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April 10, 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!

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Contents
This Issue
~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
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™
~Q&A a la Ann Landers: To Kindle or Not to Kindle
~Q&A a la Ann Landers: The Agenting Process: To Call or
Not to Call
~Feature: Frugal Fitness for Writers

Regular Features
~Cheryl Answering: YOU Asking: A new monthly feature
~On Poetry
~Humor Hint by Anne Louise: A monthly feature

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Note from Carolyn


Dear Subscribers:

The LA Times headline (P. A13, Tues, March 24) “Obama lacks a secretary of Selling It” caught my attention. For me the word “selling” translates into “marketing” or at least, “public relations.” I know. It’s a sickness.

And I was a bit puzzled by the headline at first because Obama himself is a great marketer - - even if he hasn’t quite mastered the “selling” part in his mere 60 or 70 days in office. But the article points out that he chose his advisors and secretaries for their expertise and their “ability to think creatively about problems and to work out solutions to what is admittedly a very complex issue.” So says Alice M. Rivlin, budget director under President Clinton. And, of course, that’s not a bad thing.

The article is right, though. One of the reasons that Obama must appear in public so often is that his advisors aren’t very good at it. Sumner, as an example, made big time boo - boos as President of Harvard - - notably with his remark about women’s mathematical ability - - so he’s been sort of hidden away wherever presidents hide the people who have value but can’t be trusted in public. Then Geithner, who looks adorable, but comes off wonky, stressed, and unprepared on TV, didn’t exactly sell his program to Wall Street even though now it appears they approve. Too late. Obama has stepped in to do the selling. Geithner will just have to be satisfied seeing the stock market take off instead of dip. Or is it too early to tell?

At any rate, all this is to point out that selling is very, very important indeed. We want to sell our books. But we can’t do it until we understand that great PR and marketing comes first. And we can’t do that until we’ve developed the skills to do it.

So, the question we should be asking ourselves is, what are we doing to better our skills? For speaking, I suggest Pam Kelly’s Speak with Power! Speak with Passion! For feeling inspired, I suggest the book, CD or video, The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. There is nothing new in it, mind you, but if you really use it by listening to it until the secrets permeate you pores, you may find your passion so palpable that you’re your marketing and PR efforts materialize into sales before you know it.

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

PS: Another lesson I’ve been learning from politics (and from The Secret) lately, is that if you feel you must criticize someone or something, it’s better if you turn that urge on its ear. Praise Instead. And offer a positive alternative. Enough bitching already.

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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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Dear Carolyn,
I, too, have an [Amazon] short. It's titled Gender - Confusing Names, and is rather amusing - - at least worth 49 cents. I happen to have one of those names. It has led to many a strange situation.
Gene K. Garrison, author of “Gender Confusing Names” published by Amazon.
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Note: Amazon Shorts is a publishing program that Amazon.com ran for a while. The pieces they chose to publish this way were short stories, essays, small books of poetry and how to articles. Gene is responding to my mention in the last issue of “The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less.” Although Amazon is no longer publishing this model, the ones they did publish are still available. There are lots of these little 49 cent wonders on topics that will interest writers, too. Just do a keyword search on the Amazon engine for whatever topic interests you. In addition to my short on book proposals, I’ve seen them by experts on grammar, query litters and more.. And, Gene, I'm sure you are on expert on Gender - Confusing Names. I remember when I first met you I thought you were a guy. Sorry ‘bout that.

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Dear Carolyn,
RE: S c @ m s in the last issue of Sharing with Writers:
Remember when the guy from Barcelona ordered 100 books from me? Here are some of the indicators that it was a s c @ m.
1. He wasn't willing to use my PayPal
2. When I called up a merchant account to take his credit card, the woman told me that she and her husband had been sca mm ed by someone. They had cleared his credit card and shipped their books only to find that his credit card had been rescinded.
3. I looked up the company in Barcelona. The guy's email address was completely unrelated to that company’s address, which he had copied and pasted.
4. I’m so glad I trusted my intuition and had it confirmed by the merchant account person and by you!
xox Pamela Kelly / Author of Award - Winning "Speak with Passion, Speak with Power!"
Presentations - Accent Reduction - Interviews - Whole Life Coaching
562 - 599 - 1462 www.pkelly.com, www.speak - with - passion.com, www.pkellycom.blogspot.com, www.linkedin.com/in/speakwithpassion


