|
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Amazing
Writer Services
Collection
Here is lots
of information writers need
for
getting published, publishing on their own,
polishing their presentations
and promotion.
(Note
important self publishing tip in right column!)
|
|
|
Editing |
|
The Writers Consultancy Service
offers a wide range of
professional services, including critical appraisals,
preliminary appraisals, editing and proofreading. Please
e-mail
editor@writers-consultancy-service.com.
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, author of the Frugal Editor, edits
poetry and fiction only. Learn more on
this site.
Roto-Writer to the Rescue!
Need help rooting out those pesky problems clogging your
writing? Do you find yourself blocked by conflicting
feedback? Receive a friendly and concise critique and become
flush with saleable works! Visit
http://www.jennifer-turner.com
for details and to take advantage of Jenny's great prices.
Do
you have a wonderful story, but need a second pair of eyes
to look it over? VS Grenier will look for
grammar, spelling, setting, plot, character development, and
so much more. Critiques are designed to help us become
better writers. We all need our stories looked at by others
who have experience in the writing world.
VS Grenier was voted one of the Top Ten Editors ~Preditors &
Editors Readers Poll 2007.
To find out more about VS Grenier's critique services visit
http://vsgrenier.com/critiques.aspx
Cindy
Sherwood - Professional and affordable copyediting and
proofreading services available for all types of writing
projects. Please visit Cindy's Web site at
www.secondsetofeyes.com for
more information. Cindy is the copyeditor for Stories for
Children Magazine, www.storiesforchildrenmagazine.org
Note: If you insist--against all advice--to go the
editing-alone route,
please consider a frugal investment in
The Frugal Editor.
If you are partnering with an editor assigned by your publisher
or one you hire,
you'll still want to know as much as you can about the
process. Again,
consider
The Frugal Editor,
or at least listen to
the
free podcast
from
Yvonne Perry and me.
|
|
|
Publishers and Publishing Help
for
You to Explore |
|
4RV Publishing LLS:
Their
motto is "One on One with Authors and Artists." Find them at
http://4rvpublishingllc.com .
J. D. Vine PUblications,
www.jdvine.com
Star
Publish
features several levels of participation and some unique
promotion support features.
Publisher
is TC McMullen. Marketing Director is Janet Elaine Smith.
Jada Press is a small, independent publisher with a
focus on the author. Glenda Ivey, publisher, proudly
recommends The Frugal Book Promoter to her authors.
They also sponsor an annual contest.
Trafford offers excellent
materials to help you decide if they are the ones to publish
your book. They do quality work.
Gorham Printing
has a free e-book with some neat guidelines on publishing on
their home page. Check it (and their services) out.
A Capella
is one of the few publishers who will really customize for
the author.
Create a Kids’ Book
with a special emphasis on picture books. Also manuscript
assessments – writing-e-courses with feedback – mentoring –
workshops – free monthly bulletin. Dr Virginia Lowe and her
team will help you submit your text and/or illustrations,
brilliantly polished, to publishers. Almost forty children’s
books have been published using our services – board books
to YA novels. You can see the books and read their creators’
experiences on our Successes page at
www.createakidsbook.com.au.
Carolyn can
coach you through the self-publishing process on CreateSpace,
a model she has used for four poetry chapbooks and three
how-to books for retailers.
E-mail her at for a quote.
If
you are interested in self publishing, explore the list of
digital printers on this
site.
|
|
|
Publishing
Tip
So, what is the best way for you to publish?
Georgia Jones and I talk about that and other
writing- and promoting-related subjects. It is
in audio section for Write On, part of her Lady
Bug Live monthly magazine that features all
kinds of goodies for writers, including poetry.
Go to
http://ladybuglive.com/writeon.htm.
Find the little icon of a radio
speaker/megaphone on the right of the page for
the link. Here’s the link directly to the media
player!
http://dld.bz/ju5n.
Find at least one tip on writing, promotion or
tech on every page of this Web site.
|
|
|
|
Agents |
|
Because agents and agents' needs vary so widely, to list them
individually seems futile. It is very important that each
name be researched for a match to your title.
Publishers Marketplace is a site that Agent
Lisa Hagan (nonfiction only) recommends because, she
says, "they keep their information up to date."
You will find a list of the agents who cared enough to help me help
authors by contributing to my book The Frugal Editor
in that book. Purchase it at
Amazon. It includes their suggestions for making your
query letters truly professional.
