"Sharing with Writers" is from the desks of Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER (USA Book News' "Best Professional Book 2004" and an Irwin Award winner) and THE FRUGAL EDITOR, winner of USA Book News Best Book award and Reader Views Literary Award, and her writing friends. Writing friends. That's YOU.
It is a place where you'll find writing and promotion tips and where you can share your own writing sucesses with other writers.
Newsletter Dated: 10/11/2007 7:27:15 PMSubject: [SharingwithWriters] Figuring the Angles for Promoting Your Book
October 11, 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
~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~` ~ ~ ~
"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, 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_OCT_No2Week_2007.doc
~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~: ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Note from Carolyn:
Dear Authors' Coalition Members and SWW Subscribers;
I took some time out of this gorgeous October day to put up Halloween decorations. I'm taking on the task later than I usually do. My grandson used to pride himself that our house was the first in the neighborhood to fly a pumpkin and black cat flag. He's is in the Army and will be visiting before he leaves for his second tour of duty in Iraq.
Sooooo, even though I am leaving tomorrow for the Southern Festival of Books (see "Appearances" below) I had to get the decorations up because he'll be home on leave just before he's shipped out. I guess they still say "shipped" even though they use planes now.
At any rate, we have no golden leaves in Southern California (our one chance at those is a tree called liquid amber and they are not yet cooperating), but our orange and gold and black welcome sign is out. Such memories. A ghost made of papier maché by my son when he was about six (a lovely creation you might well imagine!). Three ceramic haunted mansions we used to sell in our stores. (I used to bring seasonal stuff that didn't sell home rather than putting it on sale - - a great marketing ploy, by the way. Our customers knew our merchandise wouldn't go on sale after a holiday.)
My favorite decoration is a black cotton stuffed skeleton I stitched it up on the sewing machine when my daughter was about eight. Each body part is a separate piece and the bones are appliquéd rick - rack (the ribs) and white hemming tape (the fibulas, femurs and assorted other bones). Each skeleton segment is attached to the next with a black velvet bow. You can see that this is a girl skeleton.
There were lots of cute stuffed black cats, an Anna Lee witch (collectors will know what that is), even a Precious Moments spider. Some things I had no idea of their origin.
You can see, at our house Halloween holds memories. At least for me. I wonder if Travis will remember how he used to help me string pumpkin lights around the front door when he arrives in his camouflage, combat boots and beret.
Happy, happy writing and promoting and, yes, EDITING, too.
Carolyn Howard - Johnson
HoJoNews@aol.com
Websites: http://carolynhoward - johnson.com and www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepess.com
or Amazon - direct for The Frugal Editor: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870/
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
PS: This newsletter is early, as the last ones have been. I leave tomorrow (Friday) to meet Betty Bramblett of the Tennessee Writer's Alliance in Nashville. We are going to have a lovely October day immersed in books at authors at the fair held in the historic Legislative Plaza in Nashville. Speaking of which, do you know there is a very long list of book fairs on my Resources for Writers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. It's a good place to go to find fairs where you might speak or just plain connect with readers and writers.
=======================================================
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."
======================================================
TIP: Anyone here a media professional? Editor, publicist, blogger, reporter, advertising, copywriter, etc. I just heard about a f r ^ ^ opportunity that might do you some good (though I have no experience with it). It is www.thenewsbox.com. I notice that SWW subscriber Jill Ronsley is there.
======================================================
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 and Betty Dobson's Inkspotter. 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. www.authorscoalition.blogpsot.com.
http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
========================================================
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 Carma Dutra who recommended this newsletter in her blog and promised to nominate it for the Writer's Digest 101 best newsletters. Find it at: http://carmaswindow.blogspot.com/2007/10/is - there - such - thing - as - wasted - time.html
- - - - -
To Ina Hillebrandt, one of the publishers who served on my panel at the West Hollywood Book Fair for recommending my books to her authors. Find what she has to say here : http://www.inaspawprints.com/Pawpress_publishing_services_for_authors.htm . If you're looking for a publisher, check out the site. She is really a ball of fire - - very promotion - minded.
