A BIG Thank You!

I just wanted to pass on the letter of thanks I received from CARE International to all who paticipated. -Kathy-Diane Leveille

Thank you for participating in Writers who CARE: The 50/50 Project in support of CARE Canada.

I’m pleased to advise that the project goal to raise $1,000 was surpassed and even more Canadians, including 20 budding writers, have been introduced to CARE and our mission to empower women and girls around the world to fight global poverty.

I would like to offer a special thank you to Kathy-Diane Leveille for launching this incredible project as well as to all of you for your participation. Your support made all the difference in making this fundraiser a success!

Founded in 1945, CARE is the foremost international humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. In over 80 countries, CARE works with the poorest communities to improve basic health and education, enhance rural livelihoods and food security, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity, help vulnerable people adapt to climate change and provide lifesaving assistance during emergencies. Funds raised for the Writers who CARE project will be directed to support CARE’s relief efforts in East Africa.

Thank you again for your contribution. We invite you to stay in touch with CARE and keep updated on to fight poverty around the world.

Visit www.care.ca for more information.

Sincerely

Rosemary Tassie
Officer, Ambassador Relations & Events
Agente, ambassadeurs & événements
rosemary.tassie @care.ca | Tel: (613) 228-5603
CARE Canada | www.care.ca
200-9 Gurdwara Rd | Ottawa, ON K2E 7X6

We reached our goal!

We reached our goal of raising $1000.00  in the 50/50 project. Thank you so much to all who have donated.  

When I saw the post in the WFNS newsletter I was struck by the quiet brilliance of Kathy's 'Writers who Care' idea - I love the simplicity of it: donate $50, have 50 pages reviewed by another author. It raises money to help people struggling in a part of the world so far from here - that in itself is reason enough to participate, and each dollar spent in Somalia will have a ripple effect in the lives and communities of the people who receive the funds. But the initiative does something else as well - bringing together writers in disparate genres to review and comment on each other's work. That adds another ripple to the effect of each dollar - a layer of community support 'back home'. My own writing project is about Africa, and about my relationship with a small, struggling village there, so I am particularly aware of how the ripples reinforce. Thanks for the great idea, Kathy. And, for the push!

-Munju Ravindra

The 50/50 project is an inspired idea. How could I pass up the chance to help war-ravaged Somalia, especially when I'd get something so valuable in return? The critique I received from Jacquelyn Mitchard gave me the feedback I needed to shape the opening of my YA novel, UNIVERSAL FORCES, and the encouragement I needed to finish the project. I'm grateful for her comments!

-Monica Shaughnessy

www.monicashaughnessy.com

I donated to this cause because I believe in supporting writers. I have always loved to write and to dabble with writing; believing and dreaming that I can. I believe that writers all over the world should have the right to express their feelings, thoughts and visions through the written word, for all to see.  Writers have contributed so much to humanity whether it be Rumi, The Brontes, Munroe, Attwood, Chomski, or local writers like Shauntay Grant, Wayne Johnston, etc. Writers are suffering in prisons just for their words, I ache for them.I believe in the freedom of the word and in the freedom to read a book and in the freedom to write in all forms.

My own writing has been mainly from my life experiences. My life in Newfoundland was shaped by rich, everyday "stories" and what a joy it would be for me to put these into a book...My current life interacting with refugees and new Canadians is rich. I have many words swirling in my head waiting for me to make a decision - which path shall I take?  "Two paths diverged into a wood and I took the one less taken and that has made all of the difference."

-Ruth Larson

$900.00 and growing!

We've raised $900.00 dollars to date. We only need two more donors to reach our goal! Thanks to all. The CARE office is closed until January 3, 2012 for the holidays so when you make a donation you won't hear from us until then.  In the meantime, have a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

"I belong to a group of New Brunswick writers called the River Girls. We inspire and encourage each other with our writing. It is always helpful to have someone new read my work, especially a published writer. One of the River Girls let me know about the 50/50 project and I couldn’t refuse. I am always looking for ways I can give back, since I am so fortunate in life to be happy, healthy and safe. I have been matched with Marni Graff and have submitted pages from two novels that I am working on, a murder mystery and a children’s fantasy novel. I look forward to her feedback. Thanks so much, Kathy-Diane, for this win-win opportunity, and thanks to the authors who are providing such a wonderful service."

