Blisscraft Life With Christina Katz

Here’s how to be the most happily productive writer you can be:

Be imperfect. If you have to be perceived as perfect, or worse, feel like you have to be perfect, one day, with all that pressure on yourself, you might not be able to get out of bed in the morning. Here’s a better idea: get your imperfect self out of your imperfect bed and get going on your imperfect day. Then all that imagined pressure that comes with perfectionism becomes a non-issue.

Organize your career around work you love to do with people you enjoy working with. What a concept! If you are going to work for yourself, then you owe it to yourself to do the kind of work you love and only work with people you enjoy working with. Your work won’t be perfect and neither will your colleagues, but if you basically like it and them, you are on the right track.

Let it grow. Don’t expect your fledgling writing career to become the size of Stephen King’s or J. K. Rowling’s overnight. In fact, don’t expect your career to look like anyone’s career at all. Your career is yours. If you want to find out what it’s going to look like in the future then you have to get in it and grow it. This takes daily effort and patience but so does anything worthwhile, right?

Prioritize the most pressing concerns down to the single next most important thing. You can’t do everything at once, so identify what needs to be done next and just do that. Then do the next thing and the next and the next. I don’t care if you use a list or what method you use to determine what needs to get done, but you need to have a method of recalling your priorities that works for you. You also need to not get compulsive about organizational systems and chasing down the latest hacks because that’s not the same as following the dance of your own creative spark (unless that’s your passion).

Forget shoulds, what others are doing, and advice that runs you ragged. There is no shortage of people out there who would be happy to tell you what you should be and do. There are many others you can waste your time envying. And, you could waste time on the Internet until you die. But you are the only person who knows what matters to you. Figure it out and live by it.

Seek out win-win-win associations and partnerships. Steer clear of draining, negative types and once you figure out how, make it a habit. Do your own work first and then network with other successful, focused people. Only partner with the best of them.

Regularly assess what you’ve accomplished vs. what’s next vs. your future goals. There is a natural tension between where you would like to be and where you are. You have to learn to enjoy this feeling as a challenge you embrace rather than a mental construct your struggle against constantly. There are people who would rather struggle than succeed. If you are one of them, stop being mean to yourself and just take one constructive step every day. Pretty soon, you’ll be in the habit of taking constructive steps and you’ll find yourself happily productive in no time.

Learn from what has worked successfully. Pat yourself on the back for what you have already accomplished. Every time you are successful there is a goldmine of information revealed just for you. Learn from your personal experience and always build on your strengths even as you address your weaknesses.

And remember, no matter how much success you have already had, you still won’t wake up perfect. So don’t waste your time trying to create some pretty picture of what you think success should look like based on how it looks for others. Start doing your own work, your way, and stick with it.

~ Photo by the trial

Sometimes you just need a short-hand way to encapsulate all that you do.

And thanks to Jane Friedman, I have now found a way.

At the bottom of Jane’s recent newsletter, I saw a little social networking button for a site called About.Me.Com.

Curious person that I am, I thought to myself, “Hey, what’s that?”

I clicked on the button in Jane’s newsletter, which you should really sign up for if you haven’t already, and this is what I found.

I was impressed. And I wanted to learn more. So I clicked here and learned more in about two minutes.

Sold.

It took me about an hour to create my page. But I’m happy with the initial results.

Let me know what you think!

Check out my about.me profile!

And when I set up my About.Me page, I got a free pack of 50 biz cards from Moo.com, which will come in handy at my live launch party for The Writer’s Workout on December 4th at the Wilsonville Public Library. There will be cake! Hope to see you there.

I subscribe to posts on Google Alerts about author platform development. And most of the how-tos are remarkably generic and uninspiring.

Inevitably, they kick off with the advice to “create your brand.” And I have to confess that I guffaw every single time I read this.

Create your brand? How is a writer supposed to create a brand when so many have yet to even start sharing any work?

Pressure to “create your brand” before you begin writing and publishing your work is going to get in the way. It’s going to make your writing self-conscious. It’s going to make you think that you are “somebody” when nobody has read any of your stuff…because as crazy as this may sound most “writers” get discovered via their writing.

