Best Writing Contests Winner North Street Book Prize Nearing Deadline!

As many of you know, I am a proud associate of WinningWriters’ #NorthStreetBookPrize because of all its value-added benefits but also because of it credibility, the quality of the winners I have seen honored over the years, and that it’s a “Best Writing Contests Winner” in its own right. He as added even more to his lineup of benefits and it’s time to enter again!  How lovely it would be to see one of online friends and subscribers on the winning list this year. 

Hugs,

Carolyn

North Street Book Prize More Than Just Cash While our North Street Book Prize will award $20,400 in cash prizes, we're also pleased to provide other valuable benefits from our co-sponsors Carolyn Howard-Johnson, BookBaby, Book Award Pro, Laura Duffy Design, and Self-Publishing Made Simple. They have a wealth of marketing, design, and publishing knowledge to share.   OUR GRAND PRIZE WINNER WILL RECEIVE $10,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $500 credit at BookBaby, three months of Plus service (a $207 value) and a $250 account credit from Book Award Pro, a book cover consultation from Laura Duffy Design (a $1,100 value, can be assigned to a future book), and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 value)   EACH CATEGORY WINNER WILL RECEIVE $1,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $500 credit at BookBaby, three months of Plus service from Book Award Pro (a $207 value), design for a custom merchandise item based on the winner's book cover from Laura Duffy Design, and one free ad in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $175 value); the winning children's picture book author will also receive a phone consultation from April Cox at Self-Publishing Made Simple (a $289 value) and access to Authorpreneur Summitsessions (an $89 value)   ONE HONORABLE MENTION IN EACH CATEGORY WILL RECEIVE $300 and three months of Plus service from Book Award Pro (a $207 value); the honorable mention children's picture book author will also receive a phone consultation from April Cox at Self-Publishing Made Simple (a $289 value) and access to Authorpreneur Summit sessions (an $89 value)   New! One finalist in each category will receive a free, full-length private critique from Winning Writers (value: $90-$240)   We will publish online excerpts from all entries that win a prize, along with critiques from the judges The deadline is July 1. Submit your self-published or hybrid-published book for $79. Books published on all self-publishing and hybrid-publishing platforms are eligible. Any year of publication is eligible. Free gifts for everyone who enters. New this year: All entrants who submit online will receive a brief commentary from one of the judges (5-10 sentences). Winning Writers is one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" (Writer's Digest, 2024), and this contest is recommended by Reedsy. Click to learn more about our contest.   Submit online     Prefer to enter by mail?   You may mail one copy of your book and the $79 entry fee to Winning Writers, Attn: North Street Book Prize, 351 Pleasant Street Suite B PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3998, USA. Please note that feedback will only be provided for entries submitted online, and not those entries submitted by mail. If you would like us to return your book at the conclusion of the contest, please request this at the time of your entry and enclose an extra $5 for postage and handling.

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Great 3D Book Images by @GeneCartwright 

 Carolyn Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning #HowToDoItFrugally Series (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BTXQL27T/ ) of books for writers including "The Frugal Book Promoter" (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), and "The Frugal Editor" both offered in their third editions by Modern History Press. Others in that series are "How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically," and two booklets, both in their second editions also from Modern History Press. The booklets, "Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers" (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and "Great First Impression Book Proposals" (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. "The Frugal Editor "(https://tinyurl.com/TheFrugalEditor), was recently released in its third edition. It is the winningest book in this series for writers.  

Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them understand what is needed to convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It 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" (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at https://TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. 

Carolyn also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at "The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor" (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Wow! Look at those Winning Writers Prizes

Sponsored by Winning Writers | 

I just don’t want you to miss this if you have a new book ready to go! Hugs,  Carolyn

