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_Jul_30_2011.pdf

July 30, 2011

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 (Find them in a couple places this issue.)
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column: Descriptive Passages
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

This Issue
~New Occasional Feature: Learning Marketing from
Others’ Booboos (Sharing with Writers has two
of them this issue!)
~Feature: What About Critique Groups?


Note: You may have better luck with the URLs in this newsletter if you copy and paste them into your browser window. I leave the links long rather than use hyperlinks because the letter is available in plain text in your e - mail window as well as a .pdf format.

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Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

The big news of the month is the closing of Borders bookstores. They will be missed. But the truth is, this has little if anything to do with the economy. It has to do with innovation, the cycling of an industry—in this case the publishing industry—into something new. It also has to do with the tendency for most bookstores not to adapt. In fact, most of the industry.

I bring something unique to the publishing industry. Well, if not unique then rare. I am a writer with retail experience. Three decades of it. And this is how successful small and large retailers adapt to changing times.

1. They get local. In the case of bookstores, they could have started featuring local writers. I worked with Borders a couple times. It wasn’t easy going!
2. They partner. In the case of bookstores, they could have partnered with local authors, combined contact lists and promotion power to get more customers in for special events, and to increase loyalty.

3. They listen to their customers. That might mean narrowing their focus to reach niche markets. Unfortunately, large chains either refuse to do this pleading expense, but the successful large ones do. Walmarts buy different kinds of merchandise for stores in areas that have different interests and different needs.

The question for authors is how they can somehow make those bookstores that remain (big ones or little ones) see that partnering with the “new” publishing world—meaning authors—regardless of how their book may be printed, can help their bottom line.
See my comment on this article put out by Wharton’s school of business.http://knowledgetoday.wharton.upenn.edu/2011/07/bad - news - for - borders - and - for - publishing/.

I’ve written about how authors and retailers of all kinds can benefit one another before.
It’s sad. It seems no one is listening.


Happy Writing, Editing and Promoting
Carolyn

PS: Maggie Ball and I just received news that the newest chapbook in our Celebration Series is up on Amazon. Deeper Into the Pond: A Celebration of Femininity is proudly self - published, a precedent set long ago by poets everywhere in the world. Only now the process is much faster. Hope you’ll go by the sales page at Amazon with your thinking cap on. How can you use this little $6.95 booklet as a gift or a greeting card? It has to be perfect for some woman you know! www.budurl.com/DeeperPond for only $6.95. Learn more about our greeting card/chapbook concept at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/more_on_deeper_into_the_pond.htm. You can also get it as an e - book directly from Createspace at https://www.createspace.com/3608866

PPS: First of all, this request isn’t what it seems to be. I submitted an inspirational article on how writing helped me overcome cancer and this “flawless beauty” was part of it. Still, a win would help me with the commercial acting I do, too. So how about dropping over and voting? They use the star method—much like Amazon’s. And you do have to confirm. If I win, I’ll make another donation to the Breast Cancer fund (which I’d do anyway!). Also consider entering yourself. They say they’re looking for inner beauty—not a raving beauty. We writers all qualify on that level. ( - :
http://www.invisiblesetins.com/ISIphotocontest/wp - content/plugins/wp - photocontest/viewimg.php?img_id=7&post_id=235&order=chrono

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Needing something more meaningful for the celebrations in your life? Something that stays within your budget? Check out Cherished Pulse (www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse) ($6.95) for someone you love. Try Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions for the men in your life. Sure, they like fusses made over them, too! (www.budurl.com/Imagining) ($6.95). She Wore Emerald Then (www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook) ($12.95), for mothers and other women, and Blooming Red (www.budurl.com/BloomingRed ), to use as Christmas cards or incidental holiday gifts. Plan next Christmas early. And ask about my special price on chapbook/cards purchased in bulk! All these chapbooks are from the Celebration Series of poetry from Magdalena Ball and me.
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Letters - to - the - Editor

Dear Carolyn:

I have to thank you for urging me to join Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) a year ago. I wasn't really a believer, but you pushed it, and I caved in. I'm so glad I did! As you may have seen, I've joined you on the list of books nominated for awards in October (http://www.redenginepress.com/MWSA%202011%20Award%20Nominees.pdf). Since there are four awards given in a category, and we have just four nominated books in Biography, I'm planning to be at the awards banquet. I think I remember you saying that you have attended these dinners, so I'd love to hear what they are like. Anyway, thanks for pushing me to (1) enter two different book competitions, and (2) believing that I might have a chance. The other contest, by the way is the NABE Summer 2011 Pinnacle Book Awards, (http://www.bookmarketingprofits.com/PinnacleBookEntryFormE.html). As it turned out, I'm a winner in both, which simply blows my mind. Thanks to you!