- - - -
To Janet Goliger, author of I Need To Be Safe, for her heavy - duty help with the West Hollywood Book Fair booth. She posted a picture of the event at on her site at: http://www.classeducation.org/pix/ Thanks also to Carol D. Amato, for helping with breakdown!
- - - -
To Nadine Laman for pointing people to all the good stuff I know (and published in The Frugal Editor) about editing query letters at her blog http://www.mywriterscircle.com/index.php?topic=10829.0 Nadine is the author of Kathryn's Beach.
- - - - -
To Christy Tillery French, Midwest Review book reviewer for the very nice review for that journal (http://www.midwestbookreview.com/jimcox/oct_07.htm) and to Jim Cox, editor of the journal, for settling on that review to include in his famous Cox Report. All Jim's reports are archived at www.midwestbookreview.com.
========================================================
No part of this newsletter is paid advertising. If you would like to advertise to subscribers, display ads are available at www.howtodoitfrugally.com at less per year than most sites charge for a single month (see the advertising tab at the top of the page). Authors' Coalition www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com is also accepting ads.
======================================================
The State of the Industry
On Book Pricing and the Need for Promotion
Editorial by Jim Cox
Reprinted from the Jim Cox Report (http://www.midwestbookreview.com/jimcox/oct_07.htm),
Dear Publisher Folk, Friends & Family:
I am a passionate observer of the publishing industry. I'm also interested in economics, political science, and history. This past month all three of these interests have collided like a train wreck with reverberations that have only begun to be felt by the industry, the government, and the public.
For the first time in American fiscal history, the American dollar is worth less than the Canadian dollar. At the last news report, the American dollar was pegged at an equivalent worth of 99 Canadian pennies. And it looks like the American dollar has not yet hit bottom.
Look at the last paperback you purchased or published. You'll likely find a two - tier pricing system that has existed for decades and kept pace with the increasing devaluation of the American dollar over the past half - century.
For example, I've just plucked at random a paperback from our review shelves. It's "Crazy in Love" by Lani Diane Rich and published by Grand Central (formerly Warner Books). Printed on the back cover just above the bar graph is: $6.99 US / $8.50 Can.
This book was published and sent to me before the news broke about the plummeting value of U.S. currency in the world's financial markets.
Will the mass market romance paperbacks published in 2008 have pricing structures that will read more like: $8.50 US/ $6.99 Can.?
Mass market paperbacks were the creation of World War II era paper shortages. I'm old enough to remember when Pocket Books debuted this new publishing format and priced their paperbacks at 10 cents. Now just a bit less than six decades later, paperbacks are at $6.99 and $7.99, with a few coming in that are hitting $8.50
I remember when comic books were 10 cents, and to be found on spinner racks and magazine shelves in every drugstore and grocery store in the country.
Then over the last five decades the price of a comic book started the same upward slope that other forms of American publishing were to travel.
Comics went from a dime, to 12 cents, then to 15, to 25, to 35, to 50, to 75, to 99, to 1.25, to 1.35, to 1.50, to 1.75, to 1.99, and on, and on, until today they commonly price out at $2.99 and $3.99
One of the results of this pricing inflation is that comics are no longer to be found on spinner racks in America's drugstores and grocery stores. They are the province of comic book specialty stories - - or direct from the publisher by subscription.
What is behind this price inflation that has so permeated the American publishing industry? The same forces that are behind every aspect of inflation in contemporary American society:
1. Government borrowing to finance government programs (military and non - military, foreign and domestic) rather than taxing to finance them.
2. The increasing power and influence of corporations and conglomerates over the political process in the form of money and what money buys (which is especially unfettered access to policy makers and lucrative election support for those who comply as requested).
3. Population increases coupled with resource depletions (think trees and petroleum) contributing to the cost of production and distribution of goods (like books) and services (like libraries).
