If you prefer to read this letter in its not - so - glorious full formatted version ( - : copy and paste this URL into your browser:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Dec31_2012.pdf

December 31, 2012
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 booboos. 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 (You may find them in a couple places.)
~Accessible Contests
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: Intentions, Thoughts and Observations (But No Resolutions)
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

This Issue
~New Feature: Links to Help Your Career: Question and Answers from Subscriber
~Feature: Never Throw Away a Word
~Feature: Thank Yous, Greeting Cards, and Networking
Join me
For more writers’ resources on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/FrugalBkProm
For resources and more personal fun on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/carolynhowardjohnson
For special help for fiction writers:
www.fictionmarketing.com
For writers’ resources of all kinds:
www.HowToDoItFrugally.com


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:

I just returned from a great vacation. But I’m always working. How can a writer possibly get away from thinking like a writer? Tell me. Really. I’d like to know. But I’m not sure I would want to if I could. I think curiosity makes us into good writers. That ability to see and record detail, too. I’m not sure I’d want to get rid of that if I could. Not even for a week.

When my husband and I took Amtrak back to our home from San Diego and I found a full - page ad in a discarded USA Today newspaper that made me think about you and this newsletter. It was from James Patterson, sponsored by his publisher, I believe, though he is well capable of running a campaign that expensive on his own. I’ve always advised authors to promote their books and/or themselves as writers tied in some way to a charity, but this was the ultimate effort. I mean, we all have some idea what full - page ads in major newspapers and periodicals, costs, right?

This one touted the importance of teaching kids to read. It was a kind of how - to essay on how to get kids, especially boys (Patterson’s future readers!), to love reading. It was practical. It was heartfelt. It didn’t neglect mentioning Patterson’s own title(s) as recommended reading along with great classics. The association, of course, can’t hurt. Never mind that, though Patterson’s novels are entertaining, I don’t think anyone would make the case that they are great literature.

At the bottom of the letter was an image of his newest title for young people, Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life. Along with a notice that it is now a New York Times Bestseller and an Indie Bound Bestseller. I am tempted to read it. It may turn out to be the closest thing to a classic he has ever written, and the most important thing in terms of making a difference in people’s lives.

Now, you can’t run the same expensive campaign, but you can do something similar. You just take notice of the resources that Patterson provides in this essay and the idea and run with it. You’ll find more related ideas for charity - driven promotion in The Frugal Book Promoter (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo), of course.
Read more about this campaign on The Library Journal’s Web site (http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/slj/home/892221 - 312/james_patterson_is_on_a.html.csp/). Patterson’s essay apparently started as an op - ed piece (something else I advise in The Frugal Book Promoter) and the idea just grew. But the idea here is that we can do the same thing. We may have to stop short of taking out full - page ads in USA Today, but we can sure go up op—ed/blog/other freebie routes. Almost any book can be associated some way with libraries, reading, increased literacy and more. I know several people who have done this for a very long time including The Reading Tub (http://thereadingtub.com/) a review site you should know about if you write material for kids. They have long donated their old review copies to literacy projects. You could say that Patterson took his cue from them. ( - :

I hope your holidays were wonderful. And that for the New Year you will insist on. . .

Happy Writing, Editing, and Promoting
Carolyn


PS: I’ve been putting off making my books into audio for ages. This is an article on my blog I don’t want you to miss because it’s loaded with personal experience and resources and linkes: http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2011/12/your - book - should - be - audio - book - too.html


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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, Deeper in the Pond, for the feminists in your life—both men and women (www.budurl.com/DeeperPond) ($6.95) 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

Your letter could appear here. Tell your fellow readers what you are thinking.


