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http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Dec_11_2008.pdf

December 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 Sharing with Writers Subscribers

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, 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

~Note from Carolyn (Holiday Gift that Counts)
~Thank Yous (where you also find leads and great resources!)
~Tips and News Galore! (They're scattered, you'll just have to find them!)
~Opportunities
~Author Successes
~On Poetry
~Humor Hint by Anne Louise
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: NEW YEAR COMING!
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

Special to this Issue

~Use your online retail stores to promote from Janet Elaine Smith
~An Announcement about Authors' Coalition
~Oh! How Rejection Hurts by Aaron Paul Lazar
~Q&A a la Ann Landers - - on newsletters
~Never Waste a Good Recession by Jim Cox



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Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers and Authors' Coalition Members:

One of the best ways to make friends (even influence enemies if you have any) is to do what Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, did recently. That is, just send someone an unsolicited endorsement. Here's what she sent to me:

Carolyn, from one newsletter publisher to another, I just wanted to let you
know how super your newsletter is. I know how much work goes into these
things, and yours is one of the very best - - - consistently chock fully of
meaty tips - - - a must for authors and publishers!

Joan

P.S. Yes, you may use this as a testimonial.

Now, do you really think there would be many who pass up an opportunity like that. And look, because she is so generous, she gets a credit (also unsolicited) and a link to her website and a recommendation to subscribe to her newsletter back from me. So it appears that giving an endorsement from the hears may also be one of the best out there for people who need to promote anything! So find her at http://publicityhound.com.

And notice how she - - being the great publicist she is - - made it easy for me. I didn't have to write back begging on my hands and knees to use what she said. Her offer didn't lessen her beautiful gesture. It increased it! We're all busy people.

So as they say, these days, I'm passing it forward. And I hope you will, too. Especially at this season.

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

PS: There will be no new newsletter until January 1. Everyone needs a holiday break, I know.

PSS: Subscriber Terri Marie offers this beautiful "Christmas movie card to SWW subscribers. She did a lovely job and, I believe, does similar videos as a service to others. Here it is: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLYiXbhjHeM

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Please note the new Resource for Writers page on Contests at www.HowToDoItFrugally.com. =====================================================


Letters - to - the Editor
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Carolyn:
You spend a lot of time telling writers how to promote their books.

I have a new book, and I have launched the quietest book opening in U.S. publishing history.

By design.

Everybody wants attention.
Not me.

You can't buy my book on Amazon or in a bookstore. Not yet.

But you can buy it at my dentist's office, my self - storage center, my restaurant in a gas station and, of course, my hair stylist.
Read about it on http://www.watchdognation.com/blog/

PS You last wrote about me after the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop three years ago when you saw me carrying my oversized book cover around the airport, remember?

Dave Lieber, http://www.yankeecowboy.com

Editor's Note: Ha! Dave, you don't fool me. You're promoting the heck out of your book and the methods you're using happen to be listed in The Frugal Book Promoter. But the twist you've put on it is pure genius.

PS: Dave gave me permission to use his letter to me when I promised to do it without promoting him. And, yes, I remember him well. Who wouldn't remember a guy wandering around an airport with a huge - - and I mean huge - - book under his arm, telling people that it made great reading for travelers?


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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: This tip comes from Angela Macintosh, guru at http://WOW.womenonwriting.com: "If you love writing contests and critique groups, FanStory.com is for you. It is an interactive site that allows you to post your stories, enter contests, and receive feedback. As soon as you post a story, essay, or poem, you start getting reviews and critiques from the community. With the help of FanStory members, I quickly learned where I needed improvement, and began to polish my short stories."


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Please paste this little blurb - - perhaps with a little endorsement - - in your newsletter or website: To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e - mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to HoJoNews@aol.com or go to www.howtodoitfrugally.com for an auto subscribe box.
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Author Successes

Shelley Hussey Puts Fun In Dys - fun - ctional
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Shelley Hussey shamelessly puts the “fun” back in dys - fun - ctional. Her book is I’m Not OK, You’re Not OK, But That’s OK With God.:Finding the Humor and Healing in Life, was just released. James D. Mallory, Jr., M.D. and Melanie Wilson, Ph.D. are contributors. Her book is a testament to loving and laughing even while living with anxiety, depression, and other mental dysfunctions. It's available on amazon.com and through author’s web site: www.shelleyhussey.com Take a happy pill–take Hussey’s book home. You’ll feel lighter in the morning.


Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Named Best Books Finalist . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The Slippery Art of Book Reviewing by Mayra Calvani was a National Best Books Awards finalist! This book was written not only with the aspiring reviewer in mind and for the established reviewer who needs a bit of refreshing but also for anybody - be they author, publisher, reader, bookseller, librarian or publicist, who wants to become more informed about the value, purpose and effectiveness of reviews. Learn more at www.slipperybookreview.wordpress.com


Yocheved Golani Finds New Edition Interests Other Publishers ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yocheved Golani's, It's My Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To: A Life Book that Helps You to Dry Your Tears and to Cope with a Medical Challenge, has sold around the world since its Labor Day weekend 2007. It is now being considered for a new edition. Yocheved says, "now competing publishers have become interested in my manuscript . . . .No fewer than four publishers in different parts of the world have contacted me these past few weeks. They want to publish the expanded version of my highly acclaimed people - helper. Two have offered to translate my book into other languages."
Yocheved will be available for interviews while she is in the USA. Contact her at giveretgolani@gmail.com or info@yochevedgolani.com


VH Melville Publishes . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . Death Toys for Quasar , a science fiction farce about Vi, a woman on the run from an evil corporation. Find it at http://diskuspublishing.com/


Loren Woodson's Passion of Maryam . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . was just awarded Honorable Mention (one of three books) in the Wild Card category of the 2008 London Book Festival www.londonbookfestival.com.


Humor Hint by Anne Louise . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I’m proud to have started my own writers’ group. Oddly enough, it was my lack of self - discipline that motivated me. I was trying to work my way through “Comedy Writing Secrets” by Mel Helitzer and Mark Shatz. The book is excellent, explaining the fundamentals of humor and leading the reader through writing exercises. But apparently, although you can lead the writer to humor, you can’t make her do much.

I had two problems: the first was self - discipline. I tried promising myself a brownie after each successfully completed exercise, but my definition of successful completion was getting looser and looser, and my waistband was doing the opposite. My second problem was brainstorming; I wasn’t producing much more than a few cerebral squalls. I figured it would be good idea to involve brain cells other than my own, and to be accountable to someone besides the brownie police.

Fortunately, my recruiting of additional brain cells was made easy for me; I had the perfect potential participants in my Women Writers monthly lunch club. June Casagrande, author of Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies and Mortal Syntax : 101 Language Choices That Will Get You Clobbered by The Grammar Snob - - Even If You're Right, started our Women Writers group via personal contacts and a Craig’s List invitation. I know others have started groups with classmates in writing courses, and others who started with one personal contact and built from there. I didn’t have to do any of that, just an e - mail to the lunch club and voilá - - we had a study group of 5 people. We meet every other week to discuss a chapter of the book, and we share our writing exercises. The work is going much better for me now that I’m not working alone, and the brownie police are getting a break.

May your keyboard never falter! - - - - Reach Anne Louise at annelouise@annelouise.net. Read more of her humor at www.annelouise.net.


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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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Thank Yous

Thank You to Kristi Holl . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. . . ...for including a personal endorsement of The Frugal Book Promoter on her links page for authors: http://www.kristiholl.com/links.htm

Thank You to Beth Morrow . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. . . .,, author of Mandi's Lucky Day, www.writer - inprogress.blogspot.com, for taking advantage of my f r ^^ offer for a copy of The Frugal Editor in exchange for a blog and Amazon review. What a gal. She says, "I reviewed The Frugal Book Promoter a few years ago for the Writer2Writer.com website and loved it - - have been meaning to get to the Editor as well. Everything you write is spot - on advice every author should know."

Thank You to J. Aday Kennedy . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. . . ...for the fun interview full of meaty promotion information and the nice display on her blog. Find it at: http://jadaykennedy.blogspot.com/2008/12/doing - it - right - book - signing - pointers.html It includes some new tips and some good reminder for promotion veterans. Remember, leaving comments with you Web address can help your book, too.


