March Second Week 2007
Sharing with Writers
A newsletter that is also a community. Share your ideas. Learn from theirs!
From the Desks of
Carolyn Howard-Johnson and Authors' Coalition Friends
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"Sharing with Writers" is the official newsletter of Authors' Coalition,

http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com

an organization of writers who help writers.

To read this letter in plain vanilla text, just scroll down. To read this newsletter with a bit more pizzazz (not much, though!) at Authors Den go to:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/Sharingwithwriters_March_ThirdWeek2007.doc

Learn about an opportunity to participate in the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books -- whether you live in LA or not -- by going to my blog at http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson

The LA fair is one of the nation's biggest and most prestigious with more than 130,000 visitors and the power of the LA Times behind it.

Find pictures of last year's booth at http://tri-studio.com/kathegogolewskiPHOTOSfair06.html
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Note from Carolyn:

My fellow AC Members and SWW Subscribers:

Have you ever played to standing room only?

I haven't. Well, maybe once. Almost. The planners had to drag in chairs at a presentation in San Diego recently. Not sure that counts. It wasn't a very big room.

What I'd like is to do play to standing room only at UCLA. How I wish I could magically transport you all to my next class on April 14. It's on promotion and you could fill the lovely little theater in the Public Policy Building they usually give me for my classes.

Of course, it's a one-day only class and that means those of you from out of town could come enjoy LA's fantastic April weather (almost always), call it a business expense, and see Gehry's new symphony hall. We (LA and I) could keep you occupied for a week or two. Disneyland. THE beach (which around our house means Malibu -- our Great Dane is even named after this gorgeous strand!) and maybe even eat lunch at the Ivy on Rodeo Drive. I've only been there once. It is really not so chi-chi but you might see a star or two.

Then you could come to the huge LA Times/UCLA Festival of books on April 28 and 19th, too!

Don't you think I would make a great travel consultant for writers? It wouldn't be so plan-intensive for those of you who live anywhere near Southern California. Either way, please consider enrolling in this class. You'll walk out knowing things like:

1. A media kit isn't only for people with published books nor is it something you should frantically assemble when you suddenly find you need it.
2. A media release is not a mystery.
3. Branding isn't something you do to a cow. Moreover branding has little or nothing to do with your book.
4. Your promotion campaign is something that can start years before you ever publish.

So, will I see you there? Even those of you from out of town? Here is the information, just in case you want to enroll. It's under $100 for the day. This info isn't appearing in the plain text version so just go to www.uclaextension.edu. Check for the Writers' Program classes, ENGLISH 735.1 Creating a Promotion Package for Your Fiction or Nonfiction Book, Reg#: S9465

Scroll down to my list of appearances for more information.

Best,

Carolyn Howard-Johnson
HoJoNews@aol.com
Websites: http://carolynhoward-johnson.com and www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepess.com Blogs: A blog focused on book fairs at
http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson and another blog that is about writing and reading at www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com.
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Feature

Arson, PR and Ethics

My publisher for The Frugal Book Promoter, Kristie Leigh Maguire (www.starpublish.com), posted an article about over-the-top promotion from Publishers' Weekly. Getting Burned: Algonquin Publicity Stunt Attracts Police (http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6421871.html?nid=2286 ) by Rachel Deahl.
Kristie is always trying to help her authors out by updating us on publicity and publishing.

She wanted us to know that PublishersWeekly.com. recently published the article. Getting Burned: Algonquin Publicity Stunt Attracts Police (http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6421871.html?nid=2286 ) by Rachel Deahl.

It's kind of hard to tell what this PW journalist thinks of the marketing ploy she is reporting on; she seems to be on the fence as if any promotion strategy is OK as long as you don't go to jail and your book becomes a bestseller. She says, "Is there such a thing as being too creative when it comes to publicity?" I would have liked it if she'd made that an imperative sentence instead on an interrogative one. She ends with, "Perhaps all that doesn't end in arson, ends well." Perhaps that's just a little too cute? Or course, she has to protect herself and PublishersWeekly from attracting law suits and she needs to be creative just like as the rest of us writers.

