Yesterday, I said that my mission for 2012 is to help writers get back to writing so we can all feel more creatively confident and prepared for what lies ahead in 2012.
Need a pep talk on the subject? Here’s a short audio from The Writer’s Workout:
Chapter 119 From The Writer’s Workout Cultivate Creative Confidence
To order, use any of the links below or visit your favorite bookseller!
My latest article for Writer's Digest appears in the Writer's Yearbook 2012 on stands and available from WD.com now!
If you have read any of my new book, you know that it focuses on putting your writing at the center of your writing career, and allowing everything else to follow from there.
Yes, you need to learn more skills than ever to succeed at a professional writing career, but the writing must come first and as writers we must return to the writing over and over as we grow our careers.
I have been working with writers for over a decade now and here is what I’ve noticed: a writing writer is a happy writer. And a writer who is doing everything else besides writing, when writing is what they’d really rather be doing, is an unhappy writer.
If you are a writer, everything you are emerges from the writing you actually do. I don’t know how to say it any more clearly than that.
Enter 2012. We now have more tools available to produce our own success than ever. But this brings a new dilemma—which tools do we use and when? How do we know what to do? How can we do what we do with excellence? And how can we create consistently positive results?
Well, just as the writing would not happen without a writer’s full engagement, writing success won’t happen on its own or maintain itself without your thoughtful, focused attention. It also helps to have a great mentor and be surrounded by other who behave like professionals.
A challenge for me, as a writer and writing coach, has been how can I clone myself? How can I help thousands of writers without becoming personally drained, emotionally exhausted, and creatively spent on a daily basis?
How do I get my hard-won knowledge about helping writers create writing career success to writers and still take care of my own professional and personal responsibilities?
Well, I’ve worked long and hard to solve this dilemma. And I feel I have finally resolved it. Here’s how you can work with me if you would like to:
I write books and workbooks for a global audience of writers. You may know what books I am talking about (Writer Mama, Get Known, Author Mama, and The Writer’s Workout). I have one workbook out so far, with more to roll out in 2012 (so far, Build Your Author Platform goes with Get Known.) If you want to know what I know, read my books. If you read my books and liked them, I would appreciate your word-of-mouth support any time you want to give it. I especially appreciate book reviews.
I write articles for a global audience of writers. I don’t have to ask people to read my articles, they are widely read and widely appreciated by writers. But hey, if you want to forward links to your favorites or tweet them or post them on Facebook, I am all for it. If you want more depth on subtopics of what I know, please read my articles.
I write articles on topics I enjoy writing about for regional audiences of women, moms and parents. I don’t tend to buzz these much because I sell and resell them year after year. Some day, I’ll put them all in a collection, but not yet. Chances are very good that your regional parenting magazine editor is already on my regular contact list.
I audio coach wide audiences of writers. This is new. I learned how to do this in the “flash class” to celebrate the launch of The Writer’s Workout and it went so unbelievably well that I decided to do more in 2012. In the meantime, my newsletter subscribers have first dibs on the first audio coaching session this year.
I speak to large groups of writers. I give keynotes, presentations, workshops, and I moderate panels. My objective whenever I speak is always to inspire writers to wake up and seize the opportunities that are right in front of us. Listeners tell me they are inspired into action by this focus. If you have heard me speak, feel free to get in touch and let me know what you thought.
I teach small groups of writers on a six-week basis. I have been teaching groups of writers consistently for ten years. My writing classes launch writing careers. I teach five sessions of small classes a year. My students learn skills that they can immediately apply to their writing, selling, self-promotion, specializing, and micro-publishing repertoire.
I train small groups of former students on a half-year basis. I have been doing this for two years and I absolutely love it. Via my five-month training groups, my former students get more support from me, I get to encourage them as a group, and the members encourage each other. The results are so powerful they sometimes bring me to tears.
I produce my own success while simultaneously partnering with trust-worthy others. Don’t skip over the “trust-worthy” part. If I feel that if someone is no longer an excellent resource, I will simply stop recommending them. I don’t just partner with anyone for the sake of cronyism. I am selective, conscientious, and a good judge of character.
I am a writer, a writing career coach, a speaker, and a teacher. I keep writing at the center of everything I do. And I encourage every other writer on the planet to do the same thing.
I help writers get from however they feel today to personally and professionally satisfied with their writing life. There is no reason to wait. Success is not “out there.” It’s right here and it’s always waiting for us to wake up and get back to work.
Writing career success never happens overnight. The job is never done. But you’d better believe that it happens. And it can happen for you in 2012. I hope that it does. And I hope that my work is helpful.