===================================================== 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: For a contemplative moment, go to SWW subscriber Joyce White's website and listen to her Christmas music. It's one I had never heard. (But then I'm not as with it as I should be!) Take just a moment. Please! http://www.sculptingtheheart.com/


Tip: Recently, a person I really trust mentioned a free tool he uses to measure his Web site. He says, "I tried it and immediately loved it. Here's the URL: http://www.Quantcast.com Quantcast is free; it's easy to use; it gives you good info quickly. I set it up a couple of weeks ago to measure my site, and within days it was giving me good accurate information on who visits my site. I spend about 2 minutes every day looking at the data."



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As always, I enjoy your newsletter, which invariably has something in it that gives me fresh ideas, contacts, or viewpoints. ~ Liz Babcock Editor of the East Sierra Branch of California Writers Club newsletter
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Tip: From Janet Elaine Smith, www.janetelainesmith.com. She says, "In your newsletter you say, Dover Publications sells clipart software and books. Try their B&W clipart, http://www.doverpublications.com..." There is another thing that is great from Dover Publications. They have very accurate paper dolls of countless historical people and eras. It's a great way to do research on the dress of the period you are writing about if you are working on a historical novel. My all time favorite is of Eleanor of Aquitaine. One day I'm going to write a book about her...


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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).
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Promote As You Buy for Christmas . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~.
. . . is a long tip from Janet Elaine Smith, www.janetelainesmith.com. She says,

"OK, here's the deal. I ordered a purple sweater from an online store called Woman's World. It is a cute Christmasy one that I will wear to the Red Hat Society Christmas party tomorrow. So, a couple of weeks after the sweater arrives, I get this e - mail from Woman's World, asking me to post a review on their website about the sweater. I did so. When I got to the end of the review, on which I check certain boxes, rating the quality, fit, etc. of the sweater, and then it has a place to put in any additional comments (you can see those comments on my blog). Then they ask, at the end of that, if you want to attach any pictures. I did, about my Christmas books, since the sweater is a Christmas one. Then they have a place where they ask you if they can post your comments to your (in this case MY) blog. I gave them permission. So, in less than 5 minutes it is there. I not only gave them an endorsement of their product, which will go up on their website for all of their customers to see, but in essence, they in turn endorsed my Christmas books by putting my comments on my blog, for all of my readers to see.

"Moral of the story: if you order something online, go back after you have gotten it and see if there is a place to post your review of the product. Even if the place doesn't put it up on your blog, find a way to tie your book to the product you purchased. This is one of those things that can work maybe better for fiction than it does for nonfiction. For example, if Billie A. Williams bought a necklace someplace (which I know she did for her contest for Ancient Secrets), if there is a place where she bought it to put up a review or comment about the necklace, she could tell how she is using it for a prize for her book, and that the necklace was even called "Ancient Secrets," which is the title of her book. Even if they don't put it up on her blog, everybody who goes to look at that necklace can see Billie's comments and review about the necklace. Hopefully, somebody might check out the book, and maybe even buy it!

"And I have already had 4 Google Alerts about people that have looked at the review at Woman's World and 2 for people who have looked at my blog."


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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: I just added an article on making your blog the best it can be by Prill Boyle to my website. Find it at www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/newsletter_&_blog.htm


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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.

Poetry Contest . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . Angela MacIntosh of WOW - womenonwriting.com urges poets to enter the next Fanstory.com poetry contest. Their contests are f r ^ ^ to registered and paying members.


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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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Announcement about Authors' Coalition . . .
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Though the website has closed because of a conflict of names with another organization and will not reopen because Joyce Faulkner and I need to focus more on our own writing, this Sharing with Writers newsletter will keep coming your way very nearly weekly. And the All Tips edition will too. Anyone who is a CURRENT, UP - To - DATE PAID members may e - mail me and I will make it up to you with f r ^^ advertising on the www.howtodoitfrugally.com Web site or other ways.


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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: When you feel ill - at - ease about repeated contact with the people on your lists - - be they readers, other authors, or media - - keep in mind that frequent communication works in your favor IF you keep your messages laden with beneficial information. Case in point, I send local writers an invitation to a seminar I am doing Saturday and was contacted by an events chairman at a library in another Southern California community to speak at her faccility. I don't believe that would have happened with a single e - mail, though it might have with a single, well - written query letter.


