If you prefer to read this letter in its not - so - glorious full formatted version ( - : copy and paste this URL into your browser:
http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Nov_01_2009.pdf

November 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 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 (except when I'm traveling or on deadline) and it's long!
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Contents
Regular Features
~Note from Carolyn
~Letters - 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
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: “Musical Chairs”
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™
This Issue
~ Features: Yukky Words, Style Choices and Doing It Your Way
~ Feature: Q&A a la Ann Landers: The Best Book Signing Problem of All
~Feature: Borrowing a Marketing Technique from Newspapers



Note: You may have better luck with the URLs in this newsletter if you copy and paste. The reason that I leave them long rather than use hyperlinks is because this letter is available in plain text in your e - mail window as well as by .pdf.
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Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

I want to talk about contest snobbery and antisnobbery snobbery today.

Two of my books were named USA Book News finalists http://www.usabooknews.com/2009bestbooksawards.htm today. A Retailer's Guide to In - Store Promotions http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide and my poetry chapbook on motherhood, http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook. Those events caused quite a nice conversation about awards between me and a couple of you Sharing with Writers subscribers.

In fact, I talk to people on both sides of the snobbery issue and to some who were trying to make up their mind which side of the fence they should sit on.
There is a lot of this uncertainty going around in the literary world. I often hear people disdain this contest or that printing press or even that book because it doesn't fit with their literary standards. I might—on the very same day—hear authors pooh - poohing poetry or literary works as being elitist or no fun or hard to read or dull.

Here's my stance on both kinds of snobbery. They are both forms of bigotry. That is labeling something as less than. One could write a book on the reasons people do this. To inflate their own worth, deflate the worth of others, because they are fearful of not fitting with one group or another, to protect what they see as their favored position. You can probably think of others. But today, let's address contest bigotry because that's where this discussion started.

In the past few years as books have procreated like little piglets, we must have some way to help ours stand out for the general reader. Reread the section on contests in your Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) for details if need be.

But here's where I stand. If one must choose between letting readers know you have a quality product and caving to those who think nothing counts but the Pulitzer and Booker, I'll choose my reader every time.
Do know that people have been paying to enter contests for eons. In fact, many of the finest review journals are nearly fully financed by donations, grants and, yes, contest monies and that isn't a new way of doing it, either. There is no reason to waste money entering any of them if you haven't studied the guidelines and aren't confident that you have a quality book and have checked with friends to be sure something is not on the up and up. But do be careful. Just because a contest does not meet your literary needs does not make it a scam.

Once you have determined yourself a match for a contest, go for it. Once you win place or show, do all you can to let the world know about it; send out media releases, let your relatives know, and give everyone the link for buying your book! On CreateSpace or Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

I think Maggie and I have written a chapbook of poetry that will be a perfect stocking stuffer to send Mom and a perfect greeting - card envelope - sized gift to send to other mothers in your life including those of the boomer and/or sandwich generations. Especially those. ( - : And that my retail book will benefit those with brick and mortar or online stores. And I'm happy to shout out that they placed this year.

Winners are people who think they are winners. I feel sorry for the Oscar nominees who take on a loser mentality when they don't take home a statue. In fact, sometimes I wonder about their capacity for a little something called gratitude.


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

PS: Something else I'm proud of. I finally got a shopping cart so that people can order signed books directly from me. I used a f r ^ ^ service from Google to make it. Of course, Google will charge a percentage on the sales made there but there are no other fees. Find my cart at http://budurl.com/ShoppingPlaza. Also know that I have a special price between now and Nov 15 to coach anyone else who wants to do something similar on their own site through the process. Just let me know of your interest at HoJoNews@aol.com.



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There is a page of contests on the Resource for Writers page on my Web site: http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/contests.htm Follow the links on that page to other valuable lists on my site, too. =====================================================



Twitter Tip: Twitter is testing a new feature among a select few of its tweeters. I am one of them. It is a little like Facebook's group model and I believe it will help Tweeters target their messages only to those who would be interested in them. I'll keep you up to date. My first group is simply "Tweeters Who Help Authors." Kind of a broad group. I may have to narrow that somewhat to groups like "Literary Agents" or "Book Marketers."