Carolyn Poling Schriber, Author of A Scratch with the Rebels and Beyond All Price
Website: http://www.katzenhausbooks.com
Web Blog: http://www.katzenhausbooks.com/blog


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Carolyn:

I have both The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor, but I'm in edit mode on two books right now, so I keep finding myself thinking the same thing over and over again: thank goodness for Carolyn Howard - Johnson's book The Frugal Editor! (www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor) I used The Frugal Book Promoter to promote my self - published novel Dead Witness, and guess what? I landed a contract with a publisher for my second suspense thriller Broken but not Dead. So as soon as I spotted her new book THE FRUGAL PROMOTER, I grabbed it.

Thank you, Carolyn for saving me hours of work and for helping me polish my manuscripts. Having both The Frugal Book Promoter and The Frugal Editor close at hand has made all the difference. Released June 23, 2011, my novel Broken but not Dead has gone back for a second printing.

I can't imagine life without these two wonderful books.

Joylene Nowell Butler
Author of Dead Witness and Broken But Not Dead
"Man's heart away from nature becomes hard." Standing Bear
blog - http://cluculzwriter.blogspot.com
webpage - http://joylene.webs.com


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My review blog is my gift to authors. It’s a place for you to honor authors and books you’ve loved with a review. It’s a place to recycle the review of your own book, the one you love most. It’s f r ^ ^. Submission guidelines are in the left column at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. =============================================

Marketing Lessons from Other Industries

So When Do Authors and Publishers NOT Need Marketing? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the world of marketing there is something called “Reverse PR.” It’s used by companies that are doing something that would benefit their public in the longrun. In your case, that would be your readers. It has talen on that “Reverse PR” moniker of its own because they don’t want their public to know about it. They fear that if they noticed what they’re doing, the placebo effect would kick in and their public (readers) would disrespect what they did before or judge the new effort more harshly.

Here’s a recent example from the fast food industry: Taco Bell cut 20% of the sodium from its menu across the board. Good for its customers’ health, right? But if you knew would you get real picky? Taste each item? Savor them all? And declare them not as tasty as they were before—even if it is better for you?
It’s not quite a parallel example but a self - published author might decide to pull their book off the market because of faulty editing and then republish with fewer typos and maybe better formatting. But if readers know about this effort, would they watch the new book even more closely to catch that author in some kind of error? Would it negatively color the great opinion they had of that author’s work before?

Some things are best not marketed, just done. Greg Drescher, executive director of strategic initiatives for the Culinary Institute of America says, “This is one of those reverse PR deals. You don’t want people to notice what you’re doing.”

The trouble is, it’s hard to keep some things a secret. The LA Times reported on a bunch of good guys in the food industry reducing salt. Among them Carl’s Jr, El Torito. And here’s the downside. Sometimes when something like this does get reported, the company in question is left with little or no control over the information that goes out. In this case, the Times highlighted the fact that these chains are only doing it because they are threatened with legislation that will restrict salt—not because they give a hoot about the health of their customers.

So, the more you know about marketing, the more you control you have over how you handle the marketing of your own book, right?

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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 so I can do something similar for you on my Resources for Readers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com.
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In the News: A research firm reports that Nook sold more units than Kindle in the first quarter of 2011. http://bit.ly/olNSfr

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How many media releases are you sending out a year? How do you do it? Find a list of media release disseminators at www.howtodoitfrugally.com/media_release_disseminators1.htm and learn how to build a list of your own media in The Frugal Book Promoter, www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo.
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More on E - Readers: Google is introducing its own reader in competition with Nook and Kindle. It’s $139.99. http://bit.ly/pg4vW


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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

Rules for this Section: Only subscribers’ successes are listed in this section. Thus, I do not pick up news of new releases or awards from general media releases for there is usually no way for me to know those releases come from subscribers. If you have an Author Success, please identify yourself as a subscriber in the subject line of your e - mail. Something like:
MEDIA RELEASE: Subscriber’s Success



Release of an Old Novel Works for Sharing with Writers Author
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Connie Gotsch’s Snap Me a Future will be re - released by Casa de Snapdragon. It was originally published by DLSIJ Press, which went out of business, so the rights went back to Gotsch. The story decries pot hunters who raid archaeological sites for artifacts. Another of her out - of - print books will be re - released as an e - book. We are in charge of our own writing careers. Connie proves it! Learn more at inquiries@casadesnapdragon.com or http://www.casadesnapdragon.com. Learn more about Connie at http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1423900059.

