August 18, 2008

Sharing with Writers
A newsletter that is also a community. Share your ideas. Learn from theirs!

From the Desks of
Carolyn Howard - Johnson
And Authors' Coalition Friends
Sharing with Writers is the official newsletter of Authors' Coalition,
www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
An organization of writers who help writers.

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To read this newsletter in PDF (with a bit more pizzazz) at Authors Den go to:
http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Aug_No2Week_2008.pdf


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 Authors' Coalition member, Mindy Phillips Lawrence ~ mplcreative1@aol.com ~ www.freewebs.com/mplcreative. I also tell writers to be patient with other writers when they make editing boo - boos. We're all human, this letter comes out weekly and it's long!

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Contents

Regular Features
 Notes from Carolyn (Editorial)
 Tips Galore! (They're scattered, you'll just have to find them!)
 Opportunities: Contest
 Thank Yous (They're full of resources if you pause to read them)
 On Poetry
 Author Successes (also full of resources that have worked for your fellow subscribers)
 Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column
 Humor Hints by Anne Louise
 Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
 Wordstuff ™

Special to this Issue
 Invitation with early bird special price for world's best - trafficked book fair (135,000 and counting)
 The Ever Shrinking Writers' Market and What You Can Do about It
 Using Amazon Tags to Increase the Chance Readers Will Find Your Book by Todd A. Fonesca
 Finding Sources on the Internet by Patrika Vaughn


Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers and Authors' Coalition Members:

There are several extremely effective ways to get people to read things:
 One is by announcing in the title that it is a list of anywhere from three to twenty. You know, "Three reasons why you should read this newsletter." That kind of thing.

 Another is by keeping things short (part of the appeal of lists of ten or seven or even 20!).

 Another is to scare the beejeebies out of people (our government uses this method on us all the time.)

 The other is to tell people what not to do - - sort of a combination of all of the above.

So here are a few things I've been thinking about:

Six Big No - Nos for Dealing with Editors (and about anyone else!)

1. Don't send instant messages to just anyone. Whoever you send them to, ask them if they have time for you.

2. Don't send an e - mail signed with one name. Do you know how many Janes I know?

3. Don't send and e - mail without your website URL. What if I need to know more about you? (You really need lots more than just your name and URL, though. You'll find a section on e - mail signatures in your copy of the Frugal Book Promoter.)

4. Don't write two and three page media releases. One will do. Honest.

5. Don't send attachments to editors (yep, I qualify as an editor!). Offer them, of course. The editor will let you know if they want to risk a virus!

6. And the big rule for great public relations. Try not to ask for something without offering something, take something without giving back. If you can't avoid doing that, at least ask what you can do for your contact at the close of your correspondence.

Happy promoting! And yes, writing and editing, too!
Carolyn Howard - Johnson

PS: I want you all to know that The Frugal, Smart and Tuned - In Editor blog (www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com) won the Blog of the Day Award! Find the award here! http://blogofthedayawards.blogspot.com/2008/07/frugal - smart - and - tuned - in - editor.html .Why do I want you to know that? Because if you haven't been visiting, you've been missing a chance to better your craft. ( - :

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Please pass this letter on to others. Unlike many, I do not mind if you use only portions of it as long as you credit the writers and include this subscribe information. "To subscribe to 'Sharing with Writers' send an e - mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with 'Subscribe' in the subject line."
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Tip: It's contest season. One of Authors' Coalition's services it to provide resources for writers. Find some known and little - known contests for books
(not short stories, etc.) at http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/contests.htm. You'll also find a couple of articles there on how to make a win (or a place or a show!) work for you. Hurry because deadline is coming up on some of the ones
listed there.

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New members will help Authors' Coalition serve all its members better! Ask your writing friends to join at www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/. Paid members get a favorite review posted, consideration for an interview or review in Yarnspinners and Wordweavers, ditto for The Fiction Flyer and Betty Dobson's Inkspotter. Membership is reasonable, too.
Tell friends to visit the Authors' Coalition blog. There they'll learn how to spark generally insipid book fairs by using value - added promotions. www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com.
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Plan Now! Get LA's Sunshine and Big - Time Book Exposure in April!