One inescapable conclusion drawn from these trends in publishing with respect to the devaluation of American currency is that life is going to get ever so much more difficult for small presses and self - published authors who must price their books higher than the conglomerate publishers because of shorter print runs.
I'm sad to report that I see no end in sight to the deleterious effect on the publishing industry of the continuing drop in the value of an America dollar.
I've depressed myself enough for one day. Now let's talk about authors selling their own books - - regardless of how much they are priced:
Every author is going to have to spend time, money and effort in pitching their books to prospective audiences of potential buyers. That pitch will often be in the form of a radio and/or television interview. Being able to market your book in the course of an interview is a skill that can be learned. Before I launch into a few applicable tips, tricks & techniques, here is a testament that I know a little something about the topic:
===================================================
Time is short! Watch for the third annual All Tips Edition of Sharing with Writers coming next week. Send your favorite tip for inclusion to: HoJoNews@aol.com with "SWW TIP" in the subject line.
========================================================
Tip: A Review for Riters ™ that you will find useful appears on my website at http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/free_content.htm. I analyze Ann Pachett's new release Run for ways we writers can learn from her - - both the aspects to emulate and avoid. Find it along with other reviews, articles, rants, etc - - all f r ^ ^ content for anyone who needs something for websites, blogs or newsletters.
=======================================================
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 try to add new articles to it each week. If you don't see what you need for your blog, or newsletter, just ask. HoJoNews@aol.com.
====================================================
Author Successes
(If you read about others' successes you'll not only be inspired, you'll glean resources for future successes of your own. You are invited to send me news about your successes. Please use "AUTHOR SUCCESSES" as a subject lines.)
Nikki Leigh has released Book Promo 101 as an e - book. This book covers:
How Do You Develop a Marketing Mind
When Should You Start Promoting
Design Your Book with Promotion in Mind
Should You Hire a Publicist
Creating a Marketing Plan
What Goes in a Press Kit
Writing and Distributing Press Releases
Utilize Book Reviews
Designing an Author Website
Use Promotional Items
Selling Books in Book Stores
Other Places and Ways to Sell Books
Blogging About Your Book
Use Email and Signature Blocks to Promote
Use Forums and Message Boards
Expand Your Area of Influence
And, yes, I am a contributor. For more information - visit http://www.nikkileigh.com/book_promo_101.htm. Order the e - book from Nikki's publisher www.ebooksonthe.net/catalog/eBooks_Catalog_NonFiction2.html
- - - - -
Terri Marie has released the Solutions Package she wrote with the late and revered Dottie Walters. It is an opportunity to be inspired by Dottie, even after her death. The foreword to the Book, The Solution Is at Hand, is by Jack Canfield who credits Dottie with the suggestion of calling his second Soup book, "A Second Helping." Go to http://nikki44.nikki44.hop.clickbank.net to get your own Solutions Package from Dottie Walters.
- - - -
Lynne Eodice released Photos That Inspire: Photoworkshop, an imprint of Wiley Publishing Co., Inc. Because Lynn gives a synopsis of each image, it may be a perfect choice for journalists among us or anyone who wants to learn to illustrate their books professionally. You will also find an opportunity to have photos critiqued. Find the workshop at http://www.amazon.com/Photos - That - Inspire - Photo - Workshop/dp/0470119551/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002 - 0249622 - 0713671?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1191347794&sr=8 - 1
========================================================Fun and F r * *: If you purchased The
Frugal Book 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 The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success that is now available for pre - order on Amazon. The excerpt includes some of the sidebars from the book that may help you with some tricky grammar. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com, the Frugal Book
=======================================================
Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching:
Carolyn Howard - Johnson will speak at the Southern Festival of Books: A Celebration of the Written Word (October 12 - 14) in Nashville, TN. She will speak on "Realize Your Dream: From Query Letter to Bestseller - - Frugally!"
from 2 - 3pm Saturday, Oct. 13 in room 31 of the Legislative Plaza and sign her books from 3 to 3:30 pm at the Signing Colonnade. You'll find more information on this fair and others you might participate in at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Click on the Resources for Writers page and scroll down. For more on this specific fair, go to
http://www.humanitiestennessee.org/festival/current.php
- - - - - -
There are a few more days of the f r ^ ^ Muse Online Writers' Conference, sponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard - Johnson. More than 1,800 attended this year, a huge success. Learn more about this year's conference, October 8 to 14. Find it at
http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/presentersregistration.htm and sign up to be notified for registration for 2008.
