Utilize Your Association with Sharing with Writers for Marketing and Publishing

Those of you who are subscribed to this Sharing with Writers blog or my Sharing with Writers newsletter are entitled to access and to submit material to them, to the resources on HowToDoItFrugally.com, and to be published in the various features of the newsletter itself. Your submissions are given special consideration (but you do need to tell me that you're a subscriber--I'd like to, but I don't have the lists memorized! (-: )

Because I have many new subscribers and because most of you have never submitted any of your successes or sent letters to the editor, I thought I'd remind you that they are meant to be interactive. So is the Web site. I am always looking for articles, resources and ideas that will help other writers. I also want them to provide a training ground to get new authors familiar with promoting, sharing (an essential part of getting publicity), and to help you get the exposure you deserve.

Here are just a few of the possibilities for you to consider:

 If you would like one of your articles to be included on this Writer’s Digest 101 Best Websites blog (see the image on this blog), the best thing to submit is an article on the craft of writing or promotion or editing. I generally prefer practical how-to information though I occasionally publish something that will inspire writers, too. www.sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com.

 Submit a review of your book to be published in The New Book Review www.thenewbookreview.blogspot.com. It may be written by you or someone else (with their permission). If you don't yet have a review of your book, I can use a short excerpt from your book or a synopsis written like a review but with no opinion (because it would be coming from you). BTW, The New Book Review is open to all of you at any time you need it. Please follow the guidelines for submission in the column on the left of the blog EXACTLY. You submit to my e-mail address, hojonews @ aol.com.

 If you have or would like to write an article on editing, formatting, grammar or other language-oriented essays, I can use that on www.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com. Your articles for this blog should also be practical and, as with any magazine, not on subjects I've already used. Or they should at least come at those subject from a different angle.

 Some of you may have an interest in submitting articles or ideas on tolerance or the military. Those could could go on www.warpeacetolerance.blogspot.com. This might be a place some of you poets would like to appear. On this one, I often feed from several other blogs to that one post is almost like being posted on several blogs at one time.

 I can use your tips, letters-to-the-editor and articles for my newsletter. As you know, you should be familiar with any periodical or journal you submit to so that you have an idea of what is likely to fit.

 There are Resources for Writers and Resources for Readers pages on the HowToDoItFrugally Web site including many lists that you will need throughout your publishing career. Display and classified advertising is also available there and I have kept costs to a bare minimum for the time it takes me to work up and install ads.

Note: I accept most everything submitted to me from subscribers, but I do reserve the right to edit, shorten, or suggest changes. That, too, does not differ from most freelance writing experiences.

PS: Please let your writing friends know about this letter and its associated benefits. They may subscribe by going sending a SUBSCRIBE message to HoJoNews @ aol.com. Or by using the autosubscribe window at www.howtodoitfrugally.com. The form is on the left side of the home page and on the newsletter/blog pages, too.


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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Her FRUGAL book for retailers is 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. She is also the author of the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal". Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog.

If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use the little Green widge to let them know about it:

Resources for Lovers (and Writers) of Poetry

Many of you know me only as editor. Or marketer. Or simply that dumb chick, I'm supposing. But I'm also a poet. It took me a long, long time to have the courage to call myself that. It seems so, so...arrogant. But a little proof is in the cover of a new release that Aussie poet Magdalena Ball and I just released on Amazon--just in time for Christmas giving.

But that isn't what this post is about. It's about a resource for poets and poetry lovers. Dominique Raccah is the publisher and CEO of the largest woman-owned trade book publisher in North America (www.sourcebooks.com) and she support poetry. She publishes it (see one of her novel titles Hip Hop Speaks to Children. And she has also begun a Web site that supports it, www.poetryspeaks.com. And that's what this post is about. Simply. A resource for poets. Both writers and readers of poetry.

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Her FRUGAL book for retailers is 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. She is also the author of the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal". Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog.

If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use the little Green widge to let them know about it:

Aggie Villeneuva Highlights Authors and Help for Authors

Aggie Villanueva, often called the Grandma Moses of the American Southwest by her peers, has published a new e-book, 2009's Hot Authors: Interviews by Aggie Villanueva. Aggie interviewed me this fall and that interview is included in the book in addition to my article on writing better dialogue. It includes other articles by other authors, too, including one on the dreaded comma dilemma.

In her note to me, Maggie says, "if you know someone who'd like to win a copy this week they may enter to do so at http://www.visualartsjunction.com/?p=4343"

Well, I can't think of any of my writing friends who wouldn't benefit from a "won copy." And because this Christmas I am making a greater effort than ever to encourage
writers to buy books as Christmas presents, you should know it may be purchased in paperback at
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/2009s-hot-authors-interviews-by-aggie-villanueva/8056207 and for e-book readers
in over ten formats at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/7043.

Aggie also invites everyone to participate in a virtual photo shoot at: http://www.aggiev.org/aggielogic/join_me_virtual_shoots.html

Aggie's motto is one she borrows from Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year." She is tweeting @myaggie2

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Her FRUGAL book for retailers is 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. She is also the author of the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal". Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog.

