New Book Project - for Charity
 

Between MTV and Alexandra Robbins and now ABC Family's Greek, there is a lot of media out there to fuel the Animal House stereotypes of Greek life. I would like to counteract that with a sort of Chicken Soup-esque book about real sorority life. I am looking for stories about what being a sister is all about. Happy or sad, funny, inspirational, uplifting, anything goes.

To a point. I am going to apply a few guidelines just to help organize things a little.

**2000-3500 words. This will make your story about 4-6 pages in a 6x9 standard novel. Longer is fine, I'm not going to count words or pages but I really would prefer nothing too much shorter.

**Steer clear of stories that might be considered stereotypical - drinking, partying, hazing. We're trying to go a different route with this book.

Also, I would like to donate all of the proceeds from the book to a women's charity. I was thinking something like the Susan G. Komen Foundation or Take Back the Night but I'm open to suggestions.

If you have a story you would like to submit, go ahead and send it to contact@spoonbenderpress.net (be sure to include your name, organization and chapter, with college) but I'm not sure when this will happen. Right now I'm just gathering opinions and suggestions.

Also, illustrations are welcomed. Small-ish, keeping in mind that it should be between 4.5 and 5 inches wide to accommodate margins in a 6x9 book. Photos in jpg, anything else in png or pdf. And to try to keep the retail cost down, all illustrations will be in black and white so don't send a vibrant, jewel-toned painting because it won't print correctly.

There, I think I'm done now. Your turn!

i think that that is such a good idea, there really is a lot of bad things going around about greek life right now. there needs to be a "plus side" to be focused on.

Give me a few days but I have the PERFECT story for this book. I'd love to be a part of it. If you have been around Greek Chat for a long time, you've probably read my story, but I want to type it up for consideration for this book.

I sent you an e-mail. :)

Thanks! I read your story and loved it, so did my ....erm....co-editors :D It made me cry, which is exactly what I was looking for :)

Now I just have to get more...More more more!!!



Here's a question for anyone who has an opinion....

I have considered doing the same thing for Fraternity stories but am not sure if there would be any interest....from the writing or reading stand points...

Do you think people would buy a similar book with stories from men about their brotherhood experiences? Should I combine the two and make this one Greek stories instead of just Sorority stories?

Market research ...you are the market and I am researching you :cool:

I have a couple stories I will want to send you. I however, would want to retain the copyrights to the story as I will want to reuse at another time. How will that work for your publisher?

Also, I would like to see, perhaps, some percentage wise to to each NPC (represented in the book) sorority's national philanthropy. (IE, book has 25 stories-2 involve Phi Mu-8% would go to Children's Miracle Network, 4 involve Kappa Delta 16% would go to Girl Scouts of the USA, 1 involves Zeta Tau Alpha 4% would go to Susan G Komen Foundation, etc)

That just seems like a honorable division to help everyone. Thoughts? (I realize it is your book :).

This is such an excellent idea! I'm going to go through my own notes, and see what I can send to you. Like sageofages, I'd like to know about first rights of publication, too. I know I have one guaranteed tearjerker, but I doubt if I can use real names - is that possible?

This is such an awesome idea! I'll be sure the spread the word around my chapter and hopefully this will take off. I'd buy this book as soon as it came out. :)

Are you still working on this? If you are, I'll let my chapter know! I'm sure we have some stories to share. :)