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September 30, 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 - - 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!

This newsletter is powered by AuthorsDen.com.
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Contents

Regular Features
~Note from Carolyn: Barnes & Noble, Vroman's and Publishing Trend
~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’ll find them in several places.)
~Accessible Contests
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

This Issue
~Feature: Children’s Authors! Contests for You!
~Feature: Mini Instructions on Putting Together a Press (Media
Release
~ Mini Feature: Avoiding Bad Breaks in Your Formatting

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
For a fun way to get our cover images on Pinterest, trade pins with me: www.Pinterest.com/chowardjohnson


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 your SharingwithWriters is available in plain text in your e - mail window as well as in a .pdf format.

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Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

I’m trying to get my Christmas shopping done. I’m even getting boxes ready to ship to people who live out of town (or in LA, across town!). That may sound nutty, but it’s a longstanding habit and one that came in very handy when I was in retailing and found November and December exhausting months. This holiday season is so important to retailers. Did you know that many retailers don’t break even for the year until about December 4th. Thus their year’s entire profit must be made in less than 30 days?

This same early - bird habit has worked for me as a writer too. Anyone with published books is, in fact, a retailer. Not exclusively, but they are whenever they’re selling books at seminars they’re speaking at, when they’re selling books from their own Web site, and when they’re promoting (retailers—even online retailers—must promote!).

It goes to reason that the more we understand retailing, the better retailers we’ll be. But it’s even more important that this knowledge can be used to partner with retailers like bookstores and alternative retail situations where your book can be sold. Stand in a retailer’s shoes, and you’ll better understand how to let him or her know how you and your book can make a difference for them. May I suggest some of my own retail books (http://howtodoitfrugally.com/retailers_books.htm)?

But especially the one for retailers on planning in - store events. Authors and books are mentioned in it as a way to up their profits. ( - :. Find it here: http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide. You could even quote me in your pitch!

Happy retailing this holiday season!
Joy, Happy Writing, Editing, and Promoting
Carolyn

PS: My short story “Love Story” will be included in this year’s Best New Writing (http://bit.ly/erichoffer) published by Hopewell Publications. It will be released Oct. 2 but may be ordered now. You'll need to use the link above for the pdf version of this newsletter if you want to see the book cover. ( - :

Best New Writing 2013 (Hopewell Publications, ISBN 9781933435435, trade paper, 172 pgs) An annual anthology of new fiction and creative nonfiction from writers around the world, including the winners of the Eric Hoffer Award for prose. Edited by best - selling and award - winning authors and editors, the pages of Best New Writing feature stories by Bint Arab, Carolyn Burns Bass, James Lloyd Davis, Josepha Gutelius, Carolyn Howard - Johnson, Laura T. Jensen, Chris Laing, Nina Leo, Leo Madigan, B.F. McCune, Jacob Peppers, Emily Reardon, Janet H. Swinney, and L.M. Thompson.


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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

Dear Carolyn:

Regarding bookstore signing tips from my files:

We continue to love your book on promotion and give a copy to each new
author we publish. If only they would read it more!

Here’s the tip: In preparation for every book signing, I print out 300 mini - flyers (3 to an 8 - 1/2" x 11" sheet), containing the
book cover, 150 words about the book, and 50 words about the
author. The store's contact info goes at the bottom—along with
my publishing house’s toll - free book ordering number. We have someone other than our author give one to each person who comes through the bookstore door. If there are any left, we leave the extras with the bookstore with a request to put the stack by their checkout area or to stuff them into their bags.

Richard N. Côté, Editor - In - Chief,
The Côté Literary Group ( http://www.coteliterary.com )


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Endorsement: “Your book is a tremendous help to me as a first time published author, and the discount for Display Stands 4 You in the back of the new edition was very nice too.” ~Ginger K. King, cookbook author, blogs at https://corkandforkblog.wordpress.com/
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Vocabulary to Help You Sell Books: So, you want to sell books to libraries. Who do you contact? Know these words: “Acquisition Librarian” and “Collection Development Department.” That goes for titles in any genre. If you can snag the actual names of acquisition librarians, address your query letter to them personally. Use a search engine, call individual libraries, or rent lists from writers’ organizations to expand your own contact list of librarians.



