To read this newsletter in PDF (with a bit more pizzazz) go to:
http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/AllTipsfall_2008.rtf

September 11, 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

Special to this Issue
*Special Picture - Perfect Proposal Offer
*This is your AllTips Issue!

Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers and Authors' Coalition Members:
Thank goodness for friends and for clients who, after all, are friends, too. I get at least as many great ideas from them as I give to them. It's true of teaching, too. So throw "students" into that mix.
Here's what prompted this ultra mini rant of gratitude. I have been working with Allyn Evans (she blogs at www.allynevans.blogspot.com) on a proposal for her next book. She read The Frugal Editor and "The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less" before she started to write her proposal. After she wrote it she returned to the book and short to fine - tune her submission. Then she sent it to me before she began to shop to shop her book to agents. Because she had done her homework (in all the right places, of course!) I was able to give her a great deal on my regular book proposal service. Then she suggested I offer a similar deal to others. Duhhhh. Now why didn't I think of that!
So, here (before I leave on vacation so you'll have plenty of time to think about it!) is "The Great Book Proposal Critique Deal."

You follow Allyn's example. Order and read The Frugal Editor http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870/ ($18.57) and the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal"
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YG6O5U/ (49 cents!). Read them carefully. Then after you've applied what you learned to your proposal, send it to me and I'll critique (not write) it for you.

Instead of my usual $250 f e e for that, it will be $125. That's because it won't be nearly so much work with all that knowledge you'll have under your belt. And I'll also edit and critique your query letter for that same price.

Now, you know how I am about cross - promoting. So, when I'm done, I'll also hope that you will review both the Short and The Frugal Editor on Amazon or BN.com. Even if it's just a couple of sentences each. And of course, if your book proposal delivers positive results, I want to hear about that as well!

We'll make it a win - win! And it will be especially lovely if you get that book idea sold fast because of it. Then we can both write thank you notes to Allyn. (You know how I am about thank you notes!)


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

PS: I have another vacation planned. That means you have a chance to go back over your old Sharing with Writers and pay special attention to all the tips in this special edition. Your next letter probably won't be out until after October 4 - - something like that. Let's see how jet lag treats me.

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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: A tip from Jennifer Akers who is a fellow Tweeter. Use this website evaluator to rate and learn how to improve your Website: http://www.websitegrader.com/.


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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: If you get links back to your site in the "www" format and others that omit the "www," the search engines won't pick them all up and give your site the high marks it deserves. And it's those high marks that moves your site up on the search engine pages. I'm beginning to ask those who list my site as "http://HowToDoItFrugally.com" as "http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com. " It pays to keep all references uniform


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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: May Lattanzio sends this suggestion: If you're looking for a green publisher, go to http://www.inscribed.org/. They say that they looking for "the unsual."


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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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Tip: Read Email Marketing by Winton Churchill. It's not written for writers but I think writers will glean a lot of essential information from it about marketing, S P A M, how not to sell and a whole lot of other things. Go to my f r ^ ^ review blog and scroll down a bit. www.thenewbookreview.blogpsot.com. While you're there, check out how that blog can help you extend the life of your favorite review. Submission guidelines are in the left column.


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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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Tip: When you send out e - mails whether it be newsletters or invitations or anything else, your subject line is very important. You want to let readers know what problem might be solved when they open that e - mail. In other words, they have to clearly know how they will benefit from it, which - - in turn - - will get them to open your message.


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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: Studies have shown that as much as 80% of the leads people get at tradeshows and other business events aren't followed up on. That - - one must assume - - includes Book Expo America, book fairs and even the places that authors speak like book clubs for readers, writers' organizations, and conferences. What a waste! When you take a business card, make a note on it that will jog your memory of what you want to do with it. When you print your own business cards it should tell the recipient what you can do for others. When you have a business card in your possession, act on it and act on it fast (before the person you met doesn't remember you or the event any longer.)


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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:.Because Authors' Coalition sponsors book fairs, I am often asked how many books an author will sell at one. Good marketers know that the word "sell" is kind of a dirty word. Of course you want to sell but your first and foremost job is to forge relationships and offer something that will help people get what they want - - whatever that may be. Thus, your promotions should be more about letting people see who you are, branding yourself as an author and building your contact lists. So, always have a sign - up sheet Always follow through with your networking efforts when you get back to your computer. You not only want to reach out to those people again, you also want to save those addresses on your contact list.


