To read this newsletter in PDF (with a bit more pizzazz) copy and paste:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Feb_21_2009.pdf

February 21, 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 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!

~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~

Contents

Regular Features
~Note from Carolyn
~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
~Cheryl Answering: YOU Asking: A new monthly feature
~On Poetry
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column, “Resizing Photos for the Web and for Publication”
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™




~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~

Note from Carolyn


Dear Treasured Subscribers:

Staying positive.

Sometimes it’s harder to do than at other times. Depression or recession. I think the economists got the nomenclature wrong but it really makes little difference. In either case, it’s been, yes, depressing for writers who want to sell their work, whether they’re freelancers, novelists or whatever. It really makes no difference. The publishing industry is in the pits.

To stay positive in a down market - - whether we’re pitching a screenplay or shopping a book - - we return to the tried and true values. You know them. And I have a couple of twists on them. Here’s a review:

~Too many rejection letters get discouraging so be even more assiduous with your research. Know your journals, publishers and agents and submit only to those who have expressed an interest in your genre or in a voice like yours. Also check to see what they have published in the last year. Don’t submit something just like it. They’ve been there and done that.

~Write a great query letter to go with what you submit. Learn how to do this straight from interviews with some of our nation’s best agents in The Frugal Editor (you’ll also find a list of those agents and their Web sites in the Appendix of that book).

~Tailor each query letter you send out to give it special appeal for that agent or editor or publisher.

~If you are interviewing, dress the part. Don’t go to the depths of your closet to find something suitable. It may not be. Even the cut of a jacket can change in a year. Treat yourself to a new one. You’ll feel cheerier.

~For gawd’s sake network (see last week’s newsletter). Twitter is a great place to do that - - agents, publishers, freelancers, Web people - - they’re all tweeting! All you need to do is gather the kinds of people around you who you can help and who can help you. Then stay in touch. Twitter makes that easy (Find me at www.twitter.com/frugalbookprom). I’m running a regular tip series on agents, reviewers, and publishers who tweet.

Keep Writing, Promoting and Yes, Editing, Too!
Carolyn Howard - Johnson

PS: Speaking of recession, long time subscriber and writing friend Aaron Paul Lazar was just laid off from Kodak with more than 1,000 others. If you know of a virtual job that could utilize his considerable engineering and writing skills, please contact him at aaron.lazar@yahoo.com.


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


Letters - to - the Editor
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


Hi Carolyn,

A school librarian in San Diego County asked me to be the featured author for their school's "reader week" celebration. I did presentations at the local Barnes and Noble for about five hours on Friday the 13th. Many people came because it benefited the school library. I was so busy talking with everyone at the store I had no idea how book sales were going.
I looked at my Barnes and Noble rankings this morning. One of them was slightly above 500, a ranking I've never come close to in two years. I almost fell out of my office chair. For one morning at least, my books are ranked better than J.K. Rowling, Christopher Paolini, Philip Pullman and many other titans in the literary world. You can be sure I took a million screen shots and saved the files.
So the lesson is get into Barnes and Noble any way you can, and hopefully with a function that will draw in customers. Contact the school librarians at every school in your city. Offer to present all day if they'll set up a function at the store benefiting the school library. I promise you it will be worth the effort.
Hope all is well with you,
Kevin Gerard
The Conor and the Crossworlds Series
http://www.conorandthecrossworlds.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dear Carolyn,

I'm writing to thank you for the link to www.worldcat.org. I promptly used it to search for information on my book.

I was delighted to find that my book on Hindu divinity "Navagraha temples of Tamil Nadu - - Kaveri Delta" is available at the library at Oxford University, UK and three other university libraries in the USA. It gave me a real boost!

You may not remember but I met you at your stall at the UCLA Book Fair in May of 2007. I was visiting the USA at the time. Thank you very much for your tips - packed newsletter and all the effort you take to make it a relevant and an important resource for writers.

Savita Narayan, Pune, India
Co - author: Navagraha Temples of Tamil Nadu - Kaveri Delta
Read my articles on Indian history and culture in the Heritage India magazine



=====================================================
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."
=====================================================


Tip: Got a business book that will appeal to small business owners? Rick Raddatz is at www.gobrevity.com. If your book is a match for him, send a copy with a great query letter (see The Frugal Editor! ( - : ) to Rick Radatz, editor, Go Brevity.com, Xiosoft Inc., 2655 W. Midway Blvd #210, Broomfield, CO, 80020.


