Kickstarter has launched; it is a new micro-funding scheme for artists and makers of things in which anyone may "pledge" money towards a concept-you only pay your pledge if the proposer meets his or her fundraising goal. I am maybe going to go give a dollar to this guy who wants to write a novel about "an amnesiac ninja trying to save the world from a demon invasion." I would read the hell out of that.
And why is there not yet an entry on Kickstarter from Messrs. Balk, Sicha, and Cho?
Choire, if you may my rent for the month of May (due later today, plz!) I promise to email you an awesome story about a girl who was thisclose to crawling out of her apartment via her second-story balcony, leaving behind a fridge containing a jar of pickles and some almond butter, but who was rescued at the last minute by a debonair gentleman (a 'confirmed bachelor' type) and his trusty sidekick, Pills the Cat.
It will blow your mind.
Addendum:
"pay" not may
"storey" not story.
I promise the final draft will be free of such errors. It's worth the money, honest.
I'm willing to microfund a pancake breakfast if you include a passage about said girl’s evening tea with a sneakered hipster.
I'm writing a novel about a telepathic dairy farmer. But can't read people's minds; he can only read the thoughts of his cows. He doesn't want to, but he can't help it. All day long, he hears their thoughts in his head.
Here's what they think:
"Is it time for milking yet?"
"I'm getting a little uncomfortable. I wonder how soon I'm gonna be milked?"
"Mmmmm. Hay."
"Sure wish milking time would get here."
The farmer thinks he might go mad. Perhaps he already is ...
I wonder how those cows feel about their dirty barn-mates causing an international pandemic of epic (not really) proportions?
I'm working on this Peter Mayle-ish thing where an American moves to the Centro 'Storico of Rome and gradually gains the trust and respect of the locals and finally convinces the barrista at Caffe Sant'Eustachio to share the secret of their crema and all I need is the money to move to the Centro 'Storico of Rome where I will gradually gain the trust and respect of the locals.
I'll give you a dollar towards that. But you have to promise to take me with you.
The Devil made me forget what my book was about.
I just hope the ninja would remember he was fighting a demon invasion.
I'll also invest in the amnesiac ninja novel, on the condition that ninja is written to also have a mild case of torette's.
This is non-negotiable.
Unfortunately, the amnesiac ninja doesn't have Tourette's. Although maybe that's an idea for a sequel?
But Lethem did it already, I reckon.
Might squeeze the telepathic dairy farmer in there somewhere, though.
-Brendan
hey everyone -- i'm one of the kickstarter founders, and if anyone is interested in making a project or finding out more, you can email me at yancey at kickstarter.
and choire, congrats on the awl! been digging it.
also give money to the project i'm involved in NY MAKES A BOOK please.