Happy Friday everyone! We’ve chosen a poem from Lend a Hand: Poems About Giving to kick off the weekend:
Hair
It took six years
to grow my hair this long.
A few quick snips
and most of it will be gone,
a ponytail
in the US Mail,
off to be part of a wavy wig
worn by someone
whose hair
sickness stole.
I don’t suppose we’ll ever meet,
but if we do,
maybe we’ll look
like sisters.
If you’re interested in donating your hair, please check out a few of these great organizations:
Locks of Love
Pantene Beautiful Lengths Campaign
Wigs for Kids
For more poems about giving, check out Lend a Hand:
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charity,
donation,
hair,
hair donation,
locks of love,
pantene pro-v,
patene beautiful lengths,
poetry,
poetry Friday,
volunteering,
wigs for kids 
Got a 75-word story to tell? I've got a writing contest for you.
Over at LitPark, a McSweeney's writer reveals himself as the mysterious author who writes The Education of Oronte Churm. His interview features a short, short writing contest that we all should join:
"Write a creative nonfiction story or essay, 75 (seventy-five!) words or less, in which someone reveals something, is unmasked, or comes to a new understanding. (This is most of literature, by the way.) We call these 'little truths.'"
If you're looking for inspiration, check out Ed Champion's interview with novelist and short story writer Charles Baxter. Baxter has published some of the most elegant prose I've ever read, and he's well worth a listen.
Finally, Galleycat creates an Ultimate Blog list, following Sarah Boxer's book by the same title (a process lovingly detailed in this article). While we don't do too much rating around here, the list contains a whole bunch of useful writing resources.
And don't forget to check out Felicia Sullivan's Five Easy Questions interview as well.
From McSweeney's Internet Tendency. There are no words, only gasping, hiccuping giggles. Current favorites: a letter from "The Power" to Public Enemy, Marvin Gaye explaining what he heard through the grapevine, and a retort to Carly Simon regarding her charges of vanity. Hee!
What if a $130,000 debt sank one of the best small publishers in the business? To put it another way, what if writers like Lawrence Weschler or Stephen Dixon couldn't find a home for their unique stories?
The good folks at McSweeney's just took a big hit from a publishing disaster. They support some of our favorite writers during this trying time for print authors, and it would be a terrible blow to lose them. As Mumpsimus reports, we can help the struggling house: "The AMS bankruptcy had a tremendous effect on the publishing world, and it left many small publishers with perilous, unanticipated financial losses. McSweeney's now reports: 'We lost about $130,000—actual earnings that were simply erased.'"
The New York Times has a new book blog, led by Dwight Garner. He has a good eye for content, spotting this Guardian essay by the one and only Martin Amis, “The Long Kiss Goodbye.” Garner grabs some good quotes and closes with a quality link--a web video featuring Mr. Amis and his "1,000-yard stare."
Bud Par reports that Bookforum just opened up an online home. My favorite feature of the new site is the Ivory Tower tag for wacky, yet thought-provoking, news from academia. You can't find this kind of material anywhere else--this is one scholarly publication I hope survives the digital revolution.
Publishing Spotted collects the best of what's around on writing blogs on any given day. Feel free to send tips and suggestions to your fearless editor: jason [at] thepublishingspot.com.
