Archer (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} archer904) wrote,@ 2005-09-11 10:39:00 |
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How you can send money to Hurricane Katrina relief without spending a dime
For those of you who read me casually (or less often than that), my name is Tony Hellmann. I'm a non-fiction writer with a day job and a finished novel I'm trying to get published. I'm not rich, but I'm not poor either.
I donated $20 to the American Red Cross the day after the levees broke. I didn't feel like it was enough, and I have coworkers that feel bad because they can't afford to send $10.
I've decided to do something about it, for those that feel bad that money in their wallets is outpaced by the sympathy in their hearts.
I've decided to send a dollar to the American Red Cross for every person that leaves a comment to this entry by next Sunday. I'll also send two dollars for every literary agent or person with a published novel who leaves a comment, because you folks have fans/large readerships, and fans like to participate with the objects of their attention. To the same effect, I'll donate $10 if your last name is Nielsen-Hayden or Scalzi. :)
Mention this on your blogs, drive the comment numbers up, and donate money without spending any. I'll post a PDF of the Red Cross receipt after I donate.
Potential Corporate Sponsors click here
--UPDATE 3:45 PM Sunday--
Comment count: 278
I'm amazed at how many people have written, and said such nice things. It really is amazing.
Several people have expressed concern about my ability to meet my pledge: Don't worry. Mother Theresa said: "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."
If I lost my job tomorrow, and never made another dime from my writing, I'd still have a place to sleep at night, a place that is home. These people don't have that. Besides, how charitible is it if I barely notice the absence of what I gave? Trust me, that I'm happy to do this. All your support has been absolutely wonderful.
The selfish part of me sometimes thinks: "Since I'm likely to donate over $1000 with this offer, maybe I should have just approached a couple big-name editors or authors and offered to donate $1000 to hurricane victims for reading my book and giving me some tips on improving it." But if I'm getting something like that out of it, then it's not giving: it's buying.
So keep your comments coming. I'll blog every day about the progress, and next Sunday I'll post the total number of comments and the total dollar amount.
Please know that I'm reading each and every one of your comments. You're wonderful.
--UPDATE 5:45 PM Sunday--
Comment Count: 392
Two people have offered to buy my novel when it hits shelves. Thank you! I figure that if I can get about 998 more pre-orders, I should be able to attract a publisher's attention! I really only mentioned the novel in order to give people surfing in a bit of background as to who I am and what I do. So (and I KNOW this is huge): If my novel somehow gets published as a result of attention generated through this donation drive, I refuse to accept the advance. I'll donate it to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
--UPDATE 7:45 PM Sunday--
Comment Count: 630
I've now got 12 pledges-to-buy my novel, but only two of those people have asked what it is about. That's very sweet, everyone. Thought I'd actually put up a three sentence synopsis so that people might know what they are asking to buy: Coming Out Straight is an urban fantasy that juxtaposes sexual identities to answer the question: What would it be like to be straight in a world where everyone is gay? The protagonist, Adam, is a straight man living life in the closet as a sexual minority. He falls in love with a straight activist, and is faced with a choice: come out and find love, or live in the security of his closet, alone.
I've been graphing the comments over time, and the line is getting steeper, so we may not be close to the top of the curve for some time, and I'm averaging over 100 comments an hour now. If we can push this thing hard enough fast enough, I can get corporate sponsors to match funds (or help me pay for it, lol!).
We'll see.
--UPDATE 9:45 PM Sunday--
Comment Count: 940
Pledges to buy Coming Out Straight: 28
Thanks for all your support. I'm going to be now. I'm excited and a little scared to see what the numbers look like when I get up! The outpouring of love and grief you all have shared is with me every waking moment. Jeez, I feel sappy! Goodnight, everyone. Be well.
--UPDATE 8:00 AM Monday--
Comment Count: 1410
Pledges to buy Coming Out Straight: 49
WOW. I expect the comment numbers to EXPLODE today. A lot more people are expressing concern that I'm going to go broke paying for this. I keep telling them: I can't think of a better way to go broke! However, I've set up a Corporate Sponsorship LJ Entry for those interested in getting me some help in paying for this thing. Don't worry, it will all get paid for, but I'm willing to let some generous companies (or people) help me if they want.
--UPDATE Tuesday afternoon--
Comment Count: over 2700
Pledges to buy Coming Out Straight: 100!
Further updates can be seen as their own entries on my LiveJournal. I'll continue to update sponsorship information here on this page, below.
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 10:40 PM Monday--
A private donor has pledged to meet 1% of my total contribution! Thank you for your support.
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 11:00PM Tuesday--
Another donor has purchased me a one year LiveJournal paid account. That was very nice, but I feel undeserving. Thank you.
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 4:30PM Wednesday--
I've been pledged another 1% from two people, putting the total to 3%, andseanpatfannon says "When the time comes to settle the bill, I'll be taking a look to see what I can toss in," which is very, very kind of him. cweaselle says "If you find yourself short when the time comes for the bill, comment in my journal and I'll pitch in as well."
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 11:00AM Friday--
A private donor has offered 1% of the total bill, andbonkoif has generously agreed to donate 5% of the total to disaster relief in New Orleans at the conclusion of this drive on Sunday. I don't have the words to properly express my gratitude. That puts the total sponsorship up to 9%!
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 4:30PM Sunday--
One more donor has offered to sponsor me for 1%, putting me up to 10% total!
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 11:05PM Sunday--
Egad! I've had a spate of sponsorships! An additional 9% plus $120 from some very wonderful people. That puts me at 19% plus! It feels like my birthday!
