This one is still pursuing her goals...

Today I'm pleased to have one of the individuals in my coaching program, Katt Anderson, share a bit about writing, what she's done to grow as a writer and how she is working to take her writing to the next level. I hope you will enjoy this post. I will have a couple others throughout this month as we focus on goal setting and following through.

WCC:What is one thing you have done recently to improve your craft?

Katt Anderson: This past year I have changed a lot in my writing. I always take to classes that ACFW offers and I have heard of others that I have taken. I have been working with Tiffany for over a year now and I do recommend her classes, especially the one-month intense class. It really brought my thinking to the center. Last year I attended two seminars, Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and October Writers Retreat. When I was there, I met a lot of authors and I have been networking with some of them. Conferences are a great way to meet people and don't be afraid to ask them questions.

WCC: What are some things you're doing to market even before you're published?

KA: That's a good question and one I am getting started doing. I do several things. I'm a member of the Church of Christ and most of the churches have Ladies Day. That is a time where ladies from different congregations get together for a day of worship, just women. I have spoken at our Ladies Day and we are preparing for another one in May. I am also open for any other speaking engagements. I'm always introduced as a writer and I tell my progress. Another way is to write for publications, newspapers, anything. Right now I do not have anything published, but I am working on them. You can also speak to different local organizations. This has been swimming around for a while in my head and I'm ready to take the leap.

WCC: What genre do you write and how did you become interested in it?

KA: I write historical romance. I have always loved history. My best subject in school. The town I live in is very old and there is a lot of history from 1775 and on. When I was in elementary school, a historian of the town would come to our classes and tell us stories. I enjoyed it very much. Then my grandmother was raised in the coal mining towns in Southwest Virginia. She told me so many stories about the early 1900's. Her father was a sheriff and he also told me a few.

WCC: If you had to give one piece of advice to someone just starting out as an author, what would it be?

KA: One piece of advice is hard. There are so many things to do such as classes, conferences, etc. My one piece of advice is to read well written novels in the genre you want to write. Study those books when you read them and learn how the author says and explains certain things. How does she/he show emotion? How do they do back story? There is so much to learn and reading is a good way to do that. Wording is different in each era.

WCC: Do you have a blog/website? What is the theme and the address?

KA: I do have a website and a blog. The address is www.kattanderson.com. My blog is www.kattscribbles.blogspot.com. The theme is the journey of writing. I do have guest interviews and the last one was with Amanda Cabot discussing her book Paper Roses. It is a historical romance.

Tiff, thanks so much for interviewing me. You know I love to talk, so I have enjoyed telling about my journey. Life is a journey and each day is a different page or scene. We make it what we want it to be and I have decided to enjoy it. Thanks so much.

Thanks for sharing from your heart, Katt. Tomorrow I'll spend some time talking about ways to build your writer's platform. I hope to see everyone there.