Monday, April 14, 2014

I Need YOUR Help!

Hey, guys! To celebrate my third blogiversary (coming up in May), I want to do something different—something to pay it forward—but I need your help. It involves a blogfest, new writers, and pretend time travel. Intrigued yet?

I want to compile a free e-book for writers who are just starting on their road to publication, using advice from the most brilliant, up-and-coming voices in the industry: you guys! Here’s what it would involve:

THE PROMPT: 

Please write a letter/note to yourself when you first started writing toward publication. The only thing I ask is that you keep it under 800 words, including as many (or as few) of these elements as you like:

   - A lesson you learned the hard way
   - Something you didn’t expect about the industry (positive/negative)
   - A writing-related resource you could never do without now
   - One thing you’d change about your journey
   - One thing you’re glad you did
   - Your number one tip for pursuing publication
   - Anything else you feel is worth passing on

INFORMATION: 

   - The name you wish to be credited as
   - The title (if any) you wish to follow your name, i.e. author of the series
   - One major link where people can find you, i.e. website, blog, Twitter, etc.

PLEASE INCLUDE:

   - Whether or not you give me permission to use your entry in the e-book compilation. Don’t feel bad if you don’t want in. We’d still love to read what you have to say!

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Please note: I won’t be editing the entries, other than to proofread for misspellings or duplicate words. Try to have it pub-ready when you post it. :)

    **UPDATE**    

The lovey and talented PK Hrezo is going to be joining me as co-compiler! As it turns out, she had a similar idea awhile back, but didn't have time to plan it out. I took it as a great opportunity to work together!  

 

Anticipated FAQs


Q: Do I have to be published in order to participate?
A: It may be easier to answer the questions if you’ve been published (either independently or traditionally), but it’s certainly not a requirement. We’re just looking for friends with experience navigating the authorial waters. You do not have to be published.

Q: Do I need a blog to participate?
A: No, you do not need a blog to participate. Feel free to e-mail me your letter directly or post it via a social media like Facebook or Google+.

Q: How will the book be available?
A: I will format it in PDF, MOBI, and EPUB, and then I’ll make those files available for us all to share. If you guys want, I could also make it a free EPUB on Smashwords, and then distribute it to a few other retailers that accept free titles.

Q: When should I post my letter?
A: Anytime during the week of May 19th!

Q: What can I do in the meantime?
A: Kindly spread the word! You can do this by posting, utilizing your social media channels, rocking the button in your sidebar with a link to this post, etc. Also, I'd really appreciate it if you used the link-up below to sign up. It will help me compile everyone's posts the week of May 19th. I would hate to miss anyone!

Thank you so much! ♥




95 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

That's a cool idea!
Do we have to post it or can we just send it to you?
Thanks for providing enough time. Can't even think about writing anything else right now with the Challenge in full swing.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Such an awesome idea. I'm not published yet and going through a lot personally, so I'll let others help you out here.

Liz Blocker said...

Fantastic idea! I'm also very grateful that it's not til May 19th - my brain is on short-circuit with the challenge right now. But, I LOVE THIS, and although I'm not published, I would love to join in!

Liz Blocker said...

Oh, the link I gave won't exist til May 21st - hope that's OK!!

Nick Wilford said...

This is such a great idea. I'd love to help even though I'm not published (except my anthology). I can already answer a couple of the questions though!

ilima said...

Such a great idea!

Kyra Lennon said...

Brilliant idea, Carrie! I'm in!

Elizabeth Seckman said...

You always come up with the very best ideas!!!

Donna K. Weaver said...

Such a cool idea! You rock, Carrie.

I finished Courage. We need to talk. ;)

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Alex! You can absolutely send it to me without posting. No problems there.

You're welcome! That was my main consideration in making it late-May. I knew all of you A-Zers would be pretty worn out. ;)

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Natalie. I completely understand there. In fact, if there's anything you need help with, please let me know. I'd be happy to pitch in however possible.