To see the final list of presenters go to: http://www.freewebs.com/themuseonlinewritersconference/2007workshops.htm
- - - - - -
Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be Valerie Connelly's guest on her Webinar Dec. 5th, 2007. The two will talk book promotion ad infinitum. There will be a printable agenda and follow - along materials prior to the event as well as a downloadable PDF of the Web screen shots and an MP3 recording of the Webinar available to registered attendees. There is a charge. Space is limited. Please register before Dec. 4. For more information or to register contact Valerie at info@callingallauthors.org.
- - - - - -
Carolyn Howard - Johnson talks to Valerie Connelly's radio audience on "Editing as Branding: Spelling success from queries to your book's manuscript." Circle your calendar on Wednesday December 12th at 8PM Eastern, 7PM Central, 5PM Pacific time. A downloadable MP3 recording of the Webinar will be available to registered attendees after the event. Sign up by Dec. 11th. Space is limited. Contact Valerie at info@callingallauthors.org or Nightengale Press, publisher@nightengalepress.biz
======================================================
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 from scolding Oprah to free speech. Go to www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com. Sign up in the left hand column. Find related resources by scrolling to the bottom of the blog.
======================================================
Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching for 2008:
Carolyn will speak on Jan 2, 2008, at Ridge Writers, the East Sierra Branch of the California Writers Club founded more than 100 years go by Jack London and friends in the Bay area. The provide f r ^ ^ programs for writers at High Desert Haven in Ridgecrest. Learn more at www.ridgenet.net/ ~curtdan/ridgewriters.
- - - - -
Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be Valerie Connelly's guest on her Teleseminar March 19th, 2008 at 8PM Eastern, 7PM Central, and 5 PM Pacific Time. The subject is: "It's Your Call: Frugal Book Promotion with Carolyn Howard - Johnson." A downloadable MP3 recording of the Teleseminar is available to registered attendees after the event. Please sign up by March 18th. Space is limited. Let Valerie tell you more about it: info@callingallauthors.org
- - - - - -
Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be sharing with the nation's humor writers again in April 3 - 5 of 2008 at Dayton University's Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. I'll speak twice at the Kennedy Union on campus. http://www.humorwriters.org/ Registration opens Sept. 10, 2007. Find some of the nation's best speakers here: http://www.humorwriters.org/2008SpeakerBios.html
- - - - -
Carolyn will teach a new seminar on the UCLA campus on March 22, 2008, room 1323 Public Service Building. It's called The Business of Writing: Carve Your Career with Great Queries and Covers. Here's the class description: "You've written your story, your poem, your book. What now? You've tackled your craft like a professional but when it comes to introducing yourself to the decision makers—the marketing and editing part of your work—you may show a lack of expertise with seemingly innocuous departures from accepted procedures. Like using a cover letter when you need a query. In this one - day seminar, the students will use basics taught in the class to critique drafts of letters they have brought with them. In the process you'll get grammar, punctuation, and even computer editing tricks you may apply to your other writing as well as your queries. You'll receive a handout of the does and don'ts for approaching gatekeepers straight from the mouths of agents who contributed ideas on the subject for the instructor's book on editing and samples of letters that have produced results. Participants will not only walk away with two letters they can be proud to send out, but also have a low - cost plan for using them effectively in a variety of ways." So, are you all planning to come to spend a weekend in the sunshine in LA and make it a business expense? ( - :
- - - -
Carolyn Howard - Johnson will appear on Write On Four Corners with host Connie Gotsch on KSJE FM Public Radio from San Juan College. Access the broadcast at: www.ksje.com 10:30 am Wed. 2:30 pm Fri. Mountain Time. Click on the website to listen live in your appropriate time zone. Connie is the author of the mystery suspense novel Snap Me a Future as well as host of Roving with the Arts on KSJE and regular contributor to The Four Corners Free Press www.fourcornersfreepress.com
=======================================================
Carolyn's new blog for the participants in Authors' Coalition - sponsored booth is designed to help all authors learn to make often hum - drum book fair booths into sizzling successes. Visit at www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com. Leave comments, of course.
