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November 15, 2010
Sharing with Writers
A newsletter that is also a community. Share your ideas. Learn from theirs! Associated with the multi award - winning series of HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, www.howtodoitfrugally.com


From the Desks of
Carolyn Howard - Johnson
and Sharing with Writers Subscribers

In the spirit of the advice I give in the Frugal Editor - - that is to use an extra pair of eyes whenever possible - - this newsletter is voluntarily copyedited by Mindy Phillips Lawrence ~ mplcreative1@aol.com ~ www.freewebs.com/mplcreative. I also tell writers to be patient with other writers when they make editing boo - boos. We're all human. This letter comes out weekly (except when I'm traveling or on deadline) and it's long!
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Contents
Regular Features
~Note from Carolyn
~Letters - to - the - Editor
~Thank Yous (where you also find leads and great resources!)
~Tips and News Galore! (They're scattered, you'll just have to find them!)
~Opportunities: If You Don’t Want to Do Your Own Book Launch
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: “Swatches”
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™
This Issue
~Feature: Jim Cox, review site owner, on the review process
~Feature: Selling Your Book to Greeks
~Feature: Oh, the Mistakes We Make

Note: You may have better luck with the URLs in this newsletter if you copy and paste them into your browser letter. I leave the links long rather than use hyperlinks in this letter because the letter is available in plain text in your e - mail window as well as in .pdf.
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Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

Most of you know that I have been published every which way, that I believe there is at least one right way for any specific title, and that some authors by reason of their beliefs or personality are better suited to some models than others. Maybe my lack of prejudice is what makes me a good publishing consultant. At least I hope so.

Having said that, I do have a special place in my heart for indie authors, especially the ones who do their homework to bring the best possible product (yep! Books are products!) to their audiences. So, I am going to display a special indie author pride button (or widget) in many places on my blogs, Web site and other places. I hope you will, too.

But even if you choose not to utilize the button, I think you’ll enjoy reading about what the developer of this widget has to say about Indie publishers. Those of us who choose that route must be every bit as proud of it as the Indie video makers, the Indie movie makers, the Indie musicians. When we are, the stigma will disappear.

Here is the link for the widget and article.
http://www.electrifyingreviews.com/2010/07/i - support - indie - authors - my - new - campaign.html
Send me your links once you’ve included the button, and I’ll list them in my newsletter.

And thank you to Leora Krygier, longtime subscriber and author of When She Sleeps (once published traditionally, now published independently). Her proud Indie widget is at www.leorakrygier.com

See how I’ve used the widget on my New Book Review blog (www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com). By the way, that review blog is available for you to recycle your favorite reviews, too. The guidelines are in the left column.

Happy Writing, Editing and Promoting
Carolyn


PS: A quick report on the Roman Retreat! In a word, “fantastic.” If you want to see what you missed including pictures of our amazing mansion/villa, go to www.budurl.com/RomanRetreat. And start saving your pennies for next year.

PPS: It’s not too late to order copies of Maggie Ball’s and my themed poetry chapbook to use as holiday cards. For ordering details and a sample poem go to: http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com/2010/11/holiday - card - idea - real - poetry.html

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Endorsement: Dear Carolyn (Via Twitter): “I met you at the Erma conference two years ago. The editing seminar you did at that conference has been a great inspiration for my writing. I love your newsletter.” From Laurie Fabrizio who blogs for 50 - something Moms at http://www.50somethingmoms.com/laurie/ and humor at http://lauriefabrizio.squarespace.com . She is a contributing author of the book “Laugh Your Shorts Off: Short stories to make you giggle by award winning writers.” Laurie tweets @Ifab24.
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Letter to the Editor ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dear Carolyn,

That was some rant [on the poor reading habits of the general public these days]. I can't help agreeing with you.

Wish I was so eloquent, but when confronted, I just get tongue - tied and tearful.

Thanks for all the newsletters,
Jeanette M. Phillips, proofreader, editor, translator, tutor, international education consultant
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Hi, Carolyn.

Just got a chance to read your Sharing With Writers newsletter (which I love!), and wanted to say I totally agree with you regarding Dan Brown's writing. Although the plot was fascinating in The DaVinci Code, I found the characters "tasted" a bit like cardboard, and the dialogue seemed stilted. I thoroughly enjoyed the chase scene through Paris, however! Hmm. These minor things apparently don't stop bestsellers from selling their millions. I'm happy for their success - - truly - - but I had hoped for more in the writing skills arena, if you know what I mean!