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The Green New Media Life Expos (http://www.greennewmedialifeexpo.com ) offer Green Book Pavilions this fall at expos at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA; Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento; and the Pomona Fairgrounds, Pomona, CA. An author's package for each expo is available to help authors promote themselves and their books. Contact Gerry Fisher at GeFisher39@aol.com or at 702 467 9411. =====================================================

Help with Facebook

Did You Know Facebook Is Limiting Your Access? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Facebook has changed the face of its message page. It is including only 250 and of them at one time and that is ticking off lots of Facebookers. If you're one of them, you don't have to sit still for this. Go to your HOME page. Find "news feed" or "live feed" at the top of the page. If it says "news feed" toggle it to read "live feed." Then scroll to the bottom, click "Edit Options" A popup will appear that lets you have a "News Feed Settings" change that numbers from 250 to the maximum 5,000.

If that doesn't work try this:

a) Go to the live feed
b) Find some sort of update you are not interested in receiving (Mafia Wars, Farmville, or whatever).
c) Place your mouse over that posting and look at the right of that box... the word "hide" and a drop down arrow should appear.
d) Click on the drop down arrow

Facebooker MaAnna Stephenson also offered this suggestion: “I've made different lists and place my friends where it's appropriate, such as family, writing buddies, science buddies, and so on. Makes it very easy to follow everyone centered on a general theme." She says that way you are less likely to hit one of Facebook's volume limits and you can target your messages to specific audiences better, too.
CHJ



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Please paste this little blurb - - perhaps with a little endorsement - - in your newsletter or Web site: 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. Let me know you did it. I will be able to do something similar for you on my Resources for Readers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
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Asking a favor: The famous Writer's Digest wants your nominations for next year's list of 101 Best Websites for Writers. If you enjoy this newsletter, its associated blogs and Web site, please consider nominating any one or all of the following:
Blogs for Writers:
http://www.SharingWithWriters.blogspot.com
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com

The Resources for Writer pages at http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com

To nominate Sharing with Writers; The Frugal, Smart and Tuned - In Editor; or HowToDoItFrugally Web site for 2010, please send your nomination to: writersdig@fwpubs.com with "101 Websites" in the subject line. January 1, 2010 is the deadline.


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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. It includes a segment of frugal ways to help our troops and veterans. I'd love to have you leave a comment. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
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Author Successes
(The author successes segment is here to praise, laud and encourage but the success of one author may give you a resource for another. So applaud, certainly, but also learn.)

Awards for Travel Writer . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Along the Templar Trail, has just taken home the gold for 2009 Best Travel Book in the prestigious Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism Competition (Society of American Travel Writers Foundation). It is about the author's harrowing 2500 - mile peace walk from France to Jerusalem,

It was also named a Book of the Year Finalist by ForeWord Magazine.

More information is available at http://www.pilgrimstales.com.


My Choices Make Me Who I Am Wins USA Book News ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ …award in the children's education category. It is written by husband - and - wife team David & Mutiya Vision and illustrated by Ignacio Alcantara. It highlights a young boy who becomes aware of the pitfalls in making wrong choices, and the rewards in making the right ones. As parents of seven children, The Visions understand the value in exposing children to a wide range of social lessons. This early on investment can contribute to producing more socially conscious and empathetic leaders of tomorrow. Their books prepare children for the ever changing, fast paced world they will one day inherit. ~ My Choices Make Me Who I Am (ISBN - 13: 978 - 0 - 9659538 - 2 - 5; ISBN - 10: 0 - 9659538 - 2 - 3; $17.00 US). For additional information, please visit www.VisionWorksPub.com.



=================================================== Book Proposal Help: Phyllis Zimbler Miller and I ran a fun Tweetchat on book proposals. She edited it for easier reading and posted it for those who missed it. There is lots of info in it on shopping your book to agents, too. Remember, you read tweet chats like you follow blogs. From the bottom up. http://budurl.com/bookprotweetchat Another book proposal help is "The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less" for 49 cents at http://budurl.com/bookproposalreport =====================================================

Opportunities

National Day on Writing Contributions . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
My writing friend Lillian at Lillan@authorsden.com sent this to me and I found it a worthwhile national project. Please explore. I did start a local gallery and if that turns out, I'll let you know about it later. But you may want to start one of your own now: http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Involved/DayonWriting/StartAGallery.html ). Let me know what you think!