======================================================
TIP: Magdalena Ball says, "I only recently noticed a new feature when reviewing books on Amazon. There's a little button that says "Insert a Product Link" which allows you to put in a link to your own book or to other books or products you mention in your review. So at the bottom of a review, you can put in a line that says something like Magdalena Ball is the author of [[ASIN:1904492967 Sleep Before Evening]] and the review will appear with a direct link to your book. That's pretty nice, especially if you're
reviewing a really big selling book. Your link is right there in front of all those readers, ready for clicking.
- - - -
Cheerio. Magdalena Ball, author of Sleep Before Evening and editor of www.thecompulsivereader.com
=======================================================
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! So, you are invited to advertise as a site sponsor at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. for a year at the same price many sites frequented by readers and writers charge for a month. Yep, the frugal way! Click on the Advertising tab at the top of the page or contact me personally at hojonews@aol.com.
=======================================================
Learning to Use Angles to Publicize
From Carolyn
One of the reasons I say that authors can do a better job of publicizing their own books is that they know their own books better than anyone and can, therefore, figure the angles.
"Figuring the angles" sounds gross - - sort of opportunistic - - but when it comes to your baby, you need to think that way. After all, if your book were a real child, you'd want to figure out how to get the best for him or her, wouldn't you?
This week something happened that illustrates what I mean by figuring the angles. I was browsing my hometown newspaper (an LA Times affiliate) when I ran across June Casagrande's column (A Word, Please) on hyphens. That's a subject I cover in The Frugal Editor. Along with a related subject she touched on about how the Internet is working to change the English language (and others, too, I'd imagine, but I write in English so I happen to notice the changes in English! Ha!).
I wrote June a note about how domain names push words together and then thought, "Why not send my little old hometown newspaper a letter about the same subject? I recycled the letter I had written to her (meaning I fixed it up a bit to make it more presentable) and sent it off. I really didn't expect anything from it. It didn't really fit with most of the Letters - to - the - Editor that get published but what the heck. This was recycled, right? Easy. Fast. Worth a shot for my baby!
It ran on Tuesday. Here it is. http://www.glendalenewspress.com/articles/2007/10/09/opinion/gnp - mailbag1009.txt You can find it second letter down the page. For 4 lessons on promotion learned from this little story, go to www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com. Leave a comment for heaven's sake! ( - :
========================================================
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 audio, "Promoting Easy and Cheap!" is a F R ^ ^ sample you can download. 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
====================================================
TIP: Do you have a newsletter? Or has the sheer work of it deterred you from using this really great way of reaching your audience? Yes, newsletters are lots of work, but you don't have to make a newsletter into more work that it needs to be. Make a file for your next issue and start collecting things for it. Add to it little by little. When you have enough, check it for errors and send it on. It doesn't even have to be set up on a timetable. When it's ready, your subscribers will be ready, too. ( - :
========================================================
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! You know you want it on your website!
======================================================
Tip: Subscriber and poet, May Lattanzio, sends this great list of chapbook publishers for the poets among us. http://www.everywritersresource.com/chapbooks.html .
======================================================
Authors' Coalition: No Hum - Drum Book Fair Promotion Allowed is a new blog where you can follow watch how Authors' Coalition members make book fairs successful with cross - promotion, value - added promotions and a good assessment process. Find it at www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com. Leave your best book fair ideas there for others to see under the beige "comments" links.