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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. =============================================

New Feature!
Links to Help Your Career: Question and Answers from Subscriber
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Question

Sharing with Writers two suggestions from helpful readers. Thanks to all!
Does anyone know a great link where we can get step - by - step instructions for submitting a book to be published on B&N’s Nook?
Answer

Hi Carolyn,

I hope you're doing well! :)

I'm just getting to your fabulous newsletter, but saw your question about a step - by - step tutorial on submitting a manuscript to Nook. We published this one last issue:

How to Format Your Manuscript for Kindle and Nook (including how to build a book cover): http://www.wow - womenonwriting.com/46 - How2 - FormatManuscriptForKindle.html

The beginning of the article covers formatting your manuscript and building a book cover, and then there are two sections for uploading, one for Kindle, and one for Nook.

You can view the whole issue on e - books here: http://www.wow - womenonwriting.com/46 - issue.html

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Warmest,
Angela Mackintosh
WOW! Women On Writing
http://www.wow - womenonwriting.com

Facebook Fan Page
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/womenonwriting

The Fall 2011 Flash Fiction Contest is OPEN
http://wow - womenonwriting.com/contest.php

WOW! Workshops & Classes: Invest in Yourself, Write Now
http://wow - womenonwriting.com/WOWclasses.html

Freelance Job Board
http://jobs.wow - womenonwriting.com/a/jbb/find - jobs

Visit The Muffin for fresh news daily:
http://muffin.wow - womenonwriting.com/
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Carolyn, on the issue of instructions for Nook, Dana Lynn Smith had a webinar on it and has an ebook/pdf. However, it costs $47. You might contact her and see if she can help. Hope this helps a little! Happy Thanksgiving!
(Note: I’ve seen this and think it’s well worth the price. And, we must support our fellow authors in 2012, right?)

Lynn Mosher
http://lynnmosher.blogspot.com
http://twitter.com/lynnmosher
http://www.facebook.com/LynnMoshe r
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnhmoshergplus.to/LynnMosher

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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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Quote: My husband will soon be publishing a book (Everything Foreigners Need to Know about America, A to Z). In the section on accent reduction, he used this quotation and I asked him to share it with you:
To write or even speak English is not a science but an art. There are no reliable words. Whoever writes English is involved in a struggle that never lets up even for a sentence. He is struggling against vagueness, against obscurity, against the lure of the decorative adjective, against the encroachment of Latin and Greek, and, above all, against the worn - out phrases and dead metaphors with which the language is cluttered up.

George Orwell, British Author (1903 - 1950)


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This is the only site I know that can help novelists, screenwriters, and playwrights get noticed by directors and producers. It’s BooksToFilm and it’s run by iFOGO’s Gene Cartwright. It isn’t as frugal as I’d like, but there are times it pays to spend a little. One of those times would be if our investment leads to something big: http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html .
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Feature
Never Throw Away a Word ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
When I was very young, my grandfather brought home a huge dictionary. It was about two feet thick—the kind they put on pedestals in libraries in the old days. Everyone in the family thought he was nuts but me. I was awarded it by default, put it in the basket of my blue and white Schwinn, and pedaled it home. It was a bit unwieldy so eventually it was stowed in the rafters of a basement room. Then when I was in New York learning the ropes of publicity, my mom and dad sold the house. “Oh, no! My dictionary!” I asked them to try to retrieve it from the new owners but the story hadn’t changed much. They thought I was crazy.

So a couple years later when I went home to visit, I stopped by our old home on a whim. It took chutzpah! “Hello, I used to live here and there may be something in your basement that belongs to me—that is, if you don’t have a need for it.”

Now this was not yesterday. In those days people actually let strangers into their homes occasionally, but there was still a chance they’d consider an ax - murder possibiity. I trailed behind the new owners to the basement and there it was. It hadn’t been moved an inch but it was covered with cobwebs and dust. I was ecstatic and the new owners were either happy to let me have it or eager to get rid of me.

I still have that dictionary. It has those little thumbprint cutouts for the different letters of the alphabet and the edges of each page are gilded. It has a linen cover. It can’t really be used because it has none of the new words in it.

