Get Known Before the Book Deal

Podcasting 101: Ready, Aim, Clarify!

By Kati Neville

Before launching our podcast, The Saver's Kitchen, my co-host and I had to consider our target audience, goal, theme, format, and length before we even began looking into the technical aspects of production.

My advice for first time podcasters is to focus on the structure of your podcast before getting technical. To start:

Identify your target audience. As a professional writer, you already know the importance of audience identification. For podcasting, it's just as important but don't be fooled into thinking that it's only people with iPods who listen to podcasts. In fact, 75% of the podcast audience is "streaming." That means that the majority of podcast listeners are listening from computers without a portable media device. If you only base your research on the people you see using iPods, your analysis could be skewed.

Clarify your goals. What are you trying to achieve with your show?  To educate or entertain your audience? My goal for my show is to educate my listeners. Sometimes that means I educate prospective readers about my latest cookbook, Fix, Freeze, Feast. Other times, I share tips that current readers might find useful. Set your goal and make sure you stick to it.

Internalize your theme. Heed Holland Cooke's advice: "Your stuff has got to be espresso; ramble at your own risk." Serious podcasters don't abuse their forum: this isn't open mic night and it isn't a personal journal. Select your topic, stay focused, deliver value, and be succinct. The theme of my show is: "Money and time-saving tips for the freezer, the kitchen, and beyond." It is my compass. I evaluate, incubate, and deliver every show with it in mind.

Select a show format. Consider how your information will be presented to the audience. Innumerable ways exist to organize and deliver ideas. You could go solo, preparing and discussing a topic alone. A colleague might interview you, the expert. Or maybe you're the interviewer. By studying other podcasts, you'll find additional examples. Select one or more formats that are comfortable and authentic for you.

Tailor the show length. Successful podcasters tailor the length of each episode so it's convenient for listeners. Let's say your show is about caring for pets with dietary restrictions. No doubt a portion of your audience will be dog-owners, who will listen to your show while walking the dog. Your show should be as long as the walk. You get the idea here. How long does it take for the soccer mom to fold laundry? How long is that amateur rock climber's lunch break? Pick a show length that fits your audience and theme.

Podcasting is fun and exciting, to be sure. But don't forget to slow down and work the details, like show goals, format, and length. Investing time determining show structure is your first step to success.

Kati Neville is coauthor of the best selling cookbook, Fix, Freeze, Feast. She is a contributing editor for The Saver's Kitchen podcast and regularly blogs on The Forklift. Kati teaches cooking classes in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. When not online or teaching, Kati enjoys writing and tasting new recipes in her kitchen.

Get Known Now: Hate Networking? Connect Instead?

By Christina Katz

I was an extremely shy child. My recovery came by letting go of the urge to run and hide (usually behind my mother's leg) and simply learning to stand still. It's truly amazing what you can accomplish by being present in the moment and just seeing what happens. For one thing, you'll eventually establish rapport with others, which is one of the meanings of networking, and the key to connecting.

Or maybe you would prefer to have something to do rather than trying to NOT do something as a way of opening yourself up to the possibility of connecting with others. If so, here are a few habits to help your transition from shy and uncomfortable to present and relaxed:

• Be the first one to stick out your hand. Introduce yourself first rather than waiting for the other person to stick his hand out first.
• Catch the name. Practice active listening. When someone is introduced to you, look him in the eyes and repeat his name back. I'm terrible with names so I have to repeat the name several times so it will sink in.
• When you can't remember a name, fess up. Don't put yourself through the self-torture of "I should remember." You don't. So just ask. No biggie.
• Find something to like about the other person right away. When you find something offer a sincere compliment. Don't be like one of my doctors, who says my hair looks nice every time I see him even when it's not true. If you can't find something to like this time, just wait. You'll notice something to sincerely remark on eventually.
• Strike up a conversation. How about that weather today? is usually a safe bet but don't limit yourself. What's going on right around you? You can talk about anything if you keep the spin positive.
• Kids are a great, universal topic. You don't have any? That's okay. Do you have some nephews or nieces? Maybe you teach or volunteer? You can always ask the other person if he has kids. People love to talk about their kids and it usually brings a smile.
• Mention a strong feeling you're having. When I was pitching my book at my first writer's conference, I didn't hesitate to say that I was nervous. It was true! There was no point in pretending that I wasn't.  Some people dislike talking about feelings, but I think kicking things off with how you are feeling can be a great icebreaker.
• Decide not to take anything personally. This is tricky but it's really for people who tend to imagine little insults and injuries that would roll right off the back of a person who is comfortable mingling. Catch yourself thinking, I can't believe so-and-so is ignoring me AGAIN, and turn it into There's so-and-so, I think I'll just say a quick hello.

