My Fall Schedule of Events: September 2009 – October 2009

SEPTEMBER 2009:

The 3rd Annual Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway
September 1-30, 2009
View the complete list of giveaway items.
Come on by and win some books!

Writer’s Digest Conference:
The Business of Getting Published
September 18-20, 2009
Use my discount code and receive $50 off: KatS8
The New York Marriott Marquis
Times Square, New York, NY
More Info

The Northwest Author Series Presents:
Laura Whitcomb on Novel Shortcuts: Speed Depth in Fiction Writing
Created & hosted by Christina Katz
September 27th
Award-winning young adult author Laura Whitcomb of Wilsonville kicks off the 2009- 2010 Northwest Author Series at the Wilsonville Public Library. Her presentation, “Novel Shortcuts,” takes place in the Oak Room from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. Tickets are available at the door for $5.00 or $3.00 for seniors/students. No advance registration is required.
More info

OCTOBER 2009:
Willamette Writers Mid-Valley Chapter Speaker
Get Known Before the Book Deal: A Platform Development Checklist
October 1, 2009
Tsunami Books
2585 Willamette St., Eugene, Oregon
6:30 – 7:00 Social time
7:00 – 8:15 Speaker
8:15 – 8:45 Questions and books signing
Open to the public; tea, coffee and cookies provided
More Info

October 3, 2009
Three-hour Workshop
Willamette Writers Mid-Valley Chapter
Power Up Your Platform for the Internet Age
1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Location: TBA
More Info

October 11, 2009
Wordstock Festival of the Book
Get Known Before the Book Deal: A Platform Development Checklist
4:30 – 5:45 p.m.
Location: Oregon Convention Center
More Info

Fall E-mail Classes Begin October 7, 2009
Classes with Christina & Highly Qualified Instructors!

• Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff
• Platform 102: Grow Your Specialty Into An Online Platform
• Writing for the Web (with Jennifer Applin)
• Personal Essays That Get Published (with Abigail Green)
• Poetry for the People (with Sage Cohen)

The Northwest Author Series Presents:
Kati Neville on Test Market with Self-Publishing : Get Your Book Ideas Reader-ready
Created & hosted by Christina Katz
October 18th at the Wilsonville Public Library
From 3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at the door for $5.00 or $3.00 for seniors/students.
No advance registration is required.
More info

The 3rd Annual Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway: DA RULES for 2009

The Giveaway starts at 12:01 a.m. on September 1, 2009 and runs through midnight on September 30, 2009, with at least one new prize each day (some days more than one!). Hope you can come on by. Please read these rules before you start participating:

1. You must comment to the post that describes the daily prize(s) you want to win, in order to be entered into the drawing for that day. No exceptions. Please be sure to comment to the correct post. The comment link is located just under the post title. Your comment will be posted after it is approved (usually within a few hours after you post…unless I am sleeping).

2. You may comment only once per day (and therefore be entered to win once per day). But you may comment every day, for sure. If you make a spelling or grammatical error in your post, just let it go. Don’t comment twice to correct it. Winners are selected by random drawing, so don’t worry. A typo will not eliminate you. 🙂

3. All comments must answer the question of the day, which will be posted each day with the giveaway item(s). In other words, no drive-by commenting. As a writing instructor, I can not resist this “teaching opportunity,” so all questions will relate to discovering more about ourselves as writers. Answering the questions will only take a few moments out of your busy day, so thanks for being thoughtful. Your post must be between 50-200 words or it will not be approved. (Use Word Count in Microsoft Word if you want to be sure you have enough words.)

4. Comment to win beginning on September 1st at 00:01 a.m. PST and continue to comment each day for 30 days for maximum chances to win. Each day’s drawing closes at midnight (12:00) PST. The winner is chosen by random drawing the next day. There is no set time for the drawing, as I’m here, I’m there, I’m everywhere. So, stay tuned! I’ll try to get it up by noon PST whenever possible.

5. Please allow 1-2 months for delivery of your item. Some items shipped directly from the author, some are shipped from elsewhere, some are shipped from the publisher (so please be patient). Prizes will only be shipped to United States locations. You may participate if you live abroad and have your own US mailing address. And yes, sure, if you have a friend who loves you so much that he/she is willing to ship your books from the US to you elsewhere in the world, that is fine.

