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

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Jan_01_2009.pdf

January 01, 2009

Sharing with Writers
A newsletter that is also a community. Share your ideas. Learn from theirs! Associated with the multi award - winning series of HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers, www.howtodoitfrugally.com


From the Desks of
Carolyn Howard - Johnson
and Sharing with Writers Subscriber

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 (Amazon being good to authors?)
~Letter - to - the - Editor
~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 – Guest Writer, Amy L. Beaver
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

Special to this Issue
~Q&A a la Ann Landers—After Submissions Blues
~Feature: Let’s Talk Peer Reviews
~Feature: Your Book’s Subtitle: Or How To Get More Shelf Space on Amazon
~Feature: Words Matter by Bob Kellemen, Ph.D.



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Note from Carolyn

Dear Sharing with Writers Subscribers:

Sorry to have been out of commission so long, you wonderful subscribers. I’ve had one heck of a bout of the flu. Still, Amazon made an announcement this week that you must know about so I thought I’d try to get this out to you as quickly as possible. I learned about it (even though I’ve been in bed three days) from a valuable fellow tweeter on Twitter. (Her address is www.twitter.com/fivebyfivepr). Her tweet led me to Amazon's announcement page where they say, "On the first day of this new year, how about some info on a new online publicity opportunity for authors?"

So, here’s the news:

On December 29, Amazon.com launched a new feature called Author Stores. These single pages list all of an author’s published works and include additional information such as biographies, author images, and discussion boards. Amazon plans to add capabilities for video and blogs as well as listing related products soon.

Right now, the feature is in beta - testing, so not every author has a page. To see who is currently listed, you can browse listings in the Author Stores Directory

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_7650012_1?ie=UTF8&docId=1000315331&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center - 1&pf_rd_r=1Z1WYGPQVR6C71J0JQQS&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=465638831&pf_rd_i=1000286411

Though I wasn't listed, just like you I hope to be and you should know about it. Keep your fingers crossed because they appear to have no application process set up. The feature seems to be a sort of wait - and - see proposition but Amazon's publicity director Andrew Hardener does assure us that eventually they hope to have a bookstore page for every author in their system. Actually, it shouldn't be too hard because many of us authors already have our books listed on our profile pages where we have more control over submissions and approval than we appear to with this new feature.

Once your Author Store is added, you can use the Author Central page to edit it:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/feature.html/ref=amb_link_7650012_2?ie=UTF8&docId=1000302021&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center - 1&pf_rd_r=1T3KBW02GBNSSQEPK8CX&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=466229071&pf_rd_i=1000286411

Receive updates on the progress of additional Stores by signing up for the special newsletter on this specific subject here.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/html - forms - controller/AEP - Feedback - Link

And my apologies for the long URLs.

Happy Writing, Promoting and Editing, too!
Carolyn Howard - Johnson

PS: Speaking of endorsements, if any of you have day jobs in retailing, I’d love to have endorsement from you for my new book to be released this spring at the National Stationery Show in New York. It is A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store Promotion. I can only send you endorsement suggestions and a sample chapter but you’ll also get those valuable credits.


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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:

I saw this on Red Room, which might be something you'll try. I'm happy with Lightning Source taking care of everything, but I can imagine your poetry books done this way [selling your own books on Amazon]. Go to http://www.redroom.com/articlestory/using - amazoncom - to - your - advantage.

Chris Meeks
UCLA Writers’ Program Instructor and short story writer.
http://www.redroom.com/author/christopher - meeks

Note: I’ve tried this Amazon feature. Most think of it as their Used Books feature but it doesn’t have to be. It does work if you have time for it and it is especially useful if Amazon has removed your book’s active BUY button from your book’s sales page. You may remember that controversy from earlier this year—covered quite thoroughly in this newsletter.