North Street Book Prize for Self-Published Books     We're down to the last 5 days for you to submit your self-published book for our eighth annual North Street Book Prize. Enter with confidence. Winning Writers was just named as one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" by Writer's Digest (May/June 2022 issue). That's our sixth appearance on this list since our founding!   PRIZES One grand prize winner will receive $8,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 value) The top winner in each category will receive $1,000, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 credit at BookBaby, and one free ad in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $175 value) One honorable mention in each category will receive $250 We will publish online excerpts from all entries that win a prize, along with critiques from the judges ENTRY FEE $70 per book ALL CONTESTANTS RECEIVE How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically by Carolyn Howard-Johnson (PDF) Free guides to successful publishing from BookBaby Three months' free subscription to Book Award Pro (Essentials tier), so you can find more great contests for your book The 7 Steps to Plan and Write Your Book, courtesy of Book Launchers (PDF) 8 Simple Secrets for Big Book Sales on Amazon, courtesy of C.S. Lakin at The Self Publisher (PDF) One month free membership in The Self-Publishing Mastermind at Self-Publishing Made Simple, a community for growing your knowledge of all aspects of self-publishing Submit online via Submittable by June 30. Any year of publication is acceptable.   Learn more and submit Prefer to enter by mail?  Verify that your book fits into one of our categories, then mail your entry and $70 fee to Winning Writers, Attn: North Street Book Prize, 351 Pleasant Street Suite B PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3998, USA. Your payment should be US funds drawn on a US bank (payable to Winning Writers), or US currency. Please postmark your entry by June 30.

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MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER 

 Howard-Johnson is the multi award-winning author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the multi award-winning The Frugal Book Promoter (https://bit.ly/FrugalBookPromoIII), now offered in its third edition by Modern History Press. Carolyn's latest is in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers is How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. She has two booklets in the #HowToDoItFrugally Series, both in their second editions from Modern History Press. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers (https://bit.ly/LastMinuteEditsII) and The Great First Impression Book Proposal (https://bit.ly/BookProposalsII) are career boosters in mini doses and both make ideal thank you gifts for authors. The one on writing book proposals is also available as an Audio Book. The Frugal Editor (https://bit.ly/FrugalEditor), now in its second edition, is the winningest book in the series. Carolyn also has three frugal books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it helps them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It 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 (https://bit.ly/RetailersGuide). In addition to this blog, Carolyn helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (https://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com). Learn more and follow for news on her new releases direct from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.

Important Book Prize! Any Year Publication! Deadline Coming!

Dear Subscribers,

As a reminder, I’m a proud co-sponsor of the North Street Book Prizefor self-published books. As you know, I have trusted WinningWriters to vet contests for my literary work for a more than a decade now and love to support contests that are no only ethical but also offer added value as part of their entry fee.  I encourage you to enter! The deadline is June 30. Everyone who enters will receive a digital copy of my book, The Frugal Book Promoter, and the top six winners will also receive personalized consultations from me.

~ Carolyn Howard-Johnson J

North Street Book Prize 
for Self-Published Books

Enter your self-published book into this year's North Street competition, sponsored by Winning Writers and co-sponsored by BookBaby and Carolyn Howard-Johnson.

Choose from five categories: Mainstream/Literary Fiction, Genre Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Memoir, Poetry (new), and Children’s Picture Book (new). The top winner in each category will win $1,000, one grand prize winner will win $3,000, and all will receive additional benefits to help market their books. Any year of publication is eligible. Entry fee: $60 per book.

Submit online via Submittable or by mail. Deadline: June 30. Please see our guidelines, past winners, and judges’ remarks at https://winningwriters.com/north

MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER




Howard-Johnson is the author of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. She is also a marketing consultant, editor, and author of the multi award-winning HowToDoItFrugally Series of books for writers including the award-winning second editions of The Frugal Book Promoter (where she talks more about choosing and the advantages of winning contests and how to use those honors)  and The Frugal Editor. Her latest is in the series is  How to Get Great Book Reviews Frugally and Ethically. Learn more on her Amazon profile page, http://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers is one of her booklets--perfect for inexpensive gift giving--and, another booklet, The Great First Impression Book Proposal helps writers who want to be traditionally published. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including one she encourages authors to read because it will help them convince retailers to host their workshops, presentations, and signings. It 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. In addition to this blog, she helps writers extend the exposure of their favorite reviews at TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com. She also blogs at all things editing--grammar, formatting and more--at The Frugal, Smart, and Tuned-In Editor (http://TheFrugalEditor.blogspot.com )

Loving and Hating Rejection Letters

I'm sharing with you an example of the kind of rejection every author wants to get--with a reservation (of course!) 

Still, I’m hugely grateful for it and happy to put myself on the line so you may benefit from it, too.  It is a rarity among the finer and more established literary journals in the world. 