If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use the little Green widge to let them know about it:

Networking Opportuntiy from Netera

Every now and then I let you know of a resource where you can learn more. Sometimes of places where you can socialize. Today, I'm sending you to a place where you can do both with two very long time online writing friends:

Denise Fleischer of Gotta Write Network says, "Netera's coffeeshop (see image of the virtual shop in this post (-: ) is a meeting place at www.Secondlife.com for writers and artists.
Chats and exhibits will be scheduled. Or, if you're looking for a comfortable place to sit back, relax and meet new friends, come join us."

For those unfamiliar with Second Life, just visit www.secondlife.com and download the software (it's free), create an avatar (which is a character that represents you), type "Netera's Coffee Shop " in the search bar, and then , once you find it, click on it and press the buttom that says "Teleport " which will take you directly to the coffee shop. Then just walk in and join the fun.

Why not drop by, and join in when my poetry writing partner and novelist Magdalena Ball , author of Repulsion Thrust and Sleep Before Evening, is interviewed on the 10th of Dec 7pm Central (US) Time. There will be plenty of opportunity for audience interaction, and it will give you a feel for how you might also participate in this innovative opportunity.

With over 9 million people on Second Life spending money on intangibles like e-books, it's a promotional (and enjoyable) arena that's too good to miss. To pitch Denise directly, visit: http://www.gottawritenetwork.com/ for details or contact her "inworld" directly from within Second Life by searching for Netera Landar and sending her a message. She's very happy to help people find their virtual legs!

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Her FRUGAL book for retailers is 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. She is also the author of the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal". Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog.

If your followers at Twitter would benefit from this blog post, please use the little Green widge to let them know about it:

On LIterary Snobbery, Contests and Our Readers

I want to talk about contest snobbery and antisnobbery snobbery.

The subject is on my mind because two of my books were named USA Book News finalists this fall. A Retailer's Guide to In-Store Promotions and my poetry chapbook on motherhood. Those events caused quite a nice conversation about awards between me and a couple of my Sharing with Writers newsletter subscribers.

In fact, I often talk to people on both sides of the contest snobbery issue and to some who were still trying to make up their mind which side of the fence they should sit on.

There is a lot of this uncertainty going around in the literary world. I often hear people disdain this contest or that printing press or even that book because it doesn't fit with their literary standards. I might—-on the very same day-—hear authors pooh-poohing poetry or literary works as being elitist or no fun or hard to read or dull.

Here's my stance on both kinds of snobbery. They are both forms of bigotry. That is they are labeling something as less than and making wide generalizations. One could write a book on the reasons people do this. To inflate their own worth, deflate the worth of others, because they are fearful of not fitting with one group or another or being criticized by one of those groups, to protect what they see as their favored position.

You can probably think of other reasons. But today, let's address contest bigotry because that's where this discussion started.

In the past few years as books have procreated like little piglets, we must have some way to help ours stand out for the general reader. Reread the section on contests in your Frugal Book Promoter for a longer discusion if need be. But here's where I stand:

If one must choose between letting readers know you have a quality product (and our books are products even if we don't want to think of them that way) and caving to those who think nothing counts but the Pulitzer and Booker, I'll choose my reader every time.

Do know that people have been paying to enter contests for eons. In fact, many of the finest review journals are nearly fully financed by donations, grants and, yes, contest monies and that isn't new either.

Having said that, there is no reason to waste money entering any contest if you haven't studied the guidelines and aren't confident that you have a quality book and have checked with peers to be sure that the contest you are interested in is on the up and up. But do be careful. Just because a contest does not meet the literary needs of your specific title or the branding concept you have outlined for yourself does not make it a scam or, for that matter, generally undesirable.

Once you have determined yourself a match for a contest, go for it. Once you win place, or show, do all you can to let the world know about it; send out media releases, let your relatives know, and give everyone the link for buying your book! On Creatspace or Amazon or Barnes and Noble online and try to give them a lead to a local or convenient bookstore, too. When I'm talking to my students, I always send them to the university bookstore.

I think Maggie Ball and I have written a chapbook of poetry that will be a perfect stocking stuffer to send Mom and a perfect greeting-card envelope-sized gift to send to other mothers in your life including those of the boomer and/or sandwich generations. Especially those. (-: And that my retail book will benefit those with brick and mortar or online stores. And I'm happy to shout out that they placed this year.

Winners are people who think they are winners. I feel sorry for the Oscar nominees who take on a loser mentality when they don't take home a statue. Or the girl who is voted to the Homecoming Court but is jealous of the winner. In fact, sometimes I wonder about their capacity for a little something called gratitude.

PS: On my Web site there is a short list of accessible contests in the Resources for Writers section (the link for that section is on the top of every page). The list is not long because it includes only contests that I have had personal experience with or know the contest administrators.


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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books for writers, The Frugal Book Promoter: How To Do What Your Publisher Won't and The Frugal Editor: Put Your Best Book Forward to Avoid Humiliation and Ensure Success. Her FRUGAL book for retailers is 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. She is also the author of the Amazon Short, "The Great First Impression Book Proposal". Some of her other blogs are TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com, a blog where authors can recycle their favorite reviews. She also blogs at all things editing, grammar, formatting and more at The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor blog.