Saturday, August 30, 2008

The Blog Book

Pin It As you know, we're trying to put put together a book to benefit the NieNie fund, written by bloggers.

All proceeds from the book will go to the NieNie fund. We'll be self-publishing it through Lulu. (This is a no-upfront-fee internet publishing site that will take a small portion of the price per published book as their fee.) We'll also be offering it as an eBook, for those who want ALL of the proceeds to go to NieNie and who don't care about holding a book in their hand. The working title is "Sometimes Life is Funny."

So now - we need content! If you've always wanted to see your name in an actual book, here's your chance. I'd love to have you submit a post-length essay. The goal of the book is to make people smile - so everything from mildly amusing to laugh out loud funny is needed. Your essay can be about anything - a day in the life, parenting, marriage, dating, growing up, work - anything. We want everything from laugh out loud funny to things that just make you smile. We'd prefer new, unposted stuff, but we're flexible.

Here are the rules:
  • You must have a blog where you are currently, actively posting
  • It must be amusing on some level
  • You can submit using your blog name or your real name
  • It can't be something you've previously published, other than on your blog
  • It must be under 1500 words- ish
  • You MUST publicize the book and the contest on your own blog, and if you make it into the book, you must buy it
  • You must link back to this post AND the NieNie recovery site (http://www.nierecovery.com/) in order to spread the word about both (By the way, we need a button/graphic to use for the contest - if anyone wants to volunteer to make one, I'd be grateful.)
The deadline for submissions is September 30th, 2008. You can send your submission to us at sometimeslifeisfunny at gmail dot com. You don't have to be a mom, a woman or a mormon to submit. If you've ever written something funny, we want you.

If you've already emailed me or left a comment about it, thank you. If you're not sure if you are funny enough - don't worry! All kinds of things are funny. Just take a shot and submit. I can't wait to see what you all come up with.

32 comments:

  1. As you know, I am so in. Will begin advertising this on my blog soonly.

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  2. Sue, this is a great idea. I'm not in a financial position right now to buy things on auctions, I don't advertise on my blog for revenue I could donate, but I can do this. And I will totally add some kind of advertising for this book (e and real) as soon as it comes out. Expect an entry from me soon.

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  3. You answered my questions!!!

    (thanks)

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  4. I hope I can help. I know you don't know who I am but I've been reading your blog and I would like to help in some way. Sometimes I'm funny... sometimes I'm not. I'll see what I can do.

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  5. Anonymous11:41 AM

    Let's pray this storm away!

    8.30.08 10:15 a.m.

    My longest time BFF is getting married today.

    A good friend is someone you can call to bail you out of jail at 2 o'clock in the morning ...

    A GREAT friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn, that was fun!"

    I love you for always "sitting next to me."
    -----------------------------------------






    Here we go again!

    Woo! Hoo!

    Mr. Gustav is apparently coming - fast and furious.

    "Strong Category 3 - rapidly becoming a dangerous storm," (uh, der, like Cat 3 isn't dangerous enough) possibly a Category 4.

    LSU's first home game in Tiger Statium as I blog. Beautiful day - 90 degrees in the stands. Game being played at 10:00 a.m. (as opposed to - after the wedding - at 4:00 p.m.) in order to give people time to "get the heck out of Dodge")

    "New Orleans preparing for evacuation. Rapidly intensified overnight - 32 mb drop in pressure." Predicted landfall, Tuesday 2 a.m.

    I believe He is Who He says He Is and I believe He can do what He wants to do and that He loves us - so, what-a-ya say? Let's pray this storm away - I know we can't tell Him what to do but we sure can ask Him - He is still our Papa and is most particularly fond of us. (I've seen it happen before in the Great State of Louisiana.

    11:20 LSU 23

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  6. This has nothing to do with the book but I need to ask you a question. I was looking through some of the blogs on Mormon Mommy Blogs a couple of weeks ago and came across one that was posting once a week on how to put together a 3 months supply of food. Problem is, I can't find it again! Do you know which blog this is on? Thanks for the help.

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  7. Can we vote on some of your funny posts that will go in the book?

    I love ghetto pinata and Why my kids will need therapy.