Most journals send canned rejections. But if you watch for clues, you can tell which submissions will reap the most benefit.  As an example, sometimes they offer a subscription to their journal with your entry fee.  Some say you will get input from the judges. And some, like Missouri Review, send you rejections that make you feel good instead of lousy!  Keep reading for info on one of their contests! 

But back to the rejection and my not-so-grateful reaction to it:

From: Missouri Review <submissions@missourireview.org>
Date: February 9, 2016 at 9:37:43 AM PST
To: hojonews@aol.com
Subject: Your submission to Missouri Review

Dear Carolyn Howard-Johnson,

Thank you for sending us "The True Big Bass Story".

This is a delightful story with a great grasp of narrative movement, plot, and strong insights on the world of journalism.

Unfortunately this particular piece was not a right fit for Missouri Review, but we were very impressed by your writing. We hope that you will feel encouraged by this short note and send us something else.

We look forward to reading more.

Sincerely,

The Editors of Missouri Review

----------
We’re awarding a $1,000 first prize in Prose, Poetry, Audio Documentary and Humor categories in our 9th Annual Miller Audio Prize audio competition. Send us your entries by March 15, 2016.

The only additional thing I could have asked for (would it be presumptuous of me to ask?) is, why would a story with bigotry as a theme be “not right” for a literary journal in a state that still harbors much bigotry—and don’t all journals (states) fall into that category? 

I guess I am like everyone else. I'd rather get an acceptance in my e-mail box. 

Happy submitting!

-----
 Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of This Is the Place; Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered; Tracings, a chapbook of poetry; and how to books for writers including the award-winning second edition of, The Frugal Book Promoter: How to get nearly free publicity on your own or by partnering with your publisher; The multi award-winning second edition of The Frugal Editor; and Great Little Last Minute Editing Tips for Writers . The Great First Impression Book Proposal is her newest booklet for writers. She has three FRUGAL books for retailers including 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. 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 .

Tri-Studio Sponsors "Novel" Contest and It's FREE

Tri- Studio, home of the Fiction Flyer newsletter, is holding a flash fiction Contest: You choose two characters from one of your stories or novels, or one character each from two of your stories or novels. They can be two protagonists, antagonists, or one of each. Select one of the scene openers or premises below, and create a conversation between your characters. Attention will be given to the strength and credibility of your characters. Unusual characters are welcome, but help us believe they are real. And keep them in character and true to themselves. Remember, while flash fiction is short, it still tells a story, so allow enough development to leave us in the end with a feeling or sentiment. Make us laugh or cry! Here are the scene openers or premises for your entry:

*Your first character is kneeling on shore and holding the lead rope to a flimsy rubber raft, which is frothing in the wake of a rain-swollen river. Your second character sits in the boat, hanging on for life.

*Your first character enters the Grand Ballroom at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino for its opening celebration, which has promised to be the best party Las Vegas has ever seen. The first character immediately spies the second character, who is rumored to be having an affair with the spouse of the first character. The first character has just heard the rumor. He or she approaches the second character. All eyes follow him or her.

*Your characters 20 to 50 years later: they meet randomly in a Laundromat.
The grown children of your two characters randomly meet, fall in love, and become engaged. Your characters are invited to dinner so that the two families can “get to know each other.” They have no idea they will be meeting each other.

*Your two characters must compete for the same job.

*Your two characters must work on the same job. Their success depends on their willingness to work as a team.

*You choose the situation that best suits your characters.

Judging Criteria is:

1. Character strength and credibility
2. Dialogue
3. Short story development, including: Tightness, clarity, structure, strength of lead/beginning, impact, satisfactory close

Guidelines:

1. All subscribers to The Fiction Flyer ezine are eligible. To subscribe, send an email to kgogolewski@sbcglobal.net with EZINE written in the subject heading.

2. There will be a first, second and third prize. Each winner receives a certificate, $5 and will be featured in a publication of The Fiction Flyer with a subscriber list of 1,000 readers. There will be an undetermined number of Honorable Mentions. Press releases with the winners’ names will be released from TRI Studio LLC.

3. Work must be original and not a reprint

4. Up to 1,000 words

5. Multiple entries accepted

6. There is no entry fee

7. Arial or comparable 10 pt font

8. No attachments will be accepted. Include your story in the body of your email. Email entry(ies) to kgogolewski@sbcglobal.net. Use the format below.