Early Bird Offer for LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books

Join Authors' Coalition (www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com) as a signing author at the Authors' Coalition booth at the LA Times Festival of Books on the beautiful UCLA campus now and get a substantial discount!

The fair is the last weekend of April 2009. The book - signing portion of the fair requires that you attend but other value - added promotions do not. You'll hear more about those later.

Authors' Coalition will again be sponsoring a booth at the LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books on April 2009. We focus on making a humdrum fair into a sizzling success; we make changes every year based on what we learned the year before and the year before that.

Register before September 16 and receive an early bird discount for the signing slots. One hour signing segments (50 minutes to allow set up) cost $100 for the first and $80 for a second hour. After August 15, the fee will return to its regular $150 for the first and $100 for the second day. The fee includes display of your book, your order forms and your bookmark or business card and a poster for the full two days. Those who are not members of Authors' Coalition will be asked to join at the Silver Membership level. The regular cost is $25, but will be discounted to $20 for those signing. Participants whose memberships from last year come due in April can join for only $10 in addition to the signing fee.

Last year we had our booth televised on the Internet. Rey Ybarra from Best Selling Author Television was there to cover the event. He conducted short three - minute interviews with the participating authors. The program proved to be a great success. Rey will be there with his crew again this year. (To see the 2008 video made by Rey Ybarra, go to Best Selling Author Television site at: http://www.veoh.com/channels/BSATV

For benefits offered by this booth please visit the Authors' Coalition official blog: www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com or e - mail Christine Alexanians at chalexwrite@yahoo.com or me at hojonews@aol.com.


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Tip: Writing titles is an art all its own. Unexpected contrast in a title may nudge a creative work of art to the winning side. Here are some examples from the world of movies: Mr. Mom, Bad Santa, Urban Cowboy and even Kung Fu Panda. Now who would expect a Panda to do kung fu? Come to think of it, thinking of contrasts like this could be great fodder for a new plot, too!

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Tip: From new subscriber Edie Galley comes this tip. Sign up for Peter Shankman 's f r ^ ^ updates on reporters that are looking for sources at helpareporterout.com. Now, is that a great idea or what!


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My blog, War, Peace, Tolerance and Our Soldiers is where I get to nag and rag and try to make things better for our troops and maybe for the world. I'd love to have you leave a comment. www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com
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The 2008 New England Book Festival Contest . . .
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. . . has issued a call for entries for its annual program celebrating the best
books of the holiday season. Learn more from the contest page at Authors'
Coalition's website, http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/contests.htm . Other
contact information: NewEnglandBookFest@sbcglobal.net


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So you got As in English. You know grammar and spelling. That's great but an editor of you it doth not make. An editor knows formatting, front and back matter, indexing, structure, the elements of fiction and on and on. But mostly she'll see your manuscript in a fresh, new light. Learn how to hire a great editor and learn to be a better partner for any author - - awful to superb - - in The Frugal Editor.
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Thank Yous

(There are leads here, just as you'll find in all the most innocent - looking areas of this newsletter. You never know when you'll find a name or a site that will help you network or write better!)


Thank You to Alice Pero and Lois P. Jones . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . poets and planners of Moonday, a Los Angeles (west side) poetry reading at the Pacific Palisades Village Bookstore. They not only asked me to read but published three of my poems of on their site. I thought you might like to see them and perhaps research what they do for poets while you're there. The URL is http://www.home.earthlink.net/ ~pero/carolyn - howard - johnson.html.


Thank You to Smara Leigh . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . who included a great recommendation for the HowToDoItFrugally series of books on her Mindful Banter blog. Find it here: http://samaraleigh.blogspot.com/2008/08/how - to - edit - promote - your - book - frugally.html. We writers might find lots of other good stuff there. I know I could use lots of mindful input! ( - :


Thank You to Pauline Field and 50/50 Leadership . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for the lovely blog on the Pasadena Weekly piece I was recently featured in. The reporter kindly focused on tolerance and my novel, This Is the Place. Every little bit of publicity that novel (and that subject!) gets elates me. Find Pauline's piece here: http://equalitystandard.blogspot.com/2008/08/lifes - little - banquets.html. And please leave a comment. Include your website address. It's good for you, good for Pauline!


