July 20, 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

Sharing with Writers is the official newsletter of Authors' Coalition,
www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
an organization of writers who help writers.

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To read this newsletter with a bit more pizzazz (not much, though!) at Authors Den go to:
http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_June_No4Week_2008.doc.

To read this letter in plain vanilla text, scroll down.

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:

Those of you who have read the Frugal Book Promoter know that offering a newsletter isn't completely selfless. It helps to present a newsletter with heart, of course, but there are advantages to the writer, as well as the reader. One of them is that when you need help, your subscribers happily comply when they can.

So, this week, Annette Fix, author of the Break - Up Diet and editor at WOW - WomenOnWriting.com shared some of her site's secrets with me and you'll see this letter has a new, more open look. She suggested a new typeface (also called font). I'm now using Verdana which Annette assures me is "one of the best for online reading" because it is san - serif and the letters are openly spaced. I've made a couple of other changes too. You might use her tips for your newsletter or website.

I'd love it if you'd weigh in on the changes. Tell me what works for you, what doesn't and what you'd like to see. One of my website gurus, Joyce Faulkner (katieseyes@aol.com) assures me that not all formats work the same on every computer. Screen sizes and a lot of other techie stuff play havoc with the most carefully laid plans. Still, I hope this letter comes through to so pristine you'll think Mr. Clean has been at work for you - - whether you read it in the window of this e - mail or use the link at the top of this page to read it more fully formatted.

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

Carolyn Howard - Johnson

PS: There will be no newsletter next week. I'll be visiting my adorable granddaughters! But those of you who live in the LA area, please try to make it to my poetry reading on Monday, August 11. As you know, I'm not really known for my poetry, but I do so love it and want to share with you. It's at the Village Bookstore 1049 Swarthmore Ave, Pacific Palisades, CA at 7:30 pm.


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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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Tip: Most writers can use a little more income. Income you don't have to work to hard to get would be nice, too. Try what people are calling passive income. Use Amazon and Google ads through their associates or affiliate programs. It's not hard to do. Start with Amazon. Go to their home page and scroll down. You'll find "Affiliate" in the left column. Get an account and explore the possibilities. Install the widgets for your books and the books of others on your website and your blog. At first you won't make a lot. Keep at it. The pennies will grow to dollars.


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New members will help Authors' Coalition serve all its members better! Ask your writing friends to join at 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 the Authors' Coalition blog. There they'll learn how to spark generally insipid book fairs by using value - added promotions. www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com.
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In the News

Freedom of Speech Now Curtailed by Sneaky Color Laser Printers

My editing pal Mindy Lawrence sent me information that should concern everyone, but especially writers. She says, "It's getting more and more Big Brotherish around here. True, we aren't doing anything that the government should perceive as wrong, but novelists write a LOT of things that are over the edge. Geez!"
Here's what she is referring to: According to USA Today "More manufacturers are outfitting greater numbers of laser [color] printers with technology that leaves microscopic yellow dots on each printed page to identify the printer's serial number — and ultimately, you..."

The dots are invisible but can be seen with a special light by authorities like the Secret Service to investigate counterfeit bills. All good so far. But privacy advocates think that this technology could also help "snare political dissidents, whistle - blowers or anyone who prints materials that authorities want to track."

One of my techie friends tells me that this is not really a new technology but it worries me that these kinds of things may become so worrisome to authors that they become stultified thus limiting their own freedom - of - press rights. That I am on our government's no - fly list - - presumably because I have written against the so - called Patriot Act in my columns for MyShelf.com - - doesn't contribute to my feeling particularly lenient about government snooping.

Here's the URL if you want to see the complete USA article. http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/surveillance/2008 - 07 - 13 - printer_N.htm?csp=34&POE=click - refer



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My blog, War, Peace, Tolerance and Our Soldiers 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. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
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Opportunities

Submit Your Stories on Autism
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Award - winning authors Litsa Kamateros and award - winning and editor Lea Schizas are seeking parents, caregivers, and teachers of autistic children to submit their stories and/or answer a questionnaire found on: http://www.theautismepidemic.com for their newest book, “Autism Epidemic.” There is no monetary compensation other than the opportunity to have readers around the world read contribution and to connect with this ever - increasing epidemic.
The questionnaire will help us gather reliable data. Your story will inspire, challenge and educate. Contact the editors at autismepidemic@yahoo.com


New Creative Artists' Community ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You are invited to join and to submit articles for publication to Starry Night Creative Artists Community.
http://www.astarrynightproductions.com/creative/creativeartists.htm

If interested in membership, please e - mail D.B. Pacini at Pacini.Novelist@gmail.com. You will then be invited to send your biography and a head shot.