9. A selected panel of guest judges will determine final winners

10. Contest deadline is July 1, 2009.

FORMAT in Arial 10 pt font:
Your name:
Your characters’ names:
Title of your novels or stories from which your characters previously lived:
Your story title:
Number of words:
Your story (In arial 10 point font) up to 1,000 words:

Kathe Gogolewski
http://www.TRI-Studio.com
Host/The Mother Daughter Club radio show
The Fiction Flyer ezine for writers: www.tri-studio.com/ezine.html
From Amazon: short stories for 49 cents:
The Gold Coin: http://www.amazon.com/The-Gold-Coin/dp/B000IB0JHK/ref=pd_ts_b_13/102-3993851-2836959?ie=UTF8&s=books

-----
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.

Free Books Anyone? Give Them Where They'll Do Some Good

If you're an author, you are probably giving away books. Sometimes it's the only polite and promotion-savvy thing to do. Other times not.

Here are the people you should give books to:

1. To those with a loyal following. Influential people might mention them and spread the word -- verbally, in blogs, in newsletters, in their own books (as references), etc.

2. To reviewers. Ask before you send one though. No point in wasting a good book. Do not ask your reviewers to buy your book. If someone who has bought a book offers to review it, consider sending them a nice thank you gift -- something more substantial than a bookmark. If not, at least send them a handwritten thank you note.

3. To those who have helped you with your publishing. That would be those you mention in your acknowledgements and maybe some others as well.

4. Anyone kind enough to give you a blurb or endorsement.

5. To contest judges.

6. To those you quote in your book (they are probably well-known in their fields and likely to mention your book to others).

Now here's who not to give books to:

If you've published with the goal of becoming commercially viable, don't give books to every friend and relative on your holiday list. Instead invite them to your launch. Most will be pleased to support you by buying one or more books. It is true that most people tend to read books that they really want to read, not necessarily those given to them. And many people don't read much these days. It is sad, but true. We are all busy, so use your free copy budget judiciously. Giving your mother a book won't force her to read it if she doesn't want to.

----
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author THIS IS THE PLACE; HARKENING: A COLLECTION OF STORIES REMEMBERED; TRACINGS, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books, 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 other blogs include TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com and AuthorsCoalition.blogspot.com, a blog that helps writers and publishers turn a ho-hum book fair booth into a sizzler.

Mentor or Mentee and Mentoring

I believe in mentoring. Not just young people but big people, too.

One of my favorite mentees is Dallas Woodburn. She is a junior at my alma mater, USC(University of Southern California). Trouble is, I don't know which one of us is mentor and which is mentee. Which, as it happens--is nearly always the case.


Dallas is majoring in Creative Writing. She has published two books of short stories (her latest, 3 a.m., is available at Amazon.com). She has also published nearly 60 feature stories in magazines including Writer's Digest, The Writer, Family Circle, Justine, Cicada, Listen, and CO-ED. She has been published in four "Chicken Soup for the Soul" books including Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul IV and was recently honored as one of seven national Jim Murray Scholars for her biweekly column for the USC student newspaper The Daily Trojan.

Dallas launched a nonprofit foundation “Write On!” in 2000 to encourage kids to find joy, confidence, and a means of self-expression through writing and reading. Today, Write On's writing contests receive entries from all over the US and Canada. Dallas awards scholarships each year for young writers to attend the Santa Barbara Writers Conference Young Writers Program and the USC Summer Seminars Program. Her Write On Holiday Book Drive has collected and distributed 9,142 new books to underprivileged youth in just six years. Check out Dallas’s website at www.zest.net/writeon and her blog at http://dallaswoodburn.blogspot.com.

Dallas is my idea of what Sharing with Writers is all about. Won't you visit her site, donate to her causes, or simply leave a note of encouragement on her blog. Think of what we can all do together.

By the way, this picture of Dallas is great but she is most proud that the typewriter is Jim Murray's. I like that little yellow band she's wearing on her left wrist, too, don't you? (-:

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Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author THIS IS THE PLACE; HARKENING: A COLLECTION OF STORIES REMEMBERED; TRACINGS, a chapbook of poetry; and two how to books, 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 other blogs include TheNewBookReview.blogspot.com and AuthorsCoalition.blogspot.com, a blog that helps writers and publishers turn a ho-hum book fair booth into a sizzler.