A collection of new short stories and poetry based on people experiencing sounds or touches or morsels of God in any life situation.
Since October 2011, I've been writing stories and poems in an online writing contest. The most intriguing thing I've discovered there is the way folks (who aren't me!) talk about God, religion, and living life. What I encounter in these articulate writers is decidedly not what I heard coming out of the mouths of religious people growing up. I read in these writers a variety of life experiences, descriptions of crashing against, opening up, dismissing, and broadening the prescriptions of what life with God and religion should be. As a result I've been exploring, through my writing, questions like these:
- What do you get when you throw God and religion together with someone who doesn't believe in the God or religion they grew up with?
- What sort of faith is possible when religion fails?
- What sort of God do you get when the images you have don't look a thing like the person you see in the mirror? What do you get when they do?
- What sort of faith can you believe in when extraordinarily evil things have happened to you or someone you love?
- How do you answer questions of ultimate concern when the answers you've been given in the past don't fit?
- What happens to God, religion, and faith when you ask questions that make the most powerful religious leaders squirm?
- If a religion's beliefs and dogmas are inadequate or unjust, what might keep a prophetic person rooted in religiosity?
I believe that fiction and poetry are two extremely powerful (some would even say subversive; I would say transformative) media in which to explore such questions in illuminating, heart-breaking, hope-inducing, rage-including, thought-provoking ways. In this book I will explore how God and religion and life lived intersect (or miss the mark, or both). Persons of all religious traditions or lack thereof are encouraged to add their own flavors of the human and divine to this mix. This book will be a collection of brand-new short fiction and poems inspired by you and your stories. If you would like a sample of my work, you can get a good dose of my non-fiction creative writing here, or I'm happy to send you a sample short story or poem by email request (lifeloveliturgy@gmail.com).
Life. Love. Liturgy. Inspire me.
FAQ
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Once the $333 minimum is met, the project is guaranteed to be funded! Pledges beyond the $333 minimum are quite acceptable and gladly welcome--I'll use the extra funding toward editing and cover design costs.
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I'm hoping to write thirty original stories and/or poems for this book--one story or poem for each year of my life. I have my fingers crossed that thirty donors will come forward to fund them!
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You are indeeeed a rock star, and thank you!!! Now that you've pledged at the level needed for me to write you a story or poem, you need to think about A) whether you'd prefer a poem or short fiction (and it's okay if you want me to pick for you!) and B) what word, expression, name, or experience you'd like to share with me as my inspiration for the piece. Words or short phrases are preferred, but you are more than welcome to give me a bit of context in the form of a sentence or paragraph as well. I will invite all donors to send me their words of inspiration as soon as the project is at least 100% funded!
24
Backers
$862
pledged of $333 goal
0
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Funding period
May 10, 2012 -
Jun 9, 2012
- First created · 4 backed
- Kate Allen 474 friends
- Website: lifeloveliturgy.weebly...
Pledge $6 or more
0 backers
For a $6 pledge I will include your name in the acknowledgments of the book!
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $12 or more
4 backers
For a $12 pledge I will write a poem or short story for the book based on a word, expression, name, or experience of your choice. You will also receive an electronic (PDF) copy of the poem/short story and I will include your name in the acknowledgments of the book.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $18 or more
5 backers
For an $18 pledge I will write a poem or short story for the book based on a word, expression, name, or experience of your choice. You will also receive an electronic (PDF) copy of the book and I'll include your name in the acknowledgments.
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $36 or more
8 backers
For a $36 pledge, I will write a poem or short story for the book based on a word, expression, name, or experience of your choice. Additionally you will receive a signed, printed copy of the book (inscribed as you wish!). I will also include a special thank-you to you in the acknowledgements!
Estimated delivery: Sep 2012Pledge $99 or more
2 backers Limited (1 of 3 left)
For a $99 pledge, you will receive all that is listed for the $33 pledge level plus three signed, printed copies of the book (inscribed as you wish!). I will also arrange to meet with you or your book club in person (within the San Francisco Bay Area) or via Skype for at least an hour to discuss any aspect of the book.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $333 or more
0 backers Limited (1 of 1 left)
For a $333 pledge, you will receive everything listed for the $100 level. I will also either 1) write an additional three poems or short stories (or combination thereof) to be included in the book, dedicated specifically to you, or 2) co-author a poem or short story with you to include in the book. If you're local to the San Francisco Bay Area, I'll also treat you to a coffee date at my favorite coffee shop to discuss the book, writing, God, or whatever else you wish for at least an hour!
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012