I hope you'll read the article and then read my answer. I would rather live in obscurity than be known as the author who built my career on a terrorist-like threat.

Here's my take: This reminds me of the situation back when the War of the Worlds aired. We all know the history of that. Yeesht. There is something known as ethics in writing and PR. Maybe the author of this book and her publisher, Algonquin, were so excited about their great ploy that they didn't think about what might result from using it. That's giving the author the benefit of the doubt and the publisher lots more leeway than they deserve. After all, they are the professionals in this free-for-all.

However, I often see all kinds of stuff where authors carry their drive to sell books too far.

1. How about that "get your book into a bookstore" ruse that gets bandied about occasionally. New authors are told to order a book from B&N so they'll stock your book. The idea is that they won't put it up and, with any luck, B&N will put it our on their shelf rather than send it back. First of all, that will never happen. But more important, these authors, like the one who Deahl wrote about, don't think of the inconvenience and cost to the subjects of their ruse. Bookstores are part of our bread and butter. Treat them kindly.

2. How about all those fake ratings on Amazon. Marketers try to rope us authors into paying $15 for a teleconference to learn how to inflate purchases fast so we can proudly say we are "Amazon bestsellers." To me that sounds like $15 to teach me to cheat. And besides, everyone knows the trick. Do you think there is an editor any place in the country who gets much impressed by "An Amazon Bestseller"?. Most editors aren't so stupid they can't see through the subterfuge, but what about ethics? We don't want to be known as "that sort."

3. How about barging in on another's blog and not bothering to even mention what the blog was about or to contribute anything of value other than "Come visit my blog or website at xxxxxx." I'm getting tired of deleting those from my blogs. Having said that, I'd welcome some constructive comments and it would be good for authors to do that--both for their own exposure and for the good of others. I'm surprised at how few authors do it the right way and how many there are out there who are doing it without the slightest attempt to be civil.

That's only three of my peeves. There are more. I'm sure you don't want to hear the full rant!

Back to Algonquin and the arson scheme. If you are tempted to promote this er . . . .creatively, there is such a thing as a disclaimer. Cigarette companies use disclaimers in very small typeface. You can do the same. The author in question and her respected publisher could have done so, too. A professional publicist would have suggested doing that, at the very least.
CHJ
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Tip: For those of you interested in freelancing, check out my review of a book by Cheryl Wright on the subject. You'll find it at http://www.writer2writer.com/profit_review.htm . I recommend it primarily because it gives you the business essentials without making a big production out of it. Easy reading in one afternoon. Oh, and with its purchase you'll get a free e-listing of magazine markets.

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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising.
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Editing Tip: Nonchalant means having a "confident and easy manner" (The New Mirriam Webster Pocket Dictionary). If you use "nonchalantly" to mean that someone doesn’t' give a darn, and were lucky enough to have a good editor at The New Yorker, you'd probably see her arch an eyebrow as she put a red pencil to it.


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Please pass this letter on to others. Unlike many others, I do not mind if you use only portions of it as long as you credit the writers and include this subscribe information. "To subscribe to 'Sharing with Writers' send an e-mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with 'subscribe' in the subject line."
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TIP: From Leora Skolkin Smith, author of Edges: "I ran across this program accidentally in my hurried attempt to get email addresses and other ways of contacting media in LA. I thought perhaps other writers might be interested in it so I'm passing it on. It only costs $49 for an entire year's membership and it made sending out press releases much easier for me. You can just click on the state you want and it gives a very full list of addresses and contact people from newspapers, magazines, TV and radio and other outlets. Here's the link just in case you think it might be useful to your readers: http://www.mondotimes.com//

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You don't have to be present to benefit from the promotions associated with LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books! Here are the perks for participants Authors' Coalition's booth in the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books:

 Yarnspinners and Wordweavers will feature an ad for your book.
 You will qualify for an interview or a review in Yarnspinners and Wordweavers.
 Authors' Coalition will run a year-long ad on their site.
 You automatically become a paid member to Authors' Coalition entitling you all the members' perks including a review on the AC site, participation in the AC bookstore, and more.

