January 12, 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:/www./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_Jan_No2Week_2008.doc

In the spirit of the advice I give in the Frugal Editor - - that is to use an extra pair of eyes whenever possible - - this newsletter is voluntarily copyedited by Authors' Coalition member, Mindy Phillips Lawrence ~ mplcreative1@aol.com
www.freewebs.com/mplcreative
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Note from Carolyn:

Dear Subscribers and Authors' Coalition Members:

It may be dead - of - winter for you but spring is creeping up on us. That means book fairs will be sprouting about the same time as the tulips. So put on your promotion hat and your get - with - it boots and be thinking about how you can take advantage of fairs. There are all kinds of ways and the most likely way, surprisingly enough, may not be to take a booth at a fair.

Here are alternatives.

 Share a booth with one or more authors. Or rent an hour's signing time with an organization like Authors' Coalition of Book Publicists of Southern California.
 Just go to the fair. In costume or not. Take fliers. Hand them out. Put them on the tables in the refreshment area. This works best for authors who have exhausted those on their local lists meaning there may not be one who hasn't purchased your book anyway. It's also great for authors who haven't yet published.
 Pitch yourself as a speaker or panel moderator. If no one bites on your offer, the fair planners will know you are out there. ( - :
 Take part in value - added promotions that Authors' Coalition builds around the fairs it does. You don't have to live in the area or be willing to pay travel expenses in order to do these. It's basically long distance promotion. This year we'll have CDs for readers, a slideshow for those who are active speakers, a catalog that goes out by mail to booksellers and maybe even totes (more about that in about a month).
 As an information source - Read book fair fliers and catalogs. Research the names of the publishers - of the writers' organizations - of the services offered authors for promotion. Last year I ran across the US Postal Service booth and learned about the stamps they will print for you - - with your book cover on them!
 If you consult, edit or provide any other book - related service, a fair may be the place for you. Authors' Den partnered with Authors' Coalition last year by providing fliers and a contest to win an iPod. Bet they got lots of new associates that way because the interest was huge.
 Your book club or writers' organization can help other writers by sponsoring a speaker at a book fair. The Tennessee Writers' Alliance http://www.tn - writers.org sponsored me at the Southern Festival of Books (http://www.humanitiestennessee.org/festival/current.php ), and they certainly did me a favor as well - - I hope - - as providing a service for the betterment of their writing community.

Now is the time to do your research, make your plans. Check out Authors' Coalition, whether you can make it in person to the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books (http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks/ ), or want them to work for you from a distance with their value - added programs. See if there's a fair in your stomping grounds that you can support or utilize. Learn how to make any fair work for you with AC's f r ^ ^ blog that explores what worked best for the ones we do (yes, we are your laboratory!). www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com. Find a way to use a fair to reach readers, booksellers, the people you speak to and to cross promote. We need each other to make our efforts go farther and farther.

Happy writing, promoting and, yes, editing,

Carolyn Howard - Johnson, HoJoNews@aol.com
Websites: http://carolynhoward - Johnson.com (literary)
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com (all things about writing)
Authors' Coalition: http://www.AuthorsCoalitionandRedEnginepress.com
For the Frugal Editor, Amazon - direct: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870/
Blogs: http://AuthorsCoalition.blogspot.com, a blog focused on book fairs
http://www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com, a blog on all things publishing
http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog focused on YOUR reviews
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, a blog focused on editing, formatting and craft

PS: Last week I had a broken link in this letter. The one to the Join Us Now! page for the Speakers' Bureau. Hope you'll hop on over. See if this one works! ( - : http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/join_our_speakers'_bureau.htm . Thank you Sylvia! ( - :

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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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Letters - to - the - Editor

Carolyn, thanks for providing clarification on the issue of how "publishing" one's work by posting it on the 'Net can compromise first rights. I remember too well being unable to communicate this to a fine young man, a good friend's adult son, who persisted in posting his stories on his personal web site although he had every intention of submitting them to traditional publishers who would definitely be wanting First North American Serial Rights. "But I have to get comments!" he protested, and added that he was only sending links to his site to a few carefully chosen people.

