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June 30, 2011
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: “Indie Awards Offers Frugal Special”
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: Writing Short
Stories and Getting Drunk (On Words)
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

This Issue
~Feature: Cracking the Code for Smartphones


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

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Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

On a serious note…there are no better friends that writers and I lost one this month. Many of my Sharing with Writers subscribers will know her. Many will not. She is Phyllis GeBauer.

Phyllis was one of my first teachers at UCLA—a novel - writing course at UCLA. We all remember our caring teachers fondly, even those who taught us as adults.
Phyllis hand selected several of the students from that class together for a critique group and showed up at one of our first meetings to make sure we got off on the right foot. Can you believe? Thanks to her, we have endured more than a decade.

That critique group blossomed so thoroughly that Phyllis asked to join us. She said she had become certain that we could contribute to her own writing efforts. And I have to believe her. Phyllis was feisty. She was no pushover!

But mostly Phyllis was a true writer. True writers share with one another, support one another. Phyllis critiqued with passion, was there for her students and for other writers. Writing was her life. She wrote on…until very nearly her last breath.

The LA Times remembered her with this lovely celebration on their obit page: (Those who want to see this need to use the pdf version of the newsletter by copying and pasting the URL at the beginning of this newsletter.)


Happy Writing, Editing and Promoting
Carolyn

PS: Solo Press just published their first volume—a lovely literary journal. It included my poem “Inevitably Walls.” They will soon be accepting submission for their second volume. Learn more about the magazine on my media release page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/recent_releases.htm


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Needing something more meaningful for the celebrations in your life? Something that stays within your budget? Check out Cherished Pulse (www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse) ($6.95) for someone you love. 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). 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. Plan next Christmas early. And ask about my special price on chapbook/cards purchased in bulk! All these chapbooks are from the Celebration Series of poetry from Magdalena Ball and me.
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Letters to the Editor:

Carolyn:

My book Greek Ghosts Grief, Love and Mystery in Greece is now on Kindle (http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XZUASA). It wasn't as daunting as first anticipated so now I know how for the next book. However, I would like a better cover template in order to execute my cover design for the book about Costa Rica life if I go paperback. Of course, if I go e - book, the template I have may suffice.

Congrats on the Chapbook [the coming celebration of women chapbook]. Like the cover design.

Helen Dunn Frame
helenrdf@gmail.com
Website: helendunnframe.com
Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004XZUASA
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Dear Carolyn,

In your January 21st newsletter you published a tip of mine about ABC Tales (http://www.abctales.com), a site where registered users (i.e. members) can upload their work for fr ^ ^. Further to that, members who have a book published can list them on pages dedicated to promoting their books (http://www.abctales.com/node/550776 and http://www.abctales.com/node/552942) either by posting a comment describing their book or e - mailing Tony Cook at tcook@abctales.com.

My own book, Storm Troopers TZ9 (subsidy - published after 14 rejections, including one "encouraging" rejection), a thriller for 9 - to - 12 - year - olds about cyber - terrorists planning a massive attack on the London Underground, is listed there. It is available as a paperback from the publishers, Authors OnLine (http://www.authorsonline.co.uk/book/1055/Storm_Troopers_TZ9/info/ ) and Amazon (www.amazon.com/Storm - Troopers - TZ9 - Mark - Logie/dp/0755213335/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1304176429&sr=1 - 1 ), $11.95. [Forty - five per cent of my earnings go to ElectroSensitivity UK, a British charity for people made ill by everyday electronic devices, including cell phones.]

Once again, thank you very much for everything.
Very best wishes,
Mark Logie
Poet & author of Storm Troopers TZ9

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My review blog is my gift to authors. 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 own book, the one you love most. It’s f r ^ ^. Submission guidelines are in the left column at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. =============================================

Tip: The spirit of great marketing is to “do unto others.” When someone lends a hand to the promotion of your book, offer to expand on that promotion by giving them some exposure on your blog, Web site, or newsletter. They will be eager to help you out again.


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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 so I can do something similar for you on my Resources for Readers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
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In the News: Oh, my gosh. Could authors be doing this? Could authors be victims of other so - called authors?

LA Times reports that spam is clogging Amazon’s Kindle. Here’s what is happening:
Amazon offers Kindle uploads f r ^ ^. That is a wonderful privilege. But it’s being abused. Books that “are not written in the traditional sense” are being uploaded to Kindle. The article from Reuters says. . . (you can read details on my Sharing with Writers blog at
http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2011/06/kindle - and - authors - victimized - by - spam.html

and let me know what you think in the comments section).

