It’s all about Goal, Motivation, Conflict (GMC) for storytellers, yes? Here’s ours:

Our search for a single UnConference Scholarship winner was unsuccessful. The talent pool was extraordinary this year, and the stories of perseverance were truly moving. We want to award more than one scholarship, but have a cash stipend that is sufficient for only one person.

This is where you come in, WU’ers. Please consider donating (see Donation Options below) or bidding on one of four auctions started today. All proceeds go toward scholarship stipends, and your name will be listed in the UnCon program with our thanks.

Auction Rules:

Below are links to four auctions; click through to read all about them. If you’d like to bid, please do so in comments for that item’s post before 8 p.m. EST on May 11th. Serious bidders only, please. Payments over PayPal or Venmo are required within 48 hours of the auction’s close. If payment isn’t made within the 48-hour window, we’ll offer the item to the next highest bidder.

Auction Links:

AUCTION 1: A beautiful art textile handcrafted by Deb Lacativa (our 2016 UnCon scholarship winner)

AUCTION 2: A bundle of whimsical prints made by Marta Pelrine-Bacon

AUCTION 3: A set of story-inspired Dragonbelly mugs crafted by Lisa Janice Cohen

AUCTION 4: An ad and ad post bundle for your novel or writing-related product on Writer Unboxed

Donation Options:

1. Donate via our Eventbrite page. At the top of our Eventbrite page, you’ll see Registration Information/Registration Type. The fourth option is Donation to Scholarship. Note that Eventbrite will charge a fee for this transaction.

2. Donate via the Writer Unboxed PayPal account. Clearly note that your contribution is for the Scholarship. (We’ll send you a confirmation note after receiving. Know that a regular payment on PayPal will result in a fee, but a friend-to-friend transfer will not.)

Anyone who makes a donation to the scholarship account or ultimately wins one of these four auctions will be named in the WU UnConference Program, with our thanks.

Please bid and/or promote our auctions often and enthusiastically over social media. We truly appreciate your support and know the scholarship winners — who have yet to be named or informed — will also be grateful.

Good luck, and thank you!