You can participate in some way whether you can be in Los Angeles for the fair or not. When you do you will get exposure at the fair to more than 130,000 visitors. If you participate in the catalog more than 500 or more booksellers and press will see your book

To subscribe to Y&W, send an e-mail with "subscribe" in the subject line to nate@redenginepress.com. To learn more about the LA Times Fair program go to http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson.
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TIP: Subscribers can now use the media releases on my website (they're in the media room ---notice, I didn't call if a press room!) as guidelines for writing their own. You'll find step-by-step instructions as well as other information on how to use your release once you have it written in your copy of The Frugal Book Promoter but the ones I post on my website might give you on how to write them but also what to write them about. www.HowToDoItFrugally.com. Click on the Media Room tab at the top of the page.

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New members will help Authors' Coalition serve all its members better! Ask your writing friends to join at http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com. Paid members get a favorite review posted, consideration for an interview or review in Yarnspinners and Wordweavers. Membership is reasonable, too. We're even planning a speakers' bureau.

Tell friends to visit our blog. There they'll learn how to spark generally insipid book fairs by using value-added promotions: http://redenginepress.com/chjohnson .


http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
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Author Successes

(You are invited to send me news about your successes. New books, awards and more. If you read about others' successes you'll not only be inspired, you'll glean resources for future successes of your own. Please get in the habit of using subject lines, though, that will not be interpreted as spam.)

Francine Silverman published Talk Radio for Authors - Getting Interviews across the U.S. and Canada. Find it at http://www.buybooksontheweb.com/search.asp?cat=Business%20%26%20Economics/Marketing&action=browse or call her publisher, Infinity Publishing at 1-877-BUY-BOOK.
See my blog that tells you why her books (and others) are like the pretty yellow flowers called Four O'Clocks. www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com.
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Diane J. Ward, Authors' Coalition member and subscriber, was named an L.A. Storyteller. Her work inspired a play called Dorothy in La-La Land which was performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a part of LA's lovely performing arts center (near the new Disney Symphony Hall designed by Getty.) Those who are interested in this contest may contact Diane at dwardhip@yahoo.com for details.
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Jewel Sample's Spanish edition of Flying Hugs and Kisses was added to the National SIDS/Infant Death Resource Center's recommendation list. That makes Besos y abrazos al aire an accessible resource for grieving parents, their families, friends, and other caregivers in Spanish-speaking communities. Go to:
http://www.sidscenter.org/BereavementSelectedResources.aspx#Spanish

Might your book fit the needs of a charity organization? Think. Sleep on it. Sometimes we don't see our own books' potentials.

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Fun and F r * *: If you purchased Promoter in the past, I'd love for 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 an excerpt from my soon-to-be-released The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success that includes some sidebars from the book that will help you with some tricky grammar. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com, the Frugal Book
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Essay

Inspiration: How a Book Began

The War of Art
By Allyn Evans

Ever read one of those life-changing books?

While in the early stages of trying to write my latest book I did. Thanks to my dad’s sister, my dear Aunt Kay. She kept insisting I read The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles by Steven Pressfield. Pressfield, turns out, had written many books—many of them best sellers including The Legend of Bagger Vance. No matter. I wasn’t the least bit interested. I knew how to overcome resistance. Heck, I had already written one book and had started this one. And what about the stack of books I needed to read for research?

The way Aunt Kay described the book added nothing to the enticement. “It’s a book for artists—writers, painters, creators—who need help overcoming resistance. It’s written by some guy who writes historical fiction.” No thanks. The book was solving a problem I didn’t have. But she persisted. In the end, she handed me her copy. “It will only take one afternoon for you to read this.”

Finally I caved. I picked up the book and started reading.

