To read this newsletter in PDF (with a bit more pizzazz) go to:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Aug_30_2008.pdf


August 30, 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.

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. I also tell writers to be patient with other writers when they make editing boo - boos. We're all human, this letter comes out weekly and it's long!

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Contents

Regular Features
*Notes from Carolyn (Editorial)
*Tips Galore! (They're scattered, you'll just have to find them!)
*Opportunities: Contest
*Thank Yous (They're full of resources if you pause to read them)
*On Poetry
*Author Successes (Also full of resources that have worked for your fellow subscribers)
*Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: “Labor Day Ruminations“
*Humor Hints by Anne Louise
*Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
*Wordstuff ™

Special to this Issue
*Social Networking: Twenty seconds a day for great exposure
*Are ARCs Worth It?

Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers and Authors' Coalition Members:

I ran across an ad in a national magazine. It was for a book published by Lulu. I was impressed, not because the author paid money for an ad (as you may know I think that - - for usefulness - - paid ads are right down there at the bottom of all marketing tools). No. It was because Author Michael Audette did not hesitate to put what he was doing right out there, including the publisher of his book, Casanova which he billed as Respectable Reading (Yet Still Slightly Smutty). He made no attempt at hiding the press and had a sense of humor about the smut. In fact he used the term "Exclusively through Lulu Press" as if it were a great honor.

I can't help but think we'd all get over the prejudicial judging of books by the press they are printed on if everyone would hold head high and say, "I am published by xx." You fill in the blanks. That works even if you're ticked off with your traditional publisher, if you're completely self - published or if you're subsidy - or what some call partner - published. You have a great book. You did your homework. You published the way that fits your pocketbook, your title and your personality. Now stand up for it.

Happy promoting! And yes, writing and editing, too!
Carolyn Howard - Johnson

PS: I love Twitter. I hope you'll learn more about it in this newsletter and then come join me at www.twittter.com/carolynhowardjoh.

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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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Yep, I'm Writing a New Book!
Twenty Seconds a Day for Great Exposure
By Carolyn Howard - Johnson, author of the award - winning Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't
Yes, a new book for writers. . And, as always, it will be content laden with information you can use no matter where you are in the publishing and/or promotion process. This is an excerpt from it on micro blogging. To be more exact, on Twittering.

Most authors have heard by now that social networking can be good for the health of their books. Most authors also have trouble finding time to write, so they can only spend so much of it chit - chatting online, however much they'd like to. Here are some specifics for streamlining your social networking to make it work for you, not against you.
 It's OK to put up a profile on a network (a complete one, please - - nothing shoddy) and then sit back and let others invite you. Just being present is a good thing. It's about exposure.
 Unless you are just having fun, forget adding people in your neighborhood or old high school to your network. That is, unless they would also be possible readers of your book. Invite and accept people with whom you share career interests. Note that if they are interested in what you're doing, they'll probably find you. Or keep one of your networks for poking and fun walls and use the others to do serious networking.
 Build your buddy lists slowly and methodically. Make a list of those who are influential in you fields that are related to the subject or theme of your book. Ask them one or two at a time so you can connect with a couple of personal messages, perhaps explore a bit with each of them how you might work together.
Caveat: Some networks offer a way for you to use the list from your Yahoo or AOL accounts to invite people wholesale. That probably won't give you the advantages you're looking for and could backfire because it may feel a little spammy to some. Further, I saw someone booted from Twitter.com recently, presumably because she had invited 1,723 people in two days.
 Keep your biography (or profile) updated.
 Once you have a large group of friends you can create events on Facebook and some others. I like to recycle, so I'd make them events that I market to your general audience (or your own niche) and then include your Facebook pals, too. You may attract social friends to your network that way; those who aren't already part of your network will need to sign on to participate. You'll be doing them a favor if you're providing information that they need.
 On some social networks you'll find a bar on your profile page that tells you which of your friends are also logged in; that lets you connect with them easily and personally to offer them ideas, ask for help or whatever. This feature alone is worth the time it will take to build a reasonably useful profile page on one of these networks. Don't use it frivolously, though. Your network friends may be short on time, too. And they may start ignoring you, or worse, block you.
 Add your social network widgets (little logos that help people click through to your social network profile page) on you blog(s) and website(s). Mention them in your e - mail signature, too. Social networks are like anything else. For them to be successful, you'll need to promote them.
 When people join you on Twitter, add a welcome to yours. Let people know why they should know your new follower.
CHJ


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Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites is now accepting nominations for next year’s list. If you've found Sharing with Writers newsletter or blog or the resources at HowToDoItFrugally.com helpful in the past year, please send your nomination to writersdig@fwpubs.com. Put "101 Websites" in the subject line. Please do it now. Jan 1, 2009, is the deadline and you know how the holidays get! ( - :
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Tip: When someone invites you to a reputable social networking site, take a minute to join and build a good profile that focuses on your expertise and your books. It might take you 1/2 hour to an hour to do a great job. You don't have to spend tons of time after that, but you'll have a presence there so your readers and fellow authors can find you.



