February 16, 2008
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_Feb_No3Week_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:

Yes. Book Fair Time is nearly upon us. Forget the ice storms and the floods and hurricanes. Books will be blooming in the Los Angeles sunshine.

Even if you are having trouble believing the time will come when you will step out of the door onto green grass, it is time to sign up to promote your book at the fair. Learn more about the fair at http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks/ and learn more about signing in our great booth where we cross - promote and help you put on your best face with give - aways with purchases, value - added promotions and more.

Learn more about that both the signing positions and the other promotions at http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/fair_booths.htm.

Happy writing, promoting and, yes, editing, too!

Carolyn Howard - Johnson
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
And now blogging on War. Peace. Tolerance. And Our Soldiers at http://www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com.
And now! Squidooing at
http://www.squidoo.com/HowToDoItFrugallyforAuthors
and http://www.squidoo.com/carolynhoward - johnson

PS: I won't be releasing a newsletter next week. I'm going out - of - state to be with my mother. She turns 90 on February 25.

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Please pass this letter on to others. Unlike many, 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

Hi Carolyn,

Great news about spreading the word [about groups that are less than careful about your privacy]. Now I'm embarrassed to find myself in the middle of a situation. I also had emailed one of my other Yahoo groups, in which a member posted a rebuttal from the creator of Grouply that addresses security concerns. My original information and research showed huge problems, especially with unlimited access and use of content.

Apparently, Grouply's problems came as they just started their recent online presence. They had a large number of people registering, and then inviting all their friends, which in turn looked like spam when groups received multiple invites.

They have a security policy in place regarding username/password, though my main concern was about the use of content on Grouply's site. They have fixed some of the holes, like accessing private groups. If they're legit (and the creator's letter did appear to be credible), they are working hard at fixing their internet reputation.

I'm sorry if I've put you in the middle now. If they have fixed the security problems, then they still need to address the policy on use of content. And that may remain as I told you earlier. Other sites also claim all use of content, but users need to stay aware. I'll let you know if I find out other things.
Thanks!
Jennifer Akers
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Hi Carolyn,

I LOVE Library Thing . . . in fact, I have loaded all of the "buy" and "Borrow, at least!" books from our collection (currently sitting @ about 975, total) to My Library. The next step is to add reviews ... I think it's a great way for us to help authors get noticed, and lends a little more "oomph" (dare I say credibility?) to complement Amazon, et al.
PS - I haven't forgotten about an ad [for my website or Authors' Coalition site]! Let's just say life is very full.

Hugs, Terry Doherty
Executive Director, The Reading Tub, Inc.
We use Goodsearch (powered by Yahoo!) Make Goodsearch your default toolbar and with every search donate 1c to The Reading Tub®
Reading Fact: The average kindergärtner has watched 5,000 hours of TV before s/he gets to school That's more time than it takes to earn a Bachelor's degree. US Department of Education

==================================================== 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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Tip: You all know that I'm not all that computer savvy but I am advertising and marketing savvy and this is a place (StomperNet) that combines all three. So, I know enough about what is being said on this video and about selling to know I desperately need to learn more about the tech part. I bet you do, too. So do what I'm doing. Use what you understand and put the rest on hold until you can figure it out! ( - : Watch the video and download the report here:
http://www.stompernet.net/jvp/aw.aspx?B=25&A=332
And, if you'd like to contribute some successes from some of what you learn here, SWW subscribers want to know! ( - :

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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 Annette Fix, one of the great editors at WOW - - Women On Writing, for doing such a creative job with the interview the two of us worked on with Dallas Woodburn. Find it at http://www.wow - womenonwriting.com/18 - inspiration.html. You'll see how every author interested in promoting this way will want to work with this group of women. Annette is also the author of the Break - Up Diet.
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To V. S. Grenier for including my article on a very novel and useful cross - promotional product in her little newsletter delivered by pdf. Find it at: http://vsgrenier.com/Documents/SFCNewsletter_Issue13.pdfGrenier edits www.StoriesforChildren.tripod.com.
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To Military Writers' Society of America (MWSA) for including news about the Great First Impression Book Proposal on their website: http://www.militarywriters.com/In%20The%20News/news - carolyn%20howard%20johnson%20partners%20with%20amazon%20shorts.htm . MWSA is a site you should know about.
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To Book Lore, a site you should know about. They published my open letter (to authors from a grumpy editor). Here is the link. http://www.booklore.co.uk/Articles/Carolyn/TwelveTalesArticle.htm. You'll find links on all the stuff I do for BookLore.com here:
http://www.booklore.co.uk/Reviewers/Carolyn/CarolynBooks.htm

