| About
BIOGRAPHY OF KATHERINE PLOEGER
Hi, I’m Katherine (Katie) Ploeger, and I’m a writer, editor, writing coach and consultant. I write books, reports, courses, blog posts (see katieploeger.com, myfreedomstrategies.com, and ploegerservices.com), and other materials for writers (nonfiction, children’s, fiction, and screenwriters).
My primary goal while working with writers is to enable the writer to become better at the craft, to produce high quality work that can be published, thus fulfilling the purposes of the work and writer.
I’ve been self-publishing since 1980 (as Castlee Publications, Ploeger’s Services, and now Quilliful Publications); I also have had five books published by traditional publishers since 1994. I have more than 40 book and report titles published. (See the Abbreviated Bibliography below.)
In my writings and my coaching/consulting, I use my own experiences with writing and publishing (all routes), openly discussing my mistakes and lessons learned; I use my formal education (MA and MFA) and my informal/self-taught learning to guide readers and clients through the processes and hurdles involved with any writing project or goal.
I am caring and compassionate as a writer and teacher. And I am occasionally funny and irreverent. I am intuitive, which is especially useful in brainstorming sessions on the phone or in person with my clients. I focus on the client and the writing issues rather than “my expertise,” as I’ve seen some consultants do.
One of my key strengths, besides the stuff mentioned above, is that I truly enjoy writing and most stages of the writing process. There are times when I pace my office, wondering why I ever decided I was a writer, but those times are rare. I love the moment-by-moment activities of writing, from getting that first exciting vision of an idea to finishing the manuscript. I even enjoy revision, though sometimes the editing gets a bit tedious. And this enthusiasm for writing can be contagious, as I share it with my readers, clients, and in past times, my college students.
HERE ARE SOME DATES AND FACTS
Born in San Francisco, CA, to Richard and Bonnie Ploeger.
I have lived all around California: South San Francisco, Redwood City, San Diego, Modesto, and Tustin (Orange County).
I currently live in the Portland area of Oregon (as of September 2009).
FORMAL EDUCATION
AA in Business Administration from Canada Community College, Redwood City, CA, 1975.
BA in Business Administration (management) from San Diego State University, 1978.
Certificate, Travel Agent, Echols International Travel Training School, San Francisco, CA 1978.
MA in English-Composition from San Francisco State University, 1994.
Certificate, Script Supervisor, Cinema Arts Tech, Van Nuys, CA 2004.
MFA in Screenwriting from Chapman University, Orange, CA, 2005.
WORK EXPERIENCE (in brief)
1979 -1981 = Worked as a travel agent, then temped as an administrator in the San Francisco Bay Area.
1981 – 1984 = TAB Products Co., Palo Alto, CA, training administrator, doing a lot of corporate writing projects.
1984 – 1991 = Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, administrator at various departments and schools around campus, gaining more writing and editing experiences.
1994 – 2002 = Adjunct/Associate Professor of English at colleges and universities in the Central Valley, including California State University Stanislaus and Chapman University-Modesto Center (Modesto area), teaching courses in writing, business communications and technical writing, literature, and other topics.
Teaching Venues: Modesto Junior College (1994-1999), Chapman University-Modesto Center (1994-2002), San Juaquin Delta College (1994), Valley Commercial College (1995), California State University Stanislaus (1995-2002), California State University Stanislaus Extended Eduation (2000-2002). Private workshops held at Learning Light Foundation (Anaheim, CA) and Miracle Center of California (Orange, CA) 2007.
2005 – 2006 = Script supervisor for various short film projects and two features.
2005 – 2008 = Adjunct/Associate English professor at Saddleback College (2004-2005) and California State University Fullerton (2007-2008).
2009 = Instructional Designer with Corinthian College (short term contract), Santa Ana, CA.
2010 = Full time writer, self-publishing through Quilliful Publications, offering writing coaching and script consulting services through Ploeger’s Services.
ABBREVIATED BIBLIOGRAPHY
FOR KATHERINE PLOEGER, MA, MFA
(Note: All titles are written by Katherine Ploeger.)
BOOKS AND WORKBOOKS
For Travelers
Tips for Women Travelers, Castlee Publications, Palo Alto, CA, 1980.
The Weather Handbook – USA, Castlee Publications, Palo Alto, CA, 1983.
The Book of Cruise Comparisions – 1986. Vol. 1: North America, Vol. 2: Europe, Vol. 3: Pacific and Orient, Castlee Publications, Palo Alto, CA, 1986.
For Writers
Character Sketch Checklist: Questions to Ask Your Characters, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1989.
Plot Checklist: Obstacles for your Characters, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1991.
Focus Your Energies on Plot, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA,1992, 1999.
Focus Your Energies on Character, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992, 1999.
Focus Your Energies on Articles, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992.
Focus Your Energies on Writing For Children and Teens, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992, 1993.