6. There are two (2) ways to win:

a. WIN THE DAILY PRIZE (OR PRIZES!): You may be selected as the day’s winner through a random drawing held from the pool of folks who comment for the listed items each day during September. Only posts that answer the day’s question will be considered. Your post must be between 50-200 words or it will not be part of those in the running to win.

b. INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE FELLOW WRITER MAMAS: You can be selected as one of three most inspirational contest participants for the month by sharing your writing and publishing success stories and tips in your comments. So go ahead, inspire us with your posts! The three most frequently inspiring writers selected on October 1st will each win signed copies of Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform and Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids. (You do not need to be a writer mama to win, though it’s a good idea to remember that you are writing for an audience of writer mamas.)

Thanks for spreading the word about The Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway! If it’s anything like last year, it’s going to be a ton of fun!

The Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway Week Four Books

Day twenty-two: Plug Your Book and e-Publish by Steve Weber

Day twenty-three: Novel Shortcuts by Laura Whitcomb

Day twenty-four: Publicize Your Book by Jacqueline Deval

Day twenty-five: Literary Mama Day [Titles TBA]

Day twenty-six: Poet’s Market

Day twenty-seven: Children’s Writer & Illustrator’s Market

Day twenty-eight: 2010 Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market

Day twenty-nine: 2010 Guide to Literary Agents

Day thirty: The Deluxe 2010 Writer’s Market

Feel free to grab the badge and spread the word! [Here’s some copy to use…]

For the third year in a row, The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away thirty books in thirty days. All you have to do to participate is answer the question that Christina will pose daily. One lucky winner will win each day. There is no limit to how many times you can enter. The drawing is for U.S. residents. You don’t have to be a mom, but of course, the event is created with moms in mind, so please tell all the writer mamas you know! See ya in September at https://thewritermama.wordpress.com.

Lonley Mom: A Guest Post From The International Mom’s Blog

By Judy Miller

The kids went back to school today. And I find myself lonely – no noise, no distractions, and no interruptions. I miss:

• Their little voices
• Their big voices
• Kids running in and out of the house all day
• Spilled milk
• Dirty dishes
• Wet bathing suits and towels laying on the floor
• Tripping over sandals in the hallway and mudroom
• Reminding them to please shut the door since the air is on
• Reading with them
• Playing board games and cards
• Playing outside
• Their disagreements and hearing them make peace with each other
• Their laughter
• Their energy
• Hugs
• Special moments
• “I love you”  throughout the day

They were excited to go back to school. But I feel torn – happy for them, but not for me. I find myself wishing we had more time, a longer summer. The weekend is only four days away…

[Like this post? Then please subscribe to The International Mom’s Blog.]

Writer Mama Back To School Giveaway Week Three

Day fifteen: Thirsty by Kristin Bair O’Keeffe

Day sixteen: Formatting and Submitting Your Manuscript 2009 by Chuck Sambuchino

Day seventeen: Chapter After Chapter by Heather Sellers

Day eighteen: How to Write a Book Proposal by Michael Larsen

Day nineteen: The Fire in Fiction by Donald Maas

Day twenty: Trust Agents by Chris Brogan

Day twenty-one: Time of My Life in paperback by Allison Winn Scotch

Feel free to grab the badge and spread the word! [Here’s some copy to use…]

For the third year in a row, The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away thirty books in thirty days. All you have to do to participate is answer the question that Christina will pose daily. One lucky winner will win each day. There is no limit to how many times you can enter. The drawing is for U.S. residents. You don’t have to be a mom, but of course, the event is created with moms in mind, so please tell all the writer mamas you know! See ya in September at https://thewritermama.wordpress.com.