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Book Proposal Help: The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything
You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less is now an
e - book or paperback booklet (Only $6.95). Find it at
http://budurl.com/BookProposals =================================================


Tip: If you support your writing habit by offering services, you might be interested in Thumbtack.com. To list your service is absolutely free. You contribute only when they bring you leads and there are several ways that can be handled. To sign up, go to http://www.thumbtack.com/sellers.


=================================================SoSocial networking is one of the best ways to make valuable contact and build a list of readers. The most supportive and interactive one I know with an associated site for displaying fiction to the movie industry is iFOGO. Subscribe at http://www.ifogo.com/buy/order_chj.html
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Editing Tip: If you don’t read one thing in this newsletter today, this is the one you should read. It took me forever to learn this trick and I didn't know it to put it into The Frugal Editor (www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor). All I knew was that I struggled with this problem because all my books are written colloquially rather than like texts. ( - : So, here is a link for information on colloquial contractions which have curly apostrophes that go the opposite way from the ones that Word wants to put in your manuscript. Here’s the link. http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2011/08/dont - let - word - trip - you - up - on - curly.html . Leave a comment!


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I’I’ve reworked my Web site. Please use the huge Resources for Writers section http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com/links_for_writers.htm. And please let me know if you find broken links. I need your help! =================================================

Tip: Amazon’s Author Central has added a new benefit. Author Central is where you have your profile on Amazon. And now you can connect to Nielsen BookScan from there to see how many of your books have sold instead of waiting for your royalty statement. One big caveat here. Some of those book will get returned so don’t start adding up those sales and then try to hold your publisher to those numbers!



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I am journalist in residence at Book in Sync, which means you can find my articles in their newsletter each month and even access old ones in the archives. Go to http://www.booksinsync.com/booksinsyncjournalist.html.
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Tip: Most authors of nonfiction understand how a newsletter can benefit them, but newsletters work for fiction writers, too. One of my favorites is from mystery writer Billie A. Williams. Subscribe to see how she does it at http://tinyurl.com/4s4f47u .



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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, http://howtodoitfrugally.com/free_content.htm . 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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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.



Poetry Market E - zine. . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . .features poetry markets and contests. Also it includes
poetry book or chapbook reviews plus poetry and writing news. Email
addresses are kept confidential. Publishing since 2001. Free to subscribe. http://www.thepoetrymarket.com or send an email to
poetrymarket - subscribe@yahoogroups.com. You’ll want to get to know LB Sedlacek, editor (www.thepoetrymarket.com and http://twitter.com/frugalpoet).


Frugal Contest for Chapbook Publishing. . .
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The Mini - Chapbook (12 pages) is a concept devised by Bear House Publishers to give writers an opportunity to publish their work in an
affordable booklet for distribution. It includes a cover with an image and
a bio on the back - side. Inside it offers 8 digest - sized pages for
text, i.e., 8 poems, etc. Prices range from $35 for 25 copies to
$75 for 100 copies. They are now offering a mini chapbook contest. To e - mail for a sample, include your mailing address with an entry fee of only $2.50. Entry deadline is October 1st postmark.
Prizes as follows:
1st Place: 100 copies
2nd Place: 50 copies
3rd Place: 25 copies
To enter mail 8 pages of text plus info for cover and back - side to:
Bear House, 23 Bendwood Dr, Sugar Land TX 77478
If you have questions, e - mail tedbadger1@yahoo.com
(Winners announced by e - mail in October.)


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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: If your book sales are getting musty, you’ll love this reprint (with some additions) from my Frugal Book Promoter. Thanks to Shelley Hitz for running it on her blog. Also, notice the great job she does with the bells and whistles on this blog!
http://www.self - publishing - coach.com/book - sales - getting - musty.html


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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/advertising.htm for only $35 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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Learning Marketing from Others’ Booboos

Retailers, Restaurants: What Not to Do
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I thought I’d include this letter I wrote to LA Times columnist David Lazarus to get a conversation rolling on the truly stupid things that authors do to their readers once they have a book they hope to sell. You know some of them. Send me up to 100 words telling me about them. Include a nice 25 - word credit line that includes your name, your book’s title and a buy link for it. I’ll publish it and enter your e - mail in a drawing for a paperback copy of the 2nd edition of The Frugal Book Promoter when it is finally released. So, here’s the letter to help get your dander up.