If you have articles you'd like considered, e - mail a query with "Query: Starry Night Article" in the subject line. Do not send an attachment file

This free - to - join international community is open to all creative artists. The site will feature new interviews each month and will showcase a different creative artist periodically.



Fr ^^ Samples and Editing Advice ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
From Barbara McNichol (www.BarbaraMcNichol.com): How thrilled would you be to have your published book reach #3 on the New York Times bestseller list? Ecstatic, overjoyed, delighted, ultra - happy?
That’s exactly how my client Robert Shemin felt (and so did I!) when his book How Come That Idiot’s Rich and I’m Not recently made this grade. This wealth - building book, the fifth I’ve worked on with Robert, marked a breakthrough in his publishing success.
If you’re writing a nonfiction book, it may be the right time to identify an expert editor to work toward a similar breakthrough.
What does an experienced editor bring to the book - writing process? I’ve created an eye - catching one - sheet flyer that addresses that question. Please send an e - mail to editor@barbaramcnichol.com and I’ll send it to you as a PDF attachment. Or simply call to discuss your editing needs for articles and one - sheets of your own. Reach me at 520 - 615 - 7190 or toll - free 877 - 696 - 4899.
I’d be ecstatic, overjoyed, and delighted to hear from you.


Radio Show Hosts Offer Portal, Opportunites ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A new website, www.brummet.ca, is now active. Find information about the new Authors Read radio show where authors read excerpts of their published work on air as well as our other radio show, Conscious Discussions (living consciously). While you are there you'll learn how to be a guest, find frequently asked questions, and an index of previously - aired broadcasts for listening. There are new links, resources and free articles for you to use for filler material for your website and blogs. You can also access our blog or sign up for our free monthly newsletter.


Mystery Writers Early Register Discount ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PSWA Conference is a must for mystery writers who would like to add authenticity to their manuscripts. This is a great opportunity for finding out the answers to your forensic and law enforcement questions from the experts. Register before September 30 of this year for our annual conference (2009) to get a reduced price. (Las Vegas will be one of the few places that you’ll be able to get to without paying a fortune.) The registration form is at: http://www.policewriter.com. Registered attendees may offer a suggestion for a presentation or panel. There are no restrictions as to who can serve on a panel. Authors may also bring their books for sale and be part of a joint booksigning. PSWA keeps 10% to help defray the cost of the conference and for the scholarship fund. - - - - - Contributed by Marilyn Meredith, mystery writer and SWW subscriber.



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So you got As in English. You know grammar and spelling. That's great but an editor of you it doth not make. An editor knows formatting, front and back matter, indexing, structure, the elements of fiction and on and on. But mostly she'll see your manuscript in a fresh, new light. Learn how to hire a great editor and learn to be a better partner for any author - - awful to superb - - in The Frugal Editor.
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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!)

Thank You to June Casagrande, for giving my Writer's Digest 101 Best blog, Sharing with Writers, a heads up on RedRoom. Here's the URL. http://www.redroom.com/blog/dale - estey/writers - digest - 101 - best - web - sites - for - writers You might want to explore the RedRoom site and forums.


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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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Q&A A La Ann Landers

So, Okay. Where's the Darn Query Letter!


Question:

Hope you're doing well. Thought you'd want to know that I have The Frugal Book Promoter; I've highlighted several sections and tagged it all over with hot pink Post - its. Sounds provocative, doesn't it? LOL What a great little book!! I've recommended it to several of my writer friends.

Last weekend I contacted all the professionals who reviewed my first book to request a review of my second book - - all agreed. Yay! I've now made an extensive list of new sites and reviewers to contact. At the bottom of page 194, first bullet item, you indicate that there's a sample query letter to send to reviewers listed in the index. I've looked at each page listed but can't seem to find the sample letter. Would you mind directing me to the page? - - - - - Take care, Marta Stephens, author of A Silenced Cry, Sam Harper Crime Mystery, 2008 Honorable Mention ~ New York Book Festival, www.martastephens - author.com

Answer:

Oops. There are two sample query letters in the Frugal Book Promoter, one is a query for a "feature or news story (p.272)" and one is for an interview on national public radio (p. 274). You are right. There is not a sample specifically for getting reviews.

