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Carolyn's Amazing
Write Better
Collection
Here you'll find great
resources to help you become a better writer.
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Free Content
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Free Content
- including articles on promotion,
editing, publishing, and links to podcasts. |
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Story Ideas
for the Media |
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Aussie Authors is
creative and overseas-friendly.
The
MuseItUp Club
is an award-winning and Writer's Digest Top 101
Best Sites of 2005& 2006 Writing Critique community, aimed towards the
serious writer who wants to hone their work and get published. For more
information, e-mail
museitupeditor@yahoo.ca
The
Association of Web Entrepreneurs
is an group where experts on building a writer's site as a
business await you.
 National Association of Women Writers
(NAWW),
where women writers network. Highly recommended. It works if you work
it. (-:
International Order of
Horror Professionals, founded by Bev Walton Porter, is for
publishers, writers and anyone else connected with creative horror
pursuits--including marketers!
Small Publishers Association of North
America publishes one of the best print newsletters for authors and
publishers in the business. SPAN helped me put my fashion publicist and
journalism expertise into book promotion mode.
The California Writers Club
is a great place to meet and network with other writers. The San
Fernando Valley branch meets the first Saturday of the month in Sherman
Oaks. See Web site for more details and speaker information.
Boomer Women Speak has a
writers' forum. I've met some lovely, supportive writers there. .
The Military Writers Society of
America is an association of more than five-hundred authors, poets,
and artists, drawn together by the common bond of military service or
those who write with a military focus.
UCLA's Writers' Program
has a new Writers’
Program Web site where you can find just the right learning experience
both on campus and online! just went live!
Writers of Kern is
a chapter of the California Writers Club. They meet once a month,
on the third Saturday, at the Best Western Crystal Palace Inn & Suites,
2620 Buck Owens Blvd, Bakersfield, CA. at 10:30am. They feature a
speaker each month and a small critique group. They encourage membership
which is $65 for the first year and $45 for each continuous year of
membership thereafter. Detailed information can be obtained by calling
President Carol Black at 661-213-4391, or Vice-President Joe Tomasi at
661-391-9124.
Book
Publicists of Southern California is a great networking organization
and giver of the annual Irwin Award. Contact Irwin Zucker at
IrwinZuckerPR@aol.com.
Picture above taken by fellow member Chris Vaughn at a meeting. Note
author sales table in the back. Sales tables are open to all.
Women Writing the West
comes highly recommended
from a Sharing with Writers subscriber. Gail L. Fiorini-Jenner.
She says, "They have a great conference every year, too. Normally in
October, although the 2009 conference (a different venue this coming
year) will be held at UCLA and will be September 11-13, and will be
offering contacts, workshops,
etc, in screenwriting as well as the WILLA Literary Awards (wonderful
project, judged by librarians in 7 categories).
American
Society of Journalists and Authors
offers services including a newsletter that nonmembers can read:
http://www.asja.org/newspub/newspub.php
The issues go back each month to October
1999. Interviews with top editors and other publishing leaders.
The Frugal Book Promoter
is listed in the Dec. 2008 issue, page 11.
Ozark Romance Authors (ORA) is an active writers' group that
meets month, sends a newsletter out monthly and sponsors an annual
writers' conference. It includes men and women and those who do not
write traditional romance. Find them at
www.ozarkromanceauthors.com.
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Writer's Programs
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Writers
Programs
- university and other writer education
programs. |
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Writing Helps |
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Writing
exercises from Meredith Sue Willis.
Audios Learn more about writing while you drive. CDs are
available from
Tri-Studio
.
I teach
at UCLA. So do several
other instructors I recommend for classes, editing and other services.
They include Eve LaSalle Caram, Phyllis
GeBauer, Suzanne Lummis and Carolyn Leavitt. If you need
recommendations,
e-mail me.
Writers
in the Sky is a
podcast
where writers will find easily digested tips and topics on
everything from book promotion to editing and the craft of writing.
It is hosted by Yvonne Perry. You'll also find Writers in the Sky
at her blogsite.
Protect
yourself from contest scams with the links listed on this page:
http://windpub.com/literary.scams/
Angela Watkins provides a
page of
tips and links for Christian writers.
