We made the DiscoBlog!

Click here to read a GREAT entry about To Write a Mockingbird at the Discover.com blog—the DiscoBlog!

Chief webhead at DISCOVER sends props!

Dear Mr. Eldred,

I'm the Web editor for Discover, and I just heard about your impressive
feat: writing all of To Kill a Mockingbird with one pencil. I'm glad you
picked up the implicit challenge from the article, and rarely have I
been so happy to found out that we were wrong.

I want to blog about your one-pencil challenge and link to your blog. I
wanted to ask if you might link back to our 20 Things story, probably
from the quoted section in the upper-right of the blog.

Congratuations on your record-setting triumph.

Best,
Amos Kenigsberg

* * *

Thanks, Mr. K, for the kind words and for suggesting the link! It's now in place, just where you suggested. We look forward to reading your blog.

Readers: Find Amos Kenigsberg blogging here.

We help DISCOVER discover us!

On 4/26/07 6:31 AM, Keith Eldred wrote:

Dear Discover Magazine editors,

Little did I know what an interesting challenge I would discover in Dean Christopher’s article “20 Things You Didn’t Know About the Pencil” (May 2007, page 80). Point number 6 claims that the average pencil can write roughly 45,000 words but that “History does not record anyone testing this statistic.” Let history record this: I was inspired to organize an event through the local library for volunteers to write out a word-for-word copy of “To Kill a Mockingbird” using one pencil. The event will begin on May 4 at 2:00 pm and continue around the clock until copying is complete. We’ll go into it realizing that we need a miraculous performance from our chosen writing utensil. Our paperback copy of “Mockingbird” has 288 pages, and online (http://www.writersservices.com/wps/p_word_count.htm) I found an estimate of 400 words per page in a standard paperback, for a total of 115,200 words. Nevertheless, we are determined! And we are pleased to have found this way to honor a literary treasure. You can track our results at www.ToWriteAMockingbird.org. I’ll also plan to report back to you after we’re done. Please communicate my thanks to Mr. Christopher.

Sincerely,

Keith Eldred
413 Bella St.
Hollidaysburg, PA 16648



----- Original Message ----
From: editorial@discovermagazine.com
To: Keith Eldred
Sent: Friday, April 27, 2007 5:52:12 PM
Subject: Re: Your May 2007 "20 Things" article inspires library's tribute to the greatest American novel

Dear Keith:

Best of luck with the write-off. We hope all the participants do appropriate finger-stretches before getting started to avoid cramps! We’ll be sure to check back for the final word count.

Cheers,
The Editors at DISCOVER