=====================================================
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.
=====================================================


Author Successes

Marvin D. Wilson Pubs Anthology . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . and he says, Between the Storm and the Rainbow is available in paperback, e - book, and Kindle. To make it easy peasy for ya to get one, the cover image in the right sidebar is hyperlinked. Just click on it and you will fly off to where it can be purchased at www.createspace.com (my first choice - this is the publisher's selling site. That's where, if you buy, yours truly gets the highest royalty - - hey - - gotta make a buck ya know? Any day now you will also see it available on www.Amazon.com - - Kindle book lovers will want to use Amazon fo sho.


Emerging Author Launches Web Site . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Kat Bourgeois launched a new website at http://www.katquest.com. It's modest with ambitious plans for the future. Kat is the author of a soon - to - be - released book What Could You Possibly Be Thinking?!! Answers to Your Questions about Love, Dating and Relationships


Betty Dobson Publishes ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . a new anthology Backless, Strapless & Slit to the Throat: A Femme Fatale Anthology, from InkSpotter Publishing. http://inkspotter.com/publications/books/


=====================================================
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
=====================================================


TIP: Subscriber and contributing columnist to Sharing with Writers Cheryl Pickett writes this blog and this video to help with your publishing questions: http://publishinganswers.blogspot.com/2009/01/video - explains - publishing - process.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.
=====================================================


Tip: When marketing a book, highlighting how it is published is wasted real estate on the page. Self - published means nothing to the everyday reader (they don't care who the publisher is; they want to know about the book), and it sounds apologetic (most of the time) to an audience of readers who are also writers. Nadine Laman, writer. www.NadineLamanBooks.com.


===================================================== Recently Yvonne Perry, owner of WritersintheSky Creative Services, and I chatted about editing, everything from em - dashes to why what works on the Web doesn't work for you book's manuscript. Yvonne offers you the F r ^ ^ podcast on her blog: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com/2008/12/do - you - have - questions - about - editing.html. You'll find other f r ^^ podcasts on writing on her blog, too.
=====================================================

Oppportunities


Literary Writers Contest at Reasonable Entry Fee ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The R.A.I.L. Awards are an annual literary competition dedicated to recognizing advancement and innovation in literature. They say, “Each year we honor the best new voices in Fiction, Playwriting, and Poetry with cash prizes totaling $750…The R.A.I.L. Awards are open to all English - language fiction writers, playwrights, and poets…Although we've grown in scope and ambition over the years, we are still a close - knit group of literature lovers who strive to run a fair and transparent competition for all writers - - new, emerging, established or otherwise. Our credo is simple: you will ALWAYS keep all rights to your work, we will ALWAYS give every entry complete, thorough readings, and we will NEVER try to sell you anything.”
For more information, including the Official Rules and how to submit your work online, visit www.railawards.org. Deadline is May 31.


Aaron Paul Lazaar Invites Mystery Writers . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~.
. . . to be considered for a guest blog in Murder by 4 (http://www.murderby4.blogspot.com/) - - but only if you’ve written a throat - clenching thriller, a page - turner crime/suspense, or a can't - put - it - down cozy. The blog is by four published authors: Aaron Paul Lazar, Kim Smith, Marta Stephens, and S. W. Vaughn . They’ll also consider articles on writing tips, marketing, a writer’s journey, or anything related to the craft. Well - written short stories with a mysterious or suspenseful twist are also welcome. Email Murderby4’s Martha Stephens (ma50step@yahoo.com) for submission guidelines.


Last Call for Letting Your Book Be Seen! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Recessionary times require a new approach to promotion. Instead of traveling, let your book be seen in a catalog distributed to readers at the Clark County Fair & Rodeo, April 9 - 12, 2009, and the LA Times Festival of Books. The opportunity includes display of your book for four days to an estimated 84,000 fair - goers. If you have more than one book, that’s OK! The cost of advertising is one, low, flat fee of $100. Online Registration Deadline: February 28, 2009 http://www.mcssl.com/SecureCart/ViewCart.aspx?sctoken=8c80a4ee149044ac87ce5939171e0770&mid=67FE6E6B - 55E5 - 4491 - 9FA7 - 50B05B858341&bhcp=1. More information at www.associationoflocalauthors.com.