I appreciated being among those chosen few, of course. But I felt so sad that I couldn't get this talented fellow to send his work to me and anyone else whose comments he wanted by e - mail attachment, instead of posting that work where the robots were sure to pick it up, index it, and make it available (forever, in cache) to the whole world. Effectively ruining its value in the very market to which he hoped he might sell it.
Best,
Nina Osier, http://www.geocities.com/nina_osier/
Author of two bestselling series at Fictionwise.com:
Exiles http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/Series1284.htm and
Farthinghome http://www.fictionwise.com/eBooks/Series933.htm

====================================================== New members will help Authors' Coalition serve all its members better! Ask your writing friends to join at http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/. Paid members get a favorite review posted, consideration for an interview or review in Yarnspinners and Wordweavers, 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
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Sharing

A Great Sample Media Page and a Little Lesson to Go With It

by Kevin Gerard

Note: I thought the way Kevin set up the media room on his site was so well done, I asked him to share it with you. Follow the links through. Study the links on the opening media room page. Here is what he says:
I recently added a Media Room page to my website. If you want to have a look, here's the URL: http://www.conorandthecrossworlds.com/mediaroom.html I am still working on it, but most of the components are active.

I decided to do this because of a newsletter I received from Carolyn Howard Johnson. In it, she said you MUST have a media room or at least a media page. So I took her advice and made one. Using Carolyn's book, The Frugal Book Promoter, I added the elements one by one, creating active links for each component. For example, I have one link for Media Releases. This link takes you to another page with a listing of all my releases, and if you click any of these individually, you get a PDF of the document. Other links in the Media Room access either PDF documents or other pages in my website, like the list of appearances page.

I added my author portrait and covers from Books One and Two on the Media Room main page. It's simple, attractive, and easy to use. Hopefully editors and others will think so too.

Kevin Gerard
The Conor and the Crossworlds Series
http://www.conorandthecrossworlds.com

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I just added my fifth blog to blogspot.com. Yes, I love blogging. This one is called War, Peace, Tolerance and Our Soldiers and it is where I get to nag and rag to try to make things better for our troops and maybe for the world. I'd love to have you leave a comment for its inaugural. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
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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 Jeremy Seffens and the International Order of Horror Professionals for including my article on using Amazon Shorts as a marketing tool in their latest issue of The Bloodied Quill. Find submission guidelines for this newsletter at www.horrorprofessionals.org/Newsletter.html. To subscribe, join the International Order of Horror Professionals. Mention this newsletter until Feb. 1 and you'll get 20% off of your membership fee which would make the cost only $8 for the year. And there are lots of other perks. Your contact is Bev Walton - Porter, cofounder, International Order of Horror Professionals
horrorprofessionals@gmail.com
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To Be the Star You Are! Cynthia Brian for blogging about The Frugal Editor (and this newsletter!) at her blog at http://starstyle.podbean.com/2008/01/05/carolyn - howard - johnson - with - the - frugal - book - series/. What better way to let Cynthia know about what you're doing than to leave comments that are related to her blog posts.

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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 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. So is Yarnspinners and Wordweavers. Contact katieseyes@aol.com.
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Tip: Struggling to find the right title? Poetry books and some more literary work (even if they're sort of literary romances, etc.) often lend themselves to a rereading. As you go, note phrases that are catchy or beautiful or just sing out to you. A poetry book I'm working on will probably be called "She wore emerald then..." It's poems about mothers and that line comes from a poem where the mother is thinking back to the days of ballrooms and roses.

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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 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.
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Tip: The Wasabi Club is free. They have a very nice newsletter, too. www.PublicityResults.com/goto/free_Newsletters. Sign up now so you'll have that newsletter the week they tell you about my podcast or read the archived newsletters by going to the address above. ( - : I like their fresh approach to a newsletter plus you won't get any half - false (or totally - faux) information from this one.

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Fun and F r * *: If you purchased the Frugal Book Promoter or the Frugal Editor, 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 a handout from one of my UCLA classes. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com
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Serial Feature

On Green Responsibility

In the next few issues Diane Tinney will share ways that you might green up your office.

Consider doing more of your editing and galley work using PDFs and the track function in Word.
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Offered by Diane Tinney, president and publisher, Keene Publishing, Home of Moo Press Children's Books
www.KeeneBooks.com
Illuminating lives, one book at a time.

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Don't suffer with book proposals. You can be a pro with and investment of only 20 minutes and 49 cents with my Great First Impression Book Proposal Short.
http://www.amazon.com/Great - First - Impression - Book - Proposal/dp/B000YG6O5U
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Tip: Listen to podcasts on promotion from the Wasabi Club. It brings PR professionals to you. Go to http://www.PublicityResults.com and click on PR Shop on the link list at the left hand side of the page.

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A general marketing rule is that a product must be seen seven times before it is purchased. That is just as true for books (because they are products, like it or not!). Let people see that book cover image! To do that, you are invited to advertise as a site sponsor at www.howtodoitfrugally.com for only $25 to $30 a year. Yep, the frugal way! Click on the Advertising tab at the top of the page or contact me personally at hojonews@aol.com.
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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.)