I am at that point in my book launch where there are so many people to thank and I can’t keep up. (Just moan quietly if you know the challenge of whence I speak.)
So, I’m going to give it a shot here and offer a quick shout out to all the folks who have been so wonderfully helpful and generous this past week.
Here goes…
First, I want to thank Willamette Writers for having me speak to the Portland branch on Tuesday, January 3rd. I had a wonderful time and it was great to see so many familiar and new faces. Special thanks to Mary Andonian, Bill Johnson, Cynthia Whitcomb, Val Mallinson, Leona Grieve, and Mary Margaret Maitland. I’d also like to thank William Hertling (@hertling) for blogging my talk so nicely. 🙂
I would also like to thank all the fine folks at Writer’s Digest, who I know are working their tails off right now to put on a great educational immersion experience for writers in NYC from Friday, January 20th – Sunday, January 22nd.
I will see tons of awesome folks once I get there and their names literally speak for themselves, but the folks you will want to thank for all of this literary inspiration include:
Phil Sexton
Sally Slack
…and many, many more!
Follow @WritersDigest for all the scoop.
But first use MY MASSIVE DISCOUNT if you want to sign up for the full conference because it’s the best code out there. See the conference badge in the sidebar and follow the instructions >>>.
If you are wondering why I am not doing any conferences around my home town…I am! I’m the keynote speaker at veteran author Jessica Morrell’s mini-conference in Portland, Oregon, which takes place all day on Saturday, January 28th. If you would like to hang out all day with me, this is they closest and most convenient way to do it…this month. Did I mention that this conference is only 99 bucks? You can’t beat that price, which includes breakfast, lunch, workshops, and my keynote. Inspiration? Education? Writers! Yowza! Hope to see you there! More info…
Your assignment today is to track down a cupcake and eat it in honor of the publication of The Writer’s Workout.
If you don’t eat a cupcake today, I will feel very uncelebrated. 🙁
So please, grab some cupcakes, share them with your families, and have a cupcake toast in the general direction of the Pacific Northwest.
Thank you for celebrating with me!
I promise to pay you back by eating cupcakes in your honor any day of the week. 🙂
Sincere thanks to so many people for so much support!
This coaching experience is reserved for folks who have already purchased a copy of The Writer’s Workout.
It’s not too late to get your copy and send me your receipt by email, so you can come. Order information for the book is here. Just email your receipt to: christina at christina katz dot com.
Please email your receipt to me TODAY by noon Pacific Standard Time (that’s 3 pm ET), so I can finish up my administrative work at a reasonable hour and send you all the instructions you’ll need.
During the flash class, I will be coaching writers in every genre on three topics related to writing success in 2012:
Your job in the flash class is to listen to three short audio recordings and follow each with some focused brainstorming for your writing career in 2012.
When the day is over, the class is over. So please mark your calendars and show up ready to jam out some ideas.
For now, your job is simply to put a reminder on your calendar to swing by some time on Tuesday. You are probably wondering how much time you should set aside.
Well, I’m a softie, so I’ll probably send you home with materials you can work on after the flash class, in case you don’t have enough time tomorrow to complete all of your assignments.
But if you’ve already set aside time, you’ll be glad you did because you can get a jump on your work.
You know, my students have done some incredible stuff thus far. And I have been very blessed to work with all of them.
And tomorrow, Tuesday, January 10th, I look forward to working with all of you!
No need to read your book first or bring it with you when you access the “flash class.” Purchase is only required to enter. Your book purchase is your ticket to a day’s worth of free coaching. But naturally I hope you will read the book eventually.
I’m so excited! I’ve never tried to coach this many people all over the world in one day. I think it’s going to be great fun!
I’ll see you here tomorrow. Look in your email inbox for instructions to arrive just before midnight tonight.
Since I am hosting a free “flash class” coaching session on Tuesday for Writer’s Workout readers, I thought I would post an audio of the introduction of the book.
And here it is!
Christina Katz reading TWW Intro
It’s not too late to order. Use any of the links below or visit your favorite bookseller!
Not to “get discovered.”
In fact, I hope you don’t get discovered. I hope you discover yourself instead.
The problem with a conference full of folks who are hoping to “get discovered” is that very few of them will actually get discovered.
Of course, there is nothing wrong with attending a conference where you get to rub up against some of the top agents in NYC, including mine. This is an incredible learning opportunity, not to mention a chance for you to witness individuals up close and personal.
So, if you come to the Writer’s Digest Conference for no other reason, come so you can see that agents are mere mortals just like you and me. This will improve your chances of being able to speak to them without stuttering excessively.
