....Found in my mailbox so this comes to you with a HT [initialism for "Hat Tip" among professionals!] to both Winning Writers and Ingram Spark. This course seems to be available to any writer looking to start a new publishing career or learn even more about the one they’re already knee-deep in! Yes, I borrowed it. [That “HT” might also mean “Heard Through.” I haven’t taken the course myself, but if you do, I’d welcome a review to post on my The New Book Review blog, with your byline and a nice creditline and links about your own books or current author-related project! Find the submission guidelines in the tags near the top of the home page at https://thenewbookreview.blogspot.com.
Your SharingwithWriters blogger, Carolyn
MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER
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. 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 it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile and/or join her Facebook Group under ‘Carolyn Howard-Johnson.” It’s new!
And feel free to share this blog post using this permalink at https://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2026/04/just-starting-need-to-brush-up-for-new.html .
YOUR NAME: Lois W. Stern
YOUR CREDENTIALS:: Author, Editor, Publisher
TITLE(S) OF BOOK(S) YOU SUCCESSFULLY MARKETED: Tales2Inspire ~ The Jewel Collection (Emerald, Topaz, Ruby, Sapphire, Pearl, Opal, Crystal, Garnet, Jade, Moonstone 1, Moonstone 2, Agate); Tales2Inspire ~ The Diamond Collections - Series I, II, III, IV, V, VI)
MARKETING TIP ITSELF, of course! Since each of my twelve Jewel Colletion books is named for a different gemstone, (with a little nudge from Carolyn), I came up with the idea of timing the marketing of each book to the Zodiac gemstone of that time span. Lucky you! You can now order the paper edition of any Jewel Collection book for that special person in your life for only $10 (US shipping and handling included). But you must time the order of any Jewel Collection book to match that astrological time period. Just check out my handy-dancy Zodiac chart, below, and pick out one of the titles based on the gemstone representing the birthdate of somone special in your life.
The miniature Zodiac chart below is a way to mark the birthdates of all the special people in your life. For example, if your sister was born under the sign of Aries, you could have ordered the Ruby Collection book (Gifts of Compassion), paperback edition for $10, or a free ebook of the same title if I received your order between March 21 an April 19th.
SIGN UP HERE: Stay informed of Tales2Inspire Freebies and Specials.
IMAGES:
And I created a Jotform for FREE so viewers can place hassle free orders. CLICK HERE to see how that works.
Save this gem chart to record the birthdays of all the favorite people in your life.
BRIGHT IDEA
The Zodiac works perfectly for my Tales2Inspire books, but now it's your turn. Try to think of a gimmick that works for your books. How about National Pickle Day for a book about pickles, or National Friendship Day for a book to present to a good friend? Anyone have a calendar of celebrations? If so, how about writig an article to share on Sharing With Writers?
ABOUT ME, THE MARKETING GURU: I am an Associate & Review Coordinator for TheNewBookReview. But another hat that I wear is that of creator of Tales2Inspire®, an Authors Helping Authors project/contest, to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. And best of all, it’s Free. I have now published twelve Tales2Inspire® treasured Tales2Inspire Jewel Collection anthologies (as well as six Tales2Inspire 2-in-1 Diamond Collection anthologies). I am a multi award winning author whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As TheNewBookReview review coordinator, I serve as an outreach to help other authors brand themselves as authors of talent.
Get a FREE Tales2Inspire book at: www.tales2inspire.com/gifts
Visit my Tales2Inspire blog HERE.
For some lively conversation, join me on my Facebook page HERE.
MY FAVE LINKS: https://www.tales2Inspire.com/; https://www.Facebook.com/tales2Inspire/; https://www.amazon.com/tales2inspire/; https://author.amazon.com/home https://www.amazon.com/s?k=tales2inspire&i=stripbooks&crid=3SKYL8WCNMZF8&sprefix=tales2inspire%2Cstripbooks%2C307&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 ;
MY E-MAIL ADDRESS: tales2Inspire2@gmail.com Do you want this email to be included with your marketing tip? X Yes ___ NO
Lois W. Stern, TheNewBookReview Associate and Facilitator, is the founder, editor and contributor to Tales2Inspire, an authors helping authors project to help aspiring writers on their paths to discovery. As such, she has now published twelve award winning Tales2Inspire® treasured gem collection anthologies of her contest winners' stories, republished in her double 2 for 1 Diamond Collection books. If you would like to participate in this No Fee contest, CLICK HERE for all details. Lois is a multi award winning author herself, whose work has been featured in the New York Times, Newsday, Long Island Press, Barnard Magazine, on Local Access TV and in live presentations in varied venues. As TheNewBookReview review coordinator, Lois serves as an outreach to help other authors brand themselves as authors of talent.