Thank You to Roger C. Parker . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for letting his clients and his blog audience know about the awards my Sharing with Writers blog is getting. Roger is a good person to know. Explore his blog, his radio program and more at: http://blog.publishedandprofitable.com/2008/08/2nd - blog - award - in - a - month - for - carolyn - howard - johnson - recent - published - profitable - teleseminar - interview - guest/


Thank You to Gene Cartwright . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . the guru behind iFOGO, a great site for writers. He included The Frugal Editor in a beautiful moving banner that runs across the top of the home page. See it at http://ifogo.com/IFH/iFOGOHome.php. Now, here's an additional tip (see it pays to read the thank you column in this newsletter!): When someone does something like this for your book, ask them for the html code and use it on your blogs, your websites, etc. Properly credited, of course! ( - :


Thank You to Dr. Bob Rich ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for posting my releases, news and articles frequently. His Bobbing Around newsletter is full of interesting things for writers. http://mudsmith.net/bobbing8 - 1.html


*Thank You to Dawn Colclasure . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for naming Tracings one of her 50 favorite books on her Palms to Pines blog. I am so honored. Find her blog with lots of good reading leaders (including Tracings of course!) here: http://palmstopines.blogspot.com/2008/08/my - 50 - favorite - books.html.


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No part of this newsletter is paid advertising. If you would like to advertise to subscribers, display ads are available at www.howtodoitfrugally.com at less per year than most sites charge for a single month (see the advertising tab at the top of the page). Authors' Coalition www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com is also accepting ads. So is Yarnspinners and Wordweavers. Contact katieseyes@aol.com.
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From Anne Louise Reinhard to You

Humor Hints

In April, I attended the Erma Bombeck Writers' Conference in Dayton, Ohio. It was a wonderful learning experience; there was so much I didn't know that I didn't know - - you know?

One bit of information that surprised me was from Garrison Keillor's keynote address. His advice was to finish writing something, then go back and cut out the first third of it. Well, I thought that was the craziest thing I'd heard in a long time. Clearly, he didn't understand writing, at least not mine; if I cut the beginning, I would lose so many of my most precious (and hilarious) bits.

But as outrageous as it seemed, it stuck in my mind. A few weeks ago, I was struggling with a blog entry. The thing had ended up at 639 words, which is far too long, even if my mother is my only reader. Thinking of GK's advice, I looked at the first third of it. Sure enough, what I had thought was the purest expression of wit was actually just warm - up material. I chopped it out, and was left with 397 words - - good ones. Who would have thought that Garrison Keillor, with his years of
professional experience, would know more about writing than I do, with my years of , well, uh...

May your keyboard never falter!

- - - - - Reach Anne Louise at annelouise@annelouise.net. Read more of her humor at www.annelouise.net.


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Subscribers who have websites or newsletters of their own may be interested in the Free Articles 4 Readers and Writers on my site, www.howtodoitfrugally.com. I try to add new articles to it frequently. If you don't see what you need for your blog or newsletter, just ask. HoJoNews@aol.com.
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Help A SWW Subscriber: Are you or your readers aware of any suburban newspapers in the USA - - or elsewhere for that matter - - that are especially receptive to press releases for new books? Virgil Jose, Author of The
Examined Life wants to know. Share with him and I'll publish your ideas

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Fun and F r * *: If you purchased the Frugal Book Promoter or the Frugal Editor, I'd love for you to review it on Amazon or BN.com. Make it simple; just tell what part of it you found most valuable. If you do, send me the review link (URL) and I will send you a handout from one of my UCLA classes. As a thank you, of course. HoJoNews@aol.com
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Use Amazon Tags to Let People Find Your Book
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By Todd A. Fonesca

Here's a promotion tip that I've stumbled upon. You may know that Amazon allows customers to tag books with certain phrases. These tags create Customer Communities and rank books not by sales but by the number of tags they receive from customers. It's possible, therefore, to be the number one book in a category if you have the most votes for a particular tag. For example, my book, The Time Cavern, is now the number one book in the Juvenile Fiction and Juvenile Adventure categories (what exposure!). Find it at: http://www.amazon.com/tag/juvenile%20fiction/ref=tag_cdf_hd_itdp. Every time someone visits this page, they see my book first. I've created a blog to help authors use tagging to their benefit: www.tagmybookonamazon.wordpress.com.