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Available: Audios from Audio Divas on many aspects of building a writing career. Here is the page where you'll find the full list at http://tri - studio.com/AUDIOCLASSESALL.html including one on "Do It Yourself Indexing." The first audio.
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Feature

Oh, How Rejections Hurts! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ By Aaron Paul Lazar
Rejection. Oh, how it stings. Most of us have been through it - - plenty. Seeking jobs, college admissions, love, or publication for our books. It hurts. Destroys our self - image. For a while, anyway. And it tears at the thin fabric in which we cocoon with our fragile writer's ego, protecting the inner belief that our work is valid.

A new writer recently e - mailed me after receiving a flurry of rejections from big agents. With a crushed spirit, she wrote:

"It makes no sense to me. If someone has written a book that is a good read, then why in the world would it not be recognized, published and read? The only answer that makes any sense is that it's not a particularly good read after all."

Alas, if it were only that simple. Let's step back and take a look at the situation.
You wrote a book. Your instincts tell you it's darned good. You envision an agent or publisher recognizing this and sweeping you up in their arms to share with the world. You dream of financial success, recognition, and that sweet validation that makes you feel you're a "real" writer.

That elusive dream haunts just about every new writer I've ever known. Then, after years of toiling, burning the midnight or early morning oil, sweating and suffering and bleeding onto the pages - - most realize, in time, that they'd better not quit their day jobs.

If every "good" book were accepted and published, we'd need a great deal more space to store and sell them. I've read that bookstores today stock only 2 - 3% of the published books in the world. Imagine all the "real" books that don't end up on their shelves? Now imagine all the good books that never get published. It's mind - boggling.

There are enormous quantities of books submitted annually to publishers, and only a relative handful of agents and editors to scan through the 0.05% that are accepted for the slush pile. They often receive hundreds of submissions per day. Imagine reading 100 e - mails every single day from authors who want to be heard? It wouldn't be hard to feel jaded in short order.

Publishers and agents have cut down their staffs, because of the economy, and it's probably even harder for them to get through the slush piles now, with the fear of job loss if their next pick doesn't bring in some cash.

There are plenty of horrible books submitted each year, too. But there are also hundreds, if not thousands, of very good books out there. Yours may be one of them. (If it isn't, keep on working on your skills until it is!)

Are you in this boat? Have you had your books summarily dismissed by the powers that be, over and over again?

Have you hired or courted superb writers to help you perfect your story? Have you scoured your book dozens of times for typos or inconsistencies? Have you researched the heck out of every point that needs confirmation? Have you assured that your dialog is crisp and believable? Have you hacked away at unnecessary adverbs and adjectives? Have you just plain told the story in the same voice you use to speak? And your book has still been rejected?

If not, count your lucky stars, for you are among one of the very few who got picked up at the starting gate. If so, let me share something with you.

Rejections may have nothing to do with the quality or value of your book. Most often, they have to do with the market, and what's "hot" this season. It could be the mood of the agent or editor who's reading your stuff, or the fact that your book slides between genres. Maybe it features young adults, but doesn't follow someone's blueprint for what a YA book needs to contain. Maybe it's absolutely perfect for a publisher, but they've already filled the slot for your genre on their list this year. Maybe the first level editor falls in love with your book, but her boss doesn't. Or you get all the way to the top of this year's short list, only to be told you didn't make the cut.

Sound familiar?

If you don't get picked up in the first five years by high profile agents or publishers, I recommend seeking a high quality small press. It's not easy to get into their world, either. But you don't usually need an agent, and they can provide a nurturing home for you, as well as help you get your books out to the public.

And let me tell you friends, it's that public, those lovely readers, who will provide the validation you've sought for so long. When the first person (who isn't family or friends) comes up to you and gushes over your characters, or when you receive that unsolicited e - mail from a stranger who NEEDS your next book or "they'll just die," or that lady who's been staring at you with stars in her eyes finally approaches you in the grocery store and says she wants to marry your lead character... that's when the validation just washes through your writer's soul. It's even better than the glowing reviews. Trust me.