On Thursday, October 8, the U.S. Senate passed
a resolution declaring October 20 as the
National Day on Writing!
In the National Gallery of Writing we’re collecting all kinds of writing from people from all walks of life—people just like you. Submit stories, poems, recipes, emails, blogs, even audio, video, and artwork.
http://www.galleryofwriting.org/contribute.php

Want more information on contributing to the National Gallery, which will open to the world on October 20? Learn more about submitting your writing (http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Involved/DayonWriting/SubmitYourWriting.htm),
and about starting a gallery (http://www.ncte.org/library/NCTEFiles/Involved/DayonWriting/StartAGallery.html ).
For those having trouble getting started, NCTE has created
Tips for Writers (http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting/tips)
and offered sample writings (http://www.ncte.org/dayonwriting/samples).
Established by NCTE, the National Gallery and the National Day on Writing.


New Radio Show Possibilities . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . After a four year run with her first radio show, Calling All Authors, Valerie Connelly invites you to listen to her very first new radio program HOT BOOKS - - - GREAT AUTHORS which WEBTALKRADIO.net is launching on November 2nd. Valerie is kicking it up a notch, with a brisk format and more incisive Q & A. This show will of course be fun and information rich, but the pace will be faster and more exciting.

Valerie's first guest is acclaimed international best - selling author, pm terrell. We'll talk about her newest book River Passage. This intensely vivid historical novel is set in the mid 1700's and details the ill - fated journey of settlers led by John Donelson from Virginia to Fort Nashborough (now Nashville).

If you're an interested published author, request a booking on the show for the 2010 programs, by going to www.valerieconnelly.com and clicking on the RADIO SHOW SIGNUP Booking Form: HOT BOOKS GREAT AUTHORS. Complete all the fields and click the SEND button. Valerie will get back with you quickly. Do tune in to listen to HOT BOOKS - - - GREAT AUTHORS with Valerie Connelly at a time that suits your schedule! Starting on Monday, November 2, 2009 and available all week on WEBTALKRADIO.net.


Take Care of Writers Block . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . Take the Write Nonfiction in November challenge! Go to www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com and start writing and reading.
During November nonfiction writers get a chance to hone their skills and complete a nonfiction project during the annual Write Nonfiction in November challenge. Now in its third year, Write Nonfiction in November (WNFiN) isn't a contest in the traditional sense. It's a personal challenge to nonfiction writers to simply start and finish a book, article, essay, query letter, e - book, booklet, proposal, or any other work or nonfiction in 30 days. And while they do so, a blog provides nonfiction writing, editing, promotion, marketing, and publishing information to help them sell themselves and their writing.

Blog posts, which can be read at www.writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com, initially were written by WNFiN founder Nina Amir, an author, journalist, nonfiction editor/coach/consultant, but last year she brought in expert guest bloggers to provide additional information. Again this year she will provide a few posts of her own and introductions to posts written by expert guest bloggers - - 28 in all! Additionally, via blog comments and a new forum WNFiN provides nonfiction writers with a way to comment on and chat about their writing experiences during November. Post also can be read in Amir's blog at www.redroom.com, where Write Nonfiction in November was featured in RedRoom.com's Best Blog series for 12 days in November 2008. Although WNFiN is a November event, the blog is kept "alive" all year long with one post per month.


New Promo Op + F r ^ ^ Tips ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The book marketing company Miller Mosaic, LLC announces the introduction of power marketing. They put the power of marketing into the hands of authors by combining traditional marketing principles and Internet marketing strategies.
Until recently, the power of marketing was in the hands of publishers and authors who could afford print advertising campaigns and book tours. Now authors and publishing companies can level the playing field.
To download the free report “Power Marketing’s Top 3 Internet Marketing Tips” and for more information on how Miller Mosaic’s power marketing can help your book marketing, go to http://www.QueensOfBookMarketing.com .


Yvonne Perry Asks for Help/Offers Partnerships ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yvonne Perry wants to network with about 20 blog owners to help get the word out about her children’s book of holistic (body, mind, spirit) stories (http://writersinthesky.com/holistic - children.html). Each book teaches skills such as following inner guidance, being true to one’s self, or overcoming fear. Modeled after the lessons Yvonne's grandson, Sidney, these are great for the classroom, young readers, or toddlers being nurtured at home.