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Q&A A La Ann Landers

On Italics, Internal Thought and Other Hateful Subjects

Note: This segment will be easier to follow in the HTML version than in the plain text version in the body of this e - mail. Click on the URL in the introduction to the newsletter to receive the letter with all its formatting.

This is from the continuing brouhaha on using italics for internal thought. But instead of merely defending the practice (and no one ever said never, never, never to use it!), Ron Berry offered to let me use our communication so others can learn from the edits we talked about. That's the kind of guy he is.
He's obviously also the kind of author who wants to learn more so he can avoid using italics when he chooses to. He has given me permission to use these clips from his novel, and I've added some other editing tips, too.
Questions: Below is the prologue of Tea Leaves (http://here - it - is.tripod.cm), a book in progress. I find the only way to make internal thoughts visible is by way of italics. I can't think of a better way, short of saying, "she said" all too often and that does not fit my style of writing. Your opinion would be appreciated.

Answer: Ron, I've made a couple of suggestions of ways to indicate whose head you are below.
Before we start, I should address the "he said, she said" question. The reading public is conditioned to read "she said" and not even notice them, though you are right to try to avoid them when you don't need to use them. When you do need them, though, use 'em. Just don't try to vary them by saying "she cried," "she yelped," "she yawned," etc. which lots of new writers do because they think the "she saids" are repetitive.
And, of course, we wouldn't want to use "she said" for internal thought anyway because she didn't "say" anything. She only thought. But we don't need to use "she thought" either because the reader knows that she is in the head of the character because the story is being told from a specific point of view.

Copy and paste this link into your browser window to see the rest of this article including an example of how to use internal dialogue without using italics: www.thefrugaledtior.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 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: Subscriber Walter Brasch, author of Sinking the Ship of State, sends along this excellent address http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/bkevents.html. It can be useful to promote an event you might be having but also to research places where you might participate, speak, etc. Thank you, Walt.
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Help: I'd really love it if you all could start keeping your eyes out for F R ^ ^ contests for me. Contests of any kind. Promotion. Poetry. Fiction. Flash Fiction. Essays. Anthology, Any kind of submissions that don't charge. Send them to HoJoNews@aol.com with SWW Contest in the subject line. Please include your full name and URL and book title so I can credit you. ( - :

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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 Muse Marquee is an information - packed zine for writers. You can read it here: http://themusemarquee.tripod.com/
In the January 08 issue, read what Mommacrit has to say about one brave writer’s submission. Find out what Lea Schizas thinks about plots and sub plots. There are tips on establishing context, promoting on a budget and insight into a great Australian poet.
Each issue, there are opportunities to submit and read flash fiction, poetry or even a guest column. Why not try the latest free - to - enter contest, with a chance of winning publication and a cash prize. (http://themusemarquee.tripod.com/id298.html )

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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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On Poetry

This is a new running feature for the poets among us and those who would like to try writing poetry but feel, well . . . inadequate. Please send in your poetry tips and resources for this section.

This is straight from the poetry class I am taking from Suzanne Lummis to your ears. When you critique, tell people not to bring their very best work or work they think is already perfect. Everyone will be more open to suggestions if they know they need help.

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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: Last week we talked about the usefulness of bookmarks. Janet Elaine Smith says, " I would add this: If you autograph the bookmark people are more apt to keep it rather than just toss it in the nearest trash can. I had one fellow that remarked as I walked out after giving him a signed bookmark which he had asked me for, 'Wow! Imagine what this baby will be worth on e - bay when she is REALLY famous!'"
Visit Janet's Marketing Creation, Star's Book - of - the - Week Club at http://publishinginfo.blogspot.com

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A general marketing rule is that a product must be seen seven times before it is purchased. That is just as true for books (because they are products, like it or not!). Let people see that book cover image! To do that, you are invited to advertise as a site sponsor at www.howtodoitfrugally.com 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.)

