June 7, 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_May_No4Week2007.doc

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Note from Carolyn:

My fellow AC Members and SWW Subscribers:

BEA was a blast in spite of snafus with my signing. Subscribers know that I believe all writers need to be responsible for their own careers, their own writing success. We do that--no matter how we publish--by knowing as much as we can about the world of publishing, book promotion and our craft. With that knowledge we can do lots of it ourselves or partner with our publisher and people we hire. I just have to say this, knowledge keeps us from being taken advantage of (see the Q&A on an aspect of that later in this newsletter).

BEA is a good place to do learn more. PMA puts on a grand university before each BEA that gets very high marks from attendees and though I heard from one person that they don't think much of the education program put on by BEA, I strongly disagree.

I went to New York with an emerging author, Emily Heebner. We shared a hotel room and cab fares and raved on about how much we missed and loved New York. We attended seminars given by Amazon, by librarians (we all would like to know how they select their books, right?), and there was even one on doing business in China. Dozens in all. So, I strongly disagree that their training is not up to par. It may depend on what it is you consider important.

At any rate, mark the last weekend in May and first part of June of 2008 for next year. It will be in Los Angeles. And you might want to go to my blog at www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com and copy and keep my tips on making the best of a tradeshow like this. The entry is on Monday, March 26.

And, of course, you'll be getting some tips I gleaned from the experience--great book signing or not--in future issues of this newsletter. (-:

Happy, happy writing and promoting!
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 and
www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com

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Letters-to-the-Editor

Dear Ms Frugal,

Call me SpongeJawJaw Wide Pants. I soak up everything you offer in your newsletter. I set aside "Frugal" time to make sure I don't miss anything that might enhance my writing career. I'm never disappointed. Given that, I have a couple of comments on this past week's edition.

First, the piece by writer Melville was very timely and appreciated. I'm sending "congrats" to her for knowing when to put info/tips such as this "out there" because timing is everything in this biz. As book promoters, we're all facing the gas crunch. I might add that if you run this again, a small suggestion would be to offer an explanation of "hybrid" for your readers as there might be some who aren't quite clear on the definition. Just a thought. Kudos to Melville!

The other comment is that telling writers they should invest in a good editor CANNOT be stressed enough. There's a saying among publishers and editors that you can tell a serious writer from a glory/fame-seeker simply by their manuscript. And they only accept the HALLMARK ones. What's a Hallmark manuscript? “When You Care Enough to Send the Very Best”

Thanks, Ms C...onward!

Georgia Richardson
www.queenjawjaw.com
Humorist and Virtual Assistant for
Boomer Women Speak, and
National Association of Baby Boomer Women
And Humor Columnist for
BOOMER Magazine

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Subscribers who have websites or newsletters of their own may be interested in the Free Articles 4 Readers and Writers on my site, www.howtodoitfrugally.com. I add new articles to it each week. If you don't see what you need, just ask. HoJoNews@aol.com.
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More Letters on Libraries

What Works, What Doesn't
Dear Carolyn,

I just have to share my own experiences. Library by library, here's what worked for me-- and what didn't:

Gardiner (Maine) Public Library: It's not the first library I remember -- that would be the Thomaston (Maine, USA) Public Library, where Mom took me many times when I was a toddler --- but it's where I got my first library card, because I was in Grade 1 when our family moved to Gardiner. I lived within its service area for the next 40 years. When I was first published, in 1997, I contacted Gardiner's head librarian about purchasing my book. She expressed excitement, but just could not fathom what an e-book might be or how she might make such a thing available to her patrons. When I moved into the trade paperback world a few years later, I contacted her again. This time she sent my own letter back to me in the envelope with her reply, which congratulated me effusively but informed me firmly that unless I could provide reviews from a list of major venues her
"collections policy" didn't allow her to purchase, or even accept as a donation, any of my titles. In other words, my having grown up in her library (one of the books I offered is dedicated to the Gardiner Public Library's staff) didn't matter. No reviews from the likes of Library Journal? Then please get lost, because you're a waste of my precious shelf space.

I contacted the Maine State Library about my first book, and their acquisitions librarian didn't bother to respond. However, when I got my first local press coverage -- a small but very kind article in a weekly newspaper -- suddenly that same acquisitions librarian sought me out and asked for donated copies if I could provide them. If not, she was willing to purchase the books because she'd just discovered(!) that she had a new Maine author whose work must be documented for the Maine State Library's official collection. Ever since that initial contact, I've let the Maine State Library know when I have a new release; and they always purchase copies, for both the Maine Authors Collection and regular circulation. They also recommend my books, enthusiastically, to their patrons. What a help they've been in building my fan base!