Ahhh, yes. But it does have four color plates of the flags of countries that existed then. There are even a few that still exist. Most of the changes have been in Africa. There are other pages that illustrate flowers and the human skeleton. Stuff like that. I mean, this is a real dictionary. So I kept it for the smell (however smudgey—that’s my own word for moldy - but - I - don’t - care!), the memories, the feel of the silky thin but still substantial pages. And because I kept reading that dictionaries discarded old words to make room for the new. And, naturally, I couldn’t discard any words, right? Ficition writers can find old words valuable.

By the time computers came along, I was attached to this volume, this tome, this giant doorstop! And now the kicker!

National Geographic tells me that the words in the Oxford English Dictionary never disappear. Once a word has been very carefully vetted, it stays there. “The OED is unique,” says the new words editor of the book, “in that we never remove a word once it has been included.”

Just in case you’re interested, they add some 4,000 words of 6,000 considered each year. Including the new meaning of the word “unplugged.” It now also means the “state of living without electronic devices.”

Now wouldn’t that be awful! Almost as bad as living without my near - ancient dictionary!

PS: Can’t resist another just - added word. You know when you put your Coke bottle on a manuscript and it leaves a caramel - colored ring that can’t be erased? Rejoice. You have made a “dringle.”

CHJ
My articles, essays—even my rants—are available for reprint in your blog or Web site. Just let me know what article you like and I’ll supply you with an appropriate credit line with links. HoJoNews@aol.com.



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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.”

Poets’ New Book Demonstrates the Power of Networking
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Dear Carolyn,

Another example of how far your influence has spread:

Six poets, scattered across the US; four mentors from around the world; and a publisher in Canada joined forces to create Lifelines, the Poetic Muselings anthology, now available on Amazon.com, and CreateSpace.

Our project grew out of the 2008 Muse Online Writers Conference (which you co - founded). You and I met once, in Palm Desert at a luncheon where you read poetry from your book "Tracings" (www.budurl.com/CarolynsTracings) in 2005. You encouraged me to share my own poetic imagery. I met Lisa Gentile, one of our other mentors, in 2010. Other than that, none of the poets have ever met each other or anyone else involved in this project in person. Such is the power of the internet to create community, share expertise, and bring dreams to life.

We, the Poetic Muselings who wrote this book, thank you again for your support, guidance, and sense of humor. We'd love to have other poets and their friends join us on our blog Poetic Muselings (poetic - muselings.net) as we "share a poetic lifeline with the world."

For a link to our book on Amazon.com, or for bookstores to order it, please go to this link:
http://www.inkspotter.com/publications/books/lifelines.htm

ISBN - 10 #0981333559 ISBN - 13 #9780981333557

We wish a wonderful holiday season to you and your readers, Carolyn; to our other mentors, Lea Schizas (MuseItUp and MuseItHot publishing and the Muse Online Writers Conference), Lisa Gentile (Moxie Mavericks), and Magdalena Ball (Compulsive Reader); to Betty Dobson (InkSpotter Publishing); and to our friends and fellow writers out there. Keep believing, and work hard, everyone.

Michele M. Graf
Mary W. Jensen
Margaret Fieland
Anne Westlund
Lin Neiswender
Kristen Howe


Aaron Lazaar Pubs Audio Books
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And I thought it might never happen!
Yesterday, much to my delight, Healey's Cave and Tremolo were released on Audible .com, Amazon.com, and iTunes. It's funny, but even though I wrote these books, I find listening to Tom Fraser and Erik Synnestvedt’s recordings totally engrossing. These guys are so talented, I'm in awe of them. It's a whole different experience than reading - - almost like going to the theater. I especially like all the voices they do - - complete with accents! You can listen to samples of their recordings and more, here:

http://www.legardemysteries.com/audiobooks.htm

Audio books are perfect for those folks who love a good story, but don't have time to listen. They can listen in the gym, on a hike, in Wegman's, or driving to work. It's kind of like carrying a movie around in your pocket, but your brain does the scene painting! Pretty neat, huh?