So, the publishing game is tough. But it's not hopeless. There is still a place for us in this intensely competitive world. Acceptance by a high profile firm does not necessarily equate to a good book, just as rejection doesn't always equate to a bad book. Just look at the bestsellers out there. Some are quite odious, filled with plot holes, flat characters, and poor editing.

So, why bother?

Even with staggering odds in today's market, every year several "newcomers" are "discovered" and offered lucrative contracts. It does happen. We hear about it all the time. The next "hot" book will be discovered any day now. And it could be yours.

My final bit of advice is this:

If you are a passionate writer, you need to write independent of what agent represents you, how many times your work has been rejected, what publisher has thumbed their nose at you, how many readers you have or don't have, how many books you have published or not published.

Okay. Group hug.

Now just keep writing. And remember to write like the wind!
- - - - Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. The author of LeGarde Mysteries and Moore Mysteries savors the countryside in the Genesee Valley in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his websites at www.legardemysteries.com and www.mooremysteries.com and watch for the fourth book in the LeGarde series, MAZURKA, coming in January 2009 from Twilight Times Books.


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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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Q & A a la Ann Landers

What Do Your Use to Send Out Your Newsletter
QUESTION:

Hi Carolyn -
I'm getting ready to send out an e - mail blast re new book announcement and wondered if you ever used Constant Contact? Or if you simply put your images and news in the body of the e - mail (being the Frugal Publishing Queen that you are!) And do you have thousands on your mailing list? If so, do you use a free e - mailing service? I may only be sending e - mail blasts every few months, or monthly at most.
Fondly,
Shelley Hussey, author, I'm Not OK, You're Not OK, But That's OK With God: Finding the Humor and Healing in Life, www. shelleyhussey.com

ANSWER:

I do not have thousands of subscribers but, using the term accurately, close. But I keep my list very clean (and honest). I also want loyal subscriber, i.e. people who care about learning, not people who subscribe and never open the letter. Of course, one can't tell but I hope "my people" (and I do love them) are more like the latter. ( - :

The service I use for my newsletter isn't really free, though they do have a free service for a more basic membership. If you use them for a newsletter it is something like $125 a year. It is AuthorsDen.com. The thing is, I feel I get so much more for that yearly fee, and that's important for frugal me. As an example, when I post a media release on my page there, it gets listed by the search engines fast AND at the top or near the top of the page. That's valuable stuff. ( - : Find my page at www.authorsden.com/carolynhowardjohnson.

Authors Den also serves as a duplicate Web site when my site is acting up. Glad to see you committing to your writing again. If writing is in your bones, you really have no choice. ( - :
chj



Feature
Never Waste a Good Recession
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By Jim Cox

Dear Publisher Folk and Friends:

An economic crisis is a terrible thing to waste.

The publishing industry is very much a part of and affected by our nation's national and regional economies. Both the publishing industry and the country are in an economic crisis. But this is a crisis which is also an opportunity. Here's some of my thoughts on the subject of how writers, publishers, and book reviewers can weather the current economic recession - - one that I think will continue through 2009 and not abate until at least the spring of 2010.

1. Revisit your business plan - - and if you don't have one written down and at your fingertips then you absolutely need to stop whatever you are doing right now and create one!! Carefully look through your business plan for ways to consolidate, cut back, switch to more economical alternatives, and acquire the information necessary to be more frugal in your expenditures overall.

2. Keep a daily written record of all of your expenses - - no matter how trivial. You'd be amazed at how much money can be spent on 'autopilot' because we are so used to shelling out for this, that, or the other. By identifying what we spend our money on we can then make informed decisions about what to continue, what to modify, and what to cut out altogether those items of expense that are "nice but not necessary".

3. Pay attention to your working environment. That goes for everything from leaving unnecessary lights on, to leaving computers on when not in use, to failing to ask for competitive bids for such things as stationary print jobs, phone service, equipment repairs, etc.

4. Never drive when you can walk or bike to where you have to go to do what you have to do. My own example is that I was in the habit of driving 14 blocks to the post office to mail off publisher notification letters every day - - when after speaking to my post - office delivery person (who delivers book mail to my place Monday through Saturday) I found that I could simply rubber band the letters together and leave them on top of the emptied mail sacks in our mail room and she would be happy to pick them up for me. So now the only time I make a trip to the post office is when it is combined with other errands that would take me past it anyhow.

