Classes & Coaching with Christina Katz & Highly Recommended Instructors

What would six weeks of consistent effort teach you about your ability to write and get published? Find out by signing up for a six-week class. You will be amazed what you can accomplish when you apply what you learn from weekly lessons to weekly assignments.

My name is Christina Katz and I teach incremental writing career development skills. Each class is like a six-week workout. Once you've got the muscle memory, the skills are yours for good.

I have been teaching writes for over eight years. If you've never heard of me before, please peruse the opinions of folks who have taken my classes already. If you don't see enough information here, I'll be happy to refer you to a real live person.

from wonderful instructors like Abigail Green, Sage Cohen and Jennifer Applin, whom I've invited to teach alongside me:

There are people out there who “get” the writer stuff, and people who “get” the mama stuff. But to have somebody who understands both is priceless.

Finally, a writing workshop that fits into the busy lives of moms! This class focuses on getting you into print sooner, rather than later, and without pulling all-nighters or paying a fortune in babysitter fees. You will learn how to create short, easy-to-write articles—a skill that will make it easier to work your way up to longer, more time-consuming articles (like features and profiles) when you're ready. You will try your pen at tips, fillers, short interviews, list articles, how-tos, and the short personal essays—all within six weeks. And you will learn to submit your work with a basic cover letter. Opportunities for self-assessment and self-reflection are woven into the class, and you'll benefit from reading your classmates' submissions.

By starting short, you will learn to identify multiple possibilities for your material that will strengthen your freelancer’s eye in the long run. You will receive two detailed reviews of your drafts-in-progress at weeks three and six (you choose one of your pieces for an instructor critique each time). The instructor offers personal attention throughout the class in the form of questions answered for the entire class, just like a traditional “live” class. Because of the high volume of student productivity in this class, the instructor does not critique each and every student submission, but she does share all of your work with the entire class.(Busy dads are also welcome to sign up, but they should expect a course designed to address and overcome the challenges busy moms face. Stay-at-home dads are sure to feel right at home!)

Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section).

This writing class is helpful for both beginning writers who have never taken a class before as well as experienced freelancers looking to get back in the swing of writing after time not writing. Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids is the required book for this class. The only other requirement is that you must be able to receive and create Microsoft Word documents to participate in this class. The Instructor will send a personal introduction request form after your registration is confirmed, and a class evaluation to wrap up the class.

The instructor provides class materials via e-mail in the form of Mirosoft Word documents on start date of class, so students must be able to read and create MSW docs to participate. Students will provide a jpeg photo/headshot and a one-paragraph introduction the week prior to the class start date. It's a voluntary but fun way to “meet” your classmates!

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!”

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.”

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.

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!”

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!

Very Important: When paying by check, be sure to include a note with your email address!

After completing WPSS and Platform 101, I no longer feel intimidated and confused about freelance writing but prepared and encouraged to start my new freelancing career.

In this class you will start to brainstorm an all-important writing specialty, something that will come in really handy when you are ready to build a writer's platform. You will find your best audiences, cultivate your expertise, manage your ideas, develop marketing skills, claim your path, learn how to 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.

Anyone who has ever tried to launch a writing career can tell you that learning how to sift through and analyze potential markets is one of the biggest challenges. This strategizing class will help you tackle that challenge head on, while showing you how to make the process easier. Plus, comparing markets that are a good fit for you with markets are a good fit for your classmates will help you see the value of marketing your writing. This class will also dispell any nagging concerns you have about "selling out" by paying attention to the most appropriate channels for you to sell your work.

Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section).

This class is specifically recommended for writers with a little bit of experience. For example, if you have taken Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff, this is the next class in the series of four. Get Known Before the Book Deal is the required book for this class. The only other requirement is that you MUST be able to receive and create Microsoft Word documents to participate. Instructor will send a personal introduction request form after your registration is confirmed. The instructor will also send a class evaluation to wrap up the class.

The instructor provides class materials via e-mail in the form of Mirosoft Word documents on start date of class, so students must be able to read and create Microsoft Word docs to participate. Students will provide a jpeg photo/headshot and a one-paragraph introduction the week prior to the class start date. It's a voluntary but fun way to “meet” your classmates!

Self-examination and thinking are crucial to writing success, and this class pushes to do both! Thanks, Christina!