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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: Use Google Alerts to find your target audience. Make sure material on your blog or Web site is directed at your potential buyer/reader. Visit your buyer/reader’s blogs to befriend and keep in touch with them. Always use a link to your site with your comments. ~This tip is from subscriber Shari Lyle - Soffe, http://sharilyle - soffe.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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Humor Hint

Using Imagery for Funny
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~By Ann Louise
I write to make people laugh. If my writing brings laughter into the world, then my daily trials have at least served some good purpose. But daily trials usually aren’t all that funny, because most of them are by nature mundane. So, it can be a challenge to make them amusing, and imagery is one tool that always comes in handy.

For example, the kids recently had a day off from school, and I could say that my stress level was high, but I want something more vivid, like, ‘By mid - morning, my stress level was somewhere in the stratosphere.’ I continue with, ‘And at about noon, the kids and the dog wanted to eat, again.’

Well, so the kids were hungry, but is that really funny? Something like, ‘When I found the children foraging for loose nuts in the pantry, I realized I would have to fix lunch,’ is a lot funnier. If I can punch it up even more with specific details, it will make the image of the children scrabbling on the floor even clearer. So, if you read it and get the picture of my stressed - out self entering the kitchen to find the kids foraging for loose peanuts on the bottom shelf of the pantry, then maybe we can both laugh at my day.
- - - - - -
Anne Louise is a humorist living in California.


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My blog, War, Peace, Tolerance and Our Soldiers is where I get to nag and rag and try to make things better for our troops and maybe for the world. I'd love to have you leave a comment. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
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Tip: You’ve probably heard that you should warn your teenagers not to put anything online that would jeopardize their future careers. Same goes for writers.

TIP: If you aren’t making your business card into a mini advertisement for your book as I suggest in The Frugal Book Promoter, then at least include on it where you network. Yes, you can list more than network. My favorites for results are Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. What no business card? No social networks. Really? Cards can be free except for postage at VistaPrint.com and social networks cost you nothing but some time. Choose the ones that fit you personality, time budget, and the theme of your book.


===================================================== 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:. News travels faster than ever. If something comes up in current events that you can exploit to get publicity for your book, don’t let it molder in your to - do file for a day. Jump on it now!


===================================================== 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.
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Opportunities

Review for Fun, Clips, Networking Opportunities ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I talk about writing reviews to build a platform in The Frugal Book Promoter - - that is network with editors and get clips you can mention in query letters. Www.novelspot.net is a wonderful review site and if you’re interested in writing reviews (you read anyway, right?), send a query to reviewforus@novelspot.net Before you query, review the chapters on writing a great one in The Frugal Editor.



New Conference on Historical St. Simon’s Island, GA ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Scribblers' Retreat Writers' Conference
“Literacy is our purpose.Fulfilling dreams is our goal.” www.scribblersretreatwritersconference.com
Sea Palms Resort, St. Simons Island, Georgia
May 14 - 17, 2009 “How To…” Featured Speakers: Dickie Anderson (F), Ed Ginn, Dr. Ervin Williams, Holly McClure, Cappy Rearick, Harlan Hambright, Constance Daley, Bud Hearn, Mary Wagner, Dr.William Rawlings
August 13 - 16, 2009 “SciFi, Fantasy, Mystery, Inspirational - This World and Beyond” Featured Speakers: Linda Armstrong, Charlotte Babb, Maggie Carter d’Vries, Nina Munteanu, Tom Dent/Andy Lamon, Jaclyn Weldon - White, Dr. Thom Brucie, Daniel Black, Victor DiGenti, Jack McDevitt,
November 12 - 15, 2009 “Novels, Short Stories, Etc.” Featured Speakers: Chris Rumble, Lois Ruby, Len d’Eon, Prof. Richard Krevolin, Julie Grimm, Carolyn Howard - Johnson, Patricia Patterson,

Scribblers’ Retreat Writers’ Conference is a non - profit organization committed to the support and advancement of all writers published and non - published, offering four conferences of specifically chosen genres throughout the year, providing conference attendees a symposium of experienced authors, teachers, editors and others from the publishing world.

