Writing for charity

At the beginning of this year, I made a goal to try and use my writing to help earn money for causes I'm passionate about. I'm very excited to announce the first phase in this goal (with more to come, hopefully). Here's the 411:

This summer have unfettered access to professional children’s authors, all in the name of charity! Saturday, July 19 several local authors will host a Writing for Charity event in Salt Lake City, with all profits going to The Wheelchair Project. Come hear writers talk about their process, how to write for a young audience, storytelling tips, and the ins and outs of the publishing business. In addition, have your picture book text or first page of your novel (the most important page!) workshopped by professionals.

When: Saturday, July 19, 9 am to 1 pm
Where: Salt Lake Main Library, 200 East 400 South, Salt Lake City, Utah
Cost: $45 (should be tax deductible!)
Event breakdown: 9:00 am -- Registration
    9:15 - 10:15 am -- Panel discussion in the auditorium
    10:30 - 11:15 -- Break out discussions in topic groups
    11:30 - 1:00 -- Small group workshops

Authors include Brandon Mull, Shannon Hale, Mette Ivie Harrison, Ann Cannon, Kristyn Crow, Becky Hickox, Kimberley Heuston, Anne Bowen, Aprilynne Pike, Ann Dee Ellis, Mike Knudson, and Wendy Toliver.

Space is limited, first come first serve. To reserve your spot, mail in the $45 registration fee.

• Mailing address: 1176 E 2620 N, Provo, UT 84604-4132
• Make checks to: “LDS Philanthropies” (the organization that runs The Wheelchair Project) and write “Wheelchair” in the memo line.
• Also include: Your name, age, phone number, and area of interest--picture book writing, fantasy novel, or realistic fiction novel.

[EDIT: At this point, July 15, there are still many spots available. As it's too late to mail in registration, you can pay at the door. Please bring a check or $45 in cash]

On the day of the event, bring 15 copies of the first page of your novel or picture book text (maximum word count: 300 words) for some hands on workshopping.

100% of the proceeds (after the nominal location fee) go to The Wheelchair Project, a wonderful charity that donates new wheelchairs to people in third world countries, many of whom have never had one. A wheelchair can completely change the life of a disabled person, offering mobility, increased independence, and a chance to go to school or find employment. Because this charity is administered by volunteers with LDS Philanthropy, there is no overhead and every penny donated goes directly to purchasing wheelchairs. This is not a religious charity--the wheelchairs go to the needy regardless of their faith. Thank you for supporting this extraordinary cause!

Comments

[Danielle]

Oh, now I wish I lived near you! That sounds incredibly fabulous :)

[Heather]

What a fabulous idea for a great cause. I watched a special news story about this wheelchair charity and it moved me to tears. I hope there is a more than you can handle turn out!

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

Oh my goodness! Do you know how badly my heart is pounding right now? I want to go, I want to go!! And I can because I live in Salt Lake!! Please, Please, Please.... Oh please.

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

If I come, can I meet you Shannon?

[Gretchen]

How cool is that? That's quite the author line-up, too.

[Taiger]

I want to go, but I'd have to scrounge up $45, not to mention the price of a plane ticket. I just don't have the means to do so right now. :(

[Heather]

Shannon, oh my gosh, you've done it again. You set such a great example. This is an absolutely amazing idea, and such a good foundation to donate to. You cannot believe how much I love and admire you for putting your fame and talents to such good causes. I'm in - no question. (How will we know if we are accepted?)

[Charlie]

How do you find out about charity workshops? Do they invite you to them? Who sets them up? Can authors donate their royalty earnings to places? (Isn't that what J.M. Barry did with Peter Pan for an orphanage?)

[Olivia T.]

Oh my gowswers! How beautifully wonderful and amazing! If I lived in Salt Lake City, I'd be there in a heartbeat, Miss Shannon! :) Have TONS of fun!

[Celes]

Argh! That's the day I'm leaving on a trip... I'll be in Salt Lake that morning, but only to fly out of the state. :( Oh well, maybe next year? Way to use your talents for good! That's the way to go.

[shannon hale]

Dr. Sallie - I will be on the first panel with all the authors. In the break out groups, I'll be doing fantasy novel. So yes, I'll certainly be there and accessible!

Heather--good question. If you send in a check, just assume. Please include your phone number and if we get too many participants we'll call those who sent theirs in too late. We have a cap of 300 people due to the location.

Charlie--I'm on a listserv with other Utah children's writers, and I asked them who could do it this day. Everyone was super willing, and there were many who would like to do it but are out of town, so I imagine we'll do this again, perhaps yearly, each time for a different charity. We're setting this up ourselves, not the charity.

[Rebeka B.]

