'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

Other Publishing stories related to: ''Reader's Digest' Wants Your Life Story in 150 Words or Less'


Scribe signs 'ode to the written word'

Scribe is to publish Notes From A Public Typewriter to coincide with Independent Bookshop Week in June 2019.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #scribe signs #written word


Carpenter wins Big Idea contest with primary school story

Jack Martin, a 23-year-old carpenter from Devon, has won this year’s Big Idea Competition with an idea based on a story he wrote in primary school. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #primary school


iBooks Bestsellers: Clinton, Patterson Share #1 As Readers Remember Bourdain

President Bill Clinton and James Patterson share a #1 bestseller in Apple's iBooks store with 'The President Is Missing,' while the late Anthony Bourdain's memoir 'Kitchen Confidential' hits #2. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ibooks bestsellers ##1 bestseller #ibooks store #kitchen confidential #hits #2


Does the word ‘diversity’ really only have one meaning?

In her rant against Penguin Random House, Lionel Shriver claimed ‘diversity’ is no longer a general-purpose nounThe novelist Lionel Shriver was vexed this week about Penguin Random House’s new aim for its authors and staff “to reflect the UK population taking into account ethnicity, gender,... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #account ethnicity #social mobility #good measure


Living an Unexpected Life: PW Talks to Christine Caine

Christine Caine is following up on her 2016 bestseller ‘Unashamed’ with a reflection on life’s unpredictable events and resilient faith in ‘Unexpected.’ Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Both Text and Audio Sold Together in Amazon Original Stories Collections

The second-newest imprint in Amazon Publishing’s portfolio offers both audio and ebook editions of works brought together in thematic collections. The first was released during BookExpo in New York City. By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson A First Collection Bundles Text and... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-06-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #amazon publishing #ebook editions #porter anderson #editor-in-chief @porter_anderson


10 Essential Books About Contemporary Queer Life in America

Michelle Tea, author of 'Against Memoir,' picks books by Maggie Nelson, Imogen Binnie, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #picks books #maggie nelson


'Just Write Your Own Fairy Tale': Chris Colfer on His 'Land of Stories' Series

At BookExpo, actor turned writer Chris Colfer spoke with 'NYTBR' editor Pamela Paul about the paperback release of the sixth and final book in his bestselling The Land of Stories series. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stories series #fairy tale #chris colfer #paperback release #final book


BookExpo 2018: Connecting Children’s Books with Readers

Authors, publishers, and booksellers gathered for a panel discussion on efforts to reach young readers Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #panel discussion


How German publisher Spiegel is experimenting beyond the metered paywall to drive reader revenue

"We don’t want it [paid-for content] to be too in your face." The post How German publisher Spiegel is experimenting beyond the metered paywall to drive reader revenue appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2018-06-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #metered paywall


Romance writer's bid to stop authors from using word 'cocky' fails in court

Self-published author Faleena Hopkins asserted her right to the word, but judge calls attempt to stop other authors using it ‘weak’ Romance writers around the world can breathe a sigh of relief after a US court ruled that they can continue to use the adjective “cocky” in their book titles, after... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2018-06-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book titles #trademark office #individual titles #common words


Books: Rachel Cusk, the long literary life of the Replacements and more book news

Hi, all! Carolyn Kellogg, books editor here, back from a trip to Helsinki, Stockholm and Paris with the not-at-all groundbreaking news that these are delightful cities. Yes, I shopped at Paris’ Shakespeare and Company, but not enough — when decided I needed to return for more books, I couldn’t... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books editor #rachel cusk #book news #carolyn kellogg


Love story exploring male mental health to Orion

Orion has acquired the story of a 10-year relationship told in 24 hours, Our Life in a Day. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Roupenian's short story collection to be made into HBO drama series

HBO is developing a drama series based on Kristen Roupenian’s upcoming short story collection You Know You Want This. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #kristen roupenian


BookExpo 2018: Julia Sommerfeld on the Launch of Amazon Original Stories’ First Collection

Amazon Original Stories, a new imprint dedicated to short digital fiction and nonfiction, released its first collection, 'The Real Thing,' yesterday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #imprint dedicated #real thing


BookExpo 2018: How Real Life Inspires Writers

'Show Daily at BookExpo' asked all six of the Adult Buzz authors what inspired their books. Here are their answers. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2018-05-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Bringing classics to the modern reader

We spoke to Legend Press' managing director Tom Chalmers about its second set of Classics, publishing this June.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #legend press


Kobo to launch 'smallest, lightest e-reader yet'

Digital reading company Rakuten Kobo is to release a new e-reader called Kobo Clara HD. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lightest e-reader


April 2018 Bestseller Lists From China: Young Readers Cheer a Celebrity-Powered World Book Day

The endorsement of a Chinese actor powers Yu Hua's 'To Live' to the top of China's April fiction charts, when fellow celebrities spread the word and young readers hear the call. The post April 2018 Bestseller Lists From China: Young Readers Cheer a Celebrity-Powered World Book Day appeared first... Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2018-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Junot Díaz | 'If you tell a child you’re a writer and don’t have a story for them, no one can make you feel more fraudulent'

The critically lauded US author turns his hand to children’s books with a fortuitously timed tale of immigrant experience—and keeps a decades-old promise as a result. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2018-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #junot daz #author turns