Dear David:

It seems to me that in this time of recession - produced attitudes businesses are getting less and less marketing oriented or they're missing the point altogether. I read your column as I was waiting to be served a very early bird dinner at Fratelli's in Montrose. I had a coupon I had collected using one of the techy QR codes they had displayed on their table a few days ago, obviously designed to get new customers, repeat customers, loyal customers. There was no expiration on the coupon I downloaded but it was refused with a simple, "We no longer accept these." I respect their right to discontinue a promotion that is not working for them, but would it be so wrong to accept those coupons they had already disseminated? We won't storm off never to return, but maybe we should.
That brings me to CVS, the topic of your column. We shopped at our local CVS almost exclusively when it was SavOn. When it became CVS, we only put up with their lack of service for so long before we did disappear into the sunset. Forty - five minute waits to pick up prescriptions seemed to be the official policy. (Lesson one here: Many customers don't complain. They just leave.)

We shop Rite - Aid now and they credit our reward cards - - no fuss, no muss. Occasionally they also dispense a coupon on our cash register receipt so we "know we are being rewarded," and I do use most of them. (I use a similar system to one the woman you interviewed who wraps her receipt around her credit card.) I get the best of both worlds. So does Rite - Aid. And believe me, I know that I'm getting my reward benefits when the associate at the cash register sweetly informs me, "You saved $2.19 cents with your rewards card today." I can also read. It's tallied right there on that receipt they hand me.

I am a marketing expert (author of several marketing books - - a series for the publishing industry and one for the retail industry), and I have to tell you, there are inexpensive ways for big businesses and small to get great marketing advice - - like books and your column. But mostly, it seems like common sense. Down economy. Need business? Treat your customers like gold.

Keep up the good work!

Carolyn Howard - Johnson
Instructor for the renowned UCLA Extension Writers' Program
Author of the multi award - winning series of HowToDoItFrugally books - - one series for retailers and one for writers and publishers.
E - mail: HoJoNews@aol.com
Web site: http://www.howtodoitfrugally.com


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Ta Da! E - books are great tools for promotion
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/ta - da - e - books - are - great - tools - for - promotion/
The Anatomy of a Free (Read that Promotional!) E - Book
http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/the - anatomy - of - a - free - read - that - promotional - e - book/
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In the News: Kindle in Color? Yep, Kindle lets you publish your book with pictures in it with a f r ^ ^ Kindle Reading App offer. If your book has a lot of images, it can be viewed in color by readers using Kindle apps for PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone, and Android. For more information about publishing your books with images, please review their help page on image placement and formatting.


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Are you confused about how to credit facts or quotes when you write articles or nonfiction? Check out my Frugal, Smart and Tuned - In Editor blog: http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2010/10/q - la - ann - landers - academic - accreditation.html
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Fr ^^ - bie from Penny Sansevieri: When I talk about giving something that will appeal to your readers away, this is what I’m talkin’ about folks. “50 Things Under $50 You Can Do To Promote Your Book” comes from Penny Sansevieri and it is her gift to you. By the way, when you accept a gift like this from an author (or anyone else), it’s only karma to check that person’s Web site to see what else they have going on. Maybe something else that will benefit you. Maybe something else that will benefit them. Keep the good will rolling. Here’s Penny’s fr ^ ^ - bie: http://www.self - publishing - coach.com/support - files/fifty - things - under - 50 - you - can - do - to - promote - your - book.pdf


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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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Literary Tip: I love this blog post from Accredited Online Colleges blog on literary friendships and partnerships: http://www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/2011/11 - literary - friendships - we - can - learn - from Things never really change, do they? It’s always about writers helping writers.


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Recent guest blog posts: BookBuzzr.com’s regular blog for writers: http://www.bookbuzzr.com/blog/book - marketing/your - stepping - stones - to - credibility/
Recent podcast links: Elemental Musings from Bev Walton - Porter of Scribe and Quill: http://budurl.com/waltonporter
Talking with Funky Writer Rob Batista about starting a career, promoting the hard - to - promote genres:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/thefunkywriter/2010/07/30/the - funky - writer - radio - show - episode - 74
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Feature

What About Critique Groups? . . .
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I am in a couple of critique groups and I founded a critique group for the Glendale Library system and facilitated it for a while. They sort of passed off my radar but now I’m hearing more about them again, probably because it’s a frugal way to learn more about our craft (though we could sure learn more about marketing our books the same way!)

