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I have the distinct pleasure of sharing with you an interview with Author Christina Katz, author of Get Known before the Book Deal and Writer Mama.

When did you start writing?

I started writing in earnest when I entered graduate school at Columbia College Chicago in the fall of 1992. When you don’t write regularly, writing 1,000+ words a week is great habit to get into. In addition to a lot of other great lessons I learned in grad school, I started to find my writing rhythm. I’ve been writing pretty darn regularly ever since.

How long did it take you to write your “The Writer Mama” and “Get Known Before the Book Deal”?

I spent a year and a half on Writer Mama and one year on Get Known. Speaking of writing rhythms, I found my book-writing rhythm on Writer Mama, the hard way, but then was able to write Get Known quite a bit faster and with less energy wasted. Writing career success is all about finding your rhythm and then repeat, repeat, repeat.

Do you have a process for your writing? (ie. You write in the morning, you write for 2 hrs each day, you write 1000 words 3 times a week)

When I’m working on a book, I often get up very early in the morning to work. I love when everything is hushed and quiet. I can get a lot more done at this time of day than I can later when everyone’s up and about. But I don’t have a strict schedule because, as a nonfiction writer, deadlines typically dictate my writing schedule more than anything.

Both books are written with The Writer’s Digest, how did you become connected with them?

I pitched Writer Mama to Jane Friedman, then Acquisitions Editor, at the Willamette Writers Conference in August 2005. You can read the whole story here ( http://thewritermama.com/writermamastory.html). I think it’s always fun to hear how folks landed their first book deal. Over the years, Jane and I have become good friends.

Please share with the readers your top 3 tips for new writers just starting out?

Take classes from reputable teachers, find mentors who can work with you over time (because writing success takes time), and plan to work consistently hard for years if you want to see any kind of lasting results. My recommended order for writers to learn skills is: craft, pitching, professional development, then platform-building. But that’s just based on what I’ve seen work for writers I work with, everybody’s different and there is no fixed rule.

Do you have a few favorite books on writing you would recommend for writers?

Sure. The Beginning Writer’s Answer Book, edited by Jane Friedman will pretty much concisely any question you have about getting started as a writer. Then I suggest a book like Writer Mama that breaks the process of getting started as a publishing writer down into incremental steps. Then, once you are publishing with some regularity, I recommend, Kelly James Enger’s Ready, Aim, Specialize, and Wendy Burt Thomas’ The Writer Digest Guide to Query Letters. That’s just to get off to a good start.

What tips would you give to someone who has started to write a book, but is new to the internet regarding building a platform?

Well, I guess I would probably shock your readers by saying that I think that starting with a book when you haven’t been publishing regularly already is a mistake. I strongly recommend, regardless of what genre you write in, that you start by writing shorter pieces and submitting them for publication. This is part of platform-development and it also helps a writer build skills and confidence. When it’s time to handle a book deal and marketing a book, a writer is going to need both skills and confidence in abundance.

Besides your books, what other services (products) do you provide to writers?

I’ve been teaching writers for over eight years. Throughout that time, I have developed nonfiction writing classes that start with writing short pieces and extend all the way to landing a nonfiction book deal. I also have a few highly qualified teachers I recommend, who offer classes I don’t, like essay writing, poetry writing, and writing for the online markets.

Do you have plans to write any more books in the future? If so, please share a little bit about the your next book.

Oh, most definitely. I have a few ideas in the works right now but I purposely didn’t rush into my third book because writing books is can be physically, emotionally, and mentally exhausting. It makes good sense to pause once in awhile and refill the well and that’s what I’m doing this summer. Also because I’m not writing another book doesn’t mean I’m not working. I publish three e-zines, travel to speak around the country, host a local author series, create online events like The Writer Mama Back-to-School Giveaway and #platformchat on Twitter, and I participate in social networking. So, it’s not like there are many dull moments around here. I’m sure I’ll make a big announcement when I finally commit to a third book.

Please let the readers know where they can pick up your book(s)?

Both of my books, Writer Mama and Get Known, are available at booksellers everywhere. I’d love it if your readers would ask their local libraries to order copies because I’d love for them to be available to everyone.

Bio for Christina Katz

Author of Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform & Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids

Christina Katz is the author of Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform (Writer’s Digest Books). She started her platform “for fun” seven years ago and ended up on “Good Morning America.” Christina teaches e-courses on platform development and writing nonfiction for publication. Her students are published in national magazines and land agents and book deals. Christina has been encouraging reluctant platform builders via her e-zines for five years, has written hundreds of articles for national, regional, and online publications, and is a monthly columnist for the Willamette Writer. A popular speaker at writing conferences, writing programs, libraries, and bookstores, she hosts the Northwest Author Series in Wilsonville, Oregon. She is also the author of Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (Writer’s Digest Books).