Here's the thing. All query letters are basically the same. You just adapt them to a reviewer's needs. After this request, I may have to add another in the next edition. In the Frugal Editor (in which I dedicate a whole chapter to queries called "Let's Peek into the Minds and Query Boxes of Literary Agents"), I use two additional samples along with suggestions (and pet peeves) from 20 or so very clever (and tired) agents. So another category of queries is the kind we send to agents.

As you can see, I could do a whole book of sample query letters! It would include query letters for agents, reviewers, radio hosts, TV professionals, queries of those who hope to drum up interest in someone in the movie industry, queries for foreign rights, queries for feature editors, business page editors, city page editors. Queries to try to get someone to syndicate a column and on and on. Whew! It could even include queries to bookstore events managers to get signings or to pitch workshops.

I tend to use the more detailed or advanced sample queries in my books, In the Frugal Editor I included a sample letter for film consideration (to Robert Redford) of a novel. It is on p. 144. The other is for getting a nonfiction book distributed in a different country (p. 146).

In the Frugal Editor I list a suggestion made by an agent that authors not follow sample query letters slavishly. She figures if one is a writer, the query letter should reflect one's voice. I think it should do that in both writing style and the kind of information selected.

So my first suggestion, Marta, is to use the query letters that are in the book. A letter to a reviewer tends to be less complex so drop back to the basics.
If you still feel uncomfortable, here is a very simple one I used to get reviews for the Frugal Editor. Even it has a little bit of a twist because normally I would target only reviewers of books in my specific niche (writers) and this is to a reviewer who doesn't write for a writer - related periodical; it is always wise to try to widen your target audience just a bit if you can, so I went for it.

Note, too, that this is a reviewer who had stated she was only interested in traditionally published books. Therefore, it was important for me to make a point that the Frugal Editor fit her needs, especially because some of my other books are alternatively published. Note, too, how I sneaked in a bit of my own background (teaching), without using an actual biography. Sometimes that is possible. AND note that I ask for what I want. Not in the first sentence, but I do ask. That is why a query letter is called a query letter; you're asking for something specific.

Sample Query Letter for Getting a Review:

February 3, 2008

Dear Ms. XX,

Re: Possible review of The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success and/or The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't

I am requesting a review for The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. It is the sister book to the award - winning Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't.

I use both books in this series as rather untexty texts (a light tone keeps interest up!) for Writers' Program classes I teach at UCLA and at writing conference seminars throughout the US. In fact both books were at least partially inspired by my need for something more practical, specific and a little more folksy than what is otherwise available for my classes.

Both books are winners of USA Book News' Best Book award and the series won the Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin award.

My first novel (This Is the Place) was reviewed by the Library Journal. Since then I have published many different ways but am back to traditional publishing (Red Engine Press is the publisher of Editor).I hope you will consider a review.

Please note that, though I target an author - audience here, all writers will benefit from the book and most business people are writers.

Thank you so much for your consideration. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know.

Very best,
Carolyn Howard - Johnson



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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 frequently. If you don't see what you need for your blog or newsletter, just ask. HoJoNews@aol.com. ============================================


Sharing with Fellow Subscribers

Resource for Learning the Best Way to Use Social Networks

Several years ago, Author Ray Derby introduced me to Backspace. Backspace is a class act in writing forums. This place is filled with well - known authors and some pretty amazing debut authors. Most Backspace members are traditionally published. At Backspace there are industry professionals, and (take note) literary agents.
Now, backspace is offering a new service. I’ve been asked by Karen Dionne to look over this new network and give my input. This is an incredible honor. Here is the info from the Backspace June Newsletter on the Backspace Book Promotion Network:

Backspace is pleased to announce the latest addition to the Backspace family: The Backspace Book Promotion Network – a searchable database of thousands of listings of Internet book promotion opportunities, updated continually, with an extensive articles section that explains how to use them. If you’ve got a book you want to promote using the Internet, and you’ve ever wondered what Shelfari is, or how you can use MySpace to best advantage, The Backspace Book Promotion Network can help. http://bookpromonetwork.com/

Personally, I thought it was totally brilliant concept! They have a membership fee for their search feature but there are good articles and tons of other stuff on the main page for free. - - - - - - Nadine Laman edits a monthly newsletter. She doesn't share her list or send promotional e - mail. http://www.nadinelamanbooks.com/newsletter.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 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.