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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: June Casagrande of Grammar Snobs Are Great Big Meanies and Moral Syntax fame suggests these top online dictionaries, www.dictionary.com, www.barteleby.com and www.m - w.com. For more online help with grammar and other exciting topics and even a couple more leads from June, visit my blog: www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com


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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

Alma H. Bond, Ph.D. Biography Places as Finalist . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . in the USA Book News Awards, biography division. It is titled Margaret Mahler: A Biography of the Psychoanalyst. Learn more at Http://alma_bond.tripod.com


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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 Dave Lieber . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. . . . for giving me the perfect example of how one can keep promotion rolling with very little effort (though it does need a lot of good will!) You may recall that I included his humorous letter in the Letters - to - the - Editor section of this newsletter - - one in which he claimed he wasn't doing any promotion. Well, he printed that answer in his Watch Dog Nation blog. http://watchdognation.com/blog/. Then I added this comment to that blog:
"Ha! Aren't we a pair of promoters who never promote! I'm so glad that you're not promoting your book, Dave, nor helping me to get the word out about my books! If promotion were always this easy, I wouldn't have needed to write The Frugal Book Promoter in the first place.
Best,
Carolyn Howard - Johnson
Blogging at www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com
PS. I'll run the link to your blog in my newsletter again. Your non - promotion approach is an example of how exposure ripples and grows, if people will only let it. You know, a sort of promotion without promoting rule."
You can see how this round - robin kind thing can give everyone a hand in this tough old publishing business.


Thank You to Joyce White . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. . . . poet and self - help author for recycling the good words I had to say about her art therapy book at www.joycewhiteblog.blogspot.com. You can read more about her book in the January edition of MyShelf.com.


Thank You Montana State University's . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. . . . literary magazine, Writings from the River. They will print my poem "We Clarion Call" in their 4th (Spring 2009) issue. MO: Writings from the River is the journal of the Montana State University - - Great Falls Literary Guild, published annually in January. http://www.msugf.edu/litguild/index.htm


Thank You to Scott Flora of Span Connection . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . for publishing my article "Authors Beware Wikipedia Exposure" in his SPAN organization's Span Connection and to Janet Jensen, author of Don't Your Marry the Mormon Boys, for contributing to it. www.spannet.org. Request a free copy of Span's newsletter and then join.


Thank You to Alexa Wolf . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . author of My Mother's House, a memoir, for adding a page for writers on her site and for including some of the benefits I offer authors on my website and blogs on that page. Find it at: http://alexawolfonline.com/index.php?page_id=308


Thank You to Holly Jahangiri . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . humorist and writer of children's books. (Both of those genres. Hard to tell which should come first) for riffing in her inimitable way on the process of making connections on the Web. For humor, fun and maybe even some learning, go to: http://hollyjahangiri.blogspot.com/2008/12/no - reciprocation - unless - you - really.html


===================================================== So you got As in English. You know grammar and spelling. That's great but an editor of you those skills alone 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: And I thought I knew all the f r ^ ^ stuff that Google provides that makes life easy for writers. Kelly Sonora sends us this link. If you're thinking "frugal," and "time - thrifty" you won't want to miss it! http://www.bachelorsdegreeonline.com/blog/2008/50 - useful - google - apps - for - writers/comment - page - 1/#comment - 3


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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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Opportunities

Like a Personal Coaching Session Only F r ^^ . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~. Carolyn Howard - Johnson (http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com) and Yvonne Perry (http://writersinthesky.com/about - yvonne.html) will be facilitating a one - time class to air on Tuesday, January 13, 2009. "Conversation with Editors" will cover some of the common mistakes writers make and how to correct them. We will also provide helpful tips for impressing a publisher with your query letter.

If you would like your questions about editing and querying answered in this audio class, please post them by using the comments feature beneath this post. If you are an editor and would like to chime in on what mistakes you see most often, please contact Yvonne.
There is no need to register for the class. To get an email with the link to the recording on January 13, simply sign up for the RSS feed (http://feeds.feedburner.com/WritersInTheSky) to our blog or on her Web site at http://writersinthesky.com/contact.php. )

Yvonne is a full - time freelance ghostwriter and editor, and the owner of Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (http://writersinthesky.com/).


