FAQ
What is New Orleans by New Orleans?
Release Date: Winter 2012/2013 in New Orleans, LA
New Orleans by New Orleans is a complex portrait of a beautiful city, presented through the eyes of its own community. It is is a published collection of stories inspired by the city of New Orleans, written by the people who know it.
Anyone who has a story to share, an authentic perspective, and those who want to join the conversation of community are welcome to enter stories for publication.
We welcome all genres – fiction, non-fiction, essay, poetry, lyrics, recipes, tall tales and more. But each story must be 600 words or less, which amounts to roughly one typed page in 12 point font. Some stories are matched with art created by local artists.
New Orleans by New Orleans is the latest installment in Book by Authors, a community book program established by Smolarcorp in 2006.
What is Book by Authors?
Book by Authors is the program model for New Orleans by New Orleans and other publications. Book by Authors creates a ‘written time capsule’ of a community’s diverse thoughts, hopes, fears and past experiences.
The ‘written time capsule’ is a published collection of short stories (fiction, non-fiction and everything in between) related to a specific community, written by the people who live there or who have been affected it. Stories that have been bound together by a common geographic place are literally bound together in one book.
Smolarcorp created Book by Authors in 2006 in response to the National Endowment for the Arts’ The Big Read. Inspired by a city coming together to “Read One Book,” Smolarcorp created a model for a city to “Write One Book” about itself.
Book by Authors helps a community create shared understanding and mutual identity, reflect on others’ diverse experiences, learn more about neighbors, create an historic capsule of the people’s voice in a specific time, and read and write. It is informed by community-building and urban-development theorists Peter Block, Richard Florida, Jane Jacobs, and others, and especially by participating community members.
Past Book by Authors publications are Book by Authors: North Long Beach Anthology (2009) and Book by Authors (2006). We thank the Long Beach Library Foundation (2006) and The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Long Beach Community Foundation and Connected Corridor (2009) for their support.
What’s in it for contributors?
New Orleans by New Orleans is an opportunity to share an authentic story about New Orleans, about something that happened to you in New Orleans, or even a story that is inspired by New Orleans.
If your story is selected by the panel of judges, your story will be published in New Orleans by New Orleans and it will be available for sale in select local bookstores and through Amazon.com.
We are proud to provide a non-exclusive publishing agreement, which means you will retain ownership and full rights to your work. You may submit works which you have published elsewhere, but you must have permission or authority to re-print.
We hope to give to authors and artists the experience of contributing to a valuable conversation about their city and to show that ‘the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.’
Book by Authors can not provide compensation or royalties to published authors. This is a community effort.
- Entry Deadline: February 21, 2012 (11:59 p.m.)
- Notification: Authors and Artists notified by March 1, 2012
- Publication: Winter, 2012/2013 (Note: This is an updated date)
How can I support Book by Authors?
- Spread the word! Know someone with a great story about NOLA? Tell them about New Orleans by New Orleans.
- Share us with your friends on Facebook, email, carrier pigeon – or even in person! Hurry, the entry deadline is February 21!
- Write a story.
- Buy a copy (or ten) of New Orleans by New Orleans.
- Volunteer
How does it work?
Local judges select works to be published. Selected entrants are notified the week of March 19-23, 2012. Smolarcorp will manage book production including editing, layout and test prints.
New Orleans by New Orleans will be available online and in limited quantities in local bookstores.
Who’s Eligible? What’s Eligible?
We seek amazing stories of the Crescent City from the people who know it best – whatever is in the heart and deserves to be said.
- We seek stories inspired by, set in, or about New Orleans.
- All genres welcome: Fiction, non-fiction, essay, plays, monologues, poetry, song lyrics, tall tales, family histories, folklore, neighborhood legends, even recipes (and recipe backstories too!).
- Each story must be 600 words or less. That’s roughly equivalent to one full page of text, typed in 12 point font.
- Enter as many times as you wish.
- All skill levels welcome.
- All ages welcome. Anyone under 18 must have parent or guardian approval.
How to Enter
It’s easy! Visit our Entry Form.
Questions?
For any questions please use our Contact Form.