Blisscraft Life With Christina Katz

My platform workbook is now in its third edition with a new cover design (thank goodness) and title.

The PDF workbook formerly known as Build Your Author Platform, which originally appeared as part of Writer’s Digest’s Build Your Author Platform Kit last September, is now retitled Discover Your Platform Potential.

Much better, right?

The snazzy cover design is thanks to my husband, Jason Katz.

Everyone who had already ordered a copy has now received their updated version.

Here are few of my favorite short excerpts from the workbook:

Remember: Your platform is not your anxiety and fears made manifest. Readers are not interested in your neuroses writ large…Your platform is like a multimedia garden, which is always in a state of growth. (page 2-3)

You’re not just serving readers in general. You need to figure out who your readers are specifically and seek those specific kinds of people out and then serve them more deeply. (page eight)

Don’t just try to sell a book. Don’t just try to make a buck. Aim to serve your readers today, tomorrow, and down the road. (page 11)

You are not a type of mayonnaise. No matter how cool you are, you are not a toy. And even if you want your name to become as widely known as Coke, people will treat you like a person not like a soda. (page 14)

Establishing your name as belonging to a person who is a force within a particular field is key for writers. In fact, your name and what it’s worth is probably the most important aspect of your platform present and future. (page 14)

If you would like to learn more, please visit my Discover Your Platform Potential page.

Happy Summer Monday, folks!

I have a guest post over at Jane Friedman’s blog today called, “How To Impress The People You Interview (And Be Professional).”

Feel free to leave me a comment over there.

And while you are visiting, why not sign up for Jane’s helpful e-newsletter: Electric Speed.

Her latest issue shares the latest free tools for reading.

And literary magazine lovers can now sign up for The Virginia Quarterly Review newsletter, brought to us by Jane in her new role as web editor for the Virginia Quarterly Review, where she oversees digital content strategy and online marketing/promotion.

[I didn’t finish this post last night, so I’ll post it now, with the final post in this discussion coming later today.]

Today, July 14th , we continue the discussion for the Beyond Busy Global Monthly Book Club’s fourth book.

Anyone who has read our current discussion book can participate by commenting. You can also join our public BBGMBC Facebook group, if you would like to join us in reading one excellent quality book per month and then discussing it here.

And without further ado, let’s keep the discussion of Imagine: How Creativity Works by Johah Lehrer going.

I found this quote really interesting from Lee Unkrich, a Director at Pixar, “I’m not capable of surprising myself every day with some great new idea. That kind of magic can only come from the group.”

I disagree with this statement. In the context of Lehrer’s chapter what Unkrich is saying is that the group creates superior results compared to individuals.

I understand what he is saying. I agree that Pixar is socially designed to maximize the creativity of groups with the goal of creating superior movies. Although they didn’t accomplish this with their most recent movie, Brave, in my opinion, they certainly have a very solid track record.

My point is that I think this assumption, that we are not capable of surprising ourselves every day is wrong. Dead wrong.

We are capable of surprising ourselves and others with great regularity. But, of course, that doesn’t mean we will.

I think the culprit here may spring from conclusions from Lehrer’s research on the prefrontal cortex that came earlier in the book:

…all of us contain a vast reservoir of untapped creativity. The desire to make something beautiful, to express our luminous sensations, is not a rare drive confined to those with artistic training. That same desire is present in cellular biologists and stockbrokers, janitors and housewives. We don’t notice this need because we constantly suppress it, because the timid circuits of the prefrontal cortex keep us from risking self-expression.

This statement rang true for me. I believe that we are all creative powerhouses, mostly tied up in chains of our own making that prevent us from expressing our best work. Whether they are wrought from brain mechanics or peer pressure is not the point. The point is that we have to break out of the prisons we choose to live inside.

Unlike many of the opinions in this book, I don’t agree that working in groups, living in cities, and working for corporations are the only ways to get maximum creativity out. There are many other methods available to us in the Internet age and many individuals are operating at an extremely high level of creativity.

I believe we are capable of surprising ourselves every day and that when we do, it does feel like magic. I also feel like the people who do this on a regular basis make better problem-solvers and contributors to groups. However, if we don’t recognize the inherent power of the creative mind, then we are all sunk.

I think the early chapters of Lehrer’s book made clear the creative potential of the individual, but it’s disappointing for me as a reader to then think that the only logical outlet for individual creativity is working for corporations who have figured out ways of maximizing individual creativity to serve their production goals.

I much preferred the conclusions from the research on the schools that valued creativity. Like this one:

The vocational approach at NOCCA helps build grit in students. It teaches them how to be single-minded in pursuit of a goal, to sacrifice for the sake of a passion. The teachers demand hard work from their kids because they know, from personal experience, that creative success requires nothing less.