=====================================================
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).
=====================================================


Tip: Get Published. If you don't have a stellar bio and great clips of former published articles, major magazine editors aren't likely to trust you with a long feature assignment right away. Instead, build your credibility by aiming for the short articles in the front of the magazine and stay on the lookout for appropriate ideas you can flesh out in a few hundred words or less. For truly short articles, you can skip the query and just write the entire thing - - it usually requires about the same amount of effort. (Submitted by Patrika Vaughn, Your Author's Advocate. See her online class, “Stalking the Markets,” at www.acappela.com)


=====================================================
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.
=====================================================


Tip: Use a different approach to get on Major National TV Shows. Here are some clues:
Today: Pitch ideas that are tied to a current news trend or recent event.
The Oprah Winfrey Show: Offer to solve a problem for Oprah and her audience.
Good Morning America: Show something visual and use props. Example: The authors of a relationship book who talked about common couples' arguments brought a 'Gripe Bag' containing a remote control; a checkbook; car keys, etc.
(Submitted by Patrika Vaughn, your Author's Advocate. See her online class, Book Promoting, at www.acappela.com)


=====================================================
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
=====================================================


On Poetry
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is a running feature for the poets among us and those who would like to try writing poetry but feel, well, inadequate about the writing or the promotion. Please send in your poetry tips and resources for this section.

Yvonne Perry says, “Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services has published a special issue of poetry as a token of our appreciation for those who subscribe to our newsletter. We have compiled over 30 pages of poems submitted by our readers and made a very nice e - book that we think you will enjoy. Download the e - book or read it on our Web site at http://writersinthesky.com/WITSchapbook09.pdf

Poetry Helps
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Go to this link for articles you’ll want to read: http://www.bellaonline.org/site.asp?name=Poetry


=====================================================
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
=====================================================


Recession Pick - Me - Up
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Subscriber May Lattanzio sent me a list of puns. It is said that the ability to make and understand PUNS is the highest level of language development. They came from the International Pun Contest. I thought I’d include one in today’s newsletter to cheer you up:
A vulture boards an airplane, carrying two dead raccoons. The stewardess looks at him and says, 'I'm sorry, sir, only one carrion allowed per passenger."



=====================================================
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.
=====================================================


Tip: I like Lynda Goldman’s newsletter. Here’s the kind of thing you’ll get there: Is your writing bogged down with nouns? Some writers become addicted to endlessly transform verbs into nouns. For example, instead of saying conclude, they say, “Reach a conclusion.” Find her at www.LyndaGoldmanInk.com


=====================================================
Available: http://www.tri - studio.com/audiodivas.html from Audio Divas on many aspects of building a writing career. Here is the page where you'll find the full list of the writer - related ones at http://www.tri - studio.com/writers.html. Titles include Contest Facts: How to Add “Award - winning” to Your Name, Do It Yourself Indexing: The Way to Sell Your Book to Libraries, Schools and Anyone Else That Buys Nonfiction, Fury and Destruction: How to Use Violence Effectively in Your Writing, and more.
=====================================================


In the News: One in ten Americans is a Tweeter (www.tweeter.com). That means you can find someone who is the right audience for your book. Even grandmothers and grandpops are doing it.


=====================================================
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
=====================================================


Tip: Next talk you give, have someone video it for YouTube, your blog, your Web site and your applications to speak at national events.


=====================================================
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.
=====================================================


Tip: Phil Harris blogs on the things authors do that tell a publisher or agent that they really don’t want their book published. http://allthingsthatmatterpress.blogspot.com/2009/02/i - do - not - want - my - book - published.html


=====================================================
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
=====================================================


Tip: Don’t change your e - mail address to avoid s p @ m. Use your delete finger. Unwanted e - mail is mostly of little value. The contacts you lose when you change your e - mail are the most valuable entities in your promotion portfolio!



=====================================================
The semi - annual AllTips edition is now in the works. Please send me your best tip for writing or promotion AND please let your fellow writers know now is the time to subscribe to Sharing with Writers - - so they don’t miss it. Send an e - mail with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line to hojonews@aol.com.
=====================================================


Cheryl Answering: YOU Asking

A Publisher Wants What? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(This is a new monthly feature for Sharing with Writers. If you would like to ask Cheryl a question, please send it to cpickett@publishinganswers.com . Put “Sharing with Writers Question” in the subject line.)

Question:

What is POD?

Cheryl’s Answer:

You might think such a simple little question would have a simple little answer, but unfortunately, that's not the case. POD is one of the most confusing terms in the industry right now. The good news is once you understand three key points it gets much easier to make good decisions as to whether it's right for you.

Key Point #1: POD is not a publishing option; it is a print technology. If you take away nothing else from this column, please make sure you're clear on this. POD stands for print on demand and it's the process of using a big digital printer to print books similar to what is done at your local print shop when you make copies.

Key Point #2: POD Publishers are so named because they rely on this technology to produce books. However, it is also important to know that publishers of all sizes and shapes use it every day.