None to report this week. Please tell friends about this announcement service for subscribers! Send them a copy of the letter.

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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/eAuthor.php?Name=Carolyn%20Howard - Johnson ) 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
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Q&A: Royalties, Editing and Other Miscalculations

Question: I need to know if 10% is the standard royalty. And I hear it's always best to publish a novel traditionally because you will reach a larger audience and get a good editor and book cover. To see the answer to this question and others go to www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.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.
You know you want it on your website! Be sure to link it to the AC site, too!
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Tip: From subscriber dehanna bailee (no caps) (http://www.dehanna.com): "I was reading about digital printing services this a.m. and this little idea caught my eye so I thought I'd pass it on in case you're looking for a *new* way to promo your books.
www.Moo.com has what is called a MiniCard - - a small version 1"x3" business card - - but what is neat is that you can upload your own images(s) AND have up to six lines of text on the back for only $20 for 100 cards (plus shipping and handling).
And you can have 100 different cards with up to 100 different full color images, so say if you have ten books, in one order you could have 10 cards for each book - kinda cost efficient ;)
They also have options for note cards and postcards at reasonable prices too.

Just thought I'd pass along the info!"

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Authors' Coalition: No Hum - Drum Book Fair Promotion Allowed is a blog where you can 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. It's time to sign up for 2008's LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books.
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Q&A a la Ann Landers

A Multiple Part Question on the Great American Publishing Dream Turned Nightmare

Note: This letter from Cindy Cadelo is printed in segments with dashes between them so that you can read my comments to her in context:

Question: Dear Carolyn, Literally in the dark at the time, I signed on with a print - on - demand publisher for my debut novel and have lived to regret it ever since. I suppose the worst part was having a paperback priced at $29.99.
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Answer: Yes, the price of your book was out of whack. I'm guessing that no one bothered to give you advice on the size of the book. It sounds as if - - putting Michener aside (and he isn't writing in today's publishing world) - - that you should have figured a way to shorten your work. Many subsidy publishers just don't know so can't advise their clients. Others do know but don't rock the boat for fear they will lose their clients to another subsidy publisher who will publish just as the author wants - - regardless of the outcome.

To see the answers to the rest of Cindy's questions - - everything from breathing new life into a failed publishing attempt to the return book conundrum go to www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com

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Learn more about tips booklets and how to make them work for you. Paulette Ensign was one of the first master promoters I came in contact with. She'll teach you to make promotional booklets work for you with a variety of programs. http://www.kickstartcart.com/app/?af=696843
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In the News: In his swan song at the tech industry's top trade show (the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas), Bill Gates said". . . the second digital decade [that's this one in case anyone is wondering] will be more focused on connecting people." Very smart of our Bill. I have another acquaintance (can't remember her name) who says that if you network well, you'll never have to sell. Keep these tech and relationship and marketing gurus in mind as you work through your marketing in 2008.

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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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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.)

IMPORTANT Info FOR SELF - PUBLISHERS: New publishers should contact to the Copyright Office, http://www.LOC.gov and secure "Procedures for Securing Pre - assigned Library of Congress Catalog Card Numbers" and their "Request for Pre - assignment of PCNC Number" application (form 607 - 7). http://www.loc.gov/loc/infopub Complete the application to participate and obtain an account number and password. Then, apply for a PCN. Library of Congress will send you your number. See http://pcn.loc.gov/pcn/pcn007.html There is no charge for the pre - assignment of a card number. An advance complimentary copy of each publication must be sent to the CIP Office, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20540. This copy is used for final cataloging so that cards may be printed before the book is released. The CIP Office provides postage - free mailing labels for use in sending these advance publications.
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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.

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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 - - from 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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Tip: Fair season is upon us. Here is a source for cardboard book displays. Packaging and Design Co
(http://packaginganddesign.com). They fold and ship flat and some have or accommodate headers. Apparently headers can be purchased separately for those who want a screen - like backdrop for a display. Here is the URL for the book display page. ( - : http://packaginganddesign.com/displays/sections.php4?prodtype=Book .

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I use Vista Print for lots of my promotional materials. Be aware that shipping prices may fluctuate, depending on the deal of the moment. Please use this link:
http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=815651421184
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Tip: Don't be afraid to try something new. If you come up with a slightly different approach to an old promotion (like the Star Publish Tradewinds blog at publishinginfo@blogspot.com), the idea itself can become newsworthy.