Another thing that makes me laugh is when supposed writers, typically men, take a cursory glance at my work and then pronounce it, “too basic.”

But when I try to investigate further and take a look at their writing, their platform, and the services that they provide their readers and the world…I can’t find anything.

Apparently, if you dismiss my work as too basic, you don’t have to try to get published, build your platform, or take responsibility for putting your writing out in the world —you can just sit around and critique those who actually work 40-50 hours a week doing just that.

I don’t write for people who want to sit around on high and do no writing. I write books for people who are ready to write, ready to get known, and ready to treat writing as a career.

Here’s what happens when you start taking your writing and your writing career more seriously: you start to recognize that there are hundreds and maybe even thousands of folks out there, who have no intention of ever taking their work seriously, and who are scornful towards those who do.

Steer clear of these people. They will take you out of your writing process and into debate-land, a place where little creative work gets accomplished.

The first thing I encourage writers to do is to take their writing more seriously without taking themselves too seriously. If you take yourself too seriously, you have already decided in advance how others should regard you instead of earning their regard. That’s ego, by the way, not creativity.

When you take your writing seriously, you start to grow a career, which is risky and daring and a long, exciting roller coaster ride with no immediate gratification. Hopefully this helps you know when you are on the right track.

But you can’t create if you hold yourself aloof. You can’t do it if the only way you will try is if there are quick shortcuts into an elite club. You can’t create if you are not willing to face your own inner demons. You can’t create if you think your primary job is to be a critic, because criticizing is not the same as creating.

And although you can learn a little from intelligent, thoughtful reflection of other writers’ work, you can learn ten times as much from actually doing your own work.

So get out of the debate club. Get out of the wannabe club. Get out of the branding club. And get back to your writing.

It will take you everywhere you want to go.

Read more on writing and platform-building in the brand-spanking new 366-prompt book, The Writer’s Workout, available for pre-order now at your favorite book retailer now! And yes, you can even get it in time to call it one of your holiday gifts.

I have been a writer and a writing instructor for a long time. And over time, I’ve come to realize that writers (and maybe even all people) can  be broken down into three kinds:

• Can Do People (These folks just do it)
• Can’t Do It Yet, But I’m Working On It, People (Even if they are a little frustrated at times)
• Can’t Do It, Won’t Do It, I’m Frustrated About It (And they like to blame others)

I coach writers in groups called Dream Teams and these teams tend to attract the first two kinds of people—the Can-Do People and the Can’t Do It Yet, But I’m Working On It People.

These are the kinds of folks anyone would appreciate having around. They really own it and don’t make excuses or project their responsibilities onto others in their pursuit of what they want and need.

For me, positive attitudes are like healthy people and negative attitudes are like people with viruses.

I try to remind myself that a negative person has a virus and not throw the person out with the black cloud.

But when I feel negativity coming at me again and again, I definitely take a step back.

Negativity is contagious. Just like a virus. And we all need to be reminded sometimes that others can be impacted by the kind of energy we put out into the world.

For my own sake, and the sake of my family and business, I try to steer clear of consistently negative people and I gravitate towards people who are consistently positive and pro-active…without being over the top.

Groundedness is a really important quality that I value in myself and others.

It’s taken years of practice but I am still sometimes tempted to jump in and try and help a person who consistently broadcasts unhappiness or helplessness.

But these days, I can pretty much let them be and choose to hang with the positive, proactive folks, instead.

And this one choice has an incredibly positive impact on my day-to-day life.

How about you?

Can do, can’t do, or somewhere in between?

The Northwest Author Series Presents Emily Chenoweth

This Sunday, October 23rd, I will be hosting author Emily Chenoweth as part of the Northwest Author Series at the Wilsonville Public Library. Emily’s topic is a popular one with folks trying to decide whether to write their stories as memoir or fiction: Memoir of Fiction? Make the Most of your Choice

Here’s a description of what her talk will cover:

You’ve got a great story in mind—but how should you tell it? “Tell all the truth but tell it slant,” Emily Dickinson advised. Do you aim for a faithful description of events, or do you use your experiences as fodder for fiction? In either case, you must construct a story with narrative and emotional integrity. In this workshop, novelist and essayist Emily Chenoweth offers tips, examples, writing exercises, and supplemental readings to help you turn life into art.