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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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Tip: On invitation, I joined a social networking group for writers called Chocolate Pages Network. http://chocolatepagesnetwork.com/cgi - bin/login.cgi. When you go to explore it, you'll see that I believe in appealing to all niches that would be interested in my book(s). We authors (and people) are one!


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My blog, War, Peace, Tolerance and Our Soldiers is where I get to nag and rag and 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
Sponsor a Booth at the "New York Is Book Country" book fair . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . under the Authors' Coalition banner get full Authors' Coalition promotional support (newsletter, blog, website advertising, etc.). Fair management is offering a special price with deadline. You would be in charge, renting out signing spots to help you cross promote. E - mail me with "Authors' Coalition NY Fair" in the subject line at hojonews@aol.com.


Contribute Your Scam Experience to Kory Wells . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . a friend I made at last year's Southern Festival of Books (www.humanitiestennessee.org/festival) in Nashville says, "In a couple of weeks, I'll be giving a lecture about writing competitions to a group of writers at the Middle Tennessee State University Writer’s Loft (www.mtsu.edu/theloft). I'll be focusing on some basics that new writers need to know, like identifying reputable contests vs. scams, fee vs. no - fee contests, preparing a submission, and deciding what competitions, if any, they should enter.

Of course I have my own experience to draw on, but I'd also love to be able to summarize the experiences of other writers about contests. If your readers can take about two minutes and answer any or all of the questions in the following survey, I'd be so appreciative! I'd like to hear even from writers who don't usually enter competitions. They can click on the link and answer one or two of the questions (most won't apply), so my results aren't skewed to only those writers who love competitions!

"Writers can leave their e - mail address for notification of a follow up summary I'll publish sometime in the future, but I will not share e - mail addresses with anyone, period, and I will not personally identify any responses without permission."

The survey is at http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/62932/kory - wells - survey - on - writing - competitions. There's also a link on Kory's home page at www.korywells.com.


Enter USA Book News Contest. . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . has put out its final call for entries for the National Best Books 2008 Awards. It is now celebrating its 5th year of recognizing excellence in the publishing industry, The National "Best Books" Awards, sponsored by USA Book News, offers incredible media coverage for winners and finalists during the busy 2008 retail holiday season. Plus, if you enter by Sept. 30, 2008, you'll receive an immediate one - month full - color listing on USABookNews.com, visited by thousands of book lovers per month, if you enter by September 30, 2008. See http://www.usabooknews.com/bestbooksawards2008.html


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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 Rachel Reibeling Durfor . . .
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. . .. at www.rebeccasreads.com for including my little essay on the pronoun "I" in her newsletter. RebeccasReads is a great review site. Subscribe to the newsletter by going to RebeccasReads.com.


Thank You to Both Jewel Sample and Nikki Leigh . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for passing on the Brilliant WeBlog Premio 2008 award to my blogs, Sharing with Writers and the New Book Review. Peer recognition is always the best kind of recognition! You can find information on how this snazzy little award can benefit your promotion campaign at both www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com and www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com . Jewel's blog is at www.jewelsamples.blogspot.com and Nikki's is at www.nikkisreviews.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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From Anne Louise Reinhard to You

Humor Hints

Giving this particular hint is just plain embarrassing, because I’m pretty sure that most writers “got” this early on. But not me.

Most of the time, I'm fortunate in that once I’ve got an idea, even when I’m not writing, it’s percolating: bubbling around in my brain, gradually becoming a lucid stream of ideas. Then when I do have writing time, that idea pours out fairly easily. Although it may need loads of additives later on, at least I've got something to start with. But this process hinges on my actually having an idea. And occasionally, in spite of visits to the tabloids at the supermarket, observations of family, and ridiculous memories of my childhood, I’ve been stumped.