Yvonne would love to make a guest appearance on blogs that have to do with parenting, grand - parenting, children, family, spirituality, inner guidance, communicating with angels, healing, diversity, death of a pet, or recycling. If you would be willing to participate on a date between Nov. 26 and Dec. 10, please let her know http://writersinthesky.com/contact.php or phone 615 - 415 - 9861. She will help you promote your blog in the process!


===================================================== 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. http://www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor
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Q&A a la Ann Landers

The Best Book Signing Problem of All ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
QUESTION: Hi Carolyn. I loved your advice about bookstore signings and being prepared with your own set up items. Now I can't remember if I read that in your book or if I read it in your newsletter, but at any rate, it is great advice! I have three book stores in one city who have offered to do a book signing for me, which is perfect timing with my new book coming out soon!! They are all within 5 minutes of each other though. One is a pet store, one is a Christian bookstore and one is a regular book store (which I did at a signing at last year and did well). Do you have any suggestions of strategizing that ~Barbara Techel, author of the multi - award winning, Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog. (Frankie named Mascot of Disabled Pets Day!! http://www.disabledpetsday.com; learn more about the book at http://www.joyfulpaws.com/store.htm.

ANSWER: What a great problem to have, Barbara.

Of course, you will want to promote each of the events. That means each will certainly know about the other. I would advise candor in any case. I'd go to your first choice store and ask. But I wouldn't leave my question open ended. Let's say you approach the bookstore first. Keep in mind the needs of each retailer is you frame your question. I'd say something like "I have some other offers for book signings. None of them are in direct competition to you for none are bookstores. You are my first choice and I'm wondering if you'd like me to space the signings by 30 days or so. Keep in mind that I plan to do lots of promotion for you."

Notice that I didn't ask if they wanted an exclusive. I would not give them that much power with my opening pitch. If they should bring up the subject of an exclusive, negotiate. "For how long?" is a fair question. It is patently unfair for them to want an exclusive for a year or forever. Thirty to 60 days should be enough. If they do, however, then you'll want to adjust your plans according to what you think is best for your book and your audience.

Then you repeat this process with your next retailer. You are in a unique position because you book has not yet been published. That gives you plenty of time to play with the dates and still have a signing at all three while your book is still a "fresh release."

I'm glad that The Frugal Book Promoter and Sharing with Writers newsletter have been helpful to you. If you don't have The Frugal Editor, you might consider it. The chapters on writing query letters will be uniquely helpful to you as you begin to query for more and more feature stories, signings and radio gigs. Best, CHJ


===================================================== F r ^ ^ Audio Learning: Recently Yvonne Perry, owner of WritersintheSky Creative Services, and I chatted about editing, everything from em dashes to why what works on the Web but doesn't work for you book's manuscript. Yvonne offers you the f r ^ ^ podcast on her blog: http://ow.ly/hUNM . Other new ones for your Frugal and F r ^ ^ enjoyment include:
Raleigh Pinskey and I chat about hiring a publicist and the joy of writing: www.blogtalkradio.com/Raleigh - R - Pinskey
Cheryl Antier and I talk promotion, memoir, process at
www.blogtalkradio.com/cheryl - antier.
Irene Watson and Victor R. Volkman's at Author Access and I chat on several f r ^ ^ podcasts including a new one on writing book proposals at
authorsaccess.com/archives/146
authorsaccess.com/archives/category/carolyn - howard - johnson
I read poetry with Lillian Brummet as host at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AuthorsRead/2009/08/14/Carolyn - Howard - Johnson - She - Wore - Emerald - Then and with Kim McMillon as host at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Profile.aspx?userurl=onword&year=2009&month=09 where we talk storing poetry in bras and nude cover pictures.
Just the FAQs MaAnna Stephenson and I recorded a couple of different podcasts. One on marketing fiction (Part II). Find them at http://www.justthefaqs.net/podcast.shtml
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Feature
Borrowing a Marketing Device from the Newspaper Industry . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Designing Above The Fold For Blogs, E - mail, And More
By Tony Eldridge