All my best,
Aaron Paul Lazar author of the LeGarde Mysteries (http://www.legardemysteries.com/) and the Moore Mysteries (http://www.mooremysteries.com/). Blogging at http://www.murderby4.blogspot.com/, a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites pick and http://www.aaronlazar.blogspot.com/. Network with him at http://aplazar.gather.com/.
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Hi Carolyn:

I took your UCLA frugal marketing class in the Summer of 2009 and since then have been a faithful follower (and contributor w/links) to your newsletter chock full of FRUGAL advice and encouragement.

You may remember me as I sent you a few requests for poetry submissions that I happened upon. Also, you kindly included a previous author success in your newsletter for my teacher Les Plesko, whose work happened to be in the same issue, the FIRST of Pear Noir!, as yours.

NOW, I have my own successes (yes, that's plural!) to report. I hope you will include them in your next newsletter. [see Jamie’s success in the Author Successes section!)

Thank you Carolyn for INSISTING that it's never to early to start promoting oneself. I currently have 2000 Facebook friends with whom I engage daily, and you bet this is going to sell some anthologies. Plus, it may have made a difference in my getting the PEN Fellowship.

Much appreciation,
Jamie Schaffner, www.facebook.com/jamieschaffner
2011 PEN CENTER USA Emerging Voices Fellow
2009 UCLA Kirkwood Award Finalist


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Needing something more meaningful for the celebrations in your life? Something that stays within your budget? Try Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions for the men in your life. Sure, they like fusses made over them, too! (www.budurl.com/Imagining) ($6.95). Cherished Pulse (www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse) ($6.95) for someone you love. She Wore Emerald Then (www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook) ($12.95), for mothers and other women, and Blooming Red (www,budurl.com/BloomingRed), to use as Christmas cards or incidental holiday gifts. They’re from the Celebration Series of poetry from Magdalena Ball and me.
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Tip: Lillian Brummet offered to let me bring you some Christmas cheer with both her radio program and her blog. I’ll be giving you some basic ways to improve your poetry on her Brummet’s Conscious Discussions blog on Nov 15th http://consciousdiscussions.blogspot.com and on Dec 7th at 10 AM Pacific time we’ll talk promotion and I’ll read a little from Magdalena Ball’s and my new chapbook Blooming Red (www.budurl.com/BloomingRed) at http://blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions

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Please paste this little blurb - - perhaps with a little endorsement - - in your newsletter or Web site: To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e - mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to HoJoNews@aol.com or go to www.howtodoitfrugally.com for an auto subscribe box. Let me know you did it. I will be able to do something similar for you on my Resources for Readers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
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Editing Tip: Even the LA Times can booboo on homonyms. Thought you'd like to see me give them a bad time on their most recent homonym booboo!
http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2010/10/if - la - times - cant - avoid - homonym - booboos.html

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My blog, War, Peace, Tolerance and Our Soldiers is where I get to nag and rag and try to make things better for our troops and maybe for the world. It includes a segment of frugal ways to help our troops and veterans. I'd love to have you leave a comment. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
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Author Successes

Sharing with Writers Subscriber Starts New Blog . . .
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Raff Ellis, author of Kisses from a Distance, has started a new blog. He says, “Like many authors, I have resisted some of the obvious technological tools available to us for the purpose of publicizing our work, but finally have taken the plunge into the blogosphere. My purpose is to codify some of the myriad thoughts rumbling around my cranium in the hope they will be of use to others. I used to be an Internet columnist for a popular site that abruptly went out of business and I have since missed the opportunity to share my thoughts with the thousands of subscribers to that site. So, this blog will relieve some of those pent up tensions by providing an outlet for my creative angst.
I recently posted an essay about book marketing that many of you might find interesting. I also will use my blog to update news about my writing, both past and future. So, if this interests any of you, you can subscribe to my posts by going to: raffellis.blogspot.com.

PEN’s Emerging Voices Award
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Jamie Schaffner was awarded a 2011 PEN CENTER USA Emerging Voices Fellowship. http://www.penusa.org/node/174 During this year - long program, she will hone her writing skills with master classes, work one - on - one with an established author and give public readings in Los Angeles from her coming - of - age novel, Get the Girl. Look for an excerpt of Get the Girl in the anthology Best Lesbian Romance (Cleis Press) due out in January 2011.

