The Montréal Book Project

A friend of a friend sent this to me this morning. I thought I'd post it here in case anyone in the Montréal area happens to come across it. As for me, I think I've got a little something in mind...

It's called the Montreal Book Project, and it has two main goals. The first is to collect creative samples from the many talented people who are here in Montreal and have them published in a book.  The second is to increase networking and flesh out the next generation of writers, screenwriters, filmmakers, comedians, artists, and photographers in the city.  Hopefully in the end we'll wind up with a marketable product which is not only an opportunity to gain exposure but also to make useful contacts with like-minded people living here.  So far response to the idea has been really enthusiastic.

Here's The Lowdown...
People have asked how long their submissions have to be, what the theme of the book is, and/or in what genre they have to write.  At this stage it's best not to lay down too many restrictions because the project will inevitably take shape on its own, and certain themes will naturally emerge. Some people may already have a hot new idea in mind, or a favorite short story kicking around from school.  They may opt to write a film treatment, hand in a portrait or an abstract, or wonder if someone would make an illustration for their story.  Maybe it's a comic essay or crazy monologue. Partner up, go solo, send in one thing or lots of stuff, whatever you want. Everyone gets their own credit and anything is possible.  The only rule on content is that if you don't love it, it defeats the purpose of putting it out there with your name on it.  So I will say this:  take your time to put together something you love and feel represents your marketable talent.

As of today, feel free to start sending in stuff whenever you're ready. We're looking at a March 1st deadline.  The email address is montrealbookproject@hotmail.com
On my end, I'll start approaching potential publishers and work on a website to give the project a home.  I'll also put together a jury of sorts to help work through and edit the material.  Should we receive a massive amount of work that could not all fit into a book, selections will have to be made to determine what best fits the overall spirit of the project.  The fine print, then, is that there are no guarantees that your work will get published - or that we will find a publisher at all.  But I have no doubt that this project will be a success.