What's the difference between networking and connecting? Truthfully, this strategy is a bit about tricking ourselves into doing something we might not otherwise be eager to do. Networking implies focusing on a large interconnected group of people. Connecting implies interacting with just one person at a time.

Try these icebreakers the next time you are hoping to meet new people. You'll make a few new acquaintances every time you venture out, and those will add up gradually over time until you have an extended and growing group of friends.

Christina Katz is the author of Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Build an Author Platform and Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (both for Writer's Digest Books). A platform development coach and consultant, she teaches writing career development, hosts the Northwest Author Series, and is the publisher of several e-zines including Writers on the Rise. Christina blogs at The Writer Mama Riffs and Get Known Before the Book Deal, and speaks at MFA programs, literary events, and conferences around the country.

Sandy From "Cool Stuff For Writers" Reviews Get Known Before the Book Deal

And she likes it. She really likes it!

Here's what she has to say:

I highly recommend this book to both unpublished and published writers. In fact, I'm sending a copy to my multi-published friend. However, this isn't a book on how to promote your book - it's about promoting yourself, gaining confidence, building your platform and finding places to showcase that platform in order to gain sales both before the book is sold and after the book is on the shelves. And even if you don't have experience and/or you don't have a lot of money to spend on self-promotion, this book will help you in those areas as well.

Thanks for the review, Sandy.

Don't miss all the great articles, interviews and reviews featured in "Cool Stuff for Writers." You can sign up right here.

Letter from the Editor, (From the February 2009 Issue of the Get Known Groove)

Thank you for subscribing to the Get Known Groove! We know that getting known and staying known for all of the right reasons is important to you as a writer and we are here to help you succeed.

I started to become known over a decade ago by writing freelance articles and then teaching others how to do the same. I eventually started publishing my first e-zine to stay connected to the increasing amount of writers I personally knew. That e-zine grew over the years and my growing platform helped me land my first book deal, Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids from Writer's Digest Books in March 2007.

Just before Writer Mama was released, I began speaking and teaching at writers conferences and, over time, I noticed a strange phenomenon: agents and editors seemed to recognize and understand the importance of author platform but most aspiring authors were completely in the dark. I asked the question, "How can writers prepare the platform that agents and editors expect them to have if nobody is telling them what platform is or how to build one?"

So I set about addressing that gap the way any professional writer or teacher would. I started writing about the topic, teaching on the topic, and speaking on the topic. Eventually, I pitched a book, Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform which was published by Writer's Digest Books in November of 2008.

Joe Wikert recently called Get Known, "The Author Platform Bible" in his Publishing 20/20 blog.

Chris Brogan mentioned me in his blog as an example of a person who is "microfamous."

I just proofed the galley for my six-page feature article which will appear in the next issue of Writer's Digest Magazine.

And Get Known is now required reading in a popular MFA program class in Chicago.

Most people say they can't finish Get Known once they pick it up for all of the ideas it sparks for their platform. I love hearing this!  My mission is to help as many writers as I can learn to use the tools in Get Known so we can all take 100% responsibility for our writing careers.

This e-zine is a way of continuing the platform-development discussion because there are so many possible directions to go once you are clear and focused on your topic, niche and audiences! I hope you will pick up a copy of Get Known and see what ideas it sparks for you and your platform. I welcome your comments and feedback over at the Get Known Before the Book Deal blog.

Make good things happen!

Christina Katz
Publisher & Editor

"Twips" from Chris Brogan at O'Reilly Media's Tools of Change for Publishing Conference 2009

Greetings from Wilsonville, Oregon, where I have just returned from back-to-back conferences. The first, O'Reilly Media's Tools of Change for Publishing in New York City and the second, The Associated Writer's Program Conference in Chicago.