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Liz! That's absolutely okay. This is the first time I've used this particular linky, so I'm not even sure what all it asks... LOL

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Nick! We welcome your opinion, most definitely. You have a lot to offer people. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Ilima! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Yay! Thank you, Kyra. <3

Carrie Butler said...

D'aww... thanks, Elizabeth! :D

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Donna! :)

Uh oh... *gulp*

Melissa said...

This is an awesome idea. I'm in! :D

Unknown said...

Very cool! I'll do it and help spread the word. :)

JustSarah said...

I'd so love this, though I'm not yet published (either self or trade.)

Carrie Butler said...

That's okay. We'd love to hear things from your perspective! :)

Carrie Butler said...

I appreciate it, Mr. Wesley! :D

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Melissa! :)

Unknown said...

At first, I thought, "Why wouldn't she invite me?"

Then I saw, "keep it under 750 words".

Bwah! Ha, ha, ha, ha!

Unknown said...

I'm in! Xoxo
PS - genius!

JustSarah said...

That's a relief, I struggle with anything over 500 words. (I'm having to work out of writing flash fiction.)

S. J. Pajonas (spajonas) said...

Great idea! Count me in!

JustSarah said...

That picture didn't turn out like I expected. But linked up. (I meant to have a picture of my glasses.)

JustSarah said...

Is it OK if I mention more than one story, if I wrote more than one?

Carrie Butler said...

I'm glad to have you linked up! :) Sorry about the picture thing. It seems to be some weird quirk of the link widget.

Carrie Butler said...

Sure! I just phrased it that way to keep it from becoming a huge biography or a massive listing—you know how wordy our kind can be. LOL

Carrie Butler said...

1. You are invited!

2. You can't describe what you had for breakfast in under 750 words. :P

Carrie Butler said...

Chalk one more up to peer pressure!

I mean... thank you. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Don't sweat it! There's no minimum, and the 750-word limit is just there to keep things semi-consistent. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Yay! Thanks, Steph. :D

Heather M. Gardner said...

Carrie, that is a wonderful way to give back and pay it forward all at the same time. I hope I can come up with something that will help stubborn people like myself understand this crazy industry!
Heather

Loni Townsend said...

Fantastic Idea! I'm in!

Sherry Ellis said...

Great idea! I'm in, too!

Tyrean Martinson said...

Very cool idea! I'm in, too!

cleemckenzie said...

Packed my bags. Calendar. Alarm clock. Jammies. Ready

Clare said...

Excellent idea, Carrie! I'm in, and will promote on my blog too. :D

Tammy Theriault said...

heck ya I will! remember how I said well I haven't been published? I take that back, I just haven't been "book" published. I mean, I did playboy, hustler...jk jk!!! I've done other things :) with you, chibs, and jax...

David T List said...

Procrastination from my current work in progress? I'm totally there!

Sheena-kay Graham said...

This sounds like a great way for writers to share their experiences and help others.

Unknown said...

Lovely idea for a writer's community.

Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2014, My Latest post

Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Signed up from PK's site! Great idea.

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hey, Carrie! How are you?

This is such an AMAZING idea!!!! Of course I signed up! You and PK are tops with me!

Catherine Stine said...

Carrie, I signed up. What a great idea! One question, I want to change my thumbnail image and I can't figure out how to do that! Ack.

shelly said...

I'm in.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

Sounds fabulous!!

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Catherine! :)

Hmm, I'm not sure either. This is the first time I've used it. I shall investigate!

Carrie Butler said...

Yay! Thanks, Shelly. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Lynda! :D

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Heather! I'm sure anything you come up with will be more than helpful. We're all a little stubborn! ;)

Carrie Butler said...

Yay! Thanks, Loni. :D

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Sherry! We appreciate it. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thanks, Tyrean! We're happy to have you. :D

Carrie Butler said...

Now that is what I call preparation! :D Thanks, Lee!

Carrie Butler said...

