on the Move. This is not writing coaching, but it’s great to have an accountability group for getting into shape and staying in shape. The endorphins you get from working out will do your writing good. JOIN

6. Read My E-books. My e-books contained boiled down advice that can help any writer today and in the future. Don’t forget to add these ideas to your checklist of things you are working on. READ

7. Follow me on social media. Let’s get connected and stay connected. I don’t spend a lot of time chatting on social media, but I do make an effort to put positive inspiration out into the writing world on a daily basis. And who doesn’t need more of this? CLICK ON THE BUTTONS ABOVE RIGHT

8. Work with me. If you feel like my work resonates with you but you need more individual assistance or attention, consider taking a class with me. If you can’t afford one now, don’t forget my scholarship opportunities and all the payment options that Paypal offers. I allow returning students to make payments in advance, so long as all payments are made by the time class begins. LEARN MORE

9. Hire me to coach you. If you have read all my stuff, applied what you can, signed up for my e-zine and blog feed, connected with me on social media, and signed up for Writer’s on the Move, and you are still not seeing the results you would like to see in your bottom line, you can sign up for five-month coaching on my Dream Teams. Actually most people sign up because they are already starting to see results and they want more results. But either way, Dream Teams are where we do the work together. LEARN MORE

10. E-mail me for a half-hour or an hour of coaching. Chances are pretty good that I can help you, especially if we have worked together before. After all, I’ve been coaching writers for eleven years and writing for publication for thirteen years. If you are writing, selling, specializing, promoting, or micro-publishing, let’s talk! LEARN MORE

My approach is writer-centric, which means I am on your side. When you work with me you are going to get a personal approach that comes from working with a person who cares. You can always trust that my advice is coming from the gut, from a genuine desire to empower writers, and from years of experience partnering with other professionals, writing organizations, and publishers.

Thank you so much if you have already taken any of these steps. I love what I do and I will continue to work hard to make sure writers prosper today and tomorrow.

Happy 2013, writers. I hope your year is off to a great start so far!

My New Year’s Resolutions are win-win-win, meaning they benefit me, you, and the world. This year, I will do nothing unless it meets these criteria.

1. I will take exceptionally good care of myself. It’s hard to do this and write and promote traditionally published books. So this year, since I’m not traveling, I will take exceptionally good care of myself, so that I can write more traditionally published books in the future. My global fitness accountability group, Writers on the Move, will be a big part of this effort. It’s awesome to have a motivated group of writers to be accountable to so we can encourage each other to eat healthy and stay fit. Look for me to have an increased commitment to eating healthy this year to accompany my regular workouts. I commit to drinking more water, eating more whole grains, eating less meat, eating more fruits and veggies, and eating fish twice or more each week. And that’s just to get started.

2. I will take exceptionally good care of my family. If it’s hard to take exceptionally good care of yourself and write and promote traditionally published books, then it’s even harder to do these things and take exceptionally good care of your family. I think I’ve done a pretty good job, and I’ve also had a great partner in my husband, Jason. This year, without a book deadline or a book tour, I can devote more time and energy to my family. When I was working on my books, Jason and Samantha supported me. Now it’s payback time. All good things must come into balance. I owe them, big time. I’ve been making up for it in extra hugs all along, but I am excited to have more time available to support them, for a change.

3. I will stay home and inspire more writers than I ever have before. I wrote and toured three traditionally published books in seven years, so, I’m curious to find out if I can reach as many, if not more writers, by staying home using the technology I know and love. I feel I am off to a great start with my 21 Moments Monthly Writing Challenge. Because of this initiative, I’m already working with more writers than I ever have before and it’s only the third day of the year. This feels good because when I work directly with writers, I can make a positive difference in their writing lives. And PS, I’m doing the writing challenge myself, and so is Jason, so it definitely feels win-win-win.

