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November 15, 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: Travel Writing in Your Own Backyard
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™
This Issue
~ Features: Self and Subsidy Publishing Trends: Obama's Half Brother
~Feature: Q&A a la Ann Landers. Shopping Your Book
~Feature: How to Utilize Your Sharing with Writers Privileges



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:

Inertia.

Sometimes it is born of fear.

Sometimes it is caused because we feel as if we are doing just fine without taking action.

I am happy to report that at least one of the things I was putting off finally got done. That is I now have a shopping cart, only I'm calling it a Shopping Plaza (www.budurl.com/ShoppingPlaza).

And it was born thanks to Denise Cassino, marketer (book launch specialist) and the guru behind www.LongStoryShort.com which you've heard about many times in this newsletter for its accessibility.

Anyway, Denise is doing a launch for my retail book (www.budurl.com/RetailersGuide) and I've been documenting the process in this newsletter in this very spot. A little, wee bit at a time. The Shopping Plaza was an essential part of the launch process.

Maybe it's just as well it took me so long because Denise told me about Google's new checkout offering. I loved it!

1. It's FRUGAL. There is no charge except for a small percent when someone uses a credit card to purchase.
2. It was quite user friendly to set up - - it's that fear thing, you see. Easy is good for those of us without tech degrees.
3. It was fast. I had it up and running for Christmas buying. One doesn't even need a credit card acceptance account. Just a checking account is all that's needed and that's FRUGAL, too.
4. It allows me to ship out my books autographed, something that I never talked about much because it was such a convoluted process.
5. AND it allows me to give a f r ^ ^ something to people who buy any of my books. The beautiful (if I do say so) free gift is a chapbook of poetry I coauthored with Magdalena Ball, Cherished Pulse. (BTW, it is also available an Amazon now as a "real" book for only a little more than what you would spend on a quality greeting card these days (www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse .)
6. By doing a shopping cart, I get to nag you all to do something similar. And help you through the process if you need me (at a special price of $50). When you have a non techy guide like me lead you through something like this shopping cart, we do it with no tech jargon, no skipping steps because the process is so familiar. You'll be better off than with someone who knows every last detail of the Internet. And you probably will save lots of time over doing it yourself. Here's a suggestion. Try it yourself. If you stumble, call me.

And, sure. I hope you'll consider giving one of my HowToDoItFrugally series of books to one or more of your writing friends. If you should decide you want to give them in quantity - - say to your whole critique group - - just let me know (hojonews@aol.com). I have a quantity discount for you.

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

PS: If you should know anyone who is uncertain about their publishing path, please let them know that I consult and can also coach them through the publishing process. I have published almost every possible way - - from e - book, to POD to traditional. And the word "publishing" is not just the printing process (a concept many publishers seem to be missing these days). True publishing includes marketing including promotion and publicity, too.

PPS: You know that urge most of us have to rewrite a book - - maybe our first novel - - one that's already been published? We've come soooooo far and know so much more than we did when we wrote it and we'd like that book to reflect that progress. Well, my "Back to Literature" column at MyShelf.com talks about that urge and my epiphany. I hope you'll take a minute to read it. I think you'll like it. http://www.myshelf.com/backtoliterature/column.htm


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

Letters - to - the - Editor

Hi Carolyn:

Jamie Schaffner (from your UCLA summer book marketing class) here.

I read your newsletter from rolling screen to screen and when I came across this interview, I thought of you and your readership. I suspect there isn't much new information for you, but Patricia Nell Warren makes several strong statements about the different kinds of self - publishing and the book industry in general that grabbed my attention!

http://www.lambdaliterary.org/resources/book_buzz.html


Jamie Schaffner
schaffnerjamie@gmail.com
Finalist UCLA 2009 James Kirkwood Literary Prize