Have your ever tried writing a "found poem?" For people schooled in other genres of writing, using someone else's words smacks of plagiarism but found poems are perfectly legit. Save little snippets and phrases you love and at some point put them together in a meaningful way. If your primary inspiration is one author or poet, you may mention him or her in the poem, in an epigraph or in the title, but it's truly not necessary in most instances. There will be enough of your own originality in the poem - - in the way your put it together and the way you connect the found parts - - to make it original.



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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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Feature

Promoting Books Through Gather. Com

By Aaron Paul Lazar

I first discovered the social networking site, Gather.com, through a fellow writer who thought it would be a perfect place to promote the www.LeGardeMystery.com series. She was right! Gather is a site where high quality book lovers congregate. The members are genuine and friendly, and a result, I’ve made great friends and have grown my readership.

I started by posting a collection of book reviews (which have also been posted in Midwest Book Review, Compulsive Reader, Mystery Fiction, etc.) as articles. At the bottom of each piece, I’d naturally have a short bio and link to my website, blogs, and books

Immediately following, I loaded up my “Seedling” columns. Seedlings are little pieces I’d been asked to write monthly for several well - known literary journals. As time went on, my work was featured more and more on the Gather home page where many viewers see it, probably over a 100,000 a day now. I became known to the Gather staff. I asked for a “Writers” group, because Gather didn’t have one.

One day the staff contacted me and asked me to be one of their seven weekly hosts for the new group, the “Writing Essential.” Although it entailed several hours of work a week, I considered it an excellent opportunity to connect with readers and writers alike. I’ve built up quite a following on that site, and it remains one of my favorite interactive places to hang out. You got it!

If you'd like publish to the Writing Essentials group, join at http://writing.gather.com/ and then click on the "join button" on the left hand column. Remember, when you publish your article, add "Writing" to your choice of groups, and don't forget to include the tag, "writing." - - - - - Aaron Paul Lazar wasn’t always a mystery writer. It wasn’t until eight members of his family and friends died within five years that the urge to write became overwhelming. “When my father died, I lost it. I needed an outlet, and writing provided the kind of solace I couldn’t find elsewhere.” Lazar created the Gus LeGarde mystery series, with the founding novel, DOUBLE FORTÉ (2004), a chilling winter mystery set in the Genesee Valley of upstate New York. Like Lazar’s father, protagonist Gus LeGarde is a classical music professor. Gus, a grandfather, gardener, chef, and nature lover, plays Chopin etudes to feed his soul and thinks of himself as a “Renaissance man caught in the 21st century.”



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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.)

Book Leads to Freelance Success ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
One of the off - shoots of Carol White's book is that she has been invited to write professionally (read that "paid") for a variety of publications. She says, "Soon I will be writing a series titled "Day Trips from..." for RoadTripAmerica.com. Here is the link to read it.
http://www.roadtripamerica.com/DayTrips/Day - Trips - from - Portland - Oregon.htm

New Editing Service ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Authors' Coalition member Karen Carter has opened Karen Carter Communications (www.KCCommunications.blogspot.com). She is offering editing services. Karen's motto is "Client - focused editing."



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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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From Anne Louise Reinhard to You

Humor Hints

In trying to write a one or two - sentence “Thought of the Day” for my website, I’ve learned some valuable things. First, I don’t seem to have a thought every day, at least not one worth sharing. Second, sometimes it’s hard to keep even a simple thought brief. In trying to write a humorous sentence about the level of personal growth I’ve achieved at this point in my life, I ran into so much trouble that you’d have thought I was trying to condense Homer’s Odyssey into a limerick.

I started with “What if the greatest sign I have of my personal growth is to accept the toilet paper roll going forwards OR backwards?” Then I tried “Is it a bad thing that at my age, the greatest achievement of personal growth that I’ve made is accepting the toilet paper roll hanging in either direction.” Even longer. Less funny.

