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2009 Class Registration has moved to:
For classes with instructors Christina Katz, Sage Cohen & Abigail Green. Sorry for the inconvenience! The information below has not been updated recently... please visit:
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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...truly amazed. We offer e-mail and live classes, please read carefully. NEW 2009 CLASSES: LIVE: The Empowered Nonfiction Writer One-day Intensive with Christina Katz Location: The Wilsonville Library Details coming soon...
LIVE: Three-hour Book Promotion Strategy Session with Christina Katz Location: The Wilsonville Library Details coming soon...
E-mail: Transform Your Specialty Into E-Course Curriculum with Christina Katz Details coming soon...
E-mail: Craft a Saleable Nonfiction Book Proposal A New E-mail Class with Author Christina Katz
E-mail: Personal Essays That Get Published A New E-mail Class with Abigail Green
KEEP READING FOR THE COMPLETE 08-09 SCHEDULE E-MAIL CLASSES with Christina Katz Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff
Platform 101: Discover Your Specialty (FormerlyTargeting Your Best Writing Markets)
Pitching Practice: Write Six Queries in Six Weeks (WPSS is a pre-requisite for this class)
How Pitching Practice Works (Word Doc Download) Platform 102: Platform Basics for Writers (WPSS is a strongly suggested prior to this class)
Craft a Saleable Nonfiction Proposal (WPSS & Platform 101 strongly suggested prior to this class)
Please Note: Targeting Your Best Writing Markets is now called Platform 101: Discover Your Specialty. E-MAIL CLASSES with Abigail Green Personal Essays That Get Published Another New E-mail Class with Abigail Green
E-MAIL CLASSES with Sage Cohen Poetry For The People A New E-mail Class with Sage Cohen
What sets our classes apart from all the rest? Click here to find out... E-MAIL CLASS DESCRIPTIONS FOR 2008 Writing and Publishing The Short Stuff Especially For Moms (Busy Women & Dads Welcome Too)! E-mail Class Description Maximum Participants: 20 Cost: $199.00 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. Duration: Six lessons with six assignments completed in six weeks Dates:
Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section). Prerequisites: This class is great for both beginning writers who have never taken a class before as well as experienced freelancers. The only 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. Class Materials: 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! About Christina Katz: Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (March 2007, Writer’s Digest Books). She has published hundreds of articles in magazines, newspapers, and online publications over the past eight years. She teaches eleven writing career development classes a year and publishes and edits the online monthly zine, Writers On The Rise, voted one of the “101 Top Web Sites” for writers by Writer’s Digest, and the new monthly zine, The Writer Mama. Christina is currently writing her second book for Writer's Digest Books and planning her 2009 book tour. Reserve your space by sending your check to: 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: Register Here for Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff (Especially for Moms): Former participants say: “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, Washington “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, Ohio “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, Texas “I liked learning about writing articles other that feature stories. The written forms I learned about here can often be sent with a cover letter instead of a query. I expect knowing more about these types of pieces will help me look at stories from many different angles and get more placements out of a single idea.” ~ Cindy H., Portland, Oregon “Not only did I learn what I had hoped, I feel more confident and willing to take a few risks with larger markets.” ~ Lori R., The Dalles, Oregon "Christina Katz is the nonfiction mentor I’ve always wanted! I felt supported each week by a professional who wasn’t relying on information she’d gotten second hand. Christina lives and breathes this stuff, and she gives her students all the tools they need to succeed." ~Kristine H., Whitsett, NC Platform 101: Discover Your Specialty (Formerly Targeting Your Best Writing Markets) E-mail Class Description Instructor: Christina Katz Maximum Participants: 12 Cost: $199.00 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 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. In this class you can start to develop an all-important writing specialty, something that will come in really handy when you are ready to build a writer's platform. You willfind 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. Join other writers who are ready to submit their writing on a regular schedule. Afterward, you'll be ready to start specializing! Duration: Six lessons with six assignments completed in six weeks Dates:
Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section). Prerequisites: 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. The only 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. Class Materials: 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! About Christina Katz: Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (March 2007, Writer’s Digest Books). She has published hundreds of articles in magazines, newspapers, and online publications over the past eight years. She teaches eleven writing career development classes a year and publishes and edits the online monthly zine, Writers On The Rise, voted one of the “101 Top Web Sites” for writers by Writer’s Digest, and the new monthly zine, The Writer Mama. Christina is currently writing her second book for Writer's Digest Books and planning her 2009 book tour. Reserve your space by sending your check to: 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: Register Here for Targeting Your Best Writing Markets: Write Six Queries in Six Weeks E-mail Class Description Instructor: Christina Katz Maximum Participants: 12 Cost: $199.00
But you've run into a few challenges:
In this 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. Duration: Six lessons with six assignments completed in six weeks Dates:
Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section). Prerequisites: Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff (Especially for Moms) is the perfect prerequisite to this class. Targeting Your Best Markets helps a lot too. Class Materials: 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! About Christina Katz: Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (March 2007, Writer’s Digest Books). She has published hundreds of articles in magazines, newspapers, and online publications over the past eight years. She teaches eleven writing career development classes a year and publishes and edits the online monthly zine, Writers On The Rise, voted one of the “101 Top Web Sites” for writers by Writer’s Digest, and the new monthly zine, The Writer Mama. Christina is currently writing her second book for Writer's Digest Books and planning her 2009 book tour. Reserve your space by sending your check to: 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: Register here for Pitching Practice: Write Six Queries in Six Weeks:
Former participants say: "Christina’s high level of knowledge is impressive and her sunny attitude is contagious. Together, these attributes make her a terrific advocate for new writers." ~Kristi B., Bellingham, Washington "In six weeks, I became informed, inspired and confident about the art of writing nonfiction articles and the business of getting them published. This is the best money I ever spent." ~Sage C., Portland, Oregon "Without this class, I’d still be just daydreaming about being a writer. It gave me the support and the practical skills to turn my dream of writing into reality!" ~Kelly H., Seattle, Washington "Even as a journalist with over 20 years writing experience, I walked away from this course with renewed energy, valuable tools in my writers toolbox and the belief that I wasn’t in this “all by myself.” Christina Katz is an excellent facilitator who thoroughly understands not only the mechanics of writing, but the emotional cycles that go along with a writer’s life." ~Shari D., Grants Pass, Oregon "I learned so much about the actual process of writing nonfiction articles. Though I read everything I can get my hands on, I never knew for example, how to determine if a publication utilizes free lance writers – now I do! Also determining my platform was a great exercise – taking the time to determine what I can write and how I can write it is a gift that I got from this class." ~Laurie W., La Grange Park, Illinois "If you ever thought about writing a nonfiction article for publication you should start by taking this class – no exaggeration, honest." ~J.M. K., Portland, Oregon "Christina has taught me to think like a freelancer by demystifying each step of the writing and marketing process. I expect my increased sales will more than pay for the cost of the class." ~Lori R., The Dalles, Oregon "Christina’s insights and comments could only come from a seasoned and highly successful professional. Her enthusiasm and positive comments motivated all of us to go beyond our personal fears and limitations. A million thanks!" ~Patty M., Portland, Oregon Platform 102: Platform Building Basics for Writers E-mail Class Description Class Maximum: 12 Cost: $199.00 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? You work on your platform, that's how. 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. Duration: Six lessons with six assignments completed in six weeks Dates:
Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section). Prerequisites: This class is most effective when you've completed Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff (Especially for Moms), Targeting Your Best Markets and Pitching Practice. Class Materials: 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! About Christina Katz: Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (March 2007, Writer’s Digest Books). She has published hundreds of articles in magazines, newspapers, and online publications over the past eight years. She teaches eleven writing career development classes a year and publishes and edits the online monthly zine, Writers On The Rise, voted one of the “101 Top Web Sites” for writers by Writer’s Digest, and the new monthly zine, The Writer Mama. Christina is currently writing her second book for Writer's Digest Books and planning her 2009 book tour. Reserve your space by sending your check to: 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: Register here for Platform 102: Platform Building Basics for Writers: Craft a Saleable Nonfiction Proposal E-mail Class Description Class Maximum: 12 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. Finally the definitive class on how to make sure that you are:
You'll benefit from the synergy of sharing your drafts with fellow participants and an experienced nonfiction author. Exactly what you need to master in order to effectively communicate your idea to the people who can greenlight your idea. Duration: Six lessons with six assignments completed in six weeks Dates:
Class work turns around on Wednesdays (please specify your class date when you sign up in the "notes" or "message" section). Prerequisites: This class is most effective when you've completed Writing & Publishing the Short Stuff (Especially for Moms), Targeting Your Best Markets, Pitching Practice, and Platform Building Basics for Writers. Class Materials: 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! About Christina Katz: Christina Katz is the author of Writer Mama, How To Raise A Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (March 2007, Writer’s Digest Books). She has published hundreds of articles in magazines, newspapers, and online publications over the past eight years. She teaches eleven writing career development classes a year and publishes and edits the online monthly zine, Writers On The Rise, voted one of the “101 Top Web Sites” for writers by Writer’s Digest, and the new monthly zine, The Writer Mama. Christina is currently writing her second book for Writer's Digest Books and planning her 2009 book tour. Reserve your space by sending your check to: 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: Register here for Craft a Saleable Nonfiction Proposal: E-mail Class Description Instructor: Sage Cohen Class Maximum: 12 Cost: $199.00 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:
You’ll be inspired (but not required) to write a poem a day! Weekly assignments include a poem and check-in. At weeks two, four and six, you’ll provide brief feedback about classmates’ work. The instructor offers personal attention throughout the six weeks by answering questions for the entire class, just like a traditional, “live” class. Three detailed reviews of your poems-in-progress are included at weeks two, four 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. Duration: Six lessons with six assignments completed in six weeks Dates:
Duration: Six lessons with six assignments completed in six weeks Prerequisites: 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. Class Materials: 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! About Sage Cohen: Sage Cohen is the author of Writing the Life Poetic, forthcoming from Writer’s Digest Books, and the poetry collection Like the Heart, the World. Her poetry and essays appear in journals and anthologies including Cup of Comfort for Writers, Oregon Literary Review, Greater Good and VoiceCatcher. In 2006, she won first prize in the Ghost Road Press annual poetry contest. Sage holds an MA in creative writing from New York University where she was awarded a New York Times Foundation fellowship. How to Register: Questions? Contact Sage Cohen at sage@sagesaidso.com. Register here:
Personal Essays that Get Published with Abigail Green E-mail Class Description Instructor: Abigail Green Class Maximum: 12 Cost: $199.00
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. Duration: Six lessons with six assignments completed in six weeks Dates:
Prerequisites: 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. Class Materials: 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! About Abigail Green: Abigail Green has published more than 150 articles and essays in regional and national publications including American Baby, Baltimore Magazine, Bride’s, The Christian Science Monitor, Cooking Light, and Health. A member of the American Society for Journalists and Authors, 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 blogs about her kid at http://diaryofanewmom.blogspot.com. Register here:
Here's what sets Writers on the Rise classes apart from the competition:
Tangible Results Wondertime, Parenting, FamilyFun, Transitions Abroad, Pregnancy, BUST, Twins, and Fit Pregnancy are just a few of the magazines students have recently broken into. Referrals from former students are available upon request. Reasonably priced Many writing classes are too expensive! WOTR is committed to keeping classes affordable. They take place over email because that's how writers typically communicate with editors. Incremental learning When you take an affordable class with WOTR, 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, WOTR classes will help you become more proactive. It's the only way to succeed. Beyond Blocks WOTR 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. |