Have you heard the term "Above The Fold" before? It comes from the newspaper industry. Newspapers are displayed for sale by being folded in half with only the top half of the front page visible. Publishers learned quickly that your most compelling headlines must be visible, above the fold, for newspapers to sell. Imagine, the content of an entire paper hinging on what's put on that relatively small piece of printable real estate.
Marketing mediums that you use may also have an "Above The Fold" area. E - mails, Web sites and blogs are the first mediums that come to mind, but any marketing message that you create for public consumption can easily fall into this category. Since blogs, Web sites and e - mails are not physically folded, where is the "Above The Fold" area? Read the rest of this article, "below the fold," at Tony Eldridge's Marketing Tips for Authors blog at http://blog.marketingtipsforauthors.com/2009/10/designing - above - fold - for - blogs - e - mail.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 http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/advertising.htm at less per year than most sites charge for a single month. Find classified there, too.
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Tip: Want to know more about getting into the greeting card market? This Author Access podcast with Kate Harper will help: http://authorsaccess.com/archives/162


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Subscribers who have websites or newsletters of their own may be interested
in the F r ^^ Articles 4 Readers and Writers on my site, www.budurl.com/FreeContent . 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: When you are through reading your newspaper, is it full of holes? If not you may forget ideas that have occurred to you or information you want to include in your next book. When I don’t have scissors, I just tear them out and stow them until I have a minute to file them somewhere in my computer.


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Fun and F r ~ ~: If you purchased the Frugal Book Promoter or the Frugal Editor, I'd love 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.

Last week I listed the winner of the poetry contest I ran for Lillian Brummet's book, Toward Understanding (www.brummet.ca). To follow up I asked Lillian to contribute a couple of poems with a winter theme to this newsletter because we are moving into that season very quickly. You know, so you could get an idea of the book.
Lillian says, "In these poems you can see that I have used the winter theme to mean more than just weather...the words also represent emotions, situations and scenes that are frozen in my memories. The first poem, "Frozen in Time," was written when I was rescued from an abusive situation and put in a "safe place" for a while - - with a bunch of strangers for nearly 2 years. At this time I used to pretend I was adopted and was quite suicidal due to the abuse. The friend I refer to here was an adopted child with issues of her own and we used to pretend we could be sisters adopted to different families. Denise and I had a strong bond while I was there, one that I've never forgotten.

"The second submission is a play on words...the injuries from a car accident are clear, but also the inner emotions happening at the time are intertwined in the poem.

FROZEN IN TIME
Denise, you were a friend of mine
Right from the start, we were one in our hearts,
Way back then.
I remember, you and I, in the deep, deep snow,
Desperately searching the sky for UFOs.
Anything to make our lives exciting.
Always feeling alone, ‘til our friendship came along.
Then one day I was called back home,
Returning to a broken, but safe home;
Was not sure if I liked it better this way.
Felt terribly alone - a stranger there.
And I think of you, every couple of years - I do;
Of our friendship - you and I - frozen in time.


CHANGE OF WEATHER
There’s a change of weather coming
I can feel it in my bones.
This muffled white serenity,
Is settling my soul.
There’s a change of weather coming
And it’s aiming at my bones.
The ache of pressure separating
Is muffled by a coat of snow.
There’s a change of weather coming
A cold, cold rush of anticipation,
And the icy winds’ sensation,
Burns into the marrow of my bones.

Lillian blogs at: http://www.consciousdiscussions.blogspot.com


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Endorsement: I wanted to tell you how your workshops, reading your newsletter, and just chatting with you has been a great help to me. I have a background in marketing from the fashion world and even though it has helped me get my foot in the door, I honestly have to say that after getting to know you, reading your books, and everything else I just said has truly helped me put Stories for Children Magazine on the map. ~ VS Grenier, Founder and Editor - in - Chief Stories for Children Magazine. http://storiesforchildrenmagazine.org.
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Twitter Tip: A new Penn State study reported that 20% of all tweets are brand related. If that's so, why not your brand, that is, your author name or book title? It also shows that tweets are far more suited to book promotion that telling people what you ate for breakfast.


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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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Author Successes

(The author successes segment is here to praise, laud and encourage but the success of one author may give you a resource for another. So, applaud, certainly. But also learn.)

Client Ralph Cinque Wins USA Book News Award . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . in the field of comics/graphics for his book, Vinland. It is about Leif Eriksson and the Vikings who reached America in the year 1000. Blending real history with classic storytelling, Vinland is a rip - roaring tale of high adventure beautifully illustrated by 10 artists from 4 countries. Order it for the young person in your life at www.vinlandsaga.com. This is Vinland's second award.