After I moved from Gardiner to Augusta [also Maine, not Georgia], the Lithgow Public Library sent me an invitation to its annual Maine Authors Day reading and reception. I found out later that my pastor had told someone on the organizing committee to be sure to include his new member the published author. Lithgow's never once purchased one of my books, but those I've donated have circulated well. Again, they've helped in building my fan base; so I'm more than satisfied.

When a librarian I once interviewed for a job opening at the Maine State Archives (where my day job's located) took charge of Kennebec Valley Community College's brand new library, she made collecting works by Maine authors a priority. College students are a great market for science fiction, my primary genre, so I was glad to donate one copy of each book I had in print. The least I could do to help launch a fledgling library, and - again -- excellent publicity. How did this lady know I wrote books, since our contact in her job interview certainly didn't give her that information? The Maine State Library's staff had clued her in.

What's the common thread in these experiences? Local publicity. Sometimes through the press, sometimes (as with my pastor) by word of mouth. "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country" really, REALLY applies to the local author, it would seem, in this age when a kindergarten class can become "published authors all" by paying a POD company to print its book. I needed someone to verify my status as a real, honest-to-goodness writer of professional-quality fiction and nonfiction before any local librarian was willing to take me seriously, and I guess my home town library never will. So be it. The Maine State Library's Maine Author Collection is more than good enough for me!

Best,
Nina M. Osier
http://www.geocities.com/nina_osier/
Author of SAGARMATHA, best selling science fiction available from Fictionwise; and MISTWORLD, sequel to 2005 EPPIE finalist MATUSHKA
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Tip: Stories for Children Newsletter for Writers is a free monthly newsletter created for children's writers or anyone who loves to write. Each newsletter contains tips about writing, how other writers started down the road to success through trial and error, success stories on being published, contest, and writing markets. It is edited by Virginia S. Grenier. To subscribe send an e-mail with "subscribe" in the subject line to: vsgrenier@storiesforchildren.com/
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Q. and A. A la Ann Landers

Hi Carolyn,

The irony of life can still amaze me.

In a relatively short period of time, a new magazine tried to SELL me my own column and a book review magazine tried to SELL me a review of my book, Paper Wings!

I just finished turning down both, as politely yet firmly as possible.

Is it just me, or is this sort of offer so totally wrong?

Betty Dobson
InkSpotter Publishing
http://inkspotter.com

Yes, totally wrong. But let me get this straight. for everyone. You are supposed to pay a newsletter to run your column. A column you write as content for their newsletter? And the review thing. You pay them to give you a review?

I advise authors against paying for interviews on radio or TV in THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER. Just providing expertise and content for free is a gift. To expect authors to pay for the privilege of giving a gift (even though, certainly, they benefit in some ways) is not only taking advantage of writers but is also poor journalism. How can an audience trust an expert who is paying to get airtime? Ditto for reviews. No ethical journal (and yes, that includes Kirkus who lost much credibility when it turned to some paid reviews) would do this. It isn't fair to their reviewers, the authors but it especially isn't fair to their readers who expect an impartial review.

I posted a similar rant on my blog recently; it was triggered by a bookstore in New York that is charging authors to shelve their books and to give them an event. It is titled "Everyone Loses to Predators" at: http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html.

Any practice that takes advantage of the needy and unsuspecting is egregious. Authors who are new or who haven't made it their business to learn about their own industry are sitting ducks.

Any practice that undermines the credibility the media is at very best short-sighted and--in my opinion--is stupid as well!

So, do I think this is just plain wrong? Yep. Sure do. But writers of any stripe who fall for things like this must bear their portion of the responsibility. Remember the old saying, "Buyer beware"? Authors need to watch their backs, too.
chj
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Tip: Now here's a thank you card! You know how I always talk about how important it is to send thank yous? A SWW subscriber, Nancy Mills, the founder of Spirited Woman has come up with the ultimate thank you. It is "Plantable Stationery." Yes, you read it right. You can plant the stationery and it grows. The paper is embedded with real wildflower seeds, and her tag line is "plant the card & seed the earth with your spirit." This is a perfect thank you card to send to an editor, publisher, producer that will be remembered. It comes with a set of instructions - so whoever receives it knows how special the card really is. The implication that you can keep a friendship growing is especially nice. They come in a box of six cards. The stationery colors are bright. They are $15.95 per box plus minimal shipping. Find them at: http://www.thespiritedwoman.com/ spirited_woman_store/ or call Nancy at 888-428-1234.
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Book Sales Idea