Let me know what you think of the actors who are playing Sam Moore and Gus LeGarde! Contact me at aaron dot lazar at yahoo dot com. Happy New Year!


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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). The perfect giftlet for nonfiction writers. Find it at http://budurl.com/BookProposals =================================================


Tech News: The Tech miracle no one seems to be noticing: Intel will soon have a three dimensional transitory. That means that in 2012 your new computer will be passé because they will perform about 1/3 better at about 50% of the power.


================================================= Social networking is one of the best ways to make valuable contacts 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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In the News: Who would think a pen could be improved on? This one has a memory. It remembers whatever you draw with it and the kind of paper you use doesn’t matter. After you’ve drawn or doodled, you use its USB cable to transfer the images to your computer. Just like that, it’s a digital file! It’s brand new. Children’s authors who illustrate their own books will want to watch for it for sure!


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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! =================================================


Tip: One of my fave chapters in The Frugal Book Promoter has always been “When Your Book Sales Get Musty.” But the one in the new edition has been expanded with new ideas. Stephen Tremp had me as guest blogger and I gave some of that chapter to him. You can read it here: http://dld.bz/a4hYD


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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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Tip: National Geographic reports that CBI Polymers based in Hawaii has come up with a better way to clean up nuclear waste. A kind of silly putty that looks like blue goo, it could be good for writers, too, because it doesn’t leave any residue when you clean with it. Thus is could be used in your office and on your computer for the kind of cleaning job that lasts. ( - : But think of it as a way to get rid of asbestos, lead, and mercury in the home, too.


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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 to HoJoNews@aol.com .

An Example of a Poetry Trailer
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Magdalena Ball has a new trailer out for the poetry chapbook we co - authored, Deeper Into the Pond. I think any woman who has ever ruined a favourite dresss will love reading it, but I’m also thinking it will give you ideas for how to promote your own poetry. Mmaybe you’d take a minute to comment while you’re there? http://youtu.be/7HjxypgRbqE


Do You Know Cyclamen and Swords?
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Several of my poems were just published there in their December edition. You may want to look them up for submission of your own and to read the poetry and fiction from other writers: http://www.cyclamensandswords.com/poetry_dec_2011_2.php




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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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Tip from Subscriber: Donna McDine says, “I always run a "Tip for writers" in my newsletter. Here is the current tip:

"Even if you are not a big goal - setter or think that goals are a waste of time because you can never accomplish them, think about the kinds of things you’d like to do. Where would you like to see yourself six months from now? One year from now? What is the one thing you have always wanted to try but never got around to? Set that as a goal and figure out the steps you’ll need to take to make that goal a reality for you. Take the leap and try to do something you have always wanted to do. Once you accomplish one goal, you’ll feel better about yourself and ready to take on another goal then another. It’s up to you."

Anyone who is interested in signing up for her monthly newsletter can go to her site at http://dmcwriter.tripod.com/ then click on "Newsletter" in the sidebar. Read the most current issue and find information about subscribing at the bottom of the page. Or e - mail her at DMCWriter@gmail.com with "Newsletter subscription" in the subject line. All subscribers will have their news and announcements included in the next issue of the newsletter absolutely free.


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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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Tip: Are you getting the most out of the writers’ organizations you belong to? Here’s a very brief plan for choosing one that works for you along with a suggestions from me—if you’re willing to make the benefits work. ( - : http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2011/11/getting - most - out - of - organizations.html


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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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Feature
Thank Yous, Greeting Cards, and Networking
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Many of you know that I spent years in the retail industry. During that time, I marketed my own stores among about a thousand other things. Thus, when I read anything about retailing, I prick up my ears. It is an especially important topic these days because retail reflects the economy (and for authors, the economy reflects how well our books will sell).
Anyway, the LA Times (Nov. 24th, Business Section) ran an article cleverly titled “An Industry in Need of Sympathy.” They were talking about greeting cards, of course! And paper thank you notes. They attribute their slide in sales to electronic greetings, but note that American Greetings reported an uptick after a long period of poorer and poorer sales.