4. I will continue to offer my classes and dream teams to mom writers who are interested in establishing and growing professional writing careers. In combination, my classes and dream teams create the most powerful learning experience a relatively small amount of money can buy. Of course, I realize that these classes and training groups are an investment. I also realize that they require a consistent amount of effort from the students who participate. But if you could see the progress and professional strides that I see in writers in just a short, consistent amount of time, you would sign up right now. Why not take a look at my classes, for now, since Dream Teams for the next five months are already in session. I have worked hard to create and update these classes and training groups, and they rock. And so do the writers who take them seriously. Here’s to our continued success!

5. I will do more good in the world. I was inspired by the election in two ways. On the one hand, my respect for politicians who strive to do more good in the world deepened. And on the other hand, I realized that there is a lot more good I can do in the world without becoming a politician. So I am renewing my commitment to making the world a better, more creative, more joyful and prosperous place. And I am focusing my energy on the people right here in my community, who are suffering. I will start close to home and contribute money, time and energy to alleviate human suffering right here in Clackamas County, Oregon. I would love it if you would join me by committing to alleviating suffering around you, wherever you live. Many people are struggling with the basics right now, and those of us who are prospering should not turn a blind eye to them. I’m not rich. And I know most of us aren’t. But we need to remember that the government is not going to fix local problems. People helping people is what solves problems. Look for more reminders from me throughout the year to look for ways to give back locally in whatever ways you can.

6. I will ignore people who treat me badly and/or display a lack of integrity. When you stand up for yourself, it’s inevitable that you are going to catch some flack, especially if you are a woman. But life is way too short, I work way too hard, and I give way too much to tolerate this type of baloney. I don’t have time or energy for mean or disreputable people. Wasting energy on negative people or situations hurts my creativity, which in turn disrupts my ability to serve my family and the world. So, see you later, negative nellies! I wish you the best of luck turning those frowns upside down.

7. I will promote the idea that women are the future leaders of a caring world. I am tired of waiting for male leaders to stop being so greedy and lecherous and uncaring. Seriously. What is the point in pretending that the majority of men in leadership are going to come around some day and start behaving more decently? Sure, some do. Some will. Some might. And I admire those men who are good and do good. But there are not enough of them and there are certainly not enough women in leadership being given the chance to contribute. So enough already. Let’s get more women in leadership. Let’s empower women everywhere to help transform the world into a place where equality has a fighting chance. We are so not there yet. And we won’t get there until every woman steps up and starts asking: what do I have to offer, not just my family, but also the world around me? We won’t have equality until every woman starts expecting and demanding equal treatment everywhere, whether that is in the home or in the government.

Take care of yourself, take care of your family, and then give from your natural abundance to the world. The world needs you now. We can start by alleviating the suffering that is all around us, as I already said, but we can finish by collectively ignoring men who abuse power and give the attention we would have given them to women who are stepping up, contributing, and caring. Go, women!

8. I will find new ways to serve every day and act on them swiftly. My word for 2013 is “now.” This means no more procrastinating. No more dragging my feet. If I see a need and I can fill it, I’m doing it. And I’m doing it now. I have paid my dues. I have earned my stripes. I have given back some, but I have an awful lot more to give. I have been given opportunities, I have risen to the challenge. And in 2013, I’m staying home and getting some serious work done.

2013 is here. I’m ready for it. I’m psyched. I’m warmed up. How about you?

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you will give the world the BEST you have to offer in 2013.

Start small. Act locally. Do whatever you can to make a difference.

Profile Theatre's Master Harold & The Boys

Happy New Year!

Did you ever dream big and then dare to act on that dream?

Well, Wilsonville Oregon native, Sam Benedict is not just daring—he’s doing.

And on January 3rd, he’s leaving the place he’s called home for many years and heading East to New York, New York to give his regards—and hopefully soon his talents—to Broadway.

Sam is a former student of my husband Jason’s. Many moons ago, Jason, directed Sam as Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof and also as Hamlet in the Shakespeare play of the same name.

More recently, last spring, Sam assisted my husband at the high school as music director and choreographer for a hand-crafted collaboration called A Night On Broadway.

