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January 17, 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 and it's long!

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Contents

Regular Features
~Note from Carolyn (F r ^ ^ Valentine Offer!)
~Letter - 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
~Author Successes
~On Poetry
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column – “What Birthdays Do”
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™

Special to this Issue
~Feature: The Magic of Writing the Ending First by Jennie Nash
~In the News: NY Courts Deny Amazon’s Challenge
~Feature: What in Heaven’s Name Are Big Publishers Thinking
~Feature: Info from SPAN on Supreme Court’s Children’s Lit Ruling

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Note from Carolyn

Dear Sharing with Writers Subscribers:

I'm thinking of a time when my husband forgot Valentine's Day. To be fair, he was studying hard for an MBA at Columbia and New York had many distractions - - school for him, new job for me, and big, bright lights. But it was devastating. Editor of CompulsiveReader.com and my poetry partner Magdalena Ball and I don't want that to happen to you this year.

So she set up the poetry chapbook we collaborated on last year at Valentine’s so it could be a f r ^ ^ gift to Sharing with Writers subscribers (both the newsletter and the blog). Cherished Pulse is beautiful, in no small part because of the artwork by Vicki Thomas and Maggie’s formatting skills. You could print it out on fine linen paper, staple it together, add a beautiful violet bookmark ribbon and have a very inexpensive (the looks expensive!) valentine for someone on your list.

Or, you could just send the link and so they could enjoy it online. The link for the .pdf file is http://www.compulsivereader.com/html/images/Cherished Pulse.pdf. (Note: it is only available at no c ^ s t until February 18.)
You could add the link to your blog or your newsletters as a gift from you to your subscribers and readers, too. We won’t mind. For we hope that people like our poetry enough to then - - perhaps! - - buy the new chapbook we collaborated on for one of the mothers on your list for Mother’s Day. Illustrated with May Lattanzio’s beautiful photographs, it is She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood now available on Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/She - Wore - Emerald - Then - Reflections/dp/1438263791/ .

Originally Maggie and I collaborated because we recognized that often Hallmark cards don’t quite say what we would have them say. A little too rhymey and too syrupy. Poetry (as opposed to verse), can be read by someone with a little more detachment yet they'll still feel the love. And, if you want, you can be sappy as you want with the inscription. ( - :

We hope you will take advantage of our f r ^ ^ offer for Valentine’s and, if you think Maggie’s science - inspired or my nostalgic poetry will be appreciated by your audience or by someone on your personal Mother’s day list, you’ll support that chapbook, too.

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

PS: If you want to sweeten up your poetry gift, you could include a virtual bon - bon or the real thing - - perhaps Lady Godiva.

PSS: My chapbook Tracings (Finishing Line Press) is also still available on Amazon and comes with the satin bookmark ribbon so you can have it shipped directly. http://www.amazon.com/Tracings - Carolyn - Howard - Johnson/dp/1599240173/


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Please note the new Resource for Writers page on Contests at www.HowToDoItFrugally.com. =====================================================


Letters - to - the Editor
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Hi Carolyn,

Hope you are fully recovered from your surgery. From the tone of your latest newsletter, it sounds as if you have and are busier than ever.
I noticed the item about YouTube promotion by Stephen Hedrick and wondered if your readership might be interested in a different approach as can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohsvMi - VCjI
The best,
Raff Ellis, Author
Kisses from a Distance
www.raffellis.com

Note: See the program Steve uses for his video later in this letter. I apologize for not getting the address in my last newsletter.

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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: Here’s a good article on using Twitter for business (read that selling books, branding yourself!): http://ethnicomm.com/blog/marketing/using - twitter - for - business - %e2%80%93 - some - ceos - just - aren%e2%80%99t - listening/

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Please paste this little blurb - - perhaps with a little endorsement - - in your newsletter or website: 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.
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Author Successes

Stacy - Deanne Awarded for Melody, . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . In fact her novel is the winner of two 2008 Younity Guild Awards (YGA) Literary Awards, both Drama Fiction Book of the Year and Mystery Fiction Book of the Year. To learn more about the awards fo to http://www.disilgold.com and find the Awards 2008 section at the top of the home page. Learn more about Stacy - Deanne at http://www.stacy - deanne.net


Cheryl Pickett Release Book on Publishing . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . her Publishing Possibilities: 8 Steps to Understanding Your Options & Choosing the Best Path for Your Book is now ready for purchase at her website www.publishinganswers.com!