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How many media releases are you sending out a year? How do you do it? Find a list of media release disseminators at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/media_release_disseminators1.htm and learn how to build a list of your own media in The Frugal Book Promoter, www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo.
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News Release from Amazon: A few weeks ago Amazon announced that Kindle books were outselling hardcovers on Amazon and many authors misread that to mean they were outselling all books on Amazon. I corrected that misconception in this Sharing with Writers newsletter, but now I need to retract because a short time later the “mistake” came true. Here is Amazon’s announcement. Just out!

Amazon Now Selling More Kindle Books Than Print Books
Amazon began selling hardcover and paperback books in July 1995. Twelve years later in November 2007, Amazon introduced the revolutionary Kindle and began selling Kindle books. By July 2010, Kindle book sales had surpassed hardcover book sales, and six months later, Kindle books overtook paperback books to become the most popular format on Amazon.com. Today, less than four years after introducing Kindle books, Amazon.com customers are now purchasing more Kindle books than all print books - hardcover and paperback - combined.

"Customers are now choosing Kindle books more often than print books. We had high hopes that this would happen eventually, but we never imagined it would happen this quickly - we've been selling print books for 15 years and Kindle books for less than four years," said Jeff Bezos, Founder and CEO, Amazon.com. Since April 1, for every 100 print books Amazon.com has sold, it has sold 105 Kindle books. This includes sales of hardcover and paperback books by Amazon where there is no Kindle edition. Free Kindle books are excluded and if included would make the number even higher.


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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

Rules for this Section: Only subscribers’ successes are listed in this section. Thus, I do not pick up news of new releases or awards from general media releases for there is usually no way for me to know those releases come from subscribers. If you have an Author Success, please identify yourself as a subscriber in the subject line of your e - mail. Something like: MEDIA RELEASE: Subscriber’s Success. Or better. Send me up to 50 words complete with buy, contest links or whatever else is relevant. That way you get to choose what you think is the most pertinent information!

=================================================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/BookProposals =================================================

In the News: Google is testing Google +, an online social network that (though they aren’t saying so) is being geared to compete with Facebook which generates $29 billion in revenues. It appears they want to offer a place where folks will come bide a bit more time with them! ( - :

On average, US Google users spend 231 minutes with them and Facebook reels their visitors in for more than 375 minutes. You may not care and I may not care but minutes spent adds up to advertising that gets seen. Advertising that gets seen adds up to more sales. And more sales per ad adds up to more money spent where ads pay off. So, how can you coax visitors to spending more time on YOUR Web site? I offer a tip on every page of mine. Find them in gray boxes with green borders at www.howtodoitfrugally.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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Editing Tip: Your query letters and book proposals should not sound like business letters. Though they should be professional in that you should have taken the time to learn what gatekeepers like agents, publishers, editors and the like expect, your voice should shine through. Learn more about writing great query letters in The Frugal Editor (www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor). It even includes a list of booboos that most annoy the agents I interviewed!

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


Fiction Tip: As a writer of fiction, you need to know your characters. Indeed, sometimes you base your characters on real people. Having said that, your reader doesn’t need to know the entire backstory of a character. It’s up to you to tell the reader what they need to know and to weave it into the conflict and action so they don’t think they are reading a biography.

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I am journalist in residence at Book in Sync which means you can find my articles in their newsletter each month and even access old ones in the archives. Go to http://www.booksinsync.com/booksinsyncjournalist.html.
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Feature

Cracking the Code for Smartphones
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So these doodads are usually square and sometimes look like flowers. Sometimes more like puzzles. Sometimes more like computer chips. What the heck are they?
Even if you know what they are, you may not have figured how you can use them in your promotion. So here’s the scoop:

They’re called quick response codes or QRs, for short. They are a kind of barcode, but they impart tons of information. They’ll take you to a Web page, play a video, make a call—it’s the author’s (or retailers’) choice. The first time I saw one was in a restaurant. The tent card on our table offered a discount to anyone who signed up for their club right then and there using their quick response code, which, by the way, looked more like a Rorschach test. I wrinkled my nose and shoved my palms in the air. My daughter laughed, pulled out her iPhone, waved the camera part over the code like a wand (you need to have one of these gadgets to make a QR work!). And hocus pocus! A coupon. The next time we eat at Fratelli’s we get $10 off of our meal. Easy.

Well, you know me. I’m thinking Book Fairs. I’m thinking Trade Shows (Like Book Expo America). I’m thinking book signings. I’m also thinking paperless (because I’m green) and Web site traffic (because I market)!