Marilyn Meredith, writing as F.M. Meredith, released the fourth book in her Rocky Bluff P.D. crime series, Smell of Death. The book launch will be held in her home town of Springville, CA, in the Visitors Center, and the month of February Marilyn has been on a virtual book tour. To order an autographed copy, visit http://fictionforyou.com or the book may be ordered from Amazon. Learn more at: http://fictionforyou.com. Visit her blog at http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/
and the Stiletto Gang: http://thestilettogang.blogspot.com/
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Norma Sundberg's poem, "Invitation," was published in the March/April 2008 edition of Writers' Journal. www.writersjournal.com. Leon Ogroske is editor. Esther Leiper is poetry editor.
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TIP: My regular column for Writers' Journal is on metaphor and symbol. It is in the April/March edition and may be purchased at any bookstore. Anyone interested in a basic take on metaphor and symbol (including some good examples of them, I think), might want to get a copy. You'll also find Janet Elaine Smith's regular column on promotion in it. Or subscribe at www.writersjournal.com. This is an especially good magazine for beginning writers so I hope the teachers among our subscribers will take note, too! ( - :

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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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TIP: Write Success, a great newsletter I've always enjoyed, is back! Here's where you can find a sample letter. http://www.writesuccess.com/id92.html. Keep in touch with Mary Anne for the good of your writing career

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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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Example of How to Market Your Book with Benefits

Maybe it's because I spent nearly 30 years operating stores of my own that I find this open letter to bookstore buyers from Brad Windhauser, author of Regrets so on - target and absolutely charming.

As a buyer and chief financial officer (Ahem!) for my stores, I would have jumped at the chance (and often did) for a way to get my sales up by 10% for the day. That can be done by suggestion sales that Brad mentions in his post or by having a special event. And an event that is nearly completely planned by someone else? Wow. I'd have thought I'd died and gone to heaven.

And, yes, I also was always looking for something to carry in my stores that not every single other gift store carried. It set us apart. Authors published by a small press offer an opportunity that is not fully utilized.

The trick is to make bookstore buysers and even planners see those benefit. Thus I’m publishing this letter from Brad so others might get an inkling of how to approach them with BENEFITS.

Here is the the open letter from Brad. It is from the blog, Tradewinds, at www.publishinginfo.blogspot.com

Not Your Average Book

When I was younger, I worked at a chain video store. All the employees wore the same uniform, greeted customers with the same memorized lines, tried to upsell the same pre - ordered film, and remind each customer about the due - back dates in the same manner. What made this job interesting and fun, however, was being able to recommend an obscure or older film to a customer who had seen everything on the new release wall and was looking for something interesting, something that offered an atypical plot or unusual characters.

Working in a bookstore, I would imagine, could present the same opportunity for its employees. And what better book to recommend than an independent release that has not had the same exposure than one from a major publisher who has Oprah on speed dial?

Regret is one of these books worth recommending.

The content will satisfy the built - in audience (gay), as well as appeal to someone who thought they would never gravitate towards a gay novel. The upside of this is that the sales person will be opening a reader's eyes to new material. And for this, they would be thankful, happy to have made a new discovery. For is that not why all of us read in the first place? And what better incentive to return to the bookstore that recommended something interesting, so the customers can ask, "What else have you got that's good?"
CHJ

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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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Opportunities:

GINOSKO (ghin - océ - koe), is a literary journal whose name means "To perceive, understand, realize, come to know; knowledge that has an inception, a progress, an attainment. The recognition of truth by experience." Editors there are accepting short fiction and poetry, creative non - fiction and excerpts for its 6th issue.

They accept simultaneous submissions and reprints and use selected material for a printed anthology.
Check downloadable issues on website for style and tone: http://www.ginoskoliteraryjournal.com/

The e - zine circulation is 2900+. Website traffic is 150 - 350 hits/month.