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


Self and Subsidy Publishing Trends
Obama's Half Brother Chooses Subsidy Publisher? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
A news story in the LA Times caught my attention. The reclusive half brother of President Obama has written a memoir. I hadn't read much about him before, and I was fascinated by his accomplishments, but the part of the story that caught my eye was this:
Mark Okoth Obama Ndesandjo published with Aventine Press in San Diego. The Times called it a "self - publishing press" but it is really a subsidy or partner press in the vein of iUniverse (most of these services offer a different set of services, different personalities, different prices). What the Times didn't say is why he chose to do that and I was curious because it is obvious his book will sell well and could have made a lot of money for most any traditional publisher. In fact, it would sell well worldwide because Ndesandjo is known here, in China where he lives with his wife, in Africa and, by association with his brother's name, about everywhere else.
Here's the thing. I can't ask him. Or, at the very least, if I were able to ask him, it would probably take a long time to get the question to him and to get an answer back. Here's what I think he might have been thinking:
1. In the long run, he can make more money than he might have if he published traditionally. If this memoir takes off big, his profits per book will be huge compared to his royalties per book. This thinking, of course, will only pay off for him if the book sells like crazy but the possibility for this particular author is certainly out there. (By the way, 15% of his profits will be donated to a charity for children.)
2. He wanted full control over the book.
3. He wanted to get the book out there fast.
4. And this is certainly a possibility, too. Memoirs are hard to sell these days unless you are a celebrity. Maybe the traditional presses were so shortsighted they didn't see him as celebrity material. If that's the case, I think they are wrong. Up to now, he has been a silent, quiet type. But the media possibilities are there. The article I read was a page headline, the full width (six columns) wide. It filled the upper half of the page and included a three - column (colored!) photograph of him.
The article didn't say whether Ndesandjo's book will be printed on digital press or offset. I hope it's a large edition printed on an offset press because the profits will be greater for him that way and I know this book is going to sell big time so the risk of doing a full run (rather than a few here and there on demand) is not great.
CHJ

PS: Avid subsidy publisher Kristie Leigh Maguire did some research and says Aventine uses Lulu which means that the book will be published digitally. That doesn't mean it would have to. An author of stature (generally meaning an author who can sell a lot of book because, publishers, after all are in business) can negotiate certain aspects of a contract. If they are smart and the possibilities are great enough they should at least consider an offset press (more money up front but less money per book) and bigger and better avenues of distribution.



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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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Watch For: My invitation to an intimate and frugal writers' retreat in Rome in 2010. It's coming in the next special issue!


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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.)

Novelization of "Night of the Living Dead". . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Yvonne Isaak Andrews says, "I wanted to share the great news that my husband's (Christopher Andrews www.christopherandrews.com) newest book is now available, the novelization of the original, 1968 "Night of the Living Dead"!

http://astore.amazon.com/wwwchristop07 - 20/detail/0982488211


If you know of any fans of the original 1968 black & white movie, please pass this on to them!


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 of making wrong choices, and the rewards of 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: "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

Learning from the Books of SharingwithWriters Subscribers . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dreaming of writing a book, or need to know what to do when you're finished writing? You can get Write Publish & Market Your Book to learn:
*10 easy ways to get past writers' block
*The nuts and bolts of writing your opening
*How to pace your novel like a pro
*The inside scoop on what editors really want
*25 tips for publishing success
*And of course, pages and pages of information on how to choose the markets that are best for you!
www.acappela.com/books.htm
It is by Patrika Vaughn but a reviewer said, "Keep this next to your Strunk & White."


Cynthia Brian Calls for Submissions . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Be the Star You Are!® 2009 SIXTH Annual NATIONAL Essay Contest
Be the Star You Are!® 501 C3 charity announces its 6th annual essay contest to promote literacy and positive messages. The contest runs from November 15, 2009 - January 18, 2010. The topic is “Who is your role model and/or mentor? In what ways has this person changed your life for the better. Entry Fee is a donation of $10 with First Prize of $100 plus a guest appearance on the nationally syndicated radio program, Be the Star You Are!® plus publication in Star Searcher Express and on Web sites. Essays are accepted by mail or email, with email preferred to cynthia@bethestaryouare.org. Guidelines are at www.bethestaryouare.org


Aggie Villanueva Searches for Staff Members . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Visual Arts Junction has an opening for a staff member. Aggie Villanueva is founder and owner of www.visualartsjunction.com. VAJ has recently been accepted at Amazon as a Kindle Blog (people with the Kindle can subscribe for 1.99/month) and is expanding. The staff partners together voluntarily posting in their respective specialties. They will be organized under the agreement that when we make money through the Kindle blog subscriptions, the monies will be evenly divided after expenses are covered.

In the meantime we make money through advancing our internet presence, offering our courses, book and compilations of our teaching, etc. All the bonuses expected from a popular blog.

The writers will supply four hard - hitting tutorials per month, one each week. Some of the articles can be supplied from already written material, but please write at least two original writing tutorials each month. You will format and post your own articles and schedule their publication date. All work is completely owned by you to be compiled at a later date or however and whatever you wish. We claim no rights to your work that appears at VAJ. You may advertise freely on our WE RECOMMEND pages: http://www.visualartsjunction.com/?page_id=523

Aggie founded VAJ last January and daily visits vary from 50 to a high of 300. Not much now, but she works constantly to grow followers. If you are interested, please contact Aggie Villanueva at myaggie2@gmail.com. Please send an informal or formal resume with your qualifications (with links) to teach writing in bite sizes on a blog. I look forward to hearing from you.


