SURPRISE! Novella 1 of 12 is almost ready for release!
Which means it’s time to announce where the money earned through its online sales will go.
Last month I told all of you that I would be writing 12 novellas throughout 2016 and self-publishing them as a way to encourage readers and writers to help support various causes throughout the country and around the world.
To be honest, I didn’t spend much time ruminating over the idea before I decided to go for it. At first I definitely had my doubts. But yesterday I actually finished a second draft and started editing, which means this is really happening and I can’t even believe it’s real life.
Right. What you came here for. Sorry.
Novella #1: Ribbons, a story about cancer (and much more)
I’m happy to report This Star Won’t Go Out will be the first charity I will be donating to this year. TSWGO is a nonprofit foundation serving families supporting and caring for children diagnosed with cancer.
While my novella, Ribbons, is about much more than cancer, its themes are all tied together by the subject. I chose TSWGO because cancer is about much more than the disease itself, finding a cure and raising general awareness. It’s about the families of those who are fighting, too. They go through hardships just as much as those diagnosed with the illness do.
TSWGO’s impact
Over the past five years, this nonprofit has been able to provide numerous families with financial assistance. From TSWGO’s website:
Since its founding in 2011, TSWGO has helped more than 200 families, with gifts totaling $300,000 to help families suffering from financial hardship related to childhood cancer.
It is my hope that some of you will invest in this upcoming opportunity to give a little something and help make a difference in the world (and why not? You get a quick read out of it, if you want). While I don’t have details for you yet, it won’t cost much. Probably a little bit more than a typical novella would sell for on Amazon because I want to be able to give as much to TSWGO as possible, but still not much.
It’s not about the story. Stories are important, but it’s so much bigger than that. I get to do this 11 more times this year and I haven’t felt happier about a writing project ever in my entire life.
I won’t stop donating once the next novella comes out. I’ll keep all novellas available for purchase at all times throughout the year starting next week. So if you don’t think you’ll be able to afford your copy now, don’t worry – you’ll have plenty of time.
We are capable of so much more than we perceive. I’m just writing novellas. I don’t have an editor and I’m publishing them myself. I could make $5 and that’s it. But that’s $5 more than I have to give, and knowing I’ll facilitating that donation through someone I don’t even know just warms my heart and my spirit.
I look forward to everything else that is to come this year. You are all amazing. You might not know it, but I wouldn’t be able to do this without you.
Want to get involved with The Novella Concept? Join the Facebook group for updates and more ways you can help make the world more awesome.
Image courtesy of This Star Won’t Go Out.
Meg Dowell Writes 
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