Because of Platform 101, I was able to clearly narrow down a platform to stand on, generate lists and lists of ideas, and truly get started breaking into the market. This class was definitely worth my time, money, and effort!

As a mom of two preschoolers, I find it hard to sit down and focus on anything! Christina’s class provided valuable tools and lessons that helped me discover my passions. The exercises guided me through a logical process that led me to my writing specialty.

With the WPSS class behind me, and a platform I’m ready to pitch, I feel focused and energized about my writing in a way that I didn’t before.

What can I say, Christina, other than your classes have made a difference in how I view myself as a writer. You are a natural teacher with a gift for engaging others in the process of becoming a writer, and while you have “been there, done that” you are never condescending to those “newbies” who are engaging in the process for the first time. I thank you for your thoughtfulness.

This was an excellent class! It really helped me narrow down a specialty and focus on what I wanted to write about. The target subject that evolved out of the assignments that we did was a pleasant surprise and a perfect fit.

Very Important: When paying by check, be sure to include a note with your email address!

Okay, you've completed freelance writing classes, you've read writing and marketing books, you've even published a few articles. Now all you need are assignments, deadlines and more checks made out to yours truly. Or perhaps you've taken classes with Christina Katz and now you are ready to take your writing career to the next level.

In this writing class, pitching is all you do. Over the course of six weeks, you crank out six queries, which is exactly the kind of practice you need if you want to get into the habit of landing better-paying assignments.

After you write and send six queries, you will never again ask, "What makes a strong query?" You will have developed your own style into prototypes that you can use over and over to obtain future assignments. And finding your own rhythm, not someone else's, is what effective query writing is about.

Each week, you will study a successful writer's query and create your own list of steps to follow. You will also receive a three-page worksheet weekly, which will provide helpful ideas and checklists to help you systematize your query writing process and increase your productivity. You will be able to use these worksheets, along with your checklist to write a targeted query every six days for the rest of your career.

Emphasis will be placed on developing the query-writing habit, achieving the goal of six queries written in six weeks and sent to publications that advance your career.

Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section).

Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff (Especially for Moms) is the perfect prerequisite to this class. Platform 101: Discover Your Specialty can also be a real asset. Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids is the required book for this class. The only other requirement is that you must be able to receive and create Microsoft Word documents to participate in this class.

Christina was the task master/deadline diva I needed to keep my butt in the chair. She encouraged my muse and calmed my perfectionist so I could keep typing and focus on sharpening my writing and launching my work into the world.

Christina rocks! She builds trust right at the beginning and sets the framework for candid, sharp and targeted feedback. Take this class!

This class is the fabulous next step for anyone who’s been writing and is now serious about breaking into the magazine market (and yes, you have to be serious). Christina provides quality instruction and lots of tips on how to break in, along with valuable marketing information. This class is a must!

I needed Pitching Practice more than I realized. Christina taught me how to appreciate and develop successful query writing through practical exercises. Her feedback and gentle critiques helped me to have more confidence in pitching my ideas.

Pitching Practice not only changed the way I approach my professional career, it changed the way I see myself as a writer. With Christina's kind and competent guidance, queries are no longer the monster under the desk - they've come up into the lamplight and settled down in comfort next to my other writing tools.

Query writing is like establishing a good habit. If you do it enough, repetition builds success. Christina is extremely helpful in showing you good habits to develop as you move toward being a successful query writer.

Very Important: When paying by check, be sure to include a note with your email address!

This is the class that everyone has been begging me to teach. How do you go from someone who writes and gets published once in awhile to a seasoned professional, who isn't afraid to let the world know what you have to offer?

This is an advanced course, for people who have taken any or all of Christina Katz's classes, and who find themselves ready to take their writing careers to a more professional level. Over six weeks, we will cover:

This class is as much about self-analysis as it is about audience analysis. It's as much about serving editors and publishers as it is about establishing the platform that serves your highest good while helping you to stand on your own feet. This class is about standing back and taking a cold hard look at the industry and making strategic choices. (It's not a class about pipe dreams, so be prepared to look at yourself and your dreams more objectively, because that's what editors and publishers do.)

By the end of our six weeks, you will have a clear vision of your platform and a plan for first and future steps. You will be ready to write your book proposal and build that all-important online presence your future readers will want.

Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section).