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Book Proposal Help: "The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less" is now an e - book or paperback booklet (Only $6.95). Find it at http://budurl.com/bookproposalreport =================================================

Feature

On the Review Process
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By Jim Cox of Midwest Reviews

Note: Jim gives permission to reprint his articles (with proper credit, of course!) and he loves the Q&A format as much as I do. So, this series of Q&As is from a review expert if there ever was one! Notice that those of you who have read my Frugal books will know how to write a query letter, a cover letter, a media release, and a media kit. He just tells you how important those skills are to the welfare of your book.

Mr. Cox,
Can you tell me what all you do with a review? An author asked me about it and I have forgotten. I am just reading and trying to get out the best reviews I can. Plus, make sure I have the two books needed to keep my shelf.
As of today, I have three books for March that I have sent to Midwest.
Sincerely,
Sandra Heptinstall

Dear Sandra:
1. We publish the review in one or more of our nine monthly book review on - line magazines.
2. If the book is on Amazon we post the review there.
3. We provide the review to Cengage Learning for inclusion into their Book Review Index, a CD that goes out to several thousand library systems in the United States and Canada.
4. We archive the review for five years on the Midwest Book Review web site.
5. We provide publishers with a copy of the review and a notification letter. They have automatic permission to utilize the review in any manner they deem useful to promote and market the book. They also have the responsibility of notifying their authors, editors, illustrators, and anyone else they deem appropriate.
6. We send out an email notice to the reviewers notifying them when there review(s) are featured and in which issue of either Reviewer's Bookwatch or MBR Bookwatch.
Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review

Dear Mr. Cox,
I have recently had a children's book published titled Luke and Morgan Learn a Lesson. The publisher is Mirror Publishing, a small children's book publisher. They have no marketing department, so I am on my own trying to get the word out about my book. I wanted to send it to your company for a book review, but I do not have a media kit or publicity release. Do you know how I could obtain one of these, or could I send to book without them? I look forward to hearing from you.
Thank You,
Michelle Velky

Dear Michelle:
Thank you for your information. Please send two copies of the published book for review, accompanied by a cover letter and some form of publicity release, to the attention of:
James A. Cox
Editor - in - Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive
Oregon, WI 53575
You will find explicit instructions on how to create a cover letter and a publicity release on the Midwest Book Review website. They are quick and easy. Within about 5 minutes, you will turn out professional quality documents to accompany your review submissions to us - - or to anyone else.
Here are the links to these two 'how to' articles:
Writing An Effective Cover Letter: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/advice/cvr - ltr.htm
Writing An Effective Publicity Release: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/advice/prelease.htm
Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
Just an additional note: "What is a publicity release?" is the single most often asked question by a newly self - published author.


Question:
I've heard that reviewers, etc. don't like getting press releases and info about the book separate from the book itself. Well, this is the only way I can do it, since books are sent from the printer to the reviewer. So press releases have to be sent separately. But I can print a different copy with no ISBN attached as a review copy. If I put info about the book and a little cover illustration AS the cover, do you think this would work? Or, should I do a version that says REVIEW COPY on the cover, and the first page inside is basically the PR (info about the book, author, etc)?
Thanks for the input.
Ben Ohmart
New books on the old stars
http://www.bearmanormedia.com

Dear Ben:
Here's the problem with sending cover letters and PRs separately from the book itself:

The Midwest Book Review is about a middle - sized book review operation. Even so, we receive an average of 2300 titles a month. Having to set aside paperwork for a book before it has arrived is an enormous hassle - - it's just not going to happen.

Receiving the paperwork some days and or a week or more after the book has arrived is also a hassle. Not as much as scenario #1, but still extra work in terms of keeping track of things.

The very last thing any author or publisher wants to do is make a reviewer have to work harder to keep track of their book than those of their more than 2000 competitors offering that reviewer a book that is nicely accompanied upon its arrival with the proper paperwork.

Printing a 'special edition' with the core info printed on it that would otherwise be found in a standard cover letter and/or publicity release will only work with pre - publication reviews like Publishers Weekly or The Library Journal - - but there your competition increases to around 5,000 or more titles a month.

'Special Editions', or other forms of ARCs won't work at all with post - publication reviews like TV shows, Radio venues, trade magazines, or the Midwest Book Review.

My advice in your particular situation? Order a couple of cases of your own book from the publisher at the best discount you can get. Create a dynamite cover letter and publicity release. Then send those to a selected and vetted list of thematically appropriate reviewers and review publications.
Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review


Hello,
Can you tell me what a 'capsule review' is? Is it a particular type of review?
Thanks,
Lisa

Dear Lisa:

A 'capsule review' is a review that is a single succinct paragraph in length.

Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI, 53575
http://www.midwestbookreview.com


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Social networking is one of the best ways to make valuable contact and build a list of readers. The most supportive and interactive one I know with an associated site for displaying fiction to the movie industry is iFOGO. Subscribe at http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html
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Tips from Patrika Vaughn (www.acapella.com): Tip #1 Freelance Writing Organization, Int’l - This site hosts one of the largest free writing resource links databases in the world! It offers education, daily news, a writer’s store, creativity advice and forums, to name a few of the resources. Over 2,000 free writing resources in 40+ categories of writing

Tip #2: If your website is to be successful at selling your book, it needs to be edited. Don't self - edit. Hire someone to go through your site page by page and make sure there are no typos. Mistakes on your site looks unprofessional and takes away credibility for your product.

Tip #3: Your website isn't a magazine. People don't read; they scan. Make sure your site isn't so crammed with text that it's not scannable. Ideally, your home page should have no more than 200 to 250 words. Also, make sure you have a clear call to action. You want your visitors to do something on your site, yes? Make sure they know what that is, clearly and precisely.
- - - - -
Write Better - Get Published with your Author's Advocate
A Cappela Publishing - Celebrating our 15th Year - www.acappela.com

Want to receive our free monthly newsletter for writers?
Join at: A Cappela Publishing - www.acappela.com


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I’m reworked my Web site. Please use the huge Resources for Writers sectionhttp://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/links_for_writers.htm. And please let me know if you find broken links. I need your help! =================================================


Tip: In case you missed it, why not revisit the column on using italics for internal thought from this newsletter at my editing blog this week. www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com

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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising. If you would like to advertise to subscribers, display ads are available at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/advertising.htm at less per year than most sites charge for a single month. Find classified there, too.
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Tip: Are you confused about how to credit facts or quotes when you write articles or nonfiction? Check out my Frugal, Smart, and Tuned - In Editor blog:
http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2010/10/q - la - ann - landers - academic - accreditation.html


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Subscribers who have websites or newsletters of their own may be interested
in the F r ^^ Articles 4 Readers and Writers on my site, http://howtodoitfrugally.com/free_content.htm I try to add new articles to it frequently. If you don't see what you need for your blog or newsletter, just ask. HoJoNews@aol.com.
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On Poetry
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This is a running feature for the poets among us and those who would like to try writing poetry but feel, well, inadequate about the writing or the promotion. Please send in your poetry tips and resources for this section.

Smories Wants Poems for Kids 3 to 8
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They are also looking for short stories for children in the same age range. They offer monthly prizes up to $100 for both genres. The work must be by writers age 18 and up but are read by kids on the Web site. www.smories.com.

F r ^ ^ Poetry C ^ ntest
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The contest I won last year is open for submissions. Great prizes. Email to fcpoetrycontest@gmail.com. But as always do check submission guidelines! http://www.franklin - christoph.com/Writing/PoetryContest.html. Please include your poetry and name and address within the body of the email. Attachments will no longer be accepted. Note, this is a new email address from previous years. Contact name is Lauren Taylor.

Audio and Video Samples from Blooming Red
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Please enjoy Maggie reading from our newest chapbook Blooming Red (www.howtodoitfrugally.com/more_on_blooming_red.htm). You might get ideas from it for promoting your own poetry.

Here are two audios of Maggie reading some poems from her section of this chapbook. She has amazing British/Aussie diction.

http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/Six%20Million%20Years%20Ago.mp3

http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/Silent%20Symphony.mp3


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Endorsement: I wanted to tell you how your workshops, reading your newsletter, and just chatting with you has been a great help to me. I have a background in marketing from the fashion world and even though it has helped me get my foot in the door, I honestly have to say that after getting to know you, reading your books, and everything else I just said has truly helped me put Stories for Children Magazine on the map. ~ VS Grenier, Founder and Editor - in - Chief Stories for Children Magazine. http://storiesforchildrenmagazine.org.
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Mini Feature

Connecting with Greeks to Promote Your Book ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

You may wonder what I could be talking about. Greeks? Your book? You didn’t write “Zorba,” after all! On the other hand, if you went to college on a campus that hosts Greek Groups, sometimes known collectively as Panhellenic, you may have a clue. These Greek groups can be a powerful way to promote.