This conference is not just for adults. Scribblers’ Retreat Writers’ Conference is extending this internationally to Middle and High School Students as well as to Colleges and Universities. Scribblers’ Retreat Writers’ Conference is proud to support “No Child Left Behind”.

Scribblers’ Retreat appreciates your assistance in offering this invitation to all authors, book stores, editors, libraries, publishers, schools regionally, nationally, and internationally (students 12 years old and up), and writers’ workshops.
Scribblers' Retreat Writers' Conference
“Where “can’t” is not in our vocabulary.”
Jeanie Pantelakis
Secretary/Treasurer
Scribblers' Retreat Writers' Conference
620 Sea Island Road, Suite 329
St. Simon's Island, GA 31522
1 - 800 - 996 - 2904
912 - 230 - 2207
jeanie@scribblersretreatwritersconference.com
www.scribblersretreatwritersconference.com



A Marketing Expert Offers F r ^ ^ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . teleclasses at AME - University on a broad range of promotion topics. To join in, send an e - mail to author@amarketingexpert.com. The Web site is http://www.amarketingexpert.com/iclasses.html.


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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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Quote from Penny Sansevieri of www.amarketingexpert.com: “If you’re not solving someone’s problem . . . you’re not putting a focused message out there.”


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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: From subscriber Virgil Jose. You can start a f r ^ ^ radio show of your own. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/blurb. Find the information for that at the top of the page.


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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 about the writing or the promotion. Please send in your poetry tips and resources for this section.

Poets Contest Corner announces the 2nd Round of submissions for its Poetry Competition. Winner will receive $200 Cash Prize. Should they receive enough entries, there will be two runners up who will each receive $50 Cash Prize. Go to www.poetscontestcorner.blogspot.com for details. Deadline for submissions is May 3, 2009.


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Don't suffer with book proposals. You can be a pro with and investment of only 20 minutes and 49 cents with my Great First Impression Book Proposal Short.
http://www.amazon.com/Great - First - Impression - Book - Proposal/dp/B000YG6O5U
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Tip: FUNDSFORWRITERS.COM Nothing like it on the web. Grants, contests, markets and calls for submissions. A writer's dream for resources and motivational pieces to keep you going when you feel all "hope" is gone. Editor Hope Clark. www.fundsforwriters.com Chosen by Writer's Digest's 101 Best Websites for Writers for 2001 through 2008.


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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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Q&A a la Ann Landers

The Agenting Process: To Call or Not to Call
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QUESTION:

Hi, Carolyn!

I am an author who had quite a bit of response shortly after submitting a query letter to hundreds of agents and publishers. It’s been about two months and I haven't heard back from the four agents and six publishers who initially requested my proposal and/or manuscript. I am thinking of e - mailing the four agents to let them know that the book is under review by six publishers and listing the names of the publishers to see if this sparks some interest. Do you think this is a good idea, or do you think I should wait to see if I hear from them? How long should an author wait before moving to the next option?
Yvonne Perry, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services, 615 - 884 - 1224


ANSWER:

When agent Michael Larsen is featured at writers’ conferences, I always try to attend his seminars. He takes a no - nonsense approach to the agenting process and I've never seen him when he doesn't say that he's surprised at how many authors don't follow up with their agents after a reasonable amount of time. When he mentions this, it is usually in regard to a slow answer from the agent. Well, a slow answer seems much less pressing than this situation.

So, yes. I would let all the agents know. I'm not sure I would list the others when telling them of your situation. You might mention that the others’ names are available upon request, just to add credibility to your letter. If you have a preference among the ones still holding your manuscript, I would contact him or her first, though. Sort of prioritize. If that agent passes, then you could send out your letter to the others at the same time (but not in a copied e - mail - - obviously each deserves their own personalized communication). With each of these follow - up notes I would add an additional sales point, perhaps some award or promotional activity you've been involved in since you last talked to them. If not, then a reminder of one of the best points from your platform.