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Audio divas bring you audios on many aspects of building a writing career:
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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Tip: Read. Read current events so you'll know how to angle your promotion to the media. And read up on the publishing industry so you'll know how to plan your writing/publishing career. You don't want to be at the mercy of what people tell you, do you? I like the magazine Book Business. Check it out at http://bookbusiness.com


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I highly recommend Jozette Aaron's f r ^ ^ DeSilva's News for writers: http://jozette.webs.com/ not just because I write a column for her. =====================================================


Tip: It pays to read down in this newsletter. Eve LaSalle Caram, a fellow UCLA instructor, and I are planning a Roman Retreat for Writers at a townhouse near the Trevi fountain. We now have the details to share. You'll want to see what we're doing and there is only room for eight. So read up on it at www.budurl.com/RomanRetreat and let us know if you are interested.


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Yes, I do consult. I tailor my fees to your needs - - everything from coaching to full edits (sorry no partial edits) to hour consultations to help you with your marketing campaign or your path to publishing. http://budurl.com/carolynsconsulting
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Subscriber Tip: Have Keynote Will Travel. Most conferences bring in ‘big’ writers for keynotes. But those ‘big’ writers are sometimes a bit pressed for time and might have conflicting schedules. Knowing this, I never go to a conference without one of my own keynote speeches tucked away somewhere. You never know when someone isn't going to show up. But I am already there and ready to jump in on cue. I also bring materials for other sessions or workshops (appropriate to the type of conference) in case a presenter isn’t able to make it. I know the work that goes into running a conference and I know the importance of the attendees getting their money's worth. Being ready, willing and able (and speech in hand) to help out at the last minute not only helps the conference organizers, the attendees, but my own career as well. And that’s something people remember.
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Randall Platt writes fiction for adults and young adults and those who don’t own up to being either. See what and why at http://www.plattbooks.com and http://www.slangmaster.com
Platt’s new young adult novel, HELLIE JONDOE, is out November 1st from Texas Tech University Press. “…this is solid historical fiction with a scrappy heroine who is genuinely tough and a true survivor. Irrepressible and irreverent.” ~ Kirkus Reviews


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Thank Yous


Thanks to Karen Cioffi . . .
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. . . founder of WritersOntheMove, for the high praise she rained on Lea Schizas' and my Muse Online Conference and her urging people to register early. Lea now has registration for October 2010. Find Karen's blog at http://vbt - writersonthemove.blogspot.com/2009/10/its - over - for - this - year - muse - online.html


Thanks to Mary - Jo Holmes . . .
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. . . for including my release on Maggie Ball's and my recent award for our She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood (www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook). Find it on her World Publishing News page on her Web site:
http://www.mary - jo - holmes.com/mycustompage0006.htm. Obviously, a page like this can be a valuable resource for people in the publishing world.


Thanks to Online Universities . . .
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. . . for listing my New Book Review blog (www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com) in their "101 Book Blogs You Need to Read" (http://www.onlineuniversities.com/blog/2009/10/101 - book - blogs - you - need - to - read/). If my subscribers aren't utilizing this neat f r ^ ^ benefit, they should be!


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If you're starting your own blog or want to market the one you have or focus it better here’s a f r ^^ chapter from Phyllis Zimbler Miller’s and my coming book. Download it now at http://budurl.com/bloggingchapter. =====================================================


Feature

Yukky Words, Style Choices and Doing It Your Way ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ By Carolyn Howard - Johnson

My idol on grammar and style June Casagrande is at it again.

In her syndicated column, "A Word Please," she puts people on notice that she thinks a word like "incentivized" is pretty yukky, but goes on to say that it is still a word. In fact, two of the three dictionaries she checked listed it as a word. She points out that similar words like "prioritize" were once considered yukky, too. Who knew?

Often our attitudes about words are a matter of taste. I don't like words like "signage" or "usage" much either. Generally, the words without the "age" prefixes would do just as well without them. That makes them feel sort of wordy or redundant or... mmmm...officious...to me. But that's my taste. That doesn't make them right or wrong.

Our language changes. We're the ones who make it change. Further, as a poet, I value that we can make up our own words. Oh, OK. Sometimes as a nonfiction writer I value it, too.

I like the word "snoof" and it certainly isn't in my dictionary. You can probably guess what it means, even out of context. In my poems, I often push words together to make one. Both the English and the German languages do this a lot. The Germans do it even more than we do. I love the word "fingerhut" in German, as an example. It means "thimble" but literally, it means "finger hat."