They are also looking for artwork and photography, to post on website and links to exchange.

========================================================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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Amazon Tip: In the past sales for my book were consistently small so Amazon was only ordering 2 - 3 books at a time. But then, because of some additional promotion I have been doing, my book was being ordered on Amazon more than usual. I couldn't get my small shipments to them fast enough to fill book orders, so my book showed "out - of - stock" 3 times in the last month. I got Amazon to order 24 books this last time and here's how:

 Sign into Amazon marketplace, http://advantage.amazon.com
 Go to HELP in upper right hand corner.
 Under ORDERS, click on Stock Up Request (can't give you the URL as it will show my book info)
 Follow the directions on this page to submit your request.

Now Amazon will have plentiful stock, sales may pick up. A positive attitude!
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Janet Goliger, Teacher, 2nd degree Black Belt, Owner, author of “I need to be SAFE: I’m worth it!” A 2007 IRWIN Award Winner
http://www.classpublications.com
janet@classpublications.com

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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.)

CHILDREN'S WRITERS Read by most children's book and magazine editors in North America, this monthly newsletter can be your own personal source of pointers, market tips, and editors wants to help you sell more manuscripts in this growing segment of the publishing market. Free sample issue. http://thechildrenswriter.com/N6448
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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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Feature:

Big Buzz on Social Networking with Squidoo

At the recommendation of StumbleUpon.com and others, I am trying more social networking. Jennifer Akers has Squidooed longer than anyone else I know and has several lenses. This is our dialogue on that subject:

Jennifer says: The secret to lensbuilding [on Squidoo] is to find a narrow topic, include unique content and then tell everyone about it. ; - ) Niche topics seem to do well. Make sure to add phrases to your tags - - things that people would search for to find your lens.

My lenses have done okay. I've gotten a little cash. Better than that (did I really say that?) is that my work on Squidoo shows up higher in Google searches than work on my website.
Carolyn says: Cash? I didn't know about the cash. Too funny. Based on visits?

Jennifer says: Yep, cash, paid monthly. When you sign up at Squidoo, you decide if you want cash or to donate to charity. Your payment is figured from a portion of the purchases from your lens and a portion of everyone's sales, based on your lenses' performance and quantity. Only Squidoo knows the exact formula. To find out your answer to cash or charity, check out your profile.

Carolyn says: Oh, I must have signed for charity. Hope they really use it for that. Ha! So about those getting ratings?

Jennifer says: Better ratings means more people see your lens, and more visitors increase your sales.

Another way to earn money is by referrals. If a friend uses your referral URL to create their first lens, then both of you will earn money. When the friend earns her first $15, each of you will earn $5. If you find yourself talking about Squidoo to everyone, then use the URL and make money for you and your friends. I list my referral URL at the bottom on my Freelance lens.

Carolyn says: So, tell me. Do you see any results of any kind from having a Squidoo lens? ( - :

Jennifer says: I've been contacted to write articles on another site, do a podcast interview, and join a Squidoo marketer for a new product based on one of my topic lenses. Just a few things off the top of my head, besides the small checks.

Carolyn says: So what's this voting business? Send me your address and I'll go vote!
Jennifer says: Definitely vote. You've got to be logged in to vote. (Sorry, can't vote on your own lenses,) Your lens rank increases with votes and visits. Here's my address: http://www.squidoo.com/JenniferAkers
For more questions and answers on Squidoo - - really basic stuff copy and paste this link to take you the Sharing with Writers blog: http://www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com.

