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_Dec_15_2009.pdf

December 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
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™
This Issue
~Feature: Q&A a la Ann Landers. After You've Self Published, Then What?
~Feature: Aggie Villaneuva Shares Easy Cross Promotion Steps
~Feature: Sharing the Love with Allyn Evans



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:

This may at first seem to be a downer. Trust me. It isn't.

First what appears to be bad news:

The famous review journal Kirkus is closing its doors. So will Editors and Publishers magazine (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2009/12/stopping - the - presses - venerable - media - watcher - ep - to - cease - publication.html). This coupled with other bad publishing news can feel really, really discouraging.

Of course, these two venerable institutions in the book and newspaper worlds will be missed. But here is the good news.

~ For the first time more books were self - and subsidy - published than traditionally published. That means more may portend a more accepting attitude about books published as e - books and on digital presses.

~ The models for publishing and promoting books have grown - - one will work for your book if it is well written and timely. There are more readers, more small publishers that combine different approaches to the publishing process, generally more choices.

~ It was always difficult for self - and subsidy - published books to get reviews in journals like Kirkus. The model is moving toward online review blogs and, generally they are much easier to approach for reviews than the biggies were. By the way, you will find a list of review journals (both the big print journals are more accessible print and online publications) on my Web sites Resources for Writers page, www.budurl.com/WritersResources.) Yeah, I must remember to go remove Kirkus from the list.

~That we have more power now goes along with having more responsibility. That is a good thing. A writer who knows marketing, formatting, indexing etc. is a writer who understands her or his industry better and that can only inform the writing itself.

In other words, dear subscribers, the reading and publishing world is cracking open like a three - minute egg. Old biases are disappearing along with the old institutions that discriminated against us. Give us a minute more and the world can be at our feet, no matter what our title, what press we use.

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

PS: Ooops, I boobooed last issue. Forgot a link. I thought you'd like to see a picture of me holding a monster lizard (Iguana) from Puerto Vallarta. There's also one of me with my granddaughters and a huge sting ray on the same page. All accompanied by poetry. Just keep scrolling. http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/travels_with_carolyn.htm

PPS: Please don't forget to check out the holiday catalog produced by Denise Cassino at www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com. It is perfect viral marketing and cross promotion (many participants working on promoting it!) and it's especially good for books because it includes other gift items. If you like it, please let your friends know about it. If you'd like to be in this one or future ones, contact Denise at d.cassino@att.net.

PPPS: Is there such a thing as PPPS? ( - : The next newsletter will not be coming out until after Christmas. I have a hunch that holiday preparations keep you from reading newsletters at Christmas, anyhow.


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


Tip: Looking for a review? Check http://newreleasebookreviews.wordpress.com/


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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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Tip: Let Patrice Rutledge tell you about the new Twitter and LinkedIn connection. Yes, it can save you time! ( - : http://patricerutledge.com/linkedin/linkedin - twitter/

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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.)

Loren Woodsen's Book Places in Several Contests. . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Passion of Maryam by Loren Woodsen (www.lorenwoodson.com) was awarded runner - up in the Spiritual Category of the 2009 Nashville Book Festival. Earlier in the spring and summer it received Honorable Mention in the San Francisco Book Festival and the Beach Book Festival, respectively. It is published by Plain View Press (www.plainviewpress.net).


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

Coming! Phoenix Fiction Writers Conference . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
PHOENIX DESERT ROSE CHAPTER PRESENTS Desert Dreams 2010 Writers Conference at the Chaparral Suites Resort, 5001 N. Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85250. The dates are April 16 - 17 - 18, 2010. For conference and hotel information go to: http://www.desertroserwa.org/conference.htm Register at http://www.desertroserwa.org/registerform.htm


Newbies Magazine Open to All . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Are you a new Author looking to get your book in the hands of book clubs? Newbie's magazine can help. Each month we promote Newbie's magazine to book clubs around the world, up to 200 are mailed a direct invitation to read, flip, share and enjoy Newbie's magazine (www.newbiesmagazine.com). If you would like more information please e - mail us at : info@newbiesmagazine.com. Our rate sheet can be downloaded via the http://www.lbpublishingco.com .


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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

After You've Self Published, Then What . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Question:
Ayngel posted a question on my blog recently. She said she had decided to self publish but wondered what her chances are for publishing traditionally later if she does that.
Answer:

Ayngel, your fate is in your own hands. Write a great book. Sell a lot of them. Build a great platform. And you'll have a very good chance of publishing with traditional publishers later.

