Carolyn's Amazing
Write Better
Collection

Here you'll find great resources to
help you become a better writer.

"A craftsman knows what he's going to make, and an artist doesn't know what he's going to make." Ken Price, artist who used tools of craft (ceramics)


Free Content

Free Content - from multi award-winning author Carolyn Howard-Johnson including articles on promotion, editing, publishing, and links to podcasts. Even holiday poems to spice up your holiday marketing efforts.


Story Ideas for the Media

Story Ideas for the Media - ideas for for editors, staff writers, producers, and media hosts


Writing-Oriented Organizations

Aussie Authors is creative and overseas-friendly.

Greater Los Angeles Association of Writers (GLAWS) hosts free seminars and reasonably priced conferences as well as critique groups in most genres.

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.

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).

Endorsement and organization recommendations

Carolyn, I just finished a welcome booklet for the NSNC and had to reference your books in the last section because I can't imagine anyone trying to be successful without reading your books. The NSNC is a great place to feature your books, which is what would happen if you became a member - www.columnists.com . There is a Columnists Academy where you can submit helpful articles to members and you can contribute a column to the website whenever you like. I should have asked you before (my bad). You would be an asset to our membership. National Society of Newspaper Columnists | Organization for newspaper, magazine & online columnists


Writer's Programs

Writers Programs - university and other writer education programs.


Writing Helps

I taught at UCLA 's world renowned Writers' Program for nearly a decade. Several other instructors I recommend for classes, editing, and other services taught or teach there, too. They include Eve LaSalle Caram, Suzanne Lummis and Carolyn Leavitt. If you need recommendations, e-mail me.

Purple Pencil Adventures by Debra Eckerling has writer prompts everyone will enjoy.

Has writing lost its spontaneity? Find remedies in Milli Thornton's online writing course.

This is a program that is especially good for debut authors. It will help them build an impressive platform that they can use to snag a publisher, agent, or build what they will need to do their own publicity once their book is published: DIY Book Platform: The solution for writers who cannot afford a publicist.


Sites and Blogs
That Serve, Educate and Publish

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

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.

 Carrie Lynn Lyons, author of Dream Pictures, also edits Writers and Readers Network and Writing Road as Charlene Austin.

Learn more about Carolyn Howard-Johnson's blogs, including one that lets authors extend the life of their favorite reviews at no cost.

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.thefrugaleditor.blogspot.com) is an interactive blog on all things publishing.


Help with Writer's Block

Millie Thornton's book Fear of Writing covers the gamut of fears.

One of the early chapters in The Frugal Book Promoter helps authors with all kinds of fears including fear of marketing, fear of success, fear of failure, and a little about block, too.


Writers' Conferences

Writer's Conferences - Carolyn's picks favorite writers' conferences.
Roman Retreat -  Carolyn and Eve LaSalle Caram cosponsored an intimate retreat in Rome. Watch this page! We're hoping to host another one!

Newsletters
That Help You Write, Tech, or Promote Better

Sharing with Writers is a community where writers brag a bit, share tips with one another, learn about opportunities for writers. Tons of writers tips, marketing tips, and industry news.

Keep your finger on the pulse of the lucrative commercial freelancing business with the free Wellfed Writer edited by Peter Bowerman. 

Freelance Writing's Newsletter

http://www.websavvywriter.com 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! 

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."


Children's writer Donna McDine offers "Write What Inspires You" newsletter. Opt-in at :
http://www.donnamcdine.com

 


Sample First-Person Essay

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! Get complete, step-by-step help for building your own media kit in the multi award-winning Frugal Book Promoter.


Buy Links for Carolyn's Books

Great Fiction
Purchase THIS IS THE PLACE
and
HARKENING at Amazon in their new and used feature.
Both of these books are out of print. They are available only on Amazon's New and Used feature for about $1.

Great Poetry
Purchase TRACINGS (Finishing Line Press) at Amazon.
IMPERFECT ECHOES: Writing Truth and Justice with Capital Letters,
lie and oppression with Small

Give the gift of poetry with a chapbook from Magdalena Ball's
and
My Celebration Series

CHERISHED PULSE: Unconventional Love Poetry
IMAGINING THE FUTURE: Ruminations on Fathers and Other Masculine Apparitions
SHE WORE EMERALD THEN: Reflections on Motherhood
BLOOMING RED: Christmas Poetry for the Rational
DEEPER INTO THE POND: Celebration of Femininity
SUBLIME PLANET: Celebrating Earth and the Universe
 

