Where you at?

I’ve received a few stories so far – and I must say, they are AMAZING! 

 

As I said before, I want to take this project as far as I can – book, t-shirts, promotions, etc.  I have an interview scheduled sometime in the next couple weeks to talk about this project to get it out there more.

 

What I need now is little bit of a “role call”.  PLEASE respond here with your status of your story.  It’s okay if you have nothing written, like I’ve said before, NaNoWriMo rules the November world – trust me, I’m about 6,000 words away from reaching that 50,000 word goal!

 

I just want to make sure everyone is still on board and that everyone is still as excited as I am about this project!  As long as everything goes smooth and all the stories are in by December 10, we should have a book by Christmas and t-shirts by then too! 

 

So, without anymore rambling. . .

 

My hand is raised.  I’m checking in.  My face is blushing.  I have an idea for a story.  But. . . but. . . but it’s not written.  Yet.  J

The cover!

It’s the third week of NaNoWriMo and I’m sure all the great writers for 12 Days are starting to scramble to find time to start, edit, or finish their stories.  How do I know?  Because I’m one of them!  I have 15,000 words to go on NaNoWriMo and only a few ideas for my story for this book. . . but that’s okay. . .

 

I got my little motivation kick the other night.  My graphic designer – or should I say the great graphic designer in the world – sent me a sample of the book cover. 

 

I threw a few ideas out there and Jenna Luckenbach took them and ran and I think the cover is P-E-R-F-E-C-T.

 

Hopefully this will motivate you as much as it has for me and hopefully within a month, we’ll have a book published!

 

(Up next:  t-shirts!)

 

Some of the rules. . . and a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!

Okay!  We fully booked for the 12 Days of Christmas.  You guys are the BEST and I can’t wait to read these stories!  I’ve already received Laura Eno’s story and if it was a preview of what’s coming, this project is going to be AMAZING.

I want to share some news and updates with everyone.  First and foremost, the earlier I get your stories, the better.  I have a deadline of December 10 – I’m trying to be flexible because of NaNoWriMo.  Trust me, I know how hectic it is – I’m doing NaNo too.  I usually have three documents open at once:  my NaNo story, the 12 Days project, and another project. . . and I just bounce from screen to screen to screen.

Also, I am a bit scattered on people and names.  Some I have names and emails, some I only have Twitter names.  I ask, if everyone could, when you send your story, please include a bio about yourself.  Go ahead – BRAG!  List your books, your sites, your publications . . . whatever.  It’s your spot, so use it!

I also ask that if you email me or Twitter me, please include your information and your day your writing about just so I don’t get confused!  For example, if I have your Twitter name and you email me and don’t tell me who you are, I may think you are inquiring about the project and may tell you we are full and then it would cause CRAZY confusion.

IF – and I’m hoping this doesn’t happen – you don’t think you can finish your story OR don’t want to be a part of this anymore, PLEASE tell me ASAP.  No hard feelings, I understand how busy this time of the year is.  If you have part of the story written and want out, send me the story and I’ll finish it and we can share credit for it. 

In case anyone jumped into the project without reading the “rules” page – which is fine – I never read the “rules” until later myself . . . this is simple:  you have a day and you write a story about it.  If you have 2 which would be two turtle doves, you write a story in which two turtle doves are in it.  It doesn’t have to be the main part of the story, but it also can’t be a story with a line that says, “She looked over and saw two turtle doves.”  And then the story moves on and that’s the only line about it. 

There is NO word count or content topic.  Please keep in mind that this will be on a blog so a 10,000 word story would probably be too big.  As for content – it does NOT have to be about Christmas or have to be about Christmas happiness and cheer.  I want it all – funny, scary – whatever.  It’s your story, so just write it. 

The whole reason I opened a second round was to get that fun mix of stories.  I want to see the takes people have when it comes to their days and how different it could be.

This is a big project for me and for all the contributors.  So please, pretty please, pretty please with sugar on top – DON’T leave us hanging.  ESPECIALLY if your day is one of the first ones.  Meaning, come December 11, I’m hoping I won’t be missing any stories.  I’m not being mean, but a lot of time is being put into this by a lot of people – and I want to continue to do projects like these, so again, if you can’t do it or don’t want to, just be honest.  Shoot me an email and we’ll move on. 

Now, you’re thinking, “Jim, why are you being so mean?”

I know, it’s the holidays, be nice. . . BUT, I have plans. . . BIG PLANS. . .

I had mentioned that this will be put together and offered as an e-book.  Not good enough in my eyes.  As we speak, I am working on getting this into paperback.  YES, a REAL book.  I have a few minor details to work out and then of course, I need all the stories so I can format them and see how much it’s going to cost and make sure it can be done.

AND. . .

I’m working shirts.  Yes, t-shirts.  I’m working on the front and the back will be the day with the authors name and story. 

Like I said, this project is big.  I want to reach out and have a lot of people read our stories and enjoy them.  That’s why I’m not too concerned with the content pertaining to Christmas.  If the paperback book works out, it probably won’t be available until January 2010 anyways. . . but I’m hoping to have a deal for a book and t-shirt as cheap as possible.  My only goal with the selling of the book is to cover the costs it took me to set everything up.  I’d also like to have this be a little “test” to see how the publishing process goes, how many sell, etc. because I’d love to do more of these.

So, without further delay. . . here is the list for the 12 Days of Christmas 2009:

1 – A partridge in a pear tree

            Cynthia (cschuerr3262@charter.net) – RECEIVED STORY!