Key Point #3: POD isn't inherently right, wrong, good or bad. Like any other tool, it all depends on how it's used and whether it's utilized intelligently.
When you see the terms POD, or POD publisher, dig a little deeper, don't jump to conclusions, and you'll be on your way to making good choices.
- - - - -
Cheryl Pickett has been a freelance writer for almost a decade. Her new book, Publishing Possibilities: 8 Steps to Understanding Your Options & Choosing the Best Path for Your Book, helps authors publish with less stress and more success. Find out more about the book and Cheryl's other services at http://www.publishinganswers.com.


=====================================================
The New Book Review is a service of this newsletter. 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.
=====================================================


An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Resizing Photos for the Web and for Publications
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

When you place photos on your Web site, most Internet providers suggest that they be a certain size - - 72dpi. If you are using your photos for a book cover or the internal portion of a book, most printers, publishers, an so on will ask for them to be 300dpi. What’s all this dpi stuff and how can you resize your photos to meet these requirements? Although I am not an authority on photos, I’ve learned a bit recently. Let me share what I’ve learned.

DPI

DPI stands for “dots per square inch.” Photos are interpreted by your computer as a set of itty - bitty dots of color squished together (pixels). The tighter these are squeezed, the more definition you find in the photo.

Size Matters

When you change the DPI on a photo, you also change its size. If you go from large to small, you push the pixels (dots) closer together and your photos become more clear. If you INCREASE the photo from small to large, you are going to lose clarity. For this reason, it is often better to take photos at a larger size so you have to shrink rather than enlarge them. Although I have not used the program, there is a Web site that offers a program to sharpen images called “Focus Magic.” I’ve listed others below. Focus Magic talks a about images and the way to make them sharper.

There may be other program choices that work as good or better than the ones mentioned here. Google the topic and see what you can find. ALSO be aware that all the information listed here is for a PC and NOT for a Mac. You’ll need to do a bit of research to find how to make all this work with your Apple.

Stay turned for more on this topic as I learn more about it.

LINKS

Resizing Photos – “Shrink Pictures”
http://www.shrinkpictures.com/

Sharpening Images – “Focus Magic”
http://www.focusmagic.com

PhotoShop Elements 7
http://www.adobe.com/products/psprelements/explore/


=====================================================


Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~


New!Tune in to "Writer's Input" on Saturday February 28 hosted by Adrienna Turner. It is 9pm CST, 7 pm Pacific. Call in at 1 - 347 - 308 - 8612. We’ll talk about marketing books but especially the so - called hard - to - promote books like poetry, literary novels, books of short stories and memoirs. Learn more at www.adriennaturner.webs.com and at blogtalkradio: www.blogtalkradio.com/Adrienna - Turner

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

New!Carolyn Howard - Johnson will guest lecture for Eve Caram’s Novel I class at UCLA at on March 11th. Ask Carolyn for more information on UCLA courses, both online and on campus: HoJoNews @ aol.com.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be signing a new chapbook of poetry She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood 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.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 Book Expo America! but for stationery retailers and will be at Javits Center in Manhattan. She'll also be publishing a new book for her HowToDoItFrugally series, this time for retailers. Many of the marketing principles are the same, though. ( - :

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will speak on 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 PROMO DAY! on Saturday, May 9 at 9 am Pacific Time. The conference is broadcast from Rome, Italy 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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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 at 9 am. The time is to be announced. The public is welcome. Learn more at http://www.sistersincrimela.com/ccwc.htm.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

New!Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be teaching “Creating a Promotion Campaign for Your Fiction or Nonfiction Book.” A one - day seminar, it will meet on the UCLA campus Saturday, August 1.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Mark October 12 to 18 on your calendar for The Muse Online Writers Conference cosponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard - Johnson.
We are now taking reservations for the conference. More to come on my presentations there at http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be speaking on writing picture perfect query letters at the November session of Scribblers' Retreat Writers' Conference, www.scribblersretreatwritersconference.com at Sea Palms Resort, St. Simons Island, Georgia. Scribblers Retreat Writers’ Conference offers four conferences of specifically chosen genres throughout the year. It is brand new and one of the few chances I will speak on the East Coast in 2009.


=====================================================
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.
=====================================================



Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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

"FABLE: A story told by a teenager arriving home after curfew.”




~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~
=================================================
~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~* ~

Essential Book and Record Keeping:

Sharing with Writers is edited and distributed by Carolyn Howard - Johnson,http://www.howtodoitfrugally.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: www.carolynhoward - johnson.com.


Tracings, a chapbook of poetry, published by Finishing Line Press may be ordered at
www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/qid=1139084827/sr=1 - 1/

Contact Information
Websites: http://carolynhoward - Johnson.com (literary)
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com (all things about writing)

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.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, all things grammatical and ungrammatical

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 at http://www.squidoo.com/carolynhoward - johnson