As an example, my college fraternity (yes, it is a fraternity—not a sorority—even though it’s a group of women only) has a budget of 22 million in California alone. That includes money they can spend on speakers’ fees. I tend, however, to give my time to them fr ^ ^ because they are deeply into service, fostering good grades and a whole litany of other kinds of important things. My Greek group founded and helps support the Blind Children’s Center in Los Angeles.

Anyway, I moderated a panel for the young women at one of the fraternity houses on campus in mid October, and though I didn’t charge for the service, it was a wonderful list - building and networking experience. Networking included the young women in the audience but also some folks on the UCLA campus who I asked to sit on the panel.

Greek groups hold national and international conventions every year and they all need speakers. If you aren’t a member of one of these groups—groups for both men and women—ask around. You probably know someone who is, someone who may recommend the topics you speak on. One of the things you can offer that many other speakers can’t is a book. One to every person in the audience. Books tucked into tote bags that include other swag; some major companies will pay to have their products included in those bags as well.

Think about it. These young Greeks will be influential community members. In fact, on campus they already are! What better way to spread the word about your book?


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A general marketing rule is that a product must be seen seven times before it is purchased. That is just as true for books (because they are products, like it or not!). Let people see that book cover image! To do that, you are invited to advertise as a site sponsor at www.howtodoitfrugally.com for about the same cost for a year as you’d normally pay for a single month. Yep, the frugal way! Click on the Advertising tab at the top of the page or contact me personally at hojonews@aol.com.
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Tip from Joan Stewart’s Publicity Hound: Use online event calendars to promote your book signing, book launch or workshop. roll. Many of the big ones like www.eventcrazy.com use events that can be searched by zip code. Joan says these calendars are the new classifieds and many people use them to find something fun to do on weekends. Sylvia McClain has one for writers that I use and have recommended in this newsletter before. She lists events of interest to writers by region and online. To Subscribe send a request to www.sylmcclain.com.


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Audio divas bring you audios on many aspects of building a writing career:
www.tri - studio.com/writers.html. Titles include:
~Contest Facts: How to Add “Award - winning” to Your Name;
~Do It Yourself Indexing: The Way to Sell Your Book to Libraries, Schools and Anyone Else That Buys Nonfiction;
~Fury and Destruction: How to Use Violence Effectively in Your Writing
~And more.
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Tip: Every time I travel, I realize how people are relying on Kindles when they’re away from home. I love the idea of publishing our blogs on Kindle and plan to put my Sharing with Writers blog (www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com) on it soon! This idea works especially for those who have how - to blogs for targeted audiences. Learn more about how to do it by reading The Publicity Hound e - zine (by now you know it’s a favorite of mine!) at
http://www.aweber.com/archive/pubhound_01/1vFht/h/Publicity_tips_How_to_target.htm

and then go to https://kindlepublishing.amazon.com/gp/vendor/sign - in/183 - 2751729 - 0963127

to get started. Oh! While you’re reading The Publicity Hound, do yourself a favor and sign subscribe at http://www.PublicityHound.com .


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Please think about my Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper - Perfect Copy - for inexpensive holiday gifts. For fellow members of your critique groups, perhaps, or other writing friends. At only $6.95 it’s a fun little brushup booklet for keeping embarrassing copy - gremlins away. www.budurl.com/WordtrippersPB
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An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing


Swatches
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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

Last week I moved the furniture around in both my bedrooms. I pulled together colors I liked and tried to balance size, color and use of furniture and wall hangings in each room. I matched color swatches of material that I had in my fabric bins to see what other creative ideas I could conjure up. When I stood back and looked at the results, I realized how much interior decorating was like putting a story together. Stories have balance, color, excellent use of characters to furnish them and boundless creativity. Stories also explore new creative opportunities.

I began to “swatch” a story together, a little piece with a simple setting and two characters trading dialogue and thoughts from one to the other. Before long, I’d added a little more to this tale and, before long, I had something to work with, a design.

So sit down with a character’s “color” palate and begin to see where your story design takes you. You might get an idea right off the bat or you might need to go to the “fabric store” (library), and browse the racks for ideas. Either way, you will get a good beginning and have a colorful time.

Enjoy story decorating!