I’ve been recommending cards and thank you notes for authors (and general marketing/networking) for a long, long time. Maybe someone has been listening. Don’t get me wrong. I do a lot of gratitude messages and thank yous on the Internet, too, but there is nothing like a real paper card with a real personal message and a real handwritten signature. If you want your thoughtfulness to be remembered, send something made of paper. Use a stamp. And, yeah, a little ink.

That principle was what guided Magdalena Ball and I when we decided to publish our Celebration Series of chapbooks, too. We figured that cards could be given an upward nudge in terms of quality by including real poetry, not the sugary stuff that sometimes doesn’t suit the occasion and never appeals to literary types, in any case. We designed our chapbooks in a size that would fit into greeting - card size envelopes you can buy at Staples and priced them in the greeting card price range of $6.95. A different book celebrates different gift - giving (and card - giving!) holidays like Valentines, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, even one that celebrates women that could be given to them on their birthdays. Those who would like to know more about our concept can learn more at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/poetry_books.htm.

By the way, our chapbooks use artwork by Vicki Thomas, Jacquie Schmall, and May Lattanzio that is just as beautiful (and quite a bit artier!) than your run - of - the - mill greeting card!

In The Frugal Book Promoter I advise authors to keep a top 50 list of their most treasured contacts. To keep in touch with them throughout the year. So what would be wrong with supporting two declining industries (greeting cards and publishing!) and sending them a real thank you note occasionally, or a real book. Maybe even a real book of poetry!

Just a note of caution for those e - cards you do choose to send. Many editors, publishers, universities, large corportations, etc block anything with attachments. Those that don’t often won’t open e - cards because they fear viruses or phishing scams (they have been perpetrated on us using e - card links, you know!). So when it’s important you send the very best and that whoever receives it actually sees it, send paper. And thank you to so many of you who did just that this Christmas. Makes me know you’ve been paying attention.
CHJ


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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 or the new edition of The Frugal Book Promoter, www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo .
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Editing Tip: When you’re editing, check formatting. It’s too easy to concentrate on spelling and grammar and neglect other important things like using too many fonts, or too narrow margins.


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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: So, the holidays are over. It’s time to stow some holiday ideas away for December of 2012 at the Bookbuzzr.com blog. http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/have - a - holly - jolly - promotion - season - for - your - book/


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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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Tech Tip: Dick Tracy rises again. Meta Watch (Dallas, Tx) will soon launch a Bluetooth - connected watch that will let you connect to your social networks, even alert you to the very minute your publisher accepts your book!


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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 Cheryl Carpinello…. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . .for running an ad for her new novel Guinevere on the Resources for Readers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/links_for_readers.htm. One of the best Website deals in town, if I do say so!
Thanks to Ladybug Georgia . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . for featuring a poem from my Blooming Red chapbook (with Magdalena Ball) in her Lady Press newsletter:. http://www.ladybugflights.com/featured.htm#SPPOETRY

Thanks to Lynne Good . . .
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. . . for including an announcement from one of my media releases in her Writer Advice newsletter at www.writeradvice.com



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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: Back up your Facebook account by going to “Account Settings.” There you’ll find a list that says “download a copy of your Facebook data.” This works by sending you an e - mail with an address that you save in case of a rainy computer day.


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Chaz DeSimone has a new f r ^ ^ way to get a great poster for your office or a gift. You subscribe to his free poster offer and newsletter on design (including book cover design) and a different poster will come to your e - mail box about every other week. Each is entirely different, all the highest quality in design and all associated with the ampersand and, by extension, our love of writing. Each also comes with directions for printing, framing, making this into a f r ^ ^ bie that lasts. To subscribe and see images go to: http://forms.aweber.com/form/91/119176491.htm
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Opportunities

Big Doings in Chicago—for Writers Everywhere!
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The AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs (though no one calls it that anymore!) will meet at the Hilton Chicago & Palmer House Hilton (it’s loaded with history!) Feb 29th to March 3rd of 2010. Learn more about how you can benefit at www.awpwriter.org..


