'Reader's Digest' Wants Your Life Story in 150 Words or Less

Oh boy, do I have a contest for you long-winded Facebookers and personal bloggers. It's called, "Your Life: The Reader's Digest Version." The venerable magazine is willing to shell out $25,000 if you can keep The Story of You to a crisp and compelling 150 words (words, not characters—this isn't Twitter). Hell, I'd fork over that much if certain "friends" would stop sending me six-page family missives disguised as Christmas cards. Short and sweet, people! You are not that interesting. Jane Lynch, star of Glee and host of next month's Emmy Awards, gets the ball rolling with her own abbreviated life story on the magazine's Facebook page (see it after the jump). Shame, it sounds nothing like her caustic Sue Sylvester character from the Fox musical. Rather, it's an earnest promo-within-a-promo for Lynch's memoir, Happy Accidents, dropping in September. More celebrities with books to hawk will follow. But if Lynch, a sought-after, award-winning actress (Best in Show, Role Models, Party Down), can give a snapshot into her psyche within just a few sentences, so can you. I'd be even happier with a haiku. Jane Lynch's entry: "At the tender age of 50, I realized that I had the family, friends and the acting career I had always wanted. I had suffered on the way, feeling out of place, overcontrolling and drinking too much, but all that suffering had not fueled anything useful. The good things were a result of happy accidents that I had been willing, and let's hope smart enough, to... Continue reading at 'AdWeek'

[ AdWeek | 2011-08-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #award-winning actress #role models #tender age #acting career #good things #stay open

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Madeleine L’Engle’s early short stories presage ‘A Wrinkle in Time’

A reviewer reflects on reading “The Moment of Tenderness,” a collection of short stories, and then returning to the 1963 novel she loved growing up. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2020-04-17 23:14:00 UTC ]
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Michelle Obama will read your kids a story by video on Mondays

Former First Lady Michelle Obama will be reading children's books in a weekly series of videos for Penguin Random House and PBS Kids through May 11. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-04-17 20:08:16 UTC ]
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And the winner of the $35,000 Aspen Words Literary Prize is…

The Aspen Institute has just announced the winner of their 2020 Literary Prize: Christy Lefteri, for her novel, The Beekeeper of Aleppo, which tells the story of Syrian refugees in Great Britain. The Aspen Words Literary Prize was established to celebrate a work of fiction that spotlights a... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2020-04-16 22:00:41 UTC ]
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The 10 types of readers you meet during a quarantine

From escapist fantasy fans to romance enthusiasts, readers are turning to a variety of books while stuck at home. Continue reading at The Washington Post

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Iranian Americans’ stories of rejection and belonging

Immigrants and their descendants on coming to terms with both sides of their identities. Continue reading at The Washington Post

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‘Practical, life-affirming, positive’: How Hearst UK is creating more uplifting content

The magazine group has been publishing more positive, feel-good content based on audience research. The post ‘Practical, life-affirming, positive’: How Hearst UK is creating more uplifting content appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2020-04-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In ‘Subduction,’ an anthropologist observing a remote fishing village becomes part of the story

Kristen Millares Young’s whip-smart debut is all about stories — especially the ones people tell about themselves and to themselves, to make life meaningful and livable. Continue reading at The Washington Post

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Closed libraries are offering parking lot Wi-Fi, e-books, and Zoom story time

Even when shuttered by the coronavirus pandemic, libraries are coming up with creative ways to serve their communities. On March 16, the El Dorado County Library in California closed its doors to patrons after a state-wide stay-at-home order. But that hasn’t stopped the library, which serves... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2020-04-15 07:00:32 UTC ]
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More Bedtime Stories from Tom Hardy for CBeebies

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Vox Solicits Reader Contributions to Keep Its Content Free Amid Ad Declines

The near-simultaneous rush among publishers with subscription businesses to loosen their paywalls and provide free access to reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic has reignited long-standing debates about whether the news should fundamentally be free, even as ad-supported journalism (with some... Continue reading at Folio Magazine

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Oliver Jeffers answers readers pressing questions

Oliver Jeffers, children's author and illustrator answered readers questions, submitted via Twitter.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

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Sphere releases 99p activity e-book for readers in lockdown

Sphere is publishing a 99p activity e-book for people in need of "affordable distraction" during the lockdown. Continue reading at The Bookseller

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Need a new quarantine read? Don Winslow drops 'Broken,' stories for our fractured times

The bestselling crime novelist plans a virtual book tour for his new title, "Broken," as the coronavirus keeps him home in Southern California. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2020-04-07 15:00:38 UTC ]
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Faber announces online programme for readers

Faber has revealed an online programme designed to "console, entertain and inspire readers", in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. Continue reading at The Bookseller

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7 Books About Magic Schools for Every Reader

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A Reading List for Your Quarter-Life Crisis: Critical Linking, March 29, 2020

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An unvarnished look at the troubled life of novelist Robert Stone

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Alexandra Chang’s ‘Days of Distraction’ experiments with form to reveal the complexities of modern life

The debut novel intersperses the story of a tech reporter in Silicon Valley with Facebook posts, tweets, Google results and other fragments. Continue reading at The Washington Post

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16 Funny Short Stories and Books to Brighten Your Mood

In the midst of researching news reports and washing your hands, here is a list of 15 funny short stories and books to brighten your mood. Continue reading at Book Riot

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