(Seems Like a Good Place to Start)

Q: What ARE all these lists, anyway?
A: The Magpie List is an ever-growing  resource for inspiration; the books, movies and films that have shaped people’s lives.

Q: Where do they come from, WHO are all these people?
A: Eve, a writer in Los Angeles, started collecting lists in a notebook, but now readers can submit their own lists; they come from all over the world. Many of them have provided links to their own blogs and websites so you might get to know them better. Interact with the site, explore! Submit a list of your own,  subscribe via email; become a part of the Magpie community!

Q: Why don’t you allow comments on the list postings? I love one list, and I hate another, I want to engage!
A: TML is a Judgment Free Zone. If you feel especially strong about someone’s list, submit a list of your own, (counter-submit, if you will) or email TML your comments directly!

Q: Yeah…about the submitting; how do I do that again?
A: “Submit A List” is a good place to start.  TML finds that if someone is having trouble understanding the submission process, he or she is probably thinking too much.  If you find yourself overwhelmed by the idea of “Inspiration,” then create a theme for yourself that works. Peruse the lists; they are really the best reference.  And remember, it is supposed to be fun!

Q: When will my list be posted?
A: The lists are not posted upon submission. Eve has been collecting these treasures for a while now, and each list deserves  a day of its own. While you’re waiting, explore the lists of other Magpies, check in on the blog, spread the word.  Everyone has inspiration to share.

Q: Does my list HAVE to be a mixture of music, books and movies? I never read.
A: Nope. It’s just a suggestion. If you want to specify your lists to be an exclusive medium, go.for.it. It’s your inspiration. (But really, you never read?)

Q: So do you want a list of 10 for each category?
A: No, thanks. We’d like 10 items total.  If you’ve got 30 recommendations, that’s radical.  But TML will probably narrow it down to about 10.

Q: I have a list I want to send you, but I don’t have a website.
A: Oh, the website links are just for fun, the lists are more important!

Q: Something on my list is already on someone else’s list.
A: That’s okay. It will still be posted. You’ll be surprised how different and similar people’s inspiration can be – that’s the point.

Q: I already sent you a list, but then I thought of 10 more things! Can I send you multiple lists?
A: Sure, but you’ve got to really be patient; like the buffet line, everyone deserves a chance.

Q: This is too hard!
A: No one is judging, and these lists don’t define anyone. Just throw a few out there. You can do it.

Q: Blist?
A: “Blog” comes from the words “Web Log,” and Eve thought that TML was different.  “Blist” is a “Web List, meant to be enjoyed in its simplest form; a list of lists!

Q: I don’t get it, are you Eve, or are you The Magpie List? Who’s “we?”
A: I’m all those things, and at the end of the day, I’m just Eve. And here at the blog is where I’ll be personally parsing this sudden avalanche of book, music, and movie recommendations. Hopefully my ongoing experiences as I interact with the lists and their authors will help inspire you to do the same!