Foreword Magazine to Have Facebook Give - Away
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ForeWord Reviews has a great book giveaway on its Facebook page.
We receive so many wonderful indie titles, the editors at ForeWord decided to share the wealth and spread the word. Most of the books we receive (ones that aren't destined for review or the Book of the Year Awards program) are donated to nonprofits; but this month, we began pulling a handful of titles each week so we could offer them to our librarians, booksellers, and readers!
Enjoy!
Kimber Bilby
ForeWord Reviews Marketing Director
Book of the Year Awards Manager
425 Boardman Ave, Suite B
Traverse City, MI. 49684
kimber@forewordreviews.com
Follow along on Twitter @kimberbooks

Sign up for ForeWord's free weekly newsletter, ForeWord This Week. To unsubscribe, please e - mail me.

Get your book noticed by book buyers: Enter the 2011 Book of the Year Awards!

Get a free subscription to the digital version of ForeWord Reviews! Click here.
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Arizona Writers’ Group Making Big Conference Plans
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DESERT DREAMS WRITERS' CONFERENCE 2012
Believe in the Power of Your Dreams
April 27 - 29, 2012
Chaparral Suites Resort - Scottsdale Arizona
Keynote Speakers:
NY Times Best Selling Author Allison Brennan
Martha Alderson, AKA The Plot Whisperer
NY Times Best - selling Author Bob Mayer
Desert Dreams Writers’ Conference provides authors of all skill levels - - from beginner to multi - published - - with the tools necessary to take their writing to the next level. Sessions will include general writing, career development, genre - specific, agent/publisher spotlights, as well as an agent/editor panel. There will also be one - on - one appointments with editors or agents, a book signing, and keynote addresses.
Conference registration includes:
• Workshops Friday afternoon and all day Saturday
• Two - hour workshop Sunday morning
• One - on - one appointment with editor/agent (based on time of registration and availability)
• Friday evening mixer
• Dinner and keynote address on Friday
• Editor/Agent panel
• Saturday luncheon
• Participation in Saturday book signing
• Saturday evening dinner and brainstorming session
RWA early registration (through December 31, 2011) is $215.
Non - RWA early registration (through December 31, 2011) is $235.
For more information about workshops, speakers, agents, editors, registration, hotel reservation etc. visit:
http://www.desertroserwa.org/conferences/Phoenix - Romance - Writers - Conferences.php
Hope to see you all there.
Vijaya Schartz
Desert Dreams Conference 2012
Blogger - Committee - Speaker
Award - winning Science - Fiction, Romance with a Kick
http://www.vijayaschartz.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 =================================================

Accessible Contests for You to Build Your Platform

Los Angeles Book Festival Call for Award Submission
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LOS ANGELES BOOK FESTIVAL - CALL FOR ENTRIES
LOS ANGELES (November 28, 2011) _ The 2011 Los Angeles Book Festival has issued a call for entries to its annual celebration of books deserving more attention from the world publishing community.
Our grand prize for the Los Angeles Book Festival is $1500 cash and a flight to Los Angeles for our gala awards ceremony in March, 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 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.


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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

Intentions, Thoughts and Observations (But No Resolutions)
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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

As I drove home from St. Louis after having lunch with my son, his wife, and my granddaughters who are visiting from North Carolina, I had almost 4 hours alone in the car to think about the end of 2011 and the advent of 2012. My friend whom I stayed with last night and I discussed whether to make New Year’s resolutions. Neither of us will make them. However, on my drive home, I began to think about what was truly important to me. These were my observations:

* More than anything else, I want to be helpful to others. Whether I use my writing, my ability to instruct or my artwork, this is my highest goal. Doing anything strictly for myself is more than self serving. It’s a waste of my life. I can’t continue to drive my paid - for car to my nice, cozy apartment with the refrigerator filled with food, knowing I have a job in an economic downturn, and ignore others.