Gibbons Ruark Poem Chose by Scribners . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . Gibbons Ruark's Staying Blue is a collection of his poems that has appeared in national magazines. One of them will also appear in "Best American Poetry of 2009" to be published by Scribners. Staying Blue is available from Lost Hills Books at www.losthillsbooks.com.


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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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Thank Yous

Thank You to Dr. Bob Rich . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . .for including information on my top - ranked AuthorsAccess podcast in his newsletter http://mudsmith.net/bobbing8 - 4.html. His letter is full of writing - oriented information but also one of my favorites, info that is green, green, green. The information on Authors Access is at http://mudsmith.net/bobbing8 - 4.html#caro


Thank You to DeSilva News Editor Jozette Aaron . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. ..for the review of my new chapbook She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, coauthored with Magdalena Ball. Find it and other reviews at http://jozette.webs.com/bookreviews.htm


Thank You to Mary Emma Allen . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for including some thoughts I had on the state of literary writing and reading on her blog. http://maryemmallen.blogspot.com/2009/01/carolyn - howard - johnson - wonders - what - has.html


Thank You to Review Site . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . MyShelf.com and reviewer Willie Elliott for a wonderful review of She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, the thoughtful Mother's Day gift. See the review and learn more about this reviewer and MyShelf at http://www.myshelf.com/miscellaneous/09/sheworeemeraldthen.htm


Thank You to Joyce Shafer . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . for including my Amazon Short and HowToDoItFrugally series of books on her Writers Resources page: http://www.freewebs.com/editmybookandmore/writerresources.htm. Her site is a trove of helps and opportunities for writers.


===================================================== 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.
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Tip: Irene Watson at ReaderViews.com has added a new page of articles for you edification. It includes articles by the likes of publisher Victor Volkman, Tylar R. Tichelaar and Irene herself. Go to: http://readerviews.com/services_articles.html


===================================================== Recently Yvonne Perry, owner of WritersintheSky Creative Services, and I chatted about editing - - everything from em - dashes to why what works on the Web doesn't work for you book's manuscript. And Yvonne offers to you as a F r ^ ^ podcast on her blog: http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com/2008/12/do - you - have - questions - about - editing.html You'll find other f r ^^ podcasts on writing on her blog, too.
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Opportunities
135,000 Possible Eyes Looking at Your Book . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Booth coordinator Christine Alexanians says, "Come Join Us as a Participating Author at the LA Times Festival of Books on the beautiful UCLA campus on April 25 and 26, 2009."
(To see the video made by Rey Ybarra at last year's fair, go to Best Selling Author Television site http://www.veoh.com/channels/BSATV
Our group of authors focus on making a humdrum fair into a sizzling success through cross promotion and add - on benefits like review opportunities at www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, Amazon Listmanias, and guest blog spots for those who want to write articles. We make changes every year based on what we learned the year before and the year before that.

One hour (50 minutes to allow set up) signing segments cost $150 for the first and $100 for the second day. The fee includes display in the booth for the full two days.

For cost, participation details and benefits of a cross - promotional booth like this, please go to http://www.sizzlingbookfairbooths.blogspot.com You'll also find a picture of booth - doings there.

To participate send an e - mail to Christine Alexanians at chalexwrite @ yahoo.com. She will invoice you for PayPal or give you an address to send a check. Please put "LA Times Fair" in the subject line and please let her know whether you would like to sign one or two days so she will know how to bill you. She will then send you details for participation and answer other questions regarding this show. The booth promotion will be handled by Christine and Carolyn Howard - Johnson. We already have a save - the - date invitation ready for earlybird participants to send to their lists.