Romance Writer Learning Op ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Romance Writers of America San Diego Chapter presents RWASD Mini Conference and Literacy on November 21, 2009 with Authors Linda Howard, Linda Winstead Jones and Beverly Barton sharing their knowledge with attendees. Attendees registering on or before Tuesday November 17th will receive a $5 Barnes and Noble Gift card. Get details at http://www.rwasd.com/ Only $45 for non RWASD members and includes lunch.


===================================================== 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 Dilemma: Queries to Agents or Publishers? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Question:

If an author must choose between pitching a query to a list of agents or to a list of publishers, which should she focus on? Agents or publishers?”
Yvonne Perry. freelance writer, editor, author, and owner, Writers in the Sky Creative Writing Services (WITS) writersinthesky.com. Follow WITS on Twitter: http://twitter.com/writersinthesky

Answer:

Yvonne, it depends on the title and the experience of the author. Here's the danger: If she starts pitching publishers without knowing much about how to determine what is best for her book, she may not make the best choice. That's because there are just so darn many ways to publish these days - - combinations of subsidy (or partner) and POD presses and traditional, etc. She may not know what to look for.

Of course, pitching to both agents and publishers holds other dangers. That is it is sometimes hard to avoid the scam artists who abound in both areas of the publishing business.

Avoid any agent who charges a reading fee or says they will represent the book but wans to sell you other services first, like editing. The manuscript may well need editing and that advice might at least be considered, but the agent should not be making money from the service as either a referral fee or because the editing is (really) a major part of her business.

Now, putting all that aside, the author's choice will depend on the factors like:
• Is this a genre that will require an agent to sell it - - or very nearly?
• Is this a title that will benefit from having a high - powered agent who has the contacts to go for a movie contract or other commercial prospects? Agents can sometimes even get a bidding war going for a book.
• How much time does the author want to spend? It can take a long time to land the right agent and then more time for that agent to sell the book.
• Is this a title that will appeal to a small publisher? Your client should know that her proposals/query letters will not be read by big publishing houses in any case. She NEEDS an agent for that. So, if she is hoping for Knopf or Simon and Shuster, she will have to have an agent. If she is the author of a literary novel, perhaps her best bet would be a university or other small press. In that case, she could just as easily query them directly.

CHJ



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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) and another pair on marketing for the hard - to - market genres like fiction and poetry. Find them all at http://www.justthefaqs.net/podcast.shtml
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Thanks and Special Request of SWW Subscribers. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Special thanks go to Mary Jo Guglielmo, Allyn Evans, and MaAnna Stephenson for nominating HowToDoItFrugally.com to the famous Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. It was like receiving a little greeting card to learn that they did it. There may be others but my e - mail has been giving me fits. This comes with a request for others to do it, too. Send your nomination to: writersdig@fwpubs.com with "101 Websites" in the subject line before January 1, 2010. Here are some other choices:
Blogs for Writers: http://www.SharingWithWriters.blogspot.com, http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com
The Resources for Writer pages at http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com
And please let me know if you do it. It's part of the fun. ( - :


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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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Twitter Tip: Www.TwitterCounter.com will help you see how you tank on Twitter.


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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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Twitter Tip: Twitterholic.com lets you check other tweeters' ranks using their Twitter name. It's really slow, though.


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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.

Yvonne Perry of WritersintheSky (www.writersinthesky.com) publishes a monthly newsletter that always includes a selection of poems. You may want to get in touch with her. Subscribe to the newsletter at: http://writersinthesky.com/writing - newsletter.html. Find the poem "Finding Myself in a Sugar Bowl" at http://writersinthesky.com/ezine/news - nov09.html.

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

Poetry Foundation publishes a magazine simply called Poetry Magazine. It is often confused with the big sort of scammy site. No! Poetry Magazine is a paying journal (can you imagine such a thing?) Find submission information at: http://www.poetrymagazine.org/guidelines.html


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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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Tip: Do you need an article for your newsletter or blog - - last minute. Try my f r ^ ^ content page. It includes rants, book reviews, how - to articles for writers and more at www.budurl.com/FreeContent.


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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.)

It makes me sad when I have none to report!