The timing couldn’t have been better. Although I had been somewhat productive over the summer (who am I kidding?), I still wondered about direction. I felt compelled to write a book for mothers of adolescent girls. But I found myself constantly questioning. “What do I know? What do I have to tell? Why does anyone care what I have to say? Why do this?” These questions stopped me. These questions identified as resistance by Pressfield prevented me from doing the work. Basically I had stopped writing because of excuses. When I did write, I couldn’t find the words.

Pressfield asked, “Have you ever brought home a treadmill and let it gather dust in the attic? Ever quit a diet, a course of yoga, a meditation practice?... Have you wanted to be a mother, a doctor, an advocate for the weak and helpless; to run for office, crusade for the planet, campaign for world peace, or to preserve the environment?” While reading I found myself nodding my head. Yes. Yes. Yes. He continued, “Then you know what Resistance is.”

Oh yes, I do. I most certainly do. Before ending his take on things he shared this…

One night I was layin’ down,
I heard Papa talkin’ to Mama.
I heard Papa say, to let that boy boogie-woogie.
‘Cause it’s in him and it’s got to come out.
—John Lee Hooker, “Boogie Chillen”

And then nothing else mattered. Nothing. Yes this book was in me, and it had to come out. There would be no stopping. There might be some slowing, but there would be no stopping. “’Cause it’s in me. It’s got to come out.” That’s’ what had happened with my first book. To create more resistance, I convinced myself this time was different. I no longer wrote from pain. Writing without pain was a new experience. Confused, I mostly didn’t do anything. Countless battles went on in my head. “Write.”
“Oh, it’s summer. Take it easy.”
“Enjoy. Relax.”
“I’m behind. I need to work. What about money?”

Besides not writing I also was taking a hiatus from speaking and promoting my first book.

Something bad was about to happen. If I did not take up pad and pen (okay, pounding a keyboard is more accurate), I would succumb to resistance. The symptoms of resistance would find me. And then I would be writing from a new pain—the pain of not doing what must come out. Pressfield called it feeling like hell. “A low-grade misery pervades everything. We’re bored. We’re restless. We can’t get no satisfaction.”

Truthfully, by the time I read the book misery hadn’t found me. I had been having way too much fun for misery to catch up. Living in between houses—we had sold our primary residence and were waiting to move into the replacement—I found myself homeless for over two months. Mostly I played. Work happened in small surges. Very small surges. As the summer sailed by so did my deadlines. Instead of writing, I shoved down the anxiety and did something else. Then along came the solution to a problem I didn’t have: The War of Art. Perfect timing. For on the verge of unknowingly trudging towards my unlived life I found redemption.

The book captured me. I nodded in agreement. The words were powerful. I was taken in. Near the end of the book, Pressfield said: “Let’s ask ourselves like that new mother: What do I feel growing inside me? Let me bring that forth, if I can, for its own sake and not for what it can do for me or how it can advance my standing.”

This freed me. Something deep inside needed to come out. Resistance danced with me. Toyed with me. Tried to stop me. Resistance didn’t win. And that’s when I really started. That’s when what was in me came out.
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With a sigh of relief, author and speaker Allyn Evans delivered the above referenced book to her editor a few months ago. Now grabbing her promotion hat again (the one Carolyn Howard-Johnson says we should never take off), Allyn is booking speaking engagements and pitching articles. To find out more about Allyn visit her websites: www.allynevans.com and www.queenppower.com. To buy (highly recommended, btw) Grab the Queen Power: Live Your Best Life!, go to www.Amazon.com.