If you’re considering starting a critique group, or joining one, you should know there are open and closed groups. Open groups tend to draw mostly newbies and, in that case, the information that is gleaned there may be very valuable if the group members keep in mind that the critiques are more like advice and opinions that would come from a general reader rather than from someone experienced in writing. Closed groups may have an experienced facilitator and usually invite members based on their genre or writing experience. Though open critique groups can be valuable (poets can learn from novelists and novelists can learn a lot from screenwriters!), I believe that advanced writers will get more from closed ones.


Having said that, I think the best critique groups are those that writers assemble for themselves. Here’s how to do it:

Take a class in writing in the genre you prefer with a well - vetted instructor. You'll be more assured you'll get expertise if you choose classes offered by universities or by respected program like Gotham in New York or UCLA Extension Writers’ Program—both on campus and online.

After you have a handle on who you're compatible with, who will bring some experience to the group, etc., ask them to become part of your newly formed group.

In my first class at UCLA Writers' Program, our teacher took the time to put people she thought would be writing - compatible together. She is now part of the very critique group that she put together for us. In ten years we had come such a long way and she felt that we had something to offer. ( - :

Anyone interested in having a copy of the guidelines I put together for my group may e - mail with a request for it. I’ll send it as an attachment. You can use it as a guide for your own group, but please credit me. It is my own method based on principles used in therapy group, well run twelve step groups, and the ones I used (and observed) in classes at UCLA.

CHJ

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Here is a list of small publishers for your consideration: www.howtodoitfrugally.com/small_publishers.htm
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Thank Yous


Thanks to Nancy Famolari …. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for her review of Deeper into the Pond. It’s on her blog. http://nancyfamolari.blogspot.com/



Thanks to Radio Host Connie Gotsch . . .
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . for posting Maggie’s and my introductory offer for our feminist chapbook Deeper into the Pond on her “Write On” blog: http://conniegotsch.blogspot.com/2011/07/news - of - write - on - four - corners - author.html



Thanks to Military Writers Society of America . . .
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. . . for nominating the Maggie Ball’s and my Blooming Red chapbook for their poetry award: http://www.redenginepress.com/MWSA%202011%20Award%20Nominees.pdf


Thanks to Morgan St. James…
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…for her Examiner column on Maggie’s and my chapbook celebrating femininity. http://www.examiner.com/writing - in - los - angeles/spotlight - poets - carolyn - howard - johnson - and - magdelena - bell - release - new - book


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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 35 - page handout from one of my UCLA classes. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com
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Writing Tip: As I edit others work, I am reminded about a rarely mentioned guidelines about naming characters in fiction. It’s so easy, it gets forgotten, I guess. It goes like this. Don’t give your minor characters a name if they aren’t going to be seen or heard from again in the novel. It just confuses the reader who naturally stows that name into her memory banks and waits for that character to reappear.


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Chaz DeSimone has a new f r ^ ^ way to get a great poster for your office or a gift. You subscribe to his free poster offer and newsletter on design (including book cover design) and a different poster will come to your e - mail box about every other week. Each is entirely different, all the highest quality in design and all associated with the ampersand and, by extension, our love of writing. Each also comes with directions for printing, framing, making this into a f r ^ ^ bie that lasts. To subscribe go to: http://forms.aweber.com/form/91/119176491.htm
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Opportunities


Indie Award for 2012 from NIEA. . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . offers great consulting and advertising prizes to winners. You know I believe in awards to make your book stand out and make your career take off but here’s what CEO Ellen Reid says, “In our first contest six years ago, we had fewer categories and indie and self - published books of excellence were easy to spot because there weren't that many of them. That's sure no longer true - you have risen to the challenge and today the excellence of your books rivals those produced by the biggest New York publishers. The indie publishing industry has mushroomed and you have redefined the entire publishing business.

“We have been right in there with you, supporting you, cheering you along, and being thrilled to watch you come of age. We salute you!
Along with all this good news comes a question: With Indie Publishing producing more and more quality books each year, how do you get your book to stand out?