LINKS

Color Symbolism in Literature
http://www.womensforum.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3027:color - symbolism - in - literature&catid=76:books&Itemid=106

How to Write Great Characters
http://www.writingroom.com/viewwriting/wr_how_to/How - To - Write - Great - Characters

Balance in Writing
http://ezinearticles.com/?Balance - in - Writing - - - The - Major - Elements&id=3400621

Finding the Balance of Narrative and Dialogue
http://www.writerstreasure.com/writing - tip - narrative - dialogue/

Writing – Setting
http://www.oldandsold.com/articles19/writing - 3.shtml

Story Swatches
http://observatory.designobserver.com/entry.html?entry=11257

~ Mindy Phillips Lawrence, www.freewebs.com/mplcreative, is the author of the poetry collections One Blue Star and Above and Below. She is co - author of The Complete Writer and a publicist and literary agent. She is in the process of researching a novel titled Alone is Where We Begin. Blogging at: http://mplcreative.blogspot.com/.
Her specialty is helping writers with their media releases. Reach her at mplcreative1@aol.com.


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Yes, I do consult. I tailor my fees to your needs - - everything from coaching to full edits (sorry no partial edits) to hour consultations to help you with your marketing campaign or your path to publishing. http://budurl.com/carolynsconsulting
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In the News: UCLA and San Diego State offers classes in New World languages like Mixteco, Aymara, and Zapotec. They stress the value of language for understanding one’s culture. If you are interested in taking a class in a language of your heritage, why not check your local university to see what is available.

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Recent guest blog posts: BookBuzzr.com’s regular blog for writers: http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/your - stepping - stones - to - credibility/ Recent podcast links: Elemental Musings from Bev Walton - Porter of Scribe and Quill: http://budurl.com/waltonporter
Talking with Funky Writer Rob Batista about starting a career, promoting the hard - to - promote genres and more:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefunkywriter/2010/07/30/the - funky - writer - radio - show - episode - 74
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Oh, the Mistakes We Make
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In a recent movie, DeNiro tells his son - in - law, “I’m watching you.” I hate that scene but then I find that I’ve been watching you!

I recently spoke at a writers' club and, of course, came back with a stack of business cards and bookmarks. I am giving all those authors applause for having cards or bookmarks, but after visiting their Web sites I was so disappointed!

Many of them had no way to contact the author. Their main Web site page is only a marketing page and the link takes visitors directly to a sell page on Amazon or elsewhere). One didn't even include a review. None included a media room.

This kind of inaccessibility violates one of the most important Web site rules for authors. It appears on one of the first pages of The Frugal Book Promoter. That is: "Don't pretend that people have come to your Web site only to buy a book."

A free page at AuthorsDen.com is better than something on an independent site that isn’t well done. AD doesn't have the ability to offer a media room per se, but an author could just offer a media kit using e - mail.

But more heinous even than no media room is that there was no way to reach the author. Sometimes there was no e - mail address even on their business card!

Authors! These are your READERS. Or your future readers. Let's treat them with respect. If you are one of those who are doing this for security reasons, for heaven's sake, get an e - mail address separate from your personal one. Put it on you business cards, bookmarks, Web site and everywhere else you can. Your readers will respond with book sales and with compliments that can be used as blurbs or endorsements.


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My review blog is there for you to use. It’s a place for you to honor authors and books you’ve loved with a review. It’s a place to recycle the review of your book that you love most. It’s f r ^ ^. Submission guidelines are in the left column at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com.
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Thank Yous

Thanks to Huntington and the Red Room Crew...
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for being such a welcoming spot for writers. You may want to see what he ran on Red Room that helped both me and longtime subscriber Linda Ballou. You see, networking works! http://www.redroom.com/blog/carolyn - howard - johnson/travel - writer - linda - ballou - shares - method - get - your - book - passed - around

Thanks to Writing Mamma Blogger . . .
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. . . Virginia S. Grenier for her helpful (and heartwarming comments) in her blog post at:
http://thewritingmama.blogspot.com/2010/09/websites - blogs - and - newsletters.html


Thanks to Author & Reviewer Mayra Calvani . . .
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. . . For the neat review of my Frugal and Focused Tweeting. http://blogcritics.org/books/article/book - review - frugal - and - focused - tweeting/ Like other reviewers, she thinks it will be a good book for writers, too. ( -


Thanks to Michigan Literary Network . . .
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Thanks to Sylvia Hubbard for having me on her Blog Talk radio show and for her good humor dealing with our little snafu. Learn more about her great radio program for writers at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michiganliterarynetwork