Sorry but all display - only slots are filled. We have only poetry and short story reading slots and regular book - signing slots available.

Las Vegas African - American Book Festival . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
. . . site is up and running and they are now taking registration for the 2nd Annual Las Vegas African American Book Festival!

Go to: www.lasvegasblackbookfestival.com and click on the vendor registration for any information you need.

Still have questions, please contact us tjgmanage@cox.net!

This event is for 20 authors only! There will also be six arts and craft tables!Theresa J. Gonsalves (www.theesagonsalves.com) is spearheading the event.


Plan for Writers’ Conference at BEA in May . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
The Writer's Digest Book Conference at BEA (Book Expo America) will feature Karin Slaughter as keynote speaker. It will be held Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, in New York City.

The BookExpo America/Writer's Digest Books Writers Conference is a one - day intensive conference. A main feature of the BEA/WDB Writers Conference is the innovative Agent Pitch Slam, with the largest gathering of agents of any conference, providing all attendees an opportunity to personally pitch their book idea to an agent and get immediate feedback. Several book deals have actually been struck using this process, including two deals alone from the Pitch Slam in 2008.
Admission to the conference is $199. The conference is open to the general public. Conference registration is online at http://www.bookexpoamerica.com.
For up to the minute news on the conference, visit the Writer's Digest website at http://www.writersdigest.com/bea.

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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).
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Tip: People keep asking me how Twitter can help sell books. Maybe it can't. But it can help brand you if you keep your tweets content laden and on target instead of talking about going to bed and what you ate for breakfast. Great branding leads to book sales. I haven't been tweeting long and here's my Twitter Promo records. Three blog interviews. Two podcasts. And a new friend who's helping me to plan my trip to the New York Stationery Show in May - - frugally! ( - : My address is www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo.


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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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Tip: Www.ShowMeTheScreenplay.com was started by an entertainment industry veteran to give writers and directors insider knowledge on everything in the business so that they can be launched on their paths to success. The insider knowledge covers everything from writing a great script that sells to how to find the right representation. It includes information on using social media to create buzz for a film plus tips and info that usually only Hollywood insiders know.


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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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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.

Promoting Poetry . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . WinningWriters.com is a Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites for writers, which sponsors several poetry contests each year. There is a charge for most of them; the winners are varied and fine poets. They have a newsletter that always includes contests and other information of interest to poets.


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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 Amazon Short.
http://www.amazon.com/Great - First - Impression - Book - Proposal/dp/B000YG6O5U
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Feature


The Magic of Writing the Ending First
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ By Jennie Nash, author of The Only True Genius in the Family

Why would a writer start at the end on a novel? In my case, I was writing a book on deadline for an editor, for whom I have written before. I had a year to write the book. In writing my previous novel, I’d struggled for months and months to find an ending that served the story. It was agonizing work and I didn’t want to repeat the process; I didn’t think I had time. I once heard John Irving describe how he always wrote the last scene first and wouldn’t start Chapter 1 or 2 or 17 until he knew he had it right. His logic was simple: he had to know exactly where he was heading. I figured that it had worked pretty well for Irving, so I decided to give it a try.

I sat down and tried to think about my characters and my premise and what the story was about (as opposed to the what happens in the story from moment to moment) and I came up with three scenes – each no more than a page or so long. I wrote them out. I happened to be meeting a friend for a walk on the day I did this exercise. I brought my scenes with me, and asked if I could read them to her. I thought that it might help me analyze their worth to hear a readers’ reaction. One of the scenes was a very simple one: a woman who has been trying to take a great photograph her entire life finally picks up her camera and captures something beautiful. She takes a picture of her husband and daughter in the early morning on a street in New York, where the skyscrapers rise up like a canyon (which is significant because her dad was a landscape photographer and she lived in his shadow and he has recently died.) When I read the scene out loud, I burst into tears. I had no idea why.