From Nancy Mills comes this Pre-Manifestation Book Sign-Up Form idea. They say it takes a village. Nancy Mills is taking that to heart. Recently, she signed with highly-respected literary agent, Lisa Hagan, president of Paraview, who is representing her nonfiction manuscript "Spirited Woman." Nancy says she has taken a ga-zillion marketing seminars and in one they stressed how important it is to have pre-orders for your book to take to the publisher. Well, she has taken that one step further. She doesn't have a publisher (yet!), nor a book to sell (yet!), so she walks around with a list for everyone she meets to sign. And says, "Would you like to help me manifest my book?" This she finds, most people do, and it elicits wonderful conversations -- such as, What is your book about? Why did you decide to write it?, etc. And, she walks away with their name, e-mail address, and phone number and a promise that she will send them info when the book comes out. Yes, it's all in the marketing - no one markets their book better than the author, and Nancy is off to an early start. To find out more about Nancy visit:
http://www.TheSpiritedWoman.com.

Now that is combining promotion with actual sales. Not at all a bad thing!

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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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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 Betty Dobson, editor of InkSpotter, for featuring the many things I am doing to help other authors in her newsletter. http://inkspotter.com/publications/newsletters/inkspotternews/ You may want to subscribe, not only for the resources and information in her letters but also because she is a wonderfully accessible editor.
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To Nadine Laman says her newsletter is about bragging but she brags so much about others (including me, thus the thank you!) it could hardly be called that. I notice that some SWW subscribers have taken my advice to contact Nadine, take her newsletter and put her on their media lists. Here's the URL: http://nadinelamanbooks.com/newsletter.html
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To the Glendale New-Press and Burbank Leader for continuing my long line of movie and theater reviews. I thought you'd be interested in one of my latest. (-: Here's the URL: http://www.burbankleader.com/articles/2007/06/02/entertainment/blr-reel02.txt
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To Billie Williams for including a neat review of my The Frugal Editor in her blog. It includes some great facts and figures on publishing so you'll want to check it out. Go to: http://printedwords.blogspot.com

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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising. If you would like to advertise to subscribers, display ads are available at www.howtodoitfrugally.com (see the advertising tab at the top of the page) or at www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com.
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Tip: Here is a site where an author of anything having to do with publishing or writing can get a free listing. They allowed me to post for this newsletter and here is the URL: http://www.published.com/published/5023_Sharing%20with%20Writers%20and%20Readers.aspx

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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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BEA News:

News #1: Authors can sign physical books from across the world, thanks to Margaret Atwood. Learn more http://principledprofit.com/good-business-blog/2007/06/05/fedex-should-be-scared-and-intrigued/>

Atwood developed this almost two years ago. It hasn't caught on. I don't understand why, unless it's because it is expensive. And, because part of the thrill of getting a book signed in not only seeing the author but being seen by him or her. But it is a neat-o concept and I should think large publishers would jump right on it especially for their shy authors and especially because we're all looking for ways to save on paper and fuel costs incurred by traveling.

News #2: I think the most useable trend I saw for author is the use of trailer/powerpoint type slide shows (like the one Authors' Coalition did for participating members at the LA Times Festival of Books). The best, of course, were shown on the big, fancy TV screens, but screens of all sizes including laptop screens were being used in many of the major booths.
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New Blog:

Dreaming of Harvard?

Get Harvard to Stock Your Book

Do all authors love campuses or is it just me?

I love walking at UCLA after teaching one of my classes with a pile of books in my arms. I like shuffling though fallen liquid amber leaves near the bell tower at USC when I go to buy my annual logo treat to myself. I even liked wending my way through the shabby back halls of Herzen University in St. Petersburg. I've often thought of finagling a way to attending a class at Harvard. Perhaps through a summer program? Do they have an extension program that would allow a Californian in?

See the rest on how you might make Harvard work for you at www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com

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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 and ditto for The Fiction Flyer. Membership is reasonable, too.
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.)