Sustained creativity takes grit. That’s for sure. And I love the idea that creativity can be taught.

Nevertheless, the guiding principles of NOCCA—that creativity can be taught, and that our kids are reservoirs of untapped talent—deserve to be widely implemented.

I loved the idea that the kids were learning more about merely the subjects that they were delving into. I loved the idea that they could apply what they had learned about their own creative potential and their own grit to any situation or professional field. One student commented:

“Oh, no way,” she says. “I’m not just learning how to dance here. It might look like that when you look at our classes because we’re always dancing. But that’s not it. What I’m really learning is how to say something.”

I think this is a key. When an individual is committed to creativity, both their own and participating with others, it leads to an ability to self-express. And that ability to self-express is truly a rare gift in our modern society. And one that is worth striving for both as individual and in the education of children.

What do you think?

[This is so late that I am going to back-date it so that all the BBGMBC posts stay together. Here we go!]

Today, July 15th, we continue the discussion for the Beyond Busy Global Monthly Book Club’s fourth book.

Anyone who has read our current discussion book can participate by commenting. You can also join our public BBGMBC Facebook group, if you would like to join us in reading one excellent quality book per month and then discussing it here.

And without further ado, let’s keep the discussion of Imagine: How Creativity Works by Johah Lehrer going.

It’s been over a week now since I finished reading this book and I have to ask myself what has stayed with me from what I read?

I’m happy that I have my notes from the book because I do find the book rather difficult to remember. But one chapter sticks out in my mind most. I feel like I can recall many of the points without having to go back to my notes. It’s the chapter about Shakespeare becoming a prolific writer in Elizabethan England. This section stood out for me because Lehrer seemed to be answering a long-standing question that many have always wondered about Shakespeare. That question is: how the heck did he become so prolific?

The way Lehrer explained it, I found his explanation to be credible. It was the perfect cultural combination of time and place and economic opportunity. When Lehrer talked about how so many of these opportunities to succeed as writers would not have existed only a few decades before, I felt moved. I felt like, wow, we might have missed out on Shakespeare. I could not even image that.

Think of how much Shakespeare has contributed to theater and literature. It’s impossible for me to imagine either without his works. So of all of the sections of the book, this one made the greatest impression on me.

Another part of the book that made a big impression on me was the section where Lehrer talked about the guy who moonlighted as a bartender and came up with the idea of a bacon-infused old-fashioned.

My parents drank old-fashions when I was a kid, so I know exactly what they taste like. And I have to say, that I found the idea of a bacon-infused old-fashioned absolutely fascinating. But mostly it stayed with me because it was like I could taste the drink while I was reading the book. I’m not sure if every reader had the same experience. In fact, I saw that one book reviewer was really annoyed with this example in the book. But I have to say that it must have meant something to the author because he wrote about it so compellingly and memorably.

And, reluctantly, I have to admit that there was one more section of the book that has stayed with me. It was the part about the invention of The Swiffer. I don’t use a Swiffer Sweeper. I find them annoying because they force me to buy into a whole system of products that I don’t necessarily want to support. However, I was hooked on the Swiffer dusters until I hired a cleaning team that believes in a washable mop head and good old-fashioned rags for dusting. So when I need to do a little spot mopping, I grab some Mrs. Meyer’s spray (because it smells really good) and an old-fashioned sponge mop. And it’s good enough for me.

However, I found the discussion of how the idea for the Swiffer mop was born to be very interesting. And what I got out of it more than anything is that if you want to revolutionize anything, you need to think outside the box. And thinking outside the box might seem easy, but it’s always much harder than you might expect. And it requires a ton of observation and analysis. And that makes sense to me.

So how about you. Without looking back at your notes, what sections or images come back to you from Imagine: How Creativity Works by Jonah Lehrer?

And thanks for joining the discussion!

I missed yesterday’s question, so I’m doing what any sensible person would do and combining two questions into one post.

The following chapters in The Writer’s Workout are recommended by agent, Dawn Frederick, at Red Sofa Literary.

There is much to be appreciated about THE WRITER’S WORKOUT.  The “sticky brain” approach, the 500-word dash, the suggestion of saving documents and blog posts that inspire you (to be read again later), honoring introspection (during the writing process), the benefits of “social artistry,” and more.  Christina even includes various exercises for developing one’s book ideas, one’s network, and more.  I especially like her “Take 25 Actions” exercise.  (A great idea!)

THE WRITER’S WORKOUT is an interactive book that only requires you the writer, and a willingness to learn and execute new practices to one’s writing routine. In the long run, one’s writerly life will benefit from these exercises.