Wow, good for you Shannon! It's really great that you're putting such an effort into charity. It's admirable. I wish I lived near Salt Lake, or even in the USA, so I could go. *sigh* Oh well, I still hope there's a great turnout, and you guys raise a load of money. My grandma uses an electric wheelchair, so I definitely know how important wheelchairs are. Thank you for doing such a great work for those who need the support!

[rujie]

Wow! This is an amazing idea! Is it for a specific age group, though? Or are all ages allowed in?

[Joelle]

This is great. What I did last year was enter contests...you know, "in twenty-five words or less tell us why a woman you know should be our woman of the year" and I nominated my friend who started the charity Angel Heart Farm. Over the course of the year, she ended up in three magazines, got over $4000 in cash for the charity, we got a trip to NYC to a luncheon at Self Magazine, she ended up featured on a PBS special and lots of other things. If you know someone running a charity, this is a great way to help them with your excellent writing. And it's fun too! Oh, and another magazine gave us a spa day together too. That was cool!

[hwalk]

Wow. This is so awesome that you are doing this and helping people out in so many ways . . .

[Calliope1of9]

Wow. That's awesome.

[Q]

Such a good cause! I wish I could come--perhaps another year.

[World's Greatest Mommy]

Talk about a ton of fantastic authors doing something amazing...If only this was going to happen in the 100 degree Texas heat.

[Asha]

Good for you, Shannon, that is such a great thing to do!

[Hoho]

It does sound fantabulous!!! I wish I could be there....maybe u'll come to another book fair near me...

[Katie]

I wish I could go! That sounds incredible! But, I don't quite have a first page at the point where I'd grow from an editing yet anyway, so I may as well just keep writing.

[Christen]

How exciting! I wish I could go, but congrats for having the chance to do something you wanted. YEAH for charity and first phases! :D

[Jackee]

Hey Shannon,

Who do we address the request letter to at the Provo address? And would you like the critique page up front?

This is such a great cause. Thanks for organizing this!

[Chelsea]

I totally want to go. And I might be able to! Is it for any age?

[Janet Lee Carey]

This sounds like a great get together. It's a blast to link writing to charity. A number of writers I know do this, but I've never seen a writer's gathering to promote the idea. Fabulous!

[Brittany]

Wow thats so awesome! my sister goes to college in utah and my mom said we might take a fieldtrip up there that weekend! Super excited!

[chris]

what if we want to come and benefit from the author's insights, but we're slackers and "starting brilliant novel" is still on our To-Do list (along with "catch up on laundry")? can we come if we don't have a page to present for the workshop?

[shannon hale]

Chris--yes! Absolutely! It'll be interesting to hear other first pages workshopped. Come pageless and have a great time.

[Shayla Smoot]

Hey shannon, I would love to come!! And I live near there so it is perfect. BUT!!! I really want to come and I am writing a book but it is not a novel. It is a fantasy kinda. It is about a princess and I have written a lot! Can I bring that??? Would it work? And will you be there? Could i meet you? I am so excited. Especially about how this amazing event helps the needy. Someone in my ward talked about going on a mission and how so many people need are help and that we should help them more so that totally works!!!!

I really would like to know could you answer on here please?

please and thank you Shayla Smoot

[nicole]

I've sent in my check and info but I haven't received any sort of confirmation. Have I missed something? I'm really looking forward to it so don't leave me hanging okay? Not that you would of course, but you know, I'm still a little worried here!

[Brinnan]

Yay!!!! I might be going-- I'm not sure if its too late to get in or anything-- but yaaaay!!

Shannon-- my sister won't be able to go because of Girl's Camp, but if I go she is begging me to take the first page of her book along with the first page of my book to both be worked on. Would that be all right? I'd feel bad if someone else that paid didn't get there's done because my two took so long... :D

Oh, and will you be signing books?

[Pink Ink]

Hi! I signed up and sent in my $...am I good to go?? I just wanted to confirm. Thanks and I am looking forward to this. This'll be fantastic!

-Jewel Allen

[Lindsey and Tanya]

Great idea. My 13 year old daughter is an aspiring writer and artist. This is a wonderful cause and a valuable opportunity to inspire future writers. She and I will try to make it.
Thanks! :)

[Adam Haver]

Shannon,

Just wanted to thank you for hosting this charity event this weekend at the downtown library. It's inspiring to see the examples of successful writers doing something for those in need. I appreciate the advice I was given for my novel as well, it was extremely useful!

Thanks again,

Adam Haver

[Sheila]

This is soo cool, but i didnt know about it until now, and i live far away. MAN! U r such a good person. giving all yur book money to charity for wheelchairs. yur hsuband picked a good choice for a wife. and yur setting a good example to your children. plz check yur official website more, u should and answer all these hale fans.