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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.
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E - Tips for E - Promotion

Join an e - group, sometimes called list serves. Join a group like publishingandpromoting@yahogroups.com for self - serving reasons (to learn more, network, etc.) but also know that you will benefit even more by giving back to the group. We give a little, get a lot. It's the way of the universe. In my opinion, this is how list serves and forums work best. Each of us gives with whatever time we have, when we have it. According to our expertise. We ask for help when we need it. We listen to the help offered and elect to accept it or not. I prefer the groups where people are open, blunt, honest but tactful; I choose not to be part of groups where flaming goes on. I have always found PublishingandPromoting a good fit. Subscribe by sending an e - mail to publishingandpromotion - subscribe@yahoogroups.com .
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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 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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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, 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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Tip: For a new Question and Answer or Editing see "Royalties, Typos and Other Miscalculations" at www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com.

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Opportunities:

F R e e Training: In one week I received this information from two sources, Carol White, www.roadtripdream.com , and Allyn Evans, www.allynevans.com. I am FRUGAL of time, too. So when I saw that it takes 30 minutes to watch the video on this site, I very nearly closed it down. Heck, I don't even watch Jeopardy! Don't close it down! I repeat, If you do anything visual don't close it down. "Visual" might include making your own fliers, sell sheets, websites pages and more. http://www.stompernet.net/goingnatural2/
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F r ^ ^ Promotion Idea Contest
Kathe Gogolewski wants your best promotion ideas. I want them, too! We have plans for the winners of this contest that go beyond the modest cash prizes.

It's the Out - of - the - Box Promo Contest, offered by Kathe Gogolewski, www.tri - studio.com. She is looking for different and creative promotional ideas for writers, ideas not yet tested or tried.

Check it all out at www.tri - studio.com. Kathe and I may do an e - book or article featuring you and your ideas. We need YOU to do that, though.
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Joyce Anthony is searching for authors to interview for her blog. She says, "I'm planning something great for the 100th interview." http://joyceanthony.tripod.com to experience the power of Storm! E - mail her at rainbow@velocity.net .

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SCAM Alert! That's scam. Not SPAM. Spam is annoying but innocuous. Sometimes it can even be helpful. You know my theory about junk mail and SPAM. But SCAM is something else. Don't fall for the bill you get from ICLS.Net. It isn't a bill. It's addressed to Author but they might even have your name. It looks like a bill for $35. but it's for something you didn't order. They'll list your domain with "14 established search engines." Mmmm. Google knows I'm there. So does Yahoo and Goodsearch. And if I want more I can always list them myself. Or utilize one of the freebies. Your $35. can be better spent on many other scams. I'd rather you pay to get a review for your book (refer to past newsletters) than pay to have this service, especially from someone who offers their service in such a devious fashion. Oh, since last time I received one of these letters they have increased the font size of their disclaimer. But they buried it. It now appears under three other lines in a font of the same size. It says, "You are under no obligation to make any payments on account of this offer unless you accept this offer." That isn't fine print, but it's still a document that lives to hope you won't read it all or won't read it carefully.

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Sign up to receive a copy of my Sharing with Writers blog in your e - mail box. It is a focused blog on all things related to writing and publishing. Go to www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com. Sign up in the left hand column. Find related resources by scrolling to the bottom of the blog.
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Support Literacy

From Cynthia Brian, the star of Be the Star You Are!. Her charitable organization that supports literacy is participating in The America Challenge Grant program whereby they could win $50,000 if they get the highest number of donors to the special link. She says, "I believe the judging is on the number of donors not the amount of donations. It's sponsored by Network for Good, Kevin Bacon, and Parade.com. The minimum donation is very little - $10! Here's the link. We sure could use winning!
http://www.networkforgood.org/pca/Badge.aspx?BadgeId=109461 ."
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching:

NEW!Carolyn is speaking to the Delta Gamma Alumnae group on finding and writing the story inside you on this Wednesday at the Women's Club in Pasadena. If anyone is interested in coming and sitting at my table, contact me at HoJoNews@aol.com.
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Please join Carolyn Howard - Johnson for the
f r ^ ^ January Wasabi Club meeting, a teleseminar the last Wednesday of every month at 1 pm ET/10 am PT where you can learn from the PR pros about how to conduct a savvy PR campaign. To join, please visit the 'Wasabi Club' page at www.wasabipublicity.com
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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.
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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will share with the nation's humor writers again in April 3 - 5 of 2008 at Dayton University's Erma Bombeck Writers' Workshop. She'll speak twice at the Kennedy Union on campus. Go to www.humorwriters.org/2008SpeakerBios.html. Tapes will be available even though this conference sold out 77 hours after opening registration. It is not too early to be thinking about 2010.
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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 do’s 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 will 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? ( - :

