Blisscraft Life With Christina Katz

In a way, everything I teach is a platform-development class, even a writing or a pitching class. But I do have classes that are specifically geared towards platform specializing and development moreso than others. This September, I will be teaching two of them. Both are Intermediate-level classes. Neither would work well for a total beginner to writing for publication. If that’s you, take a look at my writing classes instead.

Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform

You will learn how to leverage the strengths, passions and the track record you already have as the basis for your platform. You will be ready to build that all-important online presence your future readers will want. You will identify the appropriate audiences for your platform and create a focused, yet flexible platform you can commit to developing over the next several years. You’ll finish the class with an action/investment plan to grow your online presence.

What former students say:

I highly recommend this class for writers struggling to define their niche or confused about how to communicate it compellingly. Christina is a wise guide who facilitates the kind of inner exploration it takes to find and flesh out an authentic, sustainable platform. This class helped me get clear on who I am and what I bring to my audience. That’s priceless. ~ Heidi L.

Christina’s exceptional class focused my thoughts to build a specialty platform plan. Her assignments challenged and helped me look deeply into lifelong experiences to build an organized plan for getting published. ~ B. Hay

Discovering your platform is a journey. Christina is a patient guide who encourages you with every step. ~ T. Durante

Learn more

60 Ways To Flex Your Writing & Prosper In Your Niche

Emphasis on this class will be placed on generating the best possible ideas to position each student as a definitive thought leader on her topic. There has never been a better time to be a niche writer and after you take this class, you will understand why. Your little corner of the writing world should be fun, expansive, and profitable. And it will be after you complete this class.

What former students say:

This is a great class and Christina pushes you to stretch your idea muscles to the max. You will come away from this class with a notebook full of topics to write about that will keep you busy for a long, long time. ~ L. Seplak

This class allows you to get into the flow of your ideas while setting aside personal insecurities and worries about perfection. Christina shares a process that you can use long after the class is over to shake off the dust, explore, and dig deeper into your ideas. I came away feeling energized and enthusiastic about the possibilities and confident that I could use what I learned long into the future. I highly recommend this class to anyone feeling stuck and unsure about how to move forward. ~ C. Hines

After the final week class, it’s like Writer’s Christmas – you have all these packages of writing to open and play with.  ~ L. Davidson

Learn more

Hope to work with you on your platform development and expansion this fall!

I am offering three levels of writing classes this September. Check ’em out and please let me know if you have any questions:

Beginning Level (or Beginning Again):

Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff

You will learn how to create short, easy-to-write articles—a skill that will make it easier to work your way up to longer, more time-consuming articles (like features and profiles) when you’re ready. You will try your pen at tips, fillers, short interviews, list articles, how-tos, and the short personal essays—all within six weeks. And you will learn to submit your work with a basic cover letter.

What former students say:

Christina teaches as a wise friend of the new writer; encouraging through little steps, nudging the timid along, leaving each student thinking, “Gee, I really am a writer!” ~ Johannah B.

The WPSS workshop provided me with confidence, commitment and camaraderie. It was just what I needed to get myself to take the leap of submitting my work to publications. ~ Liz S.

Christina’s class was a great refresher to help me improve the quality of my writing, and distinguish between the kinds of articles I can publish. She had an uncanny ability to give me the right suggestions to improve not only class assignments, but my future writing work. The success of her students is clearly a priority to her.  ~ Rhonda F.

Learn more

Intermediate Level (or Getting Back Into Querying After a Hiatus):

Pitching Practice: Write Six Queries in Six Weeks

In this writing class, pitching is all you do. Over the course of six weeks, you crank out six queries, which is exactly the kind of practice you need if you want to get into the habit of landing better-paying assignments.

After you write and send six queries, you will never again ask, “What makes a strong query?” You will have developed your own style into a muscle that you can exercise over and over to obtain future assignments. Finding your rhythm, not anyone else’s, is what effective query writing is about.

What former students say:

This class exceeded my expectations. And, even better, it helped me exceed my own expectations. I almost didn’t take it—I didn’t think I could squeeze one more class into my frenzied schedule—but I’m tremendously happy that I did. I generated saleable queries, got invaluable feedback, and solidified my confidence and approach. And I’m ready to rock! ~ Malia J.