My agent for my cross-genre humor, recipe book, book of true
love, and memoir is Terrie Wolfe at AKA Literary. Find her
at
Terrie@akaliterary.com. Tell her you found her on my
site
See an
article on one of
rarely addressed aspects of getting an agent. It's
direct from my Sharing with Writers newsletter, a Q&A a la
Ann Landers feature. |
|
|
Publicists |
|
Book Publicists
- Spreadsheets of publicists, with contacts, from Carolyn
and friends. |
|
|
Printing Resources |
|
Digital Printers
- Ready to tackle true self-publishing? Find your printing
resources here. |
|
|
Reviewers and Review Journals |
|
Reviewers -
See a full list of major review journals and review-friendly
sites, plus tips for your query process. Also see
this page.
Find an article on
how to go about getting reviews with the review query
process. |
|
|
General Writers' Services |
|
Web
for Authors is a reasonably priced Web site service for
authors owned by Marshall Turner.
“Creating exciting and dynamic Web sites for authors and speakers.”
Audios Rule! Multitaskers will want to learn more about writing
with Allyn Evans, Joyce Faulkner, Kathe Gogolewski and
Carolyn Howard-Johnson. Available n MP3 or CD ROM, they are
published by
Tri-Studio
.
Carolyn Howard-Johnson, marketing and promotion
consulting/coaching. "Careers that aren't fed die as readily
as any living organism given no sustenance."
Check my consulting page
or
send e-mail.
David Leonhardt offers a variety of services for writers
including ghost writing and editing. He "gives your business
more than just a presence."
http://www.seo-writer.net/resources/writing.html
Jill
Ronsley of
Sun Editing and Book Design offers editing, interior
book design, typesetting and cover design services to
publishers and authors for works of nonfiction, fiction and
children's writing. Also, promotional materials for authors
and their books.
Low-cost banners (animated, $15; static, $10). The
editor of MyShelf.com is flexible; tell her what you want.
Ask to see her samples.
Cynthia Brian, media coach, writer, author, speaker,
TV/radio personality, spokesperson.
BooKcard is a gift box for a gift book and greeting card
all in the same package. Please go to
www.theBookcard.net for a brief film. Offering a book
in a BooKcard gives all publishers a new dimension for
sales. It recognizes that 67% of all books sold are
purchased as GIFTS. If a buyer wants to give a book away,
then you also have a new profit center because a BooKcard
costs around $2.50 (depending on size, quantity and
complication), but sells retail for $4.95. Contact Godfrey
Harris, The Americas Group, Tel: + (1) 310 476 6374,Fax: +
(1) 310 471 3276,Mobile: + (1) 213 500 8037.
Book Display Stands for use in holding books upright on
retail counters, at book signings, exhibits, and festivals.
http://www.footprintpress.com
Need someone to lead you through the publishing process? Try to
get to Karla Olson of
BookStudio before your are published.
Success Literary Services
offers complete book manuscript services. They were honored
with twelve awards. References.
Erica Miner, award-winning
author of Travels With My Lovers, is a ghostwriter
par excellence. Professor of Medicine Sat Sharma says:
"Erica
Miner is a fine artist of the craft of writing and a master
of creating fiction. She will spin the words to bring any
story or characters to life. Her writing is spellbinding and
will keep the reader enthralled."
Her specialties are romance, mystery, and ‘based on a true
story’ concepts. She also does expert copy editing.
Write On! Creative Writing Services
by
Yvonne Perry. A variety of services and time-savers.
I use Vista Print for lots of my promotional materials. Use this
link. Be aware that shipping prices may fluctuate,
depending on the deal of the moment. Even at that, the
prices generally are good, the products they offer excellent
quality and they do short runs. (I don't advise long runs on
promotion material because your needs can change very
quickly.)
Mindy Hoffbauer is the owner of Write Angle Consulting, Inc. (www.writeangle.biz),
a small technical communications firm specializing in
technical and professional writing, online help systems,
research, web content development, and professional
communications training.
Kim Pearson is an author, ghostwriter, and the owner of Primary
Sources, dedicated to helping others become authors of
polished, professional, and compelling books and articles.
She has ghostwritten more than 30 non-fiction books and
memoirs, which tell the stories of a wide variety of people
and cover a broad range of topics, from saxophones to
finance, city histories to hypnotherapy, psychic horses to
constipation, and many points in between.
www.primary-sources.com.