            Jon (jstro@swbell.net) – RECEIVED STORY!

2 – Two turtle doves

            Jodi MacArthur – RECEIVED STORY!

            @doublelattemama – RECEIVED STORY!

3 – Three French hens

            Karen Collum – RECEIVED STORY!

            kgilbert@yahoo.com – RECEIVED STORY!

4 – Four calling birds

            Laura Eno – WHO ALREADY SUBMITTED HER STORY!

            Shawn.hansen@scribblestories.com

5 – Five golden rings

            dsobkowiak@yahoo.com – RECEIVED STORY!

            @cafenirvana

6 – Six geese a-laying

            suzieb52@yahoo.com – RECEIVED STORY!

            cmantai@roadrunner.com – RECEIVED STORY!

7 – Seven swans a-swimming

            Jodi Cleghorn – RECEVED STORY!

            Jeanette Bennett – RECEIVED STORY!

8 – Eight maids a-milking

            @tonynoland – RECEIVED STORY

            Jonathan Pinnock – RECEIVED STORY!

9 – Nine ladies dancing

            @marisabirns – RECEIVED STORY!

            Michelle Evans – RECEIVED STORY!

10 – Ten lords a-leaping

            @EmApocalyptic – RECEIVED STORY!

            xx.romance.is.suicide.xx@gmail.com – RECEIVED STORY!

11 – Eleven pipers piping

            ln_dragonsong@yahoo.com – RECEIVED STORY!

            @CliveM – RECEIVED STORY!

12 – Twelve drummers drumming

            deirddremmm@aol.com – RECEIVED STORY!

            Jim Wisneski – RECEIVED STORY

My idea. . . the poem. . .

‘twas the night before two last and all through my place

my son was running and screaming, my wife red in her face. . .

then sprung an idea – so wild, crazy, and fun

I could make Christmas last longer. . .

I know it could be done.

Once my son was finally nestled into bed

With visions of Elmo and Cookie Monster dancing in his head

I sat on the couch – in my favorite Phillies jersey

The damn Yankees were winning. . . I couldn’t help but worry. . .

Then the game was over, the pennant was lost

And my idea came back to life, my eyes were glossed. . .

“The 12 Days of Christmas” I yelled so loud

I had the perfect idea. . . I felt so proud. . .

A new story each day leading ‘til Christmas

I shook up the Twitter world yelling – “YOU CAN’T MISS THIS!”

The put on my Santa hat and hooked up some lights. . .

“GET WRITING EVERYONE AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!”

SECOND round BUT LAST!

Okay, the response for this has been CRAZY!  And to make the e-book bigger and juicier. . . I’m going to have two stories a day. . . but that’s it! 

Our first was booked so quick, that I figure why not have another?  I think it will be fun to see two different takes on the same day. . . so. . . if your name isn’t on the list on the previous post, then email me at Jim@JimWisneski.com with your requested number. . . first come, first serve!

Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!

WE’RE BOOKED!

I can’t believe what just happened. . . I posted about this on Twitter and the world exploded! 

You writers are the GREATEST people in the world!  So great that I’m going to change the rules. . . why?  BECAUSE I CAN!  I got SWAMPED with emails and DM’s and I HATE to say no. . . soooo. . . we are going to have TWO stories per day!

Yup, so if your name ISN’T on this list below, send an email to Jim@JmWisneski.com with your day.  This is first come, first serve and will be the last time it’s open. . . so yes, I will have to say NO to some. . .

The list:

Twelve drummers drumming, – ME, Jim Wisneski
Eleven pipers piping, – Laura Frechette
Ten lords a-leaping, – EmApocalyptic
Nine ladies dancing, – @marisabirns
Eight maids a-milking, – @tonynoland
Seven swans a-swimming, – Jodi Cleghorn
Six geese a-laying, – Suzie Bradshaw
Five golden rings, – dsobkowiak@gmail.com
Four calling birds, – @lauraeno
Three French hens, – @karencollum
Two turtle doves, – @jodimacarthur
And a partridge in a pear tree! – cschuerr3262@charter.net

 

I NEED WRITERS!!!!! SIGN UP TODAY!!!!

Okay, here’s my idea – I want to post a new story for twelve days straight leading up to Christmas day.  That means December 14 will have story one and December 25 will have story twelve. 

Each story will be themed to the song the 12 days of Christmas. . . yes, day three will be about three French hens.  Day five will be about five golden rings. . . you get the idea.

BUT – the story can be any length and any content.  If you choose ten lords a-leaping it doesn’t have to be about lords a-leaping, they just have to be in the story somehow.  Come on now, see the fun here?

This will be a first come, first serve basis on picking the days.  I need ALL days accounted for AND stories written BY December 10, 2009.  Yea yea, deadlines with the shopping season and Santa. . . blah, blah, blah. . . come on, THIS IS FUN! 

Plus, we’re writers – we thrive on deadlines. . . right?

Anyways, you will see the list below start to get crossed off as people claim their days so don’t wait too long.  Email me at Jim@JimWisneski.com with what day you want!

AND if that weren’t enough. . . once this is done, I am hoping – keyword here is hoping – to have all twelve stories put together to be published as an ebook!

Any questions, just email me. . . other than that, pick your day AND GET WRITING!

Twelve drummers drumming,
Eleven pipers piping,
Ten lords a-leaping,
Nine ladies dancing,
Eight maids a-milking,
Seven swans a-swimming,
Six geese a-laying,
Five golden rings,
Four calling birds,
Three French hens,
Two turtle doves,
And a partridge in a pear tree!