“Here's one answer. Winning an award puts your book head and shoulders above the rest. An NIEA award sticker on your book cover tells readers and browsers your book embodies excellence and is well worth buying.

“So, we are pleased to announce that the National Indie Excellence Awards Is Now Accepting Submissions for 2012. Following our most successful awards year yet, we are finding new ways to support you even better. With expanded categories and prizes you can use to enhance sales, we are making it possible for more independent authors and publishers to gain valuable publicity and recognition for their books.

“NIEA celebrates overall excellence, including design and promotional text, so that discerning readers know an NIEA winner or finalist is something special. What's more, award announcements receive extensive media coverage you can leverage to your sales advantage. “

Learn more at http://www.indieexcellence.com


Share Your Breast Cancer Stories… ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
If you’re a writer who has had breast cancer, longtime Sharing with Writers subscriber Nikki Leigh is asking you to share your story. Here is what she says:
Show Off Your Flawless Beauty - Help The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Have a Chance to Win a 75 Carat Diamond Necklace

We are looking for breast cancer survivors who would like to share their positive story with others as part of our Flawless Beauty Photo Contest. We want to feature women and men who are a flawless beauty - - that doesn't mean the prettiest face or hottest body - we're looking for people with a unique and inner beauty. If you would like to share your story, email nikki@nikkileigh.com. For full details about the contest, a chance to win a 75 carat diamond necklace and to benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, visit www.jonravencontest.com


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A free book from my marketing friend Dana Lynn Smith:
http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2011/04/free - e - book - from - master - marketer - dana.html =================================================

Writing/Promotion Tip: As you edit your work, notice the little quotable gems within it and use them on Twitter to increase interest in what you are doing. Quotes are supremely re - tweetable. (_:


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I know. I am a glutton for punishment and everyone hates me for my zero - tolerance rule on italics. But I was inoculated with it during UCLA’s Writers’ Program classes and I know anyone would be hard put to find a major writers’ program that doesn’t agree with them. So why risk the ire of exacting agents and publishers. Know the guidelines! http://thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com/2010/10/lets - talk - italics - again.html . Learn other publishing - friendly editing ideas in The Frugal Editor, www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor. =================================================


An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Decriptive Passages: Recording the Thunder
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By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

Yesterday it was 102 degrees in Springfield, Missouri. This morning it was 73. The storm rolled over the city and sent rain dancing down. Lights flickered at our office as I listened to computer keys clicking with thunder as background music. Relief!

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Simple things are often the best topics to consider for descriptive passages: A tad of thunder, a bit of sunshine, a turtle crossing the road (ugh, Steinbeck already has that one covered). We often look for splendid things to write about and grand language to carry off the discussion when basic description is often much better.

Here are some gentle ideas for writing descriptive passages.

* Describe your living room.
* Write a paragraph about the ice cream cone you are about to slurp.
* Describe a person you know.
* Describe an incident in your life or someone else’s life that you recall.
* Describe the favorite outfit you wore when you were a child.

Since I mentioned Steinbeck, here are a few links to excellent descriptive passages by him and by some other famous writers:

* Steinbeck: From THE GRAPES OF WRATH
http://www.olypen.com/pnkdurr/as/unit2turtle.htm

* William Least Heat Moon: From BLUE HIGHWAYS
http://grammar.about.com/od/shortpassagesforanalysis/a/MoonListsStyle.htm

* Edgar Allan Poe: From THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF USHER
http://www.infoplease.com/cig/writing - well/color - my - world.html

* Eudora Welty: From ONE WRITER’S BEGINNINGS
http://grammar.about.com/od/shortpassagesforanalysis/a/Weltyteacher07.htm


Now, here are some links to help you figure out methods of writing your OWN descriptive passages that will get your reader’s ganglia going.

LINKS

Descriptive Writing
http://www.montanalife.com/writing/descriptive_writing_techniques.html

Sample Descriptive Passages
http://grammar.about.com/od/developingparagraphs/a/samdescpars.htm
Writing a Descriptive Essay
http://www.essaywritinghelp.com/descriptive.htm

Descriptive Writing
http://www.weeklyreader.com/pdfs/ModelFeb1.pdf

Tips to Good Descriptive Writing
http://www.creativewritingsite.com/descriptive - writing.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. 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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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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NEW! Writers’ Sanctuary celebrates the divine feminine with
authors Magdalena Ball and Carolyn Howard - Johnson. It is hosted by Kim McMillon, Tuesday, August 9, 2011, 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, PST - at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onword. Magdalena and Carolyn will read from their latest collaboration from the award winning Celebration Series, Deeper into the Pond. The divine feminine is conjured with, “the glass wing butterfly reveals only flowers/ beneath her wings. You, my dear, the one who lives in my own domain/ opaque.” The reader is brought into a world that is vivid, and alive with emotions and feelings, that speak to the mystery that is woman. To ask a question of the guests during the show, please call (718) 508 - 9717. To learn more about the program, go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/onword or call Kim McMillon at (510) 681 - 5652.