Carolyn Howard-Johnson is
interviewed by Iris Fanning. It's a free seminar available
at
http://www.qtworldradio.com/qtradio/archives.html . Scroll to the Iris Fanning Show
and Click on Do You Have a Book Inside? If you need help with the MP3
download there's a quick click for that too.
Explore your creative
side with
Online English and Writing Degrees
at ClassesAndCareers.com. Be the voice of any business, in any industry,
in any part of the world!
Kristi Holl,
author of 35 published books including
Writer's First Aid,
gives encouragement to
writers at her
Writer's First Aid blog,
plus writing help for
mystery writers.
Has writing lost its spontaneity? Find
remedies in
Milli
Thornton's online writing course.
Her Fear of Writing may help, too.
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Sites and Blogs
That Serve, Educate and Publish |
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For snappy marketing tips and the free report "How
to Obtain Book Reviews," subscribe to the PR Postcard at
http://www.authorscompanion.com/
Dee Rimbaud's site features
free database details over
2,000 literary and genre magazines and publishers.
Freelance Writing Organization - Int'l:
Thousands of
free
writing resources.
Writers Advice is for expert
and up-to-date advice for writers
from writers go to
www.writeradvice.com
.You'll find author interviews,
reviews, contests and markets and more. The site, edited by B. Lynn
Goodwin is open to submissions.
Writer to Writer features
tips on writing, marketing, submitting, selling and more. Regular no-fee
contests.
Here is a resource
being built by librarians. It cites Web sites that are useful for
research and more, but not purely commercial. You can suggest
a site that might be useful to librarians (perhaps your own) at:
http://www.lii.org/cs/lii/create/todo
Acapella Publishing's
site will guide you from the time a concept for a book is born
through the successful publication and marketing of it.
Dorothy Thompson's
the Writer's Life.
Freelance Job Board
and Writer's Tips from E. Lucas-Taylor
provides publisher lists, freelance, how-to get started, book fairs,
conferences, a wealth of links for writing and promoting YOU.
Kim Wilson
edits Write From Home for
the benefit of those making a career from any corner in their house.
Published. com has hundreds of links to book clubs for you
to select from and then utilize in your promotion campaign.
Carrie Lynn Lyons, author
of Dream Pictures, also edits
Writers and
Readers Network and Writing
Road as Charlene Austin.
Research lots of
magazines for writers and other related topics at
www.burningvoid.com.
Learn
more about Carolyn
Howard-Johnson's blogs, including one that lets authors extend
the life of their favorite reviews at no cost.
UCLA Writers' Program's blog Find links to
many of that program's instructors' blogs there, too. One of Corey
Campbell's joyous blogs on collaborating is especially interesting. (-:
SubtleTea
is a
Pittsburgh-based
online art journal focusing on--not exclusively--the written word, including artist interviews,
fiction, poetry, essays, book/CD/film reviews,
visual art, links, and resources. Founded by editor
David Herrle.
Open
submissions from serious artists are welcome
year-round. SubtleTea encourages exposure of
diverse creators, and a new edition goes online
every 2 months.
Carolyn's
blog, The Frugal, Smart and Tuned-In Editor
(www.thefrugaledtior.blogspot.com)
is an interactive blog on all things publishing.
Who's
who in San Diego's vibrant writing community? Find out here:
www.WORDsd.com
Dream of being a writer? Turn that
dream into reality! Find inspiration, ideas and resources for
writers at Write Success,
http://writesuccess.com.
Kristie Holl blogs on writer-related topics at
http://institutechildrenslit.net/Writers-First-Aid-blog/ You'll
want to check it out for learning opportunities. She also has a link
page on her site at
http://www.kristiholl.com/links.htm. You may find useful links.
LongRidge, an excellent program I've taught for, is listed there.
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Free Books
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Joyce White's book
Sculpting the Heart might help. It's not really a book specifically
for writers but I recommend it for those blue days or even more serious
depression. Learn more at
http://www.joycewhiteblog.com/
Millie
Thornton's book Fear of Writing covers the gamut of
fears.
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Audio for Authors |
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Krista
Barrett edits a fine, interactive newsletter and provides resources
on her Web site as well. Learn more about both at
www.writergazette.com.
Publishing and Promoting
is an active link
serve group for writers.