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Fun and F r ~ ~: If you purchased the Frugal Book Promoter or the Frugal Editor, I'd love you to review it on Amazon or BN.com. Make it simple; just tell what part of it you found most valuable. If you do, send me the review link (URL) and I will send you a 35 - page handout from one of my UCLA classes. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com
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Tip: Aggie Villaneuva offers Sharing with Writers subscribers this list of reviews you can get on your own. Services like this are usually for her clients only and she offers dozens of little perks like this to them on an ongoing basis!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12jQ4bvf0xLjAQ20mbksvgMCeP_1aF2bCzslPNe6vrbI/edit?hl=en#

While you’re there, browse around to see her other services. All reasonably priced and you can get help with only what you need, one promotion at a time. ( - :

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Unsolicited endorsement from Chaz DeSimone, book cover designer extraordinaire (www.chazdesimone.com): “Carolyn, the Frugal Book Promoter is amazingly comprehensive, understandable, and is using up all my highlighter ink.” Heidi (one of his clients): Start reading! It'll get you excited about promoting, and getting your promotion all ready ahead of time. ================================================


Opportunities

Contest Op
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Call for Entries for 2011 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Deadline March 2, 2011. For details go to the contest resource page on my Web site at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/contests.htm. Winning books received cash prizes and an opportunity to be reviewed by a top agent.


Review Opportunity ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Please send all press releases, review avails, interview opps, news, etc intended for Blogcritics and Technorati to our new centralized email address to your contact, Anna Creech: reviews@blogcritics.org.

Anna will also be able to put you in direct contact with relevant section/channel editors where applicable.

Here’s a reminder on how Blogcritics and Technorati operate: Since we have over 2500 writers and produce 80 stories a day, the most efficient mode of operation seems to be if you send product release notices, review and interview availability (query letters), press releases, news, announcements, etc., to us via email. We then forward these emails to our writers Yahoo Group in order to assign a specific reviewer/writer, who will then contact you directly with his/her mailing address for that specific item. We track all assignments in a database. We also welcome multimedia (audio, video, eCards, etc) assets and news/announcements of every kind.
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Thanks to longtime subscriber Chris Meeks, novelist and writing teacher extraordinaire, for sending this valuable information.

Writers’ Organization Offers Benefits to All ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Wisconsin Regional Writers Association (WRWA)is on a roll! It’s offering its benefits to members across the US—indeed, around the world.
They are in the process of beefing up their image and appeal and broadening their base for all writers. Send memberships to: Membership Recorder, Loretta Kottke, PO Box 085270, Racine, WI 53408 Annual membership is $25.00; members of charter clubs receive a $5.00 discount. An application can be found here: http://www.wrwa.net/downloads/MembershipApplication.pdf .
Charter clubs are groups of critique or writing club members with at least five participants who belong to WRWA. See http://www.wrwa.net for more information. Here are some benefits to watch for:
~WRWA offers several contests throughout the year. They are judged by industry professionals with awards up to $150.00.”
~WRWA offers a judges pool.
~WRWA offers a speakers bureau.
~WRWA issues quarterly and monthly print and electronic journals filled with news and tips. It showcases the work of members.
~WRWA recently began a small press.
~WRWA is on FaceBook at http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/group.php?gid=154305978720 and Twitter at http://twitter.com/WisWriters. Talk about great learning and networking opportunities.
~ WRWA offers two writers’ conferences a year. This year’s are planned for Spring 2011 from May 6 - 7 in Fond du Lac, WI and in the fall will be at Stevens Point. That’s September 23 - 25.

The mission of the 62 - year - old Wisconsin Regional Writer's Association is to provide a structured fellowship of amateur and professional writers who support and assist fellow writers with all phases, types, and categories of creative writing.

The Association encourages the preservation of family, local, regional and state history.

The Association offers informational and educational
services to writers and to the general public.

The Association assists writers in editing, publishing, and marketing their work, and provides counsel regarding, and contact with. publishing and literary
agencies and representation.

Lisa Lickel
Editor, Creative Wisconsin Magazine
http://lisalickel.com


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This is an example of one of my tweets: "FrugalBookPromo New trend? Borders will buy nonreturnable books from HarperStudio in return for a deeper discount." My tweets cover everything from news to more tips and resources, all in 140 characters or less. If you don’t want to tweet, at least follow me for more great tips. Make a profile page and invite me at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo. =================================================

From Carolyn’s Coming Memoir/NoCookbook:
A Real Flu - Time Recipe
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Just in time for flu season, here's a great recipe. Pass it to friends.
12 (that’s twelve! Not ½!) cloves fresh garlic, chopped very fine
Fresh or dried parsley (find dried parsley in the spice section of your supermarket or grow it yourself and dry it). Chop.
Sea salt to taste.
Enough fresh virgin olive oil to moisten all.