Attend Writers’ Conference F R ^ ^ . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Catholic Writers’ Conference Online Friday sponsored by the Catholic Writers Guild and conducted entirely through the Internet, is free of charge and open to writers of all levels and all religions. It will feature online chats, forums and pitch sessions throughout the week on a variety of topics covering writing both fiction and nonfiction, submitting manuscripts to publishers and marketing your books.

Over 40 workshops and chats are scheduled, according to coordinator Karina Fabian. It runs from Feb 2 to Feb 9 at http://www.catholicwritersconference.com. I will speak on "Turning Dreadful Adverbs into Nuggets of Gold," one of my favorite subjects at 1 pm Pacific time, on Friday, Feb. 6. Register by January 15.


Submit Your Articles, Get a Link! . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Norm Goldman, Publisher & Editor of BookPleasures.com has added a new article section on his site and you are invited to contribute to it. He says, "We have a new section on Bookpleasures where I have guest writers contribute articles on writing and marketing . . . "
"Submit your articles as attachments in word form together with your bio and photo image to: bookpleasures@gmail.com
Also, check out our new look at bookpleasures.com."
He also asks that authors not submit advertising or media releases, but true, helpful articles. Find the submission page at
http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/categories/Improving - Your - Writing - Skills - %26amp; - Marketing/
and browse around the site a bit, too. It's a great place for reviews.



Networking and a Book Cover Designer I Met . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~.
I guess this is a little reminder about networking as well as an opportunity. When I was speaking at California Writers’ Club before Christmas I met Chaz Desimone, he gave me his card with images of the covers he had designed. It was love at first sight. I think he’s especially good for nonfiction: This is what he loves:
• book cover design and creative direction
• interior layout and typography
• logo and brand identity systems
• brochure, poster, package design and trade show signage for authors and speakers
Find him at: www.chazdesimone.com E - mail: chaz@chazdesimone.com Phone: 310 902 - 3913


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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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Q&A a la Ann Landers


After - Submission Blues . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~.

Question:

I do have a question I wondered if you could answer. As a seasoned pro - perhaps this wouldn't apply to you, but I'm going to ask it anyway. When you have finished writing your work and ready to deliver it to the publisher, is there a kind of emotional let - down feeling - - a sense of loss - - almost like the ending of a relationship type thing? I just wondered how one copes with letting go of something you've been tied to for a period of time. Do you start another project right away or do you busy yourself with marketing and book signings ...Or do you just deliver the work - - and let it go kind of zen like. No feelings, no thoughts - no emotions... (Do you get asked this often? Just curious.)

Diane Ward, writer and publicist

Answer:

Maybe everyone feels this at one time or another. The thing is, most writers have new stuff to start and about the time we submit and are accepted we writers—whether poets or novelists or nonfiction writers - - need to start thinking about promotion.

I didn't realize that The Frugal Book Promoter could be valuable in helping writers keep their minds from this lonely feeling of loss. Maybe I could start touting it as "the depression buster!" It's hard to feel down when you're busy! I guess this is more of an example of how we get promotion ideas than how to beat the after - submission blues, huh? But those ideas we get may displace some of the mournful moments.

And no, yours is the first question I've ever had regarding that down feeling.

Oh, also. Some people get a high for having sold the book. No telling about some people's tastes, though! I don’t have a remedy for that that one because, I guess, it shouldn’t be remedied. Just enjoyed.


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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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In the News: With the world economy the way is, China isn't buying our old paper to recycle. That means that wastepaper prices have dropped dramatically. That means that selling unsold books as remainders is about the only way to get rid of them. And that means that POD published books and e - books are starting to look smarter and smarter.


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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.