There is also nothing wrong with attending a conference in New York City where you get to learn from and shake hands with some of the most knowledgeable teachers of writers around. I hope you won’t miss the opportunity to walk up to as many presenters as you can and stick out your hand. I still do this as often as I can.
Because here’s the deal: it’s not about us (the agents and other folks presenting and facilitating at the conference) being ready for you…it’s about you being ready for us.
And I don’t mean killing yourself with preparation. I mean showing up and being present and having a good time. This is what makes for a great conference. So…
Are you ready?
Are you game?
Are you willing?
Because these are attitudes that will help you get the most out of a conference.
If it’s not already apparent that this is one of the premier conferences in the North America, then please read the conference description again. Seriously. Did you see the lineup? It’s awesome and a half.
And please don’t come to cram your elevator speech down everybody’s throat. Unless you are in a pitching context, wait until you are politely asked about your work.
I know I always ask. It’s one of the first things I want to know when I meet a writer. And I don’t need to hear a rehearsed speech necessarily. I just want to know who you are and what your passionate about writing.
Let’s face it, folks, most writers are not yet ready for an agent and traditional book deal. They don’t have the experience (yet). They don’t have the confidence (yet). They have not written their way there or built the platform that they are going to need (yet).
“Yet” is the reason to come, not the reason not to come.
I always say that it’s important to invest in your writing career in order to take it to the next level. You guys have heard me say this a million times by now. This conference is a great way to do that.
I am honored to be presenting on…
Mailbox Full of Money: Micro-publish Your Way from Beginning to Book Deal
I’m also moderating a panel on…
Hardcore Author Marketing – What to Do to Rise Above in the Digital Age
I would go on and on about my fellow presenters, but I think their names speak for themselves. If they don’t, you might want to follow and friend them on social media.
Yes, I have a special speaker discount I can offer you. Just click on the conference badge below and then when you proceed through checkout use the code: WDCSPEAKER12 (this applies to new registrants and the full conference fee only):
And now, cue the New York, New York song!
I hope to see you there in a couple of weeks!
More kind words about The Writer’s Workout from reviewers:
I’ve taken several of Christina’s writing classes over the last few years and the skills I learned and the insights into the changing world of writing she shared have kept our public relations and freelance writing business current and earning during a very difficult economy. Her latest book takes all the tips, tricks, knowledge and the best of her coaching and motivating skills and turns them into actionable, doable, and valuable tasks writers can make to stay at the top of their writing game and organize their business to produce and sell. If your goal is to take your writing to a more professional, productive level and to increase your earnings in 2012, then this is an important investment in your writing career.
~ ReadingMama in an Amazon review
The Writer’s Workout is a rare find in a world of quick fixes and new ways to conform to others’ existing standards. Ms. Katz at once nudges a writer to organically grow and develop her body of work while setting and maintaining high personal standards and an impeccable work ethic. I have not yet found any book on writing to offer an approach so pragmatic that somehow innately nurtures the soul of our work. I have no doubt that students of Ms. Katz will emerge as the visionary writers of our time, and I am happy to have discovered her work at this point in my career.
As I near the dissertation phase of my doctoral work, I now have a renewed sense of hope that I can find ways to join my creative and scholarly publishing pursuits to develop a portfolio that pleases both me and my readers.
~ Melissa Howell, rhetoric and composition doctoral student in an Amazon review
As I’ve been creating my resolutions and goals for 2012 this week, I’ve also been reading Christina Katz’s new book for writers, The Writer’s Workout: 366 Tips, Tasks, & Techniques From Your Writing Career Coach. Over the years I’ve taken many online writing classes from Christina and read her other books for writers. Each one has boosted my writing career in just the way I needed it at the moment, and I expect it to be the same with The Writer’s Workout…
~ Read more of this review by Cynthia Hudson
The Writer’s Workout is now available everywhere books are sold. Email me your receipt by noon on January 9th — that’s just a week away — to attend my free Flash Class on Tuesday, January 10th. I’ll be answering your writing career questions all day.
Hope to see you there! More info here.
1. All writers are publishers now. If you are an author, tap into your backlist now. If you are an aspiring author, plan on it before, during, and after you are published.
2. Publishers are leveraging their backlists to the hilt. Watch for it, authors, if you have not seen it already. Check your contracts to make sure you get paid what you are due. If your publishers are not leveraging your best work, you should be.
3. Indie publishing is over. It was over last year. See #1 if you are unclear. In a world where publishing exists on such a long spectrum, there is no longer any room for black and white thinking.
4. It’s still great to be a published author. However, you want to understand the differences between old-world traditionally published and new world traditionally published before you start climbing this particularly steep mountain. Get informed before you get your hopes up.