I decided that, because of the teary reaction, I should use the woman - taking - a - picture scene as the final scene of my book. I started writing, and completed a 240 - page manuscript in nine months. I sent the manuscript to my editor, and we scheduled a time to go over the pages. We spent three hours on the phone, talking about scenes that needed beefing up, and a character who needed more of a backbone, and the tendency I have to end things (conversations, scenes, chapters) too soon. My editor was very excited about what I had done, and expressed her enthusiasm while she delivered all this criticism. When we got to the final scene, however, she said, “This is where everything fell apart for me. I suddenly felt like you didn’t know what your story was about.” I was flabbergasted, and asked her why. She explained that it seemed as if my character was missing the whole point of her big moment – and then she asked me if I knew the point. I said yes: it was about art and inspiration and what it takes to make art. My editor said, “No, that’s not it.” I laughed – I was failing a test about a book I had written! My editor then asked me what the woman was taking a picture of. “A different kind of canyon,” I said. She told me I was wrong, again. “She’s taking a picture of a different kind of FAMILY,” she said, “She’s taking a picture of a father loving a daughter in the way she was never loved.”
I burst into tears for the second time over that scene – because my editor understood my writing better than I did, and it was a wonderful gift. I knew the instant she said it that she was right about that scene, and about my whole story. I had been writing for a year without realizing exactly what I was writing about. My subconscious – the part of my brain that wrote the original scene, and cried over it because it captured something raw and real and human - - had been in the drivers’ seat all along.

Writers have to have authority over their stories – to know their world and their characters – but they also, I believe, have to be able to tap into something over which they have no control. Call it what you will – tapping into the subconscious or being “in the zone” or listening to the muse or having a gift. Whatever it is, it’s a kind of magic, and as readers we’re left amazed by the trick and desperate to analyze how the writer pulled it off.

- - - - - - Jennie Nash is the author of the novel, The Only True Genius in the Family, just out from Berkley Books, and The Last Beach Bungalow, which came out in 2008. She is an instructor at the UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, and is currently at work on her sixth book. Visit her at www.jennienash.com or at www.meetyourmuse.blogspot.com.


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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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Tip: Noticed it’s the new year? Time to be thinking of contests you might win that will help you promote your book. I just added a few to the Writers’ Resource page on my Web site. The URL that takes you directly to that page is: http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/contests.htm You’ll also find a couple of articles there, one by Janet Jensen, on how to utilize contests in your promotion campaign.


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Available: Audios from Audio Divas on many aspects of building a writing career. Here is the page where you'll find the full list at http://tri - studio.com/AUDIOCLASSESALL.html including one on "Do It Yourself Indexing." The first audio.
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In the News: New York Court Dismisses Amazon Challenge of State's Internet Sales Tax Provision which could open the way for other states to demand that Amazon charge sales tax just like other, in - state retailers. This could affect Amazon’s book sales because the benefit to consumers of buying their books (and yes, other merchandise) tax free could disappear. It would also mean that Amazon might need to restructure its profit formula to cover the distribution of collected taxes to individual states. According to Reuters, a similar lawsuit by Overstock.com was also dismissed. New York’s brick and mortar booksellers are probably overjoyed. New York’s book consumers may not be so elated. But YOU should be considering this in your plans for the coming years.


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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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Feature

What in Heaven's Name Are Big Publishers Thinking?
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How I love my subscribers. Recently Diane Ward sent me an article on "The New Austerity in Publishing" from The New York Times. I thought I'd share reporter Motoko Rich's rundown with you and then let you know how I feel about it. Ready?

Rich says the publishing world's "cushy, schmooze fest seems to be winding down." Before you can appreciate these austerity cuts you have to know that last year Macmillan brought its entire sales and marketing staff from New York to Hotel del Coronado in San Diego. Further the partying included spa treatments and wine tastings. If you have never been to that hotel, I need to tell you that it is ultra plush. The new austerity program includes:

~For Macmillan in 2009, no Hotel del Coronado. A Webcam meeting instead for two of its meetings and only one in - person meeting is on the docket. The article didn't say where that one shindig might take place.
~Salary freezes or layoffs or both for HarperCollins, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Penguin Group, Random House, Simon & Schuster.
~Simon & Schuster canceled its usual cushy holiday party.
~Random House substituted a cafeteria pizza lunch for its usual plush cocktail party.
~Across the board editors are being asked to scale back on their two - martini lunch meetings.
~Random House will not be returning to Bermuda for a conference in 2009.