Brookes Nohlgren takes your book from dream to reality.
Books by Brookes
offers full service book
production for authors and publishers. 818-783-0848.
Donna McDine has affordable publicity services for authors
including securing book reviews, media releases, creation of
media kits, setup of opt-in boxes, and social networking
pages - FB, Twitter, LinkedIn.
www.authorprservices.com - |
|
|
Event Planning |
|
Aggie Villaneuva will help you
with an online launch.
Denise Cassino is a publicist and joint venture specialist. She
specializes in raising your book to the top of the Amazon
rating list.
www.mybestsellerlaunch.com
303 838 3399
Nikki Leigh owns
Book Promo 201.
One of her services is planning blog tours.
|
|
|
Reading Group Guide Template |
|
This is the Place has a
reading
group guide
in
the backmatter. Guides like this help teachers and reading
groups study literature. By extension, they help authors and
publisher sell book. Here is that guide to help you write
the perfect one for your book. |
|
Legal |
|
Leora Krygier, author of When She Sleeps, and a lawyer in
her own right says that
California Lawyers for the Arts offers very
inexpensive legal help to writers , often for under $50.
They also offer free workshops. If anyone from other states
knows of a similar service, let me know and I will post it
on this page.
E-mail |
|
|
Free Content |
| Free
Content - Find
articles and reviews to use on your blog, journal, or
whatever. This page also is also good reading for authors
who want to know more about a variety of subjects associated
with the world of publishing. |
|
|
Illustrators,
Graphics Designers and Book Cover Designers |
Need a cartoonist to illustrate your book or perk up your
promotion materials?
Jim Whiting
to the rescue!
Lon Levin, Levinland Studio. See his work at
www.picture-book.com. His work
would be especially suitable for children's literature,
humor books and light nonfiction..
C
H
A
Z
chaz desimone specializes in logos, books, type, and
lettering.
"appreciate good design...especially god's design"
310-902-3913, Highly recommended. See my book cover for
Your Blog, Your Business for a sample of what he can do.
|
|
|
Newsletters
Help You Write, Tech or Promote Better |
|
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 A Cappela Newsletter for Writers covers everything
from writing advice and book gossip to markets and
contests. Fid the current issue onsite.
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.
A newsletter full of book reviews edited by author
Annette Gisby.
Read author interviews, market information, and more in
Writer Advice. Subscribe or to submit material for
consideration.
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.”
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, Magdalena Ball, 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 |
|
|
Sites and Blogs
Serve, Educate, and Publish |
|
Authors Den a Very Frugal Service for Writers
Extra Benefits Available
Note: This is an especially valuable site for writers who are
publishing the first time.
The article comes from my
Sharing with Writers blog.
I have been a member of Authors Den (AD) for
about eight or nine years. At first I just loved their free
(very frugal!) way for a new author to have a Web site. Then
I started using their Gold membership to publish my
newsletter.
The Frugal Book PromoterI'm
not much of a date keeper but that newsletter (It goes by
the same name as this blog--branding you know!) has been
around for some years now! I recommended it in my , of
course. And I've even partnered with Authors Den at the LA
Times/UCLA Writers' Faire. Cross promotion always has its
advantages, but it is an especially good marketing tool when
one partners with those who already have lots of contacts
and a great reputation.
The point of all this is that AD has some news. And I sure
love spreading good news--especially when it comes
from people I feel great about recommending. My AD
friend Matt Miller writes:
"The AuthorsDen Services Marketplace is Open for Business!
"AuthorsDen.com, an online literary community established in
2000, has seen the toll researching the diverse components
of the book industry has taken on writers. As a result, we
recently launched the AuthorsDen Community MarketPlace...
"The MarketPlace brings together authors and author service
providers to create a more artful product. It looks as if it
will save us authors some promotion time. Find it
http://marketplace.authorsden.com ."
I can hardly wait to try all its features. Check it
out for yourself. And while you're poking around, look at
the different membership levels. At a bare minimum sigh up
for the free level. Even if you have a Web site of your own,
all those outside links coming back to your Web site make
for very good Web site opitmizaton (SEO). And it is great
backup when your server gives you fits.Think of the
networking
opportunities among your fellow AD authors!
More Web sites and blogs for you to explore:
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 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.
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.
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 an 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
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.