I decided to get to the critical questions: what exactly do you call what the toilet paper does – hanging? Rolling? Unrolling? Facing? Going with the classic engineering philosophy – - keep it simple, stupid - - I decided to just say that the toilet paper “goes” either way. And personal growth – is that achieved? Grown? Made? Knitted? I like “achieved” because it sounds like a real accomplishment has been made, which it hasn’t, and with any luck, setting up that false impression will make this funnier.
I ended up with this, "At this point in my life, I’d have to say that my single greatest achievement in personal growth is to accept the toilet paper going in either direction.”

That’s an awful lot of work for a sentence, not to mention a pathetic commentary on my life. But hey, at least for today I have a thought to post. - - - - - Reach Anne Louise at annelouise@annelouise.net. Read more of her humor at www.annelouise.net.


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Endorsement:" I am so happy for you to receive a second award [Reader Views Literary Award] for The Frugal Editor. I bought this book a week ago, and I love it. I can already see the improvement in my work. Thank you. You deserve this award." ~ Katherine Harms, author
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Tip: Do you twitter? I love it. It's fast and keeps me connected. I'm just starting and you know I believe in content, not chit - chat. So you won't find what I ate for breakfast on my twits. Find our what it's all about at www.twitter.com. One author is writing a twit novel. Join me at http://twitter.com/carolynhowardjo


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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://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/AC_Promotional_Videos,%20Logos%20&%20More .
You know you want it on your website! Be sure to link it to the AC site, too! And there is a cross - promotional slide show there that will add movement and color to your site or blog, even if you aren't featured on it. It's all about Karma. ( - :
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Tip from Patrika Vaughn, authors' advocate (www.acapella.com): Find an Expert. The Internet is loaded with subject experts who will accept questions via a website or e - mail and send back a personalized answer. If you need an answer to a very specific question or need to find someone with specific knowledge on a very specialized subject, find an expert at Sources & Experts (http://metalab.unc.edu/slanews/internet/experts.html) or FACSBET (http://facsnet.org/sources_online/main.htm). This site puts you in touch with think tanks, special interest organizations, government, academic and private sector experts.



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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 2009's LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books with Christine Alexanians, tinooshik@yahoo.com
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Tip: What's your best desktop grammar companions? Three grammar girls have the answer for you. See my Frugal, Smart and Tuned - In Editor blog, www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com.



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"AC is the current that powers your writing career." http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
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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 she sometimes throws in a resource for you.)

In the next couple issues, Elizabeth will explain some rights terms.

FIRST WORLD ENGLISH: If you sell the right to be the first in the entire English - speaking world to publish the work, you won't be able to sell First American, First Canadian, First British, First Australian or any other first. Sell First World English and you've eliminated the opportunity to sell First Rights to every English - speaking country in the world so if you do it, be sure you get paid well enough and that your publisher will promote it in all the English - speaking countries. - - - - - 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: Harlequin author June Shaw dishes on some ways to keep your book alive by selling different rights. Here ideas should give even traditionally published authors bound by strict contracts a few ideas. Go to 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: Do you have videos to post? Try www.smilingmonk.com and www.mogulus.com in addition to the usuals like YouTube, Veoh, Google Video, etc. I've used several of mine on the various social networks (like Squidoo, MySpace, BookMarket.ning.com, etc) and on my website and blogs.


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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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An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Time, Oh Time, Where Do You Go?

Forgive me, for I have sinned against time.

My client, Dan Skelton, started writing his novel RENASCENCE in October 2007. The completed manuscript is around 100,000 words. While he was writing it, he taught classes at two different universities, commuting to one of them several times a week. He and I bounced sections of his book back and forth almost daily over e - mail during this period, which took a great deal of his time. He finished the manuscript on June 21st, just before midnight on Summer Solstice. Aside from teaching and writing, he also took time to be a grandfather to his two grandchildren (including going to soccer games) and helped around the house. He read deeply.

What is truly amazing is that this busy man who still essentially teaches full time and continues commitments to his family, can, and did, produce a rich and wonderful novel while living his regular life. He wrote mostly on weekends and completed the book over summer break – although he taught a summer class.

I have whined for years about not having the time to write. Now, through the example of this former professor of mine, I see the error of my ways. It’s not that I don’t have the time, it’s that I don’t make an appointment with myself to do it. There’s always something else to do, as there always will be. It’s the time commitment that Dan Skelton made to Renascence that produced a completed manuscript and put it in my hands to sell.