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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: Even if you are traditionally published, you’ll occasionally need to know something about book covers. Example: You may want to publish a promotional e - book. One of the things authors (and sometimes even traditional publishers!) forget is that bookcovers today must be online friendly. That is, the title and the author’s name must be big enough to be read in a one - inch icon in an online bookstore.


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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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Feature

Help Your Editor Avoid Bad Breaks
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Avoid what editors call bad breaks. Here are some examples:

~They can be widows (where the last line of a paragraph appears all by its little lonely self on the next page).
~They can be orphans (where a paragraph, title, subhead, title or section begins on one page and gets left dangling there with only one line until the reader gets to the next page).
~A bad break can be a hyphenated word at the end of line that appears as the very last thing a reader sees on any given page.
~A bad break can be a word that breaks incorrectly at the end of a line. Check your dictionary when you must break a word. Dictionaries tell you where syllable breaks are and we don’t break words anywhere but between syllables. We also don’t usually break a long word after the very first syllable or before the last one.
~We also don’t break a name (use a hyphen) after an initial in a name. So, we should leave a name like “J. R. Turner” on one line with no attempt to break it even if avoiding the break screws with the spacing a tad.

Don’t forget you’ll find many, many other tips on “Avoiding Humiliation and Ensuring Success” for your book in The Frugal Editor (http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor).

CHJ


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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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Author’s Vocabulary: When you begin the editing process with the editor assigned to your book by your big New York publisher, you may need to know what a caret is. When he or she uses the word, you don’t want to have to ask. A caret is a little pointy thing that looks something like this ^ that directs you to an insert the editor is asking you to make. Note I said “asking.” A great editor doesn’t demand changes. She suggests them. You pay attention certainly. Ask if you disagree or don’t understand. But the final decision is up to you.


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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 or send me a guest post. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
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Author Successes
Only subscribers’ successes are listed in this section. Thus, I do not pick up news 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.”

Sandra McLeod Humphrey Launches Inspiratinal Book
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They Stood Alone!: 25 Men and Women Who Made a Difference is being launched this week by author Sandra McLeod Humphrey. It is an inspiring collection of brief biographies of twenty - five men and women who refused to conform to the societal beliefs and expectations of their time and, by stepping out and away from the crowd, they changed their world and ours as well.

It has received the 2011 Mom's Choice Gold Award for Young Adult Nonfiction, the 2012 Readers Favorite Silver Medal Award for Young Adults - General, the 2012 American Authors Association Golden Quill Award for Children's Books, and was the 2011 - 2012 DIY Book Festival Winner for the Teenage category. The Pennsylvania School Librarians Association (PSLA) also selected it for their annual list of best selections for young adults in the nonfiction category.
Learn more about the awards at www.clcawards.org.


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It's book fair and trade show season: Here are a bakers' dozen of ideas to make BEA (Book Expo America) and other book shows easier and more productive: http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2007/03/bakers - dozen - work - bea - frugal - way.html Please leave comments with ideas of your own - - and links to your book's sales page.
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Accessible Contests for You to Build Your Platform

Early Entry for Hoffer Awards
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First call for the 2013 Eric Hoffer Book Award
Deadline, January 21, 2013
Small presses, academic presses, micro presses, self - publishers invited.
There is a $2,000 grand prize and low entrance fee.

New or old, judges will consider your book. Each year, independent publishers release extraordinary books to little or no recognition. The Eric Hoffer Book Award recognizes excellence in publishing. A SINGLE REGISTRATION gives you SIX WAYS TO WIN (See below). See submission guidelines below or check their listing in Writer’s Market or visit www.HofferAward.com.

AWARDS/BENEFITS:
* $2,000 GRAND PRIZE (the Eric Hoffer Award for Books)
* Winner of the Montaigne Medal for most thought - provoking books
* Winner of the da Vinci Eye for best covers
* Winner of the First Horizon Award for debut authors
* Winner and First Runner - Up awarded for every category
* Honorable Mentions for every category
* Individual Awards for Micro, Small, and Academic Presses, as well as Self - Published Books
* Coverage in The US Review of Books (www.theUSreview.com) and on www.HofferAward.com
* Gold Seal Certificates
* Worldwide Exposure

CATEGORIES: Art, Poetry, General Fiction, Commercial Fiction, Children, Young Adult, Culture, Memoir, Business, Reference, Home, Health, Self - Help/Spiritual, Legacy Fiction, Legacy Nonfiction, E - book Fiction, and E - book Nonfiction.

