The tagline for
1888 Center
, an Orange publishing house founded by
Kevin Staniec ’01
, is “Building community, one story at a time.” But during June and July, the organization will build story one author at a time during its third annual
Summer Writing Project
by hosting panels, workshops and a writing contest that will give authors a chance to be published.
swp16-irvinrodriguez

1888 has joined forces once again with JukePop, Chapman University, Barnes & Noble and
Orange Public Library & History Center
to host
three free public events
on writing, marketing and publishing for authors as part of Summer Writing Project. Each event will be recorded and published as a special episode of
The How The Why,
1888’s weekly educational podcast series hosted by
Jon-Barrett Ingels (Class of ’00)
, whose book,
How to Succeed by Failing
, was published by 1888 (1888 has published
36 novellas
,
three dime novels
and
three “The Cost of Paper”
books to date).

The program also gives authors the chance to
submit novellas one chapter at a time
and read excerpts aloud in a workshop setting for feedback. The
submission period
is June 1-30; a workshop series will be held held July 1-31 for the top 25 authors selected; and the winning author, who 1888 will publish, will be announced Aug. 1.

jon-barrett


Jon-Barrett Ingels (Class of ’00) at an 1888 Center event.

“The main goal for developing the Summer Writing Project was to establish a program that would enhance Summer Reading activities while also encouraging individuals to write,” said Staniec. “Essentially, we want accessibility for individuals of all ages to read, write and engage with an international community of storytellers. What we didn’t anticipate was the overwhelming support this program would provide to encourage participants to share throughout the process.”

Staniec, an author himself, knows how challenging writing can be, and wanted to provide support to fuel the creative flame for aspiring and published authors alike.

“Writing is difficult. We want participants to feel comfortable with the process of turning that idea into a concept. And on the other hand, we want readers to find unique circles of like-minded readers, where they can expand their libraries beyond the mass-marketed books,” said Staniec. “We hope this creative community, who is searching for the next great storyteller, will find new authors and support these authors as our next Hemingway, Oates or Steinbeck.”

jeff-garvin-325


Author Jeff Garvin ’98. Photo courtesy
jeffgarvinbooks.com
.

Also during the month of July, a series of free educational essays, lectures and podcast episodes will be produced for the community and to support the top 25 authors with advancing their stories.

 

Jeff Garvin ’98
is one of the event panelists of
“Publishing: Launching Your Career,”
which will be held July 23 at a local Barnes & Noble. Jeff’s first novel,
Symptoms of Being Human
, is a young adult book portraying the life of a modern gender-fluid teenager and was recently published by Balzer + Bray.

 

 

 

 

 

Explore and Connect Further:

Don’t miss Summer Writing Project’s free public events!

 

Writing: Finding Your Voice

July 9, 2-4 p.m.
Orange Public Library & History Center
407 E Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92866

Marketing: Building Your Brand

July 16, 2-4 p.m.
Chapman University, Leatherby Libraries
1 University Dr., Orange, CA 92866

Publishing: Launching Your Career

July 23, 2-4 p.m.
Barnes & Noble
791 S Main St., Unit 100, Orange, CA 92868

Testimonials from 2014 and 2015 Summer Writing Project Finalists:

 

“The great part of Summer Writing Project was being able to workshop a project in a supportive environment of artists and consumers like JukePop into a product that was attractive to a forward-thinking publisher like Black Hill Press.” —Shaunn Grulkowski; Glen Burnie, Maryland

 

“The writing world can be a wasteland filled with publishers who neither respond to nor value unsolicited submissions. However, within this desert there stands an oasis where a writer’s work can be submitted, continuously added to, read by other authors and possibly selected for publication. Through (Summer Writing Project), my work became a part of a revolutionary network of writers, publishers and readers, which I hope to write for again.” —Dean Moses; Queens, New York

 

“The great folks at 1888 and JukePop, in combination with an amazing readership, truly made the experience worthwhile and made an otherwise mundane summer magical.” —Allison Spector, Bismarck, North Dakota

 

Banner photo at top of page is Kevin Staniec ’01, founder and executive director of 1888 Center. Photo courtesy Modern Luxury Orange County.