Carolyn Howard Johnson's News Letter Sharing with Writers for Sept. Oct.

Click here to respond to Carolyn HowardJohnson's Newsletter:
http://www.authorsden.com/visit/msgboardpost.asp?authorid=1713
______________________________________________________




If you would prefer to read this letter in its not - so - glorious full formatted version ( - : copy and paste this URL you’re your browser:

http://www.AuthorsDen.com/adstorage/1713/SharingwithWriters_Sept_30_2009.pdf

Sept 30, 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!
~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~.: ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~:. ~ ~
~.: ~ ~ ~

Contents
Regular Features
~Note from Carolyn - - Trailer Recommendation ~Letters - to - the - Editor ~Thank Yous (where you also find leads and great resources!) ~Tips and News Galore! (They're scattered, you'll just have to find
them!)
~Opportunities
~On Poetry
~Author Successes
~Mindy Lawrence's Itty Bitty Column – “Entering Contests”
~Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~Wordstuff ™
This Issue
~ Feature: 10 Easy Ways to Keep Dialogue Sharp


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

Note from Carolyn

Dear Subscribers:

You've heard me say that I love videos for reaching the largest number of people in the most memorable way possible. You probably - - if you've been subscribed for some time - - heard me caution you against poorly produced or feebly conceptualized book trailers. There are just so many of them out there including one of mine. And once they are out there, there is little you can do about retrieving them all on the big, humongous Web.

For those reasons, I advised that even fiction writers use videos of themselves talking about their books rather than trailers. Well, I finally found someone I can recommend for trailers. Ta da!

He is Reno Lovison. His prices are reasonable and because he has a strong background in marketing and as an author, he gets it. You'll find him at

http://www.authorsbroadcast.com/titles/frugalpromo.htm.

To go one step further, I found he even has a background in retailing (which is one reason I figured it was worth trusting him with a video promo for my new 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.) It's brand new and you are the first to see it on my site where I just installed it. To see it as a sample go
to:

http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/frugal_in - store_promotions.htm

You should also know that it is his gorgeous voice doing the voiceover.
Even my husband, a voiceover professional, thinks he is pretty amazing.
Here is his contact information, too. Check out his prices and see what you think:

Reno Lovison Marketing, 5250 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640, (773)989 - 1960), reno@renoweb.net, www.renoweb.net

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

PS: September 30th is your last chance to enter my contest to win Lillian Brummet's new poetry chapbook. The winner may also publish a short poem or flash piece in this newsletter. Just send an e - mail to HoJoNews @ aol.com with TOWARDS UNDERSTANDING in the subject line. I'll do the drawing on October 1.

PPS: Welcome to my many new - - and I do mean many! - - subscribers who came on the recommendation of Virginia Grenier in her newsletter. Virginia manipulates the gears behind Stories for Children Magazine (http://storiesforchildrenmagazine.org/default.aspx).



=====================================================
There is a page of contests on the Resource for Writers page on my Web
site: http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/contests.htm
Follow the links on that page to other valuable lists on my site, too.
=====================================================


Letters - to - the - Editor ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Hi Carolyn,

Because it's writing related, I thought you might not mind telling your subscribers about voting for the essay finalists of the Military Writers Society Association People's Choice Awards. They can vote on the MWSA blog (http://mwsamembertalk.blogspot.com/).
And, thank you, Carolyn, for including this poll on your War Peace Tolerance blog, too.

I notice the poll is right at the top so it will be easy for people to find. (www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com). We are trying to get 1 million votes in support of our troops - - and our writing troops, vets and supporters!
Thank you. This is a first for MWSA. We hope to get lots of support from fellow writers.

Joyce Faulkner, President MWSA


=====================================================
The Green New Media Life Expos
(http://www.greennewmedialifeexpo.com/content/green - book - pavilion - featuring - carolyn - howard - johnson?destination=node%2F10 ) offer Green Book Pavilions this fall at expos at the Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, CA; Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento; and the Pomona Fairgrounds, Pomona, CA. An author's package for each expo is available to help authors promote themselves and their books. Contact Gerry Fisher at GeFisher39@aol.com or at 702 467 9411.
=====================================================


Tip from Jim Cox of Midwest Reviews: There are a couple of excellent how - to books available to the novice on how to turn a print book into a digital and/or audio publication. One such title is the "TurnKey Publisher's Audio Publishing Handbook" (9781933723150, $20.95). Once you have an audio book, submit it to the APA (Audio Publisher Association) "Audie" awards contest. Winning in one of the various categories is a big PR boost when trying to market to libraries, to bookstore chains, and in direct sales through such venues as Amazon.com. The Audio Publisher Association's Web site details of both the contest and all the other benefits of the APA: www.audiopub.org. Of course, you can (and in my not - so - modest opinion should) always submit your audio book for review to my attention at the Midwest Book Review.