In this tough economic time, your book is always a great value, and the Eric Hoffer Book Award is the most economical way to achieve publicity and recognition. Read previous contest coverage in the US Review of Books (www.theUSReview.com ) and view past winners and press releases at www.HofferAward.com.


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Book Proposal Help: The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything
You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 30 Minutes or Less is now an
e - booklet ($2.99) or paperback booklet (only $6.95). The perfect giftlet for nonfiction writers. Find it at http://budurl.com/BookProposals =============================================

Writing Craft Tip: In a Time magazine review of Zadie Smith’s new novel NW, they note that Natalie’s story (the major story and the longest section in the book) is introduced late in the book. They also make the point that it’s “the narrative spine of the book” and that the author “winds the timeline all the way back to when Natalie was a child.” Many writing schools advise against both practices. This is but one example of how an author who understands craft can get away with breaking the rules. You might decide to read it just to learn how this author got away with publishing murder. Ha!


==============================================Social networking is one of the best ways to make valuable contacts and build a list of readers. Join me on Pinterest. You pin one of my book covers on one of your bulletin boards and I’ll pin yours on one of mine. http://Pinterest.com/chowardjohnson ==============================================


Tip: Working with my husband on the promotion for his book What Foreigners Need to Know About America From A To Z (http://amzn.to/ForeignersAmericaUS) not only made me realize how much I’d forgotten about my American history but it also made me aware I should be reminding you all of the format to use for your query letters—letters you use for every kind of request from a review to a feature story from an editor to getting an agent. Yep, it may be time to review the section on querying letters (page 27 in your paperback edition) in The Frugal Editor (http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor ) with all the pet peeves direct from the mouths of famous agents and the sample letter in the Appendix. If you have The Frugal Book Promoter (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo), jump back to the Index and look up “query letters” to learn about everything you’ll need to know about them.



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I keep adding new resources for authors on 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: Did you know that IBPA (Independent Book Publishers of America) works for authors, too. Example of just one of the benefits from one of their online bulletins: “What’s New with you?
The 5th of the month is the deadline for submitting your news for Members in the Spotlight, which should be sent directly to Linda Carlson in Seattle, at linda@ibpa - online.org . She's interested in unusual special sales, licensing deals, significant media coups and other achievements. The focus of her column is as much about how you accomplish something as what you accomplish, so details and specific how - to's are important. Please submit your information in the text of your e - mail (no attachments) and remember to include your name, title and the name of your press.”


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Here is the link for the page on my Web Site that lists some of my favorite accessible contests, an article on using contests, and more. http://howtodoitfrugally.com/contests.htm. ==============================================

Opportunities

Florida Book Fair Waiting For You
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Registration is now open for the Meet the Authors' Book Fair in the Eau Gallie Civic Center Melbourne, FL, November 17 & 18, 2012.

This event is held in conjunction with the ArtWorks Festival and is FREE and open to the public.
Authors who want to have a vendor space can find more information and the registration form at
www.AuthorsForAuthors.com

Space is limited. First come first served. For those who cannot attend, consider taking advantage of the Display Only option.

Please join us to exhibit your work, network with authors, and sign and sell your books. I look forward to seeing you all again.

~ Valerie Allen ~
VAllenWriter@cs.com ValerieAllenWriter.com
Facebook.com/Valerie.Allen.520



Get Your Blog Touted on Penny Sansevieri’s Blog
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Penny Sansevieri, book marketer extraordinaire, offers her newsletter subscribers a nice little perk. She runs a blog carnival (learn more about blog carnivals in The Frugal Book Promoter http://budurl.com/frugalbkpromo) and will run a link to your favorite blog article in it. It must be on writing, book marketing, publishing or social media.


Writers Invited to Southern Utah Conference
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Join author VS Grenier and other authors in Southern Utah for the Heritage Writers Guild Writer's Conference October 12 - 13, 2012. Learn more and download the registration forms at http://heritagewriters.tripod.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 to HoJoNews@aol.com.