In between, Sam attended Western Oregon University and got a BFA in acting in five years. While there and since graduating, he’s been cast in shows by many Portland theater companies including Broadway Rose, Profile Theatre, Bag N’ Baggage, Lakewood Theatre, Stumptown Stages, Public House Theatre, and Artists Repertory.

But success isn’t just about what you’ve done; it’s also about how you’ve done it. Sam is one of the most positive and motivated guys I know. He is known through our family as one of the best huggers ever. Like many inspiring people, Sam’s can-do attitude and drive to continually improve himself is inspiring to others. Just watch, I bet we see more actors from Wilsonville Oregon migrating east soon.

In a November 2005 Oregonian article written by Catherine Ryan Sam said that he was once a high-risk student. He said, “In a way, [theatre]’s been my saving grace. It’s my absolute motivation for going to college in the first place.”

And not only did Sam stay in college for four years, he stuck around for five to turn his BA into a BFA. Since graduating from high school, he’s been in A Chorus Line, The Producers, The Drowsy Chaperone, White Christmas, To Kill A Mockingbird, and this past fall nabbed the lead in Master Harold…and the Boys.

Sam wasn’t lucky; he was smart. He is a young man who found something he could invest in and succeed at and poured his considerable energy into every opportunity he could. And even though it can’t have been easy, once Sam found his place on the stage acting, singing, and dancing he’s been on track ever since.

Sam has worked his way up to the point where he it’s time to leave his home and give Broadway a shot. He knows what he’s up against. He knows that he’s going to need more skills and to find a day job that will mesh with his theatre gigs. I have a feeling he won’t be getting too much sleep. So, look out, New York, cuz here comes Sam Benedict!

I wanted to throw a little online going away party for Sam. If you would like to join my family in sending Sam off to New York with a little bit of money in his Paypal account to fall back on, feel free to make a non-deductible donation of any size below. All donations go directly to Sam.

If you are a theatre lover or a New York lover or a Sam Benedict fan, feel free to chip in and help make one actor’s New Year dream come true.

I cannot wait to see his name in a Broadway playbill!

Good luck, Sam! We’ll miss you. And your hugs.

There are several reasons my Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff class is a cut above the rest, and these are the same reasons to take the class from me instead of from an imitator.

1. I have been teaching this particular class for the past six years. Therefore the class contains excellent examples of published pieces written by students from the class. It’s one thing to talk about success in the abstract; it’s another to have been a part of so many students’ successes that you know how to teach the success muscle well.

2. Writing and Publishing The Short Stuff has been continually updated for the past six years based on student feedback and successes. You are not going to find another class anywhere with a curriculum that is so jam-packed with publishing success. Simply put, many have gone before you and many have succeeded. There does not seem to be a limit on how many can succeed because editors will always be happy to work with skilled writers who offer fresh ideas.

3. The more seasoned the instructor, the faster you can succeed. I have been teaching for others and independently for almost twelve years. I am genuinely invested in the success of every student who takes any of my classes. I know this plays a part in my students’ successes. But I can’t do the work for you. Students who take what I teach them and run with it succeed soonest and most often.

4. You can succeed faster working with me than you can with another instructor. I never underestimate the value of proof. I have noticed that, thanks to the steady improvements I have made in my course, that students are succeeding faster than ever before. Writers want proof that techniques are going to work for them. My students apply what they learn and get results. Most classes can’t offer this kind of example.

5. I have written many curricula over the years and this one is strong because it draws from everything I have learned since writing Writer Mama. Every time I write a book, I learn a ton and I pour all that I learn into my future work, including sharing what I have learned with every student I work with personally. You can benefit from all that I have learned working in this industry for the past fourteen years.

6. I have spent twelve years getting better at doing this one thing. Other instructors and institutions, who claim to have as much experience as me, do not share the same focus and level of commitment that I do. My job is to care about one student at a time. To work with each student to help her improve her skills and succeed. Working with me, you are not just a number. I am invested in each student’s success. If you work with me, I am invested in your success.