I needed Pitching Practice more than I realized. Christina taught me how to appreciate and develop successful query writing through practical exercises. Her feedback and gentle critiques helped me to have more confidence in pitching my ideas. ~ Judy M.

This class is the fabulous next step for anyone who’s been writing and is now serious about breaking into the magazine market (and yes, you have to be serious). Christina provides quality instruction and lots of tips on how to break in, along with valuable marketing information. This class is a must! ~ Joanna N.

Learn more

Advanced (You Have Both A Clear Niche and a Solid Platform):

Micro-publishing for Mom Writers

Why does e-book publishing make sense? For one thing, you can test-market an idea and find out if it might be desirable as a longer book project. For another, you can write your way to a traditional book deal, profiting from your ideas as you build up a body of work. And you can spin off paying articles from e-book topics and get paid twice, once when the article is published, and again when the article drives potential readers to your e-book.

What former students say:

Christina, thank you. The clarity and focus of my writing that has resulted from working with you, has made the past six weeks among the most important of my career. ~ Dylan K.

Christina’s lessons not only help you identify your specialty and write your e-book, they also help you create a polished, professional end project that you’ll be proud to put your name on and market.  ~ Cindy H.

Once again Christina has found a way to motivate and inspire writers into creating their own piece of expertise. It’s a stripped down, no holds barred, approach to moving a tiny seed of an idea into something that is ready to be self-published. Christina manages to keep the class above the hype of self-publishing and allows the space for her students to grow as writers.  ~ Krysty K.

Learn more

I teach writers to prosper by building solid, saleable, life-long career skills via classes and training groups that work even in a rapidly evolving publishing marketplace. If you would like to improve your skills in writing and publishing and prosper, I’d love to work with you in my next round of classes. Until then, happy writing!

The better you can remember this, the more content you will feel in your writing career.

Here’s something I wrote on my Facebook page the other day on this topic:

You are the architect of your success or lack of success. Just like the spider contains all the thread to weave the web that will catch the flies to sustain her. You have enough thread inside you to tear the whole damn mess down and start over again right now. And the minute you remember this, everything will flow.

And here is something else I wrote on the topic of the writer as spider from The Writer’s Workout in chapter 193: Observe A Spider…

Are you a mom, who would love to take the Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff Class that starts September 5th, but you would not otherwise be able to afford it?

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 Wednesday, August 8th 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 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 afford 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:

1. Please write one short paragraph about why you want to take the class, Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff.
2. 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.
3. Please briefly state why you are unable to afford the tuition for the class at this time (see note below).

[<<<Stop copying this application form]

Thanks for applying for The Writer Mama Scholarship!

I just got back from vacation in Colorado and I’m happy to be home.

I enjoy taking time away from my work, but I also love what I do, so it’s nice to get back to my desk.

Here’s a taste of some of the things on my list for this week:

Fall Dream Teams begin on Wednesday, August 1st. If you are a former student, and you want to hear the sweet sound of your voice as you report successes rather than excuses, then this is where you need to be and these are the groups of working writers you need to join. You may still sign up here until midnight tomorrow. There will be no late registrations accepted after tomorrow. I’m thrilled with the teams thus far. E-mail me if you have questions.

I’ll post the application for the Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff Scholarship tomorrow. There will only be five chances this academic year to apply, so make sure you apply each time if you hope to be selected as a recipient. Tune in tomorrow for all the details!

Classes with me begin on September 5th. I am teaching five classes in September so every student can get a big jump on the academic year. And all of my classes are newly improved and updated (something I do each summer). Join some of the most productive writers you will ever meet. Feel free to e-mail me with questions.

Fall is going to be awesome! And I’m looking forward to working alongside some of my most determined and hard-working students. I hope you can be one of them. In the meantime, enjoy the rest of your summer!

Guess who won a copy of Blacklisted From The PTA?

Robyn Leatherman!

Here’s her comment…

I’ve been wanting to get to know Lela; it’s actually on my to-do list! We both live in Arkansas, so hopefully I’ll bump into her some day! Humor enters my home in the form of our dachshund. She loves cheese and one day I heard her whimpering in the kitchen, so I left my home office to find her on her back, in front of the fridge. “You want cheese?’ – she jumped up, wagging her tail. I swear she was grinning at me!

Robyn, I think this is a great opportunity for you to fulfill that plan to get to know Lela Davidson.