-Heather O’Connell

"I heard about Writers Who Care and the 50/50 project from Kathy-Diane Leveille. I feel humbled as I contribute to this devastating cause. Hunger is something that still hangs in the memory of the Irish people who suffered the horrors of the Great Potato Famine in the 1840's and scattered much of the population to the four corners of the globe in their effort to escape its fate. I have been working on a memoir of my youth in Ireland in the 50's and 60's and appreciate the opportunity to have my writing evaluated by a published author. I must say it feels strange to be able to receive something in return for donating. I look forward to receiving any tips or feedback that will help me along the way..I applaud all the 'Writers Who Care' who came on board to offer their time and talents to this worthy cause. Thank you."

 -Helena Hook

We've raised $600.00!

Thanks to all the writers who are supporting us.  Our tally now stands at $600.00. Who is donating?

"As soon as I spotted the Writers Who Care 50/50 Project in my weekly e-loop from the Writers Federation of Nova Scotia, I knew this project was for me. It's innovative, inspiring, and has been downright useful to a nature writer testing the uncertain waters of fiction. I felt great about making a donation to support CARE's efforts to raise funds to combat hunger in East Africa, and was thrilled to send the first four chapters of my romantic novel to Sophia Knightly for her commentary. She replied within a week and offered me praise, encouragement, and excellent detailed suggestions for improving my work in progress, A Look Across the Sand (Jenny Winter). The 50/50 Project has been a definite win/win situation for me. Wishing you the best..."

-Magi Nams
www.nams.ca/MagiBlog

"I read about the 50/50 Project on author Susan Olding's blog. I thought it was a great way to contribute to a worthwhile cause as well as receive a critique from a professional writer who is generously donating his or her time for this initiative. When I was younger I always enjoyed writing stories and poems, but I did not get back seriously into writing until about 4 years ago; I'm now part of a writers' group that meets biweekly. I've written several short stories and a few poems and am now working on a novel for tweens. So this is a great chance to get some feedback from a published YA writer, Janet Fox, and I look forward to what I'll learn from her".

-Jeannie Prinsen

Who is donating?

Thank you to those who have contributed to our cause. To date, we have have raised over $400.00.  Here's a look at a few of the people who have donated:

I have a dual rationale for donating. First, I truly believe that we need to promote awareness of the crisis in Eastern Africa. Secondly, it afforded me the opportunity to donate to a worthwhile cause while connecting with other writers. I am grateful to those experienced writers who agreed to read our work. It is their generous support, and the effort behind Writers Who Care, that is truly inspiring.

-Andrea Kikuchi

I decided to donate to Writers Who Care for a couple of reasons. The first is that I support, as much as my pocketbook will allow, writer sponsored charity drives because I know the funds raised will go to where the help is most needed. The situation in Somalia is devastating. The second is the opportunity to have my manuscript evaluated by a well known published author. In my case, Ashley March, a well known romance author.

Writers Who Care came at a good time for me because I’d just entered Lord Beaumont’s Bride in to the Romance Writers' of America’s Golden Heart writing competition for unpublished authors. Lord Beaumont’s Bride, is about an innocent spinster seeking love and the rake who traps her into marriage.