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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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Pertinent Vocabulary: Skybox: This is a box found on the front page of a newspaper, typically above the masthead (you probably know that's the name and logo of the newspaper that runs across the top of the front page). It contains titles and teasers and sometimes small pictures illustrating stories from the interior of the newspaper that the editors want to highlight. This concept can be used by writers in the formatting of their self - published books, their blogs, their newsletters, etc. Freelance writers might use a skybox in the presentation of their piece; it would feature a little known or intriguing fact from their story. In other words, a skybox is a marketing device for ideas and the printed word.


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


An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Travel Writing in Your Own Backyard
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

I’d like to go to Italy, or India or Istanbul and write glorious stories about my travels. There’s just one problem. I can’t afford it. My coffers are far too empty for such world - traveling escapades. However, I DO have my own backyard. So do you.
Travel writing is part history lesson, part sales pitch. You can delve into the accounts of things that have occurred in your area’s past and, at the same time, convince people why they should come see the area for themselves. There’s most likely some magazine out there that would like that information. Consider flight magazines and regionals.
Here are some tips to adding local travel writing to you writing life:

~ Get a map, one you can unfold, and a compass (one of those funny things used to draw circles). Stick the pointy leg of the compass in the city where you live and use the map legend to help you draw a circle around an area in which you are willing to travel (100 miles/200 miles. Whatever).
~ Go to your local library and look up any historical information on the places or people within your circle. Make a list of these discoveries.
~ Visit the places you have listed and get a feel for them.
~ Look up the places and people on the Internet to see what you can learn there about them.
~ Either go to the library or to a source listing magazines and decide who to query.
~ Query a magazine or two with your article idea
~ If a magazine gives you a go, write the article and TAKE PHOTOS of the place about which you write. Sometimes the photos sell for more than the article.
I have my compass leg stuck in the center of Springfield, Missouri and a circle drawn with a radius of 200 miles around it. Where’s YOUR circle?

LINKS

Travel Writing
http://www.writing.org/html/a_travel_writing_1.htm

Travel Writing
http://www.write101.com/trav.htm

Written Road
http://www.writtenroad.com/

Travel Literature
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travel_literature

Travel Writing Tips
http://www.gonomad.com/traveldesk/0901/travel - writing - tips.html


~ Mindy Phillips Lawrence, www.freewebs.com/mplcreative, is the author of the poetry collections One Blue Star and Above and Below. She is co - author of The Complete Writer and a publicist and literary agent. She is a publicist for the Military Writers Society of America and is in the process of researching a novel titled Alone is Where We Begin. 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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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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Tip: FeliceGerwitz looks for guests and listeners on her Blog Talk radio show for aspiring authors http://www.WritingandPublishingRadio.com .

Tip: With radio and TV interviews, you have to package yourself into the time you have available. If you have one hour on a show, there's plenty of time. But if you've got three minutes on a national show, in a short amount of time you have to pitch you message strongly, clearly and concisely and without being so pushy hosts won't want you back. Submitted by Sharing with Writers subscriber Patrika Vaughn of A Cappela Publishing http://www.acappela.com



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Thank Yous


Thanks to Michael N. Marcus, Author of. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . Become a Real Self - Publisher for his amazing recommendation of The Frugal Book Promoter. I didn't know him before this, but I am proud for his endorsement because he has strong opinions about publishing in general and some popular books on publishing in particular. Whew, am I lucky he liked mine! ( - : He included some of these reviews in his book and that section alone will keep you spending your budget in the most frugal ways possible. I plan to give you more information on his book in coming issues. A new, really good fat volume on how to maneuver in this industry is sorely needed. He is also a publisher: www.silverSandsBooks.com. Buy his book at http://www.amazon.com/dp/0981661742


Thanks to Aggie Villaneuva . . .
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. . . for her in - depth and perspicacious interview. It even tells my reasoning behind the subtitle of The Frugal Book Promoter. Do you even remember what it is? LOL. Lots of never - before - seen pictures, too. Here's the interview. http://www.visualartsjunction.com/?p=3736


Thanks to Expert Marketer Kathleen Gage. . .
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. . . for linking to my invitation for fiction writers to build their platforms and increase their radio skills on Passionate Voices Radio. The invitation is at http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2009/10/offer - for - fiction - writers - to - build.html and Kathleen's marketing services are at www.KathleenGage.com.


Thanks to My Romantic Gal Rose. . .
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. . . for always letting her Web site visitors know about the promotions I'm doing that she thinks will benefit her authors at http://romanceatheart.com/inthenews.html. Romance authors will want to check out this site.


