'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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PW’s Most-Read Comics Stories of 2017

The 'New York Times' eliminating its Graphic Novel Bestseller List and the continued growth of manga sales in North America were among PW’s most popular articles about graphic novel publishing in 2017. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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No more library fines for most young readers in L.A. County

Leilany Medina, 11, loves books so much that she’d like to become a librarian. But even she sometimes forgets to return books on time, especially if she hasn’t quite finished. And she’s racked up some late fines. But local libraries are providing a way out for such book lovers, and creating new... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2017-12-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Brontë-inspired short story collection to Borough

The Borough Press is publishing a short story collection inspired by Wuthering Heights, to be edited by Kate Mosse. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: Readers Still Like It 'Darker'

The top slot in Apple's iBooks store seems to have turned to stone in the past few weeks, as E.L. James maintains her grip once more with 'Darker.' Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Judge's short stories optioned for TV

A former judge's collection of satirical short stories, entitled Walden of Bermondsey, has been optioned for television by Revelation Content and Media Limited. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Top 10 Library Stories of 2017

PW takes a look back at some of the library stories that captivated the publishing world in 2017, and what they portend for 2018 Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Is literary fiction in trouble? Readers and authors respond

The Arts Council England report has set the internet ablaze – but are sales of literary fiction in decline because of snobbery, bad writing or Candy Crush?News: Literary fiction in crisis as sales drop dramaticallyArts Council England has sounded the alarm for literary fiction with a report... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Spreading the Word About Diverse Books: 'PW' Talks with Marley Dias

We spoke with activist Dias and asked her to reflect on her activism and publishing journey so far, and to share some of her future goals. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
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2017 Update: Book Aid International Progress ‘Inspiring Readers’ in Africa

In its four-year bid to benefit 310 public primary schools in Africa, Book Aid International reports reaching almost 99,000 students' classrooms this year. The post 2017 Update: Book Aid International Progress ‘Inspiring Readers’ in Africa appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2017-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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This Christmas, don't give books to non-readers

For bibliophiles, it is tempting to buy books as presents to ‘fix’ people who don’t read – but this is snobbery of the worst kindYou’re making a list, you’re checking it twice, and your fall-back position will be a nice book or two for friends and family to unwrap on Christmas Day. Everybody... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PRH to publish first all-female Doctor Who short story collection

Penguin Random House Children’s will publish what is believed to be the first ever all-female authored Doctor Who collection of short stories, with input from writers Jenny Colgan, Dorothy Koomson, Scottish comedian Susan Calman and Doctor Who author Jacqueline Rayner. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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New Yorker short story triggers 'record-breaking' response

A short story about an awkward, troubling sexual encounter has gone viral, drawing a "record-breaking" number of online views. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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iBooks Bestsellers: Readers Like It 'Darker'

E.L. James's latest Fifty Shades novel, 'Darker,' stays #1 on the iBooks Bestseller list this week, followed by thrillers from David Baldacci and Dan Brown. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PW’s 10 Most-Read Religion Stories of 2017

Tate Publishing shuttering its doors, an outbreak of plagiarism, and an author’s account of life in the Westboro Baptist Church make up some of PW’s top religion and spirituality stories of 2017. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2017-12-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Editors’ Picks: Our Favorite Magazine Stories of 2017

As the year comes to a close, top editors weigh in on the magazine articles that moved them the most. The post Editors’ Picks: Our Favorite Magazine Stories of 2017 appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2017-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Good Night Stories scoops Blackwell's Book of the Year award

Blackwell’s has named its Book of the Year as the "inspirational" Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls (Particular Books) by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Giedroyc to judge BBC Short Story Award

Television presenter Mel Giedroyc will chair the BBC National Short Story Award’s judging panel. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-12 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The Story of the Face by Paul Gorman review – the original purveyor of cool

Revolutionary style bible the Face deserves a more spirited historyIn September 1988, the style magazine the Face celebrated its 100th issue in triumphal fashion. There was an elaborate fold-out cover, essays by star writers such as Nick Kent and Julie Burchill and fashion stories by leading... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2017-12-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Hell's Belle' wins Heatseeker short story competition

Simon & Schuster UK has revealed the winner of its Books and the City Heatseeker short story competiton run in association with heat Magazine. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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'Grumpy squirrel' story wins Amazon Christmas Writing competition

A digital marketing manager has won the Amazon Christmas Writing Competition for his tale of a greedy squirrel who learns compassion from "three wise trees". Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2017-12-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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