-Ella Quinn

I believe that we are all connected in time and space in this planet of ours and that we share pains and laughs even from far away. Thus, we feel a sense of obligation to help, within the constraints of our means, our brothers and sisters in distress regardless of where they live. I had already made a contribution through my church, but could not resist Kathy-Diane’s call. I do not consider myself either a writer or a poet. I just enjoy writing, shifting from essays to short stories and poems and even to the composition of songs.  Three months ago I organized my poems into a collection of 37 pieces and was looking for an experienced writer to find out whether they were any good. When Lee Thompson, the executive director of the Writers' Federation of New Brunswick, forwarded Kathy-Diane’s message, I thought that my prayers had been answered. Not only was I going to receive a general evaluation of my poems at a nominal cost, but my contribution would go to a worthy cause.  Yours was a great idea, Kathy-Diane. As a beneficiary of your creativity, I am very grateful to you and to Mike Blouin, who kindly agreed to read my poems. 

-Joe Ruggeri

I think the 50 pages for 50 dollars initiative is creative and fun. It makes donating a two-way street. I'm sure that writers, like most artists, don't have a whole lot of extra cash to donate themselves, but they have big hearts and want to do what they can. Lovely idea of someone else providing the cash and the writers showing their expertise and experience. It's brilliant.  

-Jen Powley

The 50/50 Project

I was painting a lawn chair, listening to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's radio show SUNDAY EDITION, when I first heard about the Somalian refugees tramping miles and miles to reach the camps. They left grandparents behind knowing they would die. They journeyed with the sickening certainty that not all their children would survive the trip. When they finally arrived at what they'd held out as a last bastion of hope, they were confronted with harsh and bitter disappointment; resources were slim to nil. Trying to imagine the horrible circumstances they face, wrought by starvation, drought and war tore me up. I needed to do something. The 50/50 Project is it.

Kathy-Diane Leveille

FIFTY PAGES FOR FIFTY DOLLARS: That's the 50/50 Project.

How does it work? Working with CARE INTERNATIONAL, Writers who CARE: the 50/50 PROJECT will allow anyone who makes a donation of $50.00 to submit 50 pages double-spaced of a work-in-progress for a 1-2 page critique by one of the participating authors.  All donators wishing a critique must have access to e-mail and the Internet for correspondence with a published author in order to qualify. Authors and donators will be matched on a first come, first serve basis as long as slots are open. The project is also open to those wishing simply to make a donation to this worthy cause.

MAKE A DONATION

INSTRUCTIONS: If you are interested in participating and receiving a critique, start studying the PARTICIPATING PUBLISHED AUTHORS page listed above. Read the author bios and research their web sites (click on author's photos in side bar for direct link). Once you make a donation and are contacted, you will be asked to rank your top five picks for your critique. You will then be matched depending on which authors are still available at the time of your donation. At that point, you will be contacted by your matched author who will provide their own specific submission requirements for the 50-page submission (at their discretion). Donators are responsible for providing submissions that meet requirements to be eligible for a critique.

The critique will not consist of line editing, but a general overview of plot, character, setting, voice etc at the author's discretion provided within 90 days of receipt. These exceptionally talented North American and UK writers hail from a wide range of literary and genre fiction: romance, paranormal, mystery, thriller, young adult, historical and mainstream; along with a smaller percentage of literary biography, memoir and journalists. Once all authors are matched the notification that we are no longer accepting critiques will be posted on the MAKE A DONATION page.  Anyone can make a donation to this cause whether you wish to receive a critique or not.

Anyone receiving a critique is not eligible for a tax receipt according to CCRA rules since a service is being provided.
Thank you for considering Writers who CARE: The 50/50 Project. We appreciate any support you can give. For more information contact shadowsfall@kathy-dianeleveille.com.

Please be patient in waiting to be contacted by 50/50 once you've made a donation. You should hear from us within 5-7 days. CARE will forward a list of current donors to us at the end of each week.  In the meantime, research the authors and prepare your list of preferences for critique if you plan to request one.

Participating authors are members of numerous professional writing associations including The Writers' Union of Canada, International ThrillWriters, The Crime Writers' Association (UK), Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, The Romance Writers of America, RWA Kiss of Death Romantic Suspence Chapter, Professional Writers' Association of Canada, The Society of Authors (UK), Canadian Writers' Group, Travel Media Association of Canada, The Writers' Federation of Nova Scotia and The Writers' Federation of New Brunswick.