Please contact me at christtina at christina katz dot com and we will get you that copy of Blacklisted From The PTA.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

If you want the straight dope on how to create a viable, sturdy, profitable writing career, The Writer's Workout can serve as your writing career checklist.

Publishing has changed quite a bit even since my first book deal in 2005. Now, only seven years later, the distance between totally unknown writer and book deal is longer and steeper than ever.

What you need to know about the publishing industry right now is that folks who would have been very likely to land book deals with decently paying first book contracts, are not landing these deals at the same rate of success.

I’ve noticed this pattern as publishers hold back on any kind of book other than what might be perceived as a sure seller.

What does this mean?

Bad news first: it will likely take you longer than you think to land a book deal. Actually, it will likely take you much longer, if it happens at all.

But I’m not sure this is all bad news. I’ll share more about the upside of author ownership tomorrow.

The good news is that more time before a first book deal means that writers can spend that time acquiring a broader range of skills, like the types of skills I enjoy teaching, which also (eventually) include self-publishing skills in the form of micro-publishing.

When you have a broader range of skills, you have more possible ways to succeed.

You will also probably have more self-motivation than a person who is traditionally published and falls into the trap of thinking that after traditional publication they will be “set.” (Nothing could be further from the truth.)

More time until your first traditional book deal means you also have more time to learn to produce your own success, which pays off in both the long run and the short run and is always necessary for any kind of success anyway.

In other words, micro-publishing teaches you to be less dependent on the failure or success of any one book and more dependent on what you accomplish today. And this is good news for writers, because if there is one thing we can control, it’s what we accomplished today.

As I always teach, writers, it’s not anything you do, it’s everything you do. And micro-publishing, whether that means writing for others or writing for yourself (or best case scenario–both), is going to play a huge role in your success as writer today and tomorrow.

So if you think about it, over-emphasis on the ever-elusive book deal with the traditional agent and tradition publisher is not really a well-rounded experience when it comes to publishing success in the short run and the long run.

You need to think bigger, wider, deeper. Any well-rounded education includes a discussion of author ownership and what that means in terms of leveraging all of the hard work you have already done into more profits and exposure today and tomorrow.

I am really looking forward to my 90-minutes session at the Pacific Northwest Writers Conference today called Mailbox Full of Money. If you ask me, a longer road to publication is one of the most exciting things going on in publishing right now, right after the rise in author ownership, which I will talk more about tomorrow in our three hour workshop on How You Do Anything is How You do Everything.

In the meantime, you may want to check out the free motivational poster available from Writer’s Digest that I created to celebrate publication of The Writer’s Workout. It’s got some solid tough love in there. And we all need this kind of pep talk on a regular basis, whether it’s welcome news or not.

Go to this page at Writersdigest.com and click on the link that says, “motivational poster” to download your free poster.

As a side note, in creating the content for this poster, I emulated the format of an article written by the late, brilliant author and screenwriter Nora Ephron. She wrote a piece for Time magazine after her book I Feel Bad About My Neck came out, sharing some of the nuggets she had learned from life. I loved the piece and was inspired to use it to write my own straight-shooting inspiration about what I’ve learned from my writing career. I hope you like it.

Thank you, Nora Ephron for the inspiration and the laughs.

This handout courtesy of my latest book, The Writer's Workout from Writer's Digest Books.

I often speak at writing conferences around the country.

This weekend, I am a featured presenter at the Pacific Northwest Writers Association Conference in Seattle.

I thought I would share some of my handouts with you, because they are the kinds of worksheets that can benefit any writer attending any conference.

This first handout can help you get more out of any conference, personally and professionally.

You’ll likely do best using this worksheet if you fill it out, from memory, the day after a conference.

It’s not a bad habit to get into while you are emptying out your conference tote bag.

Please let me know if it helps! Happy conferencing!

Take 25 Actions Post-conference Worksheet By Christina Katz

Folks asked me to announce what books we are reading next further in advance, so I’m getting a jump on Fall.

We are taking August off but we will begin the discussions for the next two books on the second Monday of each month, so don’t delay!

Our next TWO books will be…drumroll, please!

When Women Were Birds by Terry Tempest Williams.

Discussion starts Monday, September 10th.





and

Shout Her Lovely Name by Natalie Serber.

Discussion starts Monday, October 8th.





I hope you can read them and join our discussion.

Anyone is welcome to participate.

You are also invited to join our Facebook group.

Happy reading!