Help Kimber Go To Writing School
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Thank you for visiting my fundraising page. By donating you
are helping make a dream come true for me and I'll never forget it.
I've been accepted into UCLA's Online Writing Program. Writing is my passion and I've had some success, mostly with short stories. But what I dream about is writing Young Adult Novels. I want to entertain and encourage teenagers to read more. But I'd also like to make them think and hopefully help them deal with some of the tough issues teenagers face every day.
In order for my books to reach those teenagers, I need more education. There are things I need to learn, specific to writing and publishing Young Adult Novels, before my novels can have widespread publication.
This program will give me that education. And being able to show I completed UCLA's program will be helpful in getting my manuscript out of the "slush pile" and on a Literary Agent's desk.
Unfortunately, financial aid isn't available for this program and we can't afford the full tuition. So I'm hoping enough people believe in me and my writing that I can raise the money to attend.
My Writing Qualifications:
I've had 3 stories published in the CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL books and several published in various other anthologies. I also have 2 other stories out for possible publication in a future Chicken Soup book.
I've had 2 stories published on an education resource site for teachers. One of my greatest joys was seeing a 3rd grade classroom's "mad gab" version of one of them published in their school newspaper. It was fun seeing the changes the kids made.
I also won a contest a few years ago that resulted in SAVE THE FAIR MAIDEN, a story in the choose-your-own format, being published by a very small press. They liked the story enough, they agreed to publish 2 more books in the series, VASH'S REVENGE and BATTLE FOR THE KINGDOM. All 3 books are available from Amazon.com.
(You can visit my website: www.kimberkrochmal.com and look in the "Pen" section for more information about the stories I've published so far.)
About The Program:
It's a 3 year program based on their Master of Fine Arts program and taught by the same instructors. It's basically just a part time and online version of it. So with this program, I'll be able to get an MFA education from the comfort of home.
The $7,500 I'm trying to raise will cover the remaining tuition fees, some of the books, and the percentage and processing fees for GoFundMe and WebPay. Here is a break-down of where the money will go:
· First Year Tuition (2013-2014)- $2,116
· Second Year Tuition (2014-2015)- $2,116
· Third Year Tuition (2015-2016)- $2,116
· One-on-One Project Consultations/Editing (Fall 2016)- Included
· GoFundMe/WebPay percentage and fees- about $750
· Candidacy Fee: $300- leaving around $100 to put toward books
About the Project Book:
The writing program is workshop based and we will be applying the information we learn to a project book. Upon completion of the program we get One-on-One Consultations and Tutoring where we each work directly with an editor to make sure our books are edited and ready to send out to Agents and Publishers.
My project book is LOST IN DREAMS. It's a YA Paranormal that's been brewing in my head since I was a teenager and is based on local legends. A magic-filled island, off the coast of NC, has been a battleground for centuries between two groups; good witches who guard the magic and those who want to use it for evil. One of the good witches sacrificed her life to lock away the worst of the evil ones. But in magic there is always a balance and the spell must be renewed in 400 years. She used the last of her magic to ensure she'd be reborn when the time came. It's the time of renewal and both groups are searching for the "reborn;" one to ensure the spell renewal and one to prevent it.
Sixteen year old Ellissa moves to the island after her mom dies and quickly learns nothing is as it seems. The magic she's kept hidden her entire life rages out of control and she discovers she's in danger. She teams up with Caleb, a boy she has a strange connection with, to figure out why. When she realizes she bears the mark of the "reborn" it begins to make sense. But with betrayal at every turn, who can she afford to trust?
(The picture at the top of the page is of Ellissa and Caleb with their past reincarnations faded in the background- artwork by me)
What I hope to accomplish:
After I complete the writing program, my plans are to take the finished project book and begin submitting it to Literary Agents. Between the knowledge I'll gain from the program and the certificate of completion, I'm confident I can find a good agent to represent me and find a publisher for the book. Eventually, I hope to see it for sale in bookstores everywhere.
Other ways you can help:
Please share this page on Facebook and tell your family and friends about it. Any help spreading the word is very much appreciated.
Offline Donations:
If you prefer to donate offline, you can make a donation at the Taylor Theater, in person to Rita Jeffress or Kimber Krochmal, or by mail to:
Kimber Krochmal
145 Discovery Trail
Hertford, NC 27944
About the Online Donation Gifts:
Any level with a PDF Sneak Peak of the book: The book will be completed during the 3 years of the writing program. And then the One-On-One Consultations and Editing begins. You'll receive the PDF by email within 60 days of the editing being completed.
Any level with a Signed First Edition Copy of the book: Your book will be mailed to you within 60 days of the publication date. Please be advised that this gift is IF AND WHEN the book is published.
*Please Note: There is no way for me to know how long it will take between the time I finish the writing program and when LOST IN DREAMS is published or even with 100% certainty that it will be. A small press has already shown interest in the book based on just the synopsis and first chapter so I feel confident it WILL find a home somewhere but there are no guarantees. I'll keep you advised of all progress in the search for publication.
Create a Name: Please send me an email from here (there is a contact button at both the top and bottom of the page) with the name you'd like me to use for one of the walk-on characters. Please be advised that all names are subject to approval. But I'm fairly easy going: as long as you don't ask me to name a character Captain Pee Pants or something equally ridiculous; I'll most likely be okay with it. :P
** Character Lover or Villain-Creator: Please make sure to include your email address with your donation or email it to me from here (there is a contact button at both the top and bottom of the page) as I will be sending you a questionnaire to fill out about the character you're helping create. Please be advised that all names and information are subject to approval. But as mentioned above, I'm fairly easy going. I'll mail you the art print of the character within 90 days of receiving your completed (and approved) questionnaire.