Thank you all!
--Tony
For those of you who read me casually (or less often than that), my name is Tony Hellmann. I'm a non-fiction writer with a day job and a finished novel I'm trying to get published. I'm not rich, but I'm not poor either.
I donated $20 to the American Red Cross the day after the levees broke. I didn't feel like it was enough, and I have coworkers that feel bad because they can't afford to send $10.
I've decided to do something about it, for those that feel bad that money in their wallets is outpaced by the sympathy in their hearts.
I've decided to send a dollar to the American Red Cross for every person that leaves a comment to this entry by next Sunday. I'll also send two dollars for every literary agent or person with a published novel who leaves a comment, because you folks have fans/large readerships, and fans like to participate with the objects of their attention. To the same effect, I'll donate $10 if your last name is Nielsen-Hayden or Scalzi. :)
Mention this on your blogs, drive the comment numbers up, and donate money without spending any. I'll post a PDF of the Red Cross receipt after I donate.
--UPDATE 3:45 PM Sunday--
Comment count: 278
I'm amazed at how many people have written, and said such nice things. It really is amazing.
Several people have expressed concern about my ability to meet my pledge: Don't worry. Mother Theresa said: "I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love."
If I lost my job tomorrow, and never made another dime from my writing, I'd still have a place to sleep at night, a place that is home. These people don't have that. Besides, how charitible is it if I barely notice the absence of what I gave? Trust me, that I'm happy to do this. All your support has been absolutely wonderful.
The selfish part of me sometimes thinks: "Since I'm likely to donate over $1000 with this offer, maybe I should have just approached a couple big-name editors or authors and offered to donate $1000 to hurricane victims for reading my book and giving me some tips on improving it." But if I'm getting something like that out of it, then it's not giving: it's buying.
So keep your comments coming. I'll blog every day about the progress, and next Sunday I'll post the total number of comments and the total dollar amount.
Please know that I'm reading each and every one of your comments. You're wonderful.
--UPDATE 5:45 PM Sunday--
Comment Count: 392
Two people have offered to buy my novel when it hits shelves. Thank you! I figure that if I can get about 998 more pre-orders, I should be able to attract a publisher's attention! I really only mentioned the novel in order to give people surfing in a bit of background as to who I am and what I do. So (and I KNOW this is huge): If my novel somehow gets published as a result of attention generated through this donation drive, I refuse to accept the advance. I'll donate it to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
--UPDATE 7:45 PM Sunday--
Comment Count: 630
I've now got 12 pledges-to-buy my novel, but only two of those people have asked what it is about. That's very sweet, everyone. Thought I'd actually put up a three sentence synopsis so that people might know what they are asking to buy: Coming Out Straight is an urban fantasy that juxtaposes sexual identities to answer the question: What would it be like to be straight in a world where everyone is gay? The protagonist, Adam, is a straight man living life in the closet as a sexual minority. He falls in love with a straight activist, and is faced with a choice: come out and find love, or live in the security of his closet, alone.
I've been graphing the comments over time, and the line is getting steeper, so we may not be close to the top of the curve for some time, and I'm averaging over 100 comments an hour now. If we can push this thing hard enough fast enough, I can get corporate sponsors to match funds (or help me pay for it, lol!).
We'll see.
--UPDATE 9:45 PM Sunday--
Comment Count: 940
Pledges to buy Coming Out Straight: 28
Thanks for all your support. I'm going to be now. I'm excited and a little scared to see what the numbers look like when I get up! The outpouring of love and grief you all have shared is with me every waking moment. Jeez, I feel sappy! Goodnight, everyone. Be well.
--UPDATE 8:00 AM Monday--
Comment Count: 1410
Pledges to buy Coming Out Straight: 49
WOW. I expect the comment numbers to EXPLODE today. A lot more people are expressing concern that I'm going to go broke paying for this. I keep telling them: I can't think of a better way to go broke! However, I've set up a Corporate Sponsorship LJ Entry for those interested in getting me some help in paying for this thing. Don't worry, it will all get paid for, but I'm willing to let some generous companies (or people) help me if they want.
--UPDATE Tuesday afternoon--
Comment Count: over 2700
Pledges to buy Coming Out Straight: 100!
Further updates can be seen as their own entries on my LiveJournal. I'll continue to update sponsorship information here on this page, below.
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 10:40 PM Monday--
A private donor has pledged to meet 1% of my total contribution! Thank you for your support.
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 11:00PM Tuesday--
Another donor has purchased me a one year LiveJournal paid account. That was very nice, but I feel undeserving. Thank you.
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 4:30PM Wednesday--
I've been pledged another 1% from two people, putting the total to 3%, and
seanpatfannon says "When the time comes to settle the bill, I'll be taking a look to see what I can toss in," which is very, very kind of him. cweaselle says "If you find yourself short when the time comes for the bill, comment in my journal and I'll pitch in as well."--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 11:00AM Friday--
A private donor has offered 1% of the total bill, and
bonkoif has generously agreed to donate 5% of the total to disaster relief in New Orleans at the conclusion of this drive on Sunday. I don't have the words to properly express my gratitude. That puts the total sponsorship up to 9%!--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 4:30PM Sunday--
One more donor has offered to sponsor me for 1%, putting me up to 10% total!
--SPONSORSHIP UPDATE 11:05PM Sunday--
Egad! I've had a spate of sponsorships! An additional 9% plus $120 from some very wonderful people. That puts me at 19% plus! It feels like my birthday!
Thank you all!
--Tony
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