Kim Werker runs Mighty Ugly. She's a writer and freelance editor whose latest book, Make It Mighty Ugly, is coming in the fall of 2014. Kim tries to make something – anything – every day. Many of those things are awful; some are not. Learn more about her work, teaching schedule and ragtag adventures at kimwerker.com.
I’ll be in Ventura, CA, in early April, leading both a hands-on Mighty Ugly workshop and a business workshop called Embracing the Ugly Side of Your Business. Also, I’m just really excited to go to this conference for the first time; people rave about it!
Want to know the official title? Of course you do. Behold: Make It Mighty Ugly: Exercises and Advice for Getting Creative Even When It Ain’t Pretty.
The book doesn’t even have a cover yet, but my publisher must have listed the metadata about it somewhere public, because all the booksellers have slurped it up and now you can pre-order it from all manner of places like IndieBound (support your local indie booksellers, friends, they’re the heart of the book world!), Powells, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Chapters.
A further note about your local indie bookstore: You can ask them to order the book for you, too – it’s not just an online thing! Just go right into the store or phone them up, give them the title above and my name, and though they might raise an eyebrow that you’re asking them to order a book that won’t be released for another eight months, I bet they’ll also smile that you’re asking them to do the ordering. Because they love you, you book fanatic, you. And they love books.
Just pre-ordered a copy of @kpwerker's new book #MightyUgly from my local indie bookseller!
— Nancy Cavillones (@NBCavillones) January 16, 2014
So what do you get when you pre-order the book? Well, you get the book, obviously, as soon as it comes out in early September. Early September is so long from now that you’ll pretty much be buying yourself a surprise. And who doesn’t love a surprise?
Also, you’ll get to wear the special feather in your hat that says you bought the book even before it had a cover. Talk about being an early adopter!
And finally, you can help indicate in some small way to the people and machines that track this sort of thing that there is interest in this book, and that might maybe someday lead them to, like, pay more attention to selling it to people. Which would be a very good thing.
As the time between now and then shortens, I’ll tell you way more about the book – like what you’ll find in there and what that’ll do for you, and what’s on the cover, and what I ate while I was writing it, and where I wrote it, and all sorts of stuff you never knew you wanted to know. But for now, it’s time for early adoption! Suspense and anticipation is what it’s all about!
In conjunction with Hot Art Wet City’s Teenage Wasteland show, come exorcize your lingering teen angst by channeling that self-doubt and anguish into making an ugly creature. Mini 1-hour workshop includes all materials; no crafts experience required. Plan to stay longer for drinks and conversation! $15. Register here.
I’ll be giving a talk on Sunday at 11:30am, and you should come to it! It’ll be a proper conversation, so bring tales and woes of mistakes and failure and making stuff anyway.
Here’s a video from last year’s event, to further convince you to come.
Last week I had the pleasure of being the first speaker in a new series at Vancouver gallery Hot Art Wet City. Chris, the gallery owner, recorded my talk and the ensuing conversation. Grab something to make and have a listen while you work:
This weekend is the 2nd annual Vancouver Mini Maker Faire, and we’ll be there!
Find us in the middle of the old Forum building at the PNE, set up for making ugly creatures.
The event runs from 10am-6pm both Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are available at the door, and in advance for a couple bucks off.
We were featured on the VMMF website, too!
Hope to see you there.
Last week, on a whim, I pitched a story to some radio people who were putting together a whole show in just 48 hours. In conjunction with the brilliant public-radio show Radiolab and the 99% Conference in New York City, Longshot Radio was exploring the topic of creativity, revision and failure. If Mighty Ugly’s not about that, I don’t know what it’s about.
To my surprise and delight, I ended up working with a Radiolab producer on the piece I wrote and recorded in less than 24 hours. It was an honour to be part of such a smart and ambitious project, and downright awesome to have my piece included in the final show.
Here it is:
Last year I was only able to run the Mighty Ugly crafting booth for a few hours each day of Vancouver Mini Maker Faire. But this year! Oh, this year I’m determined to have the ugly crafting going on the whole time.
To do that, I’m gonna need some help. That’s where you might come in.
If you’re jacked up by the idea of being a Maker but you’re not quite ready to show off your own project, come help me with Mighty Ugly! You’ll get to experience the event from the other side of the table yet still have loads of time to check out all the other amazing stuff as well.
Check out the form below, and submit it if you’d like to help be a part of something ugly and amazing and creative and wonderful.
We’re hosting a Make Something Ugly space at the One of a Kind Show in Vancouver!
These will be mini versions of our longer workshops – all the crafts fun, not so much the deeper thinking. We’ll be making wee ugly creatures that may (or may not at all) make for great stocking stuffers. A perfect break from your handmade holiday shopping! No crafts experience necessary
The workshops are free with admission to the show. Since space is limited, registration is required. Sign up today! And bring some friends. All the sessions are listed on our Upcoming Events page.
I had a blast making a creature, photographing it, and writing up the decisions I made for a tutorial post over on the CRAFT blog. If you’ve been a little intimidated about making an ugly creature, maybe this step-by-step will help you out!