Promoting Poetry . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . is tough but one media outlet that is often open to publishing news about poetry successes is your University's alumni magazine and Web site. The University of Utah just published notice about one of my newly published poems. Of course, the tie - ins were all there, too. I am an alumna but the poem was published in a Utah journal and the poem was about the radiation suffered by Utahans because of the yucca flat nuclear tests in the 40 and 50s. Submitting news to them is always worth a try! And don't forget to use Google Alerts so you'll know when some of your publicity efforts actually work. http://www.alumni.utah.edu/u - news/december08/?display=honor_roll.html



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Don't suffer with book proposals. You can be a pro with and investment of only 20 minutes and 49 cents with my Great First Impression Book Proposal Short.
http://www.amazon.com/Great - First - Impression - Book - Proposal/dp/B000YG6O5U
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Feature

Let's Talk Peer Reviews . . .
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When many of us write nonfiction, we do peer reviews. Peer reviews are when you submit your book to experts in the field to ask for input before it is published. Some of us are fully cognizant of all the ways we might benefit when we run our work before others in the field about which we are writing.

Others are not. For them asking people to look at their work is just a process that is helpful but not fully realized or fully understood. Most who do it miss a couple of vital elements of a peer review that Susan D. Daffron mentions in her front page article for Span Connection (Nov. 2008) and that is the author will find more peers willing to help if he or she is asked to review only a chapter rather than a whole book.

But even more important from a marketing standpoint is that this process might well contribute to the process of gleaning absolutely great endorsements/testimonials for the cover or inside pages of the finished book.

What I like best about the peer review process is that it can be tailored to benefit writers of the so - called hard - to - promote fiction, poetry and memoirs. Experts come in all stripes. They can be editors, teachers, authors of similar genres, and on and on. In other words, the peer review process can work well for any author. It's only a matter of giving it consideration and in blocking out a period of time in the writing process just before sending it off to a publisher to let it work for you in all the ways that it can.


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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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Publishing and Promotion Trends: With blogs and social networks and RSS feeds on the rise, online listservs (forums) are on the decline. They still are good places to get information from experts (and, unfortunately, some not - so - experts), to network - - and some are even good places to promote - - but they are losing ground and many are closing their virtual doors.


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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

Your Book's Subtitle: Or How to Get F r ^^ Ad Space on Amazon ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
In Aaron Shepherd's book (http://www.aaronshep.com/publishing) Aiming at Amazon he recommends a two - tiered subtitle. It's something I suggest in The Frugal Book Promoter too. In that book, I suggest having two different subtitles because it gives a book a marketing edge in a bookstore where people turn books over to read the blurbs on the back. An additional subtitle header on that back cover is a second chance at letting a prospective reader know what is inside the book or how the book might fit their needs.

When Aaron makes that suggestion, though, he is thinking more about how to get enough keywords into online bookstore's search engines to benefit that book's sales. In fact, he advocates getting the right keywords in at the expense of a literate or extremely memorable title, if it comes down to that kind of a choice for the author. As an example, if the book is about writing, he'd like to see the title and subtitle include the different forms of that word. "Write." "Writer." "Publish." "Publishing." Maybe even "Publisher" if that version of the word applies. If the book is for children, one might try to include both the search words "children" and "kids" so the book will come up regardless of which keyword the prospective book buyer searches.

Shepherd tells us Amazon's computers will "accept subtitles of up to 300 characters, including all letters, punctuation, and spaces. But Amazon will truncate the title if the main title and subtitle together come to over 200 characters and the characters won't get cut off the end but out of the middle, replaced by an ellipsis!" That means that authors will want to limit the complete title to 200 characters, if possible. He also notes that longer titles take up more space in the prime field of visitors' vision when they are on the book's sales page and other places on Amazon. So, with a great title and one that is long, too, an author has literally "purchased" a great ad online without spending an extra penny to do so. Very frugal, no?

Aaron also advises that other listings have shorter limits. Ingram and Lightning Source won't accept more than 116 characters in the subtitle. Baker & Taylor will take only about 113. So, authors might want to decide on two versions of the subtitle. A big one for Amazon and a smaller one with about 110 characters when the full one won't fit. Or, you could do a shorter one for wherever you need one that is more literate or jazzier. You would just decide which one to submit for each specific venue.

