Spontaneous Combustion is a 24-hour literary slam, free to the public. Sadly, handmade books of its original short stories aren't free.
Here’s the deal: publishing doesn’t cater to the author anymore. And when did books become medium and stop being art? Passion, not profit margin, builds community and demands constructive feedback. Passion beckons the creative spirit and resonates deeply with wide audiences. Passion fuels vibrant literature.
Enter Spontaneous Combustion, a free public event that fosters passion for local literature. Yes, we’ll be making books by hand to fill orders. Yes, new volumes will feature exclusively original work from our active public. And yes, we do it all in one day.
And so we get to the heart of Spontaneous Combustion: a sense of community. In order for a community to function, all parts must feel equal and represented. The perpetual motion machine of SpoCo, if you will, is the sense of self-worth we deliver to our writers. They meet up with us at the starting line (Magers & Quinn, Uptown Mpls, MN) one evening (April 4th, 2012), deliver their hard work exactly 24 hours later, and receive royalty checks for a lifetime. Readers, backers and Kickstarters can rest assured knowing funds will be generously distributed on a per/unit basis. Here’s just a small list of ways SpoCo will engage our demographic:
-Hosting a free event in a public place
-Encouraging all to attend
-Keeping our aesthetic and atmosphere playful and celebratory
-Choosing which stories to publish by popular vote
-Offering lucrative contracts to selected stories/authors
We need just a little scrap of dough to buy an old fruit press (to be adapted into a new book press), some paper, some fancy paper, an awl, binder’s thread, etc. All that nifty bookmaking stuff to fill hardcover orders of Spontaneous Combustion. Don’t worry, we have it all planned out to do on the cheap without cutting any corners (pun!). Lots of creative lifehacks. There's no good way to explain all the crafty tricks we have up our sleeve. But we can say that Lili's Bookbinding Blog is one of our favorite wells of inspiration.
That’s where all you fine Kickstarters come in. We need money to make books. Simple. And we might spend a little bit on posters to promote SpoCo. If you happen to live near Minneapolis, MN, or if you just want some more information than what’s in this tiny blurb, then feel free to check us out. Also feel free to donate if you agree that literature should live in the hands of the people. Many pleases and thanks.
FAQ
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Funding period
Mar 19, 2012 -
Apr 13, 2012
- First created · 0 backed
- Tom Crouse 792 friends
- Website: sicsemperserpent.com
Pledge $5 or more
0 backers
*Last Week Exclusive Gift* You came, you gave, you conquered. This is your day, writers, and this is your reward: One official "I Slammed to Tell the Tale" Spontaneous Combustion bookmark. Your books will thank you. Redeemable on Public Slam Night, Wednesday, April 11th and after.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $7 or more
2 backers
We love that you give what you can. This pledge guarantees you a retro television postcard thank-you note, personally modified hilariously beyond copyright by Spontaneous Combustion Co-Founder Thomas Crouse. Keep on keepin' on. Value: $ .55
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $13 or more
0 backers
*Last Week Exclusive Gift* Some say the number 13 is bad luck...but you don't listen to that lame superstitious talk. And as a reward for your brazen numerology, you'll get a 'Best Line of Dialogue Audience Award'. We'll make a poster out of the top quote and give it to you! Or you may opt for a limited pulp edition of one of the three 'Champion' stories. This gift comes with the postcard and the bookmark mentioned above, at giver's request.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $20 or more
1 backer
*Last Week Exclusive Gift* Hot crackers! Twenty big ones. You caught us off guard here. Good thing we have some nifty "Knowledge is Sexy" coasters for all those sweaty summertime drinks. Yeah, you want one. And now, you're getting it. Comes with the bookmark and the postcard OR the 'Best Line of Dialogue Audience Award' poster, your choice. Redeemable on Public Slam Night, Wednesday, April 11th and after.
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $25 or more
5 backers
For being such a swell giver of gifts, you'll receive one brand-spankin' new poem by Co-Founder Thomas Crouse. You're choice of digital (e-mail) or hard (snail mail) formats. Plus one mutant postcard from above, if you ask pretty please for one. Value: Priceless... and by "priceless" we mean "worthless".
Estimated delivery: Apr 2012Pledge $50 or more
4 backers
Holy wow. If you actually pledge this amount, you'd push us ahead nearly 7% of our goal. Give yourself a pat on the back big enough to burp Paul Bunyan's baby. Then prepare yourself to receive a complimentary softcover edition of the very first volume of Spontaneous Combustion. Plus a poem and a postcard if you ask pretty please w/ wedding cake ice cream. Value: $10+.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $60 or more
0 backers
*Last Week Exclusive Gift* "$50 is too little," you say, "And $70 would be too much. Do you have anything for those of us in the middle?" Hey presto! Your dream has come true. If you give $60, we'll make you a 100-page notebook, hand-bound with supple leather and recycled paper. Fill it with accounts of your many adventures. This prize comes with the poem, postcard and bookmark from above.
Estimated delivery: Jul 2012Pledge $100 or more
3 backers
Inspired by your divine generosity, Co-Founder Thomas Crouse will write you one original short story. Customization options available; length between 10-20 pages, in digital or hard format. Poem and postcard yours upon request, perhaps thematically linked to your story? May also swap poem and postcard for a softcover edition of Spontaneous Combustion, if desired. Value: Actually priceless. Tom's prose is much better than his poetry.
Estimated delivery: May 2012Pledge $200 or more
0 backers
There's no way we can put our thanks into words. So we'll put them into a book. A super-deluxe, platinum-sponsor exclusive, handmade, hardcover book of local literature glory. One in a limited line of the very first Spontaneous Combustion to be hard bound. Autographed by binder/editor Thomas Crouse and as many of the authors as possible. If you want anything else from the previous gift brackets, all you have to do is say the word. We're yours. Value: $55+
Estimated delivery: Jun 2012
