How To Raise A Writing Career

Alongside Your Kids

By Christina Katz

 
 
 

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The Writer Mama Story

I landed a book deal for my first book, Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids, at the Willamette Writers Conference in August 2005. Here's how it happened:

Once I made the commitment to attend, I asked some of my published writer friends (Julie Fast and Elaura Niles) at our monthly breakfast gathering what they thought I should pitch. I tossed out some ideas based on the work I have been doing with writers through my classes and online zine for many years. Elaura Niles suggested that her editor for Some Writers Deserve to Starve, acquisitions editor Jane Friedman at Writer's Digest, might be looking for a parent to write a book for parents who want to write.

So, at first, my pitch was aimed at parents. Elaura worked with me to prepare my pitch for the conference and in that back-and-forth over e-mail, the title switched to the one I used: "The Busy Mom's Guide to Freelance."

To be frank, having never attended a conference like this one before, I would not have known how to make a decent pith without the input of an experienced pitcher. Elaura (and her husband Mark Renie) are All-Stars and their feedback made a big difference. I am also certain that the insights of an author, who had recently been working closely with the editor I pitched, helped point me in within the realm of possible publication in the first place.

I'd had another idea that I thought I'd pitch, but it seemed wiser, with Elaura on my team, to go with the busy mom idea. Besides I am a busy mom and a writing instructor, so - are you kidding me? - this is my dream book.

Elaura, whose help I am obviously very grateful for, put in a good word for me with Jane before the conference via e-mail and let her know I would be pitching to her at the conference. As in most industries, a personal referral makes a difference.

I stood up in front of 50 or so people at the Thursday night pitching event, with my voice quivering and hands shaking just like everyone else. Three out of four of the agents /editors on the panel were interested in receiving a copy of my book proposal. I hadn't brought my proposal to the conference (it wasn't done yet) just a few pages of notes about the book and the need for the book. I think with some agents I pitched, it was just as important to pitch them on the need for the book as it was to pitch the actual book concept, which has changed anyway.

When I sat down with Jane (who is one of the all-time nicest people in the world), I didn't even have to pitch. The first thing that she told me was that she thought she had about a 70% chance of taking the concept back with her and pitching it to a committee of Writer's Digest players (other editors at the company and sales and marketing). She seemed apologetic, but I thought that was pretty good considering I hadn't even given her a proposal yet!

I helped Jane prepare her pitch by completing the proposal and getting it to her about three weeks after the conference. She took information from there and combined it with some research of her own in what's called a 'Project Information Sheet.' She called me on the Friday morning before Labor Day weekend to make me the offer. Along the way the named got changed to Writer Mama, which I am happy with. In fact, unlike many authors who seem to have nightmarish experiences on their first book, my interactions with Writer's Digest have been without a hitch. In fact, Jane referred me to my agent, Rita Rosenkranz, who did an excellent job negotiating my contract and filling me in on all the newbie writer things I didn't understand.

This is not to say that the process has not been challenging, I have never worked harder as a writer as I have in the past year. But it has been so totally worth it.

Thanks to the Willamette Writers Conference and the support of Willamette Writers members, I have been able to actualize a lifelong dream of becoming an author. Admittedly, it's a dream that I've been working on for a long time (and I'll be forty this year), but without the key help that I have received, I still probably would not completely understand what working hard as a writer really means.

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Christina Katz, The Writer Mama, Author of Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids
At the Willamette Writer's Conference in August 2005, Christina Katz pitched the idea to...

Jane Friedman, Editoral Director, Writer's Digest Books
Writer's Digest Books Editorial Director Jane Friedman...


Rita Rosenkranz, Agent, Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency
Jane recommended agent Rita Rosenkranz of Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency and a deal was struck.


Kristin Bair O'Keeffe, Shanghai Adventures of a Trailing Spouse
After many drafts, Christina's friend Kristin Bair O'Keeffe, a writer-eidtor friend living in Shanghai, helped her "find" the book with direction from Jane and...



...Writer's Digest editor, Michelle Ehrhard, who was instrumental in the writing/editing process.


Sharon Cindrich, E-Parenting, Keeping Up with Your Tech-Savvy Kids
Kelly James-Enger introduced Christina to Sharon Cindrich, author of E-Parenting, Keeping Up with Your Tech-Savvy Kids. The two newbie authors soon became fast friends, comparing notes and experiences along the book-writing road.



Claudean Wheeler created the fabulous design for Writer Mama. She's Senior Designer at Writer's Digest Books.


Sage Cohen, Poet and Professional Writer, Sage Said So
Poet and professional writer Sage Cohen, author of Living the Life Poetic, was a great source of support throughout the entire book-writing process. She also became managing editor of Writers on the Rise.