In any case, most authors will see that having some well - considered choices will be an advantage in marketing their book both online and in bookstores.

CHJ

PS: You'll find more resources on publishing at Aaron's publishing page at www.aaronshep.com/publishing and more resources on promotion on the Resources for Writers pages at my website www.howtodoitfrugally.com.


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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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Feature
What We Can Learn from Obama's Speeches ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By Bob Kelleman, Ph.D.

Words Matter

In the November 19, 2008 issue of The USA Today, political analyst Sandy Grady rightly praises President - elect Barack Obama for his eloquence ("His Words Will Matter").

Grady aptly notes about Obama's speeches, "They always have rhythm, repetition, alliteration, balance. They flow with a narrative, his story meshing into America's story" (page 13A).

Anyone familiar with historic and current African American preaching (see my work Beyond the Suffering: Embracing African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction) knows that Obama's style reflects the best of a long tradition.

Amazingly, in this day of the tele - prompter and of the speech - writer, Obama writes his own speeches.
Some of his more powerful, poetic words include:
July 27, 2004, Democratic National Convention Speech: "There is not a black America and a white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America."

January 8, 2008, Manchester, NH, after Hillary Clinton defeated him in the primary: "Yes we can!"

March 18, 2008, Philadelphia, answering the Rev. Jeremiah Wright controversy: "It is a story that has seared my genetic makeup, the idea that this nation is more than a sum of its parts, that out of many, we are truly one."

November 4, 2008, Grant Park, Chicago: "If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible . . . tonight is your answer."

Words matter. Whether one agrees with President - elect Barack Obama or not on each and every issue, one has to respect his stirring use of words.

And we all can learn from him.

1. Write and speak with passion from the heart. Tell a story that means the world to you and it will mean the world to the world.

2. Write and speak your own story and style. Write with originality and freshness. Sure, research the works and words of others. But don't mimic. Find and use your own voice.

3. Write and speak "poetically" even if writing non - fiction prose. For example, in my theology of Christian counseling textbook (Soul Physicians) I use the literary style of "theo - drama" to tell the awesome story of God's work in history. Theology should never be dry - as - dust! It is God's story!

4. Write and speak in narrative. Life is a story. We all live in story, in narrative. Craft a compelling depiction of the main characters, their setting, their aspirations, even in non - fiction. For instance, in Beyond the Suffering we did not simply tell historical facts. We placed African American Christians in their historical setting, drawing out and describing their personal passions and their life - changing interactions.

5. Write and speak with relevance. Whatever "truth" you have to tell, relate truth to life. In our book on the history of women's soul care (Sacred Friendships), my co - author and I did not simply write a history text. We paused at each step along the journey to ask the "So what?" question. "So what difference does the life of this godly woman make for us today?
Words matter.

- - - - - Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., www.rpmministries.org, author of Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction


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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: Need a lawyer to review your book's contract? One way to do it is join Authors Guild. Their attorneys will review your contract to see if it meets industry standards and membership only costs $90 for dues the first year you are a member. www.authorsguild.org.


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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: Reviews are always on the minds of authors and their publishers. Recently Dave - Brendon de Burgh published this extensive list of online review spots complete with links: http://davebrendon.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/review - bloggers - gigantic - link - up/ (The list includes my The New Book Review (www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com) where readers, reviewers and authors can recycle good - news reviews!)


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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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Tip: Deborah Schaulis, the newsletter editor for Ozarks Romance Authors (www.ozarkromanceauthors.com) based in Springfield, MO, says that her members don't realize that a lot of the credit for its professionalism "goes to the software I use. Putting together a professional - looking layout was a nightmare, until I got Publisher! I love this program, because it practically does it all for me! I just type or paste in the text and choose graphics to compliment the theme for the month. My lovely laptop takes it from there and I get all the applause. How cool is that?"