This class is most effective when you've completed Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff (Especially for Moms), Platform 101: Discover Your Specialty and Pitching Practice. Get Known Before the Book Deal is the required book for this class. The only other requirement is that you MUST be able to receive and create Microsoft Word documents to participate.

I learned how to tighten up my goals and make a detailed plan on how to accomplish them. The secrets behind purchasing web domains, building a writer’s website, and even starting a newsletter to support my platform were all uncovered in this class. As always, Christina saved me from wasted time with my own trial and error by sharing her own experience. I’m on the right path, and that path starts with rock solid platform building. Thanks, Christina!

Christina, you are awesome! I have never felt so personally inspired, you have a wonderful gift for teaching and providing support, and it is amazing that you do it all through the internet!

Platform 102 helped me see a clear path to my next career move and my ultimate goal of publishing a non-fiction book. Thanks to this course and Christina's guidance, I can take what I learned and proceed with confidence!

Well crafted lessons and information personalized my platform understanding and platform-building direction, as well as helped me begin the process. Thanks Christina, the class was a really useful experience.

Platform 102 has wonderful and necessary class for me. I have gained invaluable insight and confidence from doing the work asked for in the class. Christina is a wise, but persistent guide that helps a writer discover, develop and grow confidence in her writing abilities, expertise, and platform abilities.

Reserve your space by sending your check to:
Christina Katz
P.O. Box 1354
Wilsonville, OR 97070

Very Important: When paying by check, be sure to include a note with your email address!

Most writers underestimate the comprehensiveness necessary in a book proposal to garner the interest of agents and editors. They also often misunderstand the best strategies for linking a proposal to a solid platform. Christina has been helping writing students succeed at landing a book deals for years and she's formalized her tips for aspiring authors who want to nail their book proposal the first time around. This class includes two proposal-in-process reviews over the course of six weeks.

You'll benefit from the synergy of sharing your drafts with fellow participants and an experienced nonfiction author. This class is exactly what you need to master in order to effectively communicate your idea to the people who can greenlight your idea.

Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section).

This class is most effective when you've completed Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff (Especially for Moms), Platform 101, Pitching Practice, and Platform 102. Get Known Before the Book Deal is the required book for this class.

I had read several books about writing proposals, including the two book proposal writing bibles – Michael Larsen’s How to Write a Book Proposal and Jeff Herman’s Write the Perfect Book Proposal. Yet, I was still unable to put together a coherent book proposal. It was not until taking this class that I really learned what it takes to compete a book proposal; and more importantly, what agents and publishers are looking for and consider “saleable”. Ms. Katz’s class not only delivers on every promise, this class would cost thousands of dollars anywhere else.

Christina's instruction was professional, pointed, and personalized. After taking this course, I know I'm on my way to becoming a published author.

I have read books about writing the nonfiction book proposal and felt overwhelmed and even confused by them. This class took the process step-by-step and made the mountain seem climbable. This was the most intellectually challenging thing I have done since college and although it was tough, I am further along than I would ever have been otherwise. I am grateful for the class and proud that I completed it. Instead of floundering alone and aimless, I have now learned the tools and am on the right path to publishing a saleable nonfiction book proposal.

Christina, you are simply the best. Period. I know I wouldn't be this far without you. I love how the classes are structured; they work well for an overly committed mom like me.

Very Important: When paying by check, be sure to include a note with your email address!

You have worked long and hard to discover your specialty, narrow the focus of your expertise, and build your credibility, so shouldn't you also develop a course curriculum that you can use as the starting point for years of teaching and learning and learning from your students? Christina Katz has been doing this for seven years and in this six week class, she'll share all of the insights she's learned.

This class includes two curriculum-in-process reviews over the course of six weeks. You'll learn how to choose the most needed topic for your course, focus on current student needs, build a curriculum that you can use over and over and improve upon over time, and price your class for the marketplace.

Save yourself the headache that comes with guesswork. In this class you'll benefit from the synergy of sharing your drafts with fellow participants and an experienced teacher. If you feel unsure about your ability to succeed as a teacher, you'll find confidence through six weeks spent crafting a curriculum that makes good sense.

Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section).

This class is most effective when you've completed Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff (Especially for Moms), Platform 101, Pitching Practice, and Platform 102.

Very Important: When paying by check, be sure to include a note with your email address!