To enroll call Marcus Hennessey, 310 - 267 - 4888, or go to www.uclaextension.edu and enroll for 735.18, Registration # T6393.
Because it is a one - day seminar, it is less than $100.
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Nancy Mills, founder of Spirited Woman, will be interviewing Carolyn Howard - Johnson in her 2008 Spirited Woman tele - chat series. You can sign up now to be part of this exciting series, whether you want to listen to Carolyn at www.thespiritedwoman.com/spirited_woman_circle/2008/01/conversation - - 4.html or to the likes of Jacqueline Mitchard, author of the Deep Sea of the Ocean and Catherine Ryan Hyde, author of Pay It Forward. Find the entire series at: www.thespiritedwoman.com/spirited_woman_circle
To listen live, circle Tuesday, June 3, 2008, 10 am (PST), 1 pm (EST) on your calendar. Advance registration needed.
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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will appear on Write On Four Corners with host Connie Gotsch on KSJE FM Public Radio broadcast from San Juan College. Access the program 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
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Sharing

(Printed with the permission of Kathleen Gage)

Dear Carolyn,

Earlier today I received an email from someone who is on my email distribution list who seemed a bit upset with a recommendation I have made on how to make money on the Internet. She got on my list by way of a free offer. When someone gets on my list with this particular offer they receive tips on how to market effectively on the Internet. My purpose is to inform my readers on how to build visibility and credibility within their market. I also teach people strategies to generate revenues from the Internet.
One recommendation is to write and distribute articles as a way of building an opt - in list. The writer of the message said she has never made any money from article writing and distribution. She said no one she knows has either. I'm sure it feels like they are throwing money into a bottomless pit.

She wrote, "I personally don't know anyone who has gotten increased business from this tactic and none of my clients have either. Who is getting more business from this and what are they doing differently?"
Here is my response. (I added a bit more than what I sent to the woman in response to her message)

Thank you for your message. The process of article writing and distribution is a tool for credibility and positioning. There are several elements involved that determine if you will be successful.

1. How well written is the article and is it specific to a market?
2. Do you have a title that grabs people's attention?
3. Do you have a resource box at the end of the article?
4. Is there a compelling offer you are making in the resource box that would encourage the reader to visit your website, blog or a landing page?
5. Is your website set up to optimize those people who will visit your website with a visible opt - in opportunity that is of high value to the visitor?
6. What is your follow up plan to market to the people who visited your site and opted into your database?
7. Are you creating high value to those who receive messages from you?
8. Are you a resource before you are a vendor?

I often find that, when one of these elements is not in place, article writing and distribution can be completely ineffective. I also find that people are impatient and don't put effective systems in place, nor do they view the process in the long term of building their business and increasing their revenues.

I have made money from article distribution in that it is a part of my overall marketing strategy. I do not expect to necessarily make money simply because I have posted an article. It is in the building of an opt - in database and creating ongoing value for the reader that some readers turn into buyers.

As someone who makes a very good living from the Internet, I can vouch for the effectiveness of this strategy. Many of my associates who also make their income directly from the Internet use this method because it is in fact very effective. My best Kathleen

- end of response message -

Making money on the Internet can be like baking a cake. If you don't have all the right ingredients in the correct order you could have a total flop on your hands. On the other hand, when your systems are in place you can be extremely successful and have a very tasty outcome.

Does article writing and distribution work? Yes. However, it should be a part of an overall marketing strategy and will be most effective when viewed this way.

Wishing you much success in your endeavors.
Kathleen Gage
The Street Smarts Marketer
Kathleen Gage
P.O. Box 551
Pleasant Hill
Oregon 97455
United States
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Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile

(Definitions in the next few newsletters are from http://www.butlerwebs.com/jokes/definitions.htm .You might have some favorite neologisms metaphors or similes that make you smile. If so, please contribute.)
"ANTIQUE: An item your grandparents bought, your parents got rid of, and you're buying again."
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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 How To Do It Frugally series of books for writers,

www.howtodoitfrugally.com.

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/

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 newsletter, send an e - mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with "Unsubscribe” in the subject line, but please, please don't tell me you've given up writing or promoting!

To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e - mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to: HoJoNews@aol.com.

Please pass this newsletter 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/

The second in the How To Do It Frugally series of books, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, is available at this link to Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870/


The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know About Selling Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less, is available on Amazon as a Short for 49 cents.
http://www.amazon.com/Great - First - Impression - Book - Proposal/dp/B000YG6O5U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199595319&sr=8 - 1