We really appreciate it, Clare! Thank you. :)

Carrie Butler said...

LOL Other, equally documented things...

Carrie Butler said...

Go Team Procrastination! *high five*

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Sheena-kay. :)

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Damyanti! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Awesome! We're happy to have you. :D

Carrie Butler said...

Hey, Michael! Not too shabby. I'm saving up to rescue a shelter pup. :D

Thank you so much, my friend!

debi o'neille said...

Great idea. It sounds like fun, and you give us enough time to rest up from the A to Z before we start. I'm glad to be following your blog. Thanks.
Deb@ http://debioneille.blogspot.com

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Deb! I'm so happy to have your help with this. :D

Misha Gerrick said...

Awesome idea. Count me in. :-D

Austen Sharp said...

A wonderful way to pay it forward and I'm happy to participate!

Eleyne-Mari @ http://www.writelighter.com/#!blog/cm4o

Denise Covey said...

I saw it at Pk's blog. I'm in.

Annalisa Crawford said...

This is a great idea, I'm in :-)

Carrie Butler said...

Yay! Thank you, Misha! :)

Carrie Butler said...

That makes me so happy! Thank you, Eleyne. :D

Carrie Butler said...

Woohoo! That's wonderful. :D Thanks, Denise!

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you very much, Annalisa! :)

JustSarah said...

I thought it was March 19th, got confused there for a minute. OK my birthday month.

Carrie Butler said...

Happy (early) Birthday! :)

Ellie Garratt said...

What an awesome idea. I'm signed up!

Unknown said...

What a lovely idea. I'm not published yet but I can definitely answer some of your questions since I hope my book will be out this year. Drusilla (http://lovedasif.com/)

Carrie Butler said...

Aww, thanks, Ellie! I appreciate it. :D

Carrie Butler said...

We would love to have you, Drusilla! :D

Unknown said...

Carrie,
Would you like us to send you our posts via email ahead of time or would you rather collect them from our blog posts? I want to make this as easy for you as possible. Thank you for pulling this together.
Elizabeth Hein - Scribbling in the Storage Room

Carrie Butler said...

Hi Elizabeth!

Feel free to do whichever you prefer. I just ask that if you do post on your blog, you sign up via the linky or let me know some other way so I can find it. :)

Thank you so much for your help in this!

Theresa Milstein said...

I put my post up early, but I wonder put any other new posts for about 2 weeks.

Carrie-Anne said...

Is it okay if I write this letter to several different past selves, at different points of the writing journey?

ELAdams said...

It looks like the linkup's closed. I've been away from home and completely forgot to sign up, but I do have a post! Can I still take part?

Carrie Butler said...

Yes! :)

Carrie Butler said...

Sorry about that, Emma! The link-up tool automatically closes after a month (free version). I just extended it. :)

Carrie Butler said...

That works for me! Thanks, Theresa. :D

Stephanie Faris said...

I'm IN! I've read enough of these in the past 2 hours alone to convince me. Mine will be Friday--I blog M, W, and F to make sure each blog gets lots of views and I already committed to something for Wednesday.

Carrie Butler said...

Sounds great to me, Stephanie! We'd be happy to have you. :D

Anonymous said...

Great blogfest. Thank you and PK for hosting. I posted mine today.

Carrie Butler said...

Thank you, Medeia! I can't wait to read your letter. :D

Anonymous said...

Great Idea! Thanks for this initiative. I've just posted and linked. Writing my letter has made me think about all the people who have helped me in these last months leading up to publishing my first novel. I couldn't have done it without them. They're a great plus I've gained from the process of becoming an author. I would never have imagined I'd be part of such a supportive group of people. My post is called Creative Altruism. Hope you all like it! I'm enjoying reading the other posts (gradually... there are quite a few!)

Carrie Butler said...

Oh, fantastic! We're so happy to have your help with this, Luccia.

That was a great side benefit for me, too. It really made me stop and think about everything I've overcome in the past few years and how my friends have helped me. :)