The Writer Mama Back To School Giveaway Week Two Books

Day eight: Take Ten for Writers by Bonnie Neubauer

Day nine: The Writer’s Digest Guide to Query Letters by Wendy Burt Thomas

Day ten: A one-year subscription to WritersMarket.com

Day eleven: On Writing Romance by Leigh Michaels

Day twelve: The Possibility of Everything by Hope Edelman

Day thirteen: Get Known Before the Book Deal by Christina Katz

Day fourteen: Book By Book by Cindy Hudson

Feel free to grab the badge and spread the word! [Here’s some copy to use…]

For the third year in a row, The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away thirty books in thirty days. All you have to do to participate is answer the question that Christina will pose daily. One lucky winner will win each day. There is no limit to how many times you can enter. The drawing is for U.S. residents. You don’t have to be a mom, but of course, the event is created with moms in mind, so please tell all the writer mamas you know! See ya in September at https://thewritermama.wordpress.com.

The Next Writer Mama Scholarship Deadline is During the Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway

VALUE: $250.00!!!

Are you a mom, who would love to take the Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff Class that starts October 7th, but you would not otherwise be able to afford it?

Then you qualify for The Writer Mama Scholarship.

Application deadline for the next Available Scholarship for the October 7th Writing & Publishing The Short Stuff Class is between Monday, September 7th – Sunday, September 13th!

Details on how to apply will be announced on Sunday, September 6th.

I’m pleased to offer one free class per semester to one deserving mama.

And don’t forget, you can’t receive the scholarship, if you don’t apply. So please apply.

Good luck! 🙂

The Writer Mama Back to School Giveaway 2009: Week One Books

Fall In Love With Books Again!

[The order of the books is subject to change… but I thought I’d start sharing what we’re giving away.]

Week One: Getting Started

Day one: The Beginning Writer’s Answer Book edited by Jane Friedman

Day two: Page After Page by Heather Sellers

Day three: Write-Brain Workbook by Bonnie Neubauer

Day four: A one-year subscription to Writer’s Digest

Day five: Writer Mama by Christina Katz

Day six: Writing the Life Poetic by Sage Cohen

Day seven: The Last Will of Moira Leahy by Therese Walsh

Fall In Love with Books Again with The 3rd Annual Writer Mama Back To School Giveaway

Pencils, books, back-packs, PTA, after-school activities…It’s that time of year again.

What time of year?

Time for the 3rd Annual Writer Mama Back to School Giveaway!

[Sound of cheers and applause from time-pinched moms who cannot wait for their little darlings to be back in school for six hours a day…]

[Or sound of checked cheers as moms try to imagine what it will be like to send these wee ones crawling or toddling around to school…hard to imagine until it happens.]

Either way, we certainly deserve some fun! Am I right?

The way the giveaway works is easy. I spotlight a book and author each day. I ask you a question about writing or motherhood or both. You answer. I select a winner from among the responses. I make that person’s day.

I love my job!

Hope to see you here in September. Please spread thew word!

Here’s a little blurb, if you want one to post. Feel free to grab the badge!

For the third year in a row, The Writer Mama, Christina Katz, is giving away thirty books in thirty days. All you have to do to participate is answer the question that Christina will pose daily. One lucky winner will win each day. There is no limit to how many times you can enter. The drawing is for U.S. residents. You don’t have to be a mom, but of course, the event is created with moms in mind, so please tell all the writer mamas you know! See ya in September at https://thewritermama.wordpress.com.

Invest In Your Writing Career Today and Reap Greater Rewards Tomorrow

UPCOMING CLASSES WITH QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS   EARLY FALL CLASSES BEGIN AUGUST 12TH

Writing and Publishing The Short Stuff Especially For Moms (But Not Only for Moms!) With Christina Katz Class Begins August 12th Prerequisites: None Finally, a writing workshop that fits into the busy lives of moms! You will learn how to create short, easy-to-write articles-a skill that will make it easier to move up to longer, more time-consuming articles when you’re ready. Try your pen at tips, fillers, short interviews, list articles, how-tos, and short personal essays-all within six weeks. Now includes markets! Cost: $250.00. More/Register at www.christinakatz.com Platform Building 101: Discover your Specialty With Christina Katz Class Begins on August 12th Prerequisites: None Identifying your writing specialty is one of the trickiest and most necessary steps in launching a writing career today. This class will help you find your best audiences, cultivate your expertise, manage your ideas, develop marketing skills, claim your path, serve editors and become portfolio-minded. You’ll learn how to become the professional you’ve always wanted to be and, most importantly, how to take your writing career more seriously. Cost: $250.00. More/Register at www.christinakatz.com Writing for the Web With Jennifer Applin Class Begins on August 12th Prerequisites: None These days virtually every business and industry needs to have an online presence. With a growing trend in Internet marketing, e-commerce and online publications, the need for creating well-written web content is more important than ever. If you are looking to make a name for yourself, and a living, writing for the web, then this course can help you. Students will learn how to develop a writing style that is suitable for the web; provide a variety of services (online articles, website content, blogging, editing, etc.); establish a fair rate and avoid scams; find paying assignments and secure steady accounts. Cost: $250.00. More/Register at www.christinakatz.com