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Carolyn's next one-day seminar on building a promotion campaign for your book is April 14 at UCLA's Public Policy building, 9:30 am. Registrations are available at the door.
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching:

Carolyn Howard-Johnson's new course at UCLA is Creating a Promotion Package for Your Fiction or Nonfiction Book (Engl. 735.1, Reg. #S9465). It is scheduled for April 14, 2007, one day only. On the UCLA campus, Public Policy Building, Room 1278, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm.
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Coming Saturday April 21, 2007 at 10 am. Led by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Poetry! Don't Let It Molder in a Drawer, Publish It! A seminar and poetry reading at the Glendale City Central Library (California) in the auditorium.
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Mark April 28th and 29, 2007, for the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books. Go to www.redenginepress.com/chjonson for the fair-focused blog with details on how even out-of-towners can participate.
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New! Carolyn will sit on a publishing/writing career panel for UCLA's Career Program. April 10, at the Career center, corner Strathmore and Westwood (near the campus) in Westwood, CA . 5 pm to 7 pm.
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Carolyn will be speaking to PEN USA's Emerging Voices fellows in May at Antioch University. This is a closed event but you can learn more about the program for yourself or to help other talented writers by going to www.penusa.com.
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NEW! Free Frugal Editor for Publishing Professionals a BEA! Carolyn will be at the Biblio Booth at Javits Center in New York City at 1 pm Friday, June 1, signing her new The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success.
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Carolyn will train American Business Women of America's (ABWA) newsletter editors publish prize-winning, professional periodicals June 9th at their regional convention in Downey, CA.
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Romance Writers Everywhere! Come to the meeting I'll be speaking at on Saturday, June 16th, in San Diego to meet me and the National President of Romance Writers of America (Jill Limber) who will speak on writing a great synopsis--something most of us aren't that adept at (for lack of practice if nothing else). I'll speak at 10 am, she'll speak after lunch. Lunch and meetings at the Mission Valley Handley Hotel is $25 for members, $30. for nonmembers.
For reservations contact hospitality chairwoman Mary Galusha at: marydave66@yahoo.com . Please copy Linda Sundstrom, lsundstrom@ucsd.edu if you want to arrange seating at my table. The group's website is www.rwasd.com.
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Carolyn will be interviewed by popular author and marketer Janet Elaine Smith hosts an online radio program, "Marketing for Fun and Profit," every Monday evening at July 9 p.m. ET on http://internetvoicesradio.com/ .
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Carolyn will speak on "Your Media Release: You Write So You Can Do It! September 8, 2007 at the Valley Cities Jewish
Community Center in Sherman Oaks, CA www.CalWritersSFV.com
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Carolyn will moderate a panel on publishing at the West Hollywood Book Fair on September 30. Circle your calendars. It's f r ^ ^ Even those who are old hands at publishing will learn something new, I promise!
West Hollywood Park
647 N San Vicente Blvd.
West Hollywood, CA 90069
Learn more at http://www.westhollywoodbookfair.org/Mambo/
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Carolyn will speak at the fourth Annual Pen to Paper Literary Symposium October 6, 2007, Dayton Marriott, 1414 S. Patterson Blvd Dayton, Ohio, 45409. The conference will include tracks for music and screenwriting, in addition to writing and publishing books. Start planning now to attend this elite event and take advantage of the early bird special (www.penofthewriter.com/pentopaper).
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& The f r ^ ^ Muse Online Writers' Conference, sponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard-Johnson, is accepting early registration. More than 1,000 attended last year and openings are limited. Learn more about this year's conference, October 8 to 14, and how you can assure your spot 2007. We will present an all-new program soon. Go to:
http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/presentersregistration.htm
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New for 2008! As you can see 2008 is already beginning to fill. I will be sharing with the nation's humor writers again in the spring of 2008 at Dayton University's Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. I'll speak twice at the Kennedy Union on campus.

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Authors' Coalition members! For credibility, use the AC logo on your promotional materials. Ask for it by sending an e-mail to HoJoNews@aol.com or download it with a click from the AC site http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.
Be sure to link it to the AC site, too!
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Thank Yous:

(There are leads here, just as you'll find in all the most innocent-looking areas of this newsletter. You never know when you'll find a name or a site that will help you network or write better!)