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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

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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

After spending hard earned (and not yet earned) cash on Christmas in a bad economy, I thought we all needed a little cheering up. So I am giving my column space to a friend.
Amy L. Beaver resides in Fayetteville, Arkansas with her husband and daughter. She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Arkansas. A school - teacher - turned - housewife, Ms. Beaver enjoys strong cups of coffee, well - baked banana bread, and naptime. She, like me, is a former student of Dr. Dan Skelton.
~ Mindy

On the Fifth Day of Christmas, I Gave Myself a Headache

By Amy L. Beaver

Okay. I do understand that I was pushing it a bit when I put off Christmas shopping until five days before Christmas. I also understand that the majority of shoppers who frequent the mall are unaware that they are inferior to me and therefore should not try and grace me with their presence as I am frantically searching for the perfect gift for my mother.

My mother, in case you didn’t know, is a Patron Saint disguised as a human and in my opinion should be canonized immediately as I feel that those in the Catholic faith are doing a great injustice by not praying to Saint Barbara of Arkansas. Saint Barbara doesn’t even need for me to pray to her to intercede on my behalf. Saint Barbara is so in tune to my needs that I merely think upon a need and it is instantly granted. I have been told by others that Saint Barbara has performed the same miracles for them. I have, by the way, seen the face of Saint Barbara in a tortilla. So there you have it. Someday there will be a tacky tall glass candle in a small Latino Grocery with the image of Saint Barbara imprinted upon it. Mark my words.

Anyway, back to my story. Christmas shopping for a Saint is not the easiest task in the world. First of all, one must realize that Saints are particular. Saints also enjoy items from Sears. Sears has always been one of my least favorite places to shop as an adult because I can no longer do it from a twenty pound catalog. Catalogs do not involve interacting with live people. Catalogs never have a bad day. Catalogs do not have other people coveting the same bathrobe. Which brings me to the subject of Nanna.

Apparently, Nanna and Saint Barbara both get bathrobes for Christmas every year. I was unaware of this when, upon finding the perfect bathrobe for my Patron Saint, I touched it (thus branding it as "mine"), and left it to hang on the rack while I searched for matching pajamas and house slippers. This is where I erred. A considerably large, exceptionally clunky man carrying a tiny fuzzy handbag was wearily following his jittery, obviously somehow medicated very small wife around the lingerie department.

Little did I know that Blondie With A Toddler And A Bear For A Husband saw me lay claim to the Perfect Pink Terrycloth Bathrobe with a zipper front and a cute hoodie in size S, which I believed to be hidden extremely well amongst the L’s and the XXL’s that were somehow akin to The Perfect Pink Terrycloth Bathrobe. The Perfect Pink Terrycloth Bathrobe that would be pleasing to Saint Barbara. The Perfect Pink Terrycloth Bathrobe that was still warm from the glowing aura that had saturated it from the touch of my hand. The Perfect Pink Terrycloth Bathrobe….that was MINE.

I had perused the entire Senior Citizen Section of the lingerie department and found the most amazing little slippers and an almost too terrific pair of nylon - esque pajamas that BOTH somehow miraculously matched the Perfect Pink Terrycloth Bathrobe. Why each of these items were placed so far away from one another is beyond my understanding, but I suppose that the racks are elaborately fashioned purposely as a never - ending labyrinth of wide open fields and far - reaching spaces in order to accommodate the many Rascals and Hoverounds that frequent their Paved Pathways To Comfortable Game Show Watching on a daily basis.

I turned to walk the many miles back to retrieve Saint Barbara’s Soon - to - be Pink Bathrobe (with slippers and PJs to match), and that’s when I saw what was to be the beginnings of an altercation between two opposing forces that would more than likely place an innocent, unsuspecting toddler into a position that would change his perception of the world as a forgiving and beautiful place forever.