Heck, I reason, English is a Germanic language so don't even try to tell me I can't do it. I can. And I will. And you can, too.

An example of when I've done it with nonfiction is "frontmatter." Word gives it a read squiggle and it isn't in any dictionary I checked as a single word. But it refers to the front pages in a book and, taken as a whole, those pages are a kind of entity unto themselves. (Ditto for "backmatter.") So, in The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), I chose to shove them together. Once one decides to do that kind of thing, though, one needs to stick with it. It becomes a style choice for that particular book. So I hope that those of you with copies of The Frugal Editor enjoy the segments on editing frontmatter and backmatter and have figured out what I'm doing with those words.

Some of you in possession of The Frugal Editor may also be saying, "Yeah, but in that book you said to stick with the rules and the most common style choices. You said that when we are writing query letters and book proposals and manuscripts, and are looking for a publisher or an agent, we won't want to give them any reason to think we don't know what we're doing. You said . . ."

Yep, in that book I advise zero tolerance. There's a time in life to be adventurous and times not to. When in doubt, and when your writing career is at stake, best to play it safe.


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I now have a social media page on my Website. I’m including the link so you can use it as a sample if you don’t have a similar page on your own Web site. And yes, this can work for you even if you only network on one site. Be sure to give your visitors an idea of how they will benefit if they join you. http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/new_page_4.htm =====================================================


Tip: I've been warning against posting information on the social networks that's too personal or too mundane...mostly in the interest of better marketing. But here are some big reasons (from AOL) why you need to watch what you say. To read it, copy and paste this into your browser: http://www.walletpop.com/economizer/article/how - social - media - can - be - costly - to - your/721020?icid=main|htmlws - main - n|dl3|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.walletpop.com%2Feconomizer%2Farticle%2Fhow - social - media - can - be - costly - to - your%2F721020


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This is an example of one of my Twitters: "FrugalBookPromo New trend? Borders will buy nonreturnable books from HarperStudio in return for a deeper discount." My tweets 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 me at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo. =====================================================


Tip: Creative writers (novelists, short story writers, poets, memoirists) have such a hard time with promotion. By following my trek and tips with Just the FAQS blogger, artist, author, and podcaster MaAnna Stephenson, you'll get a good idea of how to analyze your own work for more effective promotion. http://www.justthefaqs.net/podcast.shtml


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The New Book Review is a f r ^ ^ 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

Musical Chairs
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If you go through a newly published Writers’ Market and verify the contacts there, you’ll discover that many have moved somewhere else since its publication, both editors and publishing heads alike. The question is why does someone resign from Random House and go to Henry Holt and Company as Stephen Rubin did? The article in the link below suggests it was due to the repositioning of a company. I propose that a great deal of it might be money, not the yearning for a more literary product written by thinking writers. I could be wrong.

Both book publishing personnel and talented writers get lured elsewhere on a regular basis (both Donna Tartt and Tom Wolfe left their companies for Little, Brown in 2008) but sometimes it seems that, like all businesses, publishers dig for the largest gold nuggets they can find and leave smaller shiny sparkles behind in the slush pile. In other words, while most of us scream and pray for publication, the industry plays musical chairs with the elite.

If you want to know who is going where and what is being bought, the best way I know of to keep up with the industry is to take at least the free version of Publishers’ Marketplace. The paid version is $20 a month but tells about the movers and shakers and who is playing musical chairs. Media Bistro is also a good place to track the business of writing (and, of course, pay attention to everything Carolyn Howard - Johnson). If you want to get published, you need to know where the industry is headed, who’s headed where and follow the yellow - brick road to their door.

LINKS

“Da Vinci Code” Publisher Changes Jobs
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BOOKS_DA_VINCI_CODE_PUBLISHER?SITE=MOPAR&SECTION=ENTERTAINMENT&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

Why'd Tom Wolfe Flip to Little, Brown?
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/behind_the_deal/whyd_tom_wolfe_flip_to_little_brown_74063.asp

Donna Tartt Leaves Knopf: Can Publishing Be Saved?
http://www.mediabistro.com/galleycat/authors/donna_tartt_leaves_knopf_can_publishing_be_saved_96116.asp

Media Bistro
http://www.mediabistro.com/

Association of American Publishers
http://www.publishers.org/

The Book Deal: An Inside Look at Publishing
http://www.alanrinzler.com/blog/
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~ 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. She is a publicist for the Military Writers Society of America, www.militarywriters.com. Blogging at: http://mplcreative.blogspot.com/.
Her specialty is helping writers with their media releases. Reach her at mplcreative1@aol.com.