Writers, artists and other creative people have to make appointments with their work. Nothing creative goes on if you are not consistently in the chair writing. I’ve known Skelton on and off for forty years. He was serious about his work when he was 30 and is still serious about it at 69. He’s a great example of what it takes to be committed to the craft.

What I want to get through in my Itty Bitty column this week is – STICK WITH IT! Have a time that you write, even for thirty minutes a day. Pulitzer Prize - winning Poet, Mary Oliver said in her little volume, A Poetry Handbook, that if the creative heart and the skills of the conscious mind fail to keep their appointment with one another, nothing creative happens. But, if you DO keep your appointment with your creative ability, your Muse begins to know when you will be there and starts arriving at the same time.

Below are some good links to help you make and keep your appointment with writing. There’s even a calendar! Will YOUR manuscript be ready in nine months? I hope so.

Online Calendar – 2008 and 2009 (Select the Year)
http://incompetech.com/beta/cal - monthly/

A Poetry Handbook, Mary Oliver, 1994
http://www.amazon.com/Poetry - Handbook - Mary - Oliver/dp/0156724006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1216571164&sr=8 - 1

Five Tips for Finding Writing Time – Michael Stelzner
http://www.copyblogger.com/find - time - to - write/

Finding Time to Write – PoeWar
http://www.poewar.com/finding - time - to - write/

“Time and the Writer” – Moira Allen
http://www.writing - world.com/basics/time.shtml

Brainy Quotes – Mary Oliver
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mary_oliver.html
- - - - - Mindy Phillips Lawrence www.freewebs.com/mplcreative is the author of One Blue Star and co - author of The Complete Writer. She is also the publicist and literary agent for Dr. Dan Skelton and representative for the fiction work of Bev Walton - Porter. She is in the process of researching a novel titled Alone is Where We Begin. Blogging at: www.mplcreative.blogspot.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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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching:

(I'm taking the months of June and July off to write, so my schedule is limited. It doesn't mean I don't love you all!)

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 www.home.earthlink.net/ ~pero/moonday.html.

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NEW! Evie Ybarra will interview Carolyn Howard - Johnson on her Ventura evening drive talk show, "Talk with Evie" on Wednesday, July August 13 at 6 pm. Listen in on live radio in Ventura area or on the website at www.1400kkzz.com. We'll be talking about getting the information you've been stowing in your scrapbooks and journals in print. It's designed for record - keepers, the photographers, genealogists and history - makers among us.

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be the featured interview October 10, 2008 on Novel Journey, recently named one of Writer's Digest's top websites for writers. The site is known for its author interviews, commentary on the writing life and book giveaways, and appears on My Space News. Novel Journey has become a "must visit" blog that is frequented by publicists, editors, publishers and multi - published authors. The Novel Journey contributors have crafted questions designed to guarantee that each post will offer something valuable to our growing readership.
http://www.noveljourney.blogspot.com/

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The f r e ^ Muse Online Writers' Conference, sponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard - Johnson, is accepting early registration. Nearly 2,000 attended last year and openings are limited. Learn more about this year's conference, October 13 to 19th, and how you can assure your spot in 2008. We will present an all - new program soon. Carolyn will do a seminar on "Query Letters! Editing them perfectly for a great first impression." Go to: For more information click here:
http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com

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 Carolyn Howard - Johnson will speak to the California Writers Club of San Fernando Valley at 1 pm on December 13, 2008. It's at the Encino Community Center, 4939 Balboa Blvd (just north of Ventura Blvd.), Encino, CA 91316. Learn more about the year's programs www.calwriterssfv.com and sign up to join. It's a dynamic group. E - mail is cwcsfv@gmail.com.


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Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile

(Definitions in the next few newsletters are from www.butlerwebs.com/jokes/definitions.htm.You might have some favorite neologisms, metaphors or similes that make you smile. If so, please contribute.)

"DICTIONARY: A place where success comes before work."
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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

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!

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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.

Ordering Information:
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 or at Amazon where it is discounted:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/193299310X/qid=1149015406/sr=2 - 1/ Order it as an e - book at http://starpublish.com/carolyn_howard - johnson.htm

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 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/

This Is the Place,
Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings,
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/

Contact Information
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

http://www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com War. Peace. Tolerance. And Our Soldiers.

And now! Squidooing at
http://www.squidoo.com/HowToDoItFrugallyforAuthors
and http://www.squidoo.com/carolynhoward - johnson