Margie Gosa Shivers, author of Anonymity: A Tale of Suspense, Seduction and Revenge and Once Is Never Enough was a recent multi-award winning author in the 1st Annual Infini Promoters, a Chicago-based Literary and Arts Promotions company. After receiving a huge number of votes from members of AA book clubs, readers, authors and others who have read her books, she was the popular favorite, garnering 11 nominations.

The awards include: Author of the Year and Best Fiction (Once Is Never Enough); and Best Mystery/Suspense, Best Book Ending (Anonymity: A Tale of Suspense, Seduction and Revenge). And, in recognition of her efforts to freely promote other authors through her monthly newsletters, Margie received the Patricia Juanita Green Award.

For free promotion in her monthly newsletter, she invites anyone interested to contact her at margieshivers@yahoo.com or mgspub@aol.com. She welcomes everyone to check out her new web site: www.margiegosashivers.com and her myspace profile: www.myspace.com/margiegosashivers.
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Sylvia McClain: An Authors' Coalition participant, Sylvia McClain, is a contributor in one of the Chicken Soup series of books. Watch for the release of Chicken Soup for the Soul in Menopause to be released August 1, 2007. You can also pre-order a copy at a 20% discount before the release date. Contact the author at sylmcclain@juno.com
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Michael Wallach tells us: "Originally, I had my book "HOW TO GET ARRESTED®" (A Motivational Story for Actors) published through a print-on-demand company. Sales were decent and reaction from readers was excellent. Then, to my delight, I was approached by SCB Distributors who requested rights from me to take over national book distribution. So: the book will be in SCB's Fall '07 Catalog and will be released anew this September and will find itself on the shelves of bookstores including Borders and Barnes and Noble. www.HowToGetArrested.com

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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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More on Libraries:

With all the interest in libraries from SWW readers in the last couple weeks it occurred to me I should mention that one of my "Back to Literature" column at MyShelf deals with another library trend that is sure to prove most unpopular by authors and readers: http://www.myshelf.com/backtoliterature/column.htm

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Sign up to receive a copy of each entry in my Sharing with Writers blog. It is a focused blog on all things writing and publishing related, from Oprah to free speech to Tips for covering BEA without giving yourself bunions. Go to www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com. Sign up in the left hand column. Read to your heart's content in the right. Find related resources by scrolling to the bottom of the blog.
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching:

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 moderate a panel titled
Reach for Your Dream: Prepare for Publication the Professional Way
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/
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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, spearheaded by Valerie Coleman, 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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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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Available: Audios from Audio Divas on many aspects of building a writing career are published by Double Dragon Press. Here is the page where you'll find the full list (http://www.double-dragon-ebooks.com/glist.php?imprint=AUDIO) including one on Do It Yourself Indexing. The first one, "Promoting Easy and Cheap!" is a
F R ^ ^ sample. Each comes with a resource guide. Here is an example of a guide for the audio-lesson Your Divas did on Contests: http://www.derondouglas.com/audiosample/AwardResourceGuideContests.pdf
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Tip: Erica Miner's newsletter featured my review of Your First Novel. It's a book I'm highly recommending to any author who wants to improve their craft--even seasoned, writers. Even snooty literary writers like me (yes, I have my moments but I'm working on it!) http://www.ericaminer.com/newsletter-archive/June07.htm

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Coming Soon! Booth opportunities at the West Hollywood Book Fair.
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Feature
The Power of Pause
By Vicki Hinze

Learn to pause ... or nothing worthwhile will catch up to you.-Doug King

A few days ago, an author friend who was judging a writing competition asked
me, when I’m judging, what challenge I most often see in writers’ work. I
didn’t have to pause or stop to think about it and immediately answered, “
Rushing.”

I then went on to explain. We write, and when we do, we translate the
images that we see in our heads onto the page--or we intend to, but often important
details get dropped in the transfer. Because we’re rushing to finish in the
allotted time, or to get the work submitted, or read or critiqued, we don’t
let the work cool long enough--and allow our minds to get occupied with other
images sufficiently-images sufficiently--so that the images we held during
dulled by time and/or distance.

So we read the work--read it again several more times--and consider it done.
And then months later, we return to the work to see that what is on the page
doesn’t sufficiently convey what we saw in our minds during creation.

But it’s too late. We had the critique, the reading--the work has been
submitted. And now we wish it hadn’t because we see flaws that we wish we’d
first corrected. Fuzzy details instead of sharp, crisp and vivid ones. We see
that what is actually on the page isn’t nearly as strong as it could have been.
And so we edit, honing the work, fine-tuning it to eliminate the flaws.