5. Explore the possibilities of winning grants to subsidize your operations. There's a learning curve to master here, but the good news is that there are several excellent 'how to' books on the subject of grant writing, as well as some very good Grant Giving Directories of organizations that give literary and publishing related grants. You can obtain these instruction books and reference books for free from your local public library through their InterLibrary Loan Service.

6. Put time and sweat equity into mastering the learning curve associated with marketing. That includes on - line marketing, hand - selling, non - bookstore venues, publicity/promotion tactics and strategies, etc. Again, you don't have to re - invent the wheel. There is an abundance of 'how to' instruction books specific to making money through writing and publishing. Your free public library will prove to be your new best friend in this era of economic downturns and retrenched consumer spending.

7. Avail yourself of the publisher resources you will find on the Midwest Book Review website including the archive of:

A. reviews of 'how to' books for aspiring writers seeking publication at: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/wr_shlf1.htm

B. reviews of 'how to' marketing books for novice and experienced publishers alike: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/pub_shlf.htm

C. low - cost and no - cost publishing resources http://www.midwestbookreview.com/bookbiz/pub_res.htm

The most effective way for authors and publishers to survive this economic recession to is increase revenues while decreasing expenditures.

The present economic recession has gripped out country for the last year, and it is one which I think will take at least another twelve months before ending. The next twelve months of economic hard times will shake out the weak, the unprepared, the unobservant, and the unmotivated, leaving standing only those who were wise enough to know that it is by educating themselves in the techniques of corporate survival will their own particular entrepreneurial publishing venture succeed, whether they are a self - published author or an independent publisher of other people's work.

Jim Cox
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI, 53575
http://www.midwestbookreview.com



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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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Greening Up a Writer's Office: Remember when we were thrilled that we could sign up to eliminate junk phone calls. Well, now you can do the same for junk mail and save a few trees in the process. Go to ProQuo.com. The site lets you opt our of stuff like credit card offers but also lets you specify the kind of offers you want to receive - - like book catalogs?


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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: From Patrika Vaughn, your author's advocate at www.acappela.com. Write Better - - Sell What You Write, sends this tip: "The blog is one of the most powerful sources of publicity that you can have. It’s a chance for you to convey your message, while keeping the tone relaxed and casual. Readers also have an easy medium to connect with you by leaving comments on specific posts. Blogs are also a great asset because they can be updated quickly, and from almost anywhere. A great blog is one that gives quality information while giving the readers the impression that they know you and can talk to you about anything.

Tip #2 from Patrika: Please, please, please get a web site. It's your 24/7 sales tool and should be one of the first things on your list of must - do marketing tasks.



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Announcement: I plan to release a booklet with terms and words that writers often get wrong when they edit. I haven't decided whether to use tech terms in it or not, because the length of the booklet is so important. But watch for it. I promise to keep it lower than the cost of most greeting cards.( - :
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Help a Subscriber?

From Emily Westerweller: "I am seeking employment in an administrative position, preferably in a publishing related industry. I recently relocated to Los Angeles from New York. I have an MFA in Writing from Sarah Lawrence College, recently completed my first novel City Noise, and my short fiction has won awards including a finalist in Glimmer Train's "Fiction Open" short story contest. I write articles for a New York based online publication; I have experience as a literary agent's intern which included reading manuscripts and all administrative tasks; an assistant to an illustrator of a book series which included merchandising; jobs in PR including writing press releases; and jobs in customer service. Please e - mail me at emwester@gmail.com and as always, I appreciate all leads.Thanks, Emily"


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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


NEW YEAR COMING!
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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

So have you planned what you intend to write in the coming year? Have you made a list and checked it twice? If not, it’s time.

In an earlier column, I gave some ideas on planning for 2009. Here are some additional suggestions for you with some links to go along with them:

Grab a cheap (yeah frugal) planner from a dollar store, preferably with pages for both the months and weeks of 2009 in it. You can also use the links below to download free versions of both to print. OR you can use the online versions of Google Calendar, Yahoo Calendar or other online calendar versions. Just check and see if there’s one that comes with your e - mail client.