7. There’s always more to learn if you want to keep learning with me. All of my courses teach skills that can be applied immediately after the class and on an ongoing basis. However, my students also have the option to keep working with me personally, and many of them do. In this age of digital proliferation, you can still work in a simple, straightforward manner to improve your writing and publishing skills with a real, live successful writer. And that’s because some ideas are so helpful that they don’t need to be made more complicated.

ChristinaKatz.com is the only place to sign up for my classes. A dedicated instructor teaching and coaching small groups of committed writers is just as effective as it has always been. I hope to work with you in 2013 in Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff or in any of my classes. Register now for classes that begin January 9th.

And don’t take my word for it. Here’s what recent students have to say about Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff:

Take this class! But only if you’re prepared for hard work, honest, critical responses and a sightline toward a promising future. Christina is an empowering instructor who offers solid information, clear examples and precise instruction about how you can better your writing. Her focus is on you: your process, your knowledge and your work. What more could you want? ~ Kara G.

Christina’s freelancing bootcamp kicked my butt and took me to a new level of writing and productivity. I started out feeling inadequate and too intimidated to approach any markets. Then, Christina pushed me through six weeks of the “Short Stuff,” and I saw my work grow stronger. I am a freelance writer now; I have the skills to start submitting, and to represent myself well. ~ Laurie Z.

If you are a mama with the drive and determination to write and sell your writing, Christina’s class will lead you in the direction you want to go. I can say with confidence that I have been more productive than I could have imagined before starting WPSS. ~ Heather L.

My dream of writing for publication began as a lofty one based little in reality.  As someone with no prior training in writing, I was enthusiastic and completely fanciful about the process and my prospects. The two classes I’ve taken with Christina have helped me set realistic goals and timelines, are helping me narrow my focus, challenging me to rise to a professional level of writing, and encouraging me to persevere.  Not sure where I’d be if I hadn’t taken these classes, but I know it would be nowhere near the road to getting published. ~ Sarah P.

I really enjoyed taking WPPS with Christina. Having a seasoned professional critique my assignments was invaluable and helped me take my writing to the next level. ~ Laura L.

This course was just what I needed to help me progress in my writing career.  I worked hard, and was very grateful for advice and feedback from a knowledgeable, experienced writer. ~ Jennifer J.

Christina teaches an approach that is efficient and professional. I am off to a good start writing quality articles, I know how to analyze markets to see where my subject areas fill a need, and I know how to put forth my best efforts in a professional way that gets the attention and respect of editors. ~ Valorie H.

Christina makes the world of publishing more accessible by starting with the short stuff. Her “can do” attitude is contagious, and with the information I’ve gained from this class, I feel like I can start submitting articles immediately. ~ Tiffany C.

“What is the next step?” Christina asks students this question throughout the course of the class, which, along with her expertise and genuine support and encouragement, has helped me turn ideas into actionable results and published work. Thanks to Christina’s courses and dream team, I have a real plan for my writing career. ~ Heather V.

If you received gift cards for books for Hanukkah or Christmas, I hope you will use them to purchase any of my three Writer’s Digest books.

My books teach practical, professional skills to writers who write for love and money. Opportunities for writing success are all around us. For any writer success is simply a matter of one focused effort after the other. Once a writer has momentum that’s when things start to get really exciting.

In all of my books, I teach writers how to find their natural momentum through repeated bursts of focused energy. But my books contain much more than simple writing instruction. They are guidebooks to expressing yourself through publishing in order to make an immediate and long-term impact in the world.

The tone in all of my books is encouraging and optimistic. They are written writer-to-writer and explain how you can succeed no matter what is happening in the marketplace. My books will help you discover and activate your writing career potential and have already helped thousands of writers to succeed. I hope you will add them to your real or virtual bookshelves!

The Writer’s Workout: 366 Tips, Tasks & Techniques from your Writing Career Coach

Amazon

Kindle

Barnes & Noble

Powell’s

Indiebound

Writer’s Digest

BooksAMillion

iTunes

Get Known Before The Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Powells.com

Indiebound

Writersdigest.com

iTunes

Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Powells.com

Indiebound

WritersDigest.com

iTunes

Author platform, writer platform, artist platform, or simply, platform. Regardless of what you call it, here are the top ten things that matter in an author platform.

