>Should you take a class?
Posted: September 28, 2010 Filed under: Christina Katz, classes for writers, Freelancing for Newspapers, Writer Mama 1 Comment »>I have taken hundreds of classes. I’ve taught quite a few, too. The one thing I keep hearing from my former students is that they wish I would teach some more so that they could start writing again. They can’t seem to get going without a class that gives them deadlines to meet. Until recently, I thought these people were just lazy. All they had to do was sit down and write. But lately, with a million other things on my mind, I’ve been thinking about taking another class. This freelance life can be lonely and formless. A class would give me deadlines and people to work with. But then I look at the price and the content of the class and know that I wouldn’t learn anything new. For me, it’s not time to take a class; it’s time to get to work
However, a writing class can be a real boost for many people. The key is to find a class that offers what you need at this time. Is there a skill that you want to learn, such as writing queries or writing great leads? Do you need a general overview to help you get started? Is someone you really admire teaching the class? Are you thinking about trying a new kind of writing? Do you need someone to critique your work?
There are lots of good reasons to take a class. Maybe you do need a class to help you get going with regular assignments and deadlines. Just know that like riding a bike, sooner or later the training wheels have to come off and you have to balance on your own or park the bike on the grass and go do something else.
I didn’t set out to advertise, but since we’re talking about this, I offer several online classes which you can read about at my website, www.suelick.com. Christina Katz, author of Writer Mama, has some terrific classes for both beginning and advanced writers. Check out the listings at www.ChristinaKatz.com. Do a search for writing classes and you will find plenty of listings. Just make sure to check out the teacher’s credentials before you spend money or time on their classes.
And if, like me, you know what to do but don’t seem to be doing it, let’s all just try to do one thing to further our careers every day. You’re welcome to report here if you need to be accountable to someone.
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Have you purchased your copy of Freelancing for Newspapers yet?
>Win a copy of Writer Mama
Posted: March 25, 2009 Filed under: Christina Katz 13 Comments »>
Dear friends,
I don’t usually do this kind of thing, but for my friend Christina Katz, I am participating in her Writer Mama giveaway tour. She is going from blog to blog, writing a continuing story and asking a question at the end. A winner will be chosen from among those who respond for a free copy of the Writer Mama book, which I can assure you is worth reading. I’ve gotten a lot out of my copy and I don’t have kids, just dogs and a husband. Anybody who has real-life obligations or distractions can use the advice Katz offers. I hereby yield the podium to Christina.
The Writer Mama Two-Year Anniversary Blog Tour Giveaway!
Post #26: The Responsive Rewriting Phase
Now that you have celebrated the completion of your full book draft, it’s time to get back to work. You’ve still got a ways to go before your book goes to press. Your biggest challenge from this day forward is detaching from your role as creator and shifting gears into shepherding your book into the world.
From here on out, you are no longer in the creating phase. You are either beginning or part way through the editing phase (depending on how your editor handled the process). So be prepared to make changes to your manuscript at a moment’s notice. And be prepared to work in harmony with your editor and book production team.
Whatever you do, don’t hope for zero edits to your manuscript. This attitude is not realistic or helpful to your future readers. You’ve come this far and you don’t want to drop your pen, when a request for your time occurs. Upon closer inspection of your manuscript, you will very likely discover that the editorial suggestion makes good sense from the reader’s point of view.
Realize that if you don’t receive a request for changes, it doesn’t necessarily mean that what you turned in so far is perfect. Rather it likely means that the time for editorial improvements is over and there is no longer a time budget for further improvements. I think we have all read traditionally published books that could have benefited from more substantial editing. Do you best to make sure your book isn’t one of them.
If you want to have the maximum time for edits at this juncture, hit your deadlines with the very best full drafts you can manage, so you will get the most out of your opportunity to work with an editor. What you and your editor are working on is to get your manuscript into strong enough shape that it can be sent to the copy editor. Once the copyeditor has reviewed it, you will have an opportunity to go over and respond to her suggested changes.
After you receive the marked up manuscript from the copyeditor, you’ll want to respond quickly to requests for a manuscript review, correction, or re-ordering. If delays (yours or theirs) have occurred in the book production process, you will likely feel them most at this juncture, and the requests for your time may come with an expectedly quick turnaround.
Don’t balk. Try and increasingly step back from your writing process and view your book as something separate from yourself. Of course, since not much time has passed since you drafted your book, you probably won’t have much distance from it, so expect to dig deep to find the detachment you’ll need. When the writing and rewriting is complete, your book will start to come into clearer focus as something independent from you.
Today’s Book Drawing: To enter to win a signed, numbered copy of Writer Mama, answer the following question in this blog’s comments:
I know that I’ve already discussed rewriting, but how much rewriting do you think you can stand? Will you be ready at a moment’s notice to jump in and make improvements to your manuscript?
Thanks for participating! Only US residents, or folks with a US mailing address can participate in the drawing. Please only enter once per day.
Where will the drawing be tomorrow? Visit http://thewritermama.wordpress.com/ to continue reading the rest of the Writer Mama story throughout March 2009!
Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids by Christina Katz (Writer’s Digest Books 2007)
Kids change your life, but they don’t necessarily have to end your career. Stay-at-home moms will love this handy guide to rearing a successful writing career while raising their children. The busy mom’s guide to writing life, this book gives stay-at-moms the encouragement and advice they need including everything from getting started and finding ideas to actually finding time to do the work – something not easy to do with the pitter-patter of little feet. With advice on how to network and form a a business, this nurturing guide covers everything a writer mama needs to succeed at her second job. Christina Katz is also the author of the newly released Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform (Writer’s Digest Books 2008).
>Check out the Writer Mama’s challenge
Posted: September 23, 2007 Filed under: Christina Katz, Freelancing for Newspapers challenge, Writer Mama, Writers on the Rise Leave a comment »>Hi. I hope you’re all busily analyzing your Sunday papers for freelance bylines. Remember, someone who sends me a list of today’s freelance articles, with section, type of story and number of times that byline occurs, will win a copy of Freelancing for Writers–or if you have that and would prefer my other book, you can have Stories Grandma Never Told.
Meanwhile over at the The Writer Mama’s blog, Christina Katz is giving away a copy of Freelancing for Newspapers to someone who answers her much easier question. It’s today only, so click on over and try it. Christina has lots of great stuff going on her multiple blogs and websites, including her Writers on the Rise ezine, which is full of helpful information. Her Writer Mama book is a gem. Even if you’re not a mother, anyone who has responsibilities–like all of us–can use the advice she offers.
See you tomorrow.