The article states all the reasons the publishing is in trouble other than the current economic downtrend. It also talks about the old days in publishing when executives considered the use of a towncar a luxury.

So, what were these publishers thinking when they were throwing these kinds of parties? I know. You're thinking, well, she's the Frugal Girl. Naturally she'd hate this.

Well, I wouldn't mind a good spa treatment and I might accept one if offered except that I've seen too many emerging authors disappear and despair because these same houses have been downright cheap with promotion budgets for any but their top grossing authors.

I've seen poor, unsuspecting authors assigned editors who can barely proofread.

I've seen authors asked to provide their own book tour funds and do their own or hire out their own indexing.

I've seen editors move from publishing house to publishing house because of what? They couldn't be moving because they are being paid well or because the working conditions are second - to - none!

I've seen fewer and fewer new poets and literary authors published since I've been watching. And catalogs grow sparser. And midlist authors get neglected.

According to Rich, this is an industry that Bennett Cerf was once supposed to have said was "never meant to support limousines." So what were these executives thinking.

I'll tell you what. The same thing now defunct AIG and Lehman Brothers was thinking. It was about immediate profits rather than long - term products and greed rather than concern for their own people and their own industry.

It may be too late to tell these giants to watch their backs. I wish them well. I'd like to have a book published by them in spite of all these tales of gluttony, both real and metaphorical. That may be because I was raised up revering these names and words like "literature."

Nevertheless, it's a new world out there. We have new printing technology and entrepreneurial authors (some of who were made that way by the very stinginess of these publishing houses). We have the Web that offers niche opportunities and marketing methods never dreamed of two decades ago. And we have authors interested in giving other authors a hand, in writing and giving of themselves unselfishly (evidenced by this cooperative newsletter).

It's about the time the big publishing houses got it. If they get frugal and go back to their roots, this will all be for the best. If not, authors will keep writing without them.


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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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Editing Tip: I had a V - 8 moment when I read Sandy Leiruance's article on I vs. Me. You know the kind of thing when you wish you'd written the same article. You'll see what I mean when you go to www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com (for my comments on I and Me in dialogue) and follow through to her letter. Geez. Is she good.


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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: Last week I ran a note from author and poet Stephen Hedrick (www.talltalesandsonnets.com) about using a certain program to add animation etc. to a YouTube video. Here is the program he used: http://www.smashmash.tv/ He says it's easy.



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Announcement: I plan to release a booklet with terms and words that writers often get wrong when they edit. I haven't decided whether to use tech terms in it or not, because the length of the booklet is so important. But watch for it. I promise to keep it lower than the cost of most greeting cards.( - :
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Important Info from SPAN . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
(Printed with permission from Scott Flora, director of SPAN)
Hello Everyone,

We all have been reading about the impact of the Consumer Protection Safety Information Act of 2008 (CPSIA) on publishers and other companies that make and sell children's products.
SPAN has put together Web pages providing information and guidance on CPSIA for publishers at www.spannet.org/cpsia - info - 2009.htm.
Here is a summary.

CPSIA and Publishers
As most of you know, CPSIA requires items sold for children, manufactured after February 10, be tested and certified for lead levels by an independent lab.
A Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) letter, dated December 23, 2008, affirmed children's books are included in category of products that need
to be tested for lead.

Products in inventory (in storage and on bookstore shelves) do not need to be tested, but retailers can be fined if the products are found to have excessive levels of lead.

Testing and certification takes place at the book printer level. Publishers of children's books need to check with their printer if they have books in the
printing process.

What to Do

Although the CPSC's current policy of requiring all children's books to be tested may change (and can be changed by our grassroots action), publishers of children's books should work to comply with the Feb 10 deadline. Check with your printer.