Loving Cyclamen and Swords
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I love this online journal because it’s large enough and frequent enough to give many poets a chance at being published. I also love it because the quality of the selected work keeps poets learning from one another. My poem “This Grave at Ypres” is a Septermber issue selection. It’s about one of the rarer Jewish graves found among the gardens of headstones so well tended all over Belgium WWI battle sites. Find it at:
http://www.cyclamensandswords.com/poetry_aug_2012_2.php

Got a Poem That Mentions Frogs?
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Here’s a free contest for poets of any age and, yes, there is a cash prize.
http://www.savethefrogs.com/poetry/index.html#submit


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Endorsement: “I started on FRUGAL and I went, ‘Whoa....damn good book!’ It is
so PROFESSIONAL!” ~ Dorothy Thompson, editor of The Writers Life
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Tip: If you haven’t had as much luck as you like getting your creative work published try two things. Check your query letter skills (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) and subscribe to a few excellent literary journals. Yeah, and read them! ( - : There are other places to check besides The New Yorker and Harper’s. For starters try the Cider Press Review at www.ciderpressreview.com.


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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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In the News: The 1964 winner of the Pulitzer for poetry died at 89. Louis Simpson wrote At the End of the Open Road, a title fraught with metaphor when one knows he wrote about everyday life in the United States.


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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: You can get lots of publicity from supplying reporters with quotes to support or refute their premises. But how to reach the ones writing on your topic? You will get lots of e - mail from this idea, but you should be able to tell from subject lines which might get you some grass roots marketing - - or bigger. It is called HARO and is at http://helpareporterout.com . When you get an e - mail with a subject line that's related to any of the topics in your book, send them a note. You're looking for quotations (your quotes) with a mention of your book and preferably a link. That's what they should do for you if they use you. Keep the addresses of people you send notes to and follow up.


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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 ============================================

Reminder: I just had to reassemble a list of reviewers to e - mail query letters to for my husband’s new book What Foreigners Need to Know About America From A to Z (http://amzn.to/ForeignersAmericaUS). Had to do that because I didn’t do it right the first time back in the dawn of the computer age. This seems like a no - brainer but it may not be if you aren’t tech savvy or are a new author—or haven’t read the chapter in The Frugal Book Promoter (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) on the importance of keeping lists. So here it is again: Keep lists of everything. Reviewers, interviewers, bloggers who deal in topics related to the subject of your book, newspaper editors (again, related to your topic—business editors, feature editor, book review editors). You may put each list in a separate Excel file or put them all in one Excel file and carefully code them as to what each does or prefers. These days mostly in e - mail addresses, but I still think it’s a good idea to have complete information when possible. You may someday need snail mail addresses for a very important followup mail, sent—very importantly—by priority mail. ( - :


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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 hourly consultations to help you with your marketing campaign or your path to publishing. http://budurl.com/carolynsconsulting
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Tip from The Frugal Book Promoter: I know I’ve given this to you before—a long time ago. But it bears repeating. RTIR (http://www.rtir.com/index.html) is a print/online magazine that supplies interested radio and TV hosts with ideas for their coming broadcasts. Authors and publishers may advertise. It definitely is not frugal, but if you should get a gig seen (or heard) by millions, you’ll think it is a bargain. Be warned, they may refuse you if you write fiction. They refused me for an ad as an expert on Utah after my novel This Is the Place (http://budurl.com/ThisIsthePlace) was published and I just accepted their decision. You needn’t do that. Use the backdoor technique I tout in The Frugal Book Promoter (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo ) . Or just plain be persistent. Explain why you are an expert even though your book is fiction.

Example: “Sorry, but I can’t agree with you. My book of fiction is based on my own life, born and raised in Utah. It is especially pertinent right now because (1.) I am one of the few people writing about Utah who saw the two cultures there—from both the Mormon and the non - Mormon perspectives because I was raised with one foot in one, the other in the other. In other words, I have no agenda. (2.) There is always something about Mormons in the news. Usually it is about polygamy (my great grandfather was a polygamist and I saw the effects of it generations later), but, right now, it is about a Mormon running for President and few people are talking about how his religion almost certainly must affect his perspective.” See how that works? It works for getting reviews, too. Show people how your book is current or needed whenever possible.


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I need editing questions and tips for my The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned - In Editor blog, www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com. Articles, too! You ask and I'll provide ample credits and links to whatever site you choose. HoJoNews@aol.com. =============================================


Tip:If you should be in Los Angeles and want help with a do - it - yourself video, drop by Sunset and Laurel Canyon, pay $20, and get your starter video. It may turn out to be lots better than what you try to do with the camera in your computer. Or check in at http://mystudio.net to see what how you can benefit from what they offer.