The step that most first - time authors miss with self publishing their own book is craft, believe it or not. Read up on it. The second is editing. Read up on it. I suggest my The Frugal Editor, www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor). And the third is not promoting. And forgetting that last step is as big a booboo if you publish traditionally as it is if you go the do - it - yourself route. I suggest The Frugal Book Promoter, www.budurl.com/FrugalBkProm, but there are dozens of others that can help you. In fact read more than one book on promotion. More than two.

And keep working and asking questions.

One last thing. Depending on your titles and the genre you write in, you may decide that doing it on your own is the best way to go. That dream of a traditional publisher may not be the best one for your book. There is a model for publishing every title. A way that fits the personality and expectations of every author. Don't get locked into a dream that may not serve you well.
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
New! Shamielle Alston's interview on Write Turns Allowed: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/write - turns - allowed/2009/11/16/the - frugal - editor
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It's Not Too Late . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . to nominate helpful Web sites, blogs and newsletters to Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. I would love it if you'd make it your holiday gift to me, but there are many other great ones out there, too. Send your nomination to: writersdig@fwpubs.com with "101 Websites" in the subject line before January 1, 2010. Here are some choices from the HowToDoItFrugally and Sharing with Writers stable:
Blogs for Writers:
http://www.SharingWithWriters.blogspot.com
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com

The Resources for Writer pages at my Web site:
http://www.HowToDoItFrugally.com (or http://budurl.com/WritersResources )
And please let me know if you do it so I can thank you and mention your title here. It's part of the marketing 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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Subscribers Sharing with Writers

Aggie Villaneuva Shares Cross Promotion Steps ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I've been asked how to cross promote. Many times authors think it requires a big project like the one I'm doing with radio host Lillian Cauldwell for reading radio spots but there are simpler ways. Here is an example from subscriber Aggie Villaneuva. After she linked my post about Obama's brother choosing self publishing (http://www.visualartsjunction.com/?p=3966 ) I asked her about her cross promotion process. I was amused by her thee easy steps but it brought home to me how many people forget the last one. She said,

Step 1. Do something for someone else, a fellow author, a reader.

Step 2. Let them know about it.

Step 3. Hope that they are savvy enough promoter to know they can keep the good vibrations going by a link of their own OR simply ask them to!


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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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In the News: Book Surge is now operating under the CreateSpace banner. Guess that free - publish approach has been very successful. Both entities are owned by Amazon. BTW, rumors that book quality is poor are wrong, not if the formatting you do when you input the insides and the cover is good. The downside is there are no humans to talk to. At least I haven't found one yet. (Maggie Ball's and my series of holiday chapbooks are published with Createspace.) And at least some of their editing and marketing services are WAY overpriced. But their publishing model? Highly recommended for some books and promotions.


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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.

AGNI: Oops. I got the link wrong in the last issue. That's OK, because this is something poets specifically should know about, too. 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.agnimagazine.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.

In Book Business magazine I found a publisher of poetry, Sourcebooks (www.sourcebooks.com), As always it is up to each writer to see if a specific resource is right for them.

Sourcebooks just launched www.PoetrySpeaks.com that includes possibilities for poets including curated participation and another section that operates like an open mic.


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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: You're looking at a webpage and you want to enlarge the whole thing because the print is small. Hold the control key down and use your mouse wheel to go in and out. Just found that out by accident. But then, I never read instructions. ~Photographer and poet May Lattanzio Contributor to Least Loved Beasts of the Really Wild West: A Tribute. See her photography at
http://www.redbubble.com/people/MayLattanzio


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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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Feature

Sharing the Promotional Love
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Today I read a blog post by a good online friend Allyn Evans. It contained some stories she uses in the speaking she does and I was moved because it reminded me that too often we don't speak the kind things - - the generous things - - that are in our hearts.
What a lovely reminder this blog post is. It is one of my guiding principles to verbalize positive things when I think of them. You know, compliments. Even then, I know that opportunities to do sometimes pass me by. The passing forward of good will is a process in which many together are more powerful than one alone. You are one of those many working at it, Allyn.
Find Allyn's post at http://allynevans.blogspot.com/2009/11/you - do - make - difference.html. Some of what she says will help those of you who include speaking in the promotion of your book, too. And, though not intended as such, this is a perfect holiday message.