Sharing with
Writers is a community where writers brag a bit, share tips with
one another, learn about opportunities for writers.
Fiction Flyer is a newsy
letter focused on writers with a wide lens. Kathe and Ray Gogolewski
edit.
The Book Promotion
Newsletter includes resources you can use in each bi-weekly
edition.
Keep your finger on the pulse of the lucrative commercial freelancing
business with the free
Wellfed
Writer edited by Peter Bowerman.
Scribe & Quill
is a publication for writers of all experience levels and genres. Each
issue our writing resource delivers informative articles, columns,
interviews, poetry, short fiction, humor, job opportunities and writing
markets. E-mail.
The Maplewoods Mirror has notes about
writing and living a writer's life (Chris Meek's writers' life
specifically). Subscribe to the monthly newsletter.
Get past
newsletters there, too.
Sassy-Brit writes a sassy letter and offers lots of opportunities
for promotion to her subscribers.
Freelance Writing's Newsletter
The
Web-Savvy Writer e-zine: When you subscribe, you'll receive a free
report on author Web site strategies from Patrice-Anne Rutledge, author,
The Web-Savvy Writer: Book Promotion with a High-Tech Twist.
http://www.websavvywriter.com
A
newsletter full of book reviews edited by author
Annette
Gisby.
Read author interviews, market information, and
more in Writer Advice. To
subscribe or to submit material for consideration,
E-mail.
LGood67334@comcast.net.
Put "subscribe" in the subject box.
Stimulate your prose and make your writing dreams come true. Join
The Writer Within Newsletter group for informative articles,
insider tips, lucrative links and a caring community of dedicated
writers. FREE sign up at
http://shaunna67.tripod.com
This is a paying
market!
Writers in the Sky—a free monthly newsletter filled with resources
for writers and write-wanna-bees. Subscribers receive a free eBook “Tips
on Freelance Writing.”
 Stories for Children Newsletter for Writers
is a free monthly
newsletter created for children's writers or anyone who loves to write.
Each newsletter contains tips about writing, how other writers started
down the road to success through trial and error, success stories on
being published, contest, and writing markets. It is edited by Virginia
S. Grenier.
Sylvia McClain
edits the Scribal News Calendar. She lists literary events of
every ilk by region and that makes it easy for writers to find
conveniently located conferences and seminars, but it's also a great place for
them to list their own events. Sylvia is open to publishing most book-related
events. To subscribe to this
newsletter, send blank email to
sylmcclain@juno.com with “Subscribe Scribal News” in the
subject line.
Dana Lynn Smith,
publishing consultant, edits Publishing Tips newsletter. Subscribe to that
letter here.
http://texanapublishing.homestead.com/subscribe.html
Sign up for DeSilva's News,
a tool writers rely on to meet their creative needs. It includes monthly
columns written by Carolyn Howard-Johnson,
Bill MacWithey and Myrna Lou Goldbaum;
links to free online writers courses, articles of interest, free software
downloads and more. Sign up at Jozette's
Desk
-
http://jozette.webs.com -
or by sending an email to
subscribe.desilvasnews@gmail.com.
All subscribers are given special consideration for free international promotion
for themselves and their work.
Dream of being a writer? Turn that dream into reality! Find inspiration,
ideas and resources for writers at
Write Success,
http://writesuccess.com --and subscribe to the free biweekly newsletter
to keep that inspiration coming!
Subscribe
to Nadine Laman's newsletter with a sign-up box on her home page:
www.NadineLamanBooks.com
She says, "My list is never shared. I do not send promotional e-mail." Find
a sample at
http://www.nadinelamanbooks.com/newsletter.html.
Nadine very generously
includes information on her subscribers' books and services, too.
Children's writer Donna McDine offers "Write What Inspires You" newsletter. Opt-in at :
http://www.donnamcdine.com
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Sample
First-Person Essay |
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For
your online promotion you should include a first-person
essay
in your media kit and--eventually--have different essays,
or different versions of your essay tailored for different
audiences.