The problem is it’s too late to get a first impression through our normal
channels. It’s been done. So now we must rely on second impressions and
resubmissions, and those can’t be as strong as the first. We can’t recapture that
initial burst of enthusiasm, or that sensation by others that what we’ve done
is fresh and different because it isn’t--they’ve seen it and experienced it
before--from us.

So the drawbacks of rushing are significant. The penalties are steep and
the benefit is that if we do this once and recognize it, we might just slow down
long enough to not make that same mistake again.

I can hear you say, “But I don’t have a choice. I have deadlines. I have
to get this puppy submitted so that I can start the next book.”

To that, I say, “When you invest in writing a book, it should reflect your
best. After all, you’ve traded time with your family, time doing other things
that are important to you in creating it. If you’ve made those sacrifices,
then doesn’t that warrant a complete project that is your very best? Isn’t
your time--your life--worth your best?

Remember that writing isn’t all about mechanics and craft. It’s about art,
too. And creating something from nothing that will transport readers into a
story and embrace them so they live and experience it is art at its best.

How long does it take for those images to fade, so that what you’ve written
matches the vision in your mind when you were creating? That’s a question
only you can answer. For some, it’s brief. For others, it takes months. The
time you’ve put into the work can be a factor. If, for example, you’ve been
working on the project for six months straight, it’s going to take a while. If
you’ve worked on it and other projects simultaneously, likely it won’t take
as long. That splintered focus will aid you in this.

The bottom line is that you need to let the project cool long enough for you
to forget the little details. You’ll likely remember a good deal about the
characters and plot, but you’ll forget snippets or how A led to B. You’ll
know that sufficient time has passed by reading the work. It will seem familiar
and yet strange, too.

Will what you’ve written on the page ever equal the vision inside your head?
Doubtful, if I’m a decent gauge. I’ve been writing twenty years and I’ve
yet to do it. But when I’ve built in cooling periods and utilized them, I get
a lot closer. I hope you will, too.
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Vicki Hinze is the editor of a unique newsletter called Aids4Writers. She is the author of The Common Sense Guide for Writers and One Way to Write a Novel. Her website is: www.vickihinze.com.

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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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Tip: Your review (one you've written or one already written about your book) at my www.TheNewBookREview.blogspot.com. Right now you'll see one of Billie Williams' reviews in the top spot. She's the listmom at Word-Mage@yahoogroups.com. So, tool on over to the blog, read Billie's review and check the guidelines for submitting reviews of your own.

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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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Tip: Listen to Terry Whalin impart writing and promoting wisdom (and he has tons of it! I've heard him at conferences!) at: http://www.askterrywhalin.com/replay.
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Web Advice from WebforAuthors.com Expert

Marshall Turner is taking a week off. Watch for him next week.
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Marshall's website is http://www.webforauthors.com/ or contact him for information on producing a site for you at mturner@webforauthors.com.

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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.)

WRITE BUSINESS/Companies HISTORIES - Pitch your service to CEOs, public relations officers, business owners, associations, and the Chamber of Commerce. Do your research and then begin the document with a surprising fact, include provocative quotes, explain historical context and corporate milestones. This can also develop into writing annual reports, business plans, catalogs, corporate profiles, product film scripts, and industrial training video scripts.

JOURNAL WRITING - Canvass local shelters. Lead creative writing workshops at abused women's shelters, juvenile offenders' centers and other places where writing can heal and illuminate. Select projects that build on strengths. Workshop leaders help participants express previously inexpressible thoughts and feelings. Team up with a psychologist or other behavioral therapist for the most beneficial effect on your students.
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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 any of my books -- the HowToDoItFrugally Series to my chapbook of poetry -- for a place on my Resources for Writers or Resources for Readers pages on www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.
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BRAG:

Can you believe that The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success is already up at Amazon.co.UK and that a British reviewer (Frances Lyn) has already posted a review! .It may be ordered now, for delivery in Oct. 1, 2007, in the UK and in the US. Exciting? Yep. http://amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss_w_h_/203-2369104-1291119?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=carolyn+howard-johnson&Go.x=7&Go.y=13

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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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E-Tips for E-Promotion:

Serialize your next book with Amazon Shorts. You must let Amazon have an exclusive of each short for six months. That gives you plenty of time to be writing new segments, plan your promotion campaign, etc.
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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.)

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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.)

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

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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.

If you do not care to receive this letter, unsubscribe at HoJoNews@aol.com

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