=====================================================
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. Ask for a f r ^ ^ classified ad on my Web site in return. Let me know you did it. I will be able to do something similar for you on my Resources for Readers page at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. Let me know you did it. We'll find something I can do for you!
=====================================================


In the News: Time magazine reports that, "Romance novels . . . are helping some publishers hide from the worst of the recession.” While overall book sales are down, revenues for Harlequin books were up 13.5 percent in the first quarter of 2009. Part of the reason for this is price but another reason is that romance readers are loyal. Read that Loyal with a capital "L." How do you build loyalty regardless of the genre you write in? Read the chapters on branding in The Frugal Book Promoter. Basically, though, loyalty is built by continued, caring contact with your readers. Almost every section in the book is about one method or another for doing that.
The chapter on writing thank yous won't hurt, either. ( - :


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


Tip: Wondering how writers might utilize empty retail locations like the Halloween stores are doing? Say, for Christmas book fairs? Or maybe you could rent the display windows of empty locations to feature your book for the holidays or for book launches? These are the kinds of ideas you might get from reading my book not really specifically for authors like my 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.



=================================================== Book Proposal Help:
Phyllis Zimbler Miller and I ran a fun Tweetchat on book proposals. She edited it for easier reading and posted it for those who missed it. There is lots of info in it on shopping your book to agents, too. Remember, you read tweet chats like you follow blogs. From the bottom up.
http://budurl.com/bookprotweetchat Another book proposal help is "The Great First Impression Book Proposal: Everything You Need To Know To Sell Your Book in 20 Minutes or Less" for 49 cents at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YG6O5U/
=====================================================



Opportunities
First Call for the 2010 Eric Hoffer Book Award ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ This award is for small, academic, and micro presses and self publishers.
New books qualify but it also has legacy categories for books more than two years old. It recognizes excellence in publishing and for a single registration fee gives you five ways to win, by genre, press, the Montaigne Medal, the da Vince Eye, and the Hoffer grand prize. The entrance fee is only $45.
Visit www.HofferAward.com for details and categories. Deadline is January 21, 2010.



Author Help at Write On! ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Write On! Online
(www.writeononline.com) is a website created by freelance writer Debra Eckerling to encourage writers of all abilities, mediums, and specialties to take their projects to the next level. The site is an extension of the writers support group Debra has led in Santa Monica, CA, for nearly eight years, and features Author Q&As twice a week (topics include fiction, nonfiction, screenwriting, etc) as well as monthly columns on health, gadgets, and expert advice. There are also writing "challenges" that serve as contests, as well as a drawing just for posting monthly goals on the Write On! Facebook page (www.facebook.com/writeononline).

Debra also leads workshops on topics such as "Breaking through Writers Block" and "Marketing through Blogging and Social Networking," and does one - on - one consulting with writers who need encouragement, focus, and a game plan. For more information and to subscribe to the newsletter, go to www.writeononline.com.



Call for Submission with a Midwest/Western Sensibility . . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Front Range is accepting submissions of high quality short fiction, poetry and creative nonfiction as well as artwork for its spring 2010 issue. Reading window is 1 Aug to 1 Nov 2009. Please check submission guidelines at http://www.frontrangereview.org Submit to frontrangereview@hotmail.com. The editor is Frederick Bridger, PhD


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


Tip: If you've been thinking about a do - it - yourself virtual blog tour (VBT), you must stop by my sharing with writers blog to see a tip on utilizing an important feature of Amazon, http://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/search?updated - max=2009 - 09 - 17T06%3A19%3A00 - 07%3A00&max - results=5 . Then on October 1st, drop by www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com to see the guest blog by Mayra Calvani who many know as the author who made the writing of reviews accessible to authors everywhere.