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. Please send in your poetry tips and resources for this section.

Poet Norma Sundberg sends this idea along to you all:
"Hi Carolyn, I've copied/pasted your poetry tip into my word "poetry file". It struck a chord with me. Brought back memories of the Summertime College for Kids classes I instructed after I graduated college in 1980(went back at age 45). My English professor gave me several helpful books. Some were from Teachers and Writers Collaborative. This organization was started to teach poetry in the schools, but the books are helpful for beginning poets, too. Pull up their site by Googling Teachers and Writers Collaborative.
I remember facilitating a class with found poems. We brought in newspapers and had the kids cut out words, phrases, etc. to build them. List poems are fun too. I put together booklets of their poems and had the continuing education department print them - - two for each student. That made each of them published poets.
- - - - - Norma J. Sundberg, author An Odd Fable, published by CyPress Publications http://www.cypresspublications.com/index.php/An - Odd - Fable.html


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Don't suffer with book proposals. You can be a pro with and investment of only 20 minutes and 49 cents with my Great First Impression Book Proposal Short.
http://www.amazon.com/Great - First - Impression - Book - Proposal/dp/B000YG6O5U
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Feature

The Ever - Shrinking Writers Market and Promotion Opportunities

Like it or not, opportunities for writers are shrinking. We have the environmental aspect of saving paper working against us and the economy. We've had announcements about how review opportunities are dwindling (the LA Times book section has fewer pages and is now shared with the Sunday opinion page in a rather topsy - turvy fashion. One has to turn the paper upside down to read one or the other section, depending on where the reader started.

We also read that some airlines will be reducing and/or eliminating their magazines even though the ads in them are profitable. The ads are profitable because they get read by upper - income business people, of course, but carrying around one pound magazines in several hundred seats plus shipping the magazines to and fro is adding to the airlines' fuel consumption issues. That means fewer freelance opportunities there and fewer promotion opportunities because of the cuts.
So, how do we counterbalance this dreary news? Exactly what I've been telling people to do since The Frugal Book Promoter was published. That is, use the Web.
There is no reason (other than attention span and hard - on - the - eyes screen reading) to limit your word count on the Web. If you really need to do a 3,000 article, have at it!

There is plenty of room for online journals to expand to accommodate more writing and more promotional opportunities. Take WOW - WomenonWriting.com. Their interviews and how - to segments are complete and extensive because they can be more helpful to their readers that way.

Further, submitting - - either promotion material or freelance work - - to Web markets is inexpensive. No postage. And you'll find it's time - thrifty, too. Most times freelancers won't have to write both a proposal but, instead, be able to cut right to the chase and submit the article they wanted to write. If one market doesn't take it, maybe another will. In my opinion, it's even easier to do a rewrite than to write both a proposal and an article, proofread and edit both.
The downside, of course, is that many markets on the Web don't pay. Or do they? If you're providing free content, ask for what you need. A more prominent byline? A mention in the e - newsletter that announces each issue? A nice tagline? A picture of you and/or your book cover?

Then, go one step farther. Help promote the article they run for you. When the editors see a hike in their traffic, they're very likely to ask you back.
Or you can just search out some paying markets. www.pedestalmagazine.com pays for poetry. So does www.Salon.com. There are many others but each writer needs to find the paying markets that fits their own niche.

Oh, BTW, at least one airline will be transferring their magazine to their online screens very soon. That means they may have MORE space for you than they had before! Remember, that's the big advantage of the digital age. It's unlimited air vs. expensive (and heavy) paper. Books won't go out of style but it's a sure thing we'll need to adapt anyway.
CHJ


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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

(If you read about others' successes you'll not only be inspired, you'll glean resources for future successes of your own. You are invited to send me news about your successes. Please use "AUTHOR SUCCESSES" as a subject lines.)