Now use the calendar of your choice to map out what you intend to write for 2009, how long each project will take, how and when you intend to publicize your work and map out your speaking and book signing engagements. Bingo. You are well on your way to organization. This will need to be tweaked as time goes along but you’ll have a good framework for the year ahead.

Also, there’s a neat PAID service called TRUMBA that allows you to send out your speaking engagements and signing schedule to the world at large. You can find it at http://www.trumba.com/connect/default.aspx. It is NOT free but it’s a good tool and may be worth it to you. Look and see if it fits your needs.

I’ll be talking to you next year. Meanwhile, have a wonderful holiday season and a safe and Happy New Year.
~ Mindy Phillips Lawrence

LINKS

A place with information on organizing your business and your life
www.GetOrganizedNow.com

Free Monthly Calendar
http://www.vertex42.com/calendars/monthly - calendar.html

Free Weekly Calendar
http://www.vertex42.com/calendars/weekly - calendar.html


- - - - - Mindy Phillips Lawrence www.freewebs.com/mplcreative is the author of the poetry collections One Blue Star and Above and Below. She is co - author of The Complete Writer and 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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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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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
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Come join Yvonne Perry and Carolyn Howard - Johnson on January 13 for "Conversation with Editors" at 5 pm Pacific time, 7 pm Central. Yvonne has a full service editing business and Carolyn is an editor and author of The Frugal Editor. You do want to know how to impress agents and publishers with your query letters don't you!? Yvonne even has a neat service. You sign on and she'll remind you when to come join us: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com/2008/11/conversation - with - editors.html.

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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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I usually don't list places I'm published, mostly because they often don't have anything to do with writing. However, Romance Writers of America will be publishing my article on writing stand - out query letters in the January 2009 print edition of their magazine, Romance Writers Report. The editor, Kathleen Adey, says you can subscribe by joining RWA at www.rwanational.org.

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be presenting two seminars at the National Stationery Show, one on Monday, May 18, called"Move Upward in a Down Market with Free Publicity Exposure and Money - Making In - Store Promotions" and the other, "Grow Your Business Online for No $$$," on Tuesday, May 19. This is a huge show a la BEA but for stationery retailers and will be at Javits center in Manhattan. She'll also be publishing a new for her HowToDoItFrugally series, this time for retailers. Many of the principles are the same, though. ( - :

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will speak to how editing is one of the most important parts of your book promotion with "Query Letters as Promotion: Let's Make Them Picture Perfect!" at International Conference PROMODAY! on Saturday, May 9. at 9 am Pacific Time. The conference is on Rome, Italy, time so check your time conversion tables carefully to be sure you join the seminars at the right time. http://jolinsdell.tripod.com/promoday/ PROMO DAY! is an all day international online event for people in the writing industry. There are lots of new features for the 2009 event including a workshop chatroom.

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For the first time, Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles and Mystery Writers of America/SoCal are joining forces to present a new venture, the California Crime Writers Conference, to be held June 13 - 14 at the Pasadena Hilton, Pasadena, CA. The conference is titled “Breaking In & Breaking Out: Plotting the Write Course,” and is the next incarnation of the successful No Crime Unpublished conference held biannually by Sisters in Crime/LA. Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be presenting a class on marketing your book online on Saturday June 13. The time is to be announced. The pubic is welcome. Learn more at http://www.sistersincrimela.com/ccwc.htm



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

Something to Make Writers Smile
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(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.)

"DOCTOR: A person who kills your ills by pills, and kills you with his bills."


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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

Sharing with Writers is edited and distributed by Carolyn Howard - Johnson,http://carolynhoward - johnson.com. and proofread by Mindy Phillips Lawrence.

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 to friends or e - groups. It needn't be pasted in its complete form, but please credit this newsletter, 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/

To learn more about This Is the Place,
Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings,and She Wore Emerald Then: .

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)

For the Frugal Editor, Amazon - direct: www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870

Blogs:

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! Tweeting at: www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo and Squidooing at http://www.squidoo.com/HowToDoItFrugallyforAuthors
and http://www.squidoo.com/carolynhoward - johnson