So, do know it should be no surprise that THE WRITER’S WORKOUT will be required reading for my future clients – and highly recommended to my current ones too.

#14 – Solvency Plan
#19 – Culture a Body of Work
#21 – Writing Markets
#33 – Target Specific Markets
#38 – Dismantle Dismal Thinking
#49 – Awaken Your Senses
#62 – Lead Later
#81 – Serve Up
#83 – Unblock Yourself
#85 – Settle In
#107 – Prospect From Yourself
#110 – Dig Deeper Say More
#117 – Transform Impatience
#141 – Stockpile Resources
#144 – Stay Strong, Carry On
#177 – Don’t Rush Ripe (seriously folks, a must read)
#186 – Evaluate Your Visibility
#237 – Personal Not Egomanical
#266 – Keep it Professional
#280 – Benefits of Traditional Publishing
#285 – Benefits of Self-Publishing
#295 and #297 – Strut Your Social Side (pts. 1 & 2)
#308 – Go Global
#321 and #323 – Update Your Platform (pts. 1 & 2)
#364 – Flex Your Ideas

I’ve selected some of MY favorite chapters for a free round-up that will be coming out from Writer’s Digest soon. Don’t want to give away the surprise, so I’ll let them spread the word about the details…soon.

What are your favorite chapters in The Writer’s Workout? Got any?

Over the years, my classes have created a culture of writing success and not just in my own writing career. I have been a catalyst for success throughout an extended community of writers and together we have created a culture of success.

But none of the successes have happened overnight. In fact, I do not offer ANY advice for overnight success. And I never have.

I never offer “crash courses” where I dump excessive amounts of information that leave your head spinning. I only offer steadily paced six-week e-mail classes that any writer can fit into their busy schedule from anywhere.

I only offer slow and steady, raise-your-writing-career-alongside-your-busy-life advice. And that’s all I’ve ever offered. And what do you know–it works!

My classes are not about what’s going on in publishing. My classes are about what’s going on at your kitchen table or in your basement of at the local coffee shop, so that you can have something to bring to the publishing table. This is what creates publishing success. Nothing else.

Your success does not start out there, it’s starts with you. My classes are about the solid, productive steps you can take today. My classes are about what you can implement immediately to make good things happen in your writing career this week, next week, for six weeks, and beyond.

And once you’ve got the hang of these professional skills, they are yours to keep.

I have been teaching writers for eleven years and counting. If you are looking for a seasoned writing coach, who can help you create results, I hope you will consider my classes.

And now for some exciting news!

I Now Offer SIX Classes

These are the six classes I offer. Click on any badge to learn more (and big thanks to my Jason Katz for creating these badges for me!):

Returning AND Repeat Students Now Receive Deep Discounts

Because I use Paypal (and I have for years without a single hitch), I take every kind of payment you can imagine–credit card, e-check, debit, and payments from your Paypal account. And I’m pleased to announce the following discounts for returning students:

If you are a Returning Student, signing up to take another class with me, please e-mail me at christina at christina katz dot com so that I can send you a link that will register you with a $25 class discount.

If you are a Dream Team student, you are entitled to a $50 discount on any class you take during your Dream Team period. Please e-mail me for a special registration link to receive your discount.

I Accept Short-term PAYMENT PLANS From Students Who Take Classes & Dream Teams Together

If you are signing up for Dream Teams and Classes at the same time, this means you are a returning student intending to work with me on an ongoing basis. I will take as many as three payments for the combination of a team and a class or I will take five payments for a Dream Team and two classes, so long as you are paid in full one week prior to the start of each team/class.

I look forward to working with the same types of writers I always work with this fall–serious writers, who are ready to fulfill their potential, one day at a time.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I can be reached at christina at christina katz dot com.

Today, July 10th , we continue the discussion for the Beyond Busy Global Monthly Book Club’s fourth book.

Anyone who has read our current discussion book can participate by commenting. You can also join our public BBGMBC Facebook group, if you would like to join us in reading one excellent quality book per month and then discussing it here.

And without further ado, let’s keep the discussion of Imagine: How Creativity Works by Johah Lehrer going.

I was intrigued by one of the comments in yesterday’s discussion by book club member Lynne Spreen. She commented,”There’s a part on page 68 that explains how the brain, having finally understood something, is changed forever. And I felt kind of emotional, reading this. It seemed so beautiful, almost holy. To think that this is what our beautiful brains are laboring to achieve, and that such growth and development is possible! Made me feel like I was witnessing creation.”

I will share a few notes from the book that jumped out for me in the comments.

In the meantime, if you did any highlighting or underlining, feel free to share a few favorites in the comments below with or without your remarks.

Try to jump around the book a bit so we get a range of ideas.