5. Not only has publishing changed; the entire economy has changed. We are now living in a new gig economy. This is great news for writers. This is by far the best news on this entire list.
6. You probably still need an agent. Publishing industry contracts are more complicated and rights-grabbing than ever. But don’t be surprised if your publisher is less flexible to your agent’s requests more than they would have been in the past. Hopefully this will change as more authors leave publishers and refuse to grant all rights. Bestselling authors, we’re counting on you!
7. Just because publishing has evolved so dramatically does not mean you don’t still need skills. You need more skills than ever. Learn them from reputable individuals, who are genuinely interested in helping you cultivate and grow your unique strengths. But don’t be in an unholy rush. It won’t help you learn any faster.
8. Consider each dollar you invest in your career the equivalent of a vote. As always, you need to steadily invest in your writing career if you want it to grow. But in an economy like this one where most budgets are tight, it’s important to invest according to your values. Each dollar you spend is a vote of support. Support the folks who have earned your respect and take your eyeballs away from folks you do not or no longer trust.
9. Blogging is a tool, not a career choice. I’d rather see you become an expert in something specific and blog in an effort to support your mission than spend all your money trying to learn and leverage “insider blogging secrets” that put you right back where you are now a year from now. And always have your own home base online before you call another blog your home away from home.
10. Think ebook. Used to be, most writers first big goal used to be working their way up to a traditionally published book deal. Today, the first big finish line has become a successful ebook. This means learning the skills you need to have to write an ebook that will sell itself (not as easy as it sounds) so you can compete in the new economy.
And if your ebooks are not up to professional snuff, you’d better take ’em down and take ’em down fast. You’re best career move is to get them up to snuff before you re-post them. Otherwise your reputation is going to suffer in comparison to all the quality content that is coming down the pipe in 2012.
Need help navigating all the changes in the publishing industry?
Check out my new book, The Writer’s Workout, for an idea for every day of the upcoming Leap Year.
Has this post or any of my past work been helpful to you? Thanks for letting me know in the comments!
All my Dream Teams are full. I look forward to sharing motivational resources, time, and advice with these awesome groups! Next chance to participate is August – December. Take classes now to prepare to enter the appropriate group for your skill level.
See you in Portland, Oregon!
6:30 pm at The Old Church
Topic: New Year, Fit Career: Five Flabby Habits To Lose & Five Healthy Habits To Keep
More info / Become a member
Work With Me: Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff and Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform begin. A little room remaining in each class. Contact me at christina at christina katz dot com if you want to join us for a six-week workout that will either take your writing to the next level or lay the groundwork to grow a prosperous platform. Scholarship winners have been announced for each of these classes. Stay tuned to apply for the next scholarship in mid-February.
Work With Me: Pitching Practice, Write Six Queries in Six Weeks and 60 Ways To Flex Your Content & Prosper in your Niche. A little room remaining in each class. Contact me at christina at christina katz dot com if you want to join us for a six-week workout that will either take your writing to the next level or help you make the most of the writing you have already done. These are advanced classes, subject to prerequisites. No scholarships are available for these classes.
Your copy of the brand new Writer’s Workout entitles you to participation in a FREE three-part flash class specifically designed to help you make the most of what you have to offer in 2012. Here’s all the info on how to participate. I need your receipt submitted by noon on January 9th. So don’t delay. Order today and then email me your receipt, if you’d like to join us.
See you in Salem, Oregon!
6:30 pm at Roth’s
1130 Wallace Road NW
Topic: New Year, Fit Career: Five Flabby Habits To Lose & Five Healthy Habits To Keep
More info / Become a member
See you in New York City!
Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers
811 7th Avenue (between 52nd St and 53rd Street ), New York, New York
Topics:
Mailbox Full of Money: Micro-publish Your Way from Beginning to Book Deal
Panel Moderator: Hardcore Author Marketing – What to Do to Rise Above in the Digital Age
More info & register
See you in Portland, Oregon!
Lunch speaker & panelist
Lunch Topic: Never A Better Time To Be A Writer
Panel Topic: Risk It!
Saturday, January 28th, 8:30 am – 6:30 pm
Tabor Space, 55th and Belmont
More info & register
Making It in Tough and Changing Times (download the schedule)
January 29th
Presenting Karen Karbo
Passions Into Paychecks: Make A Living Without A Brand
At the Wilsonville Public Library in the Oak Room
Cost is $5.00 at the door. Door prizes awarded.
More info here.
The Prosperous Creative Affirmation Intensive is going to launch on February 1st rather than in January as previously announced. Because I have a pretty busy month.