    So, so funny!

    I would love to put a button for it on my blog!

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  8. I've been a lurker/stalker of your blog. This seems a worthy cause. This may sound stupid but I have to ask because I'm not sure: Are you looking for submissions that are all "words" or do you accept posts with photos and/or videos/music embedded?

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  9. Christy - I'm sorry - I'm not sure... I will post your question on MMB though - see if anyone knows...

    a.men - you're awesome - and I think we will have a button soon! I'm going to try to write all new stuff for the book.

    grumpyangel - the posts need to be all text - lulu charges extra for pictures, and we can't print video in a book :>

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  10. Anonymous10:15 PM

    I so want to do this. I found NieNie through you and have been sending good thoughts and prayers all the way from Western Pa.
    My blog doesn't get many views, hits, or looks, except my two kids, a few friends and me checking to see how I'm doing...is about it. But, maybe since it's in Pa, the word can spread from this side of the country.
    I will do whatever it takes to help out. This is a great idea.

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  11. I think I might be funny enough count me in. I will try to come up with something funny and worth of NieNie by 9/15.

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  12. Fantastic. I've submitted and I've linked.
    Here's the link:

    http://asouthernfairytale.blogspot.com/2008/09/monkey-see-monkey-spoiled.html

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  13. I'm in. I'll get a post up today. Thanks for doing this - it's a great idea!

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  14. Can't wait to hear back from you. I have submitted as well and have linked too!

    http://paperbuttons.blogspot.com/2008/09/benefiting-nie-nie.html

    www.tjanderica.blogspot.com

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  15. Kudos to you and your witty blogger friends! I will submit a post, pronto. right after i write one. I mean, pick one. well, we'll see . . . maybe I'll have my many -er, I mean, loving and dedicated reader(s) vote on my many hilarious posts . . .

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  16. I have never linked to a post so am not sure how. I want to participate.

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  17. I am in.

    What a tragedy this whole mess is...bless you for coming up with a way to help.

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  18. Wait-- do you prefer me to (1) email you a link to my "funny" post, (2) copy the text of my post into the email, or (3) attach a PDF of the post on my blog?

    Just tell me and I'll do it. Or... if you say that I can do any of the three, I'll try to come up with a fourth option to make it more complicated.

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  19. Anonymous6:12 PM

    This is a great idea. Brava to you!!

    Can the post submitted to the contest be a pared down version of one on my blog? The one I think I'd most like to submit is 2100ish words but I could easily pare it down.

    Thanks!

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  20. Anonymous8:03 PM

    I will be posting about this Sunday, awesome idea!

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  21. When will people know if their story was accepted??! So excited to find out!

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  22. Anonymous10:38 AM

    But let's call it "Sometimes Life Is Funny," because verbs are always capitalized in titles. Also possessive pronouns, as in "Navel Gazing at Its Finest."

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  23. Hey, Sue, I just posted following the rules: advertising the book/contest, and linking back.

    Just wanted to letcha know.

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  24. Anonymous2:52 AM

    Here's my link for my submission; I've only just found the competition and I know today is the deadline, so... hopefully not too late?

    I'll link back just now. Thanks!

    http://dumpedbyahallucination.wordpress.com/2008/07/11/youve-met-the-robinson-now-meet-the-robinsons/

    Suzy x

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  25. Just linked it to my blog as well and submitted my story. What a great idea- and fun too!

    http://kassafrass.blogspot.com/

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  26. Anonymous9:21 PM

    I'm late! I'm late! (Well, almost.) But I did link. And as soon as there's a button I'll put that up too.

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  27. Anonymous12:25 AM

    Drat -- I only now noticed (reading someone else's blog) that we were to promote the CONTEST on our blogs if we wanted to participate in it. And I didn't promote the contest, because I only saw the "promote the book" part and assumed that part would happen after the book happened. (So much for my reading skillz.)

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  28. I missed your deadline, but please let me know if you do this again, or if the deadline is extended!

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  29. hey - good luck with this - only kinda stumbled on it now.. and yes - please let me know if you are doing this again.. hugs to all!

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  30. dghnfgj, I am SO there.

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