Xanax

As we near the end of another LONG A to Z Challenge, I figured we could all use a little calming influence.

Xanax: Also known as Alprazolam is used to treat anxiety and panic disorders. It belongs to a class of medications called benzodiazepines which act on the brain and nerves (central nervous system) to produce a calming effect. It works by enhancing the effects of a certain natural chemical in the body (GABA). (source: www.webmd.com)


Book Drive Update: The goal is 500 books (or monetary equivalent) for teenagers during the month of April. So far, we've received 14 books and $105.

... uh ... this number hasn't budged in the last two weeks! YIKES!

PLEASE HELP US OUT and donate a book or a buck for this worthwhile cause. The donate button is on the blog's right side bar, and you can find complete details by CLICKING HERE!

NOTHING

Seriously.

We're halfway through the tough A to Z Challenge, and I'd rather hit nothing NOW than later when we get to X, Y, or Z.

Bwhahaha.

Book Drive Update: The goal is 500 books (or monetary equivalent) for teenagers during the month of April. So far, we've received 14 books and $105. YAY!

Please donate a book or a buck for this worthwhile cause. The donate button is on the blog's right side bar, and you can find complete details by CLICKING HERE!

How many blogs have you visited this month so far?
Have you run out of steam, yet? Hang in there!

Dialogue

The regularly scheduled IWSG post is being interrupted to bring you the following important information about the letter D ...

Should writing dialogue be hard? We all speak everyday ... right? So, why would it be hard to write?

Well, partly, because if you are writing "everyday" dialogue, your readers will be bored to tears.

Don't believe me?

Then think about what literary agent, Donald Maass, wrote on the topic:

"In real life most of what people say to each other is drivel. Transcripts of genuine dialogue, as in police wire taps, is a chronicle of halting, disjointed, nonlinear incoherence. Really, it's a wonder that we understand each other. Dialogue in novels is, thank goodness, unnatural. The author has time to think it through" (THE FIRE IN FICTION, p.190).

What do you think?

Is writing dialogue a challenge? Do you agree with Maass?

Editorial Note: Please consider giving a book or a buck to the BOOK DRIVE for teenagers! If everyone from the AtoZ Challenge gave a single dollar ... we'd have a huge donation for this high school library. My goal is to donate 500 books (plus monetary contributions). So far we've raised $30. CLICK HERE to help out! THANKS!!

Book Drive for HS Library

All over the blog-o-sphere you will find book give-aways ... everything from a single book to boxes full of books. Authors give books; bloggers give books; publishers gives books; and so on. But I'm not giving away a book today.

Instead ... I'm asking you to give a book today ... or more specifically:

Give a BOOK to Columbia High School's Library! (please?)

Teenagers need books to read, and the shelves of this library are TOO bare! Help us out and either send me a book (leave your email in the comments below, and I'll send the shipping address to you) or click on the Paypal button to donate $$ for a book (or two).

So, go through your bookshelves or your wallet, and let's make some magic happen for teenage readers! Your support is greatly appreciated.


According to the school policies:

Subject Areas and Formats Collected

           Because this is an organization of higher learning our resources are chosen by their educational value and subject relevance.  Learning resources shall meet high standards of quality in factual content and presentation and are consistent with the educational goals of the Nampa School District.  Our collection emphasizes the following:

• Lifelong learning
• Student aspirations including university studies and workforce training
• Recreational reading and research
• General core curriculum research and guidance
• Local and international culture studies
• Reference services

Books:

 Must have quality construction and durability, and should contain obvious literary or informative value.

Gifts

·         Unsolicited donations will be reviewed in light of the selection criteria listed in this policy. Materials that do not meet these criteria will be offered to teachers for their classroom collections if no teacher sees a need for the material it will be offered back to the donor.

·         Reference materials will only be accepted as complete sets and should not be more than 5 years old.

·         Parties interested in donating items to the library must understand that the library staff cannot evaluate of the monetary value of any gift for income tax purposes.

·         Donors must understand that the library is in no way obligated to keep or circulate donated materials.

Please help to spread the word by sharing the link to this blog page on your blog, twitter, facebook, and email.

THANK YOU!

Asking for a Favor!

Dear Wonderful Blogging Buddies,

One week from today, Monday 4/2/12, I will launch my BOOK DRIVE for Columbia High School.

I know a lot of you are participating in the April AtoZ Challenge. If you haven't already written your post for the "B" day - please title it "Book Drive" and send your followers over to my blog.

If you are not participating in the AtoZ Challenge, please consider also writing a post about the book drive and send your followers over here.

If you'd like me to send the content of the post early (so you can simply repost it on your site), I'd be happy to. I'm also in the process of designing a "badge" for the event. Let me know if you'd like it beforehand.

Your help is greatly appreciated. My goal is to donate at least 500 books. All of the details will be up by 2am PST, Monday the 2nd. Feel free to copy and paste any or all of it onto your blog that day. If you'd like a sneak peek at the content, email me, and I will send it to you.

Thanks for all of your support.

Sincerely,


Margo Kelly

Books for a Library?

At a recent HS Speech & Debate competition, I spoke with a fellow judge ... who just happens to be the librarian for our high school. So, we had wonderful discussion about BOOKS of course ... what else would we talk about?

"It must be so much fun picking out the novels for the library," I said.

She kinda scrunched her face and nodded. And, I thought that was a VERY non-excited reaction!! So, I asked another question!

"Do you have a significant budget for purchasing books for the library?"

"No."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"I have a minimal budget for textbooks, and I have a zero budget for everything else, fiction and non-fiction."

"Are you kidding me? You're a high school library! Those kids need interesting books to read!!"

"I know," the librarian said. "The only way we are able to add books is through my own fundraising efforts, donations, and Eagle Scout projects."

Speechless.

Little-old-head-in-the-sand ME had NO idea.

...

Here's my question for you ... how can I rally blog readers and the writerly community to donate some books or money to help out this one (gotta start somewhere with something doable) library?

What are your suggestions for organizing, starting, and promoting this effort?

Help me figure this thing out ... and there might even be a cupcake (virtual of course) in it for you!!