Writer Mama

I've been reading, no, dissecting and studying, this book for a couple of weeks now. I've waited to blog about it, though, because I wasn't sure I could do it justice. For one thing, I'm still taking in all the words on its pages.

But I want my blog world to know about this book now because it is utterly fabulous.

It's called "Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids." It's by Christina Katz and it describes, in very detailed, practical advice, how to become a published writer while being a stay-at-home mom.

I know, I know. I'm already a published writer while being a stay-at-home mom. I'm currently writing for five magazines, and the newspaper back in Baytown has a standing offer to print anything I send them.

"You could have written that book," Chad said, when I told him what it was about.

Well, not really. Although I believe writing is a skill that can always be improved upon, I have the basics down. I know when and where to use "there," "their" and "they're," and, unlike a certain boutique here in Bryant, AR, I know the word "HATS" on a store-window sign should never have an apostrophe.

But I have been completely clueless in this area: how to sell my stuff. I know about cover letters and query letters but I haven't been sure how to write them or when I should send one over the other.

That's why "Writer Mama" is so great. Katz spells out how to do all this stuff. Plus she helps you identify a market and tells you how to become an idea-generating machine amid the chaos that accompanies being at home with young children. And other extremely useful info.

Katz also has a web community of writer mamas and she offers online writing classes. I'm planning on taking one in the fall. I'm adding links to her site and other Writer Mama-type links under "Writing Links" down the side of my blog.

So, Mary Beth P., and Sarah P., and other writer-types I know, get on over to Amazon and get this book. I got mine for twelve bucks. And even if you don't have kids yet, the information in this book is unvaluable. Seriously, I wish I had it ten years ago during my pre-kids years.