I will try to round up as much info for you as I can about from the notes I captured on Twitter (and a few on Word I made before I gave up and switched to Twitter). These are some that did not go out on Twitter, in case you were following. But eventually well get to some tips from my tweets (aka: twips).

The first session I attended at TOC 2009 was a Tutorial with Chris Brogan. Brogan spoke about the importance of attention, trust, and getting in front of people. His objective as a blogger is to be helpful.

We want things now. We don’t have time for Moby Dick. We’re making platforms. It’s the platforming of books. You’re putting out things that I’ve asked for and demanded or I won’t buy it. Pre–9-11, for example, he read only fiction. Now he has a book coming out with Wiley (title?).

Brogan talked about books as eco-systems. The whole experience around them. He sais this whole book club reemergence is fascinating but joked that he never hears about the book per se more about the talk that goes on in the bookclub.

Brogan referred to bloggers as working like the mafia working to solve distribution problems. He said he's researching the mafia and books are a distribution problem. Publishers are information brokers. If book sales are declining, information is exploding. He suggested that publishers be in the information business and be information brokers.

He said, "Don’t go after the masses. Your communities are clumped into group. Find the perfect 1,000 customers. Go after the 5,000 instead of the million."

He suggest creating café-shaped conversations. For example, he said, comic book shops have to know their clients. He has a local comic book seller who works hard to cultivate Chris’ interests.

Brogan said e-mail marketing is everything. So is mass customizing and café conversations. He mentioned "The Geekorati" and an online tool that helps you hide ideas in the air when you've been to a place (name?). It's a gimmick and, of course, people will go there and get the messages. It's info floating in space but it’s only real if you know how to see it.

Brogan talked about the texturing of information. He asked, what makes for a quality blog? Answer: It’s always trying to interact vs. deliver. What you are hoping to do is to inspire or create some level of two way. Seth Godin doesn't have comments in his blog. He'd rather readers go write a response on their own blog. Brogan on the other hand says, "I find that the comments in my blog are better than the post.

But he cautions bloggers to make commenting easily accessible. "Don’t make people log in!"

He asks, "Are you helpful? Are you making it easier for me to do business? Are you helping me understand in a new way?"

He suggesting including lots of links. Said "corralling" doesn’t feel good to readers. Suggest that there are different ways to deliver money. Chipin.com for example.

That's a good start. I'll keep posting these a little bit at a time. What a great way to remember all that I learned which was way too much to absorb in three info-packed days.

Thanks to Chris Brogan for all the useful tips and to O'Reilly Media for hosting the Tools for Change for Publishing!

Relevant links:

Chris Brogan declares me Microfamous. Of course, I let him know that I am famous-famous but whatever (wink)!

Chris Brogan's advice to Publishers after the TOC 2009 Conference.

Engaging Session Today with Francois Gossieaux and Ed Moran

Building Communities Around Content

Francois Gossieaux (Beeline Labs & Society for New Communications Research), Ed Moran (Deloitte Services LP)

And here they are:

Original content is an excellent catalyst for web community development, which means publishers are uniquely positioned to build relationships with established communities, and perhaps even grow their own. In this session, we’ll look at ways content can form the foundation of a web community effort.

Attended this tutorial today at TOC 2009 for publishing. Nice presentation style and a very informative. I think the preso style will inform my future presentations.

Thanks Francois and Ed!

Lunch with Lindsay Maines in NYC

As promised, here's a photo of us at lunch! Two writer mamas:

So fabulous to meet Lindsay in person. She is a networker extraordinaire, I'll tell you what. And a really sweet person.

Stay tuned for her forthcoming book for Rock n' Roll Mamas!

Learn more about Lindsay here.

She'll be on a panel tomorrow and meeting Chris Brogan tomorrow at the Social Communications Summit.

Reporting Live from the Tools of Change in Publishing Conference in New York City

Hello platform-builders!

Live from New York, it's Monday morning!