===================================================== Recently Yvonne Perry, owner of WritersintheSky Creative Services, and I chatted about editing, everything from em dashes to why what works on the Web but doesn't work for you book's manuscript. Yvonne offers you the f r ^ ^ podcast on her blog: http://ow.ly/hUNM . Other new ones for your Frugal and F r ^ ^ enjoyment include:
Raleigh Pinskey and I chat about hiring a publicist and the joy of
writing: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Raleigh - R - Pinskey Cheryl Antier and I talk promotion, memoir, process at www.blogtalkradio.com/cheryl - antier.
Irene Watson, Victor R. Volkman's Author Access and I chat on several f r ^ ^ including a new one on writing book proposals just at http://authorsaccess.com/archives/category/carolyn - howard - johnson I read poetry with Lillian Brummet as host at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/AuthorsRead/2009/08/14/Carolyn - Howard - Johnson - She - Wore - Emerald - Then and with Kim McMillon as host at
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/Profile.aspx?userurl=onword&year=2009&month=09
where we talk storage bras and nude cover pictures.
Just the FAQs MaAnna Stephenson and I recorded a couple of different podcasts. One on marketing fiction (Part II). Find them at http://www.justthefaqs.net/podcast.shtml
=====================================================


Tip: Most social network sites ask you to sign up and from then on, it's up to you. Not at iFOGO Village (ifogovillage.ning.com). The village leader Gene Cartwright sends occasional quick tips like this: One of the major reasons visitors to your web sites do not stay, or click past, is because your images take too long to load. Hence, image - laden pages take too long to load. The key is 'optimization and you can do that for your site by using this free tool:
http://www.imageoptimizer.net/Pages/Home.aspx .You will be able to set the size and optimization levels. For the most part, you will be able to keep your images the same size and take up far less web space. Web servers and surfers will love you.


=====================================================
No part of this newsletter is paid advertising. If you would like to advertise to subscribers, display ads are available at http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/advertising.htm at less per year than most sites charge for a single month. Find classified there, too.
=====================================================


Tip: Recession - fighting tip: Find hooks in your book. You have a character who is eco - friendly so you promote to green groups. You might have one who grows vegetables so you promote to gardening clubs or a kid's club. If your protagonist is a guy who loves candy that might give you an in to sign at a candy store. Many books, even literary novels, have such tie ins.
(Submitted by Patrika Vaughn, your Author's Advocate. www.acappela.com)


=====================================================
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://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.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.
=====================================================


Tweeting Tip: If you think Twitter "doesn't work," could it be that you're followers are all relatives rather than people interested in the genre you write in? Yes? Open another account just for your book and target (follow) only people who are tweeting about what you are writing about. So, say you write children's books. You want to use tweetbeep.com to find people who use keywords in their tweets like "parenting," "fantasy," "kindergarten"
or whatever fits your storyline. Then hope they will follow back. If you word your bio just right, many will!


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


On Poetry
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

Magdalena Ball and I have now co - authored two chapbooks with a third on the way - - sort of a series of celebrations for holidays and special people in our lives. Her site that makes a big deal out of poetry and I thought you poets might want to take a look at what she is doing and how she is doing it. Maybe even contact her (She is editor of The Compulsive
Reader.com) to see about possible reviews, etc. Here is the URL for her poetry page featuring her new book of poetry, Compulsion Thrust:
http://www.magdalenaball.com/



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


Tip: How many times in any given day or week do you reach out to one of your friends on a social network? How about someone who is part of that network that you don't really know well? Set a goal. One a day maybe. If you’re only networking with people you already know and love, you're not using these networks as effectively as you might.


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


Author Successes


Aaron Paul Lazar Publishes 13th Book. . . ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Some things are worth waiting for. Mazurka
(http://www.legardemysteries.com/mazurka.htm) is finally here! Join Gus and Camille LeGarde in their European honeymoon from hell where he unearths a scandalous family secret linked to a nineteenth century composer. When brother - in - law Siegfried is framed for a neo - Nazi’s murder, they’re plunged into a sizzling cat - and - mouse game where stakes are lethal and the future of Europe hangs in the balance. Available for preorder at http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Mazurka/Aaron - Paul -
Lazar/e/9781606191606/?itm=2&usri=1 or autographed from the author at aaron.lazar@yahoo.com.


=====================================================
Audio divas brings you audios on many aspects of building a writing
career: http://www.tri - studio.com/writers.html. Titles include Contest
Facts: How to Add “Award - winning” to Your Name, Do It Yourself Indexing:
The Way to Sell Your Book to Libraries, Schools and Anyone Else That Buys Nonfiction, Fury and Destruction: How to Use Violence Effectively in Your Writing, and more.
=====================================================


Tip: Editing Tip from Crystal Clear Proofing: Sometimes the simplest of "tips" are the best! Do not rely on spell check! Yes, that will catch your misspelled words, but what if you happen to type form rather that from? If you don't have a second pair of eyes at your disposal, read your work backward. And read aloud. Reading aloud is a very helpful tip also, as many times our eyes will see what they know should be there, not always what's there. When you read aloud, you're forced to read what's there.
~ Find Crystal's blog at http://crystalclearproofing.com where she gives tips on commonly misspelled words, differences between words ~such as wait and await, lay and lie ~to offer a couple examples. Visit crystal at http://crystalclearproofing.com.