You might also consider calling them if they don’t specifically forbid that in their guidelines. That will give you a chance to relate to them personally.
Those writing a book proposal will want to download my 49 - cent wonder, the Amazon short, “The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less.” Find it at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YG6O5U/ It will help you get the kind of results Yvonne is describing.


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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.
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Feature


Easy Fitness for Writers ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
By VH Melville

It's hard for writers to keep the weight off. We sit for long periods of time and
we often must write about what our characters eat. These fitness tips have writers in mind and most are easy on the budget.

1. A walk is not only cheap but can help us come up with lots of creative ideas for stories. If your neighborhood is not safe or if the weather is bad, walk indoors.

2. . If you are on book tour, a pair of three - to five - pound of weights can fit into your luggage.

3. A good book on strength training is essential. You do not want to injure yourself and it is always nice when authors support other authors by buying books.

4. Dancing to old music in your own living room. Nothing can get our creative juices flowing like good music.

5. A wii with fitness titles. Try “wii Fit” and “Your Fitness Coach.” Yourfitness coach and others.

6. Be a kid again. Do you have an old hula hoop or jump rope that youcan safely use.

7. Avoid most protein bars; protein bars may have more calories than candy bars. They are for body builders not weight loss. Besides, they taste disgusting.

8. I over eat when I wrote when let myself get too hungry. Do you? Try old - fashioned oatmeal. It’s filling and cheaper than instant oats.

9. Like Oprah, I struggle with weight. I give myself permission just to do my best.

- - - - -
VH Melville
Lives in the state of confusion and has a novel Death Toys for Quasar published by Diskus Publishing. http://diskuspublishing.com/vhmelville.html



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Endorsement: "I am so happy for you to receive a second award [Reader Views Literary Award] for The Frugal Editor. I bought this book a week ago, and I love it. I can already see the improvement in my work. Thank you. You deserve this award." ~Katherine Harms, author
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Tip: What's the biggest mistake new writers make? I can't do better than to quote Marcela Landres of Simon & Schuster, who recently had this to say to anyone who wants to publish a book:

"The number one mistake more writers make, even published ones, is thinking that their only job is to be the best writer they can and that everything else - - the boring marketing/publicity/sales part - - is the publisher's job. Writers who think this way tend to be either unpublished or unhappily published because they are abdicating responsibility for their own success."
You need to know about marketing/publicity/sales? Try the online course, Book Promotion at www.acappela.com/classes.htm ~ Submitted by Patrika Vaughn, world's leading Author's Advocate)


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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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Thank Yous


Thanks to Paul Bruno . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . .for including my media release on the launch of my new book on his Web site at http://careerczar.wordpress.com/2009/03/26/carolyn - howard - johnson - launches - book - at - national - stationery - show - los - angeles/ . Paul is The Career Czar®. He helps authors tell the world about their work! Yes, you all need to know about him. Let him know about your book and how you can help his audience! Tell him you heard about him from my newsletter. ( - :


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I use Vista Print for lots of my promotional materials. Be aware that shipping prices may fluctuate, depending on the deal of the moment. Please use this link: http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=815651421184
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Q&A a la Ann Landers

Kindle or Not to Kindle

QUESTION:

What's your feeling about Kindle. I have two friends who have and love it. One is an author of a book about caring for horses....not a popular topic. She self published, offered it on Kindle and was shocked and delighted to receive three responses from readers who bought it. The other friend is not a writer but swears by Kindle. He says he's never without it. Apparently the only real negatives are that you can't dog - ear or underscore pages and you can't pass the book on to friend to read. Are any of your books on it?
Thanks for your take on this.
Laverne, Columns & Poems
www.lavernebardy.com

ANSWER:

Readers who have Kindle may go elsewhere for reading material if they can't get what they want the way they want it. .You won't sell a lot of books on Kindle. I sell maybe both my Frugal books on Kindle, probably less than 1 percent. Many say that's not enough. I ask, why not? One of those people might pass the good word about my book to someone else. Another might be a Hollywood producer looking for a good story. Good retailers give their customers the products they want. And they let them buy them the way they want - - credit card? Cash? Check? They don't cram their own needs and preferences down their customers' throats. Guess what? We authors are retailers, like it or not.