I couldn't wait to say that. :)

Okay, I've been on Twitter this morning tweeting about Chris Brogan's session:

http://twitter.com/thewritermama

Here's a picture of us from the break:

And at lunchtime, I am going to meet up with a Lindsay Maines. I'll be sure to take a picture!

Christina's February 2009 Schedule and Events

February 9-11th: Tools of Change for Publishing Conference in NYC
I'll be blogging about the conference and posting it to my Get Known blog, which will feed into my Facebook account.

February 12-14th: Associated Writing Programs Conference in Chicago
I'll continue to report from a totally different kind of conference. Should be an interesting study in contrasts! Looking forward to seeing lots of old friends, new friends and folks from my alma mater, Columbia College Chicago.

February 19th: Opening Night for my husband's play, "Hello, Dolly!"
Now you know what I'll be doing all weekend—watching lots of talented high school kids singing and dancing. Can't wait. More info here.

February 22nd: Host the Northwest Author Series at the Wilsonville Public Library from 2:30-4:30
Featured Author: YA Author Christine Fletcher
More info TBA here.

February 28th: Live Workshop—Empowered Nonfiction Writer Boot Camp
Wilsonville Public Library from 11:00 - 3:00 pm
More info here.

Next Round of E-mail Classes Begin on March 11th:
Writing and Publishing the Short Stuff
Pitching Practice: Write Six Queries in Six Weeks
Platform 102: Grow Your Specialty Into an Online Platform
Writing for the Web with Jennifer Applin
Poetry for the People with Sage Cohen
More info here.

Fund Your Writing Projects: Featured Money Magnet: Sue Mach

By Gigi Rosenberg

Playwright Sue Mach was driving in her car, listening to NPR, when she heard author Paula Fass talking about her book Kidnapped: Child Abduction in America.

One story of 4-year-old Charley Ross, abducted in 1874, prompted Mach to write the play "The Lost Boy" based on the bizarre and tragic facts of the case. At the time, Mach was on sabbatical so she wrote the first draft quickly before "I put the play away for a long time," she said in a recent interview.

Flash forward two years to the deadline for the Oregon Literary Fellowships a program of Literary Arts that grants a total of $30,000 to writers with works in progress who need funds to take their projects to the next level.

For Mach to revise her play, she needed to hear professional actors read the first draft. She also needed a director to supervise the reading and an audience to provide feedback so she would know where the play was working and where it needed help.

Mach applied for a $2500 fellowship from Literary Arts and was one of 12 writers to receive funding. In August 2008, at Portland, Oregon's Hipbone Studio, she staged the reading under the direction of Gretchen Corbett with a cast of eight of Portland's top actors.

"The reading had a huge effect on the play," said Mach. "With good actors reading, I was able to hear it and hear when it fell flat."

Following the reading, which was open to the public, Corbett solicited audience reactions. Mach was especially interested to discover what the audience felt the play was about. Their answers enabled her to rewrite the play, which she is now sending out nationally in hopes of finding a theater to mount a full production.
Did the grant provide her with anything else? "A grant is also a boost of confidence," said Mach. "It says somebody read it and believed in it."

What advice does Mach have for the writer who wants to increase her chances of winning a grant? "First, a writer must understand what her project is and articulate it," she said. "For me, The Lost Boy was about the vulnerability of being a parent and the exploitation of that vulnerability. Everything I wrote in the play had to come down to that."

Mach also recommends being concise, writing in your own voice, having a clear idea of the cost of the project, and detailing exactly how the money will be spent even if the application doesn't specifically ask.

When she's not winning grants to support her dramatic productions, Mach is a full-time instructor at Clackamas Community College where she teaches literature, screenwriting, and playwriting. (For more information about her classes, contact susanmach@comcast.net.) Over the course of her writing career, she has received many grants including six that have paid for readings of her plays.

Gigi Rosenberg's essays and how-to articles have appeared in the Seal Press anthology The Maternal is Political, Parenting, Writer's Digest, The Writer and on Oregon Public Radio. She receives rave reviews for the grant writing workshops she leads at NYC's Foundation Center and Chicago's Self Employment in the Arts. She has performed her monologues throughout the Pacific Northwest and now coaches writers how to give stellar public readings and write winning grant applications.