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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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TIP: Did you know that people are more receptive to the old - fashioned kind of e - mails (like this newsletter) than they are to beautiful HTML - produced communications? They mistrust the fancy stuff. It feels too corporate to them. Looks too much like a sales pitch.


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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: I met an author the other day who had hired a publicist who included in her nearly $2,000 fee some printed pens for the author to give out. The pens were very nice and the author was thrilled because it felt as if she was getting something for her money. As we talked, I realized that the author had gotten very little else. The publicist had provided a couple of local radio shows, a couple of Internet radio shows and three online reviews. That may seem like a lot to a new author, but trust me. With some networking, and a little research you can do that on your own. You can even order your own pens! So, unless you have no time and lots of money, please go back and read your copy of The Frugal Book Promoter before you hire a publicist. If you still want to, please hire one with a working Rolodex! That means contacts galore, preferably contacts with people who get tons viewers or readers. TONS!!


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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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Tip: What are you giving away f r e e? I hope it's not stuff that gets tossed in a junk drawer. It's much better to give people something that will help them out of their pain or satisfy their curiosity. That's why white papers, articles, tip sheets, etc are among the best things you can give away. And they rarely cost more than the time it takes to share your brilliance. What is it people want to know about your book? Authors' Coalition member, Linda Ballou's novel is about a Hawaiian princess. So she could tell people about the curiosities of Hawaii that people might want to know. Her AC page is at http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/linda_ballou.htm.


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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: When you sit down to write a query letter, a proposal, a cover letter, your newsletter, etc. do you suddenly get a case of business - ese? Don't sanitize what you write. No, you don't want to tell everyone your book is "awesome" - - that's for them to decide - - but you do want your voice, your personality to show through


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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: Planning a big book fair season? You'll want display implements like retail stores use. Try www.montcopackaging.com. They'll even imprint the header cards for you. BTW, Don't forget to sign up before Sept. 16 to get a discount for the Authors' Coalition signing spots at the LA Times/UCLA Festival of books. Contact Christine Alexanians at chalexwrite@yahoo.com.



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Authors' Coalition members! For credibility, use the AC logo on your promotional materials. Ask for it by sending an e - mail to HoJoNews@aol.com or download it with a click from the AC site: http://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: Do you know about www.alexa.com? It will tell you how your site is rated for traffic. If it isn't doing as well as you thought, it may be time to hire some help or Google some words like "getting website traffic" and reading up on website optimization.


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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: When you format a proposal or a newsletter or about anything else, consider that many people multi task these days. That means they may not start at the beginning or read through to the end. So, if you're wise you'll use a little color or spacing or word art or logos or pictures or anything else you can think of to help people's eyes land on what they may be looking for. The bold red "Tips" in my newsletters are designed to help people do that. That's because I know that the tips are people's favorites.


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"AC is the current that powers your writing career." http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
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TIP: If you've been thinking about joining a list serve (you know, like Googlegroups or Yahoogroups!) you'll find a list of ones I like on the Authors' Coalition site at http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/recommded_links.htm. Tell them I sent you. Find other links you can use there, 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: Thinking about self - publishing. True self - publishing, not subsidy - or partner - publishing. I just added a list of digital (read that POD) printers on my HowToDoItFrugally website. http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/new_page_3.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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Tip: Do you have an e - book you use for promotion? If so, check out www.authorarcs.com. By posting there, you'll also get a nice backlink to your website.



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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: Bet you'd all like to see a list of places to get reviews. Some consider POD printed and self - published books. http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/major_review_journals.htm



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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


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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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be signing a new chapbook of poetry as well as her other books, including the HowToDoItFrugally series of books at the world renowned LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books the last weekend in April, 2009, on the UCLA Campus. To learn more about a signing position for yourself contact Christine Alexanians at chalexwrite@yahoo.com.
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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will appear on the Career Czar,
www.alltalkradio.net\careerczar on January 30, 2009. It is a unique Internet talk radio program focusing on all aspects of the world of careers. We'll be chatting about something dear to the hearts of baby - boomers - - reinventing yourself at retirement. With writing of course. The first segment will be about careers in freelance and journalism. The second segment will be about a career in fiction (novels and short stories). The third segment will be about poetry. The fourth segment will be about nonfiction - - specifically my nonfiction - - on how it's helped my career and that of others and how something similar can work for yours. Check out host Paul Bruno's website and enhance your career by getting connected with The Career Czar.”


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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.)

"COMPROMISE: The art of dividing a cake in such a way that everybody believes he got the biggest piece."


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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.

Although 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://starpublishllc.com/id43.html

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: 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