I Didn't Get Old Being Stupid-Wisdom From Our Elders

I DIDN’T GET OLD BEING STUPID

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What will the book look like?
We’ve asked an artist to prepare a preliminary cover, which appears several places on this website. In this business, however, the publisher always has the right to change things. We’re hoping that the publisher will like what we’ve done, but there are no guarantees.

2. Will my name appear on the book’s cover?
Unfortunately, no. In a compilation such as this, only the names of the editors appear on the cover. Your name will appear in the book's Table of Contents and below your story.

3. When will the book be published?
We wish we knew! We’ve been working on this project for a very long time, and it’s taken far longer than we anticipated. So, the short answer to this question is, we don’t know. The actual release date will be determined by the publisher; meanwhile, we’re doing all we can to collect, review and edit the number of strong, compelling stories our publisher has requested. (If you’ve submitted a story already, we invite you to click on the Authors Update button on the Home Page for the latest information).

4. Who are the people behind this book?
There are two of us: Frank Miles and Dave Egan, and we’re serving as co-editors. We’re grateful to have numerous writing credits between us, but we also have our own careers. Frank is a nationally known entertainer and motivational speaker, who also has a screenplay in development. Dave leads seminars for trade show professionals, and he’s written everything from a children’s book about trees to big-budget corporate events for Fortune 500 companies like Hewlett-Packard, Arco and the Walt Disney Company.

5. How much of the profits will go to charity?
This issue has been part of our planning from the very start, back in 2002. Ten percent of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the National Council On Aging, to support their efforts on behalf of seniors everywhere.

6. I’d prefer that proceeds from my story go to a different charity. Can that be arranged?
Many of us have deep feelings about—and strong connections to—various charitable organizations. We do, too. Unfortunately, it would be unfeasible for us to manage the bookkeeping necessary to accommodate everyone’s individual requests. We believe we’ve found a good one, and we encourage you to learn more about the National Council On Aging by visiting their website.

7. I’ve never written about myself before. How do I get started?
The easiest way might be to look through our list of Idea Starters to find a Situation or Principle that relates to an experience from your own life. Then, read one of our Sample Stories to learn how others have tackled their assignments. If you need additional help, feel free to contact us by phone, fax or email.

8. What kinds of stories are you looking for?
Our feeling is that anybody can offer advice, but most people relate best to a story. It’s what happened to you, and what you did about it (or learned from it), that will make your story interesting for others to read.

9. Will any of my personal information be published (name, address, age, etc.)?
Your name and a brief biographical statement will accompany your story. Essentially, that’s your age, where you’re from, and what your career is (or was, before retirement). You can decide whether to use your own name (or a pseudonym), whether you’re comfortable revealing your age, or if you’d rather share about your hobbies or current activities than a career. In any case, you will have the opportunity to review your “bio” prior to publishing.

10. Do I have to be any particular age to participate?
Given the book’s title, we’re looking for stories about the Life experiences of men and women who consider themselves to be in their “golden years” (whether that means 55 or 95—or older). However, while the story must be in the “voice” of the senior, that doesn’t mean you can’t participate if you’re not a senior yourself. We encourage younger writers to act as “ghostwriters” for the elders in their lives.

11. I’ve written several stories in the past. Can I just give you one of those?
Sure you can, provided that your previously written story has not appeared before in print, and that it fits the criteria of the stories we’re looking for. If you’re considering a favorite story of yours, check through the list of Idea Starters and match your story to one of the Situations or Principles listed there. In other words, does your story tell readers how you learned something along your own life’s journey?

12. How much do I have to pay to be included in this book?
There is no cost for you to participate. You might be thinking about “vanity publishers.” These publishers will include your poem or story in a compiled volume for a price. Usually, books like those never appear in bookstores, so the only way you can be sure that anyone reads your story is to buy copies of that book and give them to others. That’s not what this is about. We don’t want your money; we just want your story. In fact, you’ll receive an honorarium of $100.00 if your story is selected.

13. How will I know if my story is selected?
Once we’ve had the opportunity to read your story (perhaps several times), we’ll begin narrowing down all the submissions we receive. This process may take several months. Only those stories that match our criteria will make it to the final cut, so please check out the Idea Starters to be sure you’re on the right track. If your story is chosen, we will notify you by mail, confirming that you will be part of our book. You will also be asked to sign a legal release form, which gives us your permission to publish your story.

14. What do I get if my story is selected?
You get three things: the credibility that comes from being a published author, your own copy of the first edition of “I Didn’t Get Old Being Stupid,” and compensation in the form of $100.00 (one hundred dollars). That makes our agreement to publish your story binding on all parties. That’s what our lawyers told us we had to do (and we had to pay them a lot more that $100.00!).

15. How many stories will be in the book?
We’re guessing that there will be a minimum of 50 stories and a maximum of 100. We base that on each story being from 300 to 700 words (two to four type-written, double-spaced pages).