Michelle Dunn Selected As a "Top - Idea Maven" by The Woman's Advantage
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Michelle Dunn, entrepreneur and award - winning author of the Collecting Money Series (www.michelledunn.com), was selected from hundreds and hundreds of submissions to be featured in the 2009 Woman's Advantage Calendar. The calendar will provide advice for women business owners from influential women leaders across the US and Canada. For more information on the calendar and how you might utilize this resource visit http://www.WomansAdvantage.biz.


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Available: Audios from Audio Divas on many aspects of building a writing career are published by Double Dragon Press. Here is the page where you'll find the full list (http://www.double - dragon - ebooks.com/eAuthor.php?Name=Carolyn%20Howard - Johnson ) including one on "Do It Yourself Indexing." The first audio, "Promoting Easy and Cheap!" is a
F R ^ ^ sample you can download. Each comes with a resource guide. Here is an example of a guide for the audio - lesson Your Divas did on "Contests": http://www.derondouglas.com/audiosample/AwardResourceGuideContests.pdf
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Tip: I ran across this site as I was trying to find someone to video my poetry reading at Pacific Palisades last week. Video is perfect for all authors but especially grand for poets. Check it out. You could start something like this in your community. http://www.poetry.la/page23.html. BTW, there is no com or net in this address. LA is IT!!



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Endorsement: "I am so happy for you to receive a second award [Reader Views Literary Award] for The Frugal Editor. I bought this book a week ago, and I love it. I can already see the improvement in my work. Thank you. You deserve this award." ~Katherine Harms, author
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Finding Sources/Experts on the Internet
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By Patrika Vaughn, www.acapella.com

Search engines, of course, are where to start - - but here are some specific locations to help you find the people who can help you with the subject you're writing about:
http://anywho.com From AT&T and one of the best, containing over 90 million U.S. listings. It also has a reverse lookup where you can locate a person or business from their telephone number.
http://people.yahoog.com A good people and email address finder. In addition to the UK and Ireland sites, Yahoo! also has people finders on all their international pages.www.infospace.com. Very good source for locating government numbers. Also includes telephone directories for Canada and US.


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Authors' Coalition members! For credibility, use the AC logo on your promotional materials. Ask for it by sending an e - mail to HoJoNews@aol.com or download it with a click from the AC site: http://www.authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com/AC_Promotional_Videos,%20Logos%20&%20More.
You know you want it on your website! Be sure to link it to the AC site, too! And there is a cross - promotional slide show there that will add movement and color to your site or blog, even if you aren't featured on it. It's all about Karma. ( - :
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Tip: Do you writers of children lit know about Once Upon A Time magazine? http://onceuponatimemag.com/ It’s also a market (nonpaying) for illustrators.


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Authors' Coalition: No Hum - Drum Book Fair Promotion Allowed is a blog where you can watch how Authors' Coalition members make book fairs successful with cross - promotion, value - added promotions and a good assessment process. Find it at www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com. It's time to sign up for 2009's LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books with Christine Alexanians, tinooshik@yahoo.com
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Tip: One of the things Authors' Coalition does for the authors who participate in their booths is list books on Listmania. Here is an example of lists Joyce Faulkner built for our participants last year: http://buybox.amazon.com/Authors - Coalition - 2/lm/R2U3IAL41YBSEP and http://yp.amazon.com/Authors - Coalition - 1/lm/R2FRVCIGEMC5UR. For those interested in a special early bird price for our LA Times booth in 2009 (limited time only) go to www.authorscoalition.blogspot.com for details. You, too, can use Amazon lists like this to help other readers and help expose your title at the same time. More information on it is in your copy of The Frugal Book Promoter.

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"AC is the current that powers your writing career." http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com
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TIP: Joan Stewart, The Publicity Hound, reminds us that we need to get our suggestions for holiday gift guides to editors before Labor Day. This is one time buying list of prospects is more frugal in terms of time than digging out the names yourself. Find them at http://www.giftlistmedia.com/?link=ph .