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You'll find a myriad of writer helps at http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/links_for_writers.htm. It includes a list of small presses of various kinds that I am familiar with. =============================================


Thank Yous

These are, indeed, thank yous but it occurs to me that many Sharing with Writers readers are not using them as resources. Often the blogs, newsletters, Web sites, and other entities mentioned are perfect vehicles for exposing your books to new readers. It is up to you to click or copy and paste to see which might be suitable—and for inspiration on how to make what you do a match for them.


Thanks to Daniel Friedmann...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…for shouting out the participation of his book tour on my New Book Review blog early and visibly on his blog. It’s at http://virtualbooktour - theyppublishing.blogspot.ca/p/author - daniel - friedmann - genesis - one.html. Others may participate by visiting and commenting or may submit reviews of their own by following the guidelines in the left column of The New Book Review (http://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com).

Thanks to Dr Wesley Britton. . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
…for his review on my book for Tweeting. Though it is in my retailing series, authors are retailers and Britton’s review makes it clear that the essentials can help authors do a better job networking with Twitter: http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/2560/1/ - Frugal - and - focused - Tweeting - for - Retailers - Tweaking - Your - Tweets - and - Other - Tips - for - Integrating - Your - Social - Media - Reviewed - By - Dr - Wesley - Britton/Page1.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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Feature: Mini Primer for Putting Together a Publicity Release


You’re Invited to a Publicity Party
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Many authors don’t crash the FREE publicity party because, although they’re writers, they fear the process of assembling a press release, or more accurately a media release.

They may worry about looking less than professional to the media. Kind of like we worried about what to wear to the prom when we were in high school. I promise you this party is lots easier to dress for. Here are the basics for sending your release off in style, but you’ll find more detail for the entire process in The Frugal Book Promoter (http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo).

 Use a header of only five lines on your existing business stationery.
 The first says M E D I A R E L E A S E. Put it in caps, large type, boldface, 18 point Ariel typeface with a space between each letter. Justify it on the left of your page.
 Leave a space and enter CONTACT: in 14 point, Ariel caps. Left justify it. If you’re the one who knows the most about what you are publicizing, this is your name, phone, fax, and e - mail address, each on its own line. Revert back to upper and lower case for the details. Include this information even if it is in your letterhead. I have read advice to authors that they use a fake name and pretend they have a publicist. Don’t do it. Editors are on to it. If you’re not a consummate actor/fibber, you’ll only make yourself look foolish.
 Release information goes one space beneath that. Type in For Immediate Release in 12 point bold Times New Roman, also left justified. Change this only if there is a very good reason for doing so, in which case it would read: For Release After…with your chosen date. Space is an issue for editors. Don’t limit them unless you must.
 Your headline is centered in 16 point Ariel bold. This catches an editor or producer’s attention. Study headlines in the newspaper. Avoid anything cute or elaborate at first. More advanced party - goers will learn how to make their headlines catchy. Choose the most newsworthy (read that original, unique or honor - driven) element of your story to feature.
 The lead should be simple and brief. It is the first sentence in the body of your release. State who, how, where and what. Check to be sure that the “when” includes the day of the week and the date. Here’s a sample: “Joseph Martin was honored by Authors of America at a gala ball Tuesday, March 8, at Rockville’s City Hall.”
 The body of the release follows, single spaced. Leave a space between paragraphs. Do not indent. Mention the single most newsworthy aspect of your story in the paragraph after the lead: “Martin was a Pulitzer Prize winner in 1976.” Or even, “Martin has been a Rockville resident for more than a decade.” Add details to the next paragraph: You might credit those who are involved with planning and include the town in which they live after their names. This gives editors an idea for local angles, if needed.
 Your permanent promotional paragraph comes next. Put it together once and it may only need an occasional update. It is your sales pitch or mini bio and it lists your most important (and relavent) experience and honors. Also include and/or any local organizations you belong to or important offices you’ve held. This kind of information can convince an editor that you are newsworthy. Use it in every release you send out.
 Your pitch might be a quote about your book, a blurb or short or synopsis about your book. Loglines work here, too. Look up an easy way to write a great logline in The Frugal Book Promoter.
 Media kit or photos are mentioned next in parentheses, 10 point bold, Times New Roman, centered: (A media kit and photos are available on request.)
 Fax your releases; that is the cheapest way. Include a Fax cover sheet to direct it to the proper editor. This will usually be the features or book editor. For radio and TV, it will be addressed to the producer of each show. Check by phone to make sure the name is current and spelled correctly. If you send photos with your release, use envelopes to match your letterhead and print each address using the envelope feeder on your printer.