16. I have a physical disability. Is there still some way I can participate?
Definitely! We feel this book would be greatly enhanced by including stories from disabled people. In fact, what happened (in terms of your disability) and what you learned from living with it could make for a very powerful story. If your disability makes it impossible for you to write, perhaps you could dictate it to a caregiver or friend, who can type it out for you.

17. I have a friend whose life is much more interesting than mine. Can I write about him/her?
You could, in theory; but we’d like to suggest an alternative. What if you and your friend work together to write a story? It may be about your friend’s life, and you could be the “ghost writer.” Since the point of the book is sharing a story about an experience someone had and what happened to them (or what they learned as a result), it’s that first-person perspective that makes the story more interesting.

18. Who owns my story if it is chosen for publication?
You do. What you give us (by signing a release form) is the right to include your previously unpublished story in this book, and for any other use deemed appropriate to promote this—or future—books. However, once you sign the release form, you cannot give exclusive rights to your story to any other publisher.

19. Does the story I submit have to be true, or can I just make something up?
Wow, this is tricky. We strongly feel that the truth is stranger than fiction. That’s why we suggest that your story be based on real events or situations. But it’s really not our call. Let’s let the bookstores make the decision for us. There’s a Self Help/Inspiration section (true stories) and a fiction section (made-up stories) in every bookstore. We’re shooting for this book to land in the “true stories” section.

20. How long does my story need to be?
As a general rule, your story should be between 300 and 700 words (two to four type-written, double-spaced pages). Some of the stories we select may be edited in order to fit the space allotted.

21. I’m not so good at spelling and grammar. Will you correct any mistakes so I won’t be embarrassed?
We have a very experienced, talented editor working with us, who is committed to putting each writer’s story in its best light. The publishers will also review everything prior to printing. You can be sure that you will look like a pro, even if you’ve never written before.

22. Can I purchase discounted copies of the finished book for my friends and family?
Yes. We’ve already made arrangements with our publisher so that all our writers can, if
they desire, purchase additional copies at the “wholesale” price.

23. Are you only publishing one book, or might my story make it into a future publication?
The commitment from our publisher only pertains to one book. However, if this book is successful, we are eager to work on future editions. Some of the stories that weren’t included in the first book may make their way into other publications.

24. I’m not sure I can do this. Can I pass along this information to a friend/friends?
Certainly. We invite you to share news about this project with others. But before you decide to pass it off to others, we encourage you to give it a try. Again, if you need help, please contact us. We will be happy to support you in your efforts.