=======================================================
Tip: I get a bulletin from the New York Times. That's how I am among the first to know that Doris Lessing just won the Nobel Prize in Literature. If you're interested in getting their breaking news, go to http://www.nytimes.com/email. Read More: on the prize and why Doris received it at http://www.nytimes.com/?emc=na
=======================================================
"AC is the current that powers your writing career." http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
Carolyn Howard - Johnson, Authors' Coalition Founder
=======================================================
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.)
On Blogging
TECHNORATI – Billed as "the authority on what's going on in the world of weblogs" Technorati tracks activity on more than 44 million sites and who's clicking on more than 2.5 billion links. The site then takes this information and compiles a list of the Top 100 most popular blogs. This is a great starting point if you want to make blogs a part of your marketing campaign but don't know where to start. http://www.technorati.com/
- - - -
BLOGEBRITY –Another site that keeps on top of who's saying what across the blogosphere, the main attraction of Blogebrity for our purposes is "The List" - - a compilation of bloggers who have earned either "A - List," "B - List" or "C - List" status - - labels that roughly correspond to a blog's popularity, quality and readership. URL: http://www.blogebrity.com/ Blogebrity's list is http://www.blogebrity.com/thelist
- - - - -
BLOG CRITICS is a good way to find both established and emerging bloggers who write about your area of expertise, but it lacks easily accessible rankings that make compiling your own media list easier. It's worth checking out if you've exhausted the possibilities http://www.blogcritics.org/
- - - - -
Find Elizabeth at http://www.authorsden.com/elucastaylor or her new blog at http://www.elucas - taylor.blogspot.com/ or at MySpace http://www.myspace.com/elucastaylor
where you will find a writers' community.
========================================================
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.
========================================================
Tip: Before you submit your manuscript, go through and remove the spaces you've typed in at the end of each paragraph. If you leave them there, it will take your formatter longer to get your manuscript ready for press and that may - - depending on how you're publishing - - cost you money. Also, YOU may be able to do a better, tidier job of it.
=======================================================
I use Vista Print for lots of my promotional materials. Be aware that shipping prices may fluctuate, depending on the deal of the moment. Even at that, the prices generally are good, the products they offer excellent quality and they do short runs. (I don't advise long runs on promotion material because your needs can change very quickly.) Please use this link:
http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=815651421184
=====================================================
Web Advice from WebforAuthors.com Expert Marshall Turner
Web Analysis 2
Beyond the unique statistics, your website logs can reveal a lot about your site’s visitors. It can tell you if they arrive from a link found on another website or if they typed in your web address directly. It can reveal, to some extent, where they are located (whether in the US or abroad). It can reveal which search engine bots are visiting your site. It can reveal what search terms someone has used on a search engine such as Google to find you. Just remember that it can also show you gobs of details that will make little sense or will be essentially meaningless. So focus on the measure we’ve discussed over the last few weeks, they the key measure that can help you understand the visitors to your site.
- - - - - -
Learn more about WebforAuthors.com at http://www.webforauthors.com/ or contact Marshall at mturner@webforauthors.com.
======================================================= The New Book Review is a service of this newsletter and Authors' Coalition. It allows authors to get more exposure from their favorite review and reviewers a chance to have more readers see their reviews - - with links, of course. Please check the guidelines on the blog site at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. This has been popular so please allow some time before your review will be posted. =======================================================
E - Tips for E - Promotion
I hear from way too many authors who are resisting joining an online chat group, either to promote (meaning letting readers know about your book) or to learn more about the writing/publishing process. Try one or two. If there is way too much chatting on it for you and way too little information, unsubscribe and try another. One of my favorites is Diane Newton's publishingandpromoting - subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
- - - - - - -
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.)
====================================================
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
========================================================
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.)
"Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts until you realize it was your money to start with."
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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 How To Do It Frugally Series of books for writers, www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
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, send an e - mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with "Unsubscribe in the subject line, but please, please don't tell me you've given up writing or promoting!
To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e - mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HoJoNews@aol.com
Please pass this newsletter 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/
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/