For a sample of a
first-person essay (and to learn more about how I landed my
first job at Good Housekeeping magazine!) go to,
http://lillieammann.com/2010/07/28/life-begins-at-sixty-guest-post-by-carolyn-howard-johnson/
Blogger Lillie Ammann also has
podcasts available. Great frugal learning opportunities! |
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Subscribe to
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Sharing with Writers Newsletter
and get a FREE copy of
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While
You're Browsing... |
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Find at least one promotion, writing
or tech tip on every page on this site. Sometimes you'll find, two or
three! Happy browsing and collecting! |
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Carolyn's Blogs |
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Sharing with Writers
All things publishing with
an emphasis on book
promotion. Named to
Writer's Digest
101 Best Website list.
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The New Book Review
Great way for readers, authors, reviewers and publicists to get more
mileage out of
a great review.
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The Frugal Editor Blog
This is the Frugal, Smart
and Tuned-In Editor blog.
Covers editing, grammar, formatting and more.
Get the answers you need.
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Carolyn's Calendar |
Please click
on my Google Calendar button to learn more about my
upcoming UCLA Extension Writers' Program classes, my
writers' conference and book fair appearances, and
more.
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Carolyn's Speaking Engagements |
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Presenter
2009, 2010
Presenter,
2008, 09, 10
Presenter, 2007
National Span College,
2002
Fellows presenter, 2007,
08
Co-sponsor and presenter,
2007, 08, 09, 10
University of Dayton Erma
Bombeck Writers' Conference, 2006, 2008
Sisters in
Crime, Pasadena, 2009
Learn
of more about
"Carolyn's conferences" and other picks. |
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Carolyn's Calendar |
Please click
on my Google Calendar button to learn more about my
upcoming UCLA Extension Writers' Program classes, my
writers' conference and book fair appearances, and
more.
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Author
Success Podcasts |
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Tip for
Learning with Podcasts
Carolyn's podcasts are
all n Authors' Access
Top Ten LIsts, 2007, 08, 09.
Visit with the creative force behind the
HowToDoItFrugally Series of Books for writers. Carolyn
shared her best tips and strategies for
low-cost/zero-cost marketing campaigns and also talked
about what NOT to do to market your books. She also
talks about the value of editing and how it directly
controls how your proposals, books, and marketing are
perceived in the marketplace.
Listen to the interview on Authors Access
(visit link and click on the PODCAST button). Tune in
each week as Irene and Victor interview industry
luminaries on marketing, writing, editing, and
publishing by
subscribing to the RSS feed.
Find at least one tip on writing,
promotion or tech on every page of this Web site. |
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Tip |
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Tip for
Authors Looking for a Sample Reading Guide for their
Fiction
The
Reading Guide in
This Is The Place has been used by reading groups and
teachers alike. It will serve as a guide for authors who
have never written one. Perhaps you could include such a
guide in the marketing kit you may be asked to send to
your agent or publisher?
Find at least one tip on writing,
promotion or tech on every page of this Web site. |
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Carolyn's Shopping Plaza |
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Please visit Carolyn's
Shopping Plaza
for autographed copies and occasional special offers.
Order two or more books and get Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers free!
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Carolyn's Awards |
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Awards for Carolyn's Books, Blogs and More The New Book Review
Named to
Online Universities'
101 Book Blogs
You Need to Read
Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites
for Sharing with Writers blog.
Best Book Award for The Frugal Book Promoter (2004) and The Frugal Editor (2008).
Reader Views Literary Award for The Frugal Editor
New Generation Award for Marketing and Finalist for The Frugal Editor
Book Publicists of Southern California's Irwin Award
Military Writers Award of Excellence for
Tracings, A Chapbook of Poetry.
A Retailer's Guide to Frugal In-Store Promotion wins author Military
Writers Society of America's Author of the Month award for March. 2010
Gold Medal
Award from Military Writers Society of America, 2010
And more than a dozen other awards for Carolyn's novel, short story collection and poetry.
See the awards page on this site.
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Writing Tip |
Passive
construction has gotten a bad wrap. We obviously have it in
the English language because it serves a purpose. There are
times when passive can work for an author. An example of
that is in an excerpt of This Is the Place where I wanted to
slow down the prose, wanted to make readers feel as if they
were stepping back to the 50 and even farther, to the 1800s.
Find an example of how I used it in an
except from that
novel. Learn about other ways writers can use it
to their advantage in my
The Frugal Editor.
Find at least one tip on writing,
promotion or tech on every page of this Web site.
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