=====================================================
I highly recommend Jozette Aaron's f r ^ ^ DeSilva's News for writers:
http://jozette.webs.com/ not just because I write a column for her.
=====================================================

Tip: Subscribe to Dana Lynn Smith's newsletter at http://bookmarketingmaven.typepad.com/ezine/.


=====================================================
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://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/consulting.htm
=====================================================


Tip: If you want to begin a mutually beneficial relationship, do someone a favor without their asking or do one little extra than what one of your contacts expects. It works in the world and it works in book promotion.
You'll get pleasure from it, it any case.


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


Thank Yous


Thanks to My Sharing with Writers Subscribers ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ . . . for so often being there to help your fellow Sharing with Writers subscribers. That's what this newsletter is for. Do you remember the time one of you (I don't want to embarrass her by mentioning her name) donated a computer to another who was having hard times? Another time one of you helped get another one a writing job. Great work, guys!


=====================================================
If you're starting your own blog or want to market the one you have or focus it better here’s a f r ^^ chapter from Phyllis Zimbler Miller’s and my coming book. Download it now at http://budurl.com/bloggingchapter.
=====================================================


Feature
10 Easy Ways to Keep Dialogue Sharp ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 1. Keep it simple. "He said" and "She said" will usually do. Your reader is trained to accept this repetition.

2. Forget you ever heard of strong verbs. Skip the "He yelped" and the "She sighed." They slow your dialogue down. If you feel need them, look at the words—the actual dialogue— your character used when he was yelping.
Maybe it doesn't reflect the way someone would sound if he yelped. Maybe if you strengthen the dialogue, you can ditch the overblown tag.

3. When you can, reveal who is saying something by the voice or tone of the dialogue. That way you may be able to skip tags occasionally, especially when you have only two people speaking to one another. Your dialogue will ring truer, too.

4. Avoid having characters use other characters' names. In real life, we don't use people's names in our speech much. We tend to reserve using names for when we're angry or disapproving or we just met in a room full of people and we're practicing out social skills. Having a character direct her speech to one character or another by using her name is a lazy writer's way of directing dialogue and it will annoy the reader. When a reader is annoyed, she will not be immersed in the story you are trying to tell.

5. Avoid putting internal dialogue in italics. Trust your reader and your own ability to write in a character's point of view. She will know who is thinking the words from the point of view of the narrative.

6. Be cautious about using dialogue to tell something that should be shown. It doesn't help much to transfer telling from the narrator to the dialogue. It just makes the character who is speaking sound long winded.
Putting quotation marks around exposition won't draw the reader into the scene or involve him more than if you'd left it part of the narrative.

7. Magic number seven is, don't break up dialogue sequences with long or overly frequent blocks of narrative. One of dialogue's greatest advantages is that it moves a story along. If a writer inserts too much stage direction, it will lose the forward motion and any tension it is building.

8. Avoid having every character answer a question directly. Some people do that (say a sensitive young girl who has been reared to obey her elders) but many don't. Some veer off with an answer that doesn't follow from the question asked. Some are silent. Some characters do any one of these things as a matter of course. Some do them purposefully, say to avoid fibbing or to change the subject or because they are passive aggressive.

9. Avoid dull dialogue that doesn't help draw better characters or move the action forward. Forcing a reader to hear people introduce themselves to one another without a very good reason to do so is cruel and unusual punishment.

10. Use dialogue to unobtrusively plant a seed of intrigue. If a character brings up a concern that isn't solved immediately, you can heighten the page - turning effect.

For more on writing dialogue check out Tom Chiarella's Writing Dialogue (Writers' Digest) and for more on editing in general—from editing query letters to turning unattractive adverbs into metaphoric gold—find The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success (Red Engine Press) at www.budurl.com/TheFrugalEditor or the Kindle edition, www.budurl.com/FrugalEditorKindle .
CHJ


=====================================================
I now have a social media page on my Website. I’m including the link for you to see so you can use it as a sample if you don’t have a similar page on your own Web site. And yes, this can work even if you only network on one site. Just use more space giving your visitors an idea of how they will benefit if they join you.
http://www.carolynhowardjohnson.redenginepress.com/new_page_4.htm
=====================================================


Tip: Rule #2 in Marketing: Never contact someone and ask for something without doing some little thing in return. Ask, "Please let me know if I can do anything to help." Or subscribe to their newsletter or blog. Or compliment them on a job well done. It won't go unnoticed.