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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching

Just the FAQs MaAnna Stephenson and I chatted again on her permanent podcast series. Go to http://www.justthefaqs.net/podcast.shtml to learn more. This was my second time with MaAnna. We feel we really get tons of information out to writers in these shows - - thus it is well worthwhile to do more than one.
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The Muse Online Writers Conference cosponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard - Johnson is now taking reservations for the f r ^ ^ event in October of 2010. http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/

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Carolyn Howard–Johnson discusses Mormon life and history and how she melded the two into her gripping book, This is the Place, on the History Czar, aka Paul Bruno, on March 5, 2010, at 9:00 am Pacific at www.alltalkradio.net/historyczar. The History Czar is the Internet’s premier talk radio program covering all areas of history. You'll find the interview at www.alltalkradio.net/historyczar/historyczar030510.mp3 after March 5. Listen to current History Czar shows at www.alltalkradio.net/historyczar or at the show’s blog at www.historyczar.wordpress.com. Ask to be on Paul's notification list for free podcasts.

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson offers two seminars at the f r ^ ^ Catholic Writers Conference on Monday March 1. Your Query Letters Perfected: Straight from the Mouths of Literary Agents is at 9 and a casual chat, Twitter: How Writers Can Make It Work for Them, is at 10. The conference is online from Feb 26 to March 5 and is open to everyone. http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/index.php

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Carolyn Howard Johnson, author of 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, will make a guest appearance on Paul Bruno's Career Czar® radio program. We'll talk making retailing work in a down economy and how authors can make their case to retailers to let them boost profits with a book signing on December 17, 2010 at 10:00 am Pacific at www.alltalkradio.net/careerczar. You can also listen at www.alltalkradio./careerczar/career121710.mp3.In the meantime, listen to his other shows at www.alltalkradio.net/careerczar or at the show's blog at www.careerczar.wordpress.com. Ask to be on Paul's notification list for free podcasts.

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New! Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be a featured speaker at the Wisconsin Regional Writers Association Conference in Madison, Wisconsin, in the fall of 2010. Find information on that at www.wrwa.net. This active group invites writers from everywhere to join. Find their blog at www.wrwaonline.blogspot.com.


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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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Subscriber Sharing with Subscribers

Patricia Dischler Shares Editing Experience . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~She says, "My newest book, Teaching the 3 Cs: Creativity, Curiosity & Courtesy is being released November 1. I worked with a fantastic copyeditor on this book - - John Vias. (www.johnvias.com). He not only brought a technical excellence to the book, but also worked hard to retain my voice and also went above and beyond by doing research to verify the accuracy of some topics and research in the book. For example, the book is filled with activities for parents and teachers on bringing these “3 Cs” into a child’s day, and one of the activities involved working with worms. John spent time researching the habits of worms to verify what motivated a worm to behave in the way described in the experiment! He brought a depth to the technical quality of the book that really brought it to a new level. I highly recommend him to any writer looking for a copyeditor! He is a freelancer that my publisher hired, and I will certainly be suggesting him to future publishers I work with. You can contact him at: john@johnvias.com.
- - - - - - Patricia Dischler is the author of several books for early childhood professionals, Teaching the 3 Cs can be found on her website at: www.patriciadischler.com. She is an author of From Babysitter to Business Owner, Because I Loved You, The Patty Cake Kids & The Lost Imagination Cap, 101 Tips & Tricks for Child Care Professionals and speaker. She is also the recipient of the 2007 WFCCA Governor's Award

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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.)

OPPORTUNIST: A person who starts taking a bath if he accidentally falls into a river.

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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

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:
Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't http://budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo
The e - book at http://starpublishllc.com/id43.html

The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success
http://budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor

The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know About Selling Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less 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 http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide

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, a chapbook of poetry coauthored with Magdalena Ball. http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry (Finishing Line Press)
www.budurl.com/CarolynsTracings

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


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.
http://www.sizzlingbookfairbooths.blogspot.com, a blog where you can learn to get some mojo behind your own booth by learning from the successes and mistakes of others.

Tweeting at:
www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo
www.twitter.com/frugalretailing