* I must do something creative - - painting, handwork, writing, music, or gardening - - whether it benefits my pocketbook or not.

* I want to become more agile. At this point, my knees don’t work well, I am not very mobile and I am very frustrated about my health. A diet will not work, not will an exercise routine designed for an athlete. I need something very slow and mindful.

* I must continue my studies in my chosen spiritual path. It grounds me as nothing else does and allows me to deal with life in a more compassionate manner.

Each person will make different observations according to what is important for his or her life. Instead of resolutions, I’d suggest breaking your large observations down into small chunks and set an intention for each of the units. Don’t try anything difficult, nothing designed to make you fail. There is practice. There is no perfect.

May 2012 be a time of deep observations, thoughts and follow - through intentions for you…a time of wonderful growth in every area of your life.

~ Mindy

LINKS

Community Gardening
http://www.communitygarden.org/

Growing a Greener World
www.growingagreenerworld.com/

Living Creatively in a Non - Creative World
http://scottjeffrey.com/articles/seven - keys - to - living - creatively - in - an - uncreative - world/

Gentle Yoga Poses
http://www.wholeliving.com/134813/gentle - yoga - poses

Mindful Eating
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/mindful - eating/200902/mindful - eating



~ 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. She is in the process of putting together an e - book and paperback based on her Itty - Bitty Column for Sharing with Writers. 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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I talked about Your Soaring Book Sales: How to use F r ^ ^ e - books and QR codes to sell more of what you want to sell! with the famous Career Czar Paul and his nutty sidekicks Coach Christine and Millian. Tune in at http://www.careerczar.com/mp3/career093011B.mp3 =================================================


Tip: Those who write in genres read mostly by women pay special attention to having their book available for e - readers. Recent studies show that women are more likely to own e - readers and to read e—books. By a margin that any politician would be thrilled to command.



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I have a series of retail books that authors could benefit from. The reason? Authors are retailers, too. They must sell their books. But A Retailer’s Guide to In - Store Promotion will be especially valuable because it will give authors insight on how to convince retail outlets that a partnership (like a book signing, workshop or seminar) with them will benefit their bottom line. Find this book at www.budurl.com/RetailersGuide or more about the whole series at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/retailers_books.htm
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
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UPDATE! Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk and read poetry with Connie Gotsch on her Write On Four Corners radio program on real, live radio (KSJE FM 90.9 on air and http://ksje.com on the Web) The day is January 4, 2012, 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.

UPDATE! Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk about book marketing with Connie Gotsch on her Write On radio program on real, live radio on January 11, 2012, 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. Connie Gotsch is the program director of KSJE FM and a freelance\arts journalist. She has written two novels for children from a dog’s point of view, both designed to promote pet care, humane treatment of animals and people, making good choices, and self discipline. Her suspense thriller, Snap Me a Future, has been rereleased as an ebook by Casa de Snapdragon at http://casadesnapdragon.com

Next Year! As a co - sponsor of the Muse Online Writers’ Conference (and the first one at that!), I’d like you to put a tickler file on you calendar to register for the 2012 weeklong event in October. I can’t tell you how many of my subscribers have been disappointed that they can avail themselves of this f r ^ ^ conference (every year!) because they miss the deadline. August would be a good time to let your digital calendar remind you to enroll at http://themuseonlinewritersconference.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 Post and other publications.)

POLYGON (N): A dead parrot.

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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

This is the 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
Deeper into the Pond: A Celebration of Femininity, Co - Authored with Magdalena Ball. Artwork by Jacquie Schmall
To order as an e - book: https://www.createspace.com/3608866 To order as a paperback: http://budurl.com/DeeperPond
Tracings, a chapbook of poetry (Finishing Line Press)
http://budurl.com/CarolynsTracings

Contact Information

Websites
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com
For special help for fiction writers
http://www.fictionmarketing.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