Hey friends. I wanted to let you know about the It Gets Better project. It falls right in line with the goal of my blog YouMakeMeFeelLessAlone (a place where people can submit writing about mental illness or other things they are struggling with). Sparked by incidents of LGTB kids being bullied and committing suicide, Dan Savage (the well-known sex columnist) created the It Gets Better campaign of video diaries from LGTB and stright people who are speaking about how life gets better after those wretched teenage years. I am honored to know several people that have contributed videos. There is also an It Gets Better book available now! Check out the videos, the book, and the site. Maybe you’d even like to contribute a video. Go to: www.itgetsbetter.org
The sentiment of It Get Better doesn’t have to be limited to LGTB issues. To celebrate National Poetry Month and get the word out about It Gets Better and YouMakeMeFeelLessAlone, I am holding a POETRY CONTEST (rules/prizes are below). Contribute your writing to YMMFLA and give others hope that dealing with issues like mental illness, addiction, sexuality, and relationships GETS BETTER!
The first-place winner will receive a prize back that includes:
It Gets Better by Dan Savage
I Don’t Want to Be Crazy, by Samantha Schutz (me!): A poetry memoir about anxiety disorde
You Are Not Here, by Samantha Schutz: A poetry novel about grief and loss
It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini: A novel based on the author’s experiences while hospitalized for depression
Cut by Patricia McCormick: A novel about self-mutilation
Talking in the Dark by Billy Merrell: A poetry memoir about the author’s awakening sexuality, and his quest to find love and acceptance while discovering himself in the process.