HowToDoItFrugally Series for Writers
Purchase THE FRUGAL BOOK PROMOTER,
THE FRUGAL EDITOR
Second Edition
GREAT LITTLE LAST MINUTE EDITING TIPS FOR WRITERS
GREAT FIRST-IMPRESSION BOOK PROPOSALS
HOW TO GET GREAT BOOK REVIEWS FRUGALLY AND ETHICALLY

Survive and Thrive Series of HowToDoItFrugally Books for Retailers
A RETAILER'S GUIDE TO FRUGAL IN-STORE PROMOTION
FRUGAL AND FOCUSED TWEETING FOR RETAILERS
YOUR BLOG, YOUR BUSINESS

Most of Carolyn's books are also available for the Kindle reader.
Did you know that with the Free app, Kindle can be adapted to any reader--even your PC!

 "Careers that are not fed die as readily as
any living organism given no sustenance." 
~
Carolyn Howard-Johnson

Studio photography by Uriah Carr
3 Dimensional Book Cover Images by iFOGO
Logo by Lloyd King

 

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 excerpt 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. 

 

Frugal E-Book Tip

Kindle E-Books Aren't
Just for Kindle Anymore

Did you know that Amazon’s Kindle e-books are a low-cost/no-cost way to access books even if you don’t have a dedicated Kindle reader? You can read Kindle's e-books on smartphones, desktop computers and any e-device in between. You can even store the books on the Amazon cloud.

~ Quote from Diana Schneidman, author and marketer

To subscribe to Carolyn's FREE online newsletter send an e-mail.

Learn more about Carolyn's newsletter and blog.

Read past issues of Carolyn's Newsletter.

 

Tip

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 or in your your own book depending on its titel?

 Find at least one tip on writing, promotion, or tech on every page of this Web site. 

 

    

  

 



Subscribe to
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Sharing with Writers Newsletter

and get a FREE copy of
Great Little Last-Minute Editing Tips for Writers

"I have been a professional writer 40 years, and am also a tenured full professor of journalism. Carolyn's Sharing with Writers newsletter is  most useful for me--and for my students. I emphasize to them that while research is 90% of writing, and the actual writing is about 10%, there's another 100% out there called promotion. Carolyn shows numerous ways to get the message to the mass media."
~Walter Brasch, author and educator

"A decade of bettering writers' careers with how-tos, tips, and publishing news."


Find Carolyn on the Web

  writers retailers

While You're Browsing...

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!


Website Sponsor

As Featured in Publishers Weekly

This unique book is the perfect book to help immigrants and those who need better English skills to deal with Americans. You'll love the chapter on language and accent reduction. And love even more how the author uses idioms throughout the book--and explains them!

Available on Amazon bookstores worldwide, at Vroman's in Pasadena and other fine bookstores.


Carolyn's Blogs

Sharing with Writers
All things publishing with
an emphasis on book
promotion. Named to
Writer's Digest
101 Best Website list.


The New Book Review
Great way for readers, authors, reviewers and publicists to get more
mileage out of
a great review.


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.



Published Works Almanac


Other Interests

Acting
Speaking
Travel

Tolerance


Carolyn's Poetry

Tracings
Imperfect Echoes
Celebration Series
Travel


Carolyn's Literary Works

This is the Place
Harkening
Published Shorter Works


Carolyn's How to Do it Frugally Series

For Writers
For Retailers


A Selection of Carolyn's Past Speaking Engagements

National Stationery Show May 17-20, 2009 Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, NY Consider this a business essential.

Presenter 2009, 2010

Presenter, 2008, 09, 10, 11

Panel moderator, 2007

National Span College
presenter 2002

Fellows presenter, 2007, 08

Co-sponsor and presenter,
2007, 08, 09, 10, 11

University of Dayton Erma Bombeck Writers' Conference, 2006, 2008

Sisters in Crime,
Pasadena, 2009

On the Los Angeles Valley College Campus 2012, Rancho Library 2013,
Valley College Spring 2014

Wisconsin Regional Writers Association
Presenter, Keynote 2010

Book 'Em, NC,
Three Panels 2013


Presenter, 2013


Seminar Speaker, 2014


Keynote, 2013; 2014


Secrets of Great
Dialogue, 2015

Digging Up Memories and Bringing the Dead Back to Life
2015

Frugal Book Promotion.
Judith Briles' Extravaganza,
Denver, CO, 2016

Learn more about Carolyn's conferences.


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 excerpt 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. 


Proud to be Instrumental in Helping Other Poets

Poetry Mystique: A modern text edited by Suzanne Lummis with commentary from the editor.

Poems by selected students from Suzanne's many poetry classes.