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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: Wendy Burt, the author of a new book on query letters, has interviewed me for her blog; it will be available to read from Dec. 22 to Dec 28 on http://askWindy.wordpress.com. The interview may be one of the most fun I've ever done. But this tip is really about her book (She is the Query Queen) and that blog where you can get your query letter questions answered. It's also a resource for writing contests and calls for submissions.


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Example of Ways to Expand on a Promotion


By now you know I have chosen to feature some of my books in a holiday catalog called Spirit of the Season (www.spiritoftheseason.com) . It works on a viral and cross - promotion model. But promotions of this kind can almost always be used to build contact lists for the participants. Those of you with copies of The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkProm) know that I believe lists are the bedrock of great promotion. You may want to review those chapters for more ideas. At any rate, here is how Denise (d.cassino@att.net) has utilized the catalog to build lists. Further, even this offer is a cross - promotion benefit to participants because it gives them another valid reason to reach the people on their lists. Here is the letter she proved for us participants to send out:

I recently told you about this amazing holiday catalog with products you have never seen before. It’s called the Spirit of the Season Catalog, a transformational way of gift giving. www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com. Now, if you subscribe to the mailing list, you'll get a free gift - - 11 Inexpensive Holidays Gifts You Can Make - - it's a perfect way to take care of those last minute gifts. Many of the other gifts can be downloaded and emailed and are wonderful items your friends and family will enjoy. Others must be shipped, but there's still time. So if you're sick of the mall and just want to shop from home for something unique, check it out - - the special gifts featured in the Spirit of the Season Catalog or the ones you can make in the f r ^ ^ brochure are just what you need.

Take a look at http://www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com.
You’ll find gifts in the Spirit of the Season Catalog in the following categories: art, inspirational, motivational, business opportunities, success & wealth building, health and energy healing, Law of Attraction workshops, intuitive healing, all genres of fiction (and poetry) and a variety of nonfiction to empowering products that will light anyone’s life and many more too numerous to mention.

It’s the catalog that keeps on giving throughout the season(s). Please share it with your friends, family and contacts! Thanks so much.

http://www.spiritoftheseasoncatalog.com

So what do you think? This program will help the future Spirit of the Seasons catalogs grow and thus benefit all participants. How can you use something similar.


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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

Holidays, Writing and Ideas
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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

I thought about calling this Itty Bitty entry “How to Spy on your Relatives” but thought better of it. What I’m interested in having you do is watch how people move, talk and act as they sit around the table, pour their favorite beverage or comment on what Cousin Lucy did this year as you gather for the holidays. Think of all the people around you as a cast of characters (this might be true in some instances). EVERYTHING is fodder for story.

Let me give you an example (names have been omitted to protect the guilty). Here’s the Thanksgiving crowd I partied with:

1. Three women with whom I went to high school: One is a dentist who never graduated high school but completed college, one just returned from St. Croix with her husband and one was our hostess who cooked for days on end and still managed to stay slim.

2. A former professor from the college where I graduated who came the day before Thanksgiving to say hello. He’s 73, swims almost daily and puts in tons of hours volunteering at a hospital in the town where he lives.


3. A guy who graduated from the same high school I did several years before me. He drove up in an orange Plymouth Prowler and started telling jokes immediately.

4. A young girl of eleven who came with her mother. The girl latched on to the family dog and did not put her down. She dressed the dog in several outfits (a doggie fashion show) and sat at the big people’s table wowing all of us with her maturity.

Now thinking of that array of individuals, surely I could write a story. So can you. Learn from the people you meet at your holiday gathering. Don’t use them outright as characters, but learn from them.

LINKS

American Family Stories
http://americanfamilystories.org/home.html

Call of Story
http://www.callofstory.org/en/family/family - B.asp

Family Stories
http://www.familystories.org/

The Garden Party, And Other Stories, Katherine Mansfield
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/mansfield/garden/garden.html

Carolyn's Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, every single one based on her own observation or the retelling of stories her mother told
http://budurl.com/TrueShortStories

~ Mindy Phillips Lawrence, www.freewebs.com/mplcreative, is the author of the poetry collections One Blue Star and Above and Below. She is co - author of The Complete Writer and a publicist and literary agent. She is in the process of researching a novel titled Alone is Where We Begin. Blogging at: http://mplcreative.blogspot.com/.
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 .