The Writer’s Digest Business of Getting Published Conference

Join my in New York this September. Use my discount code for $50 off!
Use my discount code for $50 off! Code: KatS8

The Writer’s Digest Business of Getting Published Conference is designed to guide any author through the new dynamics of today’s publishing world.  This three-day event takes place Friday, September 18, through Sunday, September 20, 2009, at the New York Marriott Marquis, on Times Square in New York.

Chris Brogan, social media genius, is the keynote speaker.

Other speakers include Kassia Krozser, editor/publisher of BookSquare.com;  David Mathison, whose online sales success is the new business model;  Mike Shatzkin, the industry’s top publishing consultant, Seth Harwood and Scott Sigler, whose own podcasts and videocasts have made them superstars in the business;  and many more, plus the editors of Writer’s Digest!

Complete program information, including speaker bios, special events related to the conference and registration, is now available here.

With emphasis on platform, networking and social media, The Writer’s Digest Conference is an innovative and ground-breaking conference, featuring the industry’s top forward-thinking speakers, leading sessions on topics relevant to the current and future state of the publishing world.

Writer Mama Success Rhythms: July is for Just Walk Away

By Christina Katz

Since it’s summer, I thought it might be helpful to look at how a break can benefit just about every area of a writing career.

Craft
When you take a break from writing and do other things like walking or swimming or playing croquette, what you are really doing is resetting your brain for the next writing session. So if you are already a prolific writer, don’t balk when the opportunity to get out of the house and play comes along. A break might be just what your writing needs to improve on the next draft. Take a break and see if it helps, no matter what stage of the writing process you are in.

Pitching
If you pitch your work and yourself often, how might a refreshing vacation help you pitch better when you return? Walking away from your work means that when you come back you can review your pitching strategy with fresh eyes. Maybe it’s time to update your bio, or craft better leads, or include more details about what you are proposing. Try to read your last query soon after you return and I bet you will notice several ways you can improve all of your queries moving forward.

Self-promotion
Heaven forbid you should take a break from promoting yourself! Just kidding. Of course, you should. If you are going on vacation, don’t follow the advice of some and bring work with you. I’ve read plenty of advice that says to work while you are on vacation and then write off the trip as a business deduction on your taxes. But that sounds deceptive to me. Do you really want to mess with the IRS? I say work when you are working and rest when you are resting. Don’t blur the line too much or you might soon be working all the time. I try to get my self-promotion done on a regular basis so when it’s time for R&R, I don’t even think about dragging my work into my vacation time (okay, except for e-mail)…tax deduction or no tax deduction.

Professional Development
On the other hand, mamas, sometimes the only way you get an opportunity to truly relax is by leaving home to attend a professional conference or workshop. So, I’d say, if you are a mom and you haven’t had a working vacation away from your family responsibilities, why not treat yourself? Yes, it’s hectic both when you are getting ready to go and when you return. But while you are gone, your time will be 100% your own. And when the last time that happened? And as an extra bonus, in this case the trip is legitimately tax deductible.

Happy summer, mamas!

Christina Katz is the author of Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Build an Author Platform and Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (both for Writer’s Digest Books). A platform development coach and consultant, she started her platform “for fun” seven years ago and ended up on Good Morning America. She teaches writing career development, hosts the Northwest Author Series, and is the publisher of several e-zines including Writers on the Rise. Christina blogs at The Writer Mama Riffs and Get Known Before the Book Deal, and speaks at MFA programs, literary events, and conferences around the country.