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk with the famous Career Czar Paul Bruno on Friday, September 30, 2011. Tune in then or anytime thereafter at: http://www.careerczar.com/mp3/career093011B.mp3Air
NEW!  Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk and read poetry with Connie Gotsch on her Write On radio program on real, live radio on December 14, 2011, probably at 10:30 am Pacific time or 2:30 Mountain time. Go to www.KSJE.com to confirm the date. If you miss the live program, pick up the
f r ^ ^ podcast at. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/ksje/.jukebox?action=podcasts Find the show date and download it to listen at your leisure.


NEW! Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk about book marketing with Connie Gotsch on her Write On radio program on real, live radio on January 4, 2011, probably at 10:30 am Pacific time or 2:30 Mountain Time. Go to www.KSJE.com to confirm the date. If you miss the live program, pick up the f r ^ ^ podcast at. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/ksje/.jukebox?action=podcasts. Find the show date and download it to listen at your leisure.

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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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(Fun with language from The Washington Post and other publications.)

Pokemon (n), a Rastafarian proctologist.



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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

The HowToDoItFrugally Series for Writers

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,
Paperback: http://budurl.com/BookProposals
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3468136
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042JT1UA


Great Little Last - Minute Editing Tips for Writers: The Ultimate Frugal Booklet for Avoiding Word Trippers and Crafting Gatekeeper - Perfect Copy
E - book: https://www.createspace.com/3422926

The Survive and Thrive Series for Retailers (Authors need to know about retailing, too!)

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
Order in paperback: http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H1TACC
Frugal and Focused Tweeting for Retailers: Tweaking Your Tweets and Other Tips for Integrating Your Social Media
Order in paperback direct from Amazon: http://budurl.com/Tweeting4Retailers
Order for Kindle Reader: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H4XCCS
Order an e - book from the publisher: http://www.createspace.com/3439623 .

Your Blog, Your Business: A Retailer’s Frugal Guide to Getting Customer Loyalty and Sales—Both In - Store and Online

Sponsored by Gift Shop Magazine
To Order: http://budurl.com/Blogging4Retailers
To Order for Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004H1TACC
Carolyn’s Fiction and Creative Nonfiction

This Is the Place: http://budurl.com/ThisIsthePlace

Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered: http://budurl.com/TrueShortStories

Carolyn’s Poetry

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball Paperback: www.budurl.com/MotherChapbook
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW

Cherished Pulse: Unconventional Love Poetry. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball
For Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004GXB4AW
In print to be used as a greeting card or booklet: www.budurl.com/CherishedPulse
For Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/imagining - the - future - magdalena - ball/1021152596?ean=2940000904893&itm=4&usri=magdalena+ball
She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, a chapbook of poetry. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball.
Paperback and Kindle: http://budurl.com/MotherChapbook
For Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/she - wore - emerald - then - magdalena - ball/1020032782?ean=2940000807408&itm=5&usri=magdalena+ball

Imagining the Future: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions. Coauthored with Magdalena Ball
To order as an e - book: https://www.createspace.com/3419505
For Nook:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/imagining - the - future - magdalena - ball/1021152596?ean=2940000904893&itm=4&usri=magdalena+ball
To order as a paperback or for Kindle: www.budurl.com/Imagining

Deeper into the Pond: A Celebration of Femininity, Co - Authored with Magdalena Ball. Artwork by Jacquie Schmall
To order as an e - book: https://www.createspace.com/3608866 To order as a paperback: http://budurl.com/DeeperPond
Tracings, a chapbook of poetry (Finishing Line Press)
http://budurl.com/CarolynsTracings

Contact Information

Website
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com

Blogs:
http://www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com, a blog on all things publishing
http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, all things grammatical and ungrammatical. On editing, formatting, and craft.
http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog focused on YOUR reviews
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. It is no longer active but there are lots of ideas you can use here, just the same.

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