I've been accepted into UCLA's Online Writing Program. Writing is my passion and I've had some success, mostly with short stories. But what I dream about is writing Young Adult Novels. I want to entertain and encourage teenagers to read more. But I'd also like to make them think and hopefully help them deal with some of the tough issues teenagers face every day.
In order for my books to reach those teenagers, I need more education. There are things I need to learn, specific to writing and publishing Young Adult Novels, before my novels can have widespread publication.
This program will give me that education. And being able to show I completed UCLA's program will be helpful in getting my manuscript out of the "slush pile" and on a Literary Agent's desk.
Unfortunately, financial aid isn't available for this program and we can't afford the full tuition. So I'm hoping enough people believe in me and my writing that I can raise the money to attend.
My Writing Qualifications:
I've had 3 stories published in the CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL books and several published in various other anthologies. I also have 2 other stories out for possible publication in a future Chicken Soup book.
I've had 2 stories published on an education resource site for teachers. One of my greatest joys was seeing a 3rd grade classroom's "mad gab" version of one of them published in their school newspaper. It was fun seeing the changes the kids made.
I also won a contest a few years ago that resulted in SAVE THE FAIR MAIDEN, a story in the choose-your-own format, being published by a very small press. They liked the story enough, they agreed to publish 2 more books in the series, VASH'S REVENGE and BATTLE FOR THE KINGDOM. All 3 books are available from Amazon.com.
(You can visit my website: www.kimberkrochmal.com and look in the "Pen" section for more information about the stories I've published so far.)
About The Program:
It's a 3 year program based on their Master of Fine Arts program and taught by the same instructors. It's basically just a part time and online version of it. So with this program, I'll be able to get an MFA education from the comfort of home.
The $7,500 I'm trying to raise will cover the remaining tuition fees, some of the books, and the percentage and processing fees for GoFundMe and WebPay. Here is a break-down of where the money will go:
· First Year Tuition (2013-2014)- $2,116
· Second Year Tuition (2014-2015)- $2,116
· Third Year Tuition (2015-2016)- $2,116
· One-on-One Project Consultations/Editing (Fall 2016)- Included
· GoFundMe/WebPay percentage and fees- about $750
· Candidacy Fee: $300- leaving around $100 to put toward books
About the Project Book:
The writing program is workshop based and we will be applying the information we learn to a project book. Upon completion of the program we get One-on-One Consultations and Tutoring where we each work directly with an editor to make sure our books are edited and ready to send out to Agents and Publishers.
My project book is LOST IN DREAMS. It's a YA Paranormal that's been brewing in my head since I was a teenager and is based on local legends. A magic-filled island, off the coast of NC, has been a battleground for centuries between two groups; good witches who guard the magic and those who want to use it for evil. One of the good witches sacrificed her life to lock away the worst of the evil ones. But in magic there is always a balance and the spell must be renewed in 400 years. She used the last of her magic to ensure she'd be reborn when the time came. It's the time of renewal and both groups are searching for the "reborn;" one to ensure the spell renewal and one to prevent it.
Sixteen year old Ellissa moves to the island after her mom dies and quickly learns nothing is as it seems. The magic she's kept hidden her entire life rages out of control and she discovers she's in danger. She teams up with Caleb, a boy she has a strange connection with, to figure out why. When she realizes she bears the mark of the "reborn" it begins to make sense. But with betrayal at every turn, who can she afford to trust?
(The picture at the top of the page is of Ellissa and Caleb with their past reincarnations faded in the background- artwork by me)
What I hope to accomplish:
After I complete the writing program, my plans are to take the finished project book and begin submitting it to Literary Agents. Between the knowledge I'll gain from the program and the certificate of completion, I'm confident I can find a good agent to represent me and find a publisher for the book. Eventually, I hope to see it for sale in bookstores everywhere.
Other ways you can help:
Please share this page on Facebook and tell your family and friends about it. Any help spreading the word is very much appreciated.
Offline Donations:
If you prefer to donate offline, you can make a donation at the Taylor Theater, in person to Rita Jeffress or Kimber Krochmal, or by mail to:
Kimber Krochmal
145 Discovery Trail
Hertford, NC 27944
About the Online Donation Gifts:
Any level with a PDF Sneak Peak of the book: The book will be completed during the 3 years of the writing program. And then the One-On-One Consultations and Editing begins. You'll receive the PDF by email within 60 days of the editing being completed.
Any level with a Signed First Edition Copy of the book: Your book will be mailed to you within 60 days of the publication date. Please be advised that this gift is IF AND WHEN the book is published.
*Please Note: There is no way for me to know how long it will take between the time I finish the writing program and when LOST IN DREAMS is published or even with 100% certainty that it will be. A small press has already shown interest in the book based on just the synopsis and first chapter so I feel confident it WILL find a home somewhere but there are no guarantees. I'll keep you advised of all progress in the search for publication.
Create a Name: Please send me an email from here (there is a contact button at both the top and bottom of the page) with the name you'd like me to use for one of the walk-on characters. Please be advised that all names are subject to approval. But I'm fairly easy going: as long as you don't ask me to name a character Captain Pee Pants or something equally ridiculous; I'll most likely be okay with it. :P
** Character Lover or Villain-Creator: Please make sure to include your email address with your donation or email it to me from here (there is a contact button at both the top and bottom of the page) as I will be sending you a questionnaire to fill out about the character you're helping create. Please be advised that all names and information are subject to approval. But as mentioned above, I'm fairly easy going. I'll mail you the art print of the character within 90 days of receiving your completed (and approved) questionnaire.
Organizer
Kimber Barrett Krochmal
Organizer
Hertford, NC