I decided to try something new - - take the advice I’ve been hearing for years from experienced writers, "Just sit down and start writing; eventually, something will come of it.” So, on a day completely bereft of percolating ponderings, I gave it a shot - - just sat down and started writing. I got about ¾ of a page into it, and suddenly, I was telling a story - - and it was funny stuff! Now I start the day with an entry in the “rambling and hoping" file - - it’s a great way to prime the percolator.

May your keyboard never falter!

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Reach Anne Louise at annelouise@annelouise.net. Read more of her humor at www.annelouise.net.


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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.
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Tip: Add your blogs, your videos and your slideshows to your social networking groups. On some social networking sites, it's as simple as adding a URL to YouTube or Veoh. On others you'll need to use HTML but that's easy, too. It's really just a copy and paste process.


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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
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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.

May Lattanzio, sent us this really neat resource for poets. http://www.poetrymagic.co.uk/ . By the way, May, a poet certainly but also a photographer, lent her snaps of butterflies to my next chapbook co - authored with Magdalena Ball. It's called "She Wore Emerald Than." It's a chapbook of poetry for mothers. Watch for it!


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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: One thing I've told other aspiring writers to try is: Read your work aloud! It's amazing how you can polish the rhythm and flow by hearing the words instead of mentally reading them. Perhaps this is an old technique, but I've never heard anyone mention it. I started doing this when preparing presentations at work. - - - - Raff Ellis, Author Kisses from a Distance, www.raffellis.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.)

Jewel Sample, author of Flying Hugs and Kisses . . .
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. . . has begun a blog for kids called Jewel of a Book.com (www.jewelofabook.blogspot.com). She says, "I hope my blog will encourage elementary - middle school children to read and explore other cool kid - safe stuff on the Internet, like how big is the world's largest jigsaw puzzle? Or when were jigsaw puzzles first made?" I also provide an opportunity for children to write a 2 - 3 sentence book review of any book and have it posted with their first name and grade with parent permission (parent permission is given when the review comes from the parents e - mail address and indicates approval. If you like what you see, please refer your children (that includes students) or grandchildren and kid friends there. Any feedback is appreciated."



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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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In - the - Know Vocabulary: "Cloud computing" is a word I heard from author Leora Krygier, author of When She Sleeps. After some research, I found that its exact meaning is about as cloudy as its name. But for our purposes, it is computing delivered as a service, especially virtual storage. If you haven't been using that part of cloud computing, you should be. Think! If my computer goes down my most important files will be saved by a service that provides a safe haven for my most vital stuff. I'm using the gigabytes provided by my membership at www.authorsden.com (about $125 a year for the gold membership that offers this). There are certainly others. If any of you are cloud computing - - particularly the information storage aspect of it - - I'd like to know about any special techniques you're using and what service you're using.


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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: If you don't get a review when you first submit your ARC to review journals, don't give up. Research the reviewers who write for that journal or site, send them personal queries. That's how I got my novel, This Is the Place, reviewed by Library Journal and it really made a difference in library sales. Warning: You have to find a reviewer who likes your genre and submits reviews in it. Just any reviewer won't do. That's even true for Amazon reviewers.


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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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News: Microsoft plans to launch a Social BookMarking service next month. It will be in the vein of Digg and Technorati. I'm not sure that anyone needs dozens of these sites (called by various names). But anyone with a blog should use at least one. (See last week's issue for how to use Technorati to increase traffic on your blog). Maybe it would be good to get in early on Microsoft's. I mean with Microsoft's power who knows how it can affect your readership!


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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: Have you joined a writers’ organization? You should. Any one of them (including Authors' Coalition) offer learning opportunities and web exposure. Of course, you have to follow through and utilize what they offer. Find a short list of them at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Click on Resources for Writers and then scroll down a bit.


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"AC is the current that powers your writing career." http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
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TIP: How do you respond to a complaint? Quickly and nondefensively, that's how. You will probably only see a complaint from your side at first. So turn the complaint around. Acknowledge it. Then - - at least most times - - do whatever it takes to make your reader happy. A new book is a small price to pay for your reputation. It's a small price as advertising expenditures go, too.


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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: Interested in participating in writers' conferences, book fairs, or tradeshows. Find lists at http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/book_fairs,_tradshows.htm


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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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Q&A a la Ann Landers

Are ARCs Worth It?

Question:

From an unidentified e - mail comes this question: Is producing ARCS and sending them out worth it?

Answer:

The thing is, we never know what good a review in a big review journal can do for us if we don't try for them and we can't do that without producing ARCS. Reviews in these publications can mean bestseller status for your book.