~ To Janet Goliger for posting information on my novel This Is the Place with a note that excerpts are available for teachers to use at no cost. Many have used them as supplements for their history or English courses when the subject of tolerance made a pertinent addition. I have never charged a teacher for using material from my books. Janet also did a great job of posting her participation in the Authors' Coalition booth on her website. Anyone interested may use her template (see below). They need only edit to include their own information.

Join Janet and other authors at the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books on April 28 and 29, 2007.
Janet will be signing her book "I Need to be SAFE: I'm Worth It!" at the Authors' Coalition Booth #610, Section F
In Association with Author's Coalition and Red Engine Press
View my special invitation here
LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books Fair Invitation
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~To Angela, at Women on Writing for posting my release on the launch of my new site at: http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/blog.html. Please go check out the site. Women On Writing does a beautiful job with their interviews and reviews as well.
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~ To Kristie Leigh Maguire for posting a picture of me with Paula Abdul on her publishing site. You can see it here: http://starpublish.com/Photo%20Album.htm
The magazine I'm holding in the picture is a trade magazine I serve as columnist/editor for.
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~To Shri Henkel author of Successful Meetings: How to Plan, Prepare, and Execute Top-Notch Business Meetings for including one of my ever-present opinions (Ahem!) on setting up meetings. It was one of his "Classified Case Studies Directly from the Experts." Look up the book at www.atlantic-pub.com. It's for anyone who plans classes or meetings and that includes most authors on the road to success.

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Endorsement:
"www.HowToDoItFrugally.com , by Carolyn Howard--Johnson [is] a top website for writers . . . I'd say my ROI is over 1,000%. The advice is particularly strong in addressing the new author where they are in learning the publishing/selling process. Very practical. The site is excellent." ~ Hill Kemp, author of Capitol Offense, http://www.capitoloffense.com/, and contributor to Secrets, Fact or Fiction? I, ISBN 0-9737282-5-6 and Secrets, Fact or Fiction? II, ISBN 1-59594-062-6, LOC 2006904627, http://www.secretsfactorfiction.com
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Resources
From Elizabeth Lucas-Taylor

(Elizabeth contributes at least one valuable paying resource per SWW issue--either a great place to sell material or find writing craft or promotional idea--and sometimes throws in a resource for you.)

THE CHELSEA AWARDS for SHORT FICTION - For the Fiction Competition: Send only one work of fiction. The manuscript should not exceed 30 typed pages, or about 7,500 words. The editors welcome both traditional and experimental fiction. Deadline: June 15, 2007. http://www.chelseamag.org/awards/guidelines.asp

ACADEMY of AMERICAN POETS - In anticipation of National Poetry Month 2007, The Academy of American Poets is looking for America’s biggest poetry fans: people who demonstrate a passion for poetry that goes beyond the usual. America’s biggest poetry fans will be selected to receive prize packages including poetry books, CDs, t-shirts and tote bags. In addition, selected fans will have their submissions and profiles posted on http://www.poets.org/ . Go to http://www.poets.org/viewall.php/varType/poets for a full list of eligible poets. (Note: you can’t vote for yourself.) How to Enter: Email a short essay to ebleakney@poets.org by March 15, 2007 describing in 250 words or less why you (or you and a friend—or, if you are a teacher, you and your class) are the number one fan or fans of the poet you have chosen. We’re looking for the most compelling and creative entries and welcome the use of supporting materials such as photographs or videos after you have submitted your essay. Just mention you would like to submit supporting material in your email and an invitation to post on our flickr.com or youtube.com group pages will be emailed to you.
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Find Elizabeth at http://www.authorsden.com/elucastaylor or her new blog at http://www.elucas-taylor.blogspot.com/

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Reciprocal Links: Many subscribers are in a position to cross-promote. Let me know if you would like to trade some recommendation or promotion for a place on my Links for Writers or Links for Readers pages on www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.
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Opportunities:

Great Opportunity to Talk with Top Book Agent
Many of you who are writing a book or have written a book are looking for an agent or are interested in finding a new one. Many times, agents are so hard to connect with. Next month, the SPIRITED WOMAN CIRCLE CONVERSATION SERIES presents a 1 hr. telechat interview with top New York non-fiction agent, Lisa Hagan. She'll talk about the best ways to get an agent, what an agent looks for in an un-published author, the advantages and disadvantages of self-publishing versus traditional publishing, how the book business has changed dramatically, and more. This is Lisa's first teleseminar and she rarely does interviews. Join Nancy Mills, Sharing with Writers subscriber, who has writers at heart as she schedules her programs. It is a program well worth supporting. $15. It is a great opportunity to speak with Lisa personally. Day/Time: Tuesday, April 3, 10 am to 11 am PST. To sign up visit: http://www.thespiritedwoman.com/spirited_woman_circle/
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Write Funny or Draw Funny and Publish!

(Thank you to humor columnist Tim Bete (http://www.TimBete.com) for this contribution. It is from his newsletter for humorists which you can subscribe to by going to: http://homestead.sitetoolbox.com/app/newsltr/subscribe.html?no=255. )

Ray Lesser, co-publisher and editor of the Funny Times, is looking for submissions. The Funny Times is a monthly humor publication that's been around for 20 years and has more than 70,000 subscribers.

Ray recently is looking for talented writers and cartoonists. He accepts reprints and pays a minimum of $60 for a column or article. The Funny Times has featured nationally-known humorists, including Dave Barry, Garrison Keillor, Andy Borowitz, Lynda Barry, Matt Groening, and hundreds of others.

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When was the last time you bought a book from an author you know? Tracings, my new chapbook of poetry is available for that honor at www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/qid=1141623936/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-4692447-2218401?s=books&v=glance&n=283155
but any book mentioned in any one of your Sharing with Writers newsletters would be a nice gesture. If all of us directed more of our reading to newer authors who write in genres we love or genres we need to stretch into, we would do ourselves and the publishing industry a great favor.
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Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile:

(Every year the Washington Post conducts a neologism contest. These are the winners, one at a time. You might have some favorite neologisms metaphors or similes that make you smile. If so, please contribute.)

" Dopeler effect (n): The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly ."

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"AC is the current that powers your writing career." http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Authors' Coalition Founder
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E-Tips for E-Promotion:

If you are determined to learn to set up a website of your own, I liked using FrontPage. Using it is similar to using Word so the learning curve isn't so great and you don't have to be able to decipher HTML to use it. If I can do it in spite of a nervous breakdown over it, you might be able to do it without a glitch.
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This is a regular Sharing with Writers feature by Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of USA Book News' Best Professional Book THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER: HOW TO DO WHAT YOUR PUBLISHER WON'T and the soon-to-be released THE FRUGAL EDITOR: PUT YOUR BEST BOOK FORWARD TO AVOID HUMILIATION AND ENSURE SUCCESS. (E-tips for E-promotion was originally a regular feature of SellWritingOnline.com.)

========================================================If you enjoy "Sharing with Writers" please nominate it for Writer's Digest's 101 Best Newsletters for Writers. We aren't big, we aren't old. So it would take a huge outpouring from subscribers to make a dent. Send an e-mail to writersdig@fwpubs.com with subject line, "101 Best Newsletters for Authors" and let them know what this newsletter does for you!

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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

This letter is an entity of Authors' Coalition http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com

Edited and distributed by Carolyn Howard-Johnson,

http://carolynhoward-johnson.com

author of This Is the Place, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings, and The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't, this is a place to share with others and learn from others.

Though 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.

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

Order the Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't
at stores like UCLA, Dayton University and San Diego State University's bookstores. Order it as an e-book at http://starpublish.com/carolyn_howard-johnson.htm

or paperback at Amazon where it is discounted:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/193299310X/qid=1149015406/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/002-4692447-2218401?s=books&v=glance&n=283155

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry, published by Finishing Line Press may be ordered at www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/qid=1139084827/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-7824821-4156653?s=books&v=glance&n=283155