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Reciprocal Links: Many subscribers are in a position to cross promote. Let me know if you would like to trade some recommendation or promotion for any of my books - - from the HowToDoItFrugally series to my chapbook of poetry - - for a place on my Resources for Writers or Resources for Readers pages on www.HowToDoItFrugally.com.
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Tip:. Walter Brasch has added a couple of helpful details to the bookmarks he uses to promote his books. For his latest book, Sinking the Ship of State: The Presidency of George W. Bush he created two bookmarks, each with the same front. On one set of bookmarks, he included the usual review snippets plus ordering information. On the other, he included the reviews, but left space, about the equivalent of a return address label. For upcoming appearances, especially at bookstores, he puts on a gold label, "MEET THE AUTHOR," with time and date; bookstores then give them to customers during the week before the signing. At signings, he uses the same blank spot (sans labels) to sign bookmarks. Everyone who buys a book or stops by his table (even if they don't buy) gets a signed bookmark. Brasch uses bookmarks in all correspondence, including envelopes containing bill payments. He says, "I especially love sending promo in pre - addressed stamped envelopes from junk mailers."


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I use Vista Print for lots of my promotional materials. Be aware that shipping prices may fluctuate, depending on the deal of the moment. Please use this link:
http://www.vistaprint.com/frf?frf=815651421184
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Tip: USA Today ran a neat article on how Olympics advertising and sponsorships have changed. My comments on reaching the digitally - savvy crowd is on my Reader's Digest Award - Winning Blog ( - :, www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com.


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Tip: I just added a new section on my F r ^^ content page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Before editors of newsletters, websites etc. could find mostly how - to articles but there is now a section for fiction and poetry - - mostly excerpts from my novel, book of short stories and chapbooks of poetry. Go to www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/free_content.htm.

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The New Book Review is a service of this newsletter and Authors' Coalition. It allows authors to get more exposure from their favorite review and reviewers a chance to have more readers see their reviews - - with links, of course. Please check the guidelines on the blog site at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com.
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An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

What's in a Name?
By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

Shakespeare started it. In Romeo and Juliet, he said, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Maybe so, but could you imagine a floribunda being called a stinkweed?

When we name characters for our stories, we should consider the name’s meaning, its derivation, its sound and its relationship to our tale. For example, Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird stands up for someone for whom no one else will, a black man in the pre - Civil Rights South who has no chance of getting a fair trial. The Wikipedia link for the novel shows the name “Atticus” comes from the Roman orator Titus Pomponius Atticus who stayed neutral in political struggles, never taking sides. Throughout the book, Harper Lee also uses names of relatives for many of the characters, names that mean something to her.

If you happen to be interested in genealogy, you’ll understand a great deal about names already. So give Shakespeare some room. He had something to say about love, hate and sorrow in Juliet (who wasn’t named Sue).
Here's a link for more on Atticus Finch: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atticus_Finch.

And here are some places to research names for your characters:
FIRST NAME LINKS
Baby Names
http://www.babynames.com/

Tips for Writers
http://www.babynames.com/character - names.php

BabyHold (Baby Names)
http://www.babyhold.com/

Baby Name World
http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/

SURNAMES
http://surnames.behindthename.com/

Ancestor Search
http://www.searchforancestors.com/surnames/origin/

Glossary of Last Name Meanings and Origins
http://genealogy.about.com/library/surnames/bl_meaning.htm

- - - - - Mindy Phillips Lawrence www.freewebs.com/mplcreative is the author of One Blue Star and co - author of The Complete Writer. She is also the publicist and literary agent for Dr. Dan Skelton and representative for the fiction work of Bev Sninchak (formerly Walton - Porter). She is in the process of researching a novel titled Alone is Where We Begin. Blogging at: http://mplcreative.blogspot.com/.

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Endorsement:
"www.HowToDoItFrugally.com , by Carolyn Howard - Johnson [is] a top website for writers . . . I'd say my ROI is over 1,000%. The advice is particularly strong in addressing the new author where they are in learning the publishing/selling process. Very practical. The site is excellent."
~ Hill Kemp, author of Capitol Offense, and contributor to Secrets, Fact or Fiction? I, ISBN 0 - 9737282 - 5 - 6 and Secrets, Fact or Fiction? II, ISBN 1 - 59594 - 062 - 6, LOC 2006904627, http://www.secretsfactorfiction.com
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching

(I'm taking the month of August is vacation time (sort of). so my schedule is limited. It doesn't mean I don't love you all! (Nope, June and July weren't as productive as I hoped!)