CLICK HERE to get a FREE Tales2Inspire book with six of those award winning stories.
Join me on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/tales2inspire
MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER
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. 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 it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.
Contributed by children's writer Karen Cioffi Characters take shape from the simplest clues.
Maybe you first reference the character as the boy or a tall girl. Even with those simple words, you've given that character life.
Before that, there wasn't a boy or a tall girl.
BELOW ARE 5 DOS AND DON'Ts FOR CRAFTING CHARACTERS
1. Don't over-dump physical details.
While it’s important to bring your characters to life through description, it’s best to limit including too many details. In other words, avoid over-dumping physical details.
An example of this might be Raul. A tall and thin twelve-year-old with green eyes, dark brown hair, and a swimmer's body.
While you won't be able to write all his details in one scene, and you shouldn’t even try.
However, there are techniques to convey physical characteristics without overdumping.
To convey his height:
-The boys took turns hurling the paper airplane through the air until it got stuck in the branch of a tree. “You get it, Raul. You’re tall,” said Shawn.
To convey his hair color:
-From the back, Mrs. Stenzer couldn't tell which boy was Raul. They all had dark brown hair.
To convey his body type:
-Raul was the only new kid on the swimming team who already had a swimmer's body.
2. Avoid being too vague.
While you shouldn’t convey every detail of a character, you can provide enough to give the reader an idea of the character's physical attributes. The reader can then fill in the details.
Two examples of this might be:
-His neat cut in the back and sides contrasted with the long hair in front that fell below his brows.
-He stretched his swimmer's body and then raced into the ocean.
3. Include the character's environment.
A character may live in an apartment in a low-income building. Another may live in the backwoods of the Appalachian Mountains. All this will give insight into the character.
Or the character may live in a penthouse on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Or the character may live in Saipan.
The character's environment can also include his past environment.
I ghostwrote a book in which one of the characters went from a wealthy lifestyle to a poor one. This could tell a lot about why the character behaved in a certain way or why she was depressed.
4. Include the character's close relationships.
How your character engages with the different people in his family, friends, and new people will show different facets of his character.
The friends he associates with will also reveal some of his tendencies and character. The expression 'birds of a feather flock together' can play a factor in the character's personality.
5. Include appearance and even sundry items.
How you describe your character's appearance can tell a lot about that character.
-Are his clothes neat and ironed, with his shirt tucked inside his pants?
-Is he unkempt? Are his clothes wrinkled, with his shirt partially tucked in, or not?
-What about her hair? Is it a mess? Does it look dirty? Or is it well-groomed?
-Is his hair short or long? Is it well-kept?
-What does she keep in her backpack?
-Does she always chew gum?
-Does he always use breath mints?
The list can go on and on.
These are just five tips on how to use description to bring your characters to life and enhance your readers' view of your characters. There are others, but this should give you a solid foundation for creating engaging characters.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Karen Cioffi is an award-winning children’s author, ghostwriter, rewriter, and coach with clients worldwide. For more tips on writing for children or if you need help with your children’s story, please visit Karen Cioffi Writing for Children. While there, you can check out Karen’s books. And don’t forget to CONNECT with Karen.
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A feature in the right column of this blog lets you subscribe to #SharingwithWriters so you don’t miss any of Karen’s posts on writing for children. ----- MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER
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. 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 it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile.
I am so glad to be able to share this first for the industry, share it with my visitors and subscribers here on my #SharingwithWriters blog. It’s a free copy of Theresa Tennyson’s “Five Years,” a super important book for our world in these days. But due to technical problems, you must click to get it NOW! Scroll for the review and the download icon. https://sharingwithwriters.blogspot.com/2026/03/winningwriters-announces-new-first-ever.html
And all my author friends will want to make note of the other offer that expires July 1 online or by mail, and look at that grand prize! Put it on your calendar to submit before this deadline. Happy writing in 2026 for sure. Your SharingwithWriters blogger!