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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: The Authors Desk is the Website of Jozette Aaron, author, freelance writer, editor and publisher of DeSilva's News - - a tool writers rely on to meet their creative needs. Offering free promotion to all subscribers, free courses, writers resources and more. Sign up today: http://www.theauthorsdesk.net

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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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Tip: Self Publishers Place Offers Free Book Listing Website: http://www.selfpublishersplace.com
Subscriber Milli Thornton, author of Fear of Writing: for writers & closet writers and site owner at www.fearofwriting.com, has written in to let us know about the opportunity for authors to receive a listing on this attractive Website. Milli said, "The process was simple and fast and I was amazed at how quickly they listed my book." You can visit Milli's listing at this link:
http://www.selfpublishersplace.com/bookpreviewnew.php?id=424
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Tip for Fiction Writers:
"Know your characters and never have them speak untrue to their natures. Write dialogue of disagreement more than agreement." ~from Dr. Dan Skelton, author of Boojum, Out of Innocence and The Human Element, www.freewebs.com/drdanskelton

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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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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching:

New!Carolyn Howard - Johnson will speak to a networking group at the Small Business Association (SBA) Women's Business Center on Friday, March 14 at Mama's Hot Tamales Café, 2122 West 7th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90057. Mama's is an urban renewal project that has revitalized the Mac Arthur Park area in LA and now seeks to do the same for a depressed area in Pasadena. Mama (Sandy Romero) is host beginning at 8:30 am. Those with questions may contact SBA director Jackie Jones at 213 989 3153 or jjones@pacela.org.
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Advanced Toastmasters Platinum has asked me to speak to them Friday, March 14, at Camille’s Sidewalk Cafe, 43901 15th Street W., Lancaster, CA. Subject? "Don’t Tick off the Gatekeepers: Your First Marketing Offense or Great Editing Counts." Dinner is at 6:00 P.M. (not provided). The meeting runs from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. Please RVSP Advanced Toastmasters Platinum President Dana LaMon at dana@danalamon.com or call (661) 949 - 7423. Toastmaster Sandy Aubin, ACB/CL is coordinator for the event.
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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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New! On April 26 & 27, Carolyn Howard - Johnson will sign her new USA Award - winning book the Frugal Editor ( as well as her others) at the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books on the beautiful UCLA Campus in the Authors Coalition booth, #610 and 611. (http://www.latimes.com/extras/festivalofbooks/_) Other authors signing there include Barbara Crandall, David H. Jones, Joyce Faulkner, Poets Christine Alexanians and Sona Ovasapyan. To learn more about opportunities for your book go to: http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/fair_booths.htm. Some promotions authors have to be present for, others not. Visitors at this booth will receive free books with their purchase.

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Nancy Mills, founder of Spirited Woman, will be interviewing Carolyn Howard - Johnson in her 2008 Spirited Woman tele - chat series. Sign up now to be part of this exciting series, whether you want to listen to Carolyn or to the likes of Jacqueline Mitchard, author of the Deep End 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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The Catholic Writer’s Guild (www.catholicwritersguild.org) and Canticle Magazine (http://www.canticlemagazine.com) are pleased to announce the first Catholic Writer’s Conference Online May 2 - 9, 2008. Conducted entirely via Internet, the conference will feature online seminars and chat rooms hosted by editors, agents, published writers, and other media professionals in book and magazine publishing. F r ^ ^ to writers of all levels, advance registration is required. To register go to www.conference.catholicwritersguild.org. At 10 am, Pacific time, on Monday, May 5, Carolyn will present Your First Marketing Offense: Query Letters and Great Editing or Ten Ways to Let an Agent Know You Are an Amateur. Karina Fabian will moderate. Then Carolyn will co - present a seminar with Karina on book promotion at 11 am Pacific Time the same day.
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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be one of the featured winners of the USA Book News' booth at BEA on Friday, May 29, at the nation's premier book event, Book Expo America. She will sign her USA Book News Award - Winning book, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success in the USA Book News booths, #835 & #837 in the PMA Pavilion. Make BEA reservations and get info about the event here: http://bookexpoamerica.com
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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will read from her chapbook of poetry, Tracings, Monday evening, Aug. 11, at 7:30 pm at the Village Bookstore 1049 Swarthmore Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA. Poets Alice Pero and Lois P. Jones sponsor ongoing featured readings called Moonday. Learn more at: http://home.earthlink.net/ ~pero/moonday.html

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

Something to Make Writers Smile

(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.)
"AVOIDABLE (uh - voy' - duh - buhl'): What a bullfighter tries to do."
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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