You can put QRs anywhere, from your business cards to your ads to the poster you use at book fairs. They can even be put in or on your book. LA Times reports that some folks have them tattooed on their bodies. Really avid authors could do that alongside their book cover image. Ahem!

QRs can lead your reader (or prospective reader) to how - to videos that also entice them to read your book or lead your seminar students to recommended reading lists. Retailers everywhere are using them. Macy’s. Starbucks. Even ReMax. Best Buy is even plastering them on the cases and boxes of the electronics they sell.

QRs aren’t all that new. They were invented in the 1990s, but their use has doubled in the last year, probably because they are so accessible to smart phones now.

Now, if we could just pass our little phone wand over them and get someone to transfer our data from our old computers to our new ones at no charge and fast. That would be magic!

It would also be magic if you e - mailed me (HoJoNews@aol.com) with ideas you have for using QRs in book marketing. C’mon. Be a sport. Share!
The leading maker of codes is Scanbury. Related to them is a program called Scanlife ™ (http://scanbuy.com/web/handset - manufacturers) . You can read even more about them at Tony Eldridge’s marketing tips,
http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/2011/04/resource - of - week - qr - code - generator.html . And you can get free codes made at http://qrcode.kaywa.com/.


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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.

Online Poetry Contest for Books, . . .
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. . . but not chapbooks, is available. Huge prize. No entry fee. http://write - jobs.blogspot.com/2011/06/free - to - enter - kingsley - tufts - poetry.html



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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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Did You Know: Amazon is no longer offering Californians passive income for referrals through their advantage accounts. It has to do with a new California law. Any monies they may owe you up to now will be paid, however.


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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/advertising.htm for only $35 a year. 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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EditingTip: Do you know the difference between em dashes and en dashes? You should if you self publish. You should also know when to use a true hyphen. It’s a long explanation, but you’ll find how to make your Word program do it for you—more or less automatically—and when to use each of them in The Frugal Editor (www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor).


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Ta Da! E - books are great tools for promotion
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/ta - da - e - books - are - great - tools - for - promotion/
The Anatomy of a Free (Read that Promotional!) E - Book
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/the - anatomy - of - a - free - read - that - promotional - e - book/
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Tip: Solo Novo press (www.solonovo.org) will accept submissions for poems written about happenings between Sept 1 and Dec 31, 2011. Keep your inspiration bonnet on during that time, write something up, and submit!


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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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In the News: Book Business magazine (www.bookbusinessmag.com) reports that borders closed stores in 100 plus cities and suggests the gap that leaves opens new opportunities for indie publishers and also suggests this is a cyclical phenomenon, not something related to the economy.

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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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Tip: Watch your e - mail box for compliments on your work that could be used as blurbs or endorsements. Relatives, friends and the general reader tend to get reserved when they are ASKED for a blurb. It’s when they don’t think anyone is watching that they say the nicest things. Once said, it would be kind of hard for them to refuse permission to use the words, now wouldn’t it!


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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:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefunkywriter/2010/07/30/the - funky - writer - radio - show - episode - 74
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In the News: Book Business magazine reports that publishers are using blogs more actively and suggest that may be why there is an uptick in their business. If blogging is good for the big (or bigger) guys and gals, it’s probably even better for individual authors who will put their hearts into it.

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Here is a list of small publishers for your consideration: www.howtodoitfrugally.com/small_publishers.htm
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Thank Yous


Thanks to Dr. Marlene…. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . of Amazing Women for having me on her famous Voice of America radio show. What energy! What fun. Find our hour together and listen while you work at http://www.amazingwomenbbs.com/.
and for publishing my tips for a great book signing at http://www.promotionalacarteblog.com/2011/04/book - signings - are - more - than - you - think - by - carolyn - howard - johnson/

Thanks to Subscriber Joyce White . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . for her amazingly poetic review of Maggie Ball’s and my Imagining the Future.” Find it at the Military Writers Society of America blog, http://mwsamembertalk.blogspot.com/2011/06/joyce - white - reviews - book - for - fathers.html or on Amazon at www.budurl.com/Imagining>


Thanks to Tony Eldridge . . .
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. . . for reprinting my article on publishing ads in your book that you find in this Sharing with Writers. http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/2011/06/run - ads - to - help - finance - your - books - by.html


Thanks to Connie Gotsch . . .
. . . for posting my article on contests on her blog. See it at http://conniegotsch.blogspot.com/2011/06/write - on - four - corners - author - discusses.html