Still A Little Room Left: Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff Begins Wednesday, August 12th

I have been teaching writing classes for eight years and teaching writer mamas for three years. Helping moms achieve published is one of the most satisfying parts of what I do. I never get tired of hearing about article publications, writing career accomplishments, and in the past couple of years–book contracts!

If you are a mom and you are looking for helpful instruction and regular deadlines to get your writing career in gear, I hope you will check out WPSS. One of the biggest benefits of the class is the feeling of camaraderie that students experience with other participants while practicing valuable skills.

I’m pleased to let you know that there are still a few spots left in the upcoming Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff class. Here’s what recent students have had to 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., Bellingham, WA

What I particularly appreciate about Christina Katz’s class is that her teaching style is very inclusive. There is no Great Divide of “I am The Expert and you are The Peon.” Rather, she enthusiastically communicates, “I am an Expert, and you can be one, too.”

~ Sage C., Portland, OR

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, Shoreline, WA

As a busy mom trying to break into freelance writing with four little kids running around, Christina’s course was exactly what I needed! The feedback was great and the classroom atmosphere kept me on track. I’ll definitely be applying her lessons for years to come!”

~ Jennifer A., Toledo, OH

Busy moms, are you longing to break into a career as a freelance writer? If so, I highly recommend Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff with Christina Katz. You will learn how to earn money writing fillers and short articles, how to research markets, and how to write cover letters, all while polishing your writing skills. The class is fun, and Christina is encouraging, thorough, and professional. Do something for yourself and invest in your dream!

~ Caroline Y., Houston, TX

For more infomation, please visit Christinakatz.com!

The Freelancer’s Phrase Book: Anatomy of an Article

By Abigail Green

To continue a theme from last month, sometimes the “editorialese” that freelance writers encounter can seem like a foreign language. Terms like “head,” “deck,” and “lead” — not to mention their alternate spellings, “hed,” “dek” and “lede” — can leave you scratching your head. So let’s break it down, shall we?
 
First off, I’ll tackle the spelling. Editorial lore posits that the odd spelling “lede” was adopted when newspaper type was set in lead, to keep from confusing the word for the metal with the word for the beginning sentence of an article. Similarly, “hed” and “dek” jump out at spellcheckers and proofreaders.
 
Now that we’ve cleared that up, let’s talk about what some of the most common terms mean. I’ll use the traditional spellings.
 
Lead: The first few lines of an article that introduce the story. Traditional leads use the five W’s: who, what, where, when, why (and how). Study your target market to see what types of leads are used. If articles usually start with anecdotes, use an anecdotal lead in your query or submission.
 
Head or header: Short for headline–a title or description of a story. Again, study your target market: Are headers short or long? Clever or straightforward? Try to match their style.
 
Deck: A sentence or few sentences below a headline that summarizes the article.
 
Subhead: Titles or descriptions that break up different sections of longer features.
 
Graph: Short for paragraph. A “nut graph” comes after the lead and clearly lays out the point of the article. Think of it like the thesis statement of a term paper.
 
Call-out or pull-quote: A small selection of text from a longer article pulled out and quoted in a larger typeface.
 
Sidebar: A shorter, secondary story related to a major one and run at the same time.
 
Wondering why you should care? Editors regularly use these terms and will assume you know what they mean. Also, freelancers are increasingly expected to supply their own heads and decks. Even if they’re not required, including them in your articles makes editors’ jobs easier–and you look better.
 

Abigail Green has published more than 150 articles and essays in regional and national publications including American Baby, Baltimore Magazine, Bride’s, Cooking Light, and Health. Her work also appears in the new book, “A Cup of Comfort for New Mothers.” (Adams Media, 2009). Abby holds a B.A. from Vassar College and an M.A. in publishing from the University of Baltimore. She writes the “Crib Notes” column for The Writer Mama e-zine and the “Understanding Personal Essays” column for Writers on the Rise. A mother of two boys, she blogs about parenting, publishing and more at http://diaryofanewmom.blogspot.com. She also teaches the six-week e-course Personal Essays that Get Published.