Hi friends…
Earlier this year I was approached by a publishing company. They asked if I’d be interested in writing a new book. Something in the inspirational / motivational / self-help genre. Uplifting stories and essays. That sort of thing.
I said “YES!”
We chatted on the phone and then exchanged several emails.
I told them my idea.
“This will be a book about how—no matter what has happened to you in the hours leading up to this moment—you are still in charge
of your life," I explained.
"This book will remind people that whether it is 12:01am in the morning or 11:59pm at night, today is not over yet. If you are still breathing, then you still have time to change your plan, try something new, stop a bad habit, start a new path, lace up your running shoes, clean up a mess, begin a new project, or whatever you feel called to do. It is never
too late. One choice can change your whole day—and one choice can create a brand new story line in your life.”
“Great!” they said. “We love it! Write some sample material and send it to us.”
About one week after our exciting email exchange, I fell off a rock climbing wall
and broke my fibula.
It was bad.
I had surgery, spent weeks doped up on painkillers, then two months on crutches, got totally behind on my client projects, cried a lot, got angry at myself for not being "stronger," questioned my career path and my identity, started physical therapy, learned
how to walk again, gradually rebooted myself back into normal life…
... and ...
... my plans got derailed, one thing led to another, days evaporated into weeks, weeks turned into months and… I never got around to writing the book. I made a few notes but nothing beyond that. I felt so
behind, so ashamed, so frustrated with myself, and most of all, really sad. Because I really wanted to write that book.
Why am I telling you this?
Because late last night, just before bedtime, I realized that… THIS YEAR IS NOT OVER YET.
(I temporarily forgot my own message. I forgot that it’s not too late to bring this book into the world. Oops. I am glad I remembered.)
I have no idea if those nice folks from the publishing company are still interested in my book concept—I will find out!—but regardless, I still want to write this book. It’s burning in me. I know it’s
not too late, because it’s never too late to make art and make a difference. (I am taking my own “message” to heart. I’m ready. It’s time to do this.)
In order to write TODAY IS NOT OVER YET… I need your help.
Specifically, I need your
stories.
I am looking for true stories from men and women of all ages.
I am looking for stories about…
– How you turned a crummy, lazy, disappointing or boring day into an amazing
one.
– How you pulled yourself out of a creative slump or a heavy depression.
– How you took a bad / sad / tragic situation and made it feel beautiful and meaningful.
– How you confronted a bad habit or pattern and finally, one
day, you stopped doing it.
– How you broke through inertia and finally started doing something you’ve always wanted to do.
– How you made one choice and because of that choice, your day was transformed, an opportunity arose, or your life veered off in an exciting new direction (“Thank god I pulled myself off the couch
and _______ because then _______ happened.”)
– That moment where it seemed like all hope was lost, like things would never get better, and you felt defeated or ashamed, but then a voice inside of you whispered, "Get up, keep going, it's not over yet" and then—because of something you chose to do—things changed.
Did any of those prompts spark a memory for you? Got a story to share? If so, I’d love to hear it.
Here’s how to submit your "today is not over yet" story:
– Please email your story to me by THANKSGIVING DAY (Thursday, November 26,
2015)
– My email address is alexandra@alexandrafranzen.com
– Please put TODAY IS NOT OVER YET in your Subject line
– Once you've submitted your story, please help yourself to a lovely "thank you" gift. (Scroll to the bottom of this email to the "PS" for instructions on how to get your treat. Enjoy!)
Please include the following things in your email:
– Your name
– Your email address
– Your
website or blog (if you have one)
– Your age and occupation (full time dad, dance teacher, physician, whatever you currently do)
– And, most importantly, your “today is not over yet” story (please keep it brief: 500 words or less.)
Guidelines & things to know:
– Your “today is not over yet” story must be a true story. No fiction. No second-hand storytelling, please. (I am looking for “This happened to me…” not “This happened to my cousin’s friend’s daughter back when she was in college.”)
– If you submit a story, this means that you are OK with me potentially using / editing / publishing your story. I will not change “the facts” of your story, but I will re-tell your story in my own writing style and voice. If you are not OK with this, please do not submit your story.
– If your story gets included in my book, I will include your name (and website,
if you have one) in the book in a special “thank you” section. I will also mention you on my website, in my newsletter (which goes out to almost 12,000 people) and anywhere else I possibly can. You will not be paid for your contribution in dollars, but you will be deeply thanked and appreciated and your story will go on to reach and inspire many people.
– If you are concerned about
safety / privacy / anonymity—like, you’re worried about certain people seeing your story, because it might hurt people, or put you in danger, etc.—then please do not submit your story for this book project. I don’t want to put you or anyone else in harm’s way. Please only submit a story that is “ready” to be publicly shared.
– If you think, "My story is too dark / depressing / intense /
dramatic, I probably shouldn't send it" ... please do send it. I want to hear your story.
– If you think, "My story is too silly / unoriginal / not very dramatic / not a big deal, I probably shouldn't send it" ... please do send it. I want to hear your story.
– If you think, "I am not
very good at writing, I can't make my story sound 'good enough', I probably shouldn't send it" ... please do send it. I want to hear your story. (And making it sound "good" is my job, not yours. Don't worry about structure, spelling, grammar, or impressiveness. Just tell me a true story like we're chatting over coffee.)
Thank you so, so much.
I can’t wait to read your story!
-Alex
PS. Hooray! You made it all the way to the end. You are quite patient and amazing.
Here's how to get your "thank you" gift:
– Go to my Shop. You will see several products there including the following items: my e-course, Unstoppable, my novel, Milk & Honey, and my communication guidebook, How To Say No Nicely.
– Would you like to have one of those items for free? Great! Click the button that says [GET THE BOOK] or [GET THE COURSE], whatever is applicable. This will direct you to a check-out screen.
– On the check-out screen, look for a field that says "Offer code." This field will be below the email field and above the payment field.
– Enter this code - today - in the "Offer code" field. Once you do that, the total price will drop down to zero - $0 - and you can get
your item for free! Enjoy!
– You can repeat this process for one, two or all three items. Go nuts. Grab everything. I don't mind. Treat yourself!
– This is purely an honor-system situation. Submit a story. Grab your treats. Simple. The special code - today - will be active
until the final day that you can submit a story, which is THANKSGIVING DAY (Thursday, November 26, 2015). That's all! Thank you so much!