Also, our lawmakers and the Consumer Product Safety Commission need to hear from us. You can follow the links below to find contact information to your representatives. Send an e - mail or call right away!
Find your representatives and senators:

U.S. House of Representatives:
www.writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
U.S. Senate:
www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Write the CPSC - Contact Information Here:
www.cpsc.gov/about/contact.html

- - - - - There is much more on SPAN's CPSIA Web pages at: www.spannet.org/cpsia - info - 2009.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 Birthdays Do
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I join these people in celebrating January 19th as my birthday: Chinese philosopher Tai Chen (1724), Scottish inventor James Watt (1736), US poet Edgar Allan Poe (1809), French painter Paul Cezanne (1839), US author and critic Alexander Woollcott (1887), US publisher Oveta Culp Hobby (1905), US actress Jean Stapleton (1923), Canadian broadcast journalist Robert MacNeil (1931), US singer Phil Everly (1939), English singer and actor Michael Crawford (1942), US singer Janis Joplin (1943), US singer and songwriter Dolly Parton (1946), and US newscaster Ann Compton (1947).
I turn 58. I’m not a teenager but I’m certainly not ready to relinquish my life to the “has been” pile either. In fact, I wish I had money for everyone who says to me, “I’m too old to do that.” BALDERDASH! Here are a few examples of writers who did NOT quit just because they had birthdays:

Norman Mailer
Until his death on November 10, 2007, Norman Mailer wrote. He was working on the second novel in a trilogy beginning with A CASTLE IN THE FOREST (2007), when he ran out of time. He was 84.

Helen Hooven Santmyer
Santmyer wrote her well - known novel, …AND LADIES OF THE CLUB, when she was 88. The 1400 - page novel sold only a few copies before becoming a Book - of - the Month selection and taking off with readers. It went on to be on the New York Times Best Seller List.

Elizabeth Jane Howard
Howard still plies her writing wares at 85. She lives and works in Suffolk, England. http://disembedded.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/an - 85 - year - old - novelists - writing - room/ She works on a MAC computer and sits in an old chair that she says is comfortable. Her first novel was THE BEAUTIFUL VISIT.

Tom Wolfe
Tom Wolfe is 77 and shows no signs of stopping. His fourth novel, BACK TO BLOOD is set to be published in 2009. He sent shock waves through the publishing industry when he recently ditched Farrar, Strauss and Giroux for Little Brown.

Joan Didion
At 74, Joan Didion is still producing work. In 2005, she wrote the heart - wrenching book THE YEAR OF MAGICAL THINKING, a catharsis about the death of her husband, writer John Gregory Dunne. She is working on an HBO special about Washington Post’s grand dame, Katharine Graham.

Mary Oliver
Oliver, a Pulitzer - Prize winning poet, is 71. Her remarkable poetry gets deeper and richer. Her most recent book, RED BIRD, came out in 2008.

Dr. Dan Skelton
Skelton is my client. The month he turned 70, he directed and acted in a play. He still teaches at two universities and continues to write. He finished the manuscript for his novel, RENASCENCE, recently and is searching for a topic for his next book. He’s just getting started.

What birthdays do is make you think about what is important to you as you become aware that you have less time ahead of you. The worst thing you can do is to get into the thought pattern that you are too old to do anything. The wheels will come off the wagon in due time. Meanwhile, keep driving HARD toward that finish line. Make the trip interesting.

LINKS
EXPLORING THE PAST: CREATIVITY IN OLD AGE
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9505EFDA1439F931A35750C0A967948260

HOW CREATIVITY KEEPS US AGELESS
http://www.beliefnet.com/Health/2007/05/How - Creativity - Keeps - Us - Ageless.aspx

'IT'S NEVER TOO LATE' FOR CREATIVITY, SAYS GERONTOLOGIST
http://www.jewishsf.com/content/2 - 0 - /module/displaystory/story_id/17605/edition_id/349/format/html/displaystory.html

CREATIVITY MAY PLAY KEY ROLE IN HEALTHY AGING
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4893420/

- - - - - 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/.