Check out author Joy V. Smith's writing blog for helpful
hints and links and writing news:
http://pagadan.wordpress.com/
And for a variety of media news:
http://pagadan.livejournal.com/
Donna McDine blogs about everything regarding the
children's publishing industry.
www.donna-mcdine.blogspot.com
Find
book reviews, interviews, release announcements, and
freelance writer's workshops.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Buy Links for
Carolyn's Books
|
|
"Careers that are not fed die as readily
as any living organism
given no sustenance."
~
Carolyn Howard-Johnson
Studio photography by
Uriah Carr
Logo by
Lloyd King
All Carolyn's Frugal Books Are
Available on Kindle as well as paperback:
To
subscribe to Carolyn's FREE online newsletter send an
e-mail.
Learn more about Carolyn's
newsletter and blog.
|
|
|
|
Subscribe to
Carolyn Howard-Johnson's Free Sharing with Writers Newsletter
and get a FREE copy of
|
|
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.
|
|
|
Carolyn's Shopping Plaza |
|
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!
|
|
Your
Book Marketing Resource |
|
The Frugal Book Promoter is
one of your most valuable resources because it
is written from personal experience and gives you
the basics for promoting everything else you do--in
print, on TV or radio, or online. See an excerpt on
Fifteen
Publicity Commandments,
and excerpt from that book. |
|
Carolyn's Awards |
|
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)
and the Second Edition of The Frugal Book Promoter
(2011).
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.
MWSA also gave a nod to
She
Wore Emerald Then,
a chapbook of poetry honoring mothers.
The Frugal
Editor
Named #! on Top Ten
Editing Books list.
The Oxford Award
recognizes
the
alumna who exemplifies the Delta Gamma precept of
service to her community and who, through the years,
devotes her talents to improve the quality of life
around her.
And more than a dozen other awards for Carolyn's novel, short story collection and poetry.
See the awards page on this site.
|
|
Publishing Tip |
|
Self
publishers who want to make it easy for
librarians and bookstore personnel to
shelve their books correctly should
publish a BISAC number on their
copyright page. Find the right one for
your book
here.
Find
at least one tip on writing, promotion
or tech on every page of this Web site. |
|
Free
Content |
|
Carolyn's
Reviews for Riters
(tm)--include reviews
of her recommended books for authors. These reviews
are available for reprint at no cost. See a
partial list of all the articles at the
free content page of
this site. For more information
e-mail Carolyn. |
|
Tips for
Publishing |
Tip
So, what is the best way for you to publish? Georgia Jones and
I talk about that
and other writing
--and promoting-related
subjects--on her audio
station associated
with Write On, part
of her LadybugLive
which features all kinds of
goodies for writers,
including poetry. Find the
little icon of a radio
speaker/megaphone on the right
of the page for the link. Or
download to your computer.
there may be a bit of a wait for
the download.
Find
tips on writing, promotion or
tech on every page of this Web
site.
|
|
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.
|
|
Site
Sponsor |
|
MaAnna
Stephenson offers training, design, and site
consultation for non-geeks. She specializes in helping
artistic, creative, and intuitive folks with WordPress, Blogger, and RSS feeds. Yep, books, too!
http://www.blogaid.net.
|
|
Time
to Kindle |
|
The Frugal Book Promoter Is
Available for Kindle. Buy Your Kindle Reader Here:
|
|
|
Advertising |
|
Terry
Whalin will help you get on the right track. He and I met
while speaking at a writers' conference. I loved what he had
to say, bought his book on writing proposals by for my
husband and highly recommend his advice. He says:
"'You should write a book.' "'Some day I'm going to
write a book.'
"Over 80% of people plan to write a book and more than six million of
them have already written a manuscript. Admittedly there are dozens of
companies who will take your money and publish your book. How do you get
a book publisher to pay you for your book?
"Former book acquisitions editor Terry Whalin says editors and
publishers don't read manuscripts. They read book proposals. In
BOOK PROPOSALS THAT SELL, 21 SECRETS TO SPEED YOUR SUCCESS, you
learn the inside scoop to achieve your dreams."
|
|
Advertising |
|
Specializing in
Virtual Blog Tours
for Children's Books
From V.S. Grenier
"Services for authors run by
authors who understand their needs
are unfailingly the most effective. V.S.Grenier is the
leader
in services for children's literature."
~Carolyn Howard-Johnson |
|