These are also the top ten things to keep in mind when building your author platform:

1. Ownership. Who owns your platform? You do. Who can make the most of your hard work? That would be you.

2. Power. You have as much platform power as you do influence. Think that you have to influence the whole world to make an impact? Think again.

3. Energy. Your platform is not what you say. It’s not a message. It’s what you do. What you stand for. It’s who you are and the measure of your good intentions. If you are dynamic; your platform is dynamic. If your platform is not dynamic, it should be.

4. Integrity. If you are just trying to win the short-term profit game, you lose. If you don’t genuinely care about readers, this will be apparent. If you step on other peoples’ toes everywhere you go, they will not forget. Integrity means you can stand up in the face of opposition and calmly voice your honest opinion. It means you know what you know because you know it, not because you are part of an echo chamber.

5. Potential. Where is the greatest potential in your platform? Is it out there somewhere? Is it through social media? Nope? It’s a constantly renewable resource in you. But you have to share what you have to make it meaningful to others. Technology is neutral. People with something sincere to offer are contagious. The word will get around, even if the Internet goes black.

6. Transformation. If you don’t have anything that can create or inspire a genuine change in the reader, then maybe wait until you do before investing a lot to time, energy, and money in your platform.

7. Creativity. There is a natural, organic quality to creativity. Art and ideas are inherently creative. Your creativity expressed enhances your life and the lives of others. Self-expression only hurts when it is suppressed or repressed. You have to have an ego to be creative, but you can’t create well if you are ruled by ego. Have enough ego to think you deserve a platform.

8. Purity. If you have no qualms about leveraging other people’s assets as though they were your own, then maybe you are shameless. People with integrity don’t lean on other people’s work or call it their own. They base their ideas on their own work or extensive research and give credit where credit is due.

9. Authenticity. When you do good work with integrity, name it and claim it. If it’s authentic, it’s got your name all over it, so don’t worry about it. However, if you don’t appreciate and celebrate your own good work, then neither will anyone else. Start your platform by appreciating all that you have done. Then move on to the next most important thing you can do.

10. Freedom. Freedom means you answer to your heart. No other master. To name and claim your platform is to become a voice in the world. Expressing yourself in the world when you have something to say is freeing. Saying what you have to say because you dedicate your work to others is inherently empowering.

When you put your name at the center of your platform, you make a space for yourself in the world. When you showcase your best work in the world, you activate your platform. When you stand on top of the success you have built in the past and use it as way to be more visible for the future, you make waves in the world. When you serve the world, you start to make an impact.

But you can’t build an author platform by sitting back and watching. You can’t build an author platform by talking about what you are going to do or by critiquing others. If you want everyone to know your name, you need to know what it stands for first.

Content and keywords and other buzz words don’t inspire the greatest platforms humanity has ever seen. Passionate people with dedicated followings create the most of the meaningful change in the world. They always have and they always will. These are the people who will be remembered. These are the platforms that will be remembered. This is the kind of platform worth building. Why not begin yours today?

• • •

The Writer’s Workout, 366 Tips, Tasks & Techniques From Your Writing Career Coach is written by Christina Katz for Writer’s Digest Books. For sale everywhere quality books are sold, including: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, IndieBound and Writer’s Digest. Listen to the introduction. Download an excerpt from Scribd. Get motivated by The Writer’s Workout Motivational Poster. Ready to get your career into shape? Let’s write the future…together.

I’ve already shared my “Think Big!” holiday ideas for writers this year, so now let’s shift gears and think small.