And here’s a little more about her: Emily Chenoweth is a former fiction editor of Publishers Weekly and the author of the semi-autobiographical novel, Hello Goodbye, which was nominated for an Oregon Book Award and was named one of the top ten Northwest books of 2009 by The Oregonian. Her work has appeared in Tin House, Self, Bookforum, People, Plazm, and the anthology The Friend Who Got Away.

Hope To See You At the Chuckanut Writers Conference in Bellingham, Washington

Everything comes full circle, and I am very pleased to announce that I will be appearing at the Chuckanut Writer’s Conference in Bellingham, Washington on June 22nd and 23rd. I got my start teaching writing at Whatcom Community College, which resulted in publishing three years’ of my students work in an anthology before we moved to Wilsonville. I am thrilled to be returning to Bellingham as part of my Writer’s Workout tour. Special thanks to Lorraine Wilde for telling me about the conference. I am also thrilled to be working with Linda Howson again. She is the community education program coordinator at WCC and is also the conference chairperson. I’m also looking forward to working with Village Books in historic Fairhaven, which was one of my favorite haunts when my daughter Samantha was a baby. I can’t wait to hear more about the line-up and have a reunion with my former students. If you live in Northern, Washington state, I hope to see you there! More info coming to this link soon.

Upcoming Class Schedule: A Few Announcements

I am already being asked about my 2012 class schedule. I promise to have it posted soon. In the meantime, I thought I’d share a few comments from recent students:

Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff

I’ve been looking around at various writer’s helps on the Internet (books, Web sites, and so forth), and I’ve noticed that it all leaves me feeling a bit daunted. Your materials, on the other hand, leave me feeling “I can do this!” You are very clear about the work that it takes — the diligence needed to improve as a writer, the process of finding the right places for submission, the never-give-up attitude — but I think that one of the most valuable things about your course is the can-do attitude it imparts to your students, at least to this one. Thanks again.  ~ Caroline W.

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.

Have you always dreamed of being a writer but then talked yourself out of it thinking “I can’t really do that.” Think again! This class is the perfect mix of practical information and inspiration that will get your pen moving. At the end of six weeks you will say “I am a writer.”  ~ Gwyneth W.

I love writing and I love my kids and I love how Christina helps us learn how to balance these two loves. She gives us her experience and knowledge in a well-organized, friendly and encouraging format. I firmly believe that this class has helped me uncover the writer that I really want to be.  ~ Kristin W.

Pitching Practice: Pitch Six Queries in Six Weeks Feedback

I really resisted taking this class. My queries have always been decent and I really didn’t think there was much I could do to improve them. Christina really helped me kick them up a notch! I gained a ton of confidence and really have developed a process as to what needs to be included in a query and the type of background knowledge and research that I should have in place before I pitch an idea.  ~ Krysty K.

This class gave me the resources, advice, know-how and, most of all, the kick-in-the-pants I needed to confidently fire up my querying machine. I’m excited about keeping up the momentum and putting what I’ve learned into action.  ~ Christa H.

Querying is a writing muscle that can’t be developed through simply imitating someone else’s work. It has to be gained through practice – proper practice. And like gaining strength in any muscle, learning how to query requires progressive intensity. Christina Katz understands this and has constructed an excellent class that builds, week upon week. Her coaching showed me how to exercise my way to a place of real strength. After years of weak queries, I’m finally hefting pitches with muscle.  ~ Lara K.

More information on Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff and Pitching Practice

Hope to work with you soon!

I just realized that, due to the forthcoming launch of The Writer’s Workout on December 6th, this Wednesday is your last chance to take classes with me or Abigail Green in 2011.

I will be announcing the line up of classes for 2012 by the end of this month.