Huge Twitter Tip: I've been admiring others little "Tweet Here" widgets I'd see around on different blogs. I like the idea of suggesting people pass on valuable information to other writers or to readers. I like the idea of helping one another out. I love the idea of making things easy for others. I just couldn't figure it out. Here's an application that seems easy enough to use (though I'm still experimenting with it!) http://help.tweetmeme.com/2009/04/06/tweetmeme - button/ Visit one of my blogs. Experiment a bit with the little green logo if you haven't used one before. And, please let me know if mine is working for you. I think the one at www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com is working. I used the second offering down on the tweetmeme site and replaced the suggested code with the address of my blog.


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Thank Yous


Thanks to Deb Eckerling , . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for including my article on book proposals on her Write On! blog: http://bit.ly/4G0bzQ


Thanks to iFOGO Village . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for including a great bookstore in their membership. Here's the link to "my" page. http://www.ifogo.com/BFF/gallery_3.html Online marketing is truly frugal and wonderful!


Thanks to Rose at RomanceatHeart.com . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for starting a whole section of her In - The - News for my breaking news. I am so honored. Find it at http://romanceatheart.com/inthenews.html#Desk_Of She even made me a little logo/ad. What a day brightener.


Thanks to Marv Wilson the Old Silly . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for recommending The Frugal Editor in his regular Tuesday better - writing blog. It's really a popular blog. You'll want to look into it. Here is the link to that Tuesday series: http://theoldsilly.com/2009/11/17/professor - old - sillys - tutorial - tuesday - self - editing - part - two/


Thanks to John Cathcart, Lt. Col., USAF (RET). . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~H . . . for including Lillian Cauldwell's and my Passionate Voices opportunity for fiction writers (www.pivtr.com) in his Resources for Writers page (http://www.militarywriters.com/resources_for_writers.htm) at Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) Web site. He is the author of Delta 7 (http://www.delta7book.com/). More Passionate Voices opportunities are planned including one for poets and one for writers of children's works.


Thanks to Nina Amir. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . . for including my article on writing pristine query letters in her famous blog. (http://writenonfictioninnovember.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/five - things - to - avoid - for - a - pristine - query - letter). She is the founder of the November support group for nonfiction writers and an editor (all our books need one!), too.


Thanks to Aggie Villaneuva. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for publishing my article on writing better dialogue at her blog junction, http://www.visualartsjunction.com/?p=4002


Thanks to Not Born Yesterday. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for publishing information gleaned from my media release on the coming radio opportunity at Passionate Voices Radio. This is also a reminder to read the local and niche market newspapers like Not Born Yesterday. And submit your news to them regularly. They are often receptive and one never knows what else one might learn. The editor of NBY is Amanda Secola. Find it at www.nbynews.com.


Thanks to Gene Cartwright Plus Tip. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
It pays to be an active member a social network, particularly one that is small enough to give you personal service. Example. iFOGO Village just spotlighted one of my books on their home page (http://ifogovillage.ning.com/). It's easy to be a member and to stay in touch with Gene and his staff.


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


Opinion from USA Today: In a recent edition of this newspaper, Edward C. Baig reviewed the new Nook readers from Barnes and Noble, compared them to the Kindle. He thought there were pros and cons for both but definitely sided with the Kindle for the time being. BTW, while I was on vacation, I ran into a woman who was reading on a kindle. She has purchased thousands of books to read while she travels but now will read only books available for Kindle. That's something else to consider; there is a dedicated following for Kindle.


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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 on 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: If you need to check resolution of a photograph and aren't an image whiz, check the file size instead. Right click on the photo and go to properties. A single image should be about 500KB to 1MB or more for high resolution. Numbers in that range generally indicate a resolution that’s adequate for print reproduction. (You need only about one - third of that for the same quality on - screen.)


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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: Notice the Author Successes section of this newsletter. Many book fairs and conferences offer reputable contests and Loren's success (and promotion of those successes) underscores the advice I give in The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo) that contests can be an excellent vehicle for gaining exposure, win, place or show.

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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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 Monday Jan. 11th, 3:30 - 4:30 EST Carolyn and Felice Gerwitz will talk book promotion and, yeah, some other things, too. Call in to listen and ask questions with the chatroom feature: (347) 215 - 9316. A podcast will be available later: http://www.WritingandPublishingRadio.com
Learn more about Felice Gerwitz at InformationInANutshell.blogspot.com

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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 w th 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.)

QUIET: A state of household serenity which occurs before the birth of the first child and occurs again after the last child has left for college.



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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