About the Project

What is it?

The How Not To Book Series - lessons learned the hard way is an ongoing art project by Aleksandra Mir.

What is the idea behind it?

While the typical Self Help format gives you a recipe for obvious success it does not take into account the many ways in which its execution can fail due to the practitioners lack of experience. Based on Aleksandra's personal history of disasters, the project invites people from all around the world to give their advice of how NOT to do various things. With these volumes, any reader will be more than well equipped to avoid making the same mistakes in their lives.

Aleksandra is interested in how we are taught or teach ourselves through trial and error. By making our guilty failures public we may even be creating an original and subversive form of art, rather than simply be aspiring to obvious and repetitive results.

Who can contribute?

Anyone!

What do I get?

If your entry is accepted, You get to see yourself in print and if you submit an address a copy of the book will be sent to you when completed.

What is the format for my contribution?

Please read the examples. Every contribution is written in the imperative as a piece of advice to the reader. The length can be anything from one sentence to a couple of paragraphs (250 words max).

How many contributions can I make?

As many as you want.

Does everyone get published?

The first 1000 qualified contributions on each subject will be published. Your contribution has to be judged as believable, i.e. based on actual experience. And it has to be original.

Will my text be edited?

We will edit for coherency, grammar and punctuation, but leave almost everything as it comes in. We want to hear the multiplicity of your voices!

Who has copyright?

You. But when you submit an entry and your name to the How Not To Series you grant Aleksandra Mir a nonexclusive license to publish it in all editions of the How Not To Series, and as excerpts in other publications, in all languages, in all media, for the legal term of copyright, throughout the world. In return you will receive one free copy of the Work in which your entry appears, upon publication. You acknowledge and agree that you are not entitled to receive any other form of payment for your contribution. With 1000 contributors, this is all we can offer.

How does my name and personal information feature?

All entries appear anonymous within the body copy of the book. They are never linked to individual contributor names, which are simply listed in alphabetical order in the back. If you submit your name and an address to receive a copy of the book, only your name will be listed in print. Or, you can choose to be anonymous throughout.

We will not publish or trade with your email or postal address.

We need your email so that we can keep you up to date or contact you if we have any questions. We need your postal address so that we can send you the book. If you contribute anonymously we will not be able to update with our news or send you the book. Up to you!

How do I know I have been accepted?

We will reply to everyone who leaves an email address. Just be patient please.

When does it come out?

It depends. Currently there are 9 new titles in the making, each one a great labor of love. It could take as long as 5 or more years to get them all out. If your entry has been accepted, please keep us up to date with your email and address changes. Or, simply leave us with a
permanent address that will not change.

What are the 9 new titles?

How Not To Romance
How Not To Parent
How Not To Sport
How Not To Nature
How Not To Art
How Not To Pet
How Not To Travel
How Not To Work
How Not To Live & Die

Submit your advice to them all!