Fashion Statement Warning: When this simple release is complete, you won’be overdressed. There is a danger in trying to get too cute or fancy with media releases.

Warning #2: Your release should be one page or less.

Note: If you’d like to reprint this in your blog or newsletter, just ask. I’ll provide you with permission and a version complete with a credit line.


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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 fr^^ 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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Feature

Children’s Book Award Contests: The Importance of Entering
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By Donna M. McDine

The importance of entering children’s book award contests goes well beyond a win. There are two sides you can capitalize on. The obvious, if your book achieves book award recognition you and your publisher can reap the benefits of promoting you as an award - winning author. Second, even if you don’t place in the contest your book does gain additional exposure through the judging process. For example, when I participated in the 2011 NYS Reading Association Conference and Author Fair, two different teachers who are judges for the 2014 NYS Reading Association Charlotte Award mentioned they read my book for the contest. This provided a great opportunity to talk about my school visit workshops and The Golden Pathway’s Educators Guide, which then led to two different school visits. What better way to get the conversation going about your book then by people in the educational trenches.

Not sure where to being your search for contests? Of course the Internet is your most viable option. Google “children’s book award contests” and you will receive over a million hits. I can feel your shoulders sag; please don’t be dismayed as to where to begin. To help you get started I recommend the following websites for comprehensive contest listings:

• Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators – www.scbwi.org The Golden Kite Award, Sid Fleischman Humor Award, and Sue Alexander Most Promising New Work Award.
• The Purple Crayon - http://www.underdown.org/childrens - book - awards.htm
• The Reading Tub – Directory of Children’s Literature and Book Awards http://www.thereadingtub.com/pdfs/national+book+awards.pdf
• U.S. National and Canadian Awards for Children's and YA Literature: http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com/lit_resources/awards/nat_awards.html
• Children’s Literacy Classic International Book Awards www.clcawards.org
• EPIC’s eBook Awards http://epicorg.com/competitions/epics - ebook - awards.html
• Global eBook Awards http://awardsforebooks.com
• IRA Children’s and Young Adult’s Book Awards http://reading.org/Resources/AwardsandGrants/childrens_ira.aspx
• Writer’s Digest – www.writersdigest.com – even though The Golden Pathway and Hockey Agony were originally submitted as short stories to the annual contest they both placed as Honorable Mentions hence providing interest by Guardian Angel Publishing in offering my first two children book contracts.

An additional effective way to help keep you up to date on children’s book awards is by setting up a Google Alert with “children’s book awards”

Don’t stop researching with just the above mentioned. Conduct a search by state, topic, etc. (i.e., historical fiction, bullying, music, etc., all depending on the topic of your book). Cynthia Leitich Smith’s website noted above is a great resource for state - by - state.

Since the majority of contests are copyright deadline based, even before your book is published you need to educate yourself as to what contest is the most reputable and the best fit for your particular book. Do your homework and double check the submission guidelines (they do change from time to time just as publisher submission guidelines). Don’t come across as an amateur, research and confirm submission guidelines before submitting. What to look for: topic, copyright year, state of residency, country, etc.

Create an Excel spreadsheet for tracking purposes:
• Contest Name
• Contact Info
• Deadline Date
• Date Submitted
• Winners Announced By
• Accepted
• Rejected
• Comments

Of course, adjust the form to your personal needs. I set deadline reminders 30 days prior to the actual deadline on my Outlook Task Reminder. Don’t feel as if you need to “reinvent the wheel” in creating your Excel spreadsheet, if you are interested I’d be delighted to email you my blank tracking form. Please feel free to email me at donna@donnamcdine.com. Please mention where you read my article and put “Children’s Book Contests Excel Spreadsheet” in the subject line.
Good luck in your quest in becoming an award - winning children’s author!
~Donna McDine is an award - winning children's author and publicist who can free up your valuable writing time. Visit McDine at www.donnamcdine.com, www.donna - mcdine.blogspot.com, and www.authorprservices.com.


