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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)
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Free Content
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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. |
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Story Ideas
for the Media |
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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
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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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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.
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Sites and Blogs
That Serve, Educate and Publish |
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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.
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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. |
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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! |
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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
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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! Get
complete, step-by-step help for building your own media kit
in the multi award-winning
Frugal Book Promoter. |
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Buy Links for
Carolyn's Books
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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
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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
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.
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Frugal
E-Book Tip |
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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.
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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 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. |
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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."
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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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Website Sponsor |
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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. |
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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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A
Selection of Carolyn's Past
Speaking Engagements |
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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. |
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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
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.
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Proud to be Instrumental in
Helping Other Poets |
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Poetry Mystique: A modern
text edited by Suzanne Lummis with commentary from the
editor.
Poems by selected students from Suzanne's
many poetry classes.
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