Plot Workshop, CBI/Indepth Collection: Children’s Book Insider, Fort Collins, CO, 1994, 1999, 2010.
Character Workshop, CBI/Indepth Collection: Children’s Book Insider, Fort Collins, CO, 1994, 1999, 2010.
Brainstorming Workshop, CBI/Indepth Collection: Children’s Book Insider, Fort Collins, CO, 1995, 1999.
Focus Your Energies on Screenwriting – The Technical Aspects, Ploeger’s Services, Modesto, CA, 1999.
Time Travel Methods for Fiction Writers, Ploeger’s Services, Tustin, CA, 2006, and Quilliful Publications, Beaverton, OR, 2008.
Write that Nonfiction Book: The Whole Process, Quilliful Publications, Beaverton, OR, 2010.
Time Travel Workbook for Fiction Writers, Quilliful Publications, Beaverton, OR, 2010.
BookNotes Workbook, Quilliful Publications, Beaverton, OR, 2010.
INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
Basic Writer’s Toolkit, Ploeger’s Services, Modesto, CA, 1995, 1996, 1997 (a workbook for English 50/Basic Composition classes).
Writer’s Toolkit, Ploeger’s Services, Modesto, CA, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 (a workbook for English 101/Composition and Reading classes).
Study Guide for English 3007 Distance Learning Course, California State University Stanislaus Extended Education, Turlock, CA, 2000.
Instructor’s Guide to Writing Study Guides for Distance Learning Courses, California State University Stanislaus Extended Education, Turlock, CA 2001.
Write that Book Workshop Packet, Ploeger’s Services, Tustin, CA, 2007.
Discover Your Life Purpose and Make it Happen Workshop Packet, Ploeger’s Services, Tustin, CA 2007.
Your Publishing Options Materials Packet, Ploeger’s Services, Tustin, CA 2007.
Self-Publishing Class Materials Packet, Ploeger’s Services, Tustin, CA 2007.
COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS
Simplified Paragraph Skills, NTC/Contemporary Publishing, Lincolnwood, IL, 1999 (college developmental composition textbook now carried by McGraw Hill; available on Amazon.com).
Simplified Essay Skills, NTC/Contemporary Publishing, Lincolnwood, IL, 2000 (college composition textbook now carried by McGraw Hill; available on Amazon.com).
SPECIAL REPORTS/BOOKLETS
For Travelers
Great European Transportation Debate, Castlee Publications, San Carlos, CA, 1984.
Travel Seasons of the World, Castlee Publications, San Carlos, CA, 1984.
What to Tell your Travel Agent, Castlee Publications, San Carlos, CA, 1984.
The Cruising Season – 1986, Castlee Publications, San Carlos, CA, 1986.
Packing List for Travelers, Castlee Publications, San Carlos, CA, 1988.
Pocket Recipes, Castlee Publications, San Carlos, CA, 1988.
For Writers
Forms and Worksheets for Writers, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA 1990, 1991.
Fictional Devices: Time Travel Methods, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1991, 1993, 1999.
Worksheets for Character Development, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992.
Scriptwriting – a Packet of Worksheets, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992.
Fictional Devices: Names in a Series/Group, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992, 1999.
Your Publishing Choices, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992, 1999.
Word Games for Writers, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992, 1999.
The Creative Personality – Are You One of Them? Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992, 1999.
The Writing Process – 12 Steps to a Finished Product, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992, 1999.
Writing Articles Filing System and preprinted labels, Ploeger’s Services, San Carlos, CA, 1992.
Graduate Student Handbook on the MA in English – Concentration in Composition Program, San Francisco State University, Department of English, 1993.
How to solve Cryptograms with Word and Phrase Patterns, Ploeger’s Services, Tustin, CA, 2006.
Lifecycle of a Nonfiction Book Idea, Ploeger’s Services, Tustin, CA, 2009; 2nd edition, Quilliful Publications, Beaverton, OR, 2010.
Top Ten Tips for Becoming a Better Writer, Quilliful Publications, Beaverton, OR, 2010.
SCREENWRITING AWARDS
Quantum Quest ‘98, Quarterfinalist for House of Time, 1998.
Moondance 2000, Quarterfinalist for House of Time, 2000.
Script Magazine’s Open Door Contest, Finalist for Douglas and Daughter, Private Investigators, 2003.
Chapman University’s Killer Script List, Juried selection for Woman’s Advantage, 2004-5.
Creative Screenwriting Magazine’s AAA Screenwriting Competition, Quarterfinalist/Consider for Tree House Wars, 2005.
Annual Writer’s Network Screenplay and Fiction Competition, Quarterfinalist for Douglas and Daughter, Private Investigators, 2005.
Chapman University’s Killer Script List, Juried selection for Captain’s Inn I: Captain Mike’s Treasure, 2007-8.
Details of published articles and other materials are available upon request.