Now through March 19, you can download the Amazon Kindle edition of our latest grand prize book for free. See below for details! |
$23,500 in Prizes | Final Judge: Jendi Reiter |
Submit your self-published or hybrid-published book to this year's North Street contest from Winning Writers. The grand prize winner will receive $10,000. Choose from nine categories: • Mainstream/Literary Fiction • Genre Fiction • Creative Nonfiction & Memoir • Inspirational/Self-Help (new!) • Poetry • Children’s Picture Book • Middle Grade • Graphic Novel & Memoir • Art Book $23,500 in cash will be awarded in all, and the top ten winners will receive additional benefits to help market their books. Books published on all self-publishing and hybrid-publishing platforms are eligible. Any year of publication is eligible. Entry fee: $95 per book, with free gifts for everyone who enters.
All entrants who submit online can choose to receive a brief commentary from one of the judges (5-10 sentences) at no extra charge. |
Prefer to enter the North Street competition by mail? |
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| You may mail your entry and $95 fee to Winning Writers, Attn: North Street Book Prize, 351 Pleasant Street Suite B PMB 222, Northampton, MA 01060-3998, USA. Please postmark your entry by July 1. 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 $10 for postage and handling. |
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Elise never asked to shepherd her small town through the apocalypse. Yet here she is, the senior leader of a tiny New England town two years into humanity’s five-year death sentence. Amid dwindling rations and supplies, her job is to lead Middlewich through its last days in relative peace. But she faces a new menace in the form of political challenger Grant Greene, an authoritarian whose radical new ration distribution proposal threatens to plunge half of Middlewich into early starvation. Adding pressure to the situation is the shocking reemergence of a critical resource. Middlewich has successfully walled itself off from the outside world, but is it ready to battle the enemy within while saving the human race? From the North Street critique by Jendi Reiter "I felt the scale of this story was exactly right, which elevated it over other speculative fiction in the contest. The worldwide catastrophe affects every aspect of the characters' lives, but the focus remains tightly on this small town that the reader has come to care about. We don't need to see the chaos and suffering outside Middlewich's walls because we feel it pushing in on their fragile boundaries at every turn. The characters are well aware that their choices are a microcosm of the human condition, a final verdict on whether humanity can and should survive. The story's central dilemma is also refreshingly different from most climate apocalypse fiction—not whether but how we choose to die." |
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MORE ABOUT THE BLOGGER
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. 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 it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. 
I just had to share with my #SharingwithWriters blog visitors and subscribers because it reaffirms my persistence about shouting out the importance of using blurbs liberally in the our book promotion! Adam Cohen, one of the gurus along with Jendi Reiter sent me a message sent by a winner of WinningWriters.com’s 2025 #North Street Book Prize:
For the partnership consulting I did with WinningWriters.com’s team of experts who won an assortment of book marketing as part of their prize: “"Cannot say enough good things about North Street Book Prize! Thrilled, of course, to receive the cash award. But more important are the fabulous and talented people behind the award. So many of them, Adam, Jendi, Annie along with Carolyn and Laura have reached out to me and provided valuable critique, promotion support, or helpful guidance. I did not expect the personal warmth and human touch—an increasingly rare occurrence in our fraying, detached, and botified world. Won me over!"
—Ben Stubenberg, 2025 North Street first prize for Creative Nonfiction & Memoir Category
Of course it makes me proud to be part of that team, but it also keep me connected with new talent in our industry. Ben’s “Jamaican Bobsled Captain” is a book made for everyone who loves sports and loves travel as well. Here’s a big public thank you to Ben Stubenberg and WinningWriters, too. Oh, yeah, this also reaffirms my belief that a book review or a beautiful blurb is the most welcome gift anyone can give as a thank you that stays alive and remembered for a very long time.
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This badge was a gift from #GeneCartwright,
award-winning author, author advocate, and
expert in film acquisitions.
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. 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 it to get news on her new releases directly from Amazon at https://bit.ly/CarolynsAmznProfile. More Recent Articles
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