Or pay with Paypal—Don't forget to include the email address you intend to use for class, a snail mail address and the dateof the class you want to sign up for. You will receive confirmation within 48 hours.

I felt that my writing career was all over the board, jumping from one topic to the next, and I was craving direction from a knowledgeable source. My coaching session with Christina allowed me see that I was actually right on track. She helped me identify obtainable productivity and income goals for each month, and a simple set of goals to achieve for the year. All of this, and I can continue to write about topics that interest me. Thanks, Christina. I know exactly what I need to do to take my writing career to the next level!

Hourly or half-hourly telephone coaching by appointment on Thursdays and Fridays on the topic of your choice. You'll steer the discussion and I'll offer any insights I have. For the best possible experience, call me on the day of your appointment with a list of questions and/or topics to discuss. I will check out websites and/or blogs prior to our call, if you e-mail the links to me in advance. Please also supply a short bio and a list of specialties, if you have them.

Very Important: When paying by check, be sure to include a note with your email address!

OR pay with Paypal—Don't forget to include the email address you intend to use for class, a snail mail address and the dateof the class you want to sign up for. You will receive confirmation within 48 hours. An hour is suggested for a first-time appointment, with shorter sessions afterwards for follow-up if you like.

It pays to get personal these days. Given the popularity of reality shows, blogs, and tell-all books, interest in everyday individuals’ experiences is at an all-time high. Writers are often told, “Write what you know.” What subject can you possibly know better than your own life? Whether you want to pen an introspective essay about your struggle with infertility, a first-person article about your travels in India, or a short humor piece about parenting, your life is a goldmine of rich material that all kinds of publications are pining for.

Personal Essays that Get Published will teach you how to get your personal experiences down on the page and get them published. Facilitated by longtime freelance writer Abigail Green, Personal Essays that Get Published will teach you how to:

Weekly assignments include a writing assignment and check-in. The instructor offers personal attention throughout the six weeks by answering questions for the entire class, just like a traditional, “live” class. Two detailed reviews of your essays-in-progress are included at weeks three and six: you choose one of your pieces for instructor critique each time. Because of the high volume of student productivity, the instructor does not critique each and every student submission, but she does share them with the entire class.

This class is for people at any level of writing experience. You must be able to receive and create Microsoft Word documents to participate. The instructor will send a personal introduction request form after your registration is confirmed and a class evaluation when the class is complete.

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.

Abigail Green will help you get your life stories out of your head and onto the page. Her class is the cure for any anxiety about writing and publishing your personal essays. Thanks to Abby’s enthusiasm, support, and patience, I’m looking forward to seeing my name in print. Don’t miss this class—it’s so rare to find a writing course that actually takes you through the steps of how to get published.

Personal Essays That Get Published gave me the "inside scoop" that I've been looking for. As an accomplished essayist, Abby offered knowledgeable instruction, warm encouragement, valuable writing critiques and practical tips. Definitely worth the cost!

Personal Essays that Get Published really helped me take my essays from ideas in my head to something polished and professional. Abby provided stimulating course materials and thoughtful feedback and direction. I can now send my cover letters with confidence and build from what I have learned.

Have you always wanted to write a poem but didn’t know how to begin? Maybe you’re already writing poetry and want to connect with your muse more often or brush up on your poetic prowess? Poetry for the People takes poetry off of its academic pedestal, making it accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

Facilitated by award-winning poet Sage Cohen, Poetry for the People will introduce new ways of expressing yourself in poetry and appreciating the poetry you read. Each week’s lesson will include a mix of:

Weekly assignments include a poem and check-in, both of which are shared with the other class members. The instructor offers personal attention throughout the six weeks by answering questions for the entire class, just like a traditional, “live” class. Detailed reviews of your poems-in-progress are included every week: you choose one of your pieces for instructor critique each time.

This class is for people at any level of poetry writing experience. You must be able to receive and create Microsoft Word documents to participate. The instructor will send a personal introduction request form after your registration is confirmed and a class evaluation when the class is complete.

The instructor provides class materials via e-mail in the form of Microsoft Word documents on start date of class, so students must be able to read and create MSW docs to participate. Students will provide a jpeg photo/headshot and a one-paragraph introduction the week prior to the class start date. It's a voluntary but fun way to “meet” your classmates!