Blondie had removed the Perfect Pink Terrycloth Bathrobe from the rack, and was holding my Shroud of Turin as if it were an article of clothing available for purchase in a department store. I ran. No, I sprinted like a runner who was raising money for Breast Cancer Awareness and was nearing the finish line of the 5K Walk that had somehow turned into a very ugly Race To Beat That Awful Woman Anita Who Always Wins Everything. It was, at this point, that my husband became aware of his surroundings and stopped in mid - email on his Blackberry Curve in order to try and halt the chain of events that had already been set into motion.

Blondie held the robe in mid - air and said in babyspeak, "What do you think, Clayton? Do you think Nanna would like the pink one?"

I peered down at her misgotten, big - headed simpleton that somehow passed as a 14 - month - old human toddler—a genetically barbaric beast of a child that was obviously headed down an arduous path of Resource Classes and Speech Therapy for many years to come—and realized that Clayton couldn't care less if Nanna shuffled about in the buff, as long as she continued providing the endless supply of coloring books and crayons upon which he could happily munch while contentedly sitting in his dung - filled Pull - Up.
Blondie glared at me. We locked eyes. A smirk which quickly evolved into a sneer smeared across her wrinkle - free, small pored face. I heard my husband gasp behind me. Too late. I spoke. And loudly.

"Nanna would HATE the pink one."

She turned her snarl to her offspring. "Wouldn’t Nanna just looooooove the pink one, Clayton? It’s just perfect for Nanna, isn’t it, darling?"

I spoke again, the rising panic and frenetic agitation becoming alarmingly apparent in my voice: "No, Nanna would NOT love the pink one! The PINK one is for Saint Barbara! MY Nanna! You cannot have the pink one!
"Put. It. Down!"

I felt the soft touch of my husband’s hand upon my shoulder. As a renowned pacifist, this was his way of saying, "Please back away from this woman. If you physically assault her I will not bail you out of the county jail this time. You will spend the entire holiday season sharing a toilet with a meth - addicted, pockmarked woman with badly mangled and unbecoming cornrows named Sharona."

Blondie’s husband, Burly Bear, decided to speak instead.
"Nanna’s getting the pink one."

The three of them triumphantly turned to proceed to checkout. I could not contain myself. I shouted after them.

"Well that’s just FINE! I hope Nanna puts on her pink bathrobe, trips on it, hits her head on the floor, has a stroke and drops dead!"

Blondie immediately picked up her living, breathing rendition of Baby Alive Learns to Potty Doll as if to shield herself (his head really would deflect any blows), and yelled, "YOU! ARE GOING TO HELL!!!!!!!"

To which I calmly replied, "Good. Because if Heaven is going to be filled with people like you, I am more than happy not to go there."

Blondie placed her human Aqua Globe back into her shopping cart and moved along with her Talking Bear That Pays The Bills to the checkout counter. I moved along as well. Not only to search for a less than perfect bathrobe for The Patron Saint of Housewares, Car Tags, Laptops, and Big Screen Plasma Televisions…but to place my feet four steps closer to the Burning Eternity that some refer to as Hell, yet I like to reflect upon fondly as a place where someday I will finally be free of the bane of humanity known as The Common Housewife. I will walk amongst my own, and we will roast marshmallows and make s’mores while on our smoke breaks from pushing boulders up never - ending mountains and being bound and eaten as living carrion by large eagles. It’s gonna be great.

- - - - - 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 conduct seminar for the second year at the Catholic Writers’ Conference Friday, Feb 6 at 10 am Pacific Time, 1 pm Eastern. "Turning Dreadful Adverbs into Nuggets of Gold." She will speak on "Turning Dreadful Adverbs into Nuggets of Gold." The conference is f r ^ ^ but writers must register by January 15 at http://www.catholicwritersconference.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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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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Tip: Learn more about turning your yukky (not all of them - - only the ones that are yukky!) adverbs into pots of gold and leave a comment at: http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/201/1/Let - Tom - Swift - Inform - Your - Writing - Ever - heard - of - Tom - Swifties - - - - - /Page1.html




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.)

"EMERGENCY NUMBERS: Police station, Fire Department and Places that deliver."


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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