 Join Carolyn Howard Johnson as she shares her expertise on promoting your book...frugally. Author of The Frugal Editor and The Frugal Book Promoter, Carolyn will be available to answer your questions on August 20 and 21 at the Long Ridge Writers Group Website's Professional Connection Q&A. The conversation will take place on the Long Ridge Writers Group Post - A - Note board. http://longridgewritersgroup.net/index.php New users must create a user name and password, but there is no charge and the site is open to the public. Long Ridge Writers Group is a writing program that has, for 30 years, taught thousands of aspiring authors how to find their own writing niche - - and how to break into print. All its instructors are professional authors and editors as well as excellent teachers. There is no set time. Carolyn will check back during the day on both days.

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be the featured interview October 10, 2008 on Novel Journey, recently named one of Writer's Digest's top websites for writers. The site is known for its author interviews, commentary on the writing life and book giveaways, and appears on My Space News. Novel Journey has become a must - visit blog that is frequented by publicists, editors, publishers and multi - published authors. The Novel Journey contributors have crafted questions designed to guarantee that each post will offer something valuable to our growing readership.
http://www.noveljourney.blogspot.com/

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The f r e ^ Muse Online Writers' Conference, sponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard - Johnson, is accepting early registration. Nearly 2,000 attended last year and openings are limited. Learn more about this year's conference, October 13 to 19th, and how you can assure your spot in 2008. We will present an all - new program soon. Carolyn will do a seminar on "Query Letters! Editing them perfectly for a great first impression." Go to: For more information click here:
http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will speak to the California Writers Club of San Fernando Valley at 1 pm on December 13, 2008. It's at the Encino Community Center, 4939 Balboa Blvd (just north of Ventura Blvd.), Encino, CA 91316. Learn more about the year's programs www.calwriterssfv.com and sign up to join. It's a dynamic group. E - mail is cwcsfv@gmail.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.
It’s hotter than August! ( - :
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Wordstuff ™

Something to Make Writers Smile

(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.)

"WRINKLES: Something other people have. You have character lines."


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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

This letter is an entity of Authors' Coalition http://authorscoalitionandredenginepress.com

Edited and distributed by Carolyn Howard - Johnson,
http://carolynhoward - johnson.com

This is a place to share with others and learn from others.

Though 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 on to friends or e - groups. It needn't be pasted in its complete form, but please credit this newsletter, Authors' Coalition and the individual contributors with anything you snip and paste.

Ordering Information:
Order the Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't at stores like UCLA, Dayton University and San Diego State University's bookstores or at Amazon where it is discounted:
www.amazon.com/gp/product/193299310X/qid=1149015406/sr=2 - 1/ Order it as an e - book at http://starpublish.com/carolyn_howard - johnson.htm

The second in the How To Do It Frugally series of books, The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success, is available at www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870/

The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know About Selling Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less, is available on Amazon as a Short for 49 cents.
http://www.amazon.com/Great - First - Impression - Book - Proposal/dp/B000YG6O5U/

This Is the Place,
Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings,
www.howtodoitfrugally.com.

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry, published by Finishing Line Press may be ordered at
www.amazon.com/gp/product/1599240173/qid=1139084827/sr=1 - 1/

Contact Information
Websites: http://carolynhoward - Johnson.com (literary)
http://HowToDoItFrugally.com (all things about writing)
Authors' Coalition: http://www.AuthorsCoalitionandRedEnginepress.com
For the Frugal Editor, Amazon - direct: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870/

Blogs:
http://AuthorsCoalition.blogspot.com, a blog focused on book fairs

http://www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com, a blog on all things publishing

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.

Squidooing at
http://www.squidoo.com/HowToDoItFrugallyforAuthors
and http://www.squidoo.com/carolynhoward - johnson