Here are some of the holiday indulgences I wish for you…

1. Mrs. Meyers Iowa Pine Hand Soap LINK

2. A subscription to your favorite magazines (this site offers great discounts)

3. An inspirational poster for your home office

4. An Eggnog Latté from Starbucks—extra hot!

5. Picture frames or shadow boxes from the craft supply store to display your book or e-book covers

6. A set of your favorite writing pens in a rainbow of colors

7. A stack of colorful index cards for jotting down all you good ideas

8. A book to address exactly the skill you need to master next year (how about Writer Mama?)

9. Fun new business cards for networking LINK

10. A Writer Mama mug LINK

11. A set of thank you cards with your initials LINK

12. An IKEA catalog LINK

13. A new book by one of your favorite authors

14. 50 questions for self-reflection

15. A brand new sketch book, notepad or journal LINK

16. A collection of reminders to put yourself first

17. A pretty paperweight that reminds you of your worth

18. A fun children’s book for you

19. Large clear jars to hold all your idea notecards

20. A writer mama cap LINK

21. White sage to burn in your office to banish bad mojo

22. Fuzzy socks

23. A new calendar for next year (Here’s the one I get every year)

24. Sturdy slippers

25. An iTunes card to spend on music or apps you crave

26. A set of cute hooks on which to hang things that dangle

27. A cozy bathrobe

28. An ebook reader LINK

29. Assorted organic teas LINK

30. A gaggle of holiday movies

31. A cupcake celebration for all that you accomplished this year! (or a virtual one)

~ Photo by bettylynne

I am a veteran journalist, author and coach with over a decade and a half of experience and a wealth of techniques to share. I am focused on making the world a saner, more expressive place. I help folks become more creative for personal enjoyment, professional development and transformational growth. Whether you are a professional creative or hope to become one some day, I can help you embrace your personal strengths, explore your creative possibilities, and evolve incrementally into your most inspiring self. If you are ready to achieve creative consistency in your life and career, email me about monthly coaching calls. To learn more about increasing your creative confidence, please check out my online school. Stay tuned for ways to save money by becoming a Beta User for my next new course by subscribing to The Prosperous Creative. And don’t forget to get these blog posts delivered to your inbox, so you never miss a post. If you appreciate my work—school, products, blog and social media posts—you are welcome to make a contribution of any size at any time. Thank you for your support!

…and discover a whole new career in the New Year!

Discover the writing career that is the one you always wanted, not the one you feel like you got stuck with because of a challenging marketplace.

The truth is: we are creating the marketplace. Writers and readers are co-creating the marketplace together. We get to decide whether this affair is fun or not. So let’s decide to make it more enriching for all of us.

Where do you fit in? How can you enjoy your career more in 2013 instead of being driven into survival mode by fear and anxiety?

You can take a little time to dive deeper into who you are already by uncovering what makes you unique before you get busy. If you have been busy all year long without much time for reflection about the big picture of your career and where and how you fit in, then this e-workbook is for you.

The marketplace is crowded. Every single person you encounter in your career needs to know what makes you unique. Otherwise you are just part of the masses. Just another name in the crowd of millions of writers.

Growing a prosperous, ever-evolving, engaging platform is worth time and reflection each year. If you don’t take the time to do this work each year, a year from now, you will only be further along on the trajectory you are already on today.

Is this the trajectory you wanted? Do you want to deepen and expand on opportunities you’ve already started? Are you enjoying your writing career as much as you had hoped you would?

If you answered no to any of these questions, then my workbook, Discover Your Platform Potential can help you take your writing career to a deeper, more prosperous, more satisfying level with less fear and anxiety and more personal satisfaction on a daily basis, when you apply what you learn from the workbook.

Today is the last day for the discount price. Tomorrow the price goes back up. Don’t miss this chance to conduct an annual inventory on your platform, find out what makes your writing career tick, and then ride that platform power into your most successful year yet in 2013.

Happy almost 2013, writers! Let’s build a more prosperous future for writers together, folks. And that future begins with you and your platform potential.

• • •

Get Known Before The Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow Your Author Platform is written by Christina Katz for Writer’s Digest Books. For sale everywhere quality books are sold, including: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, IndieBound and Writer’s Digest. Watch the book trailer. Check out the companion workbook, Discover Your Platform Potential. Read my Writer’s Digest article, “50 Ways To Build Your Platform In Five Minutes A Day.” If you are ready to get to work, see when my next Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform class begins. Ready to build your writer platform? Let’s uncover what sets you apart from the crowd…together.