I DIDN’T GET OLD BEING STUPID Frequently Asked Questions 1. What will the book look like? We’ve asked an artist to prepare a preliminary cover, which appears several places on this website. In this business, however, the publisher always has the right to change things. We’re hoping that the publisher will like what we’ve done, but there are no guarantees. 2. Will my name appear on the book’s cover? Unfortunately, no. In a compilation such as this, only the names of the editors appear on the cover. Your name will appear in the book's Table of Contents and below your story. 3. When will the book be published? We wish we knew! We’ve been working on this project for a very long time, and it’s taken far longer than we anticipated. So, the short answer to this question is, we don’t know. The actual release date will be determined by the publisher; meanwhile, we’re doing all we can to collect, review and edit the number of strong, compelling stories our publisher has requested. (If you’ve submitted a story already, we invite you to click on the Authors Update button on the Home Page for the latest information). 4. Who are the people behind this book? There are two of us: Frank Miles and Dave Egan, and we’re serving as co-editors. We’re grateful to have numerous writing credits between us, but we also have our own careers. Frank is a nationally known entertainer and motivational speaker, who also has a screenplay in development. Dave leads seminars for trade show professionals, and he’s written everything from a children’s book about trees to big-budget corporate events for Fortune 500 companies like Hewlett-Packard, Arco and the Walt Disney Company. 5. How much of the profits will go to charity? This issue has been part of our planning from the very start, back in 2002. Ten percent of the proceeds from this book will be donated to the National Council On Aging, to support their efforts on behalf of seniors everywhere. 6. I’d prefer that proceeds from my story go to a different charity. Can that be arranged? Many of us have deep feelings about—and strong connections to—various charitable organizations. We do, too. Unfortunately, it would be unfeasible for us to manage the bookkeeping necessary to accommodate everyone’s individual requests. We believe we’ve found a good one, and we encourage you to learn more about the National Council On Aging by visiting their website. 7. I’ve never written about myself before. How do I get started? The easiest way might be to look through our list of Idea Starters to find a Situation or Principle that relates to an experience from your own life. Then, read one of our Sample Stories to learn how others have tackled their assignments. If you need additional help, feel free to contact us by phone, fax or email. 8. What kinds of stories are you looking for? Our feeling is that anybody can offer advice, but most people relate best to a story. It’s what happened to you, and what you did about it (or learned from it), that will make your story interesting for others to read. 9. Will any of my personal information be published (name, address, age, etc.)? Your name and a brief biographical statement will accompany your story. Essentially, that’s your age, where you’re from, and what your career is (or was, before retirement). You can decide whether to use your own name (or a pseudonym), whether you’re comfortable revealing your age, or if you’d rather share about your hobbies or current activities than a career. In any case, you will have the opportunity to review your “bio” prior to publishing. 10. Do I have to be any particular age to participate? Given the book’s title, we’re looking for stories about the Life experiences of men and women who consider themselves to be in their “golden years” (whether that means 55 or 95—or older). However, while the story must be in the “voice” of the senior, that doesn’t mean you can’t participate if you’re not a senior yourself. We encourage younger writers to act as “ghostwriters” for the elders in their lives. 11. I’ve written several stories in the past. Can I just give you one of those? Sure you can, provided that your previously written story has not appeared before in print, and that it fits the criteria of the stories we’re looking for. If you’re considering a favorite story of yours, check through the list of Idea Starters and match your story to one of the Situations or Principles listed there. In other words, does your story tell readers how you learned something along your own life’s journey? 12. How much do I have to pay to be included in this book? There is no cost for you to participate. You might be thinking about “vanity publishers.” These publishers will include your poem or story in a compiled volume for a price. Usually, books like those never appear in bookstores, so the only way you can be sure that anyone reads your story is to buy copies of that book and give them to others. That’s not what this is about. We don’t want your money; we just want your story. In fact, you’ll receive an honorarium of $100.00 if your story is selected. 13. How will I know if my story is selected? Once we’ve had the opportunity to read your story (perhaps several times), we’ll begin narrowing down all the submissions we receive. This process may take several months. Only those stories that match our criteria will make it to the final cut, so please check out the Idea Starters to be sure you’re on the right track. If your story is chosen, we will notify you by mail, confirming that you will be part of our book. You will also be asked to sign a legal release form, which gives us your permission to publish your story. 14. What do I get if my story is selected? You get three things: the credibility that comes from being a published author, your own copy of the first edition of “I Didn’t Get Old Being Stupid,” and compensation in the form of $100.00 (one hundred dollars). That makes our agreement to publish your story binding on all parties. That’s what our lawyers told us we had to do (and we had to pay them a lot more that $100.00!). 15. How many stories will be in the book? We’re guessing that there will be a minimum of 50 stories and a maximum of 100. We base that on each story being from 300 to 700 words (two to four type-written, double-spaced pages). 16. I have a physical disability. Is there still some way I can participate? Definitely! We feel this book would be greatly enhanced by including stories from disabled people. In fact, what happened (in terms of your disability) and what you learned from living with it could make for a very powerful story. If your disability makes it impossible for you to write, perhaps you could dictate it to a caregiver or friend, who can type it out for you. 17. I have a friend whose life is much more interesting than mine. Can I write about him/her? You could, in theory; but we’d like to suggest an alternative. What if you and your friend work together to write a story? It may be about your friend’s life, and you could be the “ghost writer.” Since the point of the book is sharing a story about an experience someone had and what happened to them (or what they learned as a result), it’s that first-person perspective that makes the story more interesting. 18. Who owns my story if it is chosen for publication? You do. What you give us (by signing a release form) is the right to include your previously unpublished story in this book, and for any other use deemed appropriate to promote this—or future—books. However, once you sign the release form, you cannot give exclusive rights to your story to any other publisher. 19. Does the story I submit have to be true, or can I just make something up? Wow, this is tricky. We strongly feel that the truth is stranger than fiction. That’s why we suggest that your story be based on real events or situations. But it’s really not our call. Let’s let the bookstores make the decision for us. There’s a Self Help/Inspiration section (true stories) and a fiction section (made-up stories) in every bookstore. We’re shooting for this book to land in the “true stories” section. 20. How long does my story need to be? As a general rule, your story should be between 300 and 700 words (two to four type-written, double-spaced pages). Some of the stories we select may be edited in order to fit the space allotted. 21. I’m not so good at spelling and grammar. Will you correct any mistakes so I won’t be embarrassed? We have a very experienced, talented editor working with us, who is committed to putting each writer’s story in its best light. The publishers will also review everything prior to printing. You can be sure that you will look like a pro, even if you’ve never written before. 22. Can I purchase discounted copies of the finished book for my friends and family? Yes. We’ve already made arrangements with our publisher so that all our writers can, if they desire, purchase additional copies at the “wholesale” price. 23. Are you only publishing one book, or might my story make it into a future publication? The commitment from our publisher only pertains to one book. However, if this book is successful, we are eager to work on future editions. Some of the stories that weren’t included in the first book may make their way into other publications. 24. I’m not sure I can do this. Can I pass along this information to a friend/friends? Certainly. We invite you to share news about this project with others. But before you decide to pass it off to others, we encourage you to give it a try. Again, if you need help, please contact us. We will be happy to support you in your efforts.

Copyright 2007 Miles To Go Productions All Rights Reserved