Thanks to Linda Morelli. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~H . . . for including Lillian Cauldwell's and my Passionate Voices opportunity for writers in her newsletter: http://www.lindamorelli.net/news.html.



Thanks to Connie Gotsch. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . Imagination On Board blogger and Write On! radio host for including this newsletter on her blog frequently. Just think, those of you who contribute also get your name, title, and buy links to your books up on her blog, too! ( - : Find it the last edition at: And do leave a comment. You know that irate note you planned to send me anyway? Write it here!
http://conniegotsch.blogspot.com/2009/11/carolyn - howard - johnson - sharing - with.html



Thanks to Gene Cartwright and His Team. . .
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. . . for publishing my article that answers why you should hire a Publicity Consultant Rather Than A Full - Service Publicists. Go to http://ifogovillage.ning.com/group/authorresources and scroll down a bit.



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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

Utilize Your Association with Sharing with Writers ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
You who receive this Sharing with Writers newsletter are entitled to access and to submit material for its associated blogs, to the resources on HowToDoItFrugally.com and to be published in the various features of the newsletter itself. Your submissions are given special consideration.

Because I have many new subscribers and because most of you have never submitted any of your successes or sent letters to the editor, I thought I'd remind you that this letter is here for you. So are its associated Web site and blogs. So here are some possibilities and guidelines. I want this newsletter to provide a training ground to get you familiar with promoting, sharing (an essential part of getting publicity) and to help you get the exposure you deserve. Here are just a few of the possibilities:

 If you would like one of your articles to be included on my Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites blog, the best thing to submit is an article on the craft of writing or promotion or editing. I generally prefer practical how - to information though I occasionally publish something that will inspire writers, too. www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com

 You can submit a review of your book to be published in The New Book Review www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com. It may be written by you or someone else (with their permission). Lacking a review, I can use a short excerpt from your book on this blog or a synopsis written like a review by with no opinion (because it would be coming from you). BTW, this blog is open to all of you at any time you need it. Please follow the guidelines for submission in the column on the left of the blog EXACTLY. You submit to my e - mail address, hojonews @ aol.com.

 If you have or would like to write an article on editing, formatting, grammar or other language - oriented essays, I can use that on www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com. Your articles for this blog should also be practical and, as with any magazine, not repeat subjects I've already used or at least come at them from a different angle.

 Some of you may have an interest in submitting articles or ideas on tolerance or the military that could go on www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com. This might be a place some of you poets would like to appear. On this one, I often feed from several other blogs to that one so it's almost like being posted on several blogs at one time.

 I can use your tips, letters - to - the - editor and articles for this newsletter as well.

 There are Resources for Writers and Resources for Readers pages on the HowToDoItFrugally Web site including many lists that you will need throughout your publishing career. Display and classified advertising is also available there and I have kept costs to a bare minimum for the time it takes me to work up and install ads.

Note: I accept most everything submitted to me from subscribers, but I do reserve the right to edit, shorten, or suggest changes. That, too, does not differ from most freelance writing experiences.

PS: Please let your writing friends know about this letter and its associated benefits. They may subscribe by going sending a SUBSCRIBE message to HoJoNews @ aol.com.


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Endorsement from a reader: "I just finished self - publishing a juvenile novel, Williwaw Winds, and consider Carolyn Howard - Johnson's book, The Frugal Book Promoter, as one of the most helpful resources in marketing my book. Carolyn not only addresses nearly every aspect of marketing, she includes very detailed instructions in how to pitch your book to a host of sources, how to receive free publicity, and how to make up your media kit. Her instructions and tips are sprinkled throughout with important, helpful websites and samples. I haven't had my copy of her book very long and already it's dog - eared from such frequent use. It's a winner!" ~ Sally Bair, author of Williwaw Winds at www.sallybair.com =====================================================


Tip: AGNI is a literary journal I highly recommend to writers who are trying to perfect their creative writing. It is associated with Boston University, (www.aginmagazine.org) and I've yet to see a story in it that didn't remind me of an important element of fiction writing or suggest a new one.


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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: Many authors are quite successful in promoting their books via their blogs and other social networking tools. Twitter is a mini blog, forcing you to keep whatever messages you write to 140 characters including spacing, but blogging allows you to write a full article. If you end up going full bore with the 500 - 1,000 words every time you blog, however, you'll get burned out quickly. Vary it. Submitted by Patrika Vaughn of A Cappela Publishing http://www.acappela.com



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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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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
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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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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 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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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.)

VUJA DE: The Feeling You've Never Been Here.

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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