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Aggie Villaneuva is a resource you need to know. So, go to my article on how to format your book for Kindle in just a few easy steps and while you're there, poke around for Aggie’s assortment of marketing aids including her app service. http://www.promotionalacarteblog.com/2012/02/kindle - formatting - made - easy - by - carolyn - howard - johnson/
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Editing Tip: We often read on the Web that it is oh, so smart to put our titles all in caps when we send out media releases and other marketing or promotion. After all, the story goes, caps will make that title really stand out. Yep. Editors will immediately identify author or publicist as a novice. Gatekeepers (from agents to feature editors) will immediately be aware that they’ll have to go through and put all the titles in italics, lower case—rather than simply copy and paste. Copy and paste makes their lives easy. All caps give them a headache. If you’re using all caps, you have no idea how many editors have ditched your e - mail by hitting the delete key, or sent your snail mail to the circular file.


Tip: Many challenged people like my author/SharingwithWriters subscriber Jessica Kennedy use text readers to help them with everyday tasks. They can help us all with our day - to - day editing needs, too. Jessica says, "Let's face it you can't always find a willing victim to read your prose back to you."


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The Publishing Insiders (Paula Krapf and Penny Sansevieri) and I talk about book promotion on their BookTalkRadio program. I know you’ll pick up some new tips or encouragement. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thepublishinginsiders/2012/05/29/no - money - out - of - pocket - shooting - your - book - to - stardom
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An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Watch for Mindy’s Column Here Next Issue
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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence



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I believe in social networks. Big and small. Sometimes the smaller ones are easier to make lasting and more productive contacts on. I recommend iFOGO (http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html) which is small in part because there is a small membership fee. And, of course, my usual. No membership is good unless it's an active membership.
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Tip: I keep getting suggestions from readers to glean the e - mail address from the bulk mails that people send around to their friends. These e - mail jokes and tirades may be welcome or not, but the only name you should glean for your personal contact list is the name of the person who sent you the e - mail. The others are not fair game. Here’s an alternative, though. Ask the person who sends you these adorable little time - wasters if they’ll send your announcement or invitation to their friends. Assure them that your feelings will not be hurt if they don’t, but that you feel your book might indeed be something they would enjoy, perhaps even mentioning something they’ve sent in the past related to your book as an example.


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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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Tip: My favorite way to glean media names and resources for out - of - town book signings, TV appearances and other publicity events is Barron’s Directory. Publicity professionals own them. That is way too expensive, but your city library is sure to have the full set—a huge volume of each media. One for TV, one for newspapers, one for radio, etc. They are listed by location and, if the library copy is up - to - date, even the editors’ and producers’ names should be current.





Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 I will be speaking on several panels at the Book ‘Em Book Fair in North Carolina Feb. 23, 2013. Go to http://www.bookemnc.org/ for opportunities for your book and watch for more on my appearances there in this newsletter. It is headed by mystery writer p.m. terrell and the purpose of The Book 'Em Foundation and this event is to raise public awareness of the link between high crime rates and high illiteracy rates. Proceeds from the Book 'Em North Carolina book fairs go directly to increasing literacy in Robeson County, North Carolina, and to reducing crime in the area.
 Make plans for the online 2013 Catholic Writers’ Conference now. I know many are disappointed when they can’t sign up for my chat after the registration deadline. If they knew what else they’d missed, they’d really be sad. So mark it on your calendar—maybe to register in December of 2012. The Conference is March 4 - 15, with chats March 4 - 10 and forums March 8 - 15. I’ll be conducting a couple of chats on Secrets of Pinterest for Authors and One on To Italicize or Not to Italicize and Other Professional Editing Secrets. 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 Post and other publications.)

PUDDLE: A small body of water that draws other small bodies wearing dry shoes into it.



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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 CarolynHowardJ (at) aol (dot) 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 CarolynHowardJ (at) aol (dot) 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 CarolynHowardJ (at) aol (dot) 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://budurl.com/FrugalBkProKindle

The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
E - book: http://budurl.com/FrugalEditorKindle
Paperback: 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: http://budurl.com/bookproposalskindle

Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper - Perfect Copy
Paperback: http://budurl.com/WordtrippersPB
E - book: http://budurl.com/WordtrippersKindle


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
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

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
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW

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.

Pinterest: Repin one of my book covers, I’ll pin yours to one of my boards. http://pinterest.com/chowardjohnson

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