Scoop up with pieces of great, fresh sourdough bread. You'll think you've died and gone to heaven. Your virus will run for cover. The neighbors will not come visit.

Watch for my memoir (Here's How I Don't Cook), now being shopped by super agent Terrie Wolf. And keep your fingers crossed for her success. Please!


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The New Book Review is a f r ^ ^ service of this newsletter. It allows authors to get more exposure from their favorite review and reviewers a chance to have more readers see their reviews - - with links, of course. Please check the guidelines on the blog site at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com.
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
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Carolyn Howard Johnson and Lillian Brummet will discuss book proposals and common word trippers. And Carolyn may read from her new poetry chapbook (with Magdalena Ball) on Tuesday, Dec. 7, at 10 am Pacific time. Guest may call 646 478 4758 to ask questions or offer ideas. Learn more at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/consciousdiscussions
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NEW! I’ll be talking to Sylvia Hubbard on Michigan Literary Network (www.michiganliterarynetwork.com) and Motown Writers Network (www.motownwriters.com) sponsored BlogTalkRadio (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/michiganliterarynetwork) on Wed. Dec. 15 at 3 pm Pacific time. Tune in any Wednesday to hear this popular show for writers (and pitch to Producer Andrea Daniel for a guest spot at adaniel0089@comcast.net ).

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Carolyn Howard Johnson, author of A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques, will make a guest appearance on Paul Bruno's Career Czar® radio program. At 10:00 am Pacific at www.alltalkradio.net/careerczar, we'll talk about making retailing work in a down economy and how authors can make their case to retailers to let them boost profits with a book signing on December 17, 2010. You can also listen at www.alltalkradio./careerczar/career121710.mp3 In the meantime, listen to his other shows at www.alltalkradio.net/careerczar or at the show's blog at www.careerczar.wordpress.com. Ask to be on Paul's notification list for free podcasts.


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New! Carolyn will chat with writers (yes! fiction writers, too!) on how to make Twitter work for them. The Catholic Online Writers’ Conference, March 27, 2011, at 10 am Pacific Time. Registration required but it’s free. Limited enrollment so do it now! ( - : http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/.


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Sign up to receive a copy of my Sharing with Writers blog in your e - mail box. It is a focused blog on all things related to writing and publishing. Go to www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com. Sign up in the left - hand column. Find related resources by scrolling to the bottom of the blog.
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Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile
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(Fun with language from The Washington and other publications.)


Giraffiti ( n): Vandalism spray - painted very, very high.

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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

This is a place to share with others and learn from others.

Although I do attempt to verify information used within this newsletter's pages, Sharing with Writers does not guarantee entities or information. Subscribers should research resources.

To submit information articles, tips or other information, e - mail Carolyn at HoJoNews@aol.com. Please put "Submission: Sharing with Writers" in the subject line.

If you do not care to receive this newsletter, send an e - mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with "Unsubscribe” in the subject line, but please, please don't tell me you've given up writing or promoting!

To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e - mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to:: HoJoNews@aol.com.

Please pass this newsletter to friends or e - groups. It needn't be pasted in its complete form, but please credit this newsletter, and the individual contributors with anything you snip and paste.

Ordering Information:
Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo
The e - book at http://starpublishllc.com/id43.html

The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor

The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know About Selling Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less,
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3468136

Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper - Perfect Copy
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3422926

A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide

To learn more about This Is the Place,
Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings, and She Wore Emerald Then: www.carolynhoward - johnson.com.

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, a chapbook of poetry coauthored with Magdalena Ball. http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry (Finishing Line Press)
www.budurl.com/CarolynsTracings

Contact Information
Websites:
http://carolynhoward - Johnson.com (literary)
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com (all things about writing)


Blogs:

http://www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com, a blog on all things publishing
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, all things grammatical and ungrammatical
http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog focused on YOUR reviews
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, a blog focused on editing, formatting and craft
http://www.WarPeaceTolerance.blogspot.com War. Peace. Tolerance. And Our Soldiers.
http://www.sizzlingbookfairbooths.blogspot.com, a blog where you can learn to get some mojo behind your own booth by learning from the successes and mistakes of others.

Tweeting at:
www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo
www.twitter.com/frugalretailing