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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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Definition: Everyone is tossing around the term “cloud” these days and there is more tossing going on since Apple announced one of its new iTune gizmos. This cloud thing presents a choice many authors may soon be making for themselves. It means that we may choose to use the net to store our “content”—meaning our writing and everything else we do on our computers. And we’ll do it via the Net. We’ll store it out there on a huge server but we won’t see it. It will seem like a cloud. Actually when computers were in their infancy, computers were nothing more than screens and keyboards (yes, I remember this!) and all the “storing” went on somewhere out there in the cloud then, too. Now we’re coaxed into going back to that. They want us to ditch our PCs (yes, and Macs) in favor of letting someone else do it for us. You know, someone really reliable (when our e - mail provider is working!). I’m uncomfortable about giving my precious books over to the cloud. What do you think?


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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

Indie Awards Offers Special… ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

If you would like to receive greater recognition, monetary prizes, awards and exposure for your books, here is an opportunity not to miss. Enter the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Awards at www.IndieBookAwards.com.

They’re calling all indie book authors and for entries of books written in English released with 2011 or 2012 copyright to enter the most rewarding book awards program.

It offers 60 Categories - More than 60 Awards - with 67 monetary prizes totaling more than $10,000 in cash, including $1,500 cash prizes plus trophies for best fiction book and best non - fiction book, $750 cash prizes plus trophies for second best fiction book and non - fiction book and $500 cash prizes plus trophies for third best fiction book and non - fiction book!

ENTER NOW - Early Bird Special - Enter online at http://www.indiebookawards.com/onlineentryform.php by July 31, 2011 and receive a $50 discount on the entry of a second category.

Entry Deadline for the 2012 awards program – February 24, 2012.


Get a Great List of Radio Shows… ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…that you can send query letters to. I usually suggest that people build their own lists, do their own research—frugally, of course. But sometimes time doesn’t allow. When time is short, Joe Sabah is there (and has been for decades). He says, “Did you know there are 915 Radio Talk Shows all across America who will call and interview you from your home or office?” And he has a list that was updated on Jan. 31 and he sends new updates when you buy his list. Call him toll free between 10 am and 6 pm mountain time: 1.800.945.2488

DIY LA Book Fair Contest...
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…issued a call for entries to its annual celebration of books deserving more attention from the world publishing community.

The Los Angeles Book Festival will consider entries in general non - fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children’s books, cookbooks, science fiction, business, spiritual, genre - based, how - to, photography/art, spiritual, poetry, foreign language, romance and mysteries, teenage/young adult, how - to and the wild card (anything goes!) categories published on or after Jan. 1, 2008.

Entries can be in English, French, Spanish, German or Portuguese and can be from major publishers, self - published or issued by an independent publishing house.

Our grand prize for the Los Angeles Book Festival is $1500 cash and a flight to Los Angeles for our gala awards ceremony in early 2012.
Submitted works will be judged by a panel of publishing industry experts using the following criteria:

1) General excellence and the author's passion for telling a good story.
2) The potential of the work to gain a wider audience in the worldwide market.

TO ENTER: Entry forms are
available online at http://www.losangelesbookfestival.com/ or may be faxed/e - mailed to you. The Los Angeles Book Festival is part of the JM Northern Media family of festivals, which includes the DIY Convention: Do It Yourself in Film, Music & Books, the New York Book Festival and the Hollywood Book Festival.


Desert Dreams Writers’ Conference...
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April 27 - 29, 2012
Chaparral Suites Resort - Scottsdale Arizona
For more information about workshops, speakers, agents, editors, registration, hotel reservation etc. visit:

http://www.desertroserwa.org/conferences/Phoenix - Romance - Writers - Conferences.php
Follow the Desert Dreams Blog for insights, useful tips, and speakers interviews from now until April 2012 at:

http://desertdreamswritersconference.blogspot.com/



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A free book from my marketing friend Dana Lynn Smith: http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2011/04/free - e - book - from - master - marketer - dana.html =================================================

Writing Tip: If passive construction is difficult for you to overcome, you must see this guest post from Aggie Villanueva.
http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2011/06/passive - writing - plagues - us - all.html


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I know. I am a glutton for punishment and everyone hates me for my zero - tolerance rule on italics. But I was inoculated with it during UCLA’s Writers’ Program classes and I know anyone would be hard put to find a major writers’ program that doesn’t agree with them. So why risk the ire of exacting agents and publishers? Know the guidelines! http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2010/10/lets - talk - italics - again.html . Learn other publishing - friendly editing ideas in The Frugal Editor, www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor. =================================================

An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Writing Short Stories and Getting Drunk (On Words)
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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

“You must stay drunk on writing so reality cannot destroy you.”
~ Ray Bradbury

Science fiction writer Ray Bradbury habitually wrote a short story every day then edited them together into collections. Many have tried to follow this lofty goal but have found it a difficult task. Even so, if you set a target of a short story per week and stick to it, think how much you would learn about the craft.
When I was younger, I began writing short stories. At first, they were mysteries fueled by reading too much Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew. Now I am rethinking short story writing as I’ve become familiar with the writing of Eudora Welty, Ernest Hemingway and Jhumpa Lahiri. This shorter format intrigues me. It’s condensed writing yet broad enough to develop a story line as long as the story contains only two or three characters and a single theme.