=====================================================
This is an example of one of my Twitters: "FrugalBookPromo New trend?
Borders to buy nonreturnable books from HarperStudio in return for a deeper discount." My tweets cover everything from news to more tips and resources, all in 140 characters or less. If you don’t want to Tweet, at least follow me. Make a profile page and invite me at www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo.
=====================================================


Tip: Do you use a little pouch or bag prepacked with essentials you just may need when you do a book signing? There is a list of items you may find useful in The Frugal Book Promoter (www.budurl.com/FrugalBkPromo). A permanent checklist tucked into that little kit is a good idea, too. You don't need to reinvent the wheel every time you do an onsite promotion.

=====================================================
The New Book Review is a 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.
=====================================================


An Itty - Bitty Column on Writing

Entering Contests ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ By Mindy Phillips Lawrence

When you write, you want recognition for your effort. One way to gain that recognition is by entering contests. Every time you are accepted or you place, you add another success to your creative resume.

Recently, I entered the Military Writers Society of America’s People’s Choice Awards contest not dreaming it would come to anything. It did. I became one of the eight finalists. I would never have had that happen had I not entered.

Whether you write poetry, concoct short stories or churn out flash fiction, there is always a contest to enter. You just have to find it.
Some have an entry fee and some do not. Some offer monetary prizes and some offer only exposure or copies of the issue in which you are published. Read the submission guidelines and make sure the contest is a good fit for your writing desires and skills. Here are some issues to think about when you look at contests to enter:

1. What are the submission guidelines?
2. What is the last date for submission and can you ready a piece in time?
3. Does the contest accept previously published work or do you have to write something new?
4. Does the contest have a theme that you must follow?
5. If you are seeking a monetary reward for winning, what does the contest offer, and is it worth your effort?
6. Is there a fee for submission? If so, is the submission fee within reason?
7. Do you have to promote yourself when you enter or is the contest promoted by a Web site or by other means? If you must self - promote, are you willing to get the information out on your entry to as many places as possible?
8. Is the contest in which you are interested a place where you can support an issue or concern that interests you or that you feel is of value?

The Internet contains many sites that supply information on contest submissions. Make sure to check out the sites for the type of work posted there and research the judges to see what type of work THEY publish to give yourself a better chance of acceptance.

If you go to www.militarywriters.com, you can read my piece, CALLING. Read it and all the others then VOTE for the one you like best by going to the voting link. You get one shot, so make your vote count. If you like what I have written, I thank you and appreciate your vote.

LINKS
Writer’s Digest Competitions
http://www.writersdigest.com/competitions

Manuscript Editing - Contests
http://www.manuscriptediting.com/contests.htm


Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Contest http://www.sfwa.org/for - authors/writer - beware/contests/


Writing Contests
http://writingcontests.wordpress.com/



Poets and Writers Upcoming Writing Contests
http://www.pw.org/grants?sort=asc&order=Deadline&apage=*



~ Mindy Phillips Lawrence, www.freewebs.com/mplcreative, is the author of the poetry collections One Blue Star and Above and Below. She is co - author of The Complete Writer and a publicist and literary agent. She is a publicist for the Military Writers Society of America. 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.






Carolyn's Appearances and Teaching
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will be a host for one day at the Green Book Pavilion with The Green New Media Life at the convention center in Ontario, CA. http://www.greennewmedialifeexpo.com/ . I'll be interviewing authors for their videos and speaking as well. The expo offers a $290 expo package to help authors promote themselves and their books both onsite and with New Media (meaning video, interview, CD, booth, etc), but they can also take a table (no video extras) for a mere $89.
Interested authors may contact Gerry Fisher at GeFisher39@aol.com or at
702 467 9411 or 760 961 2728. He has other Expos coming up, too.

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

Mark October 12 to 18 on your calendar for The Muse Online Writers Conference cosponsored by Lea Schizas and Carolyn Howard - Johnson. See my presentation there at http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/ and below. This year we’ve added pitch sessions:
http://www.themuseonlinewritersconference.com/2009workshops.htm


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

Carolyn Howard - Johnson will talk Twitter on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 11 am EST
(8 am Pacific) at the Muse Online Writers Conference, http://themuseonlinewritersconference.com/ It is f r ^ ^.