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Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites is now accepting nominations for next year’s list. If you've found Sharing with Writers newsletter or blog or the resources at HowToDoItFrugally.com helpful in the past year, please send your nomination to writersdig@fwpubs.com. Put "101 Websites" in the subject line. Please do it now. Jan 1, 2009, is the deadline and you know how the holidays get! ( - :
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Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will conduct seminar for the second year at the Catholic Writers’ Conference Friday, Feb 6 at 10 am Pacific Time, 1 pm Eastern. She will speak on “Turning Dreadful Adverbs into Nuggets of Gold.” The conference is f r ^ ^ but writers must register by January 15 at http://www.catholicwritersconference.com.
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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be signing a new chapbook of poetry She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood as well as her other books, including the HowToDoItFrugally series of books at the world renowned LA Times/UCLA Festival of Books the last weekend in April, 2009, on the UCLA Campus. To learn more about a signing position for yourself contact Christine Alexanians at chalexwrite@yahoo.com.

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will appear on the Career Czar,
www.alltalkradio.net/careerczar on January 30, 2009. It is a unique Internet talk radio program focusing on all aspects of the world of careers. We'll be chatting about something dear to the hearts of baby - boomers - - reinventing yourself at retirement. With writing of course. The first segment will be about careers in freelance and journalism. The second segment will be about a career in fiction (novels and short stories). The third segment will be about poetry. The fourth segment will be about nonfiction - - specifically my nonfiction - - on how it's helped my career and that of others and how something similar can work for yours.

Check out host Paul Bruno's website and enhance your career by getting connected with The Career Czar.”

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I usually don't list places I'm published, mostly because they often don't have anything to do with writing. However, Romance Writers of America published my article on writing stand - out query letters in the January 2009 print edition of their magazine, Romance Writers Report. The editor, Kathleen Adey, says you can subscribe by joining RWA at www.rwanational.org.

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be presenting two seminars at the National Stationery Show, one on Monday, May 18, called"Move Upward in a Down Market with Free Publicity Exposure and Money - Making In - Store Promotions" and the other, "Grow Your Business Online for No $$$," on Tuesday, May 19. This is a huge show a la BEA but for stationery retailers and will be at Javits Center in Manhattan. She'll also be publishing a new for her HowToDoItFrugally series, this time for retailers. Many of the principles are the same, though. ( - :

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Carolyn Howard - Johnson will speak to how editing is one of the most important parts of your book promotion with "Query Letters as Promotion: Let's Make Them Picture Perfect!" at International Conference PROMODAY! on Saturday, May 9. at 9 am Pacific Time. The conference is on Rome, Italy, time so check your time conversion tables carefully to be sure you join the seminars at the right time. http://jolinsdell.tripod.com/promoday/ PROMO DAY! is an all day international online event for people in the writing industry. There are lots of new features for the 2009 event including a workshop chatroom.

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For the first time, Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles and Mystery Writers of America/SoCal are joining forces to present a new venture, the California Crime Writers Conference, to be held June 13 - 14 at the Pasadena Hilton, Pasadena, CA. The conference is titled “Breaking In & Breaking Out: Plotting the Write Course,” and is the next incarnation of the successful No Crime Unpublished conference held biannually by Sisters in Crime/LA. Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be presenting a class on marketing your book online on Saturday June 13. The time is to be announced. The public is welcome. Learn more at http://www.sistersincrimela.com/ccwc.htm


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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.)

"Etc: A sign to make others believe that you know more than you actually do."


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Essential Book and Record Keeping:

Sharing with Writers is edited and distributed by Carolyn Howard - Johnson,http://carolynhoward - johnson.com. and proofread by Mindy Phillips Lawrence.

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:
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://starpublishllc.com/id43.html

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/

To learn more about This Is the Place,
Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, Tracings,and She Wore Emerald Then: .

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)

For the Frugal Editor, Amazon - direct: www.amazon.com/gp/product/0978515870

Blogs:

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.

And now! Tweeting at: www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo and Squidooing at http://www.squidoo.com/HowToDoItFrugallyforAuthors
and http://www.squidoo.com/carolynhoward - johnson