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Eight FUN ways to help save libraries

Filed under: I write, Meeting Authors, SCBWI by margocole — 8 Comments
May 26, 2010

The Evanston Public Library Friends have outdone themselves.

They’ve put a killer collection of goodies up for grabs in an “Armchair Auction,” up until next Wednesday, June 2. It marks their biggest fundraising effort yet to keep Evanston’s two branch libraries open. (For background info, see “Dystopia Hitting Libraries Too Soon” and “Libraries Holding.”)

Here are eight of my favorites on the Armchair Auction site!:

  • From Adam Selzer: One in-person, 60- to 90-minute group walking tour of the ghostlier parts of Chicago (for up to eight)
  • James Kennedy: Two spots in his version of a buzzworthy (but pricey) auction item: Dinner with Audrey Niffenegger. In his unique take, James pledges to out-Niffenegger Niffenegger. More hilarity and literarity for your buck. (Yeah, I just made up that word.)
  • Claire Zulkey: A signed copy of her book, AN OFF YEAR
  • Jodi MacArthur: Become a character in Jodi’s next creepy short story. Sweet.
  • Beverly Patt: A signed copy of BEST FRIENDS FOREVER: A WWII SCRAPBOOK, plus an author visit to your school, scout trip, or book club!

And, especially for writers:

  • From Cynthea Liu: A 60-minute phone discussion with the children’s author, covering up to 2500 words of your work and your questions on the field
  • Trina Sotira: One MuseWrite “Writer’s Repair Kit” gift certificate, good for either a 30-page critique or toward a MuseWrite seminar
  • Karen Schindler: One two-hour editing package for a story of up to 3,000 words

To view an item, just search the author’s name (“MuseWrite” in Trina’s case) on the Armchair Auction site. Of course, the auction includes much more, in 30 categories – from Memorabilia to Health & Fitness to Event Tickets. Find something you like, bid now, and bid often!

The libraries need YOU.
Would you like to donate an item to the auction?
Just buzz me back or leave a comment and I’ll hook you up. Bidding goes for another whole week, so please please don’t be shy!

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Undead Poets Society

Filed under: I write by margocole — 5 Comments
May 12, 2010

My friend Tim Keeton approached me last month to become a part of a niche-worthy, if not elite, group of writers: The Undead Poets Society. (You’ll see my badge of charter membership along the right column of this page.)

My first post was a 2005 vintage, a poem called “Daylight Savings Haiku.”

My second contribution is a sensuous take on vampirehood:

Hunger

Slow at first
At first,
Measured
With/by/for
Muscle.

Get that taste
That taste,
Over
And over,
And over and over.

It is life
Your life, now
And ever.

Some have pointed out that this doesn’t necessarily “scream” vampires. Sure! Opportunity for different interpretations is one of the many beauties of abstraction…

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Library-love Updates

Filed under: I write, Otherwise by margocole — 8 Comments
May 10, 2010

Progress.

Some time has passed since the “I Love Libraries” blog challenge, and I must share the results!

This year, Jennifer Hubbard’s brainchild raised over $5,300 in cash plus $300 in books, from among 40+ blogger participants like myself. She updated her blog in three (three!) parts: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3. As for my personal comment/donation total: I saw your $128 and rounded up to $150, and recently mailed the check to Evanston Public Library Friends. ¡Excelente! Thanks, readers and commenters! (Unfortunately, I did not hear back from Jeremy Piven’s verified account on Twitter. Having spent his formative years in Evanston, I figured he’d be game for at least a reply tweet – but I got nothing. Evanstonians, unite!)

On that note: Evanston Public Library Friends have been fundraising to keep their branch libraries open, and they’re well on their way to a six-month, $200,000 goal. This $200K will fund the existing branch libraries through the end of the fiscal year, including South Branch rent for the next fiscal year. It will also expand neighborhood outreach, including a newly board-approved reading program in west Evanston.

Coming up is EPLF’s biggest fundraising effort yet.

Evanston Public Library Friends’ Armchair Auction
Kicking off this Saturday, May 15, online.
Bid until Wednesday, June 2, from the comfort of your internet connection.

You don’t have to live in Evanston to appreciate these prizes. You can even browse the drool-worthy selections NOW before the fun begins!
You’ll find:

  • Dinner with best-selling author, Evanston native Audrey Niffenegger
  • Autographed copies of Evanston author Scott Turow’s best-sellers
  • Sox, Bears, Blackhawks tickets
  • Artwork
  • Jewelry
  • Spa treatments
  • Vacation getaways

These fantastic prizes (and more) go live May 15th through June 2 on www.eplfriendsauction.org.

Do NOT miss this fun, genius way to help support libraries and literacy.

If you’d like to donate an item for auction, please visit www.eplfriendsauction.org or email auction@eplfriends.org.

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Authors: It’s not branding, it’s fun

Filed under: I work, I write, Meeting Authors, SCBWI by margocole — 5 Comments
April 24, 2010

This morning, I attended an author talk at Story Studio on “Shameless Promotion: How to Market Your Writing.” Representing the shameless were Claire Zulkey (author of An Off Year, writer for The Onion A.V. Club and L.A. Times); Johanna Stein (TV writer, essayist of the daringly hilarious and hilariously daring); and James Kennedy (author of The Order of Odd-Fish, friend, and blog usurper). I treated the talk as a kick-off for my day of manuscript-revising. (Operative word: “kick”; as in, “in the ass”; as in, “You’re so close. Get in there, girl!”) But, I also felt it was worth a quick blog.

As a digital marketing biz person (I’m a Copywriter for Critical Mass), I’m always curious to spy the natural intersections of art and communication, affinity and promotion. I’m a nerd; I like this branding stuff. It’s the side of the pool from which I push off regularly, into my personal fiction work.

As they answered questions, the authors’ drastically different backgrounds informed, you guessed it, drastically different answers. They seemed to strive for bite-sized distillations of career advice for their hungry-writer audience – and a theme emerged: I recognized an opportunity, took it, and had fun with it, fueling others’ excitement about my work. With this attitude, the worst-case scenario is you having fun. Not too shabby.

If something fascinates you, pursue it. Claire Zulkey interviewed James Frey pre-memoir scandal, which led to a little call from Anderson Cooper. James Kennedy made an indelible mark with the ALA in a way both silly and relevant, and connected with Odd-Fish fans to curate and cultivate an equally enduring fan-art event. Johanna Stein shied not from human nature, sharing her cringe-worthiest experiences to create some of the most memorable humor available in print.

I like to think of Anne Lamott’s one-inch picture frame from Bird by Bird, which breaks a goal down into more manageable parts. In fact, “branding” is an intimidating, heart-palpitating word. So, forget it. Instead, keep an eye out for fun as you go, in the name of connecting with someone who gets you and your work. Look for relevant opportunities of any size that trigger your fun-meter. If something speaks to you, your genuine excitement will speak to potential friends and fans.

Sassy magazine was right – just be yourself.

So, did my theory work? If you enjoyed this post, leave a comment below. Sharing is caring.

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