Here are ten reasons to take one of our classes:

1. You want to accumulate a body of publishable work, but you are not getting there on your own.
2. You like taking classes, especially inexpensive classes that conclude with you creating enough work to potentially cover the cost of the class.
3. You get distracted easily. You need help focusing on getting your own best-quality work done.
4. You are bursting with ideas and/or stories you want to share. And you have so many that it’s hard to get any of them on paper intact.
5. You get overwhelmed by all the possible ways to “break in.” You need someone to break this process down into manageable steps for you, so you can take the steps and receive validation for your work.
6. You have read tons of books or attended conferences or events that get you pumped up, but then lose steam or feel overwhelmed once you try to execute what you have learned.
7. You are ready to see your name in print.
8. You want to know if you have what it takes to get started writing for publication.
9. You know our former students get published, create a solid track record of publishing success, and build unique platforms based on growing expertise and you also want to accomplish these things.
10. You are tired of talking about writing and you are ready to actually write.
11. Bonus reason: you might want to take a Dream Team or Micro-publish an e-book working with Christina, and you know these classes are prerequisites for her advanced level training. (The next round for both begins in January 2012.)

Are you ready? If you are, we would love to work with you.

The following classes start Wednesday:

Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff—Celebrating Five Years of Working with Mom Writers! Learn more here

Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform (Not just for mom writers and not just for nonfiction writers) Learn more here

Personal Essays That Get Published with Abigail Green, Newly updated! Learn more here

Personal Essays That Get Published: Level Two with Abigail Green, Newly updated! Learn more here

Hope to work with you soon!

NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!

Here’s a sneak peak at where I’ll be speaking on topics related the forthcoming launch of my third book, The Writer’s Workout.

December 4th: The Northwest Author Series in Wilsonville, Oregon

3:30 – 5:30 @ The Wilsonville Public Library in the Oak Room
Topic: The Writer’s Workout: Whip Your Literary Ambitions Into Shape
More info

January 3rd: Willamette Writers 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

January 20-22nd, 2012: Writer’s Digest Conference

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

February 29-March 3rd: Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Panel organizer & moderator
Topic: The Tech-Empowered Writer: Embrace New Media, Experiment & Earn
February 29-March 3, 2012
Hilton Chicago & Palmer House Hilton, Chicago, Illinois
More info

April 13-14th, 2012: Mad Anthony Writer’s Conference

Keynote speaker
Historic Hamilton, Ohio
Details: http://writelikemad.com/

April 20-22nd, 2012: Missouri Writer’s Guild Conference

Keynote speaker & workshop presenter

Doubletree Hotel and Conference Center, Chesterfield, Missouri

Details: http://www.missouriwritersguild.org/conference2012v2/index.htm

I have made the mistake of maintaining an e-mail with my Internet provider for too long.

As of today, October 1st, I’m making a smart move to make my e-mail address jibe with my online home.

It costs a little more each year but I think it’s worth it.

My new e-mail address is christina at christina katz dot com. This e-mail is for direct contact only, not for adding to any lists.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Today is the last day to purchase my self-study curriculum, Build Your Author Platform, as part of the September Premium Collection from Writer’s Digest of the same name.

If you have worked with me or read my books, you know that I don’t do “crash courses” in anything. I only offer comprehensive classes that build rock solid skills that a writer can take to the bank over and over for the rest of his or her career. So you won’t find a crash course on how to build your author platform in this kit.

But you will find a complete set of paces you can put yourself through so that you can create the appropriate platform for you over time. The kit also contains my book, Get Known Before the Book Deal, which you will also use as part of the self-study course. And it contains the May/June 2009 issue of Writer’s Digest with my article, “Build Your Power Platform.” Not to mention tons of great resources from other contributors to the kit like Jane Friedman, Tim Beyers, Robert Brewer, and more!

As I said, today is the last day to purchase this kit, and just so you know, I signed a contract that allows Writer’s Digest to only sell 200 of these self-study courses. So if you miss the boat on this Premium Collection, you’re going to have to wait until the rights to the self-study course revert back to me to get your hands on it.

I’m just saying…you might want to jump on this opportunity while it lasts.

Also, if you purchased the kit and you like the self-study course, or you would prefer to work with me directly so that I can coach you in a group of like-minded others to identify and develop your author platform, check out my class, Discover Your Specialty & Launch Your Platform that begins October 12th. Learn more here and let me know if you have any questions. My new e-mail address is “christina at christina katz dot com.”

Platform on, my fellow writers! Platform on.