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


Carolyn Howard–Johnson discusses Mormon life and history and how she melded the two into her gripping book, This is the Place, on the History Czar, aka Paul Bruno, on March 5, 2010, at 9:00 am Pacific at www.alltalkradio.net/historyczar. The History Czar is the Internet’s premier talk radio program covering all areas of history. You'll find the interview at www.alltalkradio.net/historyczar/historyczar030510.mp3.
Listen to current History Czar shows at www.alltalkradio.net/historyczar or at the show’s blog at www.historyczar.wordpress.com. Ask to be on Paul's notification list for free podcasts.


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


Carolyn Howard - Johnson offers two seminars at the f r ^ ^ Catholic Writers Conference on Monday March 1. Your Query Letters Perfected:
Straight from the Mouths of Literary Agents is at 9 and a casual chat,
Twitter: How Writers Can Make It Work for Them is at 10. It's online from Feb 26 to March 5 and is open to everyone.
http://www.catholicwritersconference.com/index.php


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

Carolyn Howard Johnson, author of A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store
Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques, will make a guest appearance on Paul Bruno's Career Czar® radio program. We'll talk making retailing work in a down economy and how authors can make their case to retailers to let them boost profits with a book signing on December 17, 2010 at 10:00 am Pacific at www.alltalkradio.net/careerczar. You can also listen at www.alltalkradio./careerczar/career121710.mp3 In the meantime, listen to his other shows at www.alltalkradio.net/careerczar or at the show's blog at www.careerczar.wordpress.com. Ask to be on Paul's notification list for free podcasts.


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


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.)
KISSING: A means of getting two people so close together that they can't see anything wrong with each other.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ .......................................................
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Essential Book and Record Keeping:

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

Although I do attempt to verify information used within this newsletter's pages, Sharing with Writers does not guarantee entities or information.
Subscribers should research resources.

To submit information articles, tips or other information, e - mail Carolyn at HoJoNews@aol.com. Please put "Submission: Sharing with Writers"
in the subject line.

If you do not care to receive this newsletter, send an e - mail to HoJoNews@aol.com with "Unsubscribe” in the subject line, but please, please don't tell me you've given up writing or promoting!

To subscribe to Sharing with Writers send an e - mail with "Subscribe" in the subject line to:: HoJoNews@aol.com.

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

Ordering Information:
Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't
www.amazon.com/gp/product/193299310X/qid=1149015406/sr=2 - 1/ The e - book at http://starpublishllc.com/id43.html

The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success 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, http://www.amazon.com/Great - First - Impression - Book - Proposal/dp/B000YG6O5U/

A Retailer’s Guide to Frugal In - Store Promotions: How To Increase Profits and Spit in the Eyes of Economic Downturns with Thrifty Events and Sales Techniques http://budurl.com/RetailersGuide

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

She Wore Emerald Then: Reflections on Motherhood, a chapbook of poetry coauthored with Magdalena Ball. http://www.amazon.com/She - Wore - Emerald - Then - Reflections/dp/1438263791/

Tracings, a chapbook of poetry (Finishing Line Press)
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)


Blogs:

http://www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com, a blog on all things publishing http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, all things grammatical and ungrammatical http://www.TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog focused on YOUR reviews http://www.TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com, a blog focused on editing, formatting and craft http://www.WarPeaceTolerance.blogspot.com War. Peace. Tolerance. And Our Soldiers.
http://www.sizzlingbookfairbooths.blogspot.com, a blog where you can learn to get some mojo behind your own booth by learning from the successes and mistakes of others.

Tweeting at:
www.twitter.com/frugalbookpromo
www.twitter.com/frugalretailing
Squidooing at
http://www.squidoo.com/HowToDoItFrugallyforAuthors
http://www.squidoo.com/carolynhoward - johnson




Visit Carolyn HowardJohnson at:
http://www.authorsden.com/carolynhowardjohnson


______________________________________________________
Click here to unsubscribe:
http://www.authorsden.com/unnews.asp?r=gotschc@sanjuancollege.edu&a=1713

Powered by AuthorsDen
http://www.authorsden.com


Connie Gotsch www.conniegotsch.com Host Write On Four Corners KSJE FM, Farmington NM www.ksje.com Author two award winning novels Snap Me a Future and A Mouthful of Shell available www.dlsijpress.com

Always in Print ‘Cuz They’re Print on Demand!

And now out! Belle’s Star,’ a youth novel from Artemesia Press at http://www.apbooks.net and amazon.com, and through your local book store.