Sage Cohen is the author of Writing the Life Poetic, An Invitation to Read and Write Poetry (Writer’s Digest Books, 2009) and the poetry collection Like the Heart, the World. Her poetry and essays appear in journals and anthologies including Poetry Flash, Cup of Comfort for Writers, The Oregonian, Oregon Literary Review, Greater Good and VoiceCatcher. In 2006, she won first prize in the Ghost Road Press annual poetry contest and in 2008, she was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She teaches and lectures at libraries, universities, and writing conferences as well as online. Sage holds an MA in creative writing from New York University and a BA from Brown University; she believes the greatest learning laboratory is life.

Instructor Rating: 10. I know that the scale was from one to five--but Sage is that good. The written materials were supurb (I’m looking forward to the book) and Sage was extraordinarily supportive.

I was thrilled, elated, exalted and grateful to have my poem, “Lucy loses a limb” accepted for publication — and twice in the same day! Lucy was written as a point-of-view assignment in your class. Thank you, Sage, for your class and your instruction!

I was skeptical that I could find any space on my manic to do list for poetry. But Sage helped me see all the poetry around me —just waiting to find it’s place on the page.

I know it isn't easy to teach—and I suspect that it's pretty difficult to teach poetry, in particular. Sage Cohen just makes it look easy! She's knowledgeable, approachable, and has an uncommonly useful way of commenting on the poems her students submit.

Writing for the Web with Jennifer Applin

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.

That’s where you can come in! If you are looking to make a name for yourself, and a living, writing for the web, then this course can help you. Facilitated by freelance writer, Jennifer Applin, who specializes in writing and editing online content, Writing for the Web will teach you 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

*Please note that this course focuses on web content and does not cover HTML and design

There will be weekly assignments and class check-ins. The instructor offers personal attention throughout the six weeks by answering questions for the entire class, just like a traditional, “live” class. Two detailed reviews of your drafts-in-progress are included at weeks three and six: you choose one of your pieces for the instructor critique each time. Because of the high volume of student productivity, the instructor does not critique each and every student submission, but she does share them with the entire class.

Duration:

Six lessons with six assignments completed in six weeks

Dates:

Starts May 6, 2009
Starts August 12, 2009
Starts October 7, 2009

Cost: $250.00

Prerequisites:

This class is for writers at any level of experience. It is necessary to receive and create Microsoft Word documents to participate. The instructor will send a personal introduction request form after your registration is confirmed and a class evaluation when the class is complete.

Class Materials:

The instructor provides weekly class materials via e-mail in the form of Microsoft Word documents. Students are asked to provide a jpeg photo/headshot and a one-paragraph introduction the week prior to the class start date. It's a voluntary but fun way to “meet” your classmates!

About Jennifer Applin:

Jennifer Applin is a freelance writer, editor and blogger-for-hire specializing in writing for the web. She is a regular contributor to eLearners.com and Projectworkingmom.com. Jennifer holds a B.A. in English from Bowling Green State University. She also writes the “Writing for the Web” column for The Writer Mama e-zine.

How to Register:

Questions?

Contact Jennifer Applin at jennifer at jennifer applin dot com.

Here's what sets our classes apart from all the rest:

Tangible Results
Wondertime, Parenting, FamilyFun, Transitions Abroad, Pregnancy, BUST, Twins, and Fit Pregnancy are just a few of the magazines students have broken into. Former students also get book deals when they do the necessary footwork.

Reasonably priced
Many writing classes are too expensive! Christina Katz is committed to keeping classes affordable. When everyone else was raising their prices, we didn't! Classes take place over email because that's how writers typically communicate with editors.

Incremental learning
When you take an affordable class with one of us, you'll get increasingly positive results from your efforts. Which = less time wasted. Only a seasoned professional can help you think like a seasoned professional.

Participation required
Need a gentle but persistent taskmaster? If you have trouble making time to write, our classes will help you become more proactive. Consistent effort and strategic action are the only way s to succeed.

Beyond Blocks
Our classes help you increase your confidence alongside your writing and marketing skills so you can bolster your long-term success. You'll become so busy meeting deadlines that you won't have time for the blocks that can create roadblocks to success.

More questions? E-mail Christina at christina katz at earthlink dot net.

Empowering Writers Since 1998