Starting this month (actually, starting today), I plan to begin a collection of short stories written over the weekends. I’ll brood about them during the week, write out my thoughts Friday nights and complete final edits on Sunday evenings.

Bradbury was right. Stay drunk on writing. Words are so much better than beer.

LINKS

Ray Bradbury
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Ray_Bradbury

Short Stories: 10 Tips for Creative Writers
http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/creative1/shortstory/

Tips for Writing a Short Story
http://www.write101.com/shortstory.htm

Kurt Vonnegut on Short Story Writing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyQ1wEBx1V0

Purdue OWL: Fiction Writing Basics 3 - Sample Assignments
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/754/03/

Harvard Crimson: Stephen King and the Short Story
http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2007/10/17/stephen - king - talks - tersely - on - short/

~ 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 also a publicist. 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 mplcreative@yahoo.com.



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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 will talk with the famous Career Czar Paul Bruno on Friday, September 30, 2011. Tune in then or anytime thereafter at: http://www.careerczar.com/mp3/career093011B.mp3Air


NEW!  Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk and read poetry with Connie Gotsch on her Write On radio program on real, live radio on December 14, 2011, probably at 10:30 am Pacific time or 2:30 Mountain time. Go to www.KSJE.com to confirm the date. If you miss the live program, pick up the f r ^ ^ podcast at. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/ksje/.jukebox?action=podcasts Find the show date and download it to listen at your leisure.

NEW!  Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk about book marketing with Connie Gotsch on her Write On radio program on real, live radio on January 4, 2011, probably at 10:30 am Pacific time or 2:30 Mountain Time. Go to www.KSJE.com to confirm the date. If you miss the live program, pick up the f r ^ ^ podcast at. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/ksje/.jukebox?action=podcasts Find the show date and download it to listen at your leisure.

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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 Post and other publications.)

Lymph (v.): to walk with a lisp.



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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

The HowToDoItFrugally Series for Writers

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,
Paperback: http://budurl.com/BookProposals
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3468136
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042JT1UA


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

The Survive and Thrive Series for Retailers (Authors need to know about retailing, too!)

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
Order in paperback: http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H1TACC
Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers: Tweaking Your Tweets and Other Tips for Integrating Your Social Media
Order in paperback direct from Amazon: http://budurl.com/Tweeting4Retailers
Order for Kindle Reader: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H4XCCS
Order an e - book from the publisher: http://www.createspace.com/3439623 .

Your Blog, Your Business: A Retailer’s Frugal Guide to Getting Customer Loyalty and Sales—Both In - Store and Online

Sponsored by Gift Shop Magazine
To Order: http://budurl.com/Blogging4Retailers
To Order for Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H1TACC
Carolyn’s Fiction and Creative Nonfiction

This Is the Place: http://budurl.com/ThisIsthePlace

Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered: http://budurl.com/TrueShortStories

Carolyn’s Poetry

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball Paperback: www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW

Cherished Pulse: Unconventional Love Poetry. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW
In print to be used as a greeting card or booklet: www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse
For Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/imagining - the - future - magdalena - ball/1021152596?ean=2940000904893&itm=4&usri=magdalena+ball
She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, a chapbook of poetry. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball.
Paperback and Kindle: http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook
For Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/she - wore - emerald - then - magdalena - ball/1020032782?ean=2940000807408&itm=5&usri=magdalena+ball

Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball
To order as an e - book: https://www.createspace.com/3419505
For Nook:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/imagining - the - future - magdalena - ball/1021152596?ean=2940000904893&itm=4&usri=magdalena+ball
To order as a paperback or for Kindle: www.budurl.com/Imagining

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

Contact Information

Website
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com

Blogs:
http://www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com, a blog on all things publishing
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, all things grammatical and ungrammatical. On editing, formatting, and craft.
http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog focused on YOUR reviews
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. It is no longer active but there are lots of ideas you can use here, just the same.

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