By the way, thank you for this question. It prompted me to get my latest how - to release, A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques, on Kindle. If it serves your readers better, why not? Besides, it doesn’t c @ st anything but your time to do it. Check out The Frugal Editor’s Kindle sales page as an example. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0011EK6VC/ It is only $7.20 on Kindle so it also appeals to those who may not want to pay full price for a book, but you get to set your own price. I can’t give you the URL for the retailing book. It takes a few days for new entries to appear.



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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.
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Tip: Protect your original work and important documents in minutes. Instantly establish the date and time - of - creation of all your files, including screenplays, proposals, web pages, treatments, inventions, lyrics and ideas. Register and protect your original work online at ProtectRite.com ($18.95 for 10 - year registration) http:www.protectrite.com/default.asp?SessID=31825698&affID=9jlwORTAF8 ~Submitted by Patrika Vaughn, world's leading Author's Advocate


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This is an example of one of my Twitters: FrugalBookPromo New trend? Borders to buy nonreturnable books from HarperStudio in return for a deeper discount. They cover everything from news to more tips and resources all in 140 characters or less. If you don’t want to Tweet, at least follow me. Make a profile page and invite www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo.
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Tech Tip: To make it easy for a person to get to your Web site or blog, use a link to that site and be sure it’s correct. Here’s how:

The best way to have a correct link is to be sure to type message in Rich - text edit. Then a link can be formed. To create an embedded link, highlight the word or phrase wanted to be the link (for example the title of my blog is Brain Cells & Bubble Wrap so I highlight it), then click on the link icon in the tool bar between the Subject line and the text box - - it looks sort of like a blue spot or a little picture of the eath and a link that looks like a chain appears at the bottom. Then type in the correct URL and click OK. The word or phrase becomes an embedded link: Brain Cells & Bubble Wrap.

If you want to make sure a typed - out URL doesn't have any breaks, highlight the whole link, like http://vivianzabel.blogspot.com, click on the link icon, type in the correct URL, and click on OK. Then you have http://vivianzabel.blogspot.com with no spaces or beaks in the link. ~ Submitted by Vivian Zabel, publisher 4RVPublishing

Note: When submitting to a newsletter it is a good idea to provide both typed - out URLs AND the embedded link. This letter, as an example, is available in plain text when it comes in subscribers’ mailboxes. Embedded links don’t work in plain text. Editors who send their letters out in full color, gorgeous HTML will want your embedded link. Try to give editors everything they need to do their jobs easily.


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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.
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An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

FOR MINDY'S COLUMN THIS WEEK COPY AND PASTE:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Apr_10_2009.pdf


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

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be on a panel at UCLA’s Career Day on Wednesday, April 22, 7 - 9 pm at the UCLA Career Center, 502 Westwood Plaza, LA, CA. The topic is “Writing Careers: So You Think You Can … Write” For more information contact John G. Taborn, Ph.D. at 310 206 1025. Or go to www.career.ucla.edu.
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Watch for a new podcast on writing The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YG6O5U/ ) at Authors Access’s great, f r ^ ^ service for writers in June. In the meantime, find an old one on book promotion we did on book promotions at http://authorsaccess.com/archives/90. It was their most listened - to podcast last year.

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will sign 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 next year, contact Christine Alexanians at chalexwrite@yahoo.com.
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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 Book Expo America! 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. ( - :

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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.

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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 at 9 am. The time is to be announced. The public is welcome. Learn more at http://www.sistersincrimela.com/ccwc.htm.
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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will teach “Creating a Promotion Campaign for Your Fiction or Nonfiction Book.” A one - day seminar, it will meet on the UCLA campus’ School of Public Affairs Building (Room 2317) Saturday, August 1, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. Reg# U9836B
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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/. This year we’ve added pitch sessions: http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/2009workshops.htm

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will speak 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.


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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.)

"GOSSIP: A person who will never tell a lie if the truth will do more damage.”


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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/

A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques is available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1441467246/

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

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood is available on Amazon. It is coauthored by Magdalena Ball. http://www.amazon.com/She - Wore - Emerald - Then - Reflections/dp/1438263791/

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