The other side of the coin, of course, is that it's wicked difficult, even with a properly - produced and timely - sent ARC, to get a review from one of these big guys if your book is published on any kind of digital press (meaning it uses toner instead of ink). This is popularly called Print - On - Demand though that term is used incorrectly to mean self - or subsidy - published. If your book falls into this category, producing an ARC and mailing it out may be too expensive in both time and dollars to matter. You get to evaluate your situation and take your choice.

The good news is that The Frugal Book Promoter not only gives you a list of the most important (read that influential) places to send an ARC, the time expectations for them, the website URLs to check to see if any of their guidelines have changed, and even a way to make galleys yourself relatively inexpensively. I also included a list of some reviewers that don't judge a book by the press it's printed on and some who may choose to review your book long after the others' cut - off dates.

Here's my advice. If you've always dreamed of being a bestseller, bite the bullet and do ARCS but do them right. Know your stuff. If you have more moderate expectations and are publishing digitally, it may not be worth the expense and stress.

One last thing. In my book you also learn some ways around producing ARCS and/or galleys so far in advance but here it is in a nutshell:. You use some of your traditional run books. To do that, you'll need to set the official release date out 12 to 16 weeks to accommodate sending them out. To make them official ARCs, you simply use a label to include the ARC info and adhere it to the inside cover of the book and a rubber stamp to mark the cover "Advance Reader Copy."



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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

Labor Day Rumination
By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

A creation of the labor movement, Labor Day was first celebrated in the United States on Tuesday, September 5, 1882 in New York City. From there, it blossomed into a national holiday to honor those who work.

Writers work a lot. Sometimes unsung and unknown, they ply their craft on myriads of computers, in the pages of journals and with pen and paper. In recent years, writers have been perceived differently as the marketplace has changed. Where they used to work on columns, articles or news reports, their work has been renamed with the Animal Farmish title “CONTENT.” It’s no longer writing but content. My, my. And, supposedly, content isn’t worth the same respect or money. There have been court battles over rights, nasty contract disputes and all sorts of havoc in the writing world. Yet, writers keep putting one work after the other, their wonders to perform.

Think of a newspaper, magazine, theater or movie without writing. Impossible!

Labor Day can either be a holiday or a time in which people labor (work) in a different way. That’s what I do. I get the day off from my day job and use it for my writing, publicity and representing gig. Writers don’t take holidays - - unless it’s to get research for an article or story. Writers wake up in the morning thinking character, idea, point of view and go to bed thinking the same way 365 days of the year.

This week, my Itty Bitty Column celebrates the work of writers I either know, have met or from whom I have autographed volumes on my shelf. There are so many more out there writing their hearts out. Let’s recognize all those who weave words into the fine fabric of stories, articles, plays and movies. They are a wonderful lot. Take a look at their sites and read their work.

Keep ‘em busy at their labors!

LINKS TO WRITERS

Carolyn Howard - Johnson
http://carolynhoward - johnson.com

Bev Walton - Porter (newly Beverly Sninchak)
http://www.bevwaltonporter.com

Pat McGrath Avery
http://www.patmcgrathavery.redenginepress.com

Joyce Faulkner
http://www.joycefaulkner.com

Kathe Gogolewski
http://www.tri - studio.com/kathegogolewski.html

Dan Skelton
www.freewebs.com/drdanskelton

Vicki Hinze
http://www.vickihinze.com

Sue Monk Kidd
http://www.suemonkkidd.com

Sue Grafton
http://www.suegrafton.com

Christine Goff
http://www.christinegoff.com

Eileen Dreyer
http://www.eileendreyer.com/index.shtml

Ridley Pearson
http://www.ridleypearson.com

Shel Horowitz
http://www.principledprofit.com/aboutshel.html

Feather Schwartz Foster
http://www.featherfoster.com/

- - - - -
Mindy Phillips Lawrence www.freewebs.com/mplcreative is the author of One Blue Star and co - author of The Complete Writer. She is also a publicist and literary agent. She is in the process of researching a novel titled Alone is Where We Begin. Blogging at: http://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 month of August as vacation time (sort of). so my schedule is limited. It doesn't mean I don't love you all! (Nope, June and July weren't as productive as I hoped!)


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 registrations. Nearly 2,000 attended last year and openings are limited. Learn more about this year's conference, October 13 to 19th. I will present 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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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.
It’s hotter than